Capt Bly and the Gang

2012-01-31T19:20:00.000-08:00

The Dr's statement to Rick..."You are high functioning" in spite of the shape your knees are in!
Rick had this treatment done to his right knee last March. It feels 100% better he says. So this year, when his left knee began to really hurt and lock up, he thought he would try this again. This knee is in worse shape. The bone is actually concave where it has worn next to each other. The Dr states this is so new, he has no idea if this will work or not, but we're up for the try. Next step, knee replacement. Not an option that Rick is excited about by any means!
Euflexxa is used to relieve knee pain due to bone to bone pain. It's a gel like, natural and highly purified form of HA which is a natural substance found in the fluid that cushions, lubricates, and protects the knee. The first treatment, they pull out the old and bad fluid...kind of sticky gooey substance. Then they inject this. Pretty cool actually and really pain free, so Rick says. I'd probably be bawling like a baby! Keep your fingers crossed! He says it's already feeling better!

2012-01-31T19:05:00.000-08:00

New project for sweet friend. Oh how I could stay at home and play with this kind of stuff all the time!

2012-01-31T18:58:00.000-08:00

Tiffany is my sweet Louisiana friend from work. She's so cute and so fun to have around. She left our department, dang her, but we still see her a little bit. She gave birth to this sweet little angel a couple of weeks ago. I made these head bands for her at her request and took them to her place today after work. This little princess is so so cute. She was only 5 lbs, but healthy and beautiful. The headbands will drown her for now...maybe I'll have to make her a new band to use while she's so tiny....I thought I was going small...but they would hang around her as scarfs I think today! She won't stay small for long though!

2012-01-31T18:49:00.000-08:00

Pinterest is my new addicion...it is a pin board that is unreal! You name it, it has what your looking for! DIY stuff...stuff to purchase...all categories...I can get lost in it!
I was sick this past fall as I added up the amount of $$'s we have been spending at the grocery store...I'm looking for any way to avoid it! I HATE grocery shopping and have been heard to say...I'd rather take a beating than go grocery shopping! One of the girls laughed at that at work...she said I would not! No really...I think I would. It's a mental beating as I see those $'s add up and then we have to do it again...URR! We could save so much money if we didn't have to eat! Soooo, anywhoos, found a recipe to make my own laundry detergent. I bought a front load washer about a year ago or so. I hate trying to find the best deal on the soap it requires...found this recipe. So excited about it...Have enough to make probably 2 more batches! So far, the clothes are clean and just as white...trying to keep the whities white has been a chore, and this seems to be helping! We'll see as time goes on. ANNND, because I'm putting the soap in the wash tub itself, the ever so popular stink has gone!

2012-01-31T18:02:00.000-08:00

I subbed for our Relief Society class for lesson one from the Prophet George Albert Smith hand book for this year. I put up the 11 creeds that he wrote as a young apostle to live by, and then asked the ladies to help me write our own. We're a new ward I said. What can we do as a whole to help us all become unified and one. It was a great lesson....one that I felt a privileged to facilitate. One that the Lord inspired, not me! That's what I love about this gospel! Feeling the blessings of doing our Father in Heaven's work! It's such an honor and is so humbling! I had asked several of my good friends of ideas of how to make this creed into something special. I asked Paula about stitching it, but as soon as it came out of my mouth I felt guilty. That would be so much! I sent cute Katie Henderson a text and asked her if she had an awesome idea of how to print this creed. She's one talented woman! And so so sweet to put it together for me!

It was pretty cool to listen and direct the discussion of how we can accomplish this! I love the ladies in our ward. So many to learn from!

2012-01-31T17:29:00.000-08:00

So Rick said "this lady that writes about Capt Bly...kind of a slacker"....He should write don't you think!

So I thought I would do a little catch up...Chris says too much writing, not enough pics...man the men in the house are full of ideas...why don't they do a blog!

Rick's Mom has had a rough 6 months or so...She fell in August and shattered her shoulder. She had a replacement put in, spent some time in the rehab center, went home, and fell again. That's all wrapped into one short story...so much more to it! So many emotions. It's no secret that Rick's family is not close. They have such a different outlook on life, and quite frankly, it's one of the saddest things I have ever witnessed throughout our marriage! How do people in the same family, from the same parents, not have a clue who each other is? Joan, his Mom has always had tunnel vision and only sees what's in her little world, whether it's good or bad...that's what exists to her. Mike sees to her needs, both financial and physical and Tommy & his family see her often and so that's who she recognizes and talks about. Very rarely does she ask about our kids, rarely can she call them by name. Chris hadn't seen her until this picture on Christmas eve since before his mission. How sad is that! Joan's care is demanding more now...she had no business living by herself over the past year. She's been over medicated! (what kind of Dr. gives an elderly woman a prescription of over 120 oxie-codeine pills?) REALLY! Anyway...when we moved her home from Rehab the first time, Mike asked me to help. I followed him while he drove her home. I helped get her settled in the apartment and I felt sick at the thought of her being there alone. She's so much like my Mom was when Mom & Dad moved into the assisted living center. So many things for her to trip over, the risk of the oven and stove, her inability to remember the every day things...I felt so uneasy. I cried all the way home. Not for her, but for me...selfish me, that I could not do this again. I cried because I hated how that made me feel! The emotional roller coaster that she has always caused Rick to ride..it's been so easy to just not be a part of it all these years. Just stay away, it's less hurtful. Now we were being held to what we know is the right thing to do...help. UGH...I just did this! I emotionally could not handle this and I had my pity party! It didn't take long, I believe a month...she fell again.. and now she was in more trouble. Her new shoulder is shattered and they cannot do anything for her. Her health is failing in so many ways. I'm seeing my Mom all over again and I don't believe Mike, who has taken over the medical care for her wants to admit that. Slowly he has come to the realization she can't live alone. She will now be in a care center. It's safer. It's more practical for everyone! It sucks...it sucks big! But what other choice do any of us have. None of us are in any position to have her in our home, besides, after what I have experienced, I don't believe that's the right thing to do in this case. Some cases yes, but not this one. Yesterday she was admitted to the hospital with internal bleeding. Today, they still don't know from where. They will do a colonoscopy tonight to see if they can see anything...she'll probably go back to the care center tomorrow. She's in Bennion Care Center. It's in the middle of reconstruction. I hope I like it better when it's done. Right now, I hate it worse than where Mom was!

