Where are the dinosaurs?

Little Miss Ally,  Oh how you make me smile.   Your imagination and inquisitive mind.   Out of the blue, you wonder where the volcano is that made the dinosaurs disappear.  (But you also said it could have been a meteor) So, of course I am baffled for a second and Maverick quick as a whistle explains how millions of years ago the world was different and the continents were all together and over time the continents shifted. " So the volcano is no longer here, do you understand Ally?"  She happily shakes her head yes.

Later after dinner, I notice a pair of shoes outside, "Ally , you need to bring in your shoes."  Mom, those are my sisters, she lives outside you know"

Here's to the first splash of spring!

Then I was shopping and could not decide on what color of shirt to purchase.  After the purchase, Ally says, "Good thing I was born"  So of course I asked why she said that.  "Because mom you wouldn't know what shirt to buy without me." 



Maverick's garden is AMAZING!!  Never have I tasted a more delicious strawberry.  He has tomatoes, radishes, green beans and cucumbers that are growing like crazy.  Today he's on a field trip to Kauffman Center of Performing Arts, his entire 4th grade class will perform with their recorders. Tonight his first baseball game of the season.  We are counting the days until summer.  His last day of school is the 22nd already.  Tomorrow another surprise awaits.  Here's to the sweet things in life.

The colors of the rainbow

Hello again.  It's been awhile.  Yesterday at 11:50 p.m another angel entered heaven, a precious girl named Harley.  I've never met her, she had brain cancer too.  May 1st, brain cancer awareness month.  I am left speechless, and I have been lately. Here are the repeated swirls in my head ready to escape.  I will not stop, my mind constantly shuffling, invisible pain buried deep, trying to turn bad into good, battling when to keep my mouth shut, watching the tidal wave creep overhead, keeping my eyes wide open for a glimpse of a rainbow.  
 Ally could see the colors in the sky after the brief rainstorm yesterday.  She learned so much from Mason. He could see a rainbow when there was none. He knew when I needed a smile.  He taught Ally laughter.   Yesterday, the gray clouds hung.  Ally put me back on track; "Mom, I had a dream last night I was flying with underwear on my head and eating Kit-Kats" 
She keeps me on my toes, " Mom, what are patios made out of?" (as she tapped the sidewalk) and why is it different color than the street?"  Concrete is such a hard subject.  But her inquisitive mind made my heart burst with a smile. She lights the fire inside.  As we walked hand in hand on our way to have lunch with Maverick. I am so proud of Ally and Maverick.
There will always be a fire burning inside.  We all have our own dreams and goals, desires to move ahead, make a difference, and spread random acts of kindness.  Life is all about keeping our eyes wide open, catching a glimpse of the rainbow ahead, and savoring Kit-Kats in the middle of the night...
 Here's to  Mason and Harley for teaching us those precious moments. Why so many brave little souls?   God knows my anger.  I pray for understanding....for unanswered prayers... from a mind running in circles.

To infinity and beyond..

  Hope is here, we can make a difference.  We will never be silent.   Hope is alive in every color of the rainbow.

For the fire in our souls and the colors of the rainbow:

 June 9 at the Braden's  Hope Walk for Childhood Cancer
http://www.active.com/donate/hopewalk2012/masonarik

 August 26-  Head for the Cure 5K at Corporate Woods registration is now open you can join team Make a Difference for Mason
 https://www.vergeregistration.com/Events/HFTC/Head-for-the-Cure---Kansas-City-2012/Register/Participation

September 15- Run for the Tigers at the KC Zoo The 9th Annual Run
http://www.kansascityzoorun.org/

GARAGE SALE

Happy Easter Everyone!  We stopped by Corporate Woods and watered Mason's trees, and then had a fun Easter Egg hunt at Mimi and Papa's.  We are staying busy this week as the 2nd annual fundraising garage sale is in full force.  Details below!  We are excited to be raising money for childhood cancer.

HUGE GARAGE SALE FUNDRAISER!!  We collected items from over 10+ families for the 2012 Braden’s Hope Walk for Childhood Cancer.

