Valentine's Day + Presidents' Day Weekend

Lainey received her first "secret admirer note" from a good "friend." This boy is so sweet....he's been a good friend of Lainey's AND Walker's for a couple of years!

He gave her some money. Smart boy. :)

On Friday, February 16th, Lainey and I headed to Tulsa to attend Revive Convention/Competition. When I saw that our route passed through Sherman, Texas...I knew that we had to stop. I made Lainey get out and pose in front of my college dorm! It truly hasn't changed much (from the outside) in 18 years (really, 18 years!?). 

I loved this school!

And THIS little nugget - she continues to surprise me when she's on stage. She is a boss. She owns it. She has a confidence and self-assurance that is so mature for her age (in my opinion). And, what's funny, is that she separates her "normal self" from this stage presence. She can perform with a certain fierceness on stage but then will turn around and be the most humble, sweet, encouraging, empathetic child. I admire her...I'm proud of her for being who she is. She works her tail off - no doubt - and she LOVES to perform, but I'm so very thankful that her heart stays sweet. (Remind me that I said this when she turns 13.) Lainey won first place for her solo at the competition. Lainey's friend Lauren placed fourth!

Lainey's friends Kaylin and Kali got first place and second place for their solos, as well. And sweet Ella placed fifth. Way to represent, girls!

I'm so proud of you, Lainey Lou!

As Lainey was dancing, Walker was busy turning 8 years old! :) Emmy and Tuck surprised him by taking him to the DFW Auto Show. He LOVED it!

Ah! The Bugatti! :)

After the car show, Walker was able to spend the evening with Aunt Whitney, Uncle Matt, and Tom. :) How cute are these boys...I love them both so much.

Aunt Whitney and Tom visited Ben at the hospital on Sunday. :)

And this exhausted girl slept for an hour and a half on the way home from Tulsa. She was wiped out, with good reason. The kids danced nonstop all weekend long. Lainey was also chosen to be part of the Revive Performance Crew, meaning she got to perform at the closing show. She also received a partial scholarship for this convention next year! :)

We concluded our weekend by visiting Ben at BIR. The kids played hide-and-seek outside during Ben's physical therapy. I'm sure the staff was thankful that they took their energetic little selves outside to play.

A Hodgepodge: Dance, Baseball, Walker's "Early" Birthday Celebration, a Home Visit, and Belle

Lainey and Eva... We love Eva and her sister, Anna.

crazy boy at baseball practice

Walker, hanging out in Ben's shower bench (the one we purchased for the home!).

Ben had a "home visit" on Saturday AND Sunday! :) We celebrated Walker's birthday a week early so that Ben could be there for the "party." :) Walker and Lainey opened their Valentine's presents (early) from their dad and then Walker opened his birthday gifts from us!

One of Walker's Valentine's gift from Daddy...a squishy eyeball!

One of Lainey's Valentine's gifts from Daddy...a squishy cinnamon roll!

Reagan. She was so happy to see her dad. And she enjoyed sitting in his lap.

Lainey also received a squishy ice cream cone and a squishy whoopee cushion! Best Valentine's Day gifts ever. ;)

Of course the Taco got a squishy taco. And he also received a squishy hamburger. 

It was a very "squishy" Valentine's Day celebration. :)

Ben FINALLY got to open his Christmas gifts! :) 

Such the helper...thanks, Reagan.

Walker received a few games for his PlayStation! He was so excited!

such a happy dog

Cally and Ben

Allyson, Chris, and Reagan

Mary and Collin

HOME for the first time since August!

Lainey is actually really, really good at navigating a wheelchair!

Oh! And here's Belle. :) She's cute.

I just love her.

She brings us a lot of joy. She's funny and quirky and sweet. ;)

Tuesday, February 6th - the day Ben got his trach out! :) A happy, happy day! :) 

January! And a bit of February!

Filling in the gaps...and, spoiler alert...there are quite a few photos of our pets! I am not sure why I've taken so many pictures of them lately?

Walker and Brayden, at Brayden's birthday party

I seriously love their friendship. That friend that you can immediately reconnect with after not seeing them for months? That's these two... :) 

Reagan has been making me laugh a lot these days...she was so tired one day that she didn't notice that I had left the room! She just kept snoozing!

And here she is, asleep at the dinner table.

And here's a very artistic shot of Belle from the back. :) 

Hehe. She's cute.

Reagan loves heating pads.

And she loves to roll in the dried-out grass! In this photo, she has approximately 8, 542 pieces of grass on her back. I've even taken a handheld vacuum to her body a time or two. ;) 

Yelling at me...as always.

refusing to let me make the bed

Hi, little bunny. 

Walker and his soul brother, Knox. Even though they don't realize that they are "soul brothers" they are so, so, SO alike in so many ways. 

:)

frowning during a haircut

A sweet friend compiled a book of my "updates" about Ben. Man, it's hard to read! I can't do it! Especially those first few weeks or so...it's way too hard for me to "revisit" right now. It's very real, very raw, and amazingly...still quite fresh in my mind. I'm so thankful for this gift, however. I'll treasure it forever.

And! Here's a picture! The trach is OUT and we're so excited! I'm so excited! Ben is rid of ALL plastic tubes! :) YAY!

And, as we prepare for Ben's return home...we're purchasing equipment to help him be as independent as possible. Here's Walker, sitting on Ben's "new" shower bench. ;)