T-ray is 6 years old

2012-01-22T20:56:00.000-08:00

Talan turned 6 on 1-16-2012. Seems like yesterday I had just come home from the gym to find Mick in the kitchen doing the dishes and asking me if I thought her water had broke. She was so sure they were going to send her home, so she was not about to rush and head to the hospital. The wetness down her sweats was a pure sign that this WAS the day! We were excited to meet this new little guy and felt so lucky to have them living with us during this time!

There's never a dull moment when Talan is around. He's witty and quick with a comment or action. And he's not afraid to tell you exactly how he feels. He's a real Daddy's boy...love's it when his Dad is around and showing him attention. He's a minny Brandyn through and through...looks and attitude! (Not always a bad thing Brandyn...we love ya!)

Presents for Grandkids is hard....They need another toy like a hole in the head...and well....we've already done that route with our kids. It's the parent's turn. Don't get me wrong. We LOVE buying and doing for our grandkids...it's just different. It's more stuff and I want it to be more than STUFF! So....we're trying a something different. Birthday's are about building memories with us. Making them feel special without the competition of any of the other kids.

Talan loves to dance and sing. If you catch him in the right mood, or catch him when he's not looking, he's quite the little performer. He showed us some of his moves on Christmas...did quite the little hip hop dance routine for about 5 minutes. Mick had mentioned that she wanted to put him in a Hip Hop class, but this is the middle of the year for dance studios. I was looking on line and found that the community ed was offering this class for 5-8 year olds, starting this month. So that was his gift from us. A weekly night with Grandma and Grandpa going to dinner, or a treat and then the class. So far, we have had one class. It was a rush to get there, due to hair cuts and such, and Talan said he didn't like it....the teacher is dumb, she's fat and he doesn't like the hand wave thing! (told ya he's his own person!) He told me he'd give it another chance, so last week, I tried to make it special, not rushing through dinner and stuff...then the teacher was a no show...URRR! So much for making it a better night~ He told me, "I really don't care, I just was going cause you wanted me to." SIGH...hopefully next week is better and he's won over with the dance routine! Talan has to feel comfortable with his surroundings...he'll warm up to you, if you let him do it on his own time...hopefully the teacher will show and have a good read on that, and this class can be a fun experience for him. Otherwise, the Utah Sweatshirt will have to do for the birthday gift!

2012-01-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

Spending lots of time with these sweet ladies since we were put in the Relief Society Pres in August....This is us in St George with the Visiting Teaching spread out all over the floor to re do it. MAN...what a project! What a feat we tackled but only with our Heavenly Father's help. Now bless me with patience as the sister's in our ward embrace what we .....no, the Lord has assigned them to do!

A sister asked me if I was use to my calling yet....not sure you EVER get use to this calling, but it has changed me and has humbled me in ways that are hard to describe.

Tina Rothe as Pres...or boss lady as I call her....me as the first counselor, and Jill Egbert as the 2nd, and Polly Deming as the secretary. THANK YOU for secretaries! Wow, their job is HUGE! I already have such a LOVE for each one of them...more than even before!

Blogging.....SIGH!

2012-01-09T09:41:00.000-08:00

New goal.....blog once a month...

I blog for me...kind of a history or journal of what goes on in our lives or how we're feeling at the particular time. I've always enjoyed journaling, but find it takes SOOOO much time. Frustrating!

But I have found that we enjoy looking over what the year has brought, good or bad...and we find most joy in reading other's. So PLEasE....keep up your blogging, so we can have a good read! :)

As for us....January of this year. .....

We started our New Year's with our good friends at Dan & Brenda's. Seems to be the tradition now, that they host the get together. They most certainly have the large and beautiful home to do so and they are so gracious to host it! Kelley & Paula, Bryan & Carla, Stix & Katie, Terry & Corrine, Chris & Cami, Tony & Marsha and lots and lots of good food! This has been a tradition for many years....when the kids were younger, the adults would gather at one house and the kids would destroy...I mean gather at another. Now, most the kids are spread out, doing their own thing, but occassionally they'll drop by and join us for a few. It was so fun to visit with Stix & Katie some, and get to know Chris's wife Cami. They are doing well and so happy! We are so grateful for this group of friends. You just don't find anyone better! Words just don't express the love and grateful feelings we have for being so blessed to have them in our lives! Such a special caliber of people! LuCKy us!

Tony & Marsha brought these fun, floating lanterns, just like the ones in the Disney movie Tangeled. I believe they had about 6 of them. They had used them in their ward for a Relief Society thing, and she had these left over. Olivia was there with Kelley & Paula and Stix & Katie brought their little one's. Amalia and Olivia thought they were pretty cool...actually we all did! The one that Stix lit, first headed directly towards the neighbors roof....he was running after, ready and willing to do what it takes to protect that home from fire! He said, I can see the headlines now....firefighter starts home in Draper on fire with floating lantern....we all had a great laugh at that! They were so fun to watch float up in the sky, so high, they looked like stars. I think it would be fun to have at the beach and let sail over the ocean! I hope we can join everyone at Newport soon! I miss those days! And of course....we didn't bring the camera.....AGAIN!

