Week 38

This has been a tough week. This week has seemed like a blur. We have been up and going with our regular schedule--we get the boys off for school, we get them to soccer practice, we make dinner, homework gets done...we have our daily routines. But there have been tears. A lot of tears. The memorial for Eric's dad has been scheduled, we will be heading down to Florida in December to be the with the family and say our goodbyes. His dad wanted to be cremated and this gives a chance for all the family to be together at his family spot at the same time.

With all the tears that have been shed there have been a lot of smiles.

The twins were great at the soccer games this week, when I say great I mean I was amazed by how well behaved they were (they week before we had to leave at halftime)!

C played against some of his soccer buddies in his high school game. I love the high school games that I get to catch up with all the other moms. 

I love seeing L's smile after school. Everyday this boy runs home from his bus stop.

J's team had an away game. What a great group of boys!

This is one of my favorite pictures from the past week. A wanted to hang out with her daddy and Grangran while watching J's game.

More smiles from our week, just what we needed......

The loss of Eric's Dad

It is 4:00 am and I can't sleep. My heart aches for the pain the family is experiencing right now. Friday night around 8:30 I saw Eric's uncles phone number show up on the caller ID, my heart sank. We knew it would be coming but you are never prepared to actually hear the words.

Last October Eric's dad called to wish Eric a happy birthday and to let him know that he would be going into surgery later that week. A week later we would learn that his dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. The doctor told him he only had 2-3 months. That did not stop Steve. He fought this horrible cancer with everything he had. He put himself through grueling treatments to have extra time. He almost made it a year from when he received his diagnosis. He was only 60, too young.

Every morning and every night he would send a text. He would begin the day thanking God that he woke up to another day and end the day telling everyone how loved they are. A few weeks ago the texts stopped coming, it was getting harder for his dad to see.  The pain was getting worse.

On Friday his uncle sent a text saying the nurses didn't think he would make it through the weekend. Within a few hours he was gone. Eric was away in Charlotte with L for a soccer game, I had to call him at the hotel to tell him. Such a hard call to make.

Now we are waiting for the arrangements to be made but while we wait I have been sitting back and thinking about Steve. What a loving father, grandfather, and husband he was. Times were not always perfect, Eric's parents may not have worked out but he met a wonderful lady who loved him unconditionally. He had his faith and was happy. We are so grateful for that.

This was the last picture I sent to Steve (for Father's Day). He was so proud of Eric and loved seeing all the Bratager kids!

Week 37

We had such a busy week....

L celebrated his 10 birthday!

J had 2 games, one game was on Friday night under the lights. I put the twins to bed and the other boys babysat while I was able to go watch J toddler free! The private school near the soccer fields had fireworks that night, just as J scored the fireworks went off in the background! What a perfect Friday night date with Eric--kids soccer game, catching up with friends at the field, and fireworks :)

C had 2 high school games. I love being able to take a break during the week to go cheer him on! Go Huskies!

 The twins and I took a morning to play out in the rain.

A invited her daddy to take a break from work to have a tea party.

My mom and I gave my sister a baby sprinkle (I will post more pictures lately). I brought A with me so she could have some cousin time. Those two are only 3 1/2 months apart. I love that A gets some girl time!!

Anytime roses! This made my week when Eric had roses delivered just because!

L's Birthday Weekend-Part 2 (cousins party)

This year L celebrated his birthday party with his cousin.  Those two were so cute, such love between the cousins.