Senior Spotlight

 

Dimentia Dog

Our precious Mira has dimentia.  It breaks my heart.  I am not ready for the end.  I knew it from the moment I saw Caden's reaction to the news-- there will never be another dog as precious as she is.  She's not super bad yet, just a few nuggets of poop every once in a while after she's been deeply asleep (thanks to her round-the-clock anxiety meds) and a forgetfulness that is so unusual for her nature.  Where she once wouldn't tough something if we told her no, such as Max's food, she now needs to be pushed away if she gets into it, not even acting ashamed that she was caught.  It's as if she's never even known she could eat that food that was so graciously left out for her.  

So, when I saw her sitting in such a weird position, one she has never sat in before in a spot she never sits, I had to capture it.  One day, we'll look back at these photos with a little "Ah!" But for now, it's just one more thing to visually see how much our girl is changing.  She'll be 10 in a few weeks.  Our time with our Mira is winding down.  Even if we have five more glorious years, I'll never be ok losing the last connection we have to our Caden. It's slowly breaking my heart.
 

Terrible Toss

Back when we first moved here and I had little kids that like to spill boxes of Rice Krispy's all over the floor, I frusteratedly tossed the cereal container behind me and it struck in just the right fashion as to completely shatter our sliding glass window.  I am telling you, I didn't chuch it, I just tossed it behind me to begin work cleaning up the MASSIVE mess.  To this day, I don't think Randy believed me.

And then this happened...

Frusterated with the lagging of Netflix, he tossed the remote, ever so gently, around the vescinity of the tv.  It hit in just the right way.  We didn't even know until we turned the tv on the next time.  And then I laughed and laughed at his consternation.  "I didn't even throw it that hard!"

Yeah.  I know.  Same.
 

Bowling Beauty

 Senior Recognition Night for my Shelby girl.

I sure do love my Bowling Beauty!

Papa Murphy's

 Brennon interviewed for a job opening at Papa Murphy's last night.  They told him he'd hear from them by 3:30pm today if he got the job.  3:30 came and went, and my heart sank.  Because the minimum wage is so high here, many places aren't hiring 1) teenagers, or 2) they are giving teens more hours instead of hiring more.  It has been super hard for kids to get jobs here for more than two years now.  I let Tyson drive me to DQ to get a gift card for a friend's birthday and came home quickly to Randy telling me to hurry; they had leftovers from Olive Garden.

I walked in to hear Randy ask Brennon if he wanted any.

Brennon: "No, thanks.  I'm feeling like some Papa Murphy's."

I was confused.  Brennon is generally not a big fan of pizza.  And then I started to feel my hopes climbing.  

Randy: "You don't want any? Not even a breadstick?"

Brennon (looking me straight in the eye now): "No, thanks.  I'm going to be getting some PAPA MURPHY'S!"

**Cue Tiger Scream**

We all got into the Expedition, and back to DQ, we went, this time to celebrate Blizzards!!  

Fun Fact: Papa Murphy's phone number was our first landline phone number when we moved here.  

509-396-3951.  Neat.

Brennon will always remember that he got his first job on Shelby's 18th Birthday!

Mountain of Clothes

Kim Anderson donated ALL of her baby boy stuff to Keilie and Dallin.  And when I say all, I mean ALL!  From Birth to 8 years old!  We gathered all of the totes (10 of them, full!) and brought them home.  We sat down to go through the Birth to 12 months, leaving the rest for me to work on.

Five hours later, they're all organized by size.  (Top L to R: 12 months, 18 months, 2T.  Bottom L to R: 3-5 years, 6-8 years). I think it's safe to say that they're set with clothes.  Forever!  So, so, so generous!!!
 

Saucy Fruit

 I love that Dallin knows he can make himself at home here.  I love that we are slowly learning more and more about what he likes and doesn't like.  For instance, he doesn't care for lots of sweets, but he loves fruit...

Weirdo:)

Shelby's 18!!!

 We celebrated Shelby's birthday a few days early so that Dallin & Keilie could be there.  Funny enough, this would have been Shelby's birthday if I hadn't waited to go on my own.  I had my choice and chose to wait.

I cannot believe my girl is EIGHTEEN!!!!!  She brings us so much joy and fills our home with love.  She is generous with her time and love and is always looking for ways to make others happy.  Happy Birthday, Shelby!  I'm the luckiest girl in the world with you as my girl.