2012-01-09T08:54:00.000-08:00

2012

January always leaves you reflective doesn't it. This year it has me. Looking over the past

year, or few years for that matter. I have become most grateful for the family that I was raised with. Things that I was taught, things that I want to do, things I want to do different. So thankful for parents who provided me a good happy home, where I not only felt love, but safety and happiness. My siblings are all we have now. My Mom's old boss left me a message after Mom died that said..."well your an orphan now, just like me"... wasn't words of comfort like he intended. An orphan is one that is abandoned for one reason or another, I'm not abandoned. They have just gone on to a different place and I feel their presence in many ways. I found great comfort in the book called "The Message". A book describing how those who have passed on have influence in the lives of their loved ones. I sure hope so! Some days, it seems like their just on an extended trip and they'll be back soon! Wish that were true! I miss them. I miss who they were! So grateful for the plan of salvation that I KNOW they are together again and that in itself makes me happy. Dad's heart broke when Mom didn't recognize him anymore, but now, well....what ever they are doing...I'm sure they are by each other's side and holding hands! As for the 4 of us...well we have a challenge to continue those lessons taught about family. About keeping in touch and honoring that which we were given.

Pays...

2011-10-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

9 years ago today...this little...okay...not so little guy anymore ...entered our world. He opened up a new part of our heart that we didn't know existed...and we haven't been the same ever since! There is nothing that will light up our heart or our eyes more than this little generation that he heads...We're blessed beyond measure to have such a close relationship with Pdawg. It's a joy to play with him...even when we're feeling our age or to snuggle at sleep overs and watch movies! It's so fun to watch him excel in all the sports he loves..he truly is a natural athlete and shines at all he does! He's a tender big brother, who helps watch out for the little ones. He's especially a watch tower for his little sis! It's an honor that he wants us to play and experience all the joys of boyhood with him! We hope your 9th year is an awesome one! We love you to the Moon & Back a zillion times and more! Happy Birthday Paysers! Thanks for joining our family tree and being the first to call us Gramma & Grampa!

Together Again..or "Gone Home"....

2011-09-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

This morning I took Brent & Linda to breakfast and then to the airport...the last of our family to leave from the week of celebrating and honoring our Mom, and of course that included our Dad...they go hand in hand-you really can't honor or speak of one of them, without including the other! My mind is swimming with so many thoughts and emotions that I don't know where to begin...

I'm sad today! Not for my Mom...she's happy and celebrating the reunion with my Dad, her sweetheart, or her "Honey" as they always called one another! I'm sad because...she's gone. They are both gone! I'm sad for me, selfish reasons! I'm sad, because my parents have now became part of the generations that we have looked at in pictures now, because that is all that is left! I can say to you that I truly HATE the disease Dementia...or Alzheimer's. That ugly disease may have robbed me of my Mom for the past 12-15 years...but it did not take away who my Mom was in the end...she left an amazing legacy and love of family. I'm honored to be such a part of her family! I'm honored to be called George & Nona's daughter...and yes, I'm honored to be "their baby"! That phrase use to annoy me...I'm not a baby I would say...but I was THEIR baby...and I'm honored to say that now~

We gathered as an entire family with siblings gathering and supporting and sustaining one another. We have been gathered for the past few years, even through many miles in the support of one another in the care taking. It WAS hard, but it was an honor and I wouldn't trade those days for anything. I still ask myself if I did enough...I should have gone to visit more! But you know what...I hear a soft whisper that I did do enough, that they noticed and appreciated all.

I felt pulled to the cemetery today, all alone, wanting to go by myself. I need this for closure. I need to see the grave covered. Don't ask why, I have no idea! I went...I cried..and sat and listened to the life around that quaint little town. Heard the birds and the small city feeling that is there on that block. I know why they chose that burial. It felt like home to Mom. I felt Mom & Dad near by...I felt their soft whisper of comfort and reply to me to "get on with it"...stop fussin~they were happy! Almost felt like saying out loud, "Okay already!"

I'll get on with it alright, but I need a day or two to cry a bit. I'm told that is healthy!

summer time means lots of back yard fun!

2011-07-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

whether it's on the grass on in the water...we LOVE the summer time. Payson cannot get enough of the kick ball and baseball. He keeps us jumping and playing hard! Love it!

2011-07-26T21:17:00.000-07:00

We're pretty sure we have the cutest Grandkids on the planet! We feel so blessed that each one of our family is such a part of our lives, right here so close to us. We can have Gramma & Grampa time pretty much ANYTIME we want. They just make our heart smile...as do our kids, but these 5...well, they are just a bonus!

2011-07-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

Taylorsville Days are always fun around our area. We had the boys over for a sleep over and we went to the fireworks over at the park. Kallie was not a fan at all...laid under a blanket curled into Chris the whole show. Talan was afraid they would fall on him, but when he relaxed, he thought they were cool!

I'm TWWOOO!~~ and I'm in charge! just ask me!

2011-07-26T21:03:00.000-07:00

Preslie turned 2 on 6-18-2011. She's such a little girl, but LOVES to keep up with her brothers in any way she can. My boooys she calls them. Where's my booys...We celebrated at the splash park with pizza and cake. We had a mean game of kick ball and everyone joined in. Preslie played some, but was more interested in the splash park and Brandyn's dad took care of that with her! I love watching her little personality come alive. She's a Momma's girl, a Daddy's girl, and even a Grandma's girl. Can't deny that I just love that! She looks like Rick don't ya think! She makes me smile!

2011-07-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Payson & Talan were both in baseball this spring. Mick & Brandyn pretty much spent their months of April through June at the basefield diamonds between the two boys. They both love it, and excel at it as well. Payson's team even won the championship. That was a fun game to be at. Not sure who was most excited, Mick or Pays...We love supporting the kids at any event they participate in!

2011-07-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

Mindee got married to Kerry Baum on 6-8-2011. What a lucky man he is! We love our Mindee! She has always been such a sparkle of delight when she walks into the room. She just makes you smile and we're happy she has found happiness again! They live in Holladay near us for a change. Kerry begain his medical residency on 6-13-2011. He'll be busy at the hospital 6 days a week...it will be a tough road for them for a while, but oh...so worth it! We need some Mindee time!

