Life as a Cleveland: July 2012

VACATION at HOME

The week went by so quickly, but Bo and I got to spend a lot of quality time together.

Monday morning we headed to Lisa's house to play in the pool, it was nice to spend time with her and her family.

Lisa and Bo

Lisa, Cody, Ethan and Bo on the way back from the pool

We spent a lot of time hanging out with Pistol

4th of July was a very busy, but FUN day

We started at the Richfield parade

Watching Ronald McDonald go by

Look at those rosy Cheeks, I think it's time to find some air conditioning

Then Bo and I headed over to our friends J and Leslie's and met their little man. Then Bo decided she wanted to swim with J

Jack Pietila

J and Bo hanging out in their pool

Then that evening we headed over to our friends house to watch the Richfield Fireworks

USA USA USA

ohh...ahh

Family Time

Stevi, Chad, Van, Mitch, Jessica, Maddox, and Grady all came up to visit our new addition to the family, so we got to spend a lot of quality time with all of them. It was nice to see all of them without having to rush off somewhere. We spent the rest of the weekend together just having fun as a family. I wish we could do that a lot more often, Josh and I really miss not being able to go to Iowa as often as we would like to. Soon we promise.

Meeting baby Levi

Playing with Avery and Van

All of the girls hanging out with the kids while the Cleveland boys hangout at softball (sorry you didn't make the pic Chad)

I'm good over here, but you keep playing in the water Van

"BABY"

No I'm good right here

The Boys hanging out with the Mister-Mister (it was so hot out)

Cleveland cousins minus Levi

Kisses for Levi

Adult version of Bags

Kids version of bags

The 6 Cleveland cousins

Avery is so adorable with her little brother, already protecting him.

Back to work I go, it was a great break. Next break in two weeks, and it's off to Texas to spend some quality time with Erica, and some Theis' in San Antonio. Bo and I can't wait.

Life is to SHORT

CJ 2009

Five years ago this October we meet our neighbors Laurie and Andrew, and Laurie's 13 year old niece Ciera Jolien (CJ). She immediately became a part of our lives. She came to visit often, and we loved having her come over. I taught her how to cook, make Kool-aid, and even how to do her math, and I enjoyed every minute of it. She started calling Josh and I mom and dad, and at first I asked her not to because I didn't want to step on her own parents toes. However, with time it was very enduring and made us realize the impact we had on her life (and she had on ours). As we moved away and she moved in with other family members, we spent less time together, but she was always welcome in our home, and we would get excited when she called to ask about a math problem, or how to fill out her college application. How she called Bo her little sister, and was so excited to meet her, and want us to be apart of her graduation ceremony. She was an amazing young woman that had a lot to look forward to.

CJ and Bo

Final piece

So when I got the phone call from her aunt Laurie that she was on life support and we needed to come say our final good-byes I was in shock, and couldn't wait to go home and tell Josh. We got in our car and went to the hospital in hopes that the doctors would change their diagnosis, and tell us she was going to be fine. When we walked into her room we knew, there were no words said, but we knew that we really had to say good-bye to a young woman that changed our lives for the better. CJ had a heart condition since the day she was born, and more recently a blood platelet condition that caused her a lot of pain. Friday night CJ had a seizure that cause blood and swelling in her brain, the doctors tried to fix it with surgery, but it was to late the damage had been done, there was nothing more they could do for her. They took her off life support and she passed away Saturday evening. All I wanted to do was hug our baby girl, and not let her go.

CJ we miss you so much you touched many peoples lives, and many people that love you very much.

Heart Strong for CJ

It is a great honor in our house to put the final piece of the puzzle in. I am sad to think we will never see her final picture of her puzzle that she was still left to complete. You will always be a part of our lives puzzle. LOVE YOU CJ!

Start of a weeks vacation

Thursday night Bo got to spend the night with her Aunt Angela and her cousins, while I went to work. Angela reported that her signs are amazing she was so easy to understand, and she was so good. It's so mice to hear that she signs without us, and is just as good for other people as she is for us. The boys were sad that she only got to spend one night.

I truly loved all of the days I spent with Bo the last three weeks, and the SIP program was a lot of fun. However, I really missed spending time with my husband, so we made up for it this weekend.

Some mean games of cards, a surprise birthday party for my amazing aunt "Mary Lynn", and a trip to the Minnesota Zoo with great friends.