Our Garden of Love!

This past Saturday we were working in our front yard and my next door neighbor, who loves roses, flowers, and plants came over.  A few weeks she had come over to give me some sharp clippers that she bought for me.  We were visiting and she shared with me that she has suffered some bad heart problems and how gardening relaxes her.  When we moved to Puyallup I was unsure, who I wanted to know about my brain bleed, but when my neighbor was sharing her story I decided that I felt safe and secure enough to share a little bit about what happened to me 22 months ago.

This past Saturday she came over with three more starts of rose bushes and shared with me that she was going to plant me a rose garden because after going through a brain bleed and the recovery process she felt I deserved an opportunity to stop and smell the roses.  She also selected some specific rose colors that represented things about my new life.  The first color was red because not only does red represent love, but it also represents stroke awareness and the second chance I was given to live a life with my family and friends.  The next color was a mixture of yellow and pink this represented a new friendship that was formed because of our courageous battles we both fought.  The last color was white to represent faith, to remind me that faith is key to my continued emotional and physical healing.

I have never been a person, who has enjoyed gardening, but I must say gardening has a whole new meaning to me.  Every day when the sun is shining I go out and water my roses, and other plants and think about the course of my life.  The brain bleed stunk and occasionally still stinks; however, it has also changed my life in a more positive and meaningful direction.  I marvel at the people, who I have crossed paths with since August 31, 2011, and everything they have taught me and how several of them have touched my life.  I do not question why we bought the house we bought and the location.  Right now I need this and my family needs it too.  As I grow my rose garden I'm reminded after the thorns of life there is also beauty and happiness to be enjoyed.  This rose garden truly has purpose and meaning to me.

Here is one of the roses!

Zachary Earned is Wolf!!!!

A couple of weeks Zach earned his Wolf for Cub Scouts he worked very hard and we were really proud of him!

The Flag Cermony!

After getting his wolf badge

He also earned an award for The Pinewood Derby

Ballet Photos

Today Isabella's ballet teacher wanted me to capture some of their ballet so here are a few shots.  Clearly, I have a lot of our little ballerina!

The whole class.  I love Isabella's form in this photo

After about ten shots everyone smiled!

Very Sweet

We had to try in sepia as well

Check out Isabella's twirl!

I love this bar one.  I'm going to do some more editing on this one

I took this photo with my phone

Loves Ballet!

Look how cute I am!

Mount Rainier

Over the weekend we took a quick ride up to Mount Rainier.  Paradise is only 59 miles from our home, which we are really excited about!  It was pretty but a little cold too!

The water was just gushing!  We were standing in some snow and getting sprayed at the same time.
 

Same waterfall!

Waterfall off of the road if you stand next to it you get soaked!

Another waterfall

Very pretty waterfall

The kids and I trying not to freeze

We saw a lot of snow.  Some of the roads were still closed.

I love this waterfall

Family Update!

I finally figured out how to load photos onto the blog using Windows 8!!!

 We are enjoying our new home and neighborhood.  We have very friendly and some of our neighbors are also very watchful.  A word to the wise do not toilet paper our home or car unless you want a visit from the Puyallup Police Department. (A few years ago we had some youth toilet paper our car)  We have an older neighbor who stays up all night and closely monitors the area.  She recently hosed down Zachary and Isabella when they screamed because they discovered a snake under a rock in one of the empty lots.  Needless to say, our watchful neighbor is adjusting to The Walker Family.  Our other neighbors on the other hand, are very considerate and thoughtful.  The other day when Bella was sick my next door neighbor mowed and edged the yard.  She also has helped me with the flower beds and other plants.  She is very friendly and nice.

We have been doing some home improvement projects and slowly getting settled.  The kiddos are finishing up the school year in Kent and are getting excited to begin their new school in the fall.  Kirk is adjusting to the commute and has figured out about three shortcuts up to the college.  I have been busy helping the kiddos adjust and taking them up to school.

As far as the bleed recovery as usual it is coming along.  I have my good and bad days.  As you will see in the blog I went on a five mile walk that was challenging for me, but I did it.  Right now I'm still working on recognizing when my brain and body are fatigued.  Seriously I have missed some of my activities that I could do with ease prior to the bleed. However, each week, month, and since I'm almost to my second year, each year I can see the gains that I'm making.  I still miss pieces of my old self and yet still embracing pieces of my new self it is a work in progress.

Enjoy our photos!!!! 

The Pinewood Derby Car and Car Display

We are slowly finding Zach's car stuff, but about a month ago was the pinewood derby.  Zach's car was spray painted blue followed by sparkle nail polish.  It really made it shine.  Below is his growing display of cars and big rigs in his bedroom.

More projects

We finished painting these cute white shelves.  One is going in Isabella's bedroom and the other two in the Master

Some may have already seen this, but over spring break the kiddos and I did a floral arrangement for the wall cutout in the entrance way.

The above quote went through my head several times on this 5 mile walk in 82 degree weather.  Needless to say, one of Kirk's coworker's told him about this walk near Olympia.  In fact, she told him about it last year and lets just say there is no way that I could have done this last year; however, I did it this year but paid the price in fatigue.  Prior to the bleed this would have been a piece of cake, but post bleed this was one of the toughest exercise activities I have done, but I accomplished it along with learning some lessons.  Lesson number one is my workouts are a lot better in an air conditioned gym.  Lesson 2 If I do something similar again take an extra beta blocker to avoid post exercise headaches.  Lesson 3 Just do not bring water on this walk, but you better have some Gatorade.  Finally try new activities but recognize my limitations and listen to my body!

 

Here are some of the photos.  As you can see this is a very long boardwalk and before you even get to the boardwalk you walk on paved and gravel road for a while.  Lets just say Zachary and Isabella said that they never want to do this again.

The boardwalk

The kiddos spent most of the walk up on the shoulders!

Part of Puget Sound!  The kiddos were not impressed because they did not see any marine animals.

Once we reached the end of the boardwalk we zoomed in on Puget Sound.  You can see some really pretty birds.

One of the ponds

Another view of the boardwalk

The highlight for Isabella a butterfly!

More shoulder riding

The beginning of the boardwalk.  The boardwalk is so long that there was no way I could capture a photo of the entire thing.

The Kiddos and I at the end of the walk!  We were a very tired and cranky bunch!

Home Improvements

Pantry that is getting organized.

The new couch of course we have a few toys out.

I have not found all of my books yet, but we decided to make a reading nook in our Master' bedroom.
 

I found this cute little table and repainted it.

Christmas Cactus that we got after Kirk's mom passed away.  I seriously thought it was dead but my next door neighbor repotted it and saved it.  Kirk was so happy!

Our next door neighbor is retired so she came over and helped us plant strawberries and some other flowering plants.  The kiddos have enjoyed watching them grow! 

The Car Report

Zach  came home and told me that he was writing a report at school about cars.  He is intently reading the Mustang book to look for car facts.  This is going to be a long report!

The Poms Poms

Isabella wanted Poms Poms to hang in her bedroom. So I made her these.  I'm going to use fishing line and thumb tacks and hang them from the ceiling she is so excited!!!!!

So True!

One of my friend's sent me this because I was complaining to her how regardless where I was the kiddos are always able to find me!

The Lock Out!

At 8:30 one morning the kiddos and I locked ourselves out of the house.  Thankfully we did not close the garage!  As we were waiting for Kirk to come home Zach decided it was time to ride his bike!  He thought that morning was great!

Happy 5th Isabella!!!