Tuesday, April 24, 2012

18..you're an adult.

Dear Whitney,

18. I’m overwhelmed with emotion today. You’re an adult. You can vote now, and I hope you do. You’re so smart, I have no doubt you realize the importance of making your voice heard. You’ll be starting your senior year this fall, you must be excited. In a little less than a year, you’ll be graduating high school. I wonder if you’ll go to college or start working straight away.

I know these 18 yrs haven’t been what you deserve, but I pray that the last 6 have helped make up for the previous 12.

I love you so much, I wish I could tell you that.

Welcome to adulthood, Whitney Marie. Happy 18th b/day.

Love always,

Dennis, Missy, Cadence & Bryleigh

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Over the Rainbow Winner

Congratulations to Katie!! I actually contacted her last week & sent the package at that point but I forgot to post an update :) I hope everyone has a great week - I can't believe it's alreay Sunday evening & new work week looms ahead... I need a vacation..

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Easter 2012

This is the first time in 7 years Cadence has woke up before me on a Holiday. Usually she's the last one up...and it's usually us waking her up! On Easter, however, she went & checked out the Easter baskets & found most of the eggs before she came to wake us up. Clearly just like her father! The girls LOVED finding eggs. They even found 2 that Bud Bud had started eating - through the shell & everything!! What a moron!

Bud Bud started snacking on this one!

Bryleigh found TWO!

She's been begging for Peeps since they started showing up on grocery store shelves

my life

Bryleigh Bunny

eh - pictures were getting old

look - another 'easy' find

Cadence Bunny
Sarah invited us over for Easter dinner & an egg hunt - so we happily obliged. Seriously - she's the best cook EVER! We had chicken carbonara (homemade!), bread, fruit & muffins. MMM!! The kids LOVED doing the egg hunt...I don't even think it needs to be Easter for this type of hunt..

the kids ready to find eggs
listening to directions from Aunt Sarah
the little ones got to go first

Everybody looking for eggs
Bryleigh made out!
After we left Sarah's - very full & even more tired - we headed to Marge & Dave's to visit. Everyone had already eaten dinner - but his sister stayed for a bit & all the kids played. Marge got an updated picture of her 7 grandkids..
And we left to go to my sisters. The girls played some more & had another smaller egg hunt. By the time we left - 8:30 - I could barely keep my eyes open. A full belly & lots of fresh air did me in! I hope your Easter was as fun & family filled as ours!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Fuck C**cer

The filthy word is everywhere...  I can't seem to shield my kids or myself from the word.  I want it to go away - I want a cure to be readily available.

My Uncle Rick was diagnosed w/APL Leukemia about a month ago.  My Aunt M was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 wks ago.  My Auntie R had a masectomy 3 wks ago.  My gramma's best friend, Wendy, a beautiful woman we lovingly refer to as Grandma #2 is full of cancer and was moved to hospice last week. 

The diagnosis for my Aunt M looks good.  They found it in my Auntie R's lymphnodes...still waiting on the prognosis.
My Uncle Rick will be hospitalized for 6 wks at a time - w/a possible 1 wk break at home in between.  During his 9 HOUR blood transfusion he started getting hives, they gave him benadryl through his port - his throat start closing up - his bp dropped - he passed out.
He's 52.

Besides having advanced alzheimers (she's only 63), Wendy now has full blown cancer.  She hasn't eaten in almost a week.  She has a constant drip of morphine.  My Gramma said she seems to be in a coma.

When I climb into bed at the end of the day - I thank God for my healthy family...that I'm healthy... I pray for my family and those I don't know.
I cry...I pray...I cry a little more.  I roll over, wrap my arms around Dennis & fall asleep wishing I could take away the pain of my loved ones.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Somewhere Over the Rainbow….CLOSED

Did you know rainbows are also used in gay pride? Well they are…the use of rainbow flags has a long tradition; they are displayed in many cultures around the world as a sign of diversity and inclusiveness, of hope and of yearning.

My sister got married a few weeks ago in Cleveland to her fantastic girlfriend of 3 yrs, Jaiden. My family LOVES Jaiden. She’s great with the kids, funny, sweet, kind – just a beautiful person inside & out! The wedding was awesome & full of love & support from people over the state.

the parade/rally before

love this sign

love this shirt!
first bride i saw that day

The first ceremony of the day...
loved them - they look like they're from the 50's!!
I do not have pics of Lisa & Jaiden.  My camera was broken & Lisa has not downloaded hers yet!  After the wedding, we went to Mama Santa's in Little Italy.  When my dad lived in Cleveland, he lived like 3 blocks from this delicious pizzeria.  It was weird going there – it’s been about 18 yrs since I was last there.  Wow.  Anyway, it was a good celebration for my sister & nice  to remember my daddy…




In honor of their ‘I do’s’ I’m going to be giving away a dvd of The Wizard of Oz, a beautiful rainbow colored pillow & a rainbow lollipop!



Giveaway Rules…



To enter for your chance to win the rainbow pack, please do the following & leave a separate comment for each entry:

TO ENTER YOU MUST


1. Become a public follower of my blog & leave a comment saying you’re following (or comment that you already are a follower).



FOR EXTRA ENTRIES (these will not count if you are not a follower):

2. Comment & tell us your favorite part of the Wizard of Oz

3. Blog about my contest w/the following link: http://stacey-dellfamily.blogspot.com/2012/04/somewhere-over-rainbow.html then comment w/a link back to your post

4. Facebook my contest w/the following link: http://stacey-dellfamily.blogspot.com/2012/04/somewhere-over-rainbow.htmlhtml then comment w/a link back to your post

5. Tweet about my contest w/the following link: http://stacey-dellfamily.blogspot.com/2012/04/somewhere-over-rainbow.htmlthen comment w/a link back to your tweet

6. Follow me on Twitter- Cadence1228 & comment back that you’re a follower (or already were)& tweet this contest: http://stacey-dellfamily.blogspot.com/2012/04/somewhere-over-rainbow.html

7. Follow me on Pinterest – Melissa Stacey-Dell & comment back that you’re a follower (or already were)

This giveaway is open to readers in the US & Canada - the winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on 3/15/12 & announced here that evening.

Thank you & Good Luck!!