Our 2nd Visit in 2012

 We were lucky enough to get to visit Oregon twice 

this year.  Besides seeing family and friends, we look 

forward to bringing our family back to Candace's grave.

We missed Ethan being in this picture.  

He was fast asleep in the car during this visit.

Our 1st Visit Back

This was our first visit back to Candace's grave since our move.

 It felt so peaceful to be together at her resting place again.

We really appreciate good family and friends who 

remembered her birthday and visited her graveside 

when we couldn't.  It really meant a lot to us.

Candace's 5th Birthday

 Since our move to Boise, Idaho.  

We wanted to find a new place to launch our special birthday balloons for Candace.

 We found a place out overlooking Boise from a distance that worked for this year.

 We were surprised that Ethan was okay with letting the balloon go up in the sky, but he was.

Happy Birthday sweet Candace!!!  

This was a hard birthday to celebrate, not being near your resting place.  

Candace's 4th Birthday

This year, since Candace's birthday falls on a Sunday we decided in order to still do our annual balloon release we would go up on Saturday so the balloons would still be filled with helium. It was a blustery rainy day as you can see from the pictures. However, we still enjoyed our balloon release, singing songs, and birthday wishes at Candace's graveside.
The next day we all wore our commemorative "pink" to church in honor of our sweet Candace.

We made a birthday cake and each of the children opened a gift in honor of Candace.

Happy Birthday sweet angel daughter!

We miss you so much.

We love you!

Memorial Day

Today we went and visited Candace's grave. Ethan walked right up to her grave marker and plopped himself down and sat there for quite some time. It was very cute. We enjoy the opportunity to visit Candace's grave, especially on a holiday like today when the whole cemetery is full of flowers.

Zach was feeling a little weak, poor kid.

We miss you very much Candace. I find myself doing several headcounts on the kids, because I always sense I'm missing one, and I am. Thinking of you my little angel.

Candace's 3rd Birthday!

Today it was extremely cold, but we would never let that keep us from visiting our sweet baby's grave. We huddled together as best we could. Because Ethan has been so sick, we kept him in the car parked about 10 feet away. We placed flowers next to Candace's grave marker and stood in a circle and sang songs together.You can see which direction the wind is blowing just by looking at all the balloons.
Looks like they're getting ready to fly kites instead of release balloons. It was so windy! We love the view from way up on this hill. It's always such a nice place to go and talk or quietly ponder.

3...2...1 off they go carrying messages of love and birthday wishes for our sweet Candace.

You are always in our hearts, but especially today we're sending birthday wishes your way.

Happy Birthday sweet little angel.

We love you!

Candace's 2nd Birthday!

When we arrived at the cemetery we found this sweet little bear and sign left by some anonymous angels.

We then set to work cleaning off Candace's grave marker & changing her flag.

The children wrote little notes and we put them in these balloons to release into the sky.

Getting ready for the launch.

1. . .2. . .3. . .let go!

We watched them as they floated away, remembering Candace on her special day.

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset while singing songs around Candace's grave.

Her grave is a happy peaceful place for our family.

We have made some fun memories here in the past 2 years.

On our drive home the children noticed the pink clouds outside, and insisted they were specifically sent for Candace on her special day.

Also on our way home we had a good little laugh about something. In the past we've affectionately called Candace our little pooh bear because of the lack in the development of her brain. Today on the drive home from the cemetery Jon (without realizing it) was whistling the tune of the scarecrow's song in the Wizard of Oz. I just started laughing as he whistled the part, "If I only had a brain," and soon even the children caught on to the connection and had a good laugh.

_______________________

The children were excited for Candace's birthday tradition of them getting to open a present. This year they received lamps. Who knew these would be such an exciting thing for them?Now for the birthday cake and blowing out the candles.

Happy Birthday Candace! We love and miss you so much sweetheart!