Red Robin night tonight!

Magic is in the Air....It's Red Robin night. Come celebrate tonight from
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 95th and Metcalf. (Independence store too) 10% is donated to Make a Wish! Santa may stop by for a surprise visit as well. Come join the FUN! We'd love to see you tonight! :)

Every moment

Wow, time sure has flown.  The holidays are right around the corner and I find myself rushing and bustling, busy, busy, busy.  I think about you EVERY day, Mason.  Whether it's a song, a picture, a comment,  even one word triggers a memory.  Last night before bed Ally mentioned her eyelashes and all I could think about is your beautiful long eyelashes.  It would drive you crazy because so many people commented about them.  We miss you so much.  I think about you all the time.  I know the holidays were your favorite and we celebrate. You taught us to live, laugh and love.  And although there are moments when the world stops spinning or feels upside down, you lift us up as we remember.  I ache for your voice and presence in our life.  Forever in our hearts, our angel in the sky, our hero.  We love you. 

Beauty of Fall...

Fall is here.  It brought a smile to my face when the neighborhood kids were talking about how our tree loses its leaves first.  One of the younger kids said, "I know its Mason."  We all know that's not true. What I do know is, I have never experienced such joy and beauty in all the seasons until Mason. Now, I  actually watch as the leaves fall to the ground, in awe of the beauty.    As the leaves fall from the trees; just like snow falls from above;  my heart is wide open.

Today after church if the rain slows down, I hope we can visit the pumpkin patch, another beautiful fall tradition; memories swirl in my head.   Maverick one year picked a half rotten one because no one else would bring it home. His heart as pure as gold. We've had a great 3 day weekend, the kids were off on Friday.  It's just what we needed.  Time with each other and smiles in our hearts. And at the start of the Jared Coones pumpkin run just before the red/pink balloon release,one green balloon floated high above. (coincidence or not, I heard Mason say hello)

2006 Schaakes Pumpkin Patch

Thank you Everyone!!

THANK YOU everyone for all the love and support at the Overland Park Craft Fair!  Together, $1,166.49 was raised for Make-a-Wish®!! Thank you!! That is an amazing start to the $5,000 goal.  We will be starting a web page hopefully soon so you can watch the progress of our Adopt-a-Wish® Season!!  Together we can fulfill a local child's wish. Maverick, we are so proud of you; you are an amazing brother and son.  Mason, it is an honor to continue Making a Difference. Forever we we share your story as you taught us so much!! It was a roller coaster of a day; your memory is alive and your love keeps us moving as we strive to make a difference.

Wiscurzoos are ready to Escape!!

Help our house is under attack!!  Wiscurzoos keep multiplying.  We are EXCITED to be selling over 300 at the Overland Park Craft Fair in downtown Overland Park. During those hot summer days we all were busy creating, stuffing, and sewing our hearts out!!!
 Folow the link below for more information for the Saturday, September 29 from 9 -5 p.m. This is the same craft fair where we marched in a parade 2 years ago. 
http://www.opkansas.org/Things-to-See-And-Do/Overland-Park-Fall-Festival

We were fortunate to get a spot at the Overland Park Presbyterian Church Booth 21.  If you happen to be in the area stop by and say hello and help us send off the largest collection of Wiscurzoos ever!!  Maverick is selling Small Wiscurzoos for $ 4 and Medium for $ 6 and Large for  $10.  All proceeds to help grant a local child's wish through the Make a Wish Missouri Foundation®. The Missouri Chapter serves the Kansas City Metro area which includes Johnson, Wyandotte, Franklin and Miami counties in Kansas.  As of today Maverick is ready to sell out.  Each Wiscurzoo is unique and there is even a limited supply of KSU, KU, MU, NU, Chiefs, and Royals for an additional $ 2.  

