Dallin had a tough week. On Wednesday he came home from school without going to his Science club. I knew something had to be wrong-he LOVES Science club. When I asked about it, he said "I just don't feel like doing anything today mom. I am just sad." We talked more about what he was sad about and he couldn't really put his finger on exactly what was bothering him. He was just sad and didn't want to do anything or play with anyone. He just wanted to be home.

I can identify. Some days I'm just sad. I can't explain why, I just get sad. They are fewer and farther between than what they use to be, but some days I just don't want to go anywhere or do anything. I just want to be home and hide.

So, Dallin and I sat on the couch and watched television for a while until Maura bugged us too much and we went for a bicycle ride.

Some days you just have to be sad.

Tonight we went for a walk. It's a good Sunday activity that gets us out of the house along with our crazy dog and lets us all burn a little energy. We walked to the school (a couple of blocks away) then let the kids and the dogs run. We met up with a lot of friends and it was a lot of fun.

As it was getting dark, I called to Dallin and Adam and said it was time to head home. Then I started looking for Garrett. It was such a weird feeling. I was rounding up the kids and one was missing so I was scanning the playground before I remembered. Every once in a while getting a reality check is a little abrupt.

After we got home and were eating dinner, Dallin was talking about how much he misses Garrett. I'm glad he talks about Garrett often. Tonight he said he thinks we need to have a Garrett party. He suggests that on May 1st we have a party and invite our friends to play and remember Garrett.

It's a sweet idea. Dallin is a really thoughtful kid. I'm not sure I can do it, we'll see.

Garrett Gets a White Christmas!

My sweet, sweet sister made a beautiful wreath for Garrett and took a picture of the winter wonderland Garrett is enjoying.

Brady, Reese (and Rae-I'm sure) helped too.
We are headed their way in a week to spend some time with them and enjoy the snow as well.

The only problem is that we don't have snow clothes and have to borrow them (we live in ARIZONA, for goodness sakes). The funny thing is that Dallin and Garrett have cousins about the same age, but not the same gender! So, they always end up in pink coats with fur and light blue snow pants-really not cool for boys, but we don't care!

He doesn't look like he is having fun, but he LOVED to play in the snow-even if he was wearing a girl coat!

This is a picture with his Great Grandpa Jones enjoying the snow. He's with him now too-I wonder what kind of fun things they are doing....

This is the all-time favorite Christmas picture of Garrett. That I'm-so-excited-I-just-can't-contain-myself laugh, complete with candy cane juice around his mouth is a perfect representation of his personality.

More of December '07

Cousins at our most favorite play place-Makutu's Island!!
Reese, Dallin, Garrett and Brady.
The traditional decorating of the gingerbread house.
Visiting the Christmas Lights at the Mesa Temple! We love to do it every year.
Garrett dressed up in Grandpa's Cowboy attire.
I just love the expressions in these pictures. It makes me giggle to look at them. I love how expressive both my boys are.
Joy. This is what joy looks like.
Brotherly love. They were good examples of it.
Dallin misses his little shadow. It's been a hard couple of weeks for him. I think it has been for all of us.

I'm so glad of the pictures and memories.

December last year...

I'm looking through some pictures from last year and remembering the fun we had when my sister and her family came from Wyoming to visit.

Yes! This is what Wyoming kids want to do when they come to warm Arizona in December!

They didn't last very long (except in the hot-tub).
Garrett was such a good little swimmer! He loved taking swimming lessons, playing in sprinklers, or any other activity that included water!

November with Garrett

I was thinking about Garrett and what we were doing this time last year.
Maura had just been born and Garrett was crazy about her. Before he came to the hospital to see her, he told me over the phone "Mom, when I see her I will so freak out!"
He loooooved to hold her, touch her, show her things and just be around her.
He was my number one helper when it came to taking care of her. He was always in the middle of whatever I was doing with her.
We had visitors last year. Phil and Linda came from Canada to see us. There's Garrett, right in the middle.
We ate a Thanksgiving dinner that Adam cooked himself.
The boys were always ganging up on Adam. They loved to wrestle and rough house with him.
Garrett was the foreman of the garden project.
He was always helping and right in the middle of all the dirty work.
He enjoyed digging in the dirt and generally being in the middle of the action.
I wonder what he's doing this November...in the middle of the action, I'm sure.