Just Dance!

Camille, Lily, Maddie, and Kiera celebrate Camille turning 8!

                                                        The (Dance) Party begins!  

                                                               Crazy EIGHTS!

                               The First Birthday Bite of the Oreo Cookie Crunch Cupcakes!

                                                  The Best Friend Necklace from Kiera! 

night sledding deserves a quiet night

Hide and Snow-Seek

 My soon to be 8 year old girl!

The TUBE! 

After crashing into this snow bank a few hundred times, it is time to kick back!

 My little sea turtle!  Gabe would take off on the orange sled like a just born turtle out to sea as he flapped his arms to get going down the hill. 

                                                                 What?!?

Lake Wenatchee Rocks!  Get it?!

Christmas Time Stories with Grandma!

                                                           The All Smiles Gang!

 "Away in a Manger" performance!  Camille and Gabe practiced "Silent Night" to sing for Christmas Eve and "Away in a Manger" for Christmas Morning! How lucky are we!

Dad and Mom on a sun stream snow morning.

Gabe and Grandpa!  Feel the Love.

We are connected. 

         Gabe leaning in for the kiss.  Makes me so happy:)

We found this Sled Hill in Lake Wenatchee Park and we wanted to bring my dad to it.  We went and got him and came back around 4 o'clock.  Dusk was upon us and the few people remaining had sled their final run and were leaving.  We had this massive hill to ourselves.  We had one double tube that by this time had been patched and taped with electric tape since we created our own hill, branches and all the first day we traipsed around (the slowest), a longer sled (the middle) and a super speedy disc (the fastest).  The three of us each chose one, the slowest going first and fastest last, anticpating the disc to come crashing down the dark.  My dad captured Brett and I coming down.  Flying down the fir tree lined hill, the tallest holding its strength in my eye, I feel the freedom in the raw snow and silence in the static night.  Joy.         

I'm going to do the Warsh!

Grandma Gladys' funeral was yesterday, December 17, 2011.  I feel so close to my son.  We stand at her casket and stay.  He asks where her glasses are.  He has this connection with things beyond the reach of this earth.  When he pulls out the picture ornament of Bryn to hang on the tree, he holds it close, silently.  Tears gather round as if asked to come for support.

I wanted her for my grandma.  For a grandma I never knew and one who didn't want to know.  I sleep with her quilt and Camille wears the bright pink dress Gladys wore to Darrell and Sherilyn's Wedding Reception.  Everyone who speaks mentions that they feel loved, that they know she loved them.  Isn't that the ultimate feeling we all strive for.  She holds her baby sister Betty on her left hip, Betty's left arm reaches towards the heart, Gladys' right hand grasps Betty's knee, no end.  Love. 

When Gabe and I arrive home from the day, we wrap ourselves together in the dark, the lights from the "It's A Wonderful Life" church replica glowing in strands towards the bed.  He holds tight to the program with her picture.  He says she doesn't have a bed but will sleep in a box like thing underground.  When he dies he wants me to leave him in his bed with his beloved fleece over the moon blanket (yes, Sherilyn, despite the new fleece, he cannot part).

Her hands are with me.  One of the times we visit her she reaches out in desperation.  We feel helpless.  So we sit.  Next to her and she holds tight to Brett's hands like the Momma bird in spring outside our window protects the babies in the nest she built.  She stretches her hand for Camille's and
her warmth covers us all.