Happy Tigers

We can not even put into words how incredible the VIP Tiger Exhibit Opening was!!!  It was such an emotional night and very inspiring.  The fact that MU was there...as someone stated divine intervention.  I have been a mix of so many emotions, happy and sad.  The exhibit is a place we can always go and remember.  Mason you will always live inside our hearts and we will never stop sharing your story and fighting for a Cure.  Thank you family and friends for your support and love.  It means so much to us.  Time moves forward we can only imagine and wonder.  Mason we imagine a big Tiger Smile across your face; only I would give anything to see that Smile!!
Thank you Kansas City Zoo and family and friends, for honoring Mason in such an amazing way.   A huge THANK you to the Dixons, and MU for sponsoring the tigers; we made some incredible new friends. 

Head for the Cure

Team Make a Difference for Mason is so Excited to be running, walking and volunteering in your memory Mason.  And we are growing, with new members we have yet to even meet. We are making a difference. I miss you so much!!!.  I promised you I'd always fight for you.  We love you and will carry your determination with us, forever in our hearts.  Love you.
http://www.headforthecure.org/metro-kc/hftc-metro-kc

Heart shape puddle at the pool

Mason says hello in heart shapes, it all began at Lake Michigan; Ally found a heart shaped rock.  Then at the zoo; our first visit to the new tiger exhibit, a heart shaped potato chip.
Yesterday at the pool; Ally spotted a tiny heart in a puddle, I wish I had my camera.  My mouth dropped at the beautiful puddle, amazing to spot such a creation.
 When a tiny sunflower emerged from our drought afflicted lawn.  My first thought was where did Ally find an artificial flower?  But it was real.  Immediately I thought of Mason.  After closer observation I laughed at the sign next to it, "Sunflowers for Sale"  Mason, you are still sending laughter and sunshine.

 Lots of summer memories.  We visited some of Mason's favorite vacation spots. We each etched Mason's name in the sand at Lake Erie and we could hear his echo of laughter while tubing on Lake Conesus.  We also made new memories as we visited Indiana Sand Dunes for the first time climbing Mt. Baldy and sliding in the soft sand. At Cedarpoint, Maverick fulfilled a lifetime goal to ride the Maverick roller coaster; his cheers with my tears at 70 mph priceless.

 We look forward to the days ahead; as school approaches, I can still picture a little boy with a Superman backpack; how I wished he wasn't such in a hurry to get to school.... 9 more days, my little girl will do the same, she will march, with crayons in her hands and she won't look back.  I am elated and proud of her confidence.





We are so EXCITED at the upcoming Head for the Cure, August 26 at Corporate Woods, we'd love to have you join Team Make a Difference for Mason.  (Click on team photo on the right corner of the blog for the link) And it is already time to think of Christmas lights; as we start our Seasons of Wishes Make-a-Wish fundraiser in September.  Thanks for all your love and support.
Summer is still here and we hope every splash brings a smile and a heart shape puddle finds a way to your heart.

Dog days of summer

Baseball, super heroes and sunshine; summer...

Good Morning.  Just a quick update as summer is flying by.  Last night as Maverick took a bite of his cheesy chili, the string cheese was hanging from his spoon.  He said "Mason would have not liked this." Mason did not like to see cheese so stringy. My heart fell in an instant as I imagined him at the table.
We are spending this 4th of July at Corporate Woods sitting by the tree we planted for Mason.  My heart aches to hear Mason's laughter, he loved the 4th of July. As the spark will never be the same.

We are excited to be traveling to New York this summer; splashing once again in the waves of Lake Erie and under the waterfalls at Stony Brook.  Baseball season is over, Maverick's team had an awesome year; advancing to the senior division this year and finishing 2nd place. 

Maverick loves pitching

Maverick is excited about selling Wiscurzoos again. The sewing machine is all fired up. He has 138 to sell at the Overland Park Craft Fair in September . We are helping stuff and sew; our goal is to have 300+ available for the sale.  There are 3 sizes, large, medium and small ($10, $6, $4).   At this rate, Wiscurzoos should be complete right before school starts.  The sales will benefit Make-a-Wish, Seasons of Wishes. The sale is September 29 in downtown OP.

KC Zoo; the tiger exhibit should be ready sometime in July.  We will keep you posted of the progress. With the extreme heat we have been unable to visit the zoo as often as we would like.

