WOW IT HAS BEEN FOREVER!!!

I cant belive i havent been on here for so long. I know I have just tons of extra time to just sit around and blog at the computer. Any way we have a had very busy year just keeping up with the kids and all they do. I have to say that since having the 4th child I have an up most respect for all mothers Aunt Ellie told me once while I was pregnant with cade "now you are going to know whats it is to be a parent." I remember thinking what is she talking about I already have two children, I know what it is to be a parent. Well aunt Ellie I hear you loud and clear now. I must say that this is the best job with the biggest rewards and challenges. I really can not see myself doing anything else. Congrats to katie and fam, how exciting!!!!! I have so many memories of my children every time they would get a new sibling, they are priceless. When Trey was born Abbie was so happy and she called him her baby and when it was time for her to go home she cried and cried "I dont want to leave my baby here, he is going home with me!!!" These years right now are the best, most blessed years we will ever know!!! One time I was very upset at a bad day I had with my children, I cant remember what happened now, but Grandma Bon happened to call me and I was relaying my motherly problems to her and she said " cherish these days wen, they will be gone in a blink of an eye" What profound words. So Katie, Josh,Lori, and Andrew take Grandmas advice and love every min. of your life when you have children, I can already tell you it goes by way to fast.
The other day I was thinking about old times and looing back through pictures and came across a pic of me holding Katie my first cousin, I was so totaly in love with her. I wanted to do everything a mom would due with a baby, I must have drove Aunt Ellie nuts!!!! My fav doll was quickly changed from Amanda to Kaite and mom found me sveral times sitting in my room with my shirt pulled up nursing my baby Katie, just like aunt ellie....My next memory flew forward and Katie was 16 we were in Limon in my cool blue sports car,Katie in the drivers seat trying to master a clutch. That was a fun day and if I remember right Betsy (we still called her that) was in the back seat along for the ride. I was thinking there was one more cousin there but for the life of me I can not remember who. One time at thanksgiving Ellie and Warren went to florida and I got to stay with the bon kids for three days, meg was just a toddler. I made my mind upright there and then that I was going to have a large family just like PaPa warren and Miss Ellie (that is what I called Ellie before they were married)
Another time that comes to mind is a memory of My total **HOT** Aunt Patty. We were still living in co. spgs. Our home was broke into and most of my clothes , make-up, Tapes(I am aging my self, yes it was before CDS) and just about everything that is important to a teen girl were stolen or distroyed. My mother and I were distraught. There was no way we had the money to replace all that was taken. Well Aunt patty was like a knight in shinning armor. She took me shopping ,taught me the importance of finding and using coupons, and replaced alot of the things that had been taken.
A much more recent memory that will always be with me is the time I got to spend with Grandpa Amos in his last days. Baca Daddy (my name for grandpa) was a very important man in my life. As many know I didnt really have much of a father in my young child years, and Grandpa played a very important role for me. Sitting with him and holding his hand was one memory I will hold close. I felt so blessed to have spent this time. Mom, Patty, Carol,Matt,Chistian,Nelson and Warren came and we all sang some of baca daddys fav songs.......What a wonderful family we have!!!!!
Another memory, hope I am not boring everyone, Is of Aunt Carol. Andrew was just a newborn. If everyone remembers Aunt Carol was a very private nursing Mom. She would always go to a back bedroom to nurse. I would always ask Grandma "where is aunt carol?" I was always aware of her location because she had a new baby and I could not get enough of babies. Grandma would tell me Aunt Carol just needs to be alone right now. Well I couldnt stand it I had to know where she was, so I snooped until I found her in Grandmas room feeding Andrew. What was so special was she didnt make me leave she patted the bed and I sat there with her during one of her most private times. We talked , joked, and giggled. Andrew was done eating and fast asleep, we just hung out untill I was missed and my Mom came looking for me.
These are just a few of my many memories. I was thinking that in the spirit of the up and coming holidays maybe all of us could blog about some of our memories with each other. Wont that be fun!!!
Well I think I have made made up for lost blogging time. Hope everyone has a blessed holiday season. Love and miss everyone of you!!!!! Wendy

New Life in CSU

Hey Everyone!

As most of you know, I am now attending Colorado State University, majoring in Philosophy, and participating in Aif Force ROTC. I am having fun in all of these areas. I live in Allison Hall which is right next to everything and has the great dining hall called Spoons that serves phenomenal soup. I live in an all-male hall and get along with all my hall mates. I have one roommate, Brendan McGeever. I love the city of Fort Collins and all the local restraunts, coffee shops, and venues in Old Town. My favorite thing to do here is probably cycling. I ride my bike almost everywhere unless I am in uniform even though I am allowed. I would love it if any of you came to visit, so please do..and if you are old enough to look like my parents, then you can eat for free at the fabulous dining halls! Hope to see you all at Thanksgiving!

Love you,
Evan

The job hunt

So I was planning on waiting to do another post until I found a job, but with Katie's encouragement to post, how could I say no to posting something now? (By the way, Katie, thanks for being our blog mom who keeps us in line and reminds us to fulfill our blog duties).

