Hmmm...time to play catch up on the week past. Okay, Cam's birthday party was FABULOUS! We didn't get any RSVP's and really thought no one was going to come but everyone did. So there were lots of kids and lots of hotdogs and balloons and a great Costco cake (vanilla cheesecake filling, yum). It was really just a perfect day. A little windy, but who cares about wind?! The funniest part was watching the little kids try to hit the pinata. SO FUNNY. They would all come up and just barely tap it with the stick. Finally we just let the Bishop's older kid go to town and bust up the thing. The kids were so excited to see all of the candy and cars inside. It was a "Cars" movie themed party so my girlfriend put little matchbox cars in the pinata. Such a good idea. Too bad we don't have a digital camera right now or we'd have pictures to post. Oh well, with Cam out of diapers almost full time we have even more money to save!
Let's see, what else. Oh, I'm sick. The boys are still recovering, too. This has been a 2 week illness! ARGH! Poor Chase has had to put up with my whining over the fact that I can't breathe. I hate being sick with a fiery passion. There's nothing worse, in my book. I moan, I groan, I lay around as though I'm going to die. And seriously, I am so miserable that I think death would be a nice release. I hate not being able to breathe through my nose. Hate. It.
On Tuesday my grandfather passed away. It was a blessing because he didn't really suffer for too long and he was able to die as he wished - without any heroic measures. He didn't even want an IV! We will be attending the funeral tomorrow in Elizabeth, IL which is close to East Dubuque, IL where my parents both grew up. He was quite an amazing man. Here's an article that was published in the local paper the day after his death.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Radio legend Kilgore dies
KDTH broadcaster reported news and delighted audiences for 4 decades



One of the most distinctive voices to grace local airwaves was silenced Tuesday with the death of Gordon Kilgore. He was 81.
Kilgore died Tuesday at Dubuque Nursing and Rehabilitation Center from complications involving a brain tumor, said his wife, Helen.
Kilgore began his illustrious radio broadcast career in 1951, when he started doing play-by-play sports announcing at KDTH. Three years later, he was doing newscasts. In 1956, his penchant for seeking out and reporting solid local news earned him a promotion to news director at the Dubuque station.
Kilgore made his mark with his reporting on the 1965 Mississippi River floods in the Dubuque area. Decades before 24-hour news coverage was the norm, Kilgore received permission to broadcast live coverage of the flood around the clock for weeks. For his efforts, the city named a one-block street along Dubuque's floodwall after him.
"If it had been anyplace else in the city, it wouldn't have meant a thing," Kilgore said in a 2001 interview.
He retired from KDTH in 1993, ironically on
the day with the highest river level since the 1965 flood.
John Hafkemeyer worked as general manager at KDTH for many years when Kilgore was news director.
"(Kilgore's) experienced perspective was critical to maintaining our service to the community," said Hafkemeyer, who hopes to follow his friend's "uncompromising example" of how to live life to the fullest.
Hafkemeyer was reminded of Kilgore's contagious enthusiasm when he visited him last week.
"I went there to cheer him up, but when I left, he had cheered me up," he said.
Kilgore, a self-taught journalist, said accuracy was paramount. John White feels Kilgore fulfilled that goal.
"(Kilgore) reported it like it was. He was an objective reporter and the best public relations man I ever had," said White, a former city engineer who considered himself one of Kilgore's good friend.
Not just on the air, but in front of audiences both local and national, Kilgore enthralled folks with his tales of life in the Mississippi River Valley.
"He had an unwavering love of people, history and the Mississippi River. As a historian extraordinaire, he helped Dubuque define itself," said Jerry Enzler, executive director of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.
Kilgore was a longtime member of the Dubuque County Historical Society and served as president of the board of the National Rivers Hall of Fame. Enzler said he received the first "Treasures of Dubuque Award" from the Historical Society.
Kilgore's natural storytelling skills "captured our imaginations, conjured up truths, morals and principles, and held out hope for the future," said Teri Goodmann, the museum's development director. "Gordon was magical, yet firmly grounded in real life experiences. He loved to laugh, celebrate and make people smile."
Kilgore took every opportunity to tell tales, true or tall, about his beloved river valley. In 1993, he performed "Ticket to Dubuque," with Lou Fautsch at the Grand Opera House. Until recently, he taped segments that were broadcast three times per week on KDTH, called "From the River Bank."
"(Kilgore) was a great guy who knew Dubuque history better than anyone. He was Mr. Dubuque, and the city is going to miss him big time," said Fautsch, a local folklorist and retired teacher. "Everyone loved Gordie."
Kilgore married Helen, his second wife, in 1991. They lived in Elizabeth, Ill., and their extended family includes seven children, 27 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Kilgore are pending at the Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna.
Copyright 2006 Telegraph Herald. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sorry, I would have posted a link, but you have to have an account to get onto the site...So anyway, we're sad. He will be missed. But we're happy that we can celebrate his life and honor him.

Lastly, and this will seem so trite after writing about my gramps, but it's big news in the Rawlins household. CAMERON HAS LEARNED TO PEE STANDING UP! Yay! This is awesome because it makes it easier to take him out and have him use the potty at the store (or wherever). It's great! Plus, now he can pee on the side of the road if necessary! No need to have accidents in the car!

Wow, if anyone read this far you are a SAINT!