It is Christmas yet?

Ahhhh.....the day is almost upon us and I am finally ready for it to be here.

We put up the decorations a month ago, and I don't know about anyone else, but
putting up the decorations to me DOES NOT make me want Christmas to come......it's a pain......
we have boxes upon boxes to open......things are strung here and there.....let's just say Christmas's guts are flung far and wide......although the end results are pretty amazing.

This week though, I wanted to play that good 'ole Christmas music....some Bing and Frankie.....those boys hit the spot......and start the Christmas baking.....yummy.....and the goodie eating.....not so great but totally necessary!

And Christmas time just wouldn't be complete without several ornaments crashing to the ground and shattering in a million pieces, or some Christmas lights being hung all over the ceiling of my car (thanks Josh) or having to go to SEVERAL different school programs.....

Oh.......what's that you say....you would like to see one of these programs.  That is your ONLY Christmas wish......very well.  Here you go.......Merry Christmas!!!

How They Have Grown

I have wanted to post these next pictures for a while......

We lived back east for a couple of years while Brian was going to school.  So my sisters made Josh and Mike these shirts.....on the front of them it said  "I love my Aunt Amy the mostest, she's my favorite.....shhhhh, don't tell."  then on the back it said "I love my Aunt Tari the mostest, she's my favorite....shhhhh, don't tell."  Josh was almost 4 and Mike was almost 2 when we received these adorable shirts in March of 2005.

Aren't they adorable?

It has now been 8 and 1/2 years since we got the shirts, and we must retire the shirts, just barely......and my boys are SUPER sad, but its time.......

They got some good use!  And were super loved!  Thanks Aunt Amy and Aunt Tari!  You still are loved and are the mostest favorite!!!!  

6 is Full of Tricks

Luke's 6th birthday is today.......just 6 short years ago he was just 4 hours old.....oh, how I wish I could go back in time.

I have had a hard time this year....I have been on the verge of tears for a week now.

One tradition we have in our family is that whoever's birthday it is gets to pick what we have for dinner....so Mike asked me tonight what Luke's favorite dinner was and said we should have that for dinner......but, I couldn't  remember what his favorite dinner was or his favorite food.  I hate that.  It depresses me that I had this beautiful boy and I can't remember what food he liked most.

I think the thing I want to know most this year is what he would look like and act like as a 6 year old.  What would his voice sound like?  What kind of attitude would he have?  Actually, I think I know that one.....

I can't wait to see you again Luker.  I love you beyond measure and want you to know that we think of you everyday.  Happy 6th Birthday Cookie Lukey!

1,460 Days....35,040 hours....2,102,400 minutes

How can 4 years have passed since our wonderful, precious Luke passed away.

So much has happened since that fateful day.  So much that he has missed out on.  Josh is now 12 and is a deacon.  Mike is 10 and has been baptized.  Ben was born and would love to know his brother.

I love him.  I miss him.  I wish he was here.

What else can I possibly say on this 4 year anniversary?

We love you Luker boy!

The Mighty Hunters

Josh has got to be the luckiest kid when it comes to hunting....the first time he goes turkey hunting, he shoots one within 5 minutes of being there......and today he went deer hunting and shot one in the first 5 minutes of being in the area.

Brian went up by himself early this morning to No-Tellum Ridge, and shot his 3 point at 8:30 this morning and he was home by 2:30.  So, when Josh got home from school, Brian asked him if he wanted to go....Josh said sure and they were off by 3:30.  I got a  text at 4:40 saying he had shot his first deer.

Way to go boys.....that'll keep us stocked up on jerky for a while!

Now Don't Start That Again

We have had a few really CRAZY weeks at our house......

It started with this:

Then this:

Then finally this:

So it all started back on August 23rd.....I was helping a friend with a fundraiser for a little boy who has cancer.  We got done with the event and we were dropping some stuff of to his office so he wouldn't have to worry about it.  Well, because, we had so much stuff to take, I had the truck.  It was a dark parking lot and a dark car and I didn't see it and well.......SQUISH.......  I hit the car!  Great way to end the night! (First Picture)

Then 3 days later, Ben was outside with Brian and I.  He was in the stroller and we were trying to get the boat in the garage.  We were almost done and Ben wanted out of his stroller.  I went and got him out and he was playing.  Well, he wandered off so we went to find him......when we did he was holding an open container of antifreeze that Brian had forgotten about.  We didn't know how much he drank so we went to the hospital.  Now, I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would have to stay in the hospital for 3 days while they poked my kid every 4 hours to test his blood and we would have to do 3 rounds of antidote to be able to finally come home.  There is no lab around us to test for the amount of antifreeze in the blood.  The nearest one is Spokane, WA.  But instead of sending his blood to Spokane, the hospital sent it to Virginia.  Nice!  It was a huge reminder of what happened to Luke.....ambulance ride and all.  Needless to say, antifreeze is NO BUENO!!!! (Second Picture)

