You know how life just whirs out of control sometimes? Yeah, that's about the size of it at the Boesiger house the last couple of months. SO MUCH HAPPENED! Finally the dust and my spirit are starting to settle and I'm going to attempt an update in pictures. Hold on to your hats, everyone--out of practice lady at the helm.
Our world started spinning in November when Kevin's dad took a fall and hit his head causing a brain bleed. After two surgeries and a week in ICU we lost him. His death leaves a HUGE hole in our family. We've lived close to Kevin's parents our entire married life and our kids have had the privilege of growing up with their grandparents. It's impossible to be in our house and not see my father-in-law as he completed countless home improvement projects here. His woodworking gifts are scattered throughout many rooms. I see his smile on my own sons' faces who bear the same Boesiger grin. And I'll never forget the way his charm made my heart flutter every time he asked me how I was doing.
The only thing that softens the blow, both during the crisis and now, is the love my kids displayed to us and their grandmother. I know my kids aren't perfect. They have plenty of issues. How can they not? Look at their mother! But when the chips are down, my kids are there. They know what belonging to a family is. They value it and embrace it and demonstrate it. I've never been more proud of my children than I was the week of their grandfather's passing and at his funeral. They know how to take care of each other and the people they love. They aren't afraid to show it.
So the first picture I want to show you was taken the day after the funeral. Ladies Man soothed my spirit when he wanted to snap a selfie with his mom at the end of a very tough week for our family. I don't think it's the best pic of me, but I love it because it reminds me what is really important--the people we love. Though this pic only includes one of my amazing kids, I think of each of them when I look at it, remembering the love their presence brought to a horrible, horrible time.
I adore you, my dear children. You blow me away. I am so proud of you.
The definite bright spot of the last two months was the engagement of Drama Queen and The Boyfriend who will henceforth be called The Fiancé, at least until the wedding in June when he'll be given an official name.
They took some gorgeous engagement pics. This is one of my favorites.
A week after my father-in-law's funeral the Christmas musical opened at our church. I guess in all the busyness of the time I didn't get a photo of the whole cast, but a friend posted a few pics I stole off of Facebook (Thank you, Bly!). I think this first one, taken by our little 4-year-old star, pretty much captures my weariness. I'm surprised I had enough oomph to lift my fingers.
Here's a beautiful shot of Princess Dawdle in action.
And Kevin running the ship.
The following week was Drama Queen's final Cornhusker Marching Band Highlights Concert. The kids had a little too much fun. The Girlfriend (standing directly behind Ladies Man) obviously knows the drill.
And I think The Fiancé is going to fit in just fine.
We were glad Grandma B. could join us too.
Princess Dawdle got to attend her first formal. My baby is a woman! (Cue the eye roll, babe.)
She and her dashing date I shall call The Neighbor Boy.
The lively group that accompanied them.
And my girls. I just love them!
A New Year's Eve tradition we started when our kids were young but now haphazardly observe (meaning our kids often ditch us for a better offer) is the Movie Marathon. Each family member gets to pick a movie and we spend the day (and night) watching them. Remember there are six of us. Are you doing the math in your head? This was easy when the kids were little and Princess Dawdle's choice was a thirty minute Care Bear movie and the longest pick was an animated flick lasting ninety minutes. Now we're more "sophisticated." Now we're talking at least 12 hours of movies!
This year The Fiancé and The Girlfriend joined us and eight movies in one day was just going to be too much so we decided to initiate The Girlfriend into the world of the Skywalkers and make it a Star Wars Movie Marathon, watching the entire series of Star Wars movies.
The first order of business was to lay out the snacks. (Please tell me your eye is drawn first to the veggie tray and apples. I try, people, really I do. I don't know why the Easy Cheese, or Squeezy Cheese as we call it, is so much more popular. And what's the deal with this blurry picture? Was I already on a sugar high?!)
We rearranged the furniture so no one would get a kink in their neck, pulled out a stack of blankets, and got comfy.
We started Episode 1 around 1:30 p.m. which was before everyone got there, but we were never getting through them otherwise. I think we had everybody by the time Episode 2 came on. Grandma B. came and watched Episode 3 with us and we had so much fun as she surprised us all by really getting into it. Ladies Man and The Girlfriend had to take off for a while during Episode 4, but were back before Episode 5 was over. With potty breaks and a short pause to toast in the New Year, we watched the final credits of Episode 6 roll at 3:30 a.m. New Year's Day morning. And you know what? I loved every minute of it. Even the 3:30 in the morning bit. I've never watched the whole series back to back like that before and I was really impressed with how the "old" episodes (4-6) were tied into the "new" ones (1-3) so well. Now we're all hyped up for Episode 7 to come out this next Christmas!
And speaking of Christmas, it just occurred to me that these pictures don't even include any Christmas celebrations or Princess Dawdle's school concert or Ladies Man's college Christmas Festival or the Beatrice Regional Orchestra concert or any wedding planning or our romantic getaway or my birthday! Do you see why there have been no Quick Takes for a while?
Well, this should get you up to speed and next week I'll take another crack at it. I pray your holidays were filled with the love of your people and that you're settled back into a good routine. If you've had enough of everything already, give yourself a break and read more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary..
2 comments:
I've been wondering what your busy life was holding in your silence. Condolences to you all (especially Kevin). That losing a parent thing is so, so hard (as you know). I'll be praying for you all.
And congratulations! But I know that you are not old enough to be a mother-in-law, so what's up with that? Guess the next few months will be busy as well. Holding you all in thoughts and prayers as you enter this new journey. ((Hugs))
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