Spring Break 2012: Pi Day

March 14 is known around these parts as Pi Day (it IS 3.14 after all!). We had some good, nerdy fun with our friends the Thomas's.

We decorated (what's a holiday if you don't decorate?),

we did Pi-related projects (some of the kids are a bit young to do much with pi, so we learned about diameters instead),

 we colored large pi symbols,

and best of all, we ate pie. Mmmmmm pie. Jen (who is uber-talented, by the way) cut a pi symbol into the top of the chicken pot pie. She also made a fabulous lemon meringue pie. Mmmmmmm. Pie.

Spring Break 2012 - Picnicing at the Houston Water Wall

We have a tradition to take a picnic to the Houston Water Wall during Spring Break. Since Travis works near there, he's able to come eat with us. It's always fun to see him in the middle of a work day.

We had fun playing with a hula hoop, playing kickball, crawling around and eating leaves, and getting sprayed by the fountain.

We were exited that our friends the Christensens could come with us!

Our Trip to Utah

Kate here, reporting on our trip to Utah.

First, a little about airports. Airports are very interesting. There's always a lot going on. Lots to see, lots to do.

And the big windows are just PERFECT for licking. Mmmmmm!

Once we got on the plane, I was really good. I stayed awake and kept mommy entertained.

In Utah, I was really popular. EVERYBODY wanted to see me. Silly mommy didn't get pictures of me with all my fans, but here are some with Great Grandma and Grandpa Greenland and Great Grandma and Grandpa Mansfield.

I loved visiting family, and keeping my Auntie Charlotte entertained. It was a great trip (except for the snow. I wasn't a fan of the snow.)

Until next time, this is Kate, signing off.

Megan's new haircut

Megan has been begging for years (literally - YEARS!) to get her hair cut really short. Really short. And I kept putting it off. I'd say, "Maybe we could cut it to your shoulders." And then, "Maybe we could cut it to your chin." She kept begging, and finally I gave in and let her cut it short. I can't believe how much more grown up she looks!

She keeps asking if we can cut it even shorter, because she still has to put the top in a ponytail for dance class. Stay tuned...

(I also got a hair cut.)

Dinner at P. F. Chang's

If anyone asks, Travis is a nicer person than I am. He suggested that we all (kids included) go out to dinner at P. F. Chang's. I was all for leaving the kids at home, with a babysitter, a box of Mac and Cheese and some semi-frozen chicken nuggets, but he convinced me that it would be fun to take them. And he was right. (Did I just write that? It's a good think he doesn't read my blog!) Kate fell asleep and Megan and Jared were really well behaved. It's really fun to get to go places with the kids and have it be an enjoyable experience.

What being positive for BRCA2 means to me

My wonderful in-laws sent me some flowers today. Aren't they gorgeous?

I got my test results back this week, and I am positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation. Being positive for BRCA2 means that my chances of getting breast and/or ovarian cancer are really, really high. Pair that with our crazy family history, and the chances are even higher.

This whole experience has been hard on me. Hard to think about the very real likelihood of getting breast cancer in the near future (Isn't it funny how 10 years ago, 10 years seemed like FOREVER. Now, 10 years seems like no time at all?). Hard to think that my mom wasn't that much older than I am when she was diagnosed. Hard to think about Megan only being a few years younger than I was when my mom died. Every time I had to talk to the doctor or anyone else about it, it hurt. It was hard to decide if I wanted to be tested, and it was really REALLY hard to wait for the results.

Since getting the news that I am positive, my emotions have run the whole gambit. Anger, depression, denial, apathy, extreme cookie craving....to peace.

Here's what I know now.

• It's better to know than to wonder.
• I can be proactive.
• Cancer is just a word, and BRCA2 is just a jumble of letters. They don't define me.
• Just about anything can be cured (at least temporarily) by a Georgette Heyer book and a bag of Milano double dark chocolate cookies.
• Doing service helps to keep me from dwelling. 

I go in for some testing in a couple of weeks (and every 6 months after that), and assuming everything looks good, we won't be doing anything for a while. Surveillance is the name of the game right now. In a couple of years we'll look at making some more permanent options.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and positive thoughts and help and support. I really appreciate it!

Spring Break 2012: Galveston Beach

We had a great time at the beach in Galveston over spring break with the Haldas and the Christensens.

(Kate was napping when we took this picture)


Kate loved putting everything in her mouth. Sand toys, sand, seashells, sand, rocks, sand, her pacifier dipped in sand, fistfuls of sand....She also liked wading in the ocean for the first time.

There weren't any jelly fish this year (well, there was one giant cabbage head jellyfish, but that was it) like last year, but we did see a hermit crab. Megan was brave enough to hold it.

The Christensens brough this huge ball that the kids could actually climb into. They rolled it on the beach and floated it in the water. Jared stayed inside for most of the day.

Ritters Opening Day

Oh Ritters, how we missed you when you were closed for the winter!

We took the whole family to get ice cream after dinner. (Okay, so it was my second trip there. Jen and I had some for lunch too....)

 (I know Kate doesn't look thrilled. It wasn't the ice cream, it was just way past her bedtime.)

 We met some friends there and saw a bunch more people from the ward. It was a great night for ice cream.