Ringing In The New Year

This post has been very difficult for me to write. It took a long time for me to even look through the pictures from our New Years because while they brought back wonderful, fun memories, they also made my heart hurt.  These pictures are special to me because they capture some of our last days as a family of five. You see, on January 22, 2014 we had to say goodbye to a member of our family. Our precious, sweet Bogie is no longer with us. There will be a post soon to honor and document his life. But until I can muster the strength and courage to write those words, we'll reminisce on happier times.

Our New Years celebration was like all in recent past- spent at our farm in Alabama. Ricky and Cate joined us, along with Ma and Big Daddy for the end of the year festivities. 

It was COLD, but the kids, David especially, didn't care. They were outside as much as possible. 

David played in the rocks a lot.

 

Helped his Daddy drive the Bobcat.

 

 

Rachael helped Big Daddy drive the Bobcat.

 

And played outside too.

 

It rained a bit while we were there too, but that didn't stop the fun. It just made MUD PUDDLES!

 

 

 

 

 

We all went for a walk and the boys took their guns just in case...

 

 

 

Daddy and David walked through those thick woods, so Bogie walked back with Rachael and me. 

He wanted to stop and smell something, so she tried her best to get him to move on. 

 

 

On another day we, along with Ricky and Cate, took a hike to a beautiful overlook on the property. 

 

The boys enjoying the view.

 

Mama and Sweet Girl laughing. She cracks me up these days. 

 

We had a great time going on 4-wheeler rides.

 

 

 Rachael thought she could drive herself.

 

They were trying to figure out how to drive it...

 

Bogie turned 14 on Dec. 29th. Of course we celebrated him with a special birthday "cake" and party. Rachael thought he needed a party hat.

 

 

After singing to him, the kids broke up his cake and fed it to him. 

 

Also part of the celebration, Ryan shot a dove for Bogie's final retrieve. That's one happy dog.

 

David was pretty excited about the dove too.

 

 

Even Rachael wanted to touch it. 

 

But, Bogie kept a close eye on that bird.

 

 

I had a few pictures taken with the Birthday Boy. I will cherish them forever. 

 

 

 

On New Years Eve the kids had a great time playing outside.

 

And hanging out by the fire pit Ricky designed while they waited for the fireworks.

 

As always, we had the traditional greens, peas, and cornbread dinner on New Years Day. 

The kids stirred the green for "money" in 2014.

 

 

And the peas for "good luck" in 2014.

 

  

In the cornbread there is a hidden dime. Whoever finds it gets a little extra luck. This year, David found it!!