Notre Dame

Tim's godparents, Sam and Laurie got us tickets to the Notre Dame-BYU game this past weekend.  What a thrill, Tim is a lifetime Notre Dame fan, so Tim, Megan and I flew to Chicago and then drove to South Bend.

An experience that none of us will forget.  Just walking across the campus was a thrill and entering the stadium nearly took my breath away.  I cannot describe the feeling....like I had imagined only infinitely better.  The game was great!  The Irish won 17-14.  After the game, I was heading for the exit and Tim grabbed my hand and asked me why I was in such a hurry.  "Enjoy the moment, Mom!  Take it all in."  He was so right, I just stood in awe!

Sunday we toured the campus.  The Basilica, the Golden Dome, the Grotto were awe inspiring.  I have always admired those places but to actually see them....what a thrill!

Thank you, Sam and Laurie.  One weekend and a lifetime of memories!

Go Irish!

The 5 of us after the game

Tim and Lou Holtz

The Grotto

The Golden Dome

Girls Weekend

Last weekend, two of my sisters, my mother, my daughter and my nieces spent the weekend together in Sun Valley, ID.  Unfortunately, one of my sisters and my daughter-in-law were unable to be with us so we were a couple short but the rest of us had a great time.

We ate out, ate in, played games, hiked, swam and mostly enjoyed each other!  I love the times when we get together.  While waiting for meas, we often ask questions such as, "what is a goal you want to complete".  It is such a great way to learn about each other.  

Me and Mollie.

I know how lucky I am to be surrounded by such amazing women!

Independence Day 2012

We had an amazing 4th of July this year.  A couple of my siblings and their families came home, as they usually do.  We have many traditions and this is the one time of the year that our small hometown really celebrates.  It is a great time to reconnect with old friends and to remain thankful for the blessings of living in such a great nation.

We started the morning with the Fun Run/Walk.  Carl ran the 10K.  Gayla ran the 5K.  Jim and I walked the 5K.  

After showering, we headed back to town for the parade.  Gabriel and James loved it and especially loved collecting candy.  Mollie loves hanging with her favorite nephew.  My mom can be spotted enjoying the parade, too.

 We spent the remainder of the day at my parents house.  As our custom, we had fried chicken, beans, chips, salads, fruits, sodas, cookies and homemade ice cream.  Several of my aunts and uncles and their families join us.  We play games and the kids spend much of the time soaking each other.

My parents with their younger grandsons.

We enjoy family fireworks before we drive into town to enjoy the community fireworks display.

What is better than the 4th of July in small town U.S.A.?

Weekend

I spent another weekend in the Treasure Valley.  I picked Gabe up on Saturday morning.  He and I headed to Krispy Kreme for a late breakfast.  He had never watched the doughnuts being made and he was really enthralled.  We ate our doughnuts and he told me about the events of his life for the last couple of weeks since I last saw him.  We jumped in the car and drive to Caldwell to watch Mollie's softball team.

The day was beautiful and he found a couple of other little boys to play with at the games.  He seemed to enjoy the warm day and playing outside for hours.  

Mollie, Gabe and I went to an early dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then we took Gabe home and Mollie and I went to the movie.  We went to the Hunger Games.  I really had no desire to see the film but I couldn't resist spending the evening with Mols.  I actually liked the movie more than I thought that I would.  Well, like is maybe too strong but it was thought provoking for sure.  Maybe I need to read the books.

Simpson Tournament

The College of Idaho softball team played in its first tournament of the year, the Simpson Tournament in Redding, CA.  I went to California with Glenda and Richard Azevedo because Courtney's team also played.  

Mollie's team played 6 games, won 5 and lost the last game in extra innings.  Courtney's team played 3 games.  We had so much fun.  We took the girls to dinner on Friday night and spent a couple of hours just all hanging out!  I have missed spending time with all of these people!

Different colleges and Mollie and Courtney are wearing the same colors once again!

McCall Winter Carnival

I spent the weekend at Pat and Leslie's cabin in McCall and attended the Winter Carnival for the first time since college.  We got there Friday afternoon and worked around the house.  P & L had bought some new rugs so we moved furniture and laid them.  They were great additions!  Wish I had taken some photos!

