Mom the Artist

Mom got to do something this summer that she's always wanted to do...learn how to paint! She did this in Wyoming:

Thank you for sending this to me, NTM! Now I know where I got my artistic side from...not just dad, but mom too! *biiiiggg smile* I'm so proud of mom!

The Hat Lady

I absolutely LOVE the pictures Vickie sent! Thank you!!

Here's what she wrote:

Tracy,

I will send all the pictures I have of your mom via a couple of emails. They were taken on May 26, 2007 (it was Memorial Day weekend and 5/26 is my birthday). Your (step)dad made us both breakfast and we were told Misty was on a diet so we couldn't sneak her any bacon. We had a good laugh about that.

I bought Noelle a bunch of hats and brought them over since she'd lost her hair at this point. I loved doing that for her.

Love,Vickie Barton

Aren't they the cutest couple or what?!

Mom and Vickie...such a wonderful friend!

The next few pictures are hilarious...I love mom's spirit in this...I also remember she had one of the most PERFECT bald head I've ever seen! It was smooth and round, and just so adorable! I had the honor of shaving off her hair for her (I think Doug did too)...she definitely rocked these hats and made it look fun!

You want to see a good example of "Bald is Beautiful"? Just look at the pictures again!

Hermosa Beach 2008

This picture was taken in July, when mom and I went to Hermosa Beach with my good friend Andrea (she came all the way from Newfoundland!) to visit mom's family...uncle John, aunt Karen and cousin Dani were staying at that house, which was RIGHT on the beach...they came from Ohio, so it was such a treat to see them! We also saw aunt Paula and her kids, as well as aunt Merilee later that day. I don't know if you can really tell from this picture...I injured my back reallllly bad about a month before this was taken, and I could barely walk around much. There's a cane next to me, my savior. No, mom was definitely my savior that summer...she helped me recover by taking me to the chiropractor three times a week and getting me food, drinks, etc. It was one of the toughest summers for me, I don't remember feeling this limited physically-wise...mom truly helped me BIG TIME. One of my favorite memories during the summer was when mom and I watched the Bachelorette finale together and she lit candles around the house, poured us glasses of wine, and served a plate of cheese and crackers! We had some of the best laughs that night. I will always miss her laugh!

Thank you, aunt Karen, for this picture!

HEI Camp Days

Thanks to John & Deb Corey, I got these pictures of mom that made me laugh! When I was growing up, mom and I would go to the annual House Ear Institute (HEI) family camp weekend in Malibu, where we would hang out with families with children who have the cochlear implant like I do. The Coreys were practically neighbors though...they lived in the same area we did and we hung out with them often over the years. Kristen is like a baby sister to me, probably because she's younger than me by a few years and I think I was supposed to be an older sister anyway (sorry Larry!), but what was really wonderful about our friendship with this family is there was a lot of support between us, especially when it comes to *ahem* raising deaf girls with cochlear implants! *wink* I love the Coreys...thank you for many wonderful memories, especially the awesome parties at your beautiful house!

(Kristen - blame your parents for sending me this one...the glasses are hilarious, seriously!)

Like J&D said, mom definitely rocked the purple clown hair! *hehe* One thing I don't understand about this picture is why was I a mouse when everyone else was a clown?! Hmm.

More of Mommie Pie!

Hi y'all! I will use this site for mom's photos and stories that comes with it. I hope you guys will enjoy it!

Here is a picture to start with...

This was taken in May 2008...I graduated with my Masters in Social Work! When we found out mom had lung cancer, it was at the end of my first year of grad school and mom made it her goal to go to my graduation the following year, which she did. I was SO happy to have my family there, especially mom! Now she can rest knowing her baby girl has her MSW and will eventually find a good paying job (well...once the economy improves, that is...ha!)

I happen to have videos of mom from this summer...I am SO thankful I decided to record her for fun, inspired by Doug, actually! Doug was away in Wyoming for a few months and I thought it'd be neat to send him videos of mom...I ended up making three cute videos of her being her own cute self! Warning -- it may make you teary, cuz it did for me.

I can't remember what she said/sang in the videos but just watch how mom's face lights up when she smiles and laughs...that's how I will always always always remember her.

Much love!