Monday, September 23, 2013

Jack's 5th Angelversary

5 years...
...that's how long it's been since we last held you, kissed your sweet chubby cheeks and heard you laugh.  I hate this day!  I don't think I'll ever get used to you being gone.  I want you to be here so bad and it kills me to know that Jaden and Cole will never actually know you here on this Earth.  Corb has already forgotten so much.  But what hurts the most is that no matter how how I try, I'm forgetting too.  But the pain is always there.  It's not the searing pain it once was, but it's always there lingering in the background.  I try to stay busy and not think about it, but sometimes the grief sneaks in.  And I have to let it in.  It's not that I like to be sad, but sometimes the sadness means that I can still feel you.  That you WERE infact here and that you aren't just a dream.  I'm grateful for your occasional visit.  I pray that they will always remain.
Today has been hard for two reason:  Obviously...it's Jack's Angelversary...but having the stomach flu or food poisoning on top of it....is just adding insult to injury!  We have NEVER been so sick in our whole marriage.  And we ALL have it!  Last night we ALL had our puke buckets and made beds on our bedroom floor and spent the night together....throwing up!  Jealous??!! Coby made the comment that the night we lost Jack was probably the last night we all spent the night huddled together feeling so low.  I think he was right!  Today I got a bouquet of flowers from a dear friend (Melissa).  She has always gone over and beyond to let us know that Jack is NEVER forgotten.  So many people have been so wonderful in this area.  And we appreciate it more than we could every express.  I save EVERYTHING...every card, every note, every tender mercy I can fit in a hope chest in our room.  How blessed we have been through this tragedy!  The Lord is good.  So, so good!  He has never left us alone and know He never will.  I am so grateful for all the Earth Angels in our lives that have continued to lift us daily and especially on days like this and show us that Jack mattered...that he still matters.  I am weak, on all levels today...but maybe that's a good thing because I swear I can feel Jack closer today.  So, I'm going to close my eyes and try to remember what it felt like to hold him.  To kiss his soft chubby cheeks.  To hold him and have my chin rest on his soft whispy white hair.  Someday....someday Coby and I will hold him again. Someday all will be made right.  And until "someday" comes....I'll just have to cling to that hope and the memories I refuse to let fade.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Bear Lake with our Michigan Crew

It's that time again...time for the old annual Bear Lake weekend with our Michigan friends!
This is an old picture, because for some reason...we never did get a shot of everyone!
 As soon as we were all awake...which was early since the sun and kids are usually on the exact schedule...we were playing in the water.
 The boys worked together and put in the jetski.
 Colie Poke sat on the beach blanket and contemplated eating the sand...and then gave in and had a few bites!  YUCK!
Bettie sat there enjoying the scenery, the best company and the Bear Lake rays...all the while looking GORGEOUS as usual!
It's never dull that's for sure!  I love our poker games!
Here's some of the "chips" for the poker game.

I love these people so much!  Lance always has some sort of crazy story to tell us about crazy people breaking the law (He's the prosecuting attorney for Rupert, ID).  Bettie is so chill, always beautiful and kind and quick to tell her kids what little shits they are!  :)  Wes and Mandy usually come for the day and grace us with Wes' dry and completely ridiculously FUNNY sense of humor!  Mandy is usually snapping pictures and telling us of their family's adventures in the hoppin' town of Tremonton, Utah.  Natalie and Ian and little Tatam finally made it this year and we couldn't have been happier!  Oh how we've missed them!  Natalie is one of the most kind and genuine people you'll ever meet and we feel so blessed still have her in our lives.  But even better than that is her FUNNY...no, CRAZY HILARIOUS sense of humor that can have you doubled over, unable to breathe, sides sore from laughing charm!

It's so nice to get together each year with them and pick up right where we left off!  I love them and always look forward to our annual little Bear Lake Reunions!

***NOTE***Next year I hope the flu bug's invitation gets lost in the mail!!  WORST stomach flu of our lives!

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Have you seen my fork?

"Have you seen my fork?"
My dad used to always ask me this while pulling his neck out!  Quite hilarious!

Monday, September 09, 2013

First day of Preschool for Jaden

I can't believe that Jaden is old enough to go to preschool!  Yikes!!  Where has the time gone??

He is 4 years old and going to a cute little preschool called, "Little Wonders"  His teacher is Mrs. Jennifer.  He goes to school two days a week (Monday and Wednesdays).  She's AWESOME and came highly recommended.  Plus at only $50 a month and literally 5 minutes away...it's GREAT for everyone!  :)  I'm excited to see how he'll do.  But I'm sure he'll love it.  He LOVES to read and learn.  He's constantly asking if he can work in his preschool workbook.  I am sometimes really surprised at the amount of things he already knows without telling him.  What can I say...he's a SCHOLAR!!!

Death by tickling???

Apparently, you CAN die by getting tickled too much!!  Who would have thought?!!  Jadesy is seriously a RIOT and a half!!!  It's definitely NEVER dull...that's for sure!