While we're together, we may as well have fun.

And fun is what we (tried) to have under the circumstances.  Here's a list of things we (Everlie) did while in Rexburg.

I didn't get any pictures, but the first day we were there, little miss conjured up a fever of 102.  Poor little thing had the rosiest cheeks I'd ever seen on anyone and she was just burning up.  Grandma Eborn with her great connections got us into the ER to see a dr. ASAP and got some good medicine that cleared her right up.  All she needed was some drugs, a couple hours of nap time and was up racing again like a little machine.  I tell you this girl does not stop.  Literally.  Does.  Not.  Stop.

She rode on the four-wheeler for the first time with her daddy

Ate lots and lots of snow...

Went swimming (al naturale a la swim diaper) with all the cousins at Great Grandma Wilson's hotel

Played at Uncle Justin's gym

Small Head Sumo Lady!!

Visited Nikky and Declan for the first time

And Nik, I know you hate this picture... but we're only pregnant together once.  For posterity's sake right?

Slept when she could...

Got to hear Grandma Eaton read stories in her cool bean bag chairs at the school.

Loaded up on lots of pizza at Craigos...

AND had her first grandma and grandpa sleepover by herself.  PLUS got spoiled with new Dora jammies, dolls and lots of toys and treats.

It was a great treat to meet uncles and aunts (and friends) for the first time for little Ev.  She absolutely loved playing with her cousins.  In fact the first night they came, she screamed for hours wanting to play with them....at two o'clock in the morning.   

We Weren't Ready To Say Good-bye...

We will celebrate Valentine's Day on the 14th of February no more.  For that day has been respectfully reserved to remember Brent's dad, Don.  It's been so hard to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer with us.  I've never been good with dealing with death.  I mostly just shut down and keep to myself, so this has been a very difficult event to get through.   It's been hard watching Brent experience the loss of his father and to go through the ups and downs of grief and it just makes my heart ache each time I see the sad in his eyes.  

But I know that's not how Don would like us to be.  Not at all.   That's why I smile at photos like this...

How he loved playing with little Everlie.  Sadly I fear this is the only photo I have of both of them together.  He was always taking pictures of her and making her laugh.  What a blessing it was to have Brent's parents here in January for the weekend.  I remember we were at the mall and he had gone to the food court to get himself an Orange Julius and when he had returned Brent and I asked him to keep an eye on E at the play area while we ran to a store.  When we got back he was holding her and she was holding his just almost empty Orange Julius.  "She pretty much drank the whole darn thing..."  He couldn't believe his sweet little granddaughter had commandeered his smoothie dry.  But all he did was laugh.  That was Don.

My heart warms when I read articles like this one.  They help me remember he was doing what he liked best, be in God's beautiful country.  Loved Hebgen Lake and loved ice fishing, hunting, and mountain man rendezvous and was very good at all of the above.  I am glad he instilled a love for the outdoors in Brent since he will always be able to be close to him doing those things.  

I am honored when I watch the love and respect that others had for him.  He was also very good at his occupation as an EMT and ER nurse at Madison Memorial.  The only one around that never missed an IV and was famous for that.

Gosh, was it cold that day.  But it was a beautiful day at the Sutton Cemetery.  Days before Rexburg had no snow and lo and behold it snowed just for his funeral.  I'm sure he sent it just for the occasion.  Again, that was Don.

He was a great father-in-law and always treated me with kindness and love.  I will never forget the offer he made me before Brent and I got married.  Said that he would make it worth my while if I didn't make him wear a tux to the wedding.  I told him I didn't mind what he wore, I just wanted him there.   Sure enough he had made it worth my while later on with an envelope with $500 in it.  

 The memories that we have had with him are forever priceless and I pray will never be forgotten so our kids will know their grandpa Eborn-just in a special way.  I know he is with us, just not physically.  I also know that he is up in heaven kickin it with baby Eborn-hanging on to every moment with him before he kicks him out the last week in April; as he doesn't like to be wrong about his predictions.  (I'm due May 7).  I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life and to know that families are forever and that we will see him once again.   What a blessing and a comfort that is.

We love you Don.  Forever and Always.