Turning over a new um, pine tree

No doubt the year of 2009 has brought about many changes for our family. And just for poops and giggles, we're going to add a few more. Just to fill you in, I have spent the last 32 Christmas holidays (Christmas Eve and morning) at my Grandparent's house in Kansas. I have soooo many precious memories of those times. If you are a close friend of mine, you have surely heard a few. Over the course of those 32 years, there were many traditions started - a few intentional, most by accident. One example of a tradition that has started with my own kids is that on Christmas Eve at Grandiddy's house, "Santa Claus" i.e. Mike VanCampen (neighbor of Grandiddy's and long-time family friend) comes for a nice little visit. This is no ordinary merry and bright Santa visit, let me just tell you. This particular Santa has a bit of a fire under his shiny black belt. He usually comes bearing gifts of flatulence, crude humor and a few jabs at whoever is the closest target. He never fails to make everyone in the room laugh until they cry, and usually succeeds at making my cheeks turn a certain pinkish color. The children just stare in awe...completely CONFUSED but loving it.

So since we're going to be spending our very first ever Christmas at HOME in Texas this year, I've been trying to think up some new traditions for our family. I hadn't even considered having Santa come to our house on Christmas Eve like the kids have become accustomed to (ok, they totally expect it) until Mason asked me this morning, "Momma, where is Santa Claus gonna sit?" Crap. Really? You're telling me I have to find someone who is willing to come dressed in a big red Santa suit on Christmas Eve? You've GOT to be kidding me. And it can't be just anyone. The only people I know who would do something like that for me are Jeff's amazing guy friends (hint hint) but my kids would totally catch on to that, so I'm thinking it needs to be someone they don't know - at least not well.

All that to say, it is November 23rd and I have less than a month to find someone who can pull this off. It's either that, or come up with a really good excuse why Santa ditched us this year. Yeah...I'm not seeing that one happen. Any volunteers????

And by the way, if you would like to share your favorite Christmas traditions (please, please, please, please, please), just leave a comment. I would love to hear them! Just don't be surprised if we steal it for the 1st annual Weyers Family Christmas Extravaganza. To be continued....

Tribute to my favorite dog in the world

Gosh. Sitting down to hash this out again just about kills me. It's been almost 2 weeks ago now that the end to an era arrived. The Rocky Era. It was 13 great, hilarious, frustrating, entertaining, and love-filled years with that silly dog. We woke up on that last Sunday morning to a very sick, tired dog. I was so not expececting it. He had just been barking at our cows the night before. When I held that little guy in my arms and realized the decision that was ahead of me, I could have just melted into the soil of this earth. It happened so fast. There was no time to just sit and hold him for hours like I wanted. Of course I look back on the days leading up to this and wish so much I would have just STOPPED the busy course of my life and just held him for even a few minutes without interruption. I'm sure I was too busy doing laundry, picking up after someone, doing paperwork or some other "meaningful" task. Dang it. I don't want to live my life that way.

Anyway, I am so thankful for the chance to have had Rocky Dog in our family. Isn't it funny how God can use a little dog of all things to bring a family together? Rocky was definitely a tool used by God. We know that and we were so blessed to have him for 13 years.

So to you, the BEST little dog I've ever known: Thank you for making us laugh, being such a good sport with the kids and just brightening our days. I know the squirrels miss you chasing them, buddy. You were so good at that game. I miss your bark. I miss the sound of your collar clanking back and forth when you walk through the house. You always had such a little kick in your step. Happy Dog. You will ALWAYS be loved and NEVER be forgotten. I love you Rocky Top. See ya soon.

The pinky saga continues...

For those of you who have been faithfully following Jeff's pinky progress, I thought I would post some pics of the outcome of the most recent surgery, which was yesterday. The good news is the doctor DID find and remove the 2 stitches that were left in his pinky from the surgery 3 years ago (don't ask if you don't already know). The bad news is that the doctor still isn't convinced Jeff will get to keep the tip of his finger. We should know more about that in a few weeks. We're praying that everything heals nicely and that he isn't reduced to "The man with 9 and 3/4 fingers". Not that there's anything wrong with that.... ;-)

Happy Birthday Jeffy!

34 Reasons I love you more today:

1) You are an amazing husband and daddy.

2) You taught Reese how to ride her bike, tie her shoes AND whistle. Oh, and YOU were the one there when she took her first steps.

3) You humor me when I do my tour de Blackwell and reminisce about the good ole days.

4) You fake it with me and dance like a "Real Texan" at out of state weddings. ;-)

5) You cry at my Grandad's funeral and drive around the country to be there like it's no big deal.

6) You drive around the country like it's no big deal.

7) You love church.

8) You sing all the words to Ice Ice Baby without skipping a beat.

9) You love OSU almost as much as I do and you're from New York.

10) My family is Your family.

11) You let me keep the dogs and even let them sleep with us when I'm feeling sorry for them.

12) You gave Rocky his IV fluids when I couldn't stand to do it. (You're my hero)

13) You know everything about everything. (how do you DO that?)

14) You know just how to cook my steak.

