Campground Scouting

We drove up to check out Good Enough Creek Campground today it was pretty muddy from all the melted snow but it was a cool campground and the boys had a blast exploring. When we pulled into the parking area Clayton excitedly said "Let's hit the trail guys!" I am glad that our kids love adventure.

Bike riding

We have been out on our bikes a few times already this year. 

We went with the Swopes and the Wallaces/Grandma Self this week. The bike paths here are really fun to explore.

Bros

Clayton has a huge imagination. He is always coming up with the most silly stuff. His latest thing is telling jokes. Here are his two most told jokes (He came up with these all on his own): 

Q:What does the room do when it's light?

A: The mailman sleeps!

(careful, you might miss the punch line on that one because it doesn't make any sense!)

Knock, Knock!

Who's there?

Clayton.

Clayton who?

Clayton, with your fruit!

(I know that you are thinking… this kid has a career in comedy for sure!)

Quincy is growing like crazy but still not talking. He taught himself how to do a summersault, he can point to most of his body parts when you ask him and he has also learned the art of faking unfairness to get his older brother in trouble… watch that sneaky boy close! He is mischievous behind that cute smile and bright eyes.

Snowshoeing?

We went to the Mink Creek Nordic Center with the Swope family to hike the snowshoe trail but most of the snow was melted so the trail was pretty muddy so instead we went sledding on crunchy ice. It was so much fun and there were only minor injuries :) 

We didn't get a lot of pictures, we got some pretty funny videos but they take too long to load on blogger so the few pictures will have to be enough.

2015

The new year always comes before I know it!

We rang in 2015 at home, I actually don't know if we even stayed awake so apparently it was a memorable party… 

Sean is back to school and work and our boys are growing, growing every day. 

Here are a few pictures from this month: 

Quincy got this little tent for Christmas to put his dogs in. Clayton is wearing it so he can be an Indian chief.

  

Quincy loves trying on Daddy's boots

Clayton in his "nest"

Clayton and Quincy both sick and resting on the couch

1 year

Three hundred and sixty five. 

That is the number of days that we have been without Darin in this life. I have thought of him every single one of those days. We've gone through a year and that means that we've had our first set of holidays without him, first birthday celebrations without him… Christmas is now past, the first Christmas we had without Darin.  

That is what makes me sad, when I think about all of the things in the future that he won't be here for. That thought is very overwhelming. 

We went to Weiser for Christmas again this year. I went back and forth on the travel plans a lot, I didn't know if Weiser was the last place I wanted to be, or the only place.

I am glad that we went and spent the time surrounded by our family.

It was healing to be there and be able to celebrate together with the people who can relate the most to how I feel. 

Holidays will forever be bitter sweet for me.

We laughed and had fun. We remembered good times that we had with Darin and I know that is what he wants us to do. Darin was the definition of fun and living life to the fullest. So that is how I try to  approach my days.

"Happy. Happy. Happy!" -Darin

Living my life with smiles and joy, finding things to celebrate every day, and being grateful for all of my blessings. Especially that promised blessing of eternal families given to those who try and be a better person than they were the day before. That is what I try to do.

We made this for my parents for Christmas:

He always said that. Thanks to my little brother for reminding us that finding joy in the journey is so important! He must have taken notes from a prophet...

"In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." 

-Gordon B. Hinckley 

Joy to the World

Merry Christmas!

I'm not going to try and sugar coat it… we beyond failed with Christmas pictures. It's annoying but we did have a good Christmas morning at home opening presents. We woke up to a winter wonderland outside and Clayton was so happy about that.