The Simple Life

My apologies for my long hiatus from blog documenting. I really don’t have any good excuse for not writing, other than I’ve been taking a mental break. 2007 was quite the year, and this one has so far turned out to be quite tame in comparison. Sorry if I worried anyone coming here to see how we are! No news has been good news.

Dad is still fighting a valiant fight against the cancer monster. It’s been so great we’ve had time to already visit a couple times this year! Chemo is the worst part, and he’s on his third round right now, but it is showing to be effective in fighting back! Praise God for that! It really goes to show that when things look their gloomiest, never give up hope and faith that miracles do happen.
I was looking back at my blog and looking at all of the exciting travels and places we have seen in the last year. How exciting exhausting! The past month or so we’ve enjoyed peace and simplicity. Frankly, doing a bunch of nothing has felt like pure bliss to our tired over-worked souls.


We’ve had time to enjoy some weekends with friends. Here are some pictures of the kids on a recent visit to our friends Ann and Keith’s house. We walked over to a local park by their house and just watched the kids run through the field and roll down a hill. We’ve enjoyed simple dinners together and just sitting and talking. For a full set of the day’s pictures, visit the “Ann’s Website” link at the side of my page.



On Sunday evening of this past week, Brigid begged us to do a picnic at the park. It was about 4pm and we hadn’t planned anything, so Paul ran to the store and picked up some “brats” and charcoal! We threw a cooler together and dragged out the picnic tableware and off we went! There is a small neighborhood park a few blocks away that has grills and picnic tables, although I honestly never see anyone actually using them. Most people probably have their own grills at home, but there’s something magical to kids (ok, and me) about grilling out at the park!


To those of you reading who are still dealing with snow, take heart! When you’re at your July picnics, it will be 120 here and we will be instantly fried to the picnic table if we try to have a picnic here.


Paul thought to bring along the kites, and as luck would have it, the wind started up. You had to try NOT to fly these kites! Even Aidan had no trouble keeping his kite up in the air, although he had to be constantly reminded not to let it go or it would end up like his ill-fated Red Robin pink-balloon that he cries about daily since it floated away. Oh the traumas of childhood.



There have been no complaints from the kids, since they’re really more interested in doing things together as a family than going on exciting getaways. However, we do have a trip planned in a couple weeks to visit Paul’s cousin and aunt in L.A. We are planning to buy tickets to Knotts Berry Farm and check out the rides and attractions. So much for the simple life – bring on the roller coasters!