Goodbye 2008!

Well goodbye 2008. Sorry to say you will not be missed. It was a tough year and you all know why, so I will not bore you with the emotional details. I will just wish you all well and lets hope that 2009 has better memories in store for us!

Random December pictures

Sophie with her pretty Christmas Bow!

They are best friends now, and surprisingly the cat likes/tolerates Gavin too!

Funny puppy just tried to lick his nose :)

Gavin and his fun winter hat...and a cookie, even little ones get into the holiday feasting.

Gavin and his HUGE 12 month winter jacket...I think someone needs to talk to these clothing companies about there size charts.

Merry Christmas

I have thought of many things that I would like to post, but have not found the right way to express them, so I will just simply wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This year was the hardest one in my life so far, so I pray for a better 2009. Merry Christmas to you all and remember the reason for the season.

Be thankful for 'NO"

Well I never thought I would love Gavin more, but it happens everyday! He is a talker, and I have no idea where he got that from :) Of course his favorite word is NO. He also says pizza, outside, mommy, daddy, puppy and he so loves his Mickey Mouse, but he calls him Meeska (If you have ever seen Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, you will know what I am talking about). he even says Brittany, but it comes out more like Nittny. He is so vocal and opinionated that I am wondering if I will be in trouble soon. Maybe a mini me...but I am thankful that he is a talker even though I'd rather him say yes once or twice.

Thanksgiving went well. It was of course different and a little difficult. All of us kids went 'home' (minus Mindy who is back safely in NY) and had a nice afternoon with everyone. We played our usual game of Scrabble, we had to pull out a dictionary though, mom was usually our dictionary, and of course the only one we could find was from 1912. Pretty nice time though. We got to steal Tracy for the weekend so that I could do some Black Friday shopping. I didn't have anything worth trampling anyone down for, but it was nice to shop with out kids. I set up my tree Friday afternoon. Then on Saturday we headed to Omaha for a little shopping and Tracy had fun with Brian's nieces Kayla and Amy.

My house has been under some construction for over a week now. I am getting new windows and siding on the house and garage. Its not much but Brian and I can feel the difference in heating our house!! I was able to get myself a bay window in the living room, I have wanted one my whole life. I always dreamed of my house having a bay window, wood floors and a big yard with a weeping willow tree in it. So now all I need is the weeping willow.

I have some pictures of the bay window, but I will wait until my house is finished and grab some photos of the siding job too.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season with Friends, Family and Faith.

Mom

I am really missing my mom today. I hope she knows how much I miss her. What a difference a season can make the first picture is from around Easter and the second is from the end of July...its not fair look how beautiful she was...heaven is sure lucky to have you mom.

I don't know if any of you went to the burial, but my mom wrote a lullaby when I was a baby and sang it to all of us kids, I can even remember us singing it to Tracy and Lucas.

Angel of God my guardian dear,

to whom God's love commits me here,

be ever this day be at my side

to light to guard to rule and guide.

Amen.

And of course it wasn't a simple one note Amen, it was all over the scale :) I sing it to Gavin too.

Ahhh, I miss you. Mom, please help me.

See older posts

Please make sure to see older posts at the bottom of the pages, I posted so many it wraps around to a second page. ENJOY!

WOW! Picture overload!

Man when I decide to finally post, do I ever finally post. Here are all those pictures that I promised since...September I think. Please check as there are multiple posts. Everything is going okay here. Today marks 3 months since mom died, I know you all are tired of hearing about this but it is still hard to believe.

Other news, my Bravada has gone to a better place, we traded it in before it cost more than it was worth. So we are now the proud owners of another 5 year car payment :) But now we can haul 7 people so there is a plus. Brian is doing well at work and so am I. I still like my job and love not driving interstate everyday! Gavin is growing super fast, as you will see below, he is talking more and boy, so entertaining. I hope that you all are planning wonderful holidays! Hope to see and hear about your families soon.

Gavin~ misc. pictures

I love his baby blues.

Not sure Brian would want me to post a picture of his son trying on mom's shoes?