In August, we are gearing up for the Head for the Cure 5K, see the link below. We would love to have friends and family join us in this inspirational walk/run to help find a cure for brain cancer. A HUGE thanks to American Adoptions and Red Robin for supporting our team this year.  We also will have a raffle again this year for our team.  One of the prizes, a white tiger similar to the one Mason got on Valentines Day.

Win me!!

 You can join or donate to Team Make a Difference for Mason from the link below.  http://www.headforthecure.org/metro-kc/hftc-metro-kc 

The dog days of summer...

The Old Farmer's Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. These are the days of the year when rainfall is at its lowest levels.

Happy 11th Birthday Mason

Mason's 1st birthday

Things go better with 2

Tell me it can't be another birthday without you.  I miss everything about you.  Your memory lives in every splash of summer and every color in the rainbow, in every ray of sunshine, in ever tiger lily bloom, the list goes on.  Happy Birthday Tiger.  We miss you more and more each day.  At a loss of words; there is so much more I could say.  More than ever I really wish you were here today.  I want to do more and more for you, but most of all find a cure.  I hear your voice, it whispers everyday; find a cure; only if there was one in 2010 we'd have you here.

Looking forward to making a difference with friends and family in your honor at Red Robin tonight.
From 5- 8 p.m. 10% of the proceeds will benefit Head for the Cure Team Make a Difference for Mason.  We will be at the 95th and Metcalf location, the Red Robin at 135th and Antioch and Olathe are participating as well.  Everyone is invited!!!  Have a burger and fries for Mason!

Memories

Summer, the first day of summer will be here this month, Mason's 11th birthday.  I stop and think what we'd be doing. I can't begin to explain the many times I imagine.  Always thinking of the past and the future.  Daydreaming what you'd look like, the memory of your laughter replays in my mind.  Watching kids at play, I picture you. I guess how my Target cart would be filled, if you were only by my side. I see your friends and brother so grown up and picture you.  Sometimes I smile and sometimes my heart weeps.   I Gotta feeling played in the van yesterday; Ally screamed "thank you, Mason" out the window.  Then she bowed her head and prayed with her eyes tightly shut.  I asked her what she prayed, "Mom I can't tell you, it's very special."  Moments later, she whispered, "I prayed for Mason to come back." Then she tapped her heart and said, "I know he is always with us."  Time passes by but Mason you never will.  You are by our side and inside our hearts forever.  Every day.
Summer has added smiles and relaxed days.  Although there is still never enough time. Always feeling guilty for precious memories of things we've missed. We missed an important birthday and graduation recently and wish we could spend more time with friends.   Maverick's days consumed with baseball, and we add a few splashes at the pool.  Ally loves every chance to squeeze as much love and laughter from Molly our pug.  With each bit of laughter I want to freeze each moment.  Remembering how much more laughter we had.  We embrace each  moment and wonder.  We will be celebrating Mason's birthday at Red Robin this year surrounded by friends and family for a good cause the Head for the Cure.  Everyone is invited. (See previous post)  I Gotta a Feeling Mason would smile, wear a funny shirt, smash his face in birthday cake, and win a prize at the  games for Ally.  Go ahead make a splash for Mason, he's smiling from above.

Nall Hills Baseball at the K

Happiness is a Pug Hug

Laughter is a Pug Squeeze

Wiscurzoo report: Maverick has plans for a Fabulous Farewell to Wiscurzoos.  With a plan for bigger pillow sized Wiscurzoos and a Team Make a Difference for Mason stuffing party.  He hopes with a team effort to finish out the end of summer and  sell one last time at the Overland Park Craft Fair in September.   All for a good cause, sew we will let you know.

June 21

Help Make a Difference….

Thursday, June 21st

5 to 8 p.m.

A benefit night for

Head for the Cure!

During Mason Kempf’s courageous battle with brain cancer he inspired others to make a difference.  This summer, in Mason’s memory, come celebrate his birthday with us at the following Red Robin locations:  95th-Metcalf, 135th-Antioch or Olathe.   On this very special night, 10% of the check total will be donated to the Head for the Cure in Mason’s memory.  You can truly help make a difference.