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Endangered Species

2009 Denver Doublemint Penny

Nacho Libre

PaperWhite's

My parents gave us these PaperWhite's in memory of Ellis Anne this year.  She would have been 2 on the 19th of November.  

We just planted the bulbs last week, and they are shooting up.  I like watching them grow.  I like tending to them.

I didn't write about Ellis on the 19th.  I just, couldn't.  It's not that the 19th was bad.  It wasn't.  The 19th was a good day.  We went out to the cemetery.  We put new flowers on her headstone.  We prayed.  We went out to lunch.  It was a good time of remembrance.

It's the days leading up to the 19th that are so difficult.  

I'm sure the grief experts have a name for it, but the weeks preceding November 19th, are, for me, heavy.  My heart is heavy.  I feel extremely........fragile.  Couple that with moving this year, and you have a recipe for some serious meltdowns.  Praise God that I have an amazing family, and I am so thankful for my sister-in-laws Lesley & Chandra who were sweet enough to sit and talk, and hug, and just sit with me as I melted a few many times.  

I thought the years would bring more distance than they do.  I thought that after 2 years it would seem like "so long ago" that we lost her.  But, it doesn't.  

I am, however, so thankful to have been remembering Ellis with Jane in my arms.  Not that Jane could ever take the place of Ellis, but I do feel God's goodness to us through Jane.

"Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, 

so great is his unfailing love."

Lamentations 3:32

A Big Leaf...

and a pretty impressive Susan Boyle impersonation.

Culinary Fun

Meatballs and Good Friends

Carcassonne Freaks Unite

Bike Riding

Today...

my new sleeping bags arrived.

Name that Color

Gary Carter

Sunday School

Stars vs. Red Wings

Kiwi

Fish

Family Night - Dr. Seuss Inspired

Today had arrived and with it some smiles

for today was a day for the Family of Files.

A night for fun and giggles and glee,

a great night in store for the whole family.

Bright, fun and flashy was the idea for decor,

but after some doing, they needed some more.

So, they thought and they thunk, and they said what we wish

is for our table to be finished with some tiny goldfish.

Now the table's just right, we like it like that

We just need now, to find the right hat.

We shan't go to dinner not properly dressed

For Cat-in-the-Hat night, we must look our best.

Ah-ha! That's the one, the one white and red

It looks just swell when worn on top of the head

We are now ready for dinner, ready I am

and what else would we eat,

But green eggs and ham!

The dinner was tasty, we liked it all right!

A great beginning to our Seussical night.

Onto our craft, after dinner we went

To see what creatures we could bend with our bent.

The pipe cleaners were twisted and turned to create

but the creatures didn't really turn out so great

So we started to make &  play with instead,

different types of makings we could wear on our heads....

Jane looked on from her place on the floor

Until she decided that she wanted some more

So she pulled herself up, and joined in the fun

Ah! I can't believe she is almost one.

The night had been great

For more we couldn't wish,

but then we looked over,

and glanced at the fish....

Their swimming had slowed, their faces were frowning

if we didn't know better, we'd think they were drowning!

Alas, they were not happy in such a small place

We decided to free them, to a much bigger space

Now stop that right now! Stop thinking of flushing

We took them instead to a creek that was rushing

We released them and they happily went on their way

We were glad that they shared in our Suessical day.

Learning to Ride His Bike

He'll keep at it.  

:)

Whirlwind Holiday Tour

Our Christmas week was busy & fun.  Ryan worked this Christmas, so we were here, but since my entire family has moved to Texas - it was great to be here!

Larson helped Grandpa make a fire....it was so great that it was cold enough here to need a fire!

I heard that it was the first white Christmas in Texas since the 1930's.  (that could be a total lie, I have no idea)  But, we did have a great time playing in the snow.  It was, as Christmas should be.

We made, and ate, gingerbread houses

Hung out with the cousins

The kids loved opening gifts,

(after Larson opened this gift, he kept saying over & over, "Dad & Mom, I love you.")

We kept with the winter theme, and went ice skating on the 26th.

We had a great time with the family.  The grandkids love listening to Grandpa's stories

We finished off the holiday season watching the Tech game at the Lowry's.  Always good to hang out with the Tech crew.

Larson & Lauren entered the new year in style!

It was a great Christmas.  We are so thankful for family & friends to share it with.