Happy Weekend

We had a pretty amazing weekend over here.
I guess I'll kind of start at the beginning.

This wasn't a highlight of the weekend, but Friday, Oliver came home from daycare sick.  It was the strangest thing.  We haven't had to deal with sick Oliver in the longest amount of time ever!  We kind of forgot what it was like.  Little guy was down and out on Friday...fever, congestion, running nose, everything.  But his ears never drained (a sign of infection) and while he's still congested with a cough, he seems to be doing much better.  Silly summer colds!  I also noticed this morning that both of his bottom i-teeth are coming in.  FINALLY!  This could be his last ones...until his 2 year molars.  But I really think that has something to do with the cold.

Saturday was the Annual Strain for the Brain.  6th year - with a 1 year hiatus in 2011 because I was at a wedding.  It's fun to see who joins us each year for the run.  Certainly, some years are bigger than others.  It's a small little race, but it will always be big in my heart.  It's also fun to run into a few people from our Brain Tumor Support group.  The facilitator, Renee, has a steal trap memory and informed me that Eleanor is looking more and more like her father each year!  She also encouraged me to come back to group any time...wow.  I hadn't thought about that.  What an interesting little reunion that would be.  Could I handle it - would I want to handle it?

Andy and I both had amazing runs this year.  One of my better timed runs...but with Ragnar coming up next weekend, it probably should have been better!

After the run we went back home and quickly changed for our next milestone event.

Eleanor's first dance recital!

Eleanor has been hot and cold about dance most of the year, but I think this recital really renewed some interest and excitement for her.  She loved the costume, the stage, the lights, the makeup and loved watching the big girls dance.  I'm super excited that, for now, she has agreed that she wants to do dance next year and also wants to add in Poms.

I have to be careful what I say on here now, because Eleanor enjoys reading the blog, but I did learn one thing over the past few days leading up to recital time.  I don't think Eleanor has any interest in being the graceful ballerina.  I think Eleanor much more enjoys jazz, hip hop, funk.  She's my modern girl.

Oh the makeup...it just makes her look that much older!

She had so much fun, so, in turn, we had so much fun!  She's a natural...indeed!

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So proud of our Purple People Eater!  Here's to many more recitals, Eleanor!

But do you want to know what sheer happiness is?

This picture makes me so happy I could explode.
Like heart leap out of your chest, explode.
Eleanor and her 4 Grandmas.
Eleanor and the 4 woman who love her - unconditionally.
My mom.
Nic's mom.
Andy's mom.
Andy's step-mom.
Each of these women involved in a HUGE way in Eleanor's life.  In my life.  Shaping both us to become the people we are today.

The story this picture tells.  That's love, man.  Deep. Unconditional. Love.
I feel pretty confident in saying that Eleanor and I have known the darkest of hours.
And we know love.  And happiness.  And laughter.
It makes me speechless.

Today at church we were talking about widows - woot woot!  But it did take my mind to a very dark place.  Then Fr. Don asked all the widows/widowers to stand up for a special blessing.  I just sat there.  I know my role, but sitting next to my husband, holding his mini-me son, I just didn't need to stand.  But Andy nudged me - stand up, he said.

Two words.
Stand Up.

It just shows his support of my life on so many different levels.  I'm married to the most amazing man.  We have the most amazing life.  I'm so gosh darn blessed it's almost unfair.

I am a wife.
I am a mom.
I am a widow.

I'm Dana Bach - I'm Dana Terrones - I'm Dana Schroeder.  And sometimes those feel like 3 very different people.  But sometimes...it's just me.

So weekends like this just make me incredibly introspective.
Thankful.
When my past and my present join together to just be me.
My life.

And guys...it's pretty freakin' awesome.