Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Tasting Vietnam and School

Summer is officially over in the eyes of the school! Sophie headed back to school yesterday. New class, new teachers and some new friends. It was a difficult transition as she was so very fond of Ms. Leslie and Ms. Dana.
They had her visiting a few hours a day to her new class for the past week and she seemed to not be very receptive. Not really eating lunch, etc which is not her. She cried as she was dropped off in her new room. She ended up having a very good day except when she was on the playground and looked into the window of her old class and saw Leslie and Dana. So we have one more milestone under the old parental roadmap.
Something else that has surfaced with Sophie on the medical front (if it is not one thing it is another!). While we have her under-active thyroid mangaged plus another rash deal whipped, Saturday she started to break out in hives on various parts of her body. So we are battling that now with some meds and hoping that they go away. Strange...
Saturday we had some friends over to celebrate our friend Scott's (Scooter) birthday. Trish had a wonderful Crab Spring Roll receipe and an outstanding pork dish that was devoured. The smells in the kitchen were unreal. Everyone really enjoyed it.

Trish churning out the Spring Rolls....YUMMY!

Peaches ready for some too!


Giving Uncle Scooter his picture in a frame she decorated.

Ready for the Goddard School year!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Another clear CT!!!


Yesterday Tricia had a regular follow-up CT Scan with her Oncologist yesterday. We received word back late afternoon that the scan looked "remarkable" which we have never heard Dr. Yim use that word before. He is normally very reserved, for those who have met him.
Everything is looking wonderful and now Trish is 5 1/2 years cancer free and we are so blessed to have the care of great doctors like Dr. Yim and Butler from St. Luke's in St. Louis. So we breathe one more sigh of relief. Another milestone passed. WOOOHOO!!!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Epworth Heights Welcomes Sophie

A special place to our family since 1956 Sail In cottage built in 1901 has become an annual retreat from the summer heat of St. Louis. This year, Sophie spent her first summer along the shores of Lake Michigan and she fit right in and really enjoyed herself, as did her parents. Our weather was awesome. Mid 50's at night low 70's during the day with zero humidity and a nice breeze gave us perfect beach time!
Our friends the Walker's joined us again this year with their daughter Olivia, departing St. Louis on 8/1 under the cover of darkness at 2:20am for the 9 hour northern journey to a place were the sunsets are among the best in the world (seriously) and the Blue Moon ice cream is a local favorite at the Park Dairy drawing locals and tourists alike who wait in line for ever just to get a taste. Another Ludington (the city that Epworth is in) attraction is the lighthouse and of course the S.S. Badger which crosses the lake twice daily from Manitawoc, WI to Ludington making it easier to get to Michigan versus driving all the way South and around the bottom of the lake. She leaves Ludington in the morning at 8am, returns at 6pm and then back across at 8pm. It is a place you have to experience to understand. So if you want to find a fun family spot look up Ludington for a summer trip. You won't be sorry.
We took over 400, yes four-zero-zero pictures, and we will share the link as soon as we upload them all. But below is a small but hefty dose of the fun days we spent with our girl. Tomorrow is back to the old bump and grind. We just have to wait 11 more months.............ugh!

Sail In

Family photo op, take 1

I love it here! minus the 30 mph winds today....

Pretty little girls.....

Park Dairy for some Blue Moon!

More...More! MORE!

Not sure if more got in her tummy or on the dress :-)

Poppa and Sophie playing in the water

Like Mother...Like Daughter. Sophie loves to do what Mommy is doing.

Family photo op #223 :-)

Mothers and Daughters

Ready for the annual Sail In Luau!!!

Loving the beach! Playing with her beach bum buddy Olivia

Yeah, she can write her own name in the sand! :-)

Jumping waves in the lake with Mommy

Here comes the Badger!

Lighthouse photo op with Mommy

North Pier Head Lighthouse

Badger steams into Ludington

The Walkers. They are expecting #2 in January!

Can't go to Epworth without a cherry dress!

Cheese!

Shopping at the grocery store in the children's museum

3 scoops of mint chip please

Always on the front door to remind you.

Taking it all in......ahhhh

Thanks again Sail In...Another special summer....


Greeting the carferry


Tricia teaches Walker how to do a cartwheel. Funny stuff...As Walker says, "you can't make this stuff up!"


First Epworth beach stop the day we arrived. Windy but a memorable moment.