Navy 7 months and a pony tail!

We have a sitting up, crawling, pony tail little girl over here! I did her first ponytail today and about died! I'm in love that I can do this to her hair, Emma didn't have a pony tail until she was 1 1/2-2. So mommy is loving on this little girl right now, as always. This doll is an absolute angel all day long every day, until daddy comes home........ yep we have another daddy's girl again. The second daddy walks in the door she will stick that lip out as far as she can and start her whimper to get her daddy to come get her. If he doesn't then she just watches him back and forth crying till he does. Her giant, crocodile tears are ridiculous in those big, beautiful almond eyes. She is eating baby food like a pro, we have passed the main veggies and are going to move on to fruits. Navy loves playing with toys and chasing them around. She is crawling everywhere! She recently found out where the dog food is, that has been fun. Her personality is coming out more and more. She is growing into the cutest little girl. Navy has started to give loves, it is my favorite when they purposely lay their head on you for comfort. Her kisses are the sweetest, wettest little things, haha. The older kids absolutely love her and she loves them, its so fun to watch them.

Papa Buzz

I have been extraordinarily blessed in my life to be surrounded by great, supportive, strong, caring, kind, protective, loving men. Yesterday, I lost one of those amazing men and my heart is broken. This is the first person I have lost, that I have been so close to, since my childhood. There is a hole that can never be replaced. We call him Papa Buzz.

Elmer Richard Schraft was born May 25, 1941. He was born in and grew up in central Idaho up in the mountains, Pine, Idaho. His dad worked on the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge where we have had a tradition of family camping trips our whole life. We will have a memorial service this summer up in Stanley for him. Grandpa met grandma at 28 when they got married in June 1969. My grandma already had my uncle Robert and my dad, at 3 and 4 they lost their dad in Vietnam. Papa Buzz took them in as his own to raise, support and love them. A few years later grandma and grandpa had my Aunt Rachael. Grandpa worked at his own accounting business in Wendell, Idaho where he touched and helped countless lives. He retired and lived on his farm where he continued to work everyday in the fields, or fixing fences, the roof, whatever was needed and doing genealogy work for his family. He had a stroke and then passed away March 14, 2017. He always had a tooth pick in his mouth. His hair was always done using the same hair product his entire life! Grandpa had the same routine of getting ready and had the same socks and undershirts all lined up in his closet. He wore his one suit four times at his parents and grandmas parents funerals. Other then that he had on his slacks, shirt, and his suspenders, grandma even noticed some of his tshirts that had been worn with suspender marks from him working out in the sun on the farm. He loved hamburgers and hated pizza. He loved baked beans but they had to be served cold, you couldn't ruin them by warming them up.

Grandma and grandpa lived out in a farm where he had cows, potato crops and more on lots of land. We absolutely loved going out there. Us girls all learned to drive out on the farm. It was the most exciting moment when we turned 12 and got to learn how. Before I got my license Papa Buzz made sure he got his moment to teach me how to change a tire. We went out to the farm and him and I were in the garage. I could not loosen the lug nuts for the life of me and so he tried and couldn't either. He said get the air compressor let's get these off. Lo and behold Aunt Rachael comes running out to the garage saying we were cheating and she didn't get to use that! Grandpa just winked at me and we laughed. He taught us how to ride four wheelers, he took us on jeep rides, tractor rides in the bucket and pulled us on sleds in the snow. We dug potatoes and brought them home for homemade french fries. Growing up every night we would take baths in grandma and grandpas tub that was soooo deep. I was so excited as a Mom for my kids to take baths in that tub and play with the same toys we played with. We spent hours playing games, pool, ping pong, air hockey, hide and seek in the basement. We spent even more hours outside walking the mile, being on the mud road, painting rocks, swinging on the swing grandpa built for us, and so much more.

