Snuggle Bunnies

I am so ready to retire.

I spent most of my entire day running the girls Blackberry empire for them.

We picked and sold 35 gallons today.

And let me tell ya, that's a lot of berries!

Here's the sad part of this story-- we still have three rows that need picking.

Ug.

 Holland did me a favor today and put Kean down for a nap.

She never came down and it was awfully quiet up there....

Two cute kids snug in a crib.

Wouldn't have thought I'd find her there

but so glad I did.

Bliss

Kean had a cheering section this morning for his regular Physical Therapy date

with Grandpa Bodily.

(Lee's daughter, her husband and granddaughter are visiting from Boston).

 Our boy was quite willing to walk up and down the long driveway

to get the much coveted lawn mower ride with Grandpa Bodily.

 Have you ever seen such a blissful look on a boy's face?

 Oh, and Holland got home from Girls Camp late this afternoon.

Kean was so happy to see his "Hottie".

B.I.N.G.O.

Bingo night with the Barkettes.

Holland is away at church girls camp

but Greer led Reese and one of our favorite friends- Mary K

in a rousing game of trying to get five in a row.

The much coveted prize?

A piece of gum.

 Reese had a big day-- on top of a friend's birthday party,

Elly Moomey took her birthday shopping.

Reese got a new pair of sneakers...

 and some sparkly white sandals to match

her Baptism dress.

In our church, when you turn eight, you are old

enough to know right from wrong and decide

whether you'd like to be baptized a member of 

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

And Saturday is Reese's big day.

She's getting baptized by her dad at 10 a.m.

(at the church on Eagle Road south of Beacon Light)

if anyone would like to come.

We'd love it.
p.s. fresh berries and ice cream afterward.

The Ronquillos

Every day can't be a motorcycle day.

And some days have to be "housekeeping days"... 

like getting a dreaded haircut.

Kean hates, hates, hates getting his hair cut.

However, Byron gets his hair 'done" by one of the sweetest women in the world-

Sara Ronquillo.

It took several of us working together

to keep Kean entertained and from freaking out

(just out of the picture is Sara's other daughter Lavinina and Byron).

 If this all feels familiar- it should.

When Kean was so sick in the hospital nearly two years ago

(and his hair was matted into little dread locks in the back and thinning in the front),

Sara and her daughter Sabrina came to the hospital

to cut his hair.

 It wasn't any easier then.

Sara has the patience of Job and the swiftness of an Olympian.

 We especially love, love this family.

Sara's two daughters both work for St. Luke's

and so do her two sons-- including Joe-- hands down,

one of Kean's favorite nurses!

Both Byron and Kean got their hair cut and both look

much, much better.

But only Kean got hugs and snuggles from Sara.

The Biker Gang Induction

Kean had his nirvana morning of all mornings--

He hooked up with a group of Boise bikers

for a little lovin' and a little ridin'.

This group was actually on its way to Sun Valley to join

about 600 other bikers from the surrounding states

to escort a busload of cancer kids up to Camp Rainbow Gold.

 The background:  every year hundreds of bikers converge at a park

in Bellevue, Idaho and wait for the bus of children fighting cancer

to make their way from Boise to Sun Valley.

The bikers then escort the bus through Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum

all the way up to Camp.

I guess it is quite the site to behold.

(A friend sent me this).

The organizers had heard what a fanatic Kean is for cycle rides

and invited our family up to the event-- but we couldn't pull

if off-- between the long car ride and Kean's counts being too low

(no immune system).

Instead, he was invited to meet a small group of bikers

heading up to the big group.

The guys sure spoiled him

He got a teddy bear, a small replica motorcycle, a do rag (modeled by Reesey)

and the greatest shirt on the face of the earth!

The pics don't do it justice but it is a shirt screened with his own

leather Harley biker vest-- complete with a tuft of chest hair

at the collar and built in tattoos on the arms.

 The back of it says:  "Live Free, Ride Free".

And Nate, sitting right there on his bike is the guy who

tracked it down in a size 4T!

 We were each charmed by these wonderful bikers...

 they were darling with the Keanut Man....

and so cute with each of the girls.

Of course, the guys did take Kean for a ride

and let me put it this way-- the boy did NOT want to get off!

Just look at that smile.

I swear, if we would have let him, he would have hitched a ride

all the way to Sun Valley.

Maybe next year will be his year!

Snakes and Spas

Reason number 746 of why I am thankful Kean 

is not a typical boy?

SNAKES.

Hate 'em.

Really hate 'em.

 And no matter how hard my kids beg to keep one as a pet--

not gonna happen.

Even if Greer names him "Chopper" and he's

quote: tiny, cute and just a baby.

Not gonna happen.

 I'd be a bad boy's momma.

I'm much better at girl stuff... 

like the impromptu spas the girls are constantly setting up in the kitchen.

 Of course, Kean wants nothing to do with them.

He's all about motorcycles.

Tune in tomorrow for something really special.

Can't wait!

The Bandaid

We had a tiny vacation from Kean feeling and acting completely miserable.

He had horse therapy this morning

and the entire time he was on Romeo.. he was happy and content

oh, and don't forget smiling.