2011-07-26T20:48:00.001-07:00

Rick & I bought some bikes...a little gift from my Dad let's say. We bought them June 3rd and rode down the Jordan Pathway to Gardner Village. We stopped at the candy store and had a treat and headed back. My legs weren't as tired as my behind. I believe we will need to invest in some better seats...ouch! Tonight I begged to go for another ride. We left later, about 8ish...not a good plan. I had a whole meal of bugs. We'll have to remember the bug spray if we go that late again, and hope that the city sprays along that river as well. The water is high and we wondered if the trail would be closed. It wasn't up to 6400 South, but we didn't go much past that tonight. After helping a fallen rider, I decided I had enough of the bug meal! Rick was just along for the ride, to accompany me. He's such a good patient man...

2011-07-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

Mickie planned a barbecue for a double date with Chris & Jessie and Jessie's sister (Brett & Jennilyn Wright)...So...that's what they did Monday Memorial Day night. Shawn & Ang had plans with her family so Rick & I were at home. I decided I better go see Mom. I missed Sunday. Rick didn't really want to go, and that's okay. Sometimes, I would rather go alone...only sometimes! I decided while I was out, I would head to the cemetery. I had planted a pot for Dad's and I haven't been to my Grandparent's for quite sometime, so I did the tour. Went to Dad's, Steven's, and Grandma & Grandpa's, then called Rick and told him I was picking him up to go to his Sister's grave. It's such a solemn visit, not sure how I feel about it. Mick kept asking me when I was going and I kept putting it off...haven't really made it a habit to visit...their not there. But it's a sacred place and I feel that when I'm there. I think I will make it a yearly thing now. Include the family if they want to come. I actually visited at Dad's, without a tear for the first time. Sadness, and longing for his presence, but knowing he's without pain now and that's good! And wondering....wondering when Mom will be able to join him. I wonder if he know's that plan or if he's in the dark as much as we are! Mom told me on May 1st that she was leaving in a month...I guess she changed her mind!

SUMMMEERRRR!

2011-07-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

My favorite time of year...didn't think it would EVER arrive, but it has and I love the heat and the sun and the activities. Just not enough time in the day or days off to do all we want!

Memorial Day weekend generally kicks the summer time off...rained, snowed, and even showed a little bit of sunshine that weekend....but we tried to enjoy it in spite of the indecisive weather.

Saturday night, I surprised Rick with Real Salt Lake Tickets...it was suppose to be stormy, and neither of us were excited about it, but the tickets were bought so we sucked it up. It wasn't too bad, but we're bad luck. They lost and gave up their winning streak. We left jsut before the 85th minute, cause the rain had really opened up. My shield neighbors that were sitting next to me left at half time, so now I was wetter and colder. Rick had enough. He said, let's leave at the 85th minute, and about that time, the Seattle Sounders scored again. It was now 2-0...sorry Real...no loyalty at this point...we're out of there! Real did score while we were running to our car, but still a loss. Chris said we're bad luck...whatever. I would like to go again, but when it's warm!

One Sunday night, we had our family over for dinner. Payson had a school project to make something to sell at school...so his parents suggested jump ropes....it became a family project! Turned out pretty good if you ask me! They were a hit at school too! Jessie, a good friend of Chris's joined us and treated us with a song with the guitar. The kids really dug this! Especially Talan who is going to be a "Rockstar"...she showed them how to strum and make it sound different ways. Pretty brave for a young woman to come and sing to a family she barely knows. It was cute and tender. We really like her!

Monday, we decided to hit the zoo....weather would not stop us! We saw it all....snow, rain, then even some sun! I bought a zoo pass for Christmas, but a little disappointed as it's under a lot of construction. Kids didn't seem to mind though...Hopefully we can use it a few times to make it all worth it!

Mother's Day

2011-05-18T20:19:00.000-07:00

Mother's day is a fun day. Getting pampered by the kids and Rick, making me feel more special than usual. Getting waited on for dinner, but just being together as a family is the best part! I love hanging with each of them. The weather did not hold for a barbecue, so Rick baked the chicken and we ate inside. That's a bit crowded and crazy these days, but it's fun. The boys especially need some room to run, throw and kick balls~ Indoors is just more than they can handle at their age! We look so forward to enjoying the good ol back yard again, that is if it EVER stops raining!

The morning started with a visit to see Mom. Found myself being sad, missing my Dad, wishing I was picking him up to see Mom for the day. Some Sundays are just hard and this one was kind of like that. Missing so much of what we use to have with Mom & Dad, even extended family. Found myself kind of melanchonly. (is that the right word?) anyways...I took Mom a couple of t shirts and some sweat pants. She's so hard on clothes, and the fact that I'm pretty sure they bleach about everything there! She was in her bed when I got there. I was bugged. The ward came by with a carnation, offered one to me to give her, saying, I don't know if she even understands....no, but thank you for the gesture and took one to add to her vase! She was wide awake, just playing with the cords above her bed. Her alarm was not on her, and she was just clueless of the fact that I was there. It was hard to sit there this day, but I did. Watched a little TV. The ward came by to offer the sacrament....Mom was not into this week. She kept fiddling with the cords so much that she would unplug them, one being the nurse call button. I would just plug it back in and try to distract her, but she wasn't interested or even aware of me. The aide came in to answer the call...she said "did you want to take your Mom somewhere fun?" Really....do you REALLY know my Mom and her condition....you can't take her anywhere! That annoyed me. No I said, just don't like her in her room when she's wide awake like this, Mom has always enjoyed being around the people. She told me she thought Mom would be more comfortable in her bed than that nasty chair...I didn't even respond. Just asked that the get her up and ready for lunch. SIGH! She had another aide assist with the change of her nasty clothes, breakfast was all over her. Then they put her in her chair. I sat for a few more moments, took her picture, and told her I had to go to my church. Kissed her on the forehead and she grabbed my hand and told me I looked beautiful! Thank you Mom for that sweet gift.