Gavin in his new winter coat...afraid we will need it soon.

Not sure anyone has ever seen our tank before, so here you go.

The King of the Jungle at halloween time~2008

Just havin' fun and being silly

Gavin's first hair cut with Great Aunt Barbie

Pumpkin patch 2008

Here we are at the Roca Berry Farms in Roca, NE. Gavin had a fun time that day. Big sister Brittany, Aunt Tracy and Uncle Lucas came too!

Day at the zoo

Our day at the zoo with the Williams and Ripp family! What a fun day with Calla and Burlynn!

Edible Bouquet

I was sent this edible bouquet for my mom's birthday in September by my friends Andrea and Brenda. Iwas very special and very yummy! And very special. Thank you!

Brittany's Freshman Homecoming 2008

Day at the Park~October 2008

Laptop

Well, I did it. I ordered myself a laptop. So I am sure my new computer will help me get those pictures off of the camera faster. It should be here in a week or so. Please bear with me a little longer as I still have Homecoming, pumpkin patch pictures, etc. to share :)

Mom-I miss you

Hello All-

It has been hard since mom died. People say that it gets easier as time passes, but I am not sure that is true. We have all been trying to move on as that is what mom would want us to do. Though she still couldn't imagine us doing that without her, and it is truly difficult. I find myself desiring the family connection so terribly. But it feels like we are worlds apart. Mom held us all together, she was the glue. I do so miss calling her up and having our little chats about nothing. I am not so good lately with the blog...now that fall and winter are ahead there will be less outside things to do so I might be better at the pictures and blogging. Phone calls are hard too...I hope I can be my cheerful self again sometime soon.

Tracy will turn 13 on Sunday. Mom wanted to be here for all of the things that Tracy has yet to experience...Please pray for her and Lucas to continue through this struggle.

Dan is...well being Dan and a man, so you can imagine how he is doing.

Also The Dancer Family has started a blog http://jmjjdancer.blogspot.com I encourage to all to follow them as you have followed us.

So I will close with 2 common phrases that are echoed by many families across the world. "It is not fair" and "CANCER SUCKS!"

The zoo

Saturday, Gavin and I got to meet up with our friends Calla and Andrea from Kearney. We had a good time. Gavin really was impressed by the goats, seals and these dinosaur eggs that he could play in. I have some pictures to put up later. Gavin also had a fun time giving Leo the Lion his trash to suck away! I remember loving that thing when I was little, I am so glad they fixed him and brought him back!

Forever 54

Today Stella would have been 55. I have not been able to visit her grave yet. Not sure why I just can’t bring myself to it yet. I want to visit her everyday and yet I always talk myself into something else. We are trying to get along with out you mom, but it is a challenge. I love and miss you and think of you everyday.

Nightingale Tribute

I just wanted to let everyone know that I received a call from one of Stella's friends Kathy Corbett. There is a Nebraska Nursing Association convention every year, and every year at this convention they read a list of names. She has added mom to that list knowing how much nursing meant to mom. It will be held in Kearney, NE the week of October 8-10, 2008 at the Holiday Inn. She didn't know which day it would be, but it will be a moment of silence for those names read, the call it the Nightingale Tribute. I am thinking she said there was a candlelight vigil also.

I just thought that it was neat that moms friends thought as much of her as we did.

Summer 2008

Wow, Summer 2008 is over...so here are some pictures from the summer.

We got to babysit Baby Boen, and Gavin helped.

The Wiechman's at Gavin's 1st birthday.

Aunt Jessie, Gavin, Aunt Gina and Boen.

Grandma Stella and Boen.

I love this kid in a towel!! What is it about babies after their baths?

Gavin was helping me watch Boen, we decided he was ready to eat.

Is that for me?

Yummy!

Me, Dad and my birthday wagon!

Happy Birthday to me!

Just plain cute!

Bubbles at Aunt Brenda's house

The 4th of July in West Point

Swinging with my sister and cousins!

Silly boy!

Mohawk! What a handsome little guy!

I love him! What a first year he has given us, thank you for picking me to be your mommy!