Finally, one week after we were home from the antifreeze incident, Ben had surgery on his boy parts.......we had to get all his marbles in the right sack so to speak......which he did really well with and he is already back to normal.  (Third Picture)

And, yep, just one more,  two nights ago Brian's wonderful Grandma Whittier passed away at 91 years of age.  She sure lived a great life and raised a good family.  Brian told her last week when he saw her to tell Luke we love him and that he is grounded.  I am hoping she remembered, because he is soooo grounded until at least after the Millennium, and then we'll see.

And I though August would be such a promising month with this:
                                                                                           

    Brian fishing in Alaska for his 40th birthday

And this:

   School Starts!  Mike-5th Grade     Josh-7th Grade

But we made it, and now hopefully only good times are ahead....knock on wood....fingers crossed....picked up a penny.....carrying a rabbit's foot......found a four leaf clover.....throw salt over my shoulder.....and wished upon a star, just to be sure!

Ben's Gots the Giggles

I love love LOVE my children's laughs.....even Josh's 12 year old "giggle under his breath so nobody knows he's happy" laugh. 

This gem I just shot and I think it is the MOST adorable thing of Ben yet.
 

Now, you may watch this and think "WOW, that kid is one happy kid"  and he is......as long as he is doing whatever he wants.  The child hates being told no and will already throw himself to the ground if he doesn't get his way......its hilarious!

School starts tomorrow for the older boys.....I have a middle schooler this year!  Wooohoooo!  I keep telling them I don't know what I will do with Ben while they are at school.  They are great babysitters!

And with school starting that means its freezer corn time......so you must watch this next video......
Let's just say, Ben likes corn.

And He's Up

Ben has taken the longest time to get walking.....okay, I know it only seems like forever....at 13 months he still wasn't on his own.

And then he was......just like that.....one day it was two steps, then three, then four, and then he was off.

It is nice that he can keep up with his brothers now.  He is much happier on two feet!

But I had forgotten the messes they make when they are up and going.....like the dish towel drawer....why do they think it is fun to pull ALL the towels out of that drawer?  Baffling!  I know I don't think its's fun to put them all back.  Dumb drawer!

I do love to watch him though.  I love it when he is fascinated by new things.....how his eyes light up!  It makes me sad in my heart that he will not know his brother Luke, in this life, but so grateful he has two older brothers here that love him so much.

Here are some videos of my boys' super cuteness:

Picture Day!!!

I just got the pictures I had taken of the boys today.......I love them......and I hate them......

Pictures are a terribly wonderful reminder that my kids are growing up.....except for one.

There should be 4 boys in these pictures not 3. 

So therein lies so many unanswered questions:  What would a 5 1/2 Luke be like today?  What would he look like? Act like?  Sound like? 

So with a heart that is grateful for the three, and missing terribly the one, here they are:

One is Fun

Well, we made it to the first year people.... And it has been a blast! I am such a push over when it comes to my baby..... Maybe that's why they say the baby in the family is spoiled (except in my case!). Ben is a great kid and we love him to death. He can say dada, mama, and woof woof. He can make car sounds and his favorite dancing tune is "thatPOWER" by Will.I.Am. We went to my grandparents cabin for his 1st birthday and celebrated with my family! Here are the highlights (bear with me...there is A LOT!)

You gotta love bathing in a bowl 2 sizes too small for you!  He is stinking adorable right? 

Derby, Birthdays, and Peek-a-Boo Too!

We have been having a ton-o-fun at our house lately. Mike went to his Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. He didn't place, but his car was super cool. It was a hammerhead shark. Yeah, it was awesome. And Mike turned 10 yesterday and Josh turns 12 on Friday......he is going to be the skinny little deacon passing the sacrament. Ahhhhh.....so crazy! Mike is a WONDERFUL kid. He is loving and thoughtful and kind and helpful. He has gotten the "caught you being good" award at school probably 20 times this year. He has great attitude most of the time. He loves playing baseball and loves the outdoors! We love having him in our family. Josh is still the Mayor of our family. He makes sure everyone is okay. I love having one on one time with him. I get glimpses of the young man he is becoming. He still loves to play the computer (minecraft is his fav). He is in band this year playing the snare drum and bells. He even got asked to be in the 8th grade band next year as a 7th grader! He is a great kid and we can't imagine our lives without him! Ben is almost walking. He can stand by himself really well and takes 2 steps then stops. He started playing peek-a-boo and can do the actions to patty cake. It is stinking adorable! Here is a video of Mike at the derby. I love how he gives the kid he races a high five! Here is Ben playing peek-a-boo....I know, you could eat him with a spoon!