15) You finally sing in the choir!

16) You look HOT in your Carhartt.

17) You make friends, then you make them family.

18) You read the bible to Mason at night.

19) You still give me a hard time when you get in bed first because I'm scared of the dark. "watch it..."

20) You know the significance of George W. Buuuush, Joseffi's, Fazzio's, and "chipot-el".(Sorry Mom...couldn't resist)

21) When you hear the song "Fly" by Sugar Ray, it takes you back to the black truck.

22) You read the instructions.

23) You work HARD. You hate to sit. Thanks for all you do.

24) You get excited about the future.

25) You want to travel the Big 12 with me in a motor home someday... ahhhh...

26) You LOVE cows. Not dairy cows necessarily...just cows in general.

27) You gave me a clean house (and new kitchen!) to come home to after my girls trip.

28) You listened to me cry when I wanted to come home from the girls trip...then you told me to go have fun and I was all better.

29) You watch DWTS with me and sometimes even the Bachelorette if you're being really nice.

30) You love to yell at hotel managers and you take care of "biness" when necessary.

31) You never stop learning.

32) You have integrity.

33) You take care of all things rodent, furry, scaly, creepy, crawly, and slimy. Ummm..thanks.

34) You LOVE ME!

Happy Birthday to you. I pray for you this year will be full of happiness, adventure, exciting change, and abundant success. I love you babe!

OK....so I've been MIA in the blogging world for quite some time. And there just HAS to be an explanation, right? Of course!

Reason #1: BUSY. Summers are crazy with two kiddos and I just flat out did not put my computer time at the top (or even near the middle) of my priority list.

Reason #2: I was sad. We received news on July 13th - the day before my 33rd birthday that my Grandad Evans had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that had already metastasized to the brain. YIKES. Not exactly the kind of news you expect to be delivered when you go to your family doctor because you've been short of breath lately. Needless to say, it took us all by shock when we lost our beloved Grandiddy. Even though I had prayed that the Lord would not allow him to suffer, I still begged to have him back for even just a day when I found out we no longer had him. You see, we were scheduled to go for a visit that very next weekend. I could not wrap my mind around the idea that I would not see him again on this earth. Get to hug his neck. Give him a hard time about whatever it was I came up with that day. Watch him hug on Reese and Mason. I was so not ready for him to go. To this day, I cannot accept that I can't pick up the phone to see which football game he is watching. But you know what is so cool? The weekend after Grandad went home to be with the Lord and Grammy, there was a "Perfect Trifecta". And he had front row seats to all 3. OSU beats Georgia, K-STATE beats Massachusetts and OU loses to BYU. I don't know if I could have beat him to the phone on that day! He would have been pumped and I would have answered the phone to the sound of his boisterous laughter! And Dawn...I apologize now and you know I love you! ;-)

All that to say, I finally decided to publish the post I wrote the morning I found out about Grandad passing away. For some reason, it gave me comfort to write. I just couldn't share it until now. And I couldn't continue to blog knowing this post was just sitting out there hiding in cyberspace without being included in my journey. So here's to you Grandad. I love you so.

A Tribute to the Greatest Man of the Greatest Generation

To my Grandad Evans: I celebrated your reunion with Grammy the second I heard you had passed away this morning. She has been waiting for 5 years to see your face again and I can only imagine the joy, laughter and tears the two of you had when you hugged her in your arms. I can just picture it! Your laugh still rings in my mind as I type this - it is SO YOU! We can all hear your voice telling us "Now kids, stop your cryin and don't make a fuss over me. Oh, and don't make too much food either, cause it will just go to waste." "Now don't change your plans for me, you kids have your own lives too". But you know what Grandad? You are our lives. You mean everything to us. Even though we are far away, there is not a day that goes by that we don't think of you and wonder what kind of trouble you've been causing that day in Turon. What kind of bad jokes you've been telling at the coffee shop. If you're getting along ok. I hope you know how much of an example you have been in my life personally. I will never see the color purple without thinking about you and your love for those K-State Wildcats. Even when they're playing OSU, there is still a part of me that roots for them just to see you smile. ;-) Thank you for instilling in me the love for sports. Take a look down your family tree and it is obvious that you may have had some influence there, don't ya think? We are all nuts! In a good, healthy way of course. ha!

You are loved, you will be missed, and I thank you so much for the things you have taught me - even when you thought I wasn't looking. Watch over me Grandad...

I took this picture on my way up to see you for what was not knowingly the last time. I will think of you everytime I see a beautiful sunset from now on. I wish so much I could hug your neck again...

Growing and growing and growing...

Reese lost her first tooth! Another big milestone to add to her year of turing 5. She has also learned how to ride her bike without training wheels, blow a bubble with gum, tie her shoes and smart off to her Mommy like a teenager. WOW. My baby is growing up. Check out the pics below.


Showing off the hole in her mouth where the tooth used to be.


Getting ready for bed and to put her tooth under her pillow.


So super excited that the tooth fairy is going to come visit.


Putting the tooth under her pillow.


Showing little brother how it's done. Such a good big sissy.