Ode to Grampapa or Gramps or Bumpa!!

Yesterday an important man went under the knife, to have surgery needed to save his life.
Many prayers offered up to our Father above because this is a man who is dearly loved.
He is Gramps, Bobby Bauer, Bobbykins to some, but he is God's child no matter where from.
He has been my father for 44 years and his surgery yesterday brought me to tears.
You see I have invested some time with my Dad and shared some of the best memories I've ever had.
The last 5 plus years he has lived as my neighbor and we share weekly humor and tea as we sit by his table.
He's a Grandpa of five and he shares moments with each...sometimes with yummy donuts or with wise words he might teach.
I think of the Lorax who on a certain day was lifted above and taken away.
I am so happy to report that's not the case for my Dad...surgery successful...I'm so extremely glad.
My Daddykins is wonderful, a gift from above...I'm so thankful he was blessed with more years to love!!

What do faithful four year old fans do during sporting events?

They eat hot dogs in the hallway on long wrestling days! They cheer on their big sister..."Go Ruey!" they yell.

They roll around on the floor and eat Nerds during basketball games and try to keep their feet off the court.

And they like to give hugs and a few punches to their biggest bro as he finished 6th in Regionals for wrestling.

Some day...their turn will come...but for now...they are faithful four year old fans!

Farewell to you faithful Papa!!

A new season in our lives. For everything under Heaven there is a season...a time to mourn, grieve, and cry. This man, Paul, my father in law, made his last trip out to see us this fall...ultimately to say goodbye. We shared a week with him. He exorted our family...especially our teenage boys about their future. He told stories and life lessons and really praised Rob and I in front of the kids letting them know how blessed they are. He was able to watch CJ make his first touchdown of the football season and pump his arm with great fervor and pride. He was such a proud Grandpa! He passed away this week after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
I am so thankful to have these pictures of him with us. Because this is how I want to remember him best. Surrounded by his grandkids of whom he was soooo proud! He loved and was faithful to many people including his wife whom he saw through a several year battle with cancer.
I believe somewhere in each of our hearts is that longing to be home. It's the one we never quite feel like we arrived at here on this earth. We find pieces of it through relationships with loved ones, marriage, children...but ultimately we yearn for this void in our hearts to be filled and strive possibly to do that through many different actions in our lives. Some of us choose high roads and others go through valleys trying to find it. When I was 20 years old, I met Jesus in a time when I was searching for that "something". That void I wanted to fill found love in a Savior who loved with unending love. I am so thankful that Papa is now in the presence of this loving Savior. I'm sure he heard the words from his Father this week, "Well done, my good and faithful servant...well done." I love you Paul and farewell until we meet again!!

The Wrestling match of Winter

This is a literal wrestling match. A new sport for our family...normally our eldest has played basketball, so we have been learning the rules of this very intensive sport. I know he is the one wrestling...but I too usually feel exhausted after his matches as I am involuntarily trying to help him with my muscles from the stands. He has learned so much and grown alot in this sport. We are very proud of him for his determination in changing direction and sticking with it with perseverance and a great attitude. He was able to wrestle in his first JV tournament this weekend and took 2nd place for his weight class. Way to go Bud! So, the next two pics are of a different type of wrestling match in our area. This is the one between winter and spring. Where ever you live this may not be the case...but here in our fair city...it seems like winter shows itself in one breath...

and then in the next...frosty has melted to a pathetic size and we see signs of spring. I'm thankful that the grass is always greener on the other side...as it gets closer to spring that is...I say bring it on!

Happy New Year!

I started back to my regular work schedule this week and so wanted to post these earlier...but it just didn't happen. We had a great first Christmas with Matt! We really tried to keep the emphasis on Jesus birthday and did a lot of role playing (as you will see below). We ended our vacation with a short weekend trip to the mountains where we shared time with friends, played games and had fun in the snow. It was a great way to bring in the New Year! I hope whatever you did that the Lord blessed you with a joyous celebration of His birth, lots of snuggles with loved ones, and not too many extra pounds :O) Waking up Christmas morning and getting ready to open stockings. Matt and Esther were sooo excited...it made everything more fun!!

Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, a donkey, an angel, two "wise guys", and one "mean king" as Ess and Matt call him. The E Team family players perform for a very special drama.

A star...a star...which led them to the new born babe. Matt and Esther loved their stable.
After sledding in the mountains (which Matt loved going "faster, faster"), we found a little hide away under a pine tree and the kids crawled in. Can you believe it was only 8 degrees in this picture? Somehow, with the sun shining and our bodies moving, we stayed nice and warm.

In the Land of Four...

In the Land of Four...great hiding spots are found in Hide and Go Seek when you cover your eyes and can't see anyone. In the Land of Four...the first Christmas performance at one's school is the most exciting ever!

In the Land of Four...I just love love love my teacher and ask each morning...preschool day?

The Land of Four has surprises and newness each and every day. How blessed are we that we get to experience 2 sets of four...I think it was Elisha who asked for a double portion of blessing...Ess and Matt are our double portion:O) Merry Christmas to all!!

And may the Land of Four come visit your house this holiday season and give you fresh eyes to see His Joy all around us!!!

Crazy hair, crazy clothes, crazy weather & a well dressed Dude!

CRAZY HAIR: Matt, sporting the spikey doo before I gave him a hair cut. He is so funny. He tells me "Me no like crazy boy hair!" Well no worries...it's now a neat buzz cut and he is happy:O)CRAZY CLOTHES: Esther, in her attempts to help me with laundry, decided to try on some of the things we were folding. Daddy's socks, Matt's undies...anyone who has seen the cover on the book Captain Underpants...this could be a substitute shot I think.

CRAZY WEATHER: Yes, it is not officially winter yet, and we have had more snow fall than the past several years. We had a white thanksgiving, have been sledding, built our snow man, cross country skiied...and now the past week we had rain, today it's 50 degrees and all the snow is gone...Crazy!

WELL DRESSED DUDE: This picture is of Evan, the freshman, after an 8am to 8pm day at Speech and Debate Team. We got to watch him on one of his rounds. He and his partner took second place! He takes after his father in his choice of beverage for celebrating his victorious day!