One day when I was 8 or 9, the girls and I were out walking around the mile and next to the fence, in the bushes, I found the sweetest little puppy. I just had to save him and so I picked him up and we went right back to the house where I proudly showed off my sweet little friend. Everyone immediately started screaming and we were very confused. I had no idea I had just brought home a coyote!! Papa Buzz was so sweet and said he needed to take him back to his Mom in the fields and I couldn't keep him. Years later,and I mean a couple years ago I found out as everyone was casually talking that grandpa had gone out and taken care of the coyote. What?! I was completely shocked and they were all shocked not knowing I didn't catch on to what had really happened. They explained that his mom wouldn't have come back for him with my scent all over him. My jaw dropped! Grandpa still brought that up randomly making sure I shared my story of saving a baby coyote.

He was not a social person, but to us and anyone that he cared for he would gladly sit and have a conversation about his life and tell you the most amazing stories. He was always quick to have a comeback or a smart little comment that would leave everyone laughing and you never knew when it was coming. He loved us so much and was so protective. He was so supportive and would let us make our choices. As soon as he was worried or needed us to hear him he would give us advice and warnings about the things that are important. It was always short and to the point, but it would hit home and we would just marvel at how right and how smart he was. He has shared moments with each of us that we're so profound and meaningful, I know we will never forget them. When I was 16 he gave me a talk about boys, it was a special talk just between us and I'll never forget that moment. When Jake and I got married he said he was so proud of Jacob and I, and are most important duty was to take care of Benjamin. He was proud and loved that Jake loved Benjamin and stepped up to be his father and take care of us.

Their home voicemail was him saying, "..if you called to speak to Peggy leave a message, if you called to speak to me- hang up." When I called I just knew I was calling to chat with grandma and she would always send our love to Papa Buzz. I have a handful of times where I would call and grandpa would answer the phone when he heard me on voicemail. Even with grandma gone he heard and said hi and wanted to check on us. Not only was he a wonderful grandpa he was an amazing great grandpa. Benjamin and Emma both had broken facial bones last year, Noah had surgery and Navy is in physical therapy  and he talked to me on the phone to check on them each at the time when the situation happened. Those handful of phone calls meant the world to me. Every single time I would call my dad afterwards and just scream, "Papa Buzz answered my phone call and talked to me!"  Benjamin will ask for his hair to be done like Papa Buzz with a comb and totally his old school greaser style. I willingly oblige every time he asks. Papa Buzz had his chair and tucked away next to it was a little tiny box that contained two small blue hand coordination balls that had bells in them when you shook them. As an adult when I brought my kids out there he would always bring out that box and show them to the kids who were always so enthralled with those bells. Grandpa also made this one of a kind noise that for my entire life I have never figured out how he does it. He makes a very fasting clicking sound in his mouth that is basically magic. We always tried to study and figure out how he did it and never could. He was he only person in the world that I know that could make that noise. I hate that my kids will no longer be confounded by those clicks trying to figure out his magic.

Growing up we had what we called, "Papa Buzz Sunday's" grandpa was not a member of the church and so some sundays we would travel out there for the day just spending time with them and making memories. They were days filled with love and laughter, the perfect days of spending quality, meaningful time with family out on the farm away from the world and all electronics. Last Sunday was the last Papa Buzz Sunday that we shared with him. We travelled to Idaho after he had a stroke and we said our goodbyes. He said few words under his condition, but got out he loved us. Papa Buzz Sundays will live on and will be days we cherish until we see you again and can have more together forever.

Some might say he had a tough exterior, but to us he was the sweetest Papa Buzz who sat back quietly watching over our lives making sure we were safe and loved. Papa Buzz you are so loved and incredibly missed. You have touched my life and my families lives, we have learned from you and are incredibly privileged to have you as an example to us. I always knew you were there for me and watching over my family. Thank you for being the man that you were. You are truly one of a kind and your life will live on through our memories, your teachings, your love and our love. I pray and am grateful to have you on my side up there and know you will continue to watch over and protect us. I love you and miss you dearly.

Emma's cheer

Go Eagles! We just finished our cheer club this year. It's the second year in a row and Emma loved it. They had the cutest little perforamnce. I love watching her cheer and go out of her comfort zone to perform in front of others. Her smile during cheer is the most beautiful smile ever! I love seeing her happy and laughing.