Stuffing a Turkey Through the Beak

Okay.....that is my ALL time favorite line from a general conference EVER.... "That's like trying to stuff a turkey through his beak." --Elder Holland So great. His talk was my fav.....ooooh, and President Uchtdorf's! I love hearing the apostles and our wonderful prophet speak. It inpires me to do better, be better, and try harder every time I hear them. And on a totally different note, Ben LOVES the stairs, so I thought I would share with you his awesomeness! Here you go!

Make 'Em Laugh

One of my ALL time favorite movies is Singing in the Rain. And one of the best songs on that movie is "Make 'Em Laugh". Short people have long faces and Long people have short faces. Big people have little humor And little people have no humor at all. Can't you just see Donald O'Connor and Gene Kelly dancing it up and being hams! Perfection I tell you, PERFECTION! After Luke passed, I NEVER thought I would laugh again. We have had some experiences the last few weeks that reminded me of those first few months when it seemed that happiness, joy, and laughter would not be in my life anymore.... But, then as the old addage says, "time heals all wounds" and you throw in A LOT of the spirit guiding and healing, and you have happiness, joy and laughter again! Well, that seems to be our life's mission around here....making Ben laugh. And sometimes I am lucky enough to catch it on camera..... This is what life's about! Enjoy.....

Quality Family Time

Last week was our annual family snowmobiling trip to Island Park......and aside from Ben and I getting sick, it was FANTASTIC! Good times I tell ya! There was good snow, good food and good friends to enjoy it with. My brother and his family even came up one night to go swimming with us! We only had one "wreck"......Mike was going a little too fast out in the meadow and didn't notice a dip. When he hit it, he flew off his snowmobile. It scared him to death but recovered nicely and was back at it the next day! This was the first year Josh and Mike rode their own sleds on a longer ride, which was great! I was so proud of them! Here are some photo highlights:

Yes....He Is That Cute!!!

Only one of my sons would think that something like this is so funny..... I could listen to that laugh ALL day and never be sick of it!

Benjamania

We all have a little bit of Benjamania in this house. We think Ben is better than sliced bread with butter and jam! So when he got his first two teeth this last week, we jumped for joy! No more toothless grins!!! And then, the smarty pants, learned to crawl......well, we were ecstatic! He is a moving cutie! Here is a shot of Ben in action, but watch cautiously, or you may get Benjamania too!

6 month (+ 1 month) pictures

I am a horrible mother......how could I forget to get Ben's 6 month pictures done.  I got them done just last week (hence, the title of this blog) so he was actually 7 months old!

Josh, Mike, Luke.....all had 6 months pictures done.  But not Ben.  Poor kid.  This may scar him for life.  He may have to go to counseling about this someday.  Oh, the inhumanity of it all.......

But, they did turn out FANTASTIC.....

He is FREAKING adorable........

Maybe he will survive my oversight.

What do you think?

Time Flies

I never thought too much about the saying "time flies" until I had children.... and it seemed like in the blink of an eye Josh went from being a loud, stubborn 1 year old to a loud, stubborn almost 12 year old.

And then, after Luke passed, the saying "time stands still" came into play, or maybe I just wanted it to stand still.  I didn't want anything to change.  I wanted to hold onto what we had.......

This past month, I think I have had time standing still while flying by (yea, figure that one out).

We got to celebrate Ben's first Christmas.  We enjoyed playing Creationary (the boys got it for Christmas) and sipping hot chocolate.  We watched movies and ate popcorn.  And the time really flew.

And then by week two of Christmas vacation, time slowed down, trickling ever so slowly, until it eventually came to a screeching halt, and I didn't think I would make it until they went back to school (isn't sending them to school heavenly?  I think we should go year round.....who's with me?!?!). 

Here are some of our most memorable times:

Okay, now let's talk about this cuteness:

Ben is over 22 lbs. and is in 9-12 month clothes already.  He is sitting up wonderfully well.  He is almost crawling......he can go scoot backwards as far as the room will allow, so we are working on his forward motion.  He is LOUD and proud.  If you don't pay enough attention to him, he will yell until you do.  He has found his toes and loves to try to suck on them!!!  He still wakes up 2-3 times a night, but we are going to start curbing that!  His favorite foods are sweet potatoes and peach cobbler, but he is starting to want our food more than his own.  He loves his brothers, something I hope will last a lifetime.  He finds them just hilarious.  And he is stinkin' adorable!!!