6 years ago today

6 years ago on Apr 7th my little brother took his life.  There hasn't been a single one of the following 2190 days that I haven't felt the pain and sometimes anger of losing him.  He was one of those with a magnetic personality, someone you just wanted to be around because he was fun, sweet and had a laugh that made you want to laugh too.  Alorah asked me yesterday why I was crying so much and I explained that it was the anniversary of Uncle Trev's death.  Her response was I thought his birthday made you sad.  I explained that while it does, at his birthday you remember what an amazing person he was and you can remember good times, at his anniversary all I can think of is the pain, the horror of that night and the loss.  That night is so vivid in my head and it overtakes it all.  I have dreams and flashes of it, and I feel sad every moment.

Every year I commemorate him on my blog.  And I posted this a few years back in the hope of remembering the positive times on this day.  I love you so Very, VERY Much, Trevor Micah, and I miss you even more.

Settlers of Catan

About a year and a half ago I found this awesome strategy game called Settlers of Catan.  It was on a homeschool blog and I was looking for fun homeschool games.  It was invented in Germany in 1995, and has just gotten popular here in the states.  According to my lil brother who came back from Amsterdam a year ago it's also all the rage in Europe.  He was amazed when we pulled it out to play at Christmas.  (He was also amazed that we had Nutella).  We had to special order it as it wasn't available in any stores at the time.  I was stunned to see it in Target yesterday ~ stunned.  I am so cutting edge :)

So about 6 months or so ago we invited our good friends the Kerrs over to play this super fun game with us.  We knew that they loved board games as well and frankly they are two of our favorite people and we're always looking for an opportunity to hang with them.  Long story short they got HOOKED on the game as well and not only figured out that we were initially playing it quite wrong but that it can also be a ticket to divorce court.  Just kidding, but do be forewarned that if you are super competitive this game can get intense. 

So it's kind of become our "thing".  We collaborate on dinner than get the kids comfortable with a movie and get our Catan on.  It's my idea of a perfect night.  Especially when my mad strategy skills kick in and I win like last night.  BOOYAH!!!

Shaun & Bonnie:

The Game Board

Shaun seriously contemplating his strategy.

Ev setting up his pieces.

Bonnie contemplating as well

My hand

Shaunie boy CONCENTRATING!

And these sweet kids concentrating as well :)

My Isaiah was soooooo sweet with Bri, Bri last night.

And my darling husband who hates the paparrazzi I can sometimes be.

The Only prescription is more cowbell!

We were watching a show last night ~ a very serious drama. This song came on and I was CRACKING UP. All I could picture in my head was this skit.