Ho Ho Ho, From the Land of Snow

Notice our Christms "hangover," the only kind we have at our house. It snowed and the wind blew all night. Now that's a white Christmas.

The trees and shrubs by the sidewalk were nearly crushed by all the whie snow. I went out yesterday and knocked it all off, but after last night you couldn't tell I had done anything.

No, this is not a new kind of Idaho muhroom. It is really Jan's fountain birdbath dressed as a snow cone.

I was out shoveling the bridge when I heard a muffling sound. I turned around to see a hole had opened up and collapsed at the side of the bridge. It had blown over and I thought the canal was full, but there was this pocket below. You can see the edge of the bridge at the left of the hole.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. We were planning on playing bingo at Mom and Dad's, but I don't think we will be able to get there in all this snow. Eric Sutton scraped us out but it is filling back in, so who knows?

Merry Christmas

Happier Daze. . .

Last October after Grandpa's funeral, we caught Rafey trying to see things from a dog's perspective. I'm amazed I didn't break down sobbing when I came across these pictures. Anyway, very cute pictures Dad took. Here we are at the holidays already, time has flown.

We miss our Cashie. I feel like now we really are empty nesters. It's so hard to come home and not see him come bounding out and start chasing something invisible in the back yard. Okay the tears are starting, I'll stop.

We have already attended 2 Christmas parties and dad has another one tomorrow with his faculty. I think I will have a staff party and invite. . well, I guess just dad, me and the mop! How things have changed. I'm very introspective tonight for some reason. I was thinking as we went to see Becky Bochenek tonight that two years ago we gave their family $100 for Christmas, anonymously of course, and now I feel we are on the opposite side of the spectrum. I wouldn't mind having many people giving us $100's and perhaps some $20's just for fun.

I love all of your blogs and so enjoy the pictures. We will probably be alone this Christmas. Jason & Sara will be here of course, but with a brand new baby, it will be hit and miss if they can come. So we'll be left alone with Grandpa K. There still is Christmas night Bingo though, so we can look forward to that. I love Holland's new glasses and I love Granty singing Beautiful Day. Why can't we be like the Green's and all live within 100 yards of each other? That would be awesome, I think. . .

Dad & Neal were the program for the Wilford Ward Party last Friday. There was a big crowd that just laughed themselves sick at dad so, you know how he reacted. He just got funnier and funnier and Neal got laughing so hard that he couldn't remember the songs they practiced. This older lady sitting behind Cath & I was just whooping it up, loudly and the tears were just running down her face. Dad was at his best!

We have our ward Christmas party this Friday and I'm sure you guys are all in the middle of parties of your own. Spoke with Jeff this evening and they listed their condo on Friday and are starting to look actively for a home. We wish them luck! Brandon just has 1 more week of school then finals, hooray! We can't wait til they come up in January. I don't know anyone else's news, other than Holland is making great strides on potty training. However not on the day that Jenna called me last, it turned out to be a poop fest that went terribly wrong. Good luck guys.

So that is about all. The weather is crappy in that we have no snow and it's colder than shiz so it's hard to get in the holiday spirit. Brandon did say they had some snow though. So everyone keep posting lovely pictures for this lonely grandma and if you see a strange dog that looks intelligent and just like Cashie bones, let me know! We love you all!!! Ma & Pa Shirley

What Do You Say to a Hero?

During Veteran's Day, much was said at our elementary school about honoring the heroes who made our quality of life better. No only was Dad a hero in the literal sense of fighting for our country, but he also proved to qualify as an everyday hero, even right up to the end. This short video shows some of the last pictures and videos I took of Dad during the last year of his life. It includes several visits to the hospital as well as when he fell. I hope you get a feel for his fighting spirit, even when the going was rough. As he often said, "Getting old is not for sissies." And so, what do you say to a hero? Thank you.

NEW BLOG!!

