So Much Snow. . . So Little Time

We have had some great snow this year, which has made our snowmobiling trips so fun. This last weekend we took Josh and Mike up to Idaho City for a family day. It was Josh's first time driving the snow machine, by himself, on a trail. And he did great. . . .we only had one minor fender bender and a sore thumb to complain about, but other than that, it was FANTASTIC!
After we got done riding, we took the boys to a big sledding hill in Idaho City. Brian even got into the action (although, he did bruise some areas that we need not mention. . . oh sorry, I mentioned it, didn't I?). And then, after all that fun, we decided to go to Trudy's. If you have never been, I highly recommend it. You can see from the pictures, it is pure yumminess at it's best!










Ahhhhh, family time!!!

Thoughts From Dr. Seuss

So, lately, I have had a few dark days. My sister, today, had a very hard day. I have friends, that I love and admire, that have some pretty hard stuff to contend with. And so tonight I am reading books to my niece who is 8 months older than Luke, and I think to myself, "Wow, I haven't had to read children's books for 16 months." I hate it when reality smacks you upside the head and says, "Remember me. . . you lost something BIG in your life. . . . you really aren't as okay as you think you are!" But the last book she brought me to read to her was from Dr. Seuss titled "Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?". I want to write you something that struck me:

When you think things are bad,
when you feel sour and blue,
when you start to get mad. . .
you should do what I do!

Just tell yourself, Duckie,
you're really quite lucky!
Some people are much more. . .
oh, ever so much more. . .
oh, muchly much-much more
unlucky than you!

Like Grandpa used to say, things are just the way you think they are. . . .THANKS for the reminder Dr. Seuss!

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved a girl. To show his love, he whisked his girl away to an enchanted chateau. It was a magical place. . . where no kids were fighting and no clothes were waiting to be folded. The rooms magically cleaned themselves and breakfast appeared as if from heaven. To entertain his girl, the boy took her on a magic carpet (motorized, of course) through the trees and hills of the country. Alas, at the end of three days time, it was time to leave the chateau and return to their former existence.

Even now, as the girl folds the piles of unending laundry, and calms the quarreling children, she will think of that magical chateau, and how the boy she loves created a wonderful memory she will cherish.

The Very Happy End!!!!

McCall or Bust

We had the opportunity this last weekend to go to McCall for a little R & R or should I say S & E (snowmobiling and eating!). It was so much fun. The trails in McCall are amazing. And, it was the ice festival in McCall, so, we got to see a lot of amazing ice sculptures! Thanks to the Elsasser's for a great weekend (I think my eyes have finally recovered from being accosted by the pink suit)!!! Here are some pics of the highlights:

The Pink Suit!!! All I can say is WOW!

It amazes me that even though it was fun and wonderful, that going on a family vacation brings on pain. It shouldn't. But. . . . it does. I have moments when I am sitting there. . . looking at my kids playing. . . .and I remember back to a time, not so long ago, when he was here. I think, Luke should be here enjoying this time with us. I wonder about what he is thinking or doing.

We took Luke on his first snowmobile trip when he was 6 weeks old. He loved the snow. He would have loved to go snowmobiling this year and sledding.

So many memories missed.

So, What Have You Been Up To?

"So, what have you been up to lately?" I get that question a lot. So much so, that I feel it necessary to show what I have "been up to".

Brian finished make our side tables, so we painted, sanded and stained those. They turned out great!

I have been working on a primitive stitching for my family room, and with the help of Tina, I finished it last week. It turned out SUPER cute!

Josh also received his Bear this week in Scouts. He too turned out to be a SUPER CUTE kid!

So, that, my friends, is what we have been up to. We are forever learning to be content with our new normal. This week it has been a struggle for our whole family. Mike and Josh have been talking about Luke a lot this week. It brings back all the wonderful times we had together, and the pain of "losing" him. I put losing in quotes because we know he is not lost. He is missed, but he is not lost.

Break My Stride

Oh man, I have fond memories of this song. . . it is my Mom's favorite. She would sing it in the car anytime it came on, and it truly exemplifies her! I was in a kickboxing class last week and the instructor had this song on her playlist. I instantly thought of my Mom and what she and this song had taught me. Many people have asked me, through this experience, how we do it-- how we get up every morning; how we still have faith; how we still laugh, and love, and breath. I believe it is because what I learned as a kid. . . .nothing gonna break my stride; nobody gonna slow me down. . . Oh NO, I got to keep on movin'!

The holidays were difficult. It is hard not to get to see Luke open presents on his birthday or Christmas. I often think about the funny things he would be saying or doing right now. BUT, we keep on movin':

Decorating Luke's tree on Christmas Eve.

Annual decorating of the gingerbread house. YUM!

Josh enjoying his new scooter from Christmas.

Mike loving his present from Santa!

Someone is always missing.

And so, THANKS Mom and Matthew Wilder for helping me keep moving, when sometimes is seems impossible!

Our Bed

Brian has been working very hard on our new bed. He finally got it done and we set it up last night. It looks beautiful! I love the black! It is funny how something as simple as a bed reminds me of Luke. Luke left a wonderful gift in the last bed we had (for a refresher, look up April 2010-The Toothbrush) and I was so hoping to find something when we moved the mattress last night. But. . . no. . . just memories. I miss him more than the pitiful words we have in the English language can describe. Every word or phrase is inadequate to describe how much I want him back. Brian asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I decided I want the ability to manipulate time. . . so I could go back. . . or speed up the years, so we can be with him sooner. Do you think Santa can deliver that?