christmas

This is usually what happens when I try to take a picture of the kids together. This also happens to be the only picture I have of Christmas this year or technically last year (I am still in the beginning of January and cannot believe the calendar basically says, March). 

Despite my family's recent happenings, we did celebrate Christmas around here and it was very pleasant and peaceful. My dad always loved Christmas. It was a common known fact in my family that dad was an extremely hard worker and pretty much a work alcoholic. Christmas was one of the rare days he excused himself from doing any work and did not feel guilty about it. We did all our old family traditions he loved while we enjoyed the true meaning of Christmas. And because I am so lost on time, Easter will come out of no where for me and we will be able to celebrate the second half of that wonderful story. I am so grateful for Christ's gifts to us, birth and life, and, death and salvation. I am glad this past Christmas reminded me of that.  

family pics

A few months ago we had our family photos taken. We love them! Here are a few of our favorites.

tea party

Bug has been really into tea parties lately, and by tea, we mean hot chocolate. We have at least three family tea parties around here a week., this does not include the tea parties we have during the day without daddy (those ones are with water). So, when my sister and her family came over for dinner the other night, I promised Bug she could have a tea party with her cousin, Abigail. However, when I pulled out those miniature marshmallows and cookies and then warmed up some hot chocolate, all the cousins, aka boy cousins, decided to attend the event. It was all very cute and funny. 

our couch potatos

Popcorn and a movie just hit the spot for us all sometimes.

12.5.12

Sadly, my dad lost his fight to cancer the morning of December 5, 2012. It is one of those dreaded things you can not imagine until it happens; the loss of a beloved parent. It is hard to sum up the life of a man who has meant so much to me. It would take pages filled with stories, memories and moments to even try and grasp at how I feel about this loss. The sorrow catches me in waves, usually when the day is settling and I am worn, but mostly I am left with tremendous gratitude for having the father I had. Not too many are as lucky as I.

So Dad,

I desperately miss your cheerful hellos on the phone and you sitting at your desk, staring at that computer screen working working...

I am so grateful I was with you that last year and half. Your sacrifice was great and you never turned bitter and your faith in God and Christ never wavered.

Thank you for the years of support; thank you for all you provided; thank you for your strong work ethic; thank you for always patiently getting off the computer to come help me; thank you for loving my Bug and always jumping up at the sound of her cry; thank you for your gentle, cheerful and often playful disposition; and thank you for the legacy you left behind. You will always be my beacon.

I will never forget how you worked and sacrificed for us all, how you always served and for never once making me doubt God and family came first.

Thanks for all the beautiful memories and for fighting so hard for us. Until we meet again, the wait already seems dreadfully long. I will think about you everyday for the rest of my life. In the meantime, I will be waiting for you on the river next summer, just like you said.

Douglas Frank Kunkel

June 26, 1943 - December 5, 2012

4 years old

Our Little Bug turned four! Hard to believe actually. She requested corn on the cob, ham pizza and a tart with no berries on it. Don't we all love custard cream filling?! Luckily, only after two stores, we were able to find some corn on the cob! She blew out all the candles on her own and when someone tried to sneek her wish out of her she said, 'I can't tell you or it won't come true.' I give her a couple of years before she is smarter than both Andrew and I combined. We love our Bug!

6 years

Our six year anniversary came and went! We had reservations and a babysitter set up for a weekend getaway, but unfortunately my grandfather passed away a few days before hand (weeks short of 100). So, instead we attended a funeral and dinned on funeral potatoes! We will have to use the weekend getaway another time.

Although missed, we were happy my grandfather was able to be reunited with his wife after 25 years.      

dog walking

This is not a particularly great photo, but the memory is sweet. Since my dad's original cancer diagnosis we have been out to California quite regularly. He is usually unable to really go anywhere, so, Bug and papa have a tradition of taking Rascal out for daily walks to get some much needed fresh air. It is so sweet to see the two of them walking hand in hand down the hill together.

cousins

Z and Bug

happy halloween!

Our little pink and blue superheros. Bug has a blast this Halloween and kept wanting to go to "one more house" while Tank was very hesitant at first, until he figured out they were giving him candy. Go figure.

I title this one, 'the joy of Halloween.' Oh to be this young again.