Hey everyone I created a new blog. All of you can check it out at your own pleasure. It's probably not going to be the most exciting blog you will ever visit, but I am more doing it for myself than anything. I will be posting on it daily so for any of you that are looking for any kind of boost or if you are just curious to see how I am doing. Feel free to check it out. Love you all www.actionality.blogspot.com I need all of you to comment every now and then to keep me goin! Thanks

Making Scents With Cash

In August of last year Cash and I took a trip up the mountain like we have many times, in fact, we used to put a rock in a pile when we got to the top. The last time we counted, which was about five years ago, there were over 130 rocks in the pile.

He was always anxious to go and would howl as I was putting on my shoes. He often chased deer, but when there was a storm in the distance with lightning and thunder, he would shake and walk right in front of me. He would tremble and hide behind the computer desk, unplugging things and causing problems until the storm was gone.

His favorite place to sleep in the summer was under our bedroom window. The last time Rafe was here he went under there with Cash. It was hilarious.

How do you get so attached to someone with such a questionable past? Perhaps it is because he loved us without reservation and was quick to forgive. Just pick a branch and a twig and throw it and the game of keep-awway was on.

Loyalty? Yes. Trustworthy? Well, it depends. Let's stick with loyal. Helpful, friendly, courteous? I give him passing marks.

They say if you treat your dog like a human, they will treat you like a dog. Perhaps. Let's just say that he more than earned his keep over the past 13 years. Cash, well done. We would all do well to match your willing acceptance of all with whom we come in contact. Thanks for being a friend when friends were scarce. Thanks for aways being willing to go anywhere with me, for barging into the bathroom when I was taking a bath to check on me, and thanks for making life so interesting. Till we meet again...

Cash, my (our) best friend

As Cash may be nearing the end of his days, I thought I'd post some of my favorite memories with him. This is not meant to be funny or hurtful, it's so all of us can celebrate his life. He was a great dog, companion, and friend to all of us. Share some of your favorite memories of our beloved Cash.

Name a more comfortable bed for any dog you've ever met...

Cash knew when it was time to head to bed...

Cash was always great to take to Cress Creek, where he indulged himself in the cold water...

Hopefully no one was drinking downstream...

It was fun to look out and see him waiting to come inside...

Jenna bought that towel for Mom, it's saying could not have been more true...

Cash and Mom shared a special relationship, as she protected him from my taunts...

He loved eating hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, beggin' strips, meaty bones, and any other delicatessen...

Dad was always good to play with him outside...

Once he could catch him, they shared a moment together...

He had some great hops in his younger days, just like Obama...

I always enjoyed seeing the smile on his face, as I'd yell, "HEYYYY... CASH!"

He never really enjoyed getting his picture taken, however...

The grandkids loved petting him and being around him, he was very patient and loving with them...

Whenever there was work to be done outside, he always there to help...

I'd always try to get him to jump up and put his paws on my legs, much to Mom's dismay...

He was absolutely terrified anytime there was wind blowing, and that's an understatement...

Ash and I will miss going on hikes with him, watching him swim in the river, seeing his smiling face as soon as we drove up to visit, yelling at him to get out of the pictures, having to retake pictures because he wouldn't leave our side, feeding him hot dogs, teasing him, saying "HEYYY...CAYSH!", throwing food up in the air and having him catch it, watching him follow me around the house when it was windy outside (even when I was sitting on the toilet), how he kept my feet warm in the winter when he huddled under the computer desk because he was scared, and just the fact that he's been with us for nearly 14 years. Thanks, Cash, for all the memories. Someday, I'll be there to torment you and Cassie again. You'll probably team up with Cassie to return the favor in my dreams.

Who do you have for Christmas?

Rafe picked names this year since we were lacking consensus on the particulars of all going in on something. This is the results. If you have any problems or concerns call Rafe for clarification. Jenna has Brandon Jeff has Jason Brett has Jenna Brandon has Brett Jason has Jeff