Two Months In

Today is Leap Day--wasn't it just New Year's Day?

Last time we had a 2/29 on the calendar, I spent it in San Diego with my friend Rachel. Sadly, on this Leap Day, I am not in California. It's just another Monday in February.

Or is it? 

On 2/21, I found out Heather, a friend of mine from college, died in her home, along with her husband and their 4 children. Carbon monoxide poisoning. I've spent the past week thinking of nothing else. I've prayed for her surviving family, especially my friend Rhonda, her husband Greg, and their 3 sons. Heather and Rhonda are twins. I can't imagine how Rhonda must feel. There are no words.

So, "just another day" here on this earth? I don't think so. I'm thankful for my life--in California with a friend, or at home with my family. I'm humbly grateful.

We're two months in to 2016. Derek's on nights now. We turned in Kaleb's class registration papers for high school. High School! Braylen's JUNIOR class registration happens next week. Aaron's flying towards the end of elementary school. Tonight in his prayer, he prayed for summer vacation to come soon. Umm, as much as I love summer, this 4th quarter of school can go by very slowly, thank you! 

We just spent this entire weekend processing deer meat from the fall and winter hunts. Saturday was the fun day, since Rebekah and Shawn and the kids came over for the day. Sunday was the not so fun day--cooking sausage and jerky all day. The smells were overpowering for me, and if I see another raw sausage link, it will be much too soon. And yet--we're thankful for the meat, the memories, and the together time!

Speaking of together time...here's a few pictures to help me remember January and February, 2016. Or maybe more than a few! ;)

A day at the cabin in January

Derek was a Watch D.O.G. dad for a day at Aaron's school.
Derek is such a great daddy! We're going to miss our elementary school.

A beautiful sunset with lots of pink and purple. My favorite!

Aaron's wearing the sweater Braylen used to love wearing to church.
They look like such nice brothers in this picture. Haha!

I found this drive-in movie set, created by Kaleb. It made me happy.
Someday soon I imagine I won't find these things around the house anymore.

Ginger looks like she's pouting, but she's leaning in for
a belly rub from Braylen.

Our Thin Blue Line family painting, since we're all part of the police family.

Finally raking leaves...on January 30th. A big storm is coming...

The kids had 3 snow days from this blizzard!

Our house on the day after the storm

Kaleb is King of the Mountain!

Ginger Girl

Pam and I both wore our NFL shirts to the Superbowl party.
Maybe someday we'll have a Bears-Colts rematch!

Every morning, Kaleb wears his robe and slippers to breakfast.
He's like a little old man in a 14 year old body. :)

Valentines Day party with our closest friends! We rented a 15 passenger van and
had a progressive dinner. Party games were included, and we had a BLAST!

Kaleb looks like Derek in this picture!!!

At the last home basketball game in The Old Barn.

I love 11 year old boys. They're so silly.

We came home and they played basketball in the dark. Aaron wore his headlight. :)

Kaleb played 8th grade basketball this year. He loved it!

He's almost as tall as me.

The 2016 meat party!

Happy Leap Day 2016! An extra day in our year. I love it. To celebrate, I chatted with my cousin Katherine on FaceTime for almost 2 hours, and let the kids play on the Wii and watch Netflix. It was great! We had lots to catch up on, and the kids never interrupted us. A win-win! And with that, I'll say goodnight. :)