I love the coziness of snowy days... in December.

In the middle of October... a gift of snow for the boys.... perfect snowman making snow, according to John.



They were going for the tallest snowman ever -- not the best looking. clearly.




Micah could spend all day out in the snow! what a little heater. (I think he really just likes the father/son time.)

What is a vacation?

I've discovered that the meaning of "vacation" to a four-year-old is basically, going to a hotel.... with a pool. Sure, it's fun to watch Uncle Thomas play football, but the hotel is IMPARATIVE. So, here's the "vacation" part of our trip... complete with waterslide and all!










This is the way Malachi looks when he's tired... with Sam stuck to his face. Apparently, Sam must come swimming with us too.

SDSU vs. UNI !!!!

Thomas got to be the starting QB for the University of Northern Iowa game. It was a great win and an all-around great day! We love weekends with family...






Everyone looking at the jumbo-tron... :)



Jumbo-tron with final score! (Uncle Thomas, on the left)



the boys and cousin Alana playing on the field after the game.

Elliana

Elliana Olivet Jauregui went home, October 13th, 2009.

Even though Ellie is not an "O'Brien boy," and my boys didn't even really know her (due to distance), it has impacted them in some way... especially Micah.

I've never really had to talk about death with Micah before. He'll ask questions about my Grandma and Grandpa and I'll tell him that they raised me and loved me and now they've gone to be with Jesus in Heaven. Their bodies just stopped working, like a battery wearing down.

Micah is very curious about this and will repeat what he remembers from our discussions to me often. And when Ellie died, it was the same. Only, this time, he saw my tears - he could sense the pain death brought. I showed him pictures of Ellie... a beautiful little girl who looked about his age. He repeated the story I told him about how Ellie's body just stopped working and that she went to Heaven.

And then he repeated the story to every-single-person we saw for the next week....
I'm amazed at a child's fearless contention with pain, sorrow, and the unknown. We adults like to talk about it with a numinous reverence...

I'm so sorry that they didn't know Ellie better here on this Earth. There was a beautiful, peaceful simplicity to Ellie. There was a deep love the family had for her, though she never had to earn the love she received.

My heart hurts so much for my cousin, Abby and her husband, Tano. I want to be there... because I know that if one of my children met the Lord before I did, I would want Abby by my side - almost more than anyone. She's a deeply loving and compassionate person. God is wise to have placed Ellie in their care for eight years.

Missouri game

Since Uncle Thomas is an "O'Brien boy" himself... we wanted to cronicle some of his life events too. His victories are our victories.... that's what family is about.








Seriously, how does his arm DO that???

Malachi is TWO!!

Malachi hardly knew that he had turned two. We kept saying all day -- Malachi, it's you're birthday! And he'd look at us like, "Ya,so?" He must have gotten this from the O'Brien side. :) The chocolate cupcake, however - now, THAT he could get into!

SDSU vs. NDSU !!!!

October 17th and 18th, we traveled to South Dakota to watch Uncle Thomas QB for SDSU against their rivals NDSU. He played well and South Dakota won the battle! It's really a fun "family" trip - we travel with Grandma and get to see Uncle Thomas the morning after the game. What a treat! (the hotel with a waterslide doesn't hurt either.)

There is just something about Autumn...

I raked this pile four times... and the boys waited in anticipation each time... and it was totally worth it. There is so much freedom and joy in these pictures. Days like this are good for the soul.