January 2014

Here is it another year.  A few hundred more grey hairs, another adventure to live.  We spent a few days the first week at Grandma and Grandpa's.  Nice to have no obligations and just be around to visit.  Bathing in Grandma's big tub with bubbles is always an entertainment!

The first big snowfall always brings extra fun and excitement.  Kade won't stop asking when Christmas is.  To him, it's all associated, right?!  The kids have the best dad.  He always spends time lugging snow to a big snow hill that will keep them busy for weeks.  He built one in the back and front yard this year, complete with a little side wall twisty thing to add to the fun of sledding.  With another snowfall this week, we finally ventured to the park with awesome hills for the kids to get a little faster action!  Rea got a small snowboard this year for Christmas.  While she was scared and shrieking most of the tries, Kade was brave and fearless.  They both made it down the hills on it, but obviously enjoy the wild abandonment of a sled.  It's hard to stay out long though, because even if the sun is shining, it's still only 20 degrees!
Any resemblance?

The kids also got their very first package ALL the way from SOUTH AFRICA!!  They were so excited and loved their gifts.  Thanks Nana and Papa.  Sure do miss you!

A favorite family time is playing games.  I LOVE that my kids are old enough to play games with us.  Kade gets a little bored if he's not winning, and EVERYONE is a sore loser...but it's fun right :)

And this kid is just "awthome"

2013 - Wrapping up another fantastic year!

The end of 2013 is peaking in the door.  So hard to believe.  So hard to imagine! We just spent out 3rd Christmas here in Idaho Falls.  It seems like eternities since we once vacated another home.  Another life!
The past few months have been a hustle and a bustle.  Always your life the last 2 months of the year, when your life revolves around retail.  It brought our first 2 major holidays without my parents!  It was odd, but lowkey.  We enjoyed Thanksgiving with Mike's extended family.  It was a quick trip for the two of us, and fortunately, we have help with the kiddos afterward, so Mike and I can display our first of many blood shot eyes. I can't believe I went the entire day without photos:(

December comes in like a freight train. It's hard to believe all the preparation that Mike does for months and months come in so quickly and leaves just the same. We have experienced the freezing cold Eastern Idaho winters with little moisture.  No matter how hard you brace yourself, there is little preparation to the mind.  It's. Just. COLD. Christmas was a lot of fun this year.  I love that my kids are older and enjoy it and the anticipation and all that surrounds it.  Heidi was here this year and we loved having her company.  She's always a big help with the kids and they love to have her around.  They spent Christmas Eve in her room and awoke quite early as well!  The day was filled with gifts, relaxing, and more gifts.  The kids wishes were granted. Always food of course.  The rush of the storm has a calm aftermath which we embrace:)

Here's a little bit of what the crazy Ernie was up to the month of December....
taking "selfies"

 Enjoying some junk

 Took a ride in Rusty Dusty Crophopper (kade's nickname)

With the dawn of a new year approaching, we are always grateful for the year we lived.  What an awesome, blessed, fun-filled year it was.  We went so many places, discovered so many new things, relived old fun haunts, and loved spending time together as a family.  It's who we are, it's how we try to live.  One day, when we have slowed and aged, I hope that my kids can think about all the years growing up, and mostly remember how present their parents and loved ones were.  We feel so blessed with the ability to do this, with the health that we have, security we enjoy.  What a wonderful year!!

The Dancer and the Piano Player

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Halloween 2013

So many memories growing up involving fall.  Arizona isn't necessarily the mecca for seasonal changes, but we had huge trees that dropped leaves every fall.  We would spend hours outside.  It's one thing I miss about our house in Utah.  The big trees! I'm sure if we had them I would curse them, but I feel sad that my kids had to get excited about the leaves in our weekly journey to the public library! Collecting leaves in their McD's happy meal buckets to bring home and crunch around.

 Crazy Hair Day at school:)

 Carving pumpkins.  The annual tradition I probably dislike the most.  Maybe.  Getting dressed up and hopped up on sugar might come in a close second:)  Kade isn't about to touch anything about the inside of a pumpkin.  My little OCD clean boy.  It displays in his face right?!