In the evening, we drove into to town and watched fireworks over the lake at Greg & Helen's house.  Out on the deck we enjoyed wine and fantastic fireworks in the cold night air.  It was a perfect place to watch.  Afterwords, we ordered pizza and Mollie and her friends arrived.  We spent the remainder of the evening catching up with Mols and getting acquainted with the girls.

Saturday morning, we went to the parade in the middle of town.  The parade was typical small town fun with civics groups, fire departments and kids participating.  The theme was Mardi Gras so the entrants threw lots of beads.  It was too cold for anyone to duplicate New Orleans to receive the beads.  We ate lunch while wandering through the vendors and ran into Mollie, and then Gabe.

The girls went tubing and we went back to the cabin and just hung out.  Jack and Chelsea arrived and headed out to the tubing hill until Jack drove through a road which wasn't plowed and got stuck!  It was a couple of hours before Pat and Jack got the truck dug out.  We fixed dinner and Greg and Helen came over to eat.  It was a splendid evening with old friends!

Sunday we headed home.  What a great, relaxing weekend!

Tragedy

Eleven years ago today, our lives were forever changed.  Tim, then 16, and Mitch, then 13, left early in the morning to hunt geese on the north side of the canyon their friend, Ryan, 16.

I was braiding Mollie's hair before her basketball game when the phone rang and Chuck (Ryan's dad) was on the other end.  He told me that the boys had been in a car accident and were in the hospital.  He assured me that my boys were walking and talking but added that Ryan wasn't doing as well.  I dropped Mollie off at the gym and asked another dad to coach my team and keep Mollie with him.

I got to the hospital in about 30 minutes and discovered the seriousness of the situation.  Tim's injuries were superficial.  Mitch was to be loaded into an ambulance and taken to Boise because his spleen was torn.  Ryan was air flighted to Boise with severe head trauma.  I rode along in the ambulance praying the entire 100 miles.  Mike made sure Tim and Mollie were supervised and then headed to Boise with our parents.

Several hours after we were at the hospital, Ryan's grandfather told Mike and I that we should come say good bye to Ryan.  His family had decided to remove him from life support and donate his organs.  Ryan died with minutes.  Mike returned home to tell our kids and I stayed with Mitchell at St. Al's.

I have such strong memories.  Eleven years seems like so long ago and yet, merely months ago.  Our families now share an incredible bond.  We have experienced real joy in the years since but there is always the emptiness of our loss.

Tonight we will make our annual trip to the cemetery and release balloons.  As I write this, I am wondering who Ryan would be as a 27 year old man and I am so thankful for the very lives of my sons.

Merry Christmas

We were so blessed that Santa Claus was able to visit with us on Christmas Eve.  The entire family was  thankful that he took an hour out of his busy schedule to stop by our family celebration.  We spent the evening with at my parents with my siblings and all of my nieces and nephews.  That is what makes our Christmas special.
 

My children, Tim & Megan, Mitch & Gabriel, and Mollie are the reason that I enjoy my Christmas'.  I am proud of the people that my children have become and I adore my grandson, Gabe, more than words can say.  I am grateful that they are such loving, caring and giving people.

As Catholics, we are still celebrating Christmas until the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6.  Hopefully, you all had a most holy celebration and that the peace and joy of the season remain in your hearts throughout the year!

Don't believe; Won't receive!

Creative Scrapper sketch #135. I am trying to use up some of my stash and these My Mind's Eye papers seemed perfect for these photos. I stitched a scalloped circle and then layered papers over it. I stamped the trees. Created the St. Nick banner and made the little card which reads, if you don't believe, you won't receive! The photos are of Mollie, Megan and Mackenzie with Santa Claus, Christmas Eve 2007 at my parents!

Remember the Reason

Creative Scrappers sketch #136. I love these Echo Park papers. This photo is of the Immaculate Conception parish party which was held on the Feast of the Holy Family. Each grade presented something and the kindergarten and 1st grade enacted the Nativity scene. I stitched around the background and made a little patchwork design. I cut out ornaments with the Cricut and embellished each one. The title is a reminder that Christmas is nothing without Christ!

Merry Christmas!!!

Megan & Mackenzie are State Champs

I spent the weekend watching my nieces win the Idaho 5A State Championship in volleyball. They had an amazing season....undefeated and only losing 1 set the entire season!!!! WOW!