 This momma sure got a work out.

I don't know what it is about speed-- whether motorcycles

or horses -- but the boy loves to go.

 Candice, her daughter and I just did our best to run alongside Romeo

and keep up with our little cowboy.

 This afternoon, while Mister Bronco took a nap, my new neighbor, Shelley

came over to learn how to make jam.

We made four batches of blackberry and apricot.

Yum!

The Best Medicine

Poor Keanut man.

He clearly had jaw pain today and some foot pain.

Maureen came for therapy this morning and even though he adores her--

he wasn't willing to do much of anything.

Even swimming was a bust.

 I'll tell you what worked-- what did the trick

but I'm guessing you can guess:

a well timed cycle ride with Motorcycle Jeff.

I've said it before and I'll say it again-- angels

ride Harley's in my world!

Riding the Bull

Do you ever get so tired ... you'd allow yourself to sit and drool

in the corner of a room if it wasn't so doggone inappropriate?

That's me tonight.

But with good reason.

The girls and I headed up into the mountains this morning for

a day long white water rafting adventure.

(Byron is out of town for work-- dang).

 We met up with a group of other cancer families, loaded up on a bus

and headed further up the Payette River.

 All I can say is we had an absolute blast...

the girls took turns "riding the bull"-- sitting on the front part of the boat

for the biggest rapids.

Even Reesey rode the bull-- the picture below is of Greer

being tossed back into the boat during one of the Class III

rapids.  Those are her little bird feet sticking up into the air.

 In all, there were 7 boats in our group-- and of course,

we had the very, very best guide on our raft-- Ryan.

It was a picture perfect day... we felt quite spoiled

with the river guides fixing us a gourmet lunch and 

keeping us entertained with the stories of their nomadic lives.

We had water fights with the other rafts and jumped into the river

periodically to cool off.

But most of all, it was so fun just to get away--

away from the phones, the computer, the therapy

and the cancer.  Someday, hopefully, Kean will

get to come and enjoy some of these sweet gestures

provided for our family all because of him.

Chemo With a Side of Attention Please

Yuck, Ug and Blehhh.

Today was hospital Chemo day for Keanut.

Actually, it's really not too bad it's just what happens at home 

when the Chemo hits him later that I hate so very much.

Many of you have asked if he cries when he goes for Chemo.

Surprisingly, no.

He cries at home when I numb up his port-- I think he knows what's to come

and he truly hates, hates, hates being held down.

But once we get to St. Luke's, he usually quite happy.

Who wouldn't be - when he's treated like a rock star

and surrounded by doting women.

(Byron tell him daily that he's a lady's man-- and this sure proves it!)

Our friend from church, Sheila Hansen was today's Chemo date

and let me tell you, she was delightful.

I don't think I'd make it through these days without our dates.

Today Sheila kept me company, helped entertain Kean,

helped hold his legs down so he couldn't keep kicking the doctor

while she examined him, watched Frozen with him while

I ran over to the pharmacy to pick up this week's meds

and sang songs to him in the car and during Chemo.

We are very blessed to be surrounded by so many good friends.

p.s. the boy was MISERABLE tonight-- but sweet Holland

deserves huge kudos for taking him on a four wheeler ride 

so he would stop crying.

That girl is an angel (most of the time).

The Treasure Hunt

Ohhh, you should've been at my house tonight.

We made a fresh blackberry sour cream crumb pie

to celebrate Reese's birthday a few days ago

and our neighbor, Grandma Bodily's birthday coming up.

 I'll just say it was killer.

(The girls are selling blackberries again if you want some and the recipe).

 Now that I've got your taste buds watering (and they should be),

I'll switch gears to the final highlights of our big vacation to
Telluride, Colorado.

Our last full day, we drove to Ouray where we toured

an old silver mine.

 Our miner/guide picked Greer to be the leader of our group

which means she got the flashlight.

We followed her 1500 feet into the mountain and walked

on the old tracks that the carts used.  Next to us was a little

stream flowing water-- they said that 300 gallons come out of 

the mountain every hour.

 Once we got way in, our guide showed everyone how the

miners would hammer spikes into the rock to place the

dynamite sticks.

He pulled Holland up to hold the spike and turn it while he hammered.

Good thing he didn't miss.

 Then he let all the kids take a turn.

Notice the jackets... it was a balmy 50 degrees in there.

 We ended the tour with a little gold panning in the stream outside the mine.

 Each of the girls found gold-- mostly fool's gold

but to them, it was like hitting the lottery.

Back on the Bike

Ahhh, life is back to our normal hum...

Reese is healthy- bouncing around.

She opened birthday presents last night

and was pretty thrilled with her bow and arrows.

Get this, she won the top medal at Camp Rainbow Gold

in archery for her age group.

Who knew?!?!

(Holland did too).

 She also felt good enough to tear into her maple bacon donut.

 And back to normal for Kean means... yep, cycle ride time.

I made the mistake of telling him Motorcycle Jeff was coming.

And as you can see, he couldn't get here soon enough.

 Life is good.

And as it should be....

we are all back home.

The girls are healthy.

And Kean is back on the bike.