The Burnett Gazette: February 2013

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Out and About

Recently, we met some friends and went to OMSI. Cole and Ally were so good. Brent and I often describe our life now as "painfully easy". And it's true. It's so easy to take Cole and Ally and go do things. We hate the easiness of it because it means Keith isn't here. Easier is not always better.

But getting out does help us stay busy. We went to the Children's Museum this weekend and I've taken the kids on two very quick trips to Yakima lately to visit family.
Cole and Ally can often be found "texting", "emailing" or "calling" the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or the turtles' friend, April O'Neil. Aunt Sydney asked Cole if he'd received any texts from April O'Neil this weekend and he simply said, "No, just a phone call."
Cole has been known to send text messages from my phone lately. The one he sent today to Grandpa Smart for his birthday looked like this: "hapybrthdagrapoluvcole" (translation: Happy Birthday, Grandpa. Love, Cole)
Not to be outdone, Ally wanted to send a text message also. Cole helped her draft this: "hapybrthdadeergrapoluvally" (translation: Happy Birthday dear Grandpa. Love, Ally)

Never dull around here...

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

"Half-naked and Almost Famous"

MGK got nothing on us.

Cole and Ally recently joined Brent for part of his workout. Cole is always trying to do his sit-ups, push-ups and chair dips like dad.

Ally was hilarious because she insisted on taking off her shirt like dad.

And here she is getting all worn out after about 3 sit ups.

And I could be "almost famous" if enough people are bored and have time on their hands to read about me being the Run Oregon Profile of the Week. Thanks Jen for the nomination! And thanks Maryalicia for making me look good!

Click here if you're bored and have some time on your hands.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

January

It was rough getting back into the swing of things in January. At least Aunt Emily was visiting so we could start the year off right. She had Cole looking pretty handsome with his spiky hair. I had Emily cut mine again, too. I'm loving having shorter hair and I think I almost have Brent convinced that he likes it too.

Ally started preschool in January. Cole's Typical Peer program was looking for more students so I decided to put Ally in. They go on different days so they can each have their "own" preschool. Plus, I'm not ready to be alone. I love having one-on-one time with each of them almost every morning.

Ally never looked back on her first day of preschool.

Cole is into many "adult" things these days. He tells everyone that his parents let him watch "adult movies" which means they aren't cartoons but most people probably think we let him watch unedited HBO or something. Cole loves spelling, typing and then printing the names of his favorite superheroes or people he knows. I had to purchase new ink and a new ream of paper this week. He is also into calling people on the phone. Ally took the pictures of him on the phone, so I guess she's into new things too. She told me that she took some pictures and when I grabbed my camera, I could see that she was right.

Ally loves dressing up, too. She's hilarious in her Merida costume from Brave. She keeps telling me that now she needs a Tinkerbell costume and a "Apunzel" (Rapunzel) costume. She's constantly telling me what she wants for next Christmas. At least she doesn't demand things on the spot. But her list is going to be 3 miles long by this December!

OK. I think I successfully saved my eyebrows. Phew!

Friday, February 8, 2013

December

We celebrated Christmas a few days early as a family because we flew to Maui with my parents, siblings and Grandma Phyl on December 22.
The day before we left, Keith's grave marker was installed. We went in the dark to see it before we left so this picture is from when we got back. We couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out. Brent designed the logo. The quote is from Joseph Smith. It goes without saying that I was completely depressed thinking about buying Keith a headstone for Christmas and getting on a plane for a "family" vacation without him.
I have to admit, our Hawaiian Christmas was better than we anticipated. It was a relief to not be at home for our first Christmas without Keith. It helped it not feel like Christmas and just a sunny vacation. (OK, not "just" a sunny vacation. It was a pretty amazing trip.)
I know that probably sounds bad to not want it to feel like Christmas, but for this first one, it was what we needed to survive. We truly were not ready to come home 12 days later.

Insert photo overload. If you follow my sister, Sydney's blog, you probably don't need to look at any of these pictures. We all shared our pics and she had them all on her blog last week.

Brent, just prior to his cliff-jump from which he almost didn't return.

For reasons that cannot be explained, Sydney always gets us doing this idiotic poses. And because we had had a bit too much sun exposure, we listened to her ridiculousness.