UPDATE OVERLOAD:

It's been almost a month since I posted with what the kids have been up to so there is a lot to cover!  I'm going to start with some pictures of Joss who has been walking really well for about 5 weeks now!

With all of the kids starting school Joss was feeling a little left out!:)

Go Huskers!

I love this last one because she walks around like this pretending she's talking on the phone all of the time.  She is usually talking to Papa!

Of course her dad wanted her to cheer for the Packers too!

She's been so much fun lately!  She's repeating words, loves giving kisses, occasionally likes to snuggle, always reaches up for us to be picked up only to want back down right away, is always copying her big brother, and LOVES bedtime.  Seriously, nothing makes her smile more than her bed and she's been sleeping 11.5 hours at night and napping twice a day for a total of about 3 hours.  She's also eating great and I can't really think of a food she hasn't liked.  We keep saying we need to "Joss proof" the house a little better but we haven't.  She is happy having free reign of the house but it definitely makes our time at home less relaxing.  The main issue with an almost 15 month old is going places.  All she wants to do right now is get into everything she's not supposed to.  We are really enjoying her in this phase though and it has been fun to watch her personality come alive more and more.

I just got back from a work trip and she was so happy to see me when I got home.  She kept giving me hugs and cuddles!  It was the best!

Jett seems to be growing up so fast lately.  He started Sunday School a few weeks ago and loved it.  His 2nd cousin Georgia is in his class!

We also recently went to a train show in Waverly with my side of the family which was pretty much a dream come true for Jett. He picked out his outfit (Thomas the Train shirt and Conductor hat).

Besides trains, nothing makes this kid happier than the occasional treat.  We may or may not use them for bribes from time to time!

Almost a month ago Jake's cousin Brittany got married and her wedding was a great time!  Joss went to play with the Simanek's during the reception which was a great decision for everyone.  Jett had so much fun at the dance!  Since then he even asked me if I knew of any other weddings we could go to:).

Almost two weeks ago we welcomed another Akerson baby to the family.  Josh and Marie had a boy named Kendrix.  On Saturday we got to meet him and also took a few family pictures.  

The count right now is 11 grandchildren.  8 boys and 3 girls!  As you can imagine, it is pretty calm when we get together:).

That is all I have for now.  Both kids are at great ages and sometimes we still can't believe these little people are ours!!

 

MIXED EMOTIONS:

I write this post with very mixed emotions.  On Wednesday, September 2^nd my dad passed away.  It was the call I had been preparing myself for.  But nothing can prepare you for that.  Dad was put on a form of hospice a year ago.  He was sick of hospitals, sick of surgeries, and just sick of the roller coaster.  The bottom line was that there were too many things working against him and his body wasn’t going to be able to handle any more.  He just wanted to spend his remaining time at home.  At that point we felt like it could be 5 days, 5 weeks, 5 months, or 5 years.  It was a rough year for everyone and it included a lot of feelings of dread for how it was all going to end and guilt for not being there more. 

In some ways knowing how much someone suffers here on earth makes it easier when they pass because you know they are in a better place.  So I keep feeling like I should just be happy about that.  I even prayed for this at times.  But I can’t help but be sad or feel a little cheated that it had to be one way or the other.  Basically I felt like we had two options.  Either not having him here with us OR having him here and knowing how much he was struggling.  It wasn't and isn't a great feeling.

I usually choose to look on the positive side.  So I’ll try to do that now.  I got to see my dad 3 days before he passed away.  Upon his request, he and mom took a drive to Lincoln to pick Pam and I up and the four of us went for a drive.  We were together for two hours and had a nice visit.  Dad said he could just keep driving all day.  When I left I told him I loved him and he said it back.  I will always have that memory close to my heart.

I know we’ll all be fine and most importantly, we have each other.  I was given the greatest gift to have my amazing mom and sisters who I admire so much!  Here are a few pictures that are making me smile/cry right now:

In some ways I feel like I’m not only mourning his death but I’m also struggling thinking of everything he had to miss out on even when he was here.  I will probably never know exactly why he had to suffer so much in his life and why my mom  had to lose her husband at such a young age.  But I do know that I am so proud of him.  His plate was so very full for such a long time and he never once complained.   

My kids will never REALLY know their Grandpa Foy but I can promise that they will know him through me!