After church the kids were here when I arrived. It was a nice visit. My sweet gift was a gift card to Macy's for new clothes. Excited~ who doesn't love a new wardrobe in the spring time! Now if it will only get warm enough to wear them! We didn't take any pictures of the family gathered. We veged on the couch mostly or wherever we were planted. I need to be better at more picture taking!

I feel pretty honored to be a daughter, a wife, a mother and gramma, connected to such wonderful people that I call family! I watch each one of them and am in awe of who they have each become, each handling their own lives and trials. We are so lucky in our family to be close and it's my prayer always that we will continue to be so! I feel blessed to call each one of them my friend! I worry that I was the best Mom that I could be, wishing I could do some things over. But mostly grateful for the time I was allowed to be home with them. That meant so much to me, probably more to me than them! Times that I will never get back! And loving the times we share with them each now! Thanks for the honor!

2011-05-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday May 3rd...I was tanning and noticed a lump on my right breast. Rubbed across it to scratch...and there it was. So prominent and huge. Scared me to death. It clearly wasn't a part of the implant so I knew I needed to have it looked at. Promptly went home and called IMC to schedule a mammogram, as it had been 2 years since my first one. I officially hate them. They really are more than uncomfortable! They in reality hurt like a ...well...they hurt like hell to be honest. No other way to describe them. To save on the dirty details...they just HURT pulling and pushing and mashing! ~. Anyway...when I called IMC to schedule, they asked if I had any problems? I told them of the lump and they told me to call my Dr so they could do a diagnostic mammogram. Of course it was surgery day and Dr Roth wasn't in the office, but I called anyway to see if Stephanie was in the office. She wasn't either, but when the receptionist asked me what was up, I told her, and she had another nurse call me back right away. She asked where I wanted it done and faxed the order over right away. Wow...that's service. I took the first available appointment on Friday May 6th. Rick overheard me making the appointment, I tried to be matter of fact about it, but that's not fair and I told him about it. We didn't speak about it much during the week, if I didn't say it out loud, then it wouldn't be bad right! I was scared! All of a sudden more advertisements about breast cancer, seeing a lady without hair due to chemo-advertisements and bulletins about breast cancer were more prevalent EVERYWHERE! Throughout the past couple of years taking care of my parents, I've said, "I'm not afraid of dieing, just the journey that will get me there!".....okay...that's a lie. I'm afraid, very afraid! More afraid of what I would leave behind!

My appointment was at 11 am, so I worked half day. By this time, my stomach was a mess! So jittery! When I arrived and they had me undress and directed me to the exam room, she marked the spot with a sticker so she could be sure to get exactly the right picture. She told me again that I would have results the same day and then I got all emotional. Or I should say, the emotional flood gate opened up. I fought it hard, but wow...it became obvious how scared I really was! They had told me when I scheduled the appointment that they would schedule an ultrasound, just in case they needed it. The mammogram itself was hell..It hurt so much. The lump is very sensitive and sore, so pulling and pressing and mashing it was no fun at all. Normally it's not fun anyway...but with this..well, I got sick, light headed, felt faint and nauseated. Took twice as long cause I'm such a wimp! The tech had to get someone to come help cause I was such a treat! I was so embarrassed! Of course they had to take extra pictures and I thought it would NEVER end! Then there was a little knock on the door and they introduced me to the ultrasound tech and said, "Mrs Blymiller, we're going to take some other pictures to be sure and this is who will take it from here." I wanted to cry at this point. Of course expecting the worst! The ultra sound was so quick and painless. Too bad they can't check the lumps this way without the fun mashing machine! They quickly pulled it up on the screen and a Dr came right in and told me that's what he thought he would see, "just a cyst, normal for "women of my age"...oh how I have learned to hate that answer!...but this time it was really a relief. I cried! He said I had several and asked if my breast were tender...ummmm YES! That's why. This is caused by high hormones and very very common. This one looks like it's on it's way out, so he just said to give it a week or so. If it continues to be bothersome, they can inject them and release the fluids. No thanks. I went directly to my car and cried from relief! Then I called Rick & Mick. Mickie had texted me earlier while I was at work to see if I wanted her to go with me. Although I wouldn't have wanted to be alone getting bad news, I did not want someone waiting and waiting while I went through the exam. If she or Rick were there during the exam, I think I would have been even more emotional. I kept it in check and I don't think I could have with her or anyone I cared about looking in on me! So grateful it's just a cyst, and so grateful I don't have an awful uphill batttle to fight! So grateful for my good health! Put's things in perspective! Doesn't really matter that I don't have much of a savings account! I have my health and my family! That's what is most important!

Happy Birthday Mick & Kal

2011-04-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

For the family Birthday Party, Chris wanted to have a HUGE bounce house party for his Princess girl-Kal. Mick was all for it too. Looks like they may be sharing birthday celebrations for years to come! Since the weather wasn't cooperating...we had to move it to the church...worked out best that way I think. We played a friendly game of kick ball when we first got there, ate some yummy food, and the kids played until they were simply worn out. Chris invited his good friends, and Mick invited some of her friends with little ones to enjoy the bounce house with us! It was a fun day! Rick & I have always enjoyed our kids friends. We love it when they come join us! The Girls were spoiled with many gifts, but the best part is enjoying the good company with those people we love!

2011-04-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

Our Mick turned 29 today...Wow...how'd that happen! Seems just like a few years ago that she was beboppin around the house, being the little helper and mothering her little brothers...now she's mothering her own 4! She's such a great Mom and daughter and friend! We feel so blessed to have the relationship that we have with her.

