For my friend Cory

Today I lost a friend. She was 31 with 2 young boys. She fought 3 1/2 long years to beat this cancer. I know I tend to be preachy about my own life experience....take your folic acid, but now my advice is this...get a mammogram. Cory's OBGYN told her it was a clogged milk duct from nursing, they put her off. Not long after, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. A double masectomy and hysterectomy soon followed, but the cancer was too agressive in her young body. Remember to keep this family in your prayers, her husband Brian, son's Collin and Dylan, and the rest of her amazing family who moved in, stood by her side and cared and fought for her just as she did.
Here is a beautiful pic of Cory from our college days in the dance ensemble. She was such a light, always positive and happy. Cory, we will miss more than you will ever know.

Annual Trip to The Pumpkin Patch

50th Anniversary of the ASO - Chicago

Here are some pics of us at a "gala" for the 50th Anniversary of the American Society of Ocularists. It was wonderful to see my old friends....they were the catalysts for what is now called "The Franklin Family"! Donnie and I met at one of these meetings 9 years ago!

Cousin Conley comes over for a playdate

Round 3: stomach virus

Camera Happy!

I'm now 30!

Back to bloggin'! I received a wonderful gift for my birthday from my husband....a really fabulous camera! So now I will try to update my blog more often. These are pics from my 30th birthday. Donnie got a few of our friends together for dinner. I had a great time.

Girl's Getaway!

Nichola, Julia and I finally got away for a long overdue (the last one was 4 years ago) girl's trip in Miami/Coconut Grove. We had a great time!

Our trip to Colorado

Lauren and Riley

Riley had a friend over this morning and had a blast. This is Riley's new ride from Lulu. Daddy has not put the battery in it yet, so, for some reason it is inside????

Rain, rain go away

This is the last time we really got to play outside! Hey Evan...we need your ark....the rain won't stop!

Our trip to L.A.

We went to my step-sisters wedding in Santa Monica recently. A perfectly beach-themed wedding....it was beautiful. It was so great to see family and friends, I cherish those times like you wouldn't believe. I wish so badly we all lived closer to one another. I'll post more pics from this trip soon.

Riley's 2nd Birthday

True Freedom!

Note to self: Always put pants/shorts on Riley after diaper change.

Mr. Sun, Please Shine Down on Me!

This morning was Riley's last day of Mother's Day Out. They had a program where Riley performed a few songs along side her fellow classmates. I could not believe Riley knew the words and signs to Jesus Loves Me. I even sang it with her when we got home and she sang along with doing the signs all on her own (the words are a bit broken, but we know what she is saying!). It floors me how fast she learns things, (after Donnie left for work from the program, Riley said, "Daddy go office"). She is learning so much right now.
We enjoyed the first day of sun in a while today! Riley played with water and her swing set for several hours. After eating a nice dinner outside (which is not something you can do very often here in Texas), Donnie and Riley galloped around the house with their horsies "Sha-neigh-neigh" and "Kan-neiygh". Then we capped the evening off with several rounds of "ring around the rosie"...which all three of us HAVE to do (she attempts to get Sophie to play....but no such luck yet...I can't even get the dog to roll over, let alone ring around the rosie).
Tomorrow is a big day for Donnie. He stepped up to the challenge of taking the day off of work to watch Riley and her two cousins, Corbin and Conley, while my sister-in-law and I go shopping out of town all day. He plans to take them to Chuck-E-Cheese (I despise Chuck-E-Cheese....sounds like a big germ fest, eeewww!). Better him than I! They will have a blast. So, needless to say, Donnie gets the husband of the month award (it would have been husband of the week, but since he is watching our niece and nephew too, he deserves it). PRAY FOR HIM PLEASE! Just kidding, those kids are GREAT.