I'm finding out that job-hunting as a recent college grad with little experience in the middle of an economic recession is not that much fun. I'm sure I've sent in at least 40 résumés and done around 15 interviews, all to no avail. Even Target turned me down for a checker position. I did get a job as the official Spanish substitute at CSCS' high school, but teachers these days are way too healthy and dedicated, so I only get to teach an average of once per month. If the pay were $2000 a day I'd be all set, but for some reason I can't figure out, they pay significantly less than that. So needless to say, the job hunt continues.

I hope you guys are all doing great and that life is swell. Love you all!

update using both hands!

welp. i think my recruiter is trying to pretend that the accident never happened, as it might hurt my chances. she had e-mailed me a week before the accident (but i never received the communique) asking me to get a letter from memorial, verifying that there were no records of the skull fracture. so i filled out an application in the records office and they told me they would call me the next week. when they called, they told me i could come pick it up any time. when i went to pick it up, they gave me a manilla envelope full of the records from the fracture, which had been found on microfilm. so i dropped that off for my recruiter, and those are at the military entrance processing station right now. i did find out my asvab score though, and it's one point less than perfect. so if i actually make it in, i'll pretty much have my choice of career field! now if i can only get in...

so, pictures i promised: extremely gory!

i go back to cart attending (instead of boring cashiering) at target on monday, and am very excited about it. i don't have my full range of motion back yet, but i'm stretching & exercising every day, can see improvement, and am hoping that it won't affect anything if i ever get to go take my physical. that's about it for now.

congrats, katie, chris, and gretchen!

Gretchen's news

Hi Everybody!
This is Gretchen typing.
Great news! I'm going to be a big sister!
Most likely sometime in the middle of June.
We are really excited!
My mom is feeling great,
and my dad thinks it's going to be a little sister.
I love playing with dolls right now,
and I can't wait to help take care of my real baby!
Just thought you should know about our news!
Love,
Gretchen

left-handed update!

so! the air force was hesitant because of the lack of medical records from my decades-old head injury. so i had to fill out some forms, and the recruiter said i should have an update by the end of the week.

the next day, i was practicing riding a scooter so i could go to work and back without taking the bus. and i crashed. i could see some muscles and bones in my right forearm! it was kind of awesome, but it took 6 hours and 48 stitches to get me back on the street. however, they gave my noggin a CAT scan, and there's no permanent damage! the cat scan report, of course, came up totally clear of any brain damage, so hooray for accidents!

i hope you all are well! i'll post pictures later.

Winnie the Pooh

Okay, so this might be a bit silly but I'm doing it anyway.

I was reading today about a man who declared that one of the most important decisions he made as a child (and as an adult) was to be a Tigger rather than an Eeyore, because it was always better to be happy, energetic, and bouncy than to spend life dull and moping, worrying what others think of you. And it made me wonder, what are other people?

Are you cautious Rabbit? Mothering Kanga? Timid Piglet? Who? And why?

Monolith

Well in celebration of all these birthdays, I think we should go to an amazing music festival!

Josh at 27

1981 was a good year for grandkids: Elizabeth, Andy, Josh, and Matt. How I love all of you guys!
Josh is 27 today. Tons of memories return to this 54-year old's head, of waking up and hearing that Bev was in labor, of going to the hospital, of his birth, and of holding him for the first time and all the joy that went with it. And the memories still come back of so many birthday parties and special times.
My firstborn -- now married and a proud daddy, soccer coach and Bible teacher, tall and big blue eyes, an always happy and excited guy -- continues to be a blessing to us. We are so proud of Josh.
May his 27th birthday be filled with joy!
I love you man.

Hi guys,
It's another scorcher out here in eastern Colorado. It's gotten up to 100 degrees several days recently.
I have fans running all night in an attempt to cool off the house. My goal is to get interior of the house below 70 degrees. Then I shut all the windows.
Evan is working on the trash truck this summer. Isn't that a good job for the summer before you start college?
The trash truck drops him at the house for lunch and picks him up again. Before eating lunch, he changes from stinky clothes into clean clothes, then scrubs his face, hands and arms. I usually prepare his lunch, much to Meg's annoyance. She wants me to cook for her, too. When she rides around all day on a hot, stinky garbage truck, I will fix her lunch.
Evan, ate his lunch today, then disappeared. I found him in bed under a down quilt. 'It's too cold in the kitchen,' says he. I cracked up!
Love,
Aunt Ellie

Aidan Laughs at himself

Hey guys I thought you might want to see my cute baby laughing

Happy Birthday, Katie!

So I know I'm a couple hours early for your birthday, Katie, but I'm going out of town tomorrow and wanted to make sure that I wished you a happy birthday before I got too far away from technology. You're such a great cousin and I'm so blessed to be related to you. Hopefully some of your grace and sweetness runs in the Bontrager genes and I'll become more like you one of these days. Hope you have a wonderful day! Love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMILY RUSK

Happy 23rd b'day, Ems. It sure was good to see you last week. God's blessings to you.

Happy Bday Daniel Robert

Evan Daniel and Daniel's special day!

Happy Birthday Evan Daniel Bontrager! God has placed so many talents in you, and I know He has big plans for your life! Enjoy this last summer of your "childhood" before you become a big college boy! Don't forget to acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:6). I love you! From Katie

Happy Birthday to Daniel as well. Don't know if you'll read this since you're working at camp all summer, but I hope you are having a great summer and allowing God to draw you closer to Him through the experience at camp! Love, your cousin Katie