We both LOVE Good things Utah...a morning talk show on each week day. I watch it on my day's off and she'll tell me about stuff that's been on when I'm at work, so I thought it would be fun to go to the show for her Birthday. I talked to Ang several weeks ahead of time so she could schedule some time with her busy school schedule and we surprised Mick with what we were doing. We even had a short flash of fame on TV as they panned the audience and wished Mick a happy birthday! It was a fun day together. We each won a silly little drawing they had and it was fun to just be together for the day. We went to lunch after at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building at "The Garden Room". I was hoping for warm weather so we could walk around a bit up town and enjoy the beautiful gardens..but dang this Utah weather...we're all over it! I didn't want to push my luck with Brandyn having all 4 kids for TOO LONG...so we ended it after Lunch. I could have gone all day, but life goes on and things need to get done! I still hadn't shopped for Mick's birthday gift and the family party was the next day. AHHH.....sometimes, there is just not enough hours in the day! Thanks for the fun day girls. We need to do this more often!

2011-04-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

Each year the Saturday before Easter, My Aunt Joy & Uncle Frank have hosted an Easter Egg hunt for as long as I can remember. I remember long ago as a child going to their Brad's Cafe uptown, where the train would run by it...and they would throw chalk to all us kids-then to the Cafe in Salt Lake, where I worked a day or two. We had so many family activities at that place and it was a favorite place to eat! ...Anyways...this has been a family tradition for so many years. After they retired from the Cafe, they began doing it at their home in their & their neighbors back yard. She always cooks a wonderful ham or two or three, and it's pot luck to go with it! It's fun to take my kids & grandkids to something that I have enjoyed all my life! She colors 30 or so dozen real eggs and writes a prize or a small money token amount on some. I'll forever remember Cecil and Henry handing out the coins...prizes really didn't come into play until my kids were little. The crowd has changed...all of us cousins now grown with our own grandkids...and yes, we're the old folks now. The old generation is no longer with us. Aunt Joy is the only one on that side I believe. All my favorite childhood memories consist of being with that family in one activity or another..camping being my all time favorite! There wasn't a holiday that went by that we didn't gather in one way or another...winter time it seemed to be at Aunt Joy's house, summer time, it was a picnic in Logan to celebrate Memorial Day, camping over the 4th of July in Ogden Canyon and the best was every August going to the Grey River in Wyoming. And many more in between! Oh how I miss those days! So carefree and so much love and fun that surrounded us! I feel so blessed to be a part of those days and so grateful that my parents provided me the opportunity to be a part of that. So grateful that Uncle Frank's side of the family accepted my family in as part of their own! Each party or activity took a lot of work. So much unnoticed and taken for granted in my youth! I was surprised at the emotions this years simple Easter celebration brought on ...looking around and seeing how many of those great people are missing from the picture now, really made me miss my Dad again and the other's too! Surprising how those emotions come out of nowhere! I had such a wonderful childhood! Protected and loved by so many. Given opportunities that don't just come to everyone! The simple acts of family love that were taught to me not only by my family, but extended family that would do anything for you! Thank you Aunt Joy! And to Uncle Frank as well! I miss you too! This Easter season, I'm especially thankful that I will see you all again, that this is not it!

dying our hands..I mean the eggs...

2011-04-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

Easter can't begin until the "coloring" of the eggs! Mick had us over Wednesday night to color eggs. The kids always LOVE this tradition. Preslie began by slurping up a big gulp of the orange. ...hey why not? It looks just like kool aid! Shawn joined us after the eggs were done to watch a little bit of the soccer game, but Ang was being a studying fool...that's why she Aced the test! We missed ya, but glad you did so well!

OUCH!

2011-04-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

Just got on the tread mill at the gym....got a call..."Mom...I was just in an accident...my head's bleeding pretty bad".. you know..those calls that you just dread getting. He was just down the street and he was okay...other than the gash on his head. His car....not so much! He looked down at his stereo for just a sec...ran a red light....and bam....hit not just one car, but two. He's frustrated and says it is the worst timing...we reminded him it could have been so much worse. Kallie was not with him! Blessing number one! No one was taken to the hospital from the scene of the accident. Blessing number 2. Just property damage. Lives affected, but not changed forever! He's here with us at our place, no real bills, going to school.. Just a little bump in the road, a hurdle to get over. Just jump and roll with it....it's all part of the dance! He said, "there goes Hawaii"...he leaves in 3 days. Why? we asked...the trip is paid for....it won't change anything if you stay here. One of life's hard lessons we all have to learn. Just thankful he and everyone else walked away for this lesson! We're blessed and grateful he's really okay. He thinks this makes him look tough...what do you think?

Mom

2011-04-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

Today, between conferences, Rick & I took off to visit with Mom. Just in time for lunch. Looks like she's ready eh? She actually did wake up and allowed me to feed her the "yummy" pureed selection of beans, mashed potatoes and turkey and tapioca. She ate every bite! They say she eats like a champ like that most meals....but she's still loosing weight! Her body just can't absorb the nutrients any more. (Both Linda & I could not stand meal time for so long....Mom would play in her food like a small child...now we find it a service to feed Mom---interesting how things turn!) She was alert, although you can't tell from this picture and interacted with me throughout the meal. She took my hand several times, just to hold it and even looked at me. I guess you can call today a good day! Lyndsey's report says that she had a few good day, and a few not so good this past week. Tuesday or Wednesday, she said Mom's breathing was shallow, labored and she was non responsive, felt like she was on her last hours..days...but then she came back the following day and she's back to her "normal" self. She continues to surprise her each week! I spoke with Lyndsey a little bit about the suctioning of Mom...wondering if this is something we should be doing. Is this her way of going and they just won't allow her to. When I spoke with Marlene her aide last week, she described to me how awful it was in the dining room with her one of those times. How Mom went white and Dale basically brought her back. Lyndsey states, her heart would have stopped and she would have peacefully gone- maybe....I question why Dale choose to "bring her back".....I asked Lyndsey to make sure he was on the same page as we are....let her go home! Of course I don't want her to gurgle and suffer, but if she's just simply not breathing...it's okay. She's ready to go! I love my Mom and miss her terribly....and feel like a heartless daughter when I have those conversations with the nurse...but honestly....I don't want them fighting to keep her here. Her spirit is locked in a shell of a body that use to be my Mom.....

