For Shame, For Shame

I cannot believe that I haven't posted in over 2 months......for shame, for shame.....

But you see, I have been SUPER busy......January was filled with kids going back to school and getting back to normal after Christmas break.....February was our family vacation and the high school play Pirates of Penzance (I helped with costumes and hence the title of this post).......but that is no excuse, especially when I have cute photos like this to show the world.....

Don't you think the tag line should read:

"You feelin' lucky Punk?"

Ben is almost 21 months old.  And the closer he gets to 23 months, the crankier I get.  I have tried to analyze why this would be, but don't come up with a good answer.  I know he is safe and nothing is going to happen to him just because he is 23 months old.  It crazy what the mind will do to you!

Our family vacation this year to Island Park was pretty great.  We got to visit and play with our families which is always nice when you don't get to see them very often!

Yep.  Josh is officially as tall as both his grandmothers, but I only got the picture of Grandma Butikofer (she doesn't look happy about it....hehehehe).  I love it!

And here is our Ben being the big boy he is,

Sometimes, it just hits me how blessed I am.  I have a good husband, 4 wonderful boys, great and crazy family....I am a lucky girl......

Don't ya think?

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!