#8!

There was a birthday party in our house a few days ago...

 Here he is, our 8-year old with his football cake!

Hanging out with Major while waiting to open gifts.

And because Bumpa and Grammy and Don and Darlene believe in keeping everyone happy, every one of the kids got to open something.  They were all quite pleased!

Hmmm...these Technic Legos are a little more involved but, oh so much fun!

His father deemed him old enough, his mother wasn't so sure.  But when Lane thanked us for his new BB gun, he thanked Dad for working on Mom and he thanked Mom for setting aside her 'worries' (as he put it).  He's a perceptive kid!

Moving Right Along...

People have commented more than once about the fact we've gone through this cancer business while raising young kids and how much more difficult it must make it.  To be honest, we haven't felt that at all.  In fact, they have kept me going on more than one occasion.  And now, somehow, we find ourselves already 2 months removed from surgery.  2 months!!  Time moves right along.

In a weird way, the time has flown.  I don't feel 100% yet but I'm getting much closer and it is the little things that keep me encouraged.  Things like driving and reaching the olive oil above the microwave.  Pushing grocery carts and carrying grocery bags.  Things I did before surgery without even thinking, but at a month out still seemed impossibly out of reach.  Things that I'm starting to do without thinking again.  The kids are quick to point out progress.  Logan was very excited when I reached down in the van to hand him a book he had dropped.  "Good reach, Mom," he exclaimed.  On the other hand, he is a bit disappointed that I can reach the olive oil because I don't need him to climb up on the counter and reach it for me.  That's progress for you - you win some, you lose some!(:

In the last 2 months, these kids have kept us going and smiling, have kept things normal even when it wasn't normal (but what is normal anyway?!).  Their smiles brighten our day...

even when said smile has added another gap to it.  The tooth fairy (who the kids are quick to point out looks an awful lot like Daddy) has been getting a work out around here.

And their belly laughs?  Priceless.

Here is our birthday boy who turned 8 on Thursday.  He recently was awarded the 'Character Counts - Caring' award for his 2nd grade classroom.  Did I mention, they make us proud?

I'm so thankful for these kids!

Ice Fishing

Even though it doesn't feel like there should be any ice left anywhere, there's enough left up in the mountains to get in some ice fishing!  Randy and Colter took Ryan, Lane and Logan for a bit of fun.

Logan was especially pleased about the '4-leeler' ride out to the fishing hole.  That's what convinced him to go instead of hanging out with the ladies.  Somehow to him, fishing and '4-leeler' rides sounded much more appealing than shopping.(:

On their way...

Checking holes, playing with ice, popping in and out of the ice houses, reeling in fish ... these boys kept themselves busy!

 With the day's catch of kokanee.

Raising a Roof

Our good friend Brad has been building a shop and doing most of the work himself.  He had a group of volunteers come help him raise the roof, Ryan being one of them.    

 There it is, an hour or so after they started.

After lunch ... getting higher!  After a full day's work, they got within 2 feet or so of the finished height when they ran into a snag (something about the hoists needing to be repositioned or some such thing...don't ask me, I merely take photos!) and called it a day.

The shop roof quickly took second place when Logan found the tractor!

Be afraid ... be very afraid...

 And a genie lift!  Logan could hardly contain his excitement!

 But the absolute best was when Brad let him dig a hole!  Oh my!  He had a grin from ear to ear!

Lane got in on the fun too ,,, Brad is one patient guy!  

Going for a Walk

The best antidote for a severe case of cabin fever is to head outside.  The weather has been unseasonably warm here and our snow fled in record time.  It all added up to a perfect opportunity to go for a walk!  

The lake still had it's layer of ice but that was about the only hint it was still winter.  The sun felt lovely, even if the shade was still a touch chilly.

 Trooping through the woods...

 to a sunny beach...

where the rocks proved irresistible!

It was interesting, the ice was pretty rotten but it was still strong enough to hold up smaller rocks.  That made for some experimentation to see how big a rock needed to be in order to plunk through.  It was discovered that only the Dads were strong enough to toss big enough rocks.  I think they had more fun than the kids!

Puzzling Alphabets...

Logan was putting an alphabet puzzle together and quietly singing the ABC's to help him remember the next letter.  Then I noticed things get quiet.  Finally, he looked up at me and asked, "Mommy, where's the minnow?"

"The minnow?"

"Yeah, ....J - K - L - Minnow - P!"

Remembering Grandma Ruth

Grandma Ruth finished her walk faithfully this past Friday.  We wish it would have worked to head out for her funeral this weekend but it seems wise to stay home this time.

Somewhere I'm sure I have a more recent picture of Grandma Ruth and our kiddos but I can't seem to find it.  Still, I enjoyed finding this one from Thanksgiving 2010 and thinking of how much Grandma Ruth enjoyed her (25!) great-grandchildren.  We will miss her!

Update #105 (Give or take a few...)

I've been working on this post for a while so maybe I'll actually get it finished?  I've been 'busy' recovering from surgery (which really means, I've been a bit loopy on pain meds!).  The surgery went well - the tumor is a thing of the past!  I have been recovering slowly but surely and have been so thankful for my hubby.  His new title is 'Nurse Ryan' and he has filled his new role admirably.  I'm so glad he's mine!

Our kids have been absolute troopers.  When I arrived home from the hospital, they were all waiting with their favorite 'friend' and I found myself buried in stuffed animals the minute I sat down.  They were all so careful in setting them on my lap and so happy to comfort their Momma. And their Momma was glad to be home and see their smiling faces!

We've been super thankful too for Bumpa and Grammy.  Logan asked Grammy if she was staying here forever and she replied, "Why, do you want us to leave?"  His response was sweet, 'No!  I love you, Grammy!"  

Here are some pre-surgery photos:

Knowing that we only had one real opportunity to get out on the snowmobiles as a family this winter, we headed out the Saturday before my surgery.  The conditions weren't perfect but it was fun to escape the house for an afternoon.  Ryan and Lane climbed to the lookout while the younger kids and I hung out.  

Hanging out is my new job description.  But every day gets easier and I feel like we are well on the road to recovery.  Slowly but surely...!

Snow Day

The snow is finally here.  In fact, we got so much, it extended Winter Break by a day!

The kiddos quickly discovered that a foot and a half of snow is more difficult to slog through then a mere inch or three.  Especially when it was as heavy and wet as this snow.  And that was before it turned to rain.  Actually, it couldn't decide whether to rain or snow most of the day and so it changed every few minutes.  The kids didn't mind.  They came in soaked but with big, wide grins!

See?  There's a big, wide grin!

Logan is all boy!  A yard full of snow and you can 'plow' endless roads!

Happy New Year!

For the first time in quite a few years, we managed to stay awake long enough to ring in the New Year.  Geoff and Jocelyn and their kiddos joined us.

Ryan, Geoff and Lane headed for the hills on New Year's Day to get some snowmobiling in.  The rest of us stayed cozy while drinking our hot chocolate.

Major is quite popular around here - Morgan was quite pleased to get a turn holding him.

More games!  Monopoly Empire is a much improved version of the game (in my opinion).  Much quicker!(:

We hope you all had a lovely time and wish you all the best in 2015!