2011-03-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

We had the boys sleep over on Friday. Mick texted me about the time I was getting off work and asked if all the kids could sleep over...I thought she was kidding! But she wasn't and I actually told her no, that I wasn't up to that. Preslie and Hayden still don't sleep through the night. I was soooo ready for a good night sleep and the sleep in without an alarm! The boys slept til 9am..thanks boys! That was awesome! We didn't do much...weather still too cold. They brought their ramp and they played outside with the bikes, scooter and skateboards till it was just too plain cold. Then we had rootbeer floats and watched Dennis the Menace. Talan didn't like it...the scarry man "creeps me out gramma!"....like he's going to jump right out of the movie! Saturday they went to Shawn and Chris soccer game with Grampa while I spend some time with Karen & Dale. Shawn & Ang came over for dinner and to watch 4 hours of soccer....but no luck with the Real game being on TV, so just 2 hours. Ang played the beautician she is and braided Payson's hair into cornrolls....he was tough, cause that hurts. And of course Talan couldn't be left out. Ang did him a due too! Ang will be a great Mom someday, but today's she's an awesome Aunt! She's always doing fun things to Kallie's hair! It wasn't a real exciting weekend, just a quiet one spent with family. That's the best though isn't it! I treasure all those times, whether it's a sleep over or just a few hours of chillaxin as the kids call it!

Visit from Sis...

2011-03-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

Karen & Dale came into town to work on getting a business off the ground. Saturday they stopped by so we could go see Mom together. Mom's continuing to deteriorate....Dale, the daytime nurse at Crossland told Linda on Friday that he gives Mom about 3 weeks.... why 3...I don't know....don't know what to think about any of it, but I do know that each time I see her, there's a change. Since Christmas she has lost the ability to feed herself. It's as if she doesn't understand the concept of taking the food to her mouth. If handed the cup, she will basically just throw it all over you, or swat you with it, so we're sure to keep it out of her reach as we feed her. They feed her pureed food from a cup and have to remind her to swallow. Honestly...this makes me crazy. Why do we do this...is it really humane...or is it the body trying to say, enough already...I'm done! They don't force feed her, she will open her mouth and partake...I guess when she doesn't do that we'll stop...I guess! There will be no feeding tubes. They have had to suction her 3 times this past week. Dale says it's because she forgets to swallow and allows her own saliva to build up, then she chokes on it, kind of like drowning. EEWWEE! I stopped by on Friday on my way home from work. The hospice aide just arrived to sponge bathe her. I told her to go ahead with her duty and I watched. Something I could have done without! I saw her bare feet for the first time in a long while...her toe nails were like long fingernails, and yellow and her feet are discolored...the best way to describe them...like they were dead! The nurse says this is another sign of end of life, the body's blood circulation works toward the center of the body instead of the extremities. She has two open sores on her bottom that the aide showed me as well...another sight I could have down without. I asked for it....but man...the way the body deteriorates...another EWEEE! Mom doesn't look at us much, and when she does, she really isn't looking at us...seeing right past us. Wish I could see what she sees! I ask myself daily...what am I learning from this besides the fact that I'm not in charge and it's all about the Lord's time, not mine! It's not fair and it makes me so sad to see her locked in this shell that only resembles a little bit of who she was! I try to show her that I love her, in spite of the fact that she's gone.....but honestly...this disease makes me mad! Why does she hang on so and Nathan has to go!

I hope Cancer gets Cancer and dies!

2011-03-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

Update of Nathan...

Cancer has spread too far to remove...family has asked for privacy as they each try to adjust and swallow one of their most loved ones mortality. SIGH! My heart is so sad today! He is too strong and too young for this!

friends...

2011-03-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for a specific picture that was taken of our good friends at one of our kids wedding. I can't find it...urrr! makes me so mad. I can picture exactly the one I'm thinking about and it's no where to be found!

Yesterday, I received a text from Mick...Mom- Natalie Pili has posted on facebook that her Dad, Nathan has pancreatic cancer...oh how my stomach just fell! That can't be! We're all young and kipper...you know...untouchable! That only happens to those that we don't know! I tried to call Julie when I got home and all I got was her voice mail. She was either busy..or just overwhelmed with what life had just dealt her. After I finished dinner, I told Rick, we need to go over there. Just the past couple of weeks I had really been thinking about them...not a worry or anything like that...just hey, I wonder how our friends the Pili's are doing, haven't seen them in awhile! Now I know why, and now I know that I need to listen to even those little whisperings!

Rick & I were nervous to head over there...really what do you say, other than hey, we love ya! Be tough and we're right here for you! That's enough isn't it, just to know your friends and loved one's are rallying around to pray and hope for you during one of the toughest battles you will ever fight! I'm so glad we did. Nathan was by himself while Julie was with Taylor for a bit. It gave Rick & Nathan more of a chance to visit and bond again as the close friends they have always been. He was his usual tough guy at first, I'm fine, he said, and showed us his manual of what is happening to his body. Rick asked him how Julie was holding up....he bowed his head and cried, couldn't speak..said, she's struggling! Can you imagine! We all cried! We said, hey..it's okay to cry cause Cancer sucks..this sucks! But we're here! Please please please call on us to help you fight this fight! Whatever it takes! So pray for our friends! For Nathan to beat this, for Julie to hold up the fort while they all fight this. For their adult kids, who have a hard time imagining their big tough dad, who is untouchable and so strong, be beaten down by such a wicked and mean disease. He is having surgery on Thursday...the odds look good for him..best Dr in the nation is his!