 Reagan picked out her face and cut it primarily on her own this year.  Getting so grown up! (Kade's was a Ninja Turtle face.  Not sure why I was so lame and didn't get a picture after Mike worked so hard)

 Halloween Skate Party night for Reagan's school.  We had borrowed costumes this year.  It was the only night we agreed to dress up with the kids.  By then, the kids had worn their costumes to so many events they were almost tiring of them. But....I couldn't imagine a cuter Dorothy..or a more fearsome Lion!! Love these guys.

Halloween night.  Of course, kids are exhausted after a day of partying in school and being so excited for days on end.  It was freezing (of course) and sprinkling rain off and on.  We spent 30 minutes at the same place as last year and they kids had a full bucket, happy, and ready to be in a warm house.  It is a retirement development and the people are excited to see the kids and give out good candy.  Pretty sure this will be our annual Trick-or-Treat street.

Of course the Schwan's man needed to make an appearance this night.  My kids think he's like their long lost friend.  They just love him.

 Here's his pumpkin in the daylight I guess.  He's graduated from Woody to Donatello

 Ok, my pictures stunk this year.  But I had to post this one.  My kids ran from house to house. Reagan found a friend to move with, and left Kade in the dust.  Buckets kept dropping and this time he bit it.  I hurried and snapped a picture and then the cute little lady at the house said "Oh my gosh, did you really just take a picture of that" as he's sobbing...uh, yeah, I sorta did.

Welcome November!!

A Legacy

I don't think my parents have to worry much about what type of Legacies they leave behind.  Although, I would imagine that your kids are your most important legacies, but, there are other legacies you can leave behind.  Legacies of lessons taught, or sacrifices shown.  My parents will one day have great legacies they leave.  Things they have taught to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  Examples of the way they lived or the way they tried to show us to live.  Those will hopefully live in future generations as well.

Currently, my parents have been in Durban, South Africa for just a few short weeks.  Sometimes, in the middle of the day, I find myself reaching for my phone to text my mom and then get a little sad and maybe a little choked up:).  My 70something old mother who was a master at texting!  Even if I didn't talk to my parents on a daily basis, it's still hard to think I can't just pick up the phone to text or call.  While it's only been a few weeks, it also seems like it's been a while!  They will be gone for 18 months.  My kids will be almost 9 and 5 when they return.  It's not that far off....yet it's so far away!

I whole-heartedly support this sacrifice though. I think just seeing how much their faces changed in the week they were at the MTC.  Their face the day they were leaving.  Although it should have been nervous of the long travel time, leaving family, etc., their faces shone.  It was excitement to serve and ready to begin a little adventure together spreading their love and service throughout South Africa.  I was comforted by this fact.  What a great example to show your kids and grandkids.  To sacrifice the life and luxeries you know to be of service to someone else.  To leave behind those you love, but to touch the lives and learn to love new people.  I have no doubt that my parents will change many lives while living there.  Not even necessarily the "gospel" aspect of it, but because I know how much love they have to give.  It's never ending.  My family has been on the receiving end of that all our lives and it's selfish to keep that among us.  They've shown undying devotion and love.  You meet my parents and you meet wisdom, comfort, happiness, and unconditional love.  It doesn't matter who you are, and they will spread this across the great city of Durban and further.

All of my siblings were there for a final goodbye.  The grandkids all had fun, and I admit, I did too :)  Family is family, but they are also yours, for the rest of your life!

 
This is a bear my brother picked up from road kill! Hey, we live in Idaho right?

This tree is awesome.  It sits in my parents yard and for the past few years my kids have longingly gazed as bigger kids climbed up and played on it, but always still a little nervous.  This weekend Reagan was fearless - and made me nervous!! She would climb up as high as I would let her and just love it.

 Cousin Olivia came all the way from Arizona

 This makes me miss them so much! Kids won't fit on their laps when they get home ;)

 How cute are they!

 I love this picture :)

And off they go!