Christmas Groom

 Tyson asked for Max to be professionally groomed for a Christmas gift.  Today was that day.  For reference to how shaggy Max was, here's a picture from our road trip to California after Christmas. It was super rainy, as you can tell!

I laugh and laugh looking at this picture.  You can barely tell it's a dog!

Groomer: "Um, he's not really liking the clippers.  I'll do my best, but it's going to be choppy.  Sorry!"

Me: "Girl, it's going to look better than anything we've ever been able to do!"

Cutie.  

Merry Christmas, Tyson.  You now have a recognizable dog!

Ordination

 Bishop, Randy, and Brennon stood in the circle to ordain Tyson a Priest today.  Seeing my boys in such a sacred way was a beautiful sight.  I'll always wish Caden could be there for such events, but it was also a wonderful surprise to see Brennon be able to join.  I cannot believe my baby will now be able to baptize me in the temple.

I'm looking forward to seeing both boys at the Sacrament table.  I'm so blessed.

January Car Wash

 Just a boy washing his car with his Christmas gifts in January.

Rock Climbing!

 Tyson asked for a month's membership at our local Rock Climbing gym for Christmas.  When we returned from our Temple Trip to Oregon & Northern California, he signed up and went with his friend, Jack Landon.  

If he really likes it, we'll pay the student monthly price for a year.  No piano for this boy-- only physically demanding sports for this kid!

UPDATE: Not only did we sign him up for a year, but he's purchased himself a chalk sock (it's a bag of chalk, not a sock, as the description suggests!) and a small brush.  He goes at least three times a week and is completely hooked.  I love it when my kids find something they can't wait to go to! 1) While we are his drivers, I wish the gym was closer to our home, 2) which won't matter once he turns 16 in NINE MONTHS!  Weird.

2024 Temple Trip

December 25th, 2024 Vancouver, WA Temple (Location announced) 

December 26th, 2024 Portland, Oregon Temple

We could not figure out how to get into these massive doors.  We first tried pushing them since there weren't any door handles.  Nope.  Then we saw the sign that told us to push... the Handicap button.  Talk about confusing.  That's the difficulty when going to new temples; not all Baptistries are like ours.

While making sure dogs went out before we started our drive South, we walked them outside the temple gets, but still on temple grounds.  I turned around at one point and saw a coyote running near us.  It took a second for my mind to register it was a coyote!  It was surreal to see that type of wild animal with the "Welcome to the Portland, Oregon Temple" sign directly behind it.

December 26th, 2024 

Willamette Valley, Oregon Temple (Under Construction)

December 26th, 2024 

Medford, Oregon Temple

We loved how much this temple reminds us of Spokane.

December 27th, 2024

Feather River, California Temple

December 27th, 2024

Sacrament, California Temple

December 27th, 2024

Modesto, California Temple (Under Construction)

December 27th, 2024

Oakland, California Temple

December 28th, 2024

San Jose, California Temple (Announced)

My Grandma & Grandpa Fuller served their mission in San Jose between 1993 and 1995.  I wondered if they'd ever attended church in this building.  It made me feel close to my Grandma, who passed away almost a year ago when we were driving around San Jose.

Sewing Surgery

Text from Tyson: Mom, if I don't make it home tonight, I love you. 

This picture is all the explanation I got.  No words.  The first thing I noticed was his WHITE pallor.  The last time I saw my child that white was October 4th, 2017.

While playing around, he knelt on the ground and felt a pinch.  There happened to be a sewing needle on the ground that pierced into his knee.  The man you see hovering over him is pulling that needle out, barely able to hold the end; it went in so deep.

Randy: Tyson, the next time you have something like this (cause, it's Tyson...), please send it to me first.  Or, explain things before you send pictures.  Your mom doesn't need that kind of worry right now.

BINGO

 I was sent a video with the best idea for the New Year.  Instead of writing down resolutions, you make a Bingo board of things you would like to do/accomplish.  This spoke to me on so many levels.  So I made mine.  I printed off enough for my family, but Keilie was the only one to take me up on it.  I hope to accomplish a full blackout!  Wish me luck!

First & Last

The whole family served at the Union Gospel Mission on Christmas Eve.  It may be the first and last time we all do it together, with my Grad & Grandbaby year.

Our Christmas "tree" this year.  All about my Grandbaby!  Our yearly ornament is an ultrasound picture in a frame that says "First Year Grandparents." 

I love these humans