Makes you look at your own mortality...reminds us of how easy and fast life can take a turn for a direction you did not plan. Makes you really stop and look at your own inner circle of family and blessings! How I fear facing these types of things...this is too close to home!~

Mom

2011-03-22T17:25:00.000-07:00

this is Mom from Sunday to Sunday this past week. She's slowing deteriorating, but strong as ever and we don't know why.Lyndsey says her last weight was 88 lbs. Some how she feels a need to stick around. I took her to church at their little branch on Sunday. She was not quiet by any means...not even close to being reverent. I don't expect her to really, but this week, well it was almost embarrassing...she was loud and was full of mumbles and attitude! I did make out (very clearly I might add) "I'm going to slap you silly!" I know Mom...go ahead if you need to! I would just rub her hand and her arm in hopes she would relax a bit and quiet down. Guess what the speaker spoke on....Patience! I'm pretty sure it wasn't a lesson meant for Mom! Alright already...I get it...just don't want to! Today, Lyndsey called me to tell me she had tried to wake her to visit and exam her. Mom would not even wake up for her. 2nd time she has done that! She feels like this is another sign of the decline, one day real strong, the next day she needs more sleep. Her vitals remain strong..I just don't get it! Linda asks me about a funeral...do we have to do the whole funeral thing, or maybe just a family gathering. All either of us can come up with is our famous phrase of "I don't know!" She asked me to work on a obituary...just can't put my heart into it...I work better under pressure...like a dead line for the paper! UGH! Many have commented how beautiful Dad's was....we had to cut and edit it so much because of what I had was over $1000....I hate all this! What really are we suppose to be learning here...what and who's lesson is this!

2011-03-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

Today was Gramma day for the little ones! Mick & Brandyn went to Brandyn's Grandpa's funeral and took Payson & Talan, but they figured the little ones would be too hard. I was happy to help. We just had a chillaxin day as the kids call it. Just hung at home cause the weather was kind of crappy. Spring is trying to come, but not fast enough! We have a zoo pass to put to use, come on with it already! Kallie and Preslie play pretty well together, but at the stage they have to have what the other one has. They are learning how to share, especially how to share Gramma. Hayden is growing so fast. He's rolling all over the place now. That in itself has made him so much happier. He would just roll from one side of the family room to the other today, over the top of legos, just looking at me, like umm...that doesn't feel very good, but wouldn't cry unless the couch was in his way. When he smiles, his whole body smiles-just can't seem to catch it on camera, the little stink! Preslie was pretty much attached to my leg the whole day. Kallie & Hayden took a long nap and Preslie had me all to her self for a while. She was a happy camper about that and would not let me do any chore around the house, only if she was part of it! Tried to get her to nap with Beauty & the Beast, but no go...but we had fun playing blocks, combing my hair, feeding her baby and reading books. She LOVES the photo books that Mick has given us for the past two Christmas. Mick & Brandyn came by later after they were all done with Brandyn's family stuff. All the kids played outside with Grandma for a few. Pays beat me at basketball by 2, we played duck duck goose on the tramp with the little ones, and then it was time to go! It felt good to be outside in the sunshine even if it was for a short time. I love playing with all the kids! Feel especially blessed to have one of them right here under our roof. I've even become special to her now...for a while, I was just not cool to her! But now we're buddies!

2011-03-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

Mom continues to be strong and remains the same...other than I believe she gets smaller by the month. Last weigh in she was 93 lbs. I'm willing to bet she's below that now. I had not seen her for quite some time. Right after my surgery I became sick with such a cough that I did not want to take that to her. Even though the Dr. stated I wasn't contagious, it seemed as if the whole valley had this cough and I did not want to be the one to bring it to her. Besides, for the most part I just didn't feel well! It's hard enough going there, let alone when your not feeling good! So anyways...when Rick & I went to see her a week ago, for the first time in several weeks, I was surprised at how skinny she had become. Each time wondering how on earth she can loose more weight. When she lying down, it's the worst. You wonder how on earth there are even any organs inside her. You can see her skin just wrap around her skeleton! She mumbles alot, some words are words, but none of them are put together in any kind of a sentence, but then she'll bust out a sentence, like "George, where are you, I've been calling you.....and then ramble some more like she's talking to someone. Or she'll sing. It's mostly a mixture of different hymns. That Friday, we went after we had dinner at a nearby restaurant, so it was about 7ish... I was hating it more than ever. Makes me so sad that she is how she is, so unlike my Mom. But when I started to leave, she patted my hand and told me she was okay. "I'm okay, I'm okay..." just like she knew that my heart was breaking inside to watch her decay like this!

Thursday, on my way home from work I received a call from Dale, her daytime nurse to tell my that Mom had asperated. Okay..what does that mean really? He explained that he had gone in to check on her in bed and found that she has aperated and had to suction her out. She was now resting comfortably with oxygen and he had notified hospice. After I picked up Kallie I decided to stop by and check on her. She was sound asleep in bed, propped up at a 30 degree angle, which is basically sitting straight up, her head just kind of bobbling down. Looked so uncomfortable. I asked if that was necessary and they explained it will help her to breath and get the junk out of her system. I held her hand and tried to get her to wake up a little, but no going....pretty normal for her naps. I didn't stay long. I did go to the head nurse Shawn and asked him to explain in normal terms what all this means and he just said that she basically choked on her own fluids, that you can hear that in their lungs immediately and now we would watch for the phenomia. He then said you will need to make the decision if we will treat it with antibiotics and I stopped him right there stating we have already made that decision and will not. Then he reassured me that it would be a peaceful way to go...really...Dad's wasn't so peaceful-but probably because he had so many other ailments