Sale starts Friday, April 13 from 8 – 5 and Saturday, April 14 from 8 – 1 at our house in Overland Park. Look for details on Craigslist.  BARGAINS GALORE!! Donations include children’s’ clothes from 3T to size 10-12 and various adult sizes, and shoes.  Lots of kids’ toys, games, and puzzles.  Coca-Cola collectibles, 4" by 4" by 7" clear acrylic display cases (formerly held Beanie Babies) great for collectible display, dishes, and household items galore.   Also, for sale: Air hockey table, 2 dressers (need work), small round table, books, kid’s bike, water dispenser, bassinet, Dora kitchen, and much, much more.  Donations are still coming in this week! All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the 2012 Hope Walk for Braden’s Childhood Cancer, in Olathe, KS on Saturday, June 9.  http://www.active.com/walking/olathe-ks/hope-walk-and-touch-a-truck-etc-2012  We will have a Team Make a Difference for Mason at the walk. Come walk with us or show your support at the sale. Thank you and we HOPE to see you soon.

3 Trees

 March 29, 2012   Our family planted 3 Trees for Mason.  The first 2 trees were planted at Corporate Woods.  We have always watched fireworks at Corporate Woods, ran the Head for the Cure.  Also American Adoptions is located there.  3 wonderful reasons...and the boys rode their bike through the trails.  It was an AMAZING day.  The last tree was very special as our family and friends met at Bluejacket Pool to remember Mason.  It was a day just how Mason would have planned, bubbles, kites, sidewalk chalk, Ice Cream, Gummi bears and music. Most importantly his friends were there. Even those they could not make it were there in spirit. His heroes from the Overland Park Fire Department watered the tree after all the kids planted the tree.  Words can not express how thankful we are for your continued support and love.  Mason you are forever in the hearts of so many.  We love you and how we miss you...

Tree Planting March 29

Live, Laugh, Love, and Splash!! Everyone is invited to help plant a tree in Memory of Mason on March 29 at 4 p.m. The tree planting will take place at Bluejacket Pool at 101st and Bond in Overland Park. Mason loved to swim and he celebrated his 7th and 9th birthday at Bluejacket. We will be wearing green and remembering our brave little soul.   We love you Mason!! 

We are Planting a Tree

 Everyone is invited...March 29th we will plant a tree in memory of Mason at 4p.m.  We will be visiting Bluejacket Pool to find a perfect spot. Mason celebrated his 7th and 9th birthday at Bluejacket.  He loved to swim.   We will also be serving ice cream with sprinkles of gummi bears.
  The pool is located at 101st and Bond in Overland Park.

It's hard to believe that it's been one year.   Grief still attacks with no warning on any given day.  Tears fall at random, something as simple as a Star Wars lunch bag.  Or Ally wanting me to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid book ( write you own).  Inside Mason's handwriting filled the first 20 pages.  I froze at our family picture. The star on my shirt made me smile.  The empty pages so hard to flip through; reminding me of the emptiness inside our hearts.

THANK YOU BROOKRIDGE GIRLS!!!

What an AMAZING weekend!! It all started on Friday.  Words cannot begin to express how proud and honored we are at the Brookridge girls for honoring Mason and raising money for the Tigers at the KC Zoo.  We are so thankful and feel so loved.  Thank you for keeping Mason's memory alive.  I still can not believe it has been almost one year.  We have finally thought of some places to plant a tree as March 29th approaches we will be hopefully working out the details.  Thank you for keeping Mason in your hearts.  A special THANK you and hug to the Brookridge 5th grade girls for working so hard and dedicating your dance to Mason.  He was so happy, SNOW fell from the sky that morning.  Live, Laugh, Love and Roar like a Tiger!

The rest of the weekend was fabulous too!  Maverick has been wanting a Buddy for Rex and a  dog to call his own so when we just happened to find "Buddy" a 6-year old cocker spaniel mix it was truly a match from the start.