Happy Halloween

Last year, us dressed as bats

This Sunday marks one Imogen’s most favourite days, yes Halloween, ever since she was little she would beg to go “Tick or Teeting” or have a Halloween party. She always had a unbreakable bond with this special, exciting day to her.

Last year our friend, Karen, very kindly bribed her friend into letting us crash their Halloween party (as we had not organised anything due to the fact we had just return from Immie’s Queensland make a wish). Imogen had a blast, her smile was huge.

We both dressed up as Bats, and along with games, we also went trick or treating to many people’s welcoming houses.

That evening is one of those special memories; I pull out my heart and look over when I am missing our girl. I will never forget my little Halloween girl, and her passion and zest for all things spooky.

Pinnaroo with Immie's spooky plaque

Imogen would have loved to go to the schools Halloween disco tonight, to honour her love of Halloween we went the afternoon to Pinnaroo and covered her plaque in Halloween stickers.

Enjoy the very spooky pictures : )).

Happy Halloween Imogen,

Our Little Bat Girl

Hope you have picked an awesome costume for Sunday and have your best spooky voice ready. Enjoy all the sweets, our sweet xx

Love you Mum, Dad, Kods and Ashie

P.S Check out your brother Immie, eeekkkk doesn't he look scary, he is meant to be a zombie for the school disco, he thinks you would have gone as Ben 10, what do you think?

Fairy God Parents

Sienna likes our present : )

Sienna and Ash like peas in a pod

Well the weekend of honour arrived, when we were handed the official roles of god mother and god father. Far from keeping the official titles, I added the fairy part to my god mother title and Jason keep telling everyone he was the godfather and that he would put a horse head in their bed - Mafia style. Yes we are a little nuts, this helps keep our world a little normal for us : P.

Kody driving the ute...eekkkk

Jacinta had picked a perfect location on the farm and amongst the gum trees, flies and blue skies, and there we officially became our gorgeous niece Sienna’s god parents. I could almost hear Miss Immie awing at Sienna and majorly complaining about the flies : ). As always occasions like this are hard and enhance the fact that Immie is not there, but they also bring us much joy and peace when imagining her there with all of us.

Thank you for asking us to be Sienna’s god parents, Jacinta and Colin, we are over the moon. Sienna we promise to love, keep you safe and cherish you always.

Sienna and Me

Enjoy the pictures of us and the most gorgeous god daughter xx

Us and our gorgeous god daughter Sienna

My two cents

OK seeing this is our blog, I have decided to get up on my soapbox and have a few words.

Recently I have been thinking about how hard people find it to keep in touch or even approach someone who has lost someone tragically. I unfortunately believe I am able to give a little advice on what we (the ones left behind trying to put our lives and hearts back together) would like.

I know it’s hard to approach the subject of death whether the person who passed was young and old. I think the biggest misconception is that we want you to fix it or offer some words that will make us feel better. All that is needed is a simple acknowledgment that you recognise we have lost someone who was very special to us. All that needs to be said most times is “I am sorry to hear about…..insert name”. Perhaps if you knew them, you could add they something extra here eg ”She was such a beautiful smiley girl”. For me that is plenty.

Just because someone has passed away, it does not mean that they have suddenly disappeared or the person grieving has forgotten about them, whether it’s been one month, 2 years, 10 years. Avoiding the subject may make you feel a little better, but when you attempt to put yourself in their shoes imagine how that would feel.

On that note, what made me want to write on the blog about this subject was when I was recently approached at my local Woolies. A lady that used to live across the road from us now works there; I had not seen her since Immies passing. Instead of avoiding me (as she very easily could of done). She came up to me and simply said “I am sorry to hear about Imogen’s passing, a customer of mine let me know”. That then allowed the opening for me to say how I had been feeling, and thank her for acknowledging Imogen’s passing. Simple, effective and instantly made me feel a lot better. Please don’t make it harder than it is.

OK stepping off my soapbox now.

image borrowed from - http://makemineamojito.com/tag/soap-box/

10/10/10

Happy Ben 10 Day Everyone,
Today is the 10th October (the 10th month) of 2010,

Hey Baby Girl Know you would be busy watching Ben10 non stop today,
and busting everyone who wouldn't sit down and watch it.
I will never forget your 6th Ben10 birthday party,
You will always be our Ben 10 Girl,

Love you more everyday, Enjoy this special day,
and
"Let's kick those aliens butts"

kisses and hugs
Mum, Dad, Kody and Ashie

Mad September : )

Well my simple savings internet friends kindly tapped me on the shoulder and asked how everything was going. I thought that owed an update, as it brings us much comfort to know we are still thought of 5 months after Immies passing.

For the moment, our grief is just running slowly beside us like a quiet stream. Of course there are times that set us all off, but thankfully we have been able to enjoy a lot of happy moments as well.

Jason, Kody and Me on Kody's 12th birthday

We recently celebrated Kody’s 12th Birthday. Jason always teases me every year, because every year I say “I can’t believe they are….2…4…. 6… 10… 12”. Birthdays as they (and you) get older seem to fly pass quicker and quicker each year. Anyway Kods had a quiet birthday, at home with Ash and me. We went and visited Miss Immie and then had sausage pizzas and sundaes with my mum, dad and sister for dinner. On Saturday, he went go karting with Jason, my sister Olivia and his two mates Reece and Chris. They all came back with huge grins plaster across there faces.

Crash Test Dummy Kody

Kody is an incredible son and brother, there are times when I am feeling low and he manages to cheer me up. At times I wonder who the parent is and who the child in our relationship. He has had to deal with so much in his 12 years, but he takes it in his stride and constantly tries to do his best. Kody will sit there for ages and tell me stories about his little sister; I sit there in awe listening to his precious memories. He is devoted to Ashton, always giving him love and hugs. I am very grateful for my two sons, who shower me with love and drag me out of my funk when I am down.

Our two boys

Ashton is all of ours gift from Miss Immie, without him I shudder to think how much harder life would have been in the last five months. He is the constant entertainer, into mischief, pushing, chatting, giggling, laughing, crying, yelling. Full of life, he never misses a beat. He keeps all three of us on our toes.

Ashton blowing out his candles at his first birthday

We have recently been renovating the backyard, replacing lawn as the other was full of nasty prickles, and allocating more space to vegetable patches. Jason and I can both feel Immie out there with us, digging with her little shovel, begging till she got a ride on the bobcat, laughing, bossing the Molly Dog around. As we have been renovating we have had many ladybirds and butterflies visiting us, a visual sign, we take she is with us.

Off to move some more dirt whilst the littlest destroyer boy sleeps, lawn arrives tomorrow, can’t wait no more grey dirt everywhere. Can’t believe it will be almost a year since Immie got her dream – her own pool. Jason has done an awesome job completing the last bits and pieces, paving, sealing, chair placement, cleaning..Check out the mostly completed pool and yard. I can see her jumping and swimming in it everyday xx

Can't you see her!!!!

Love and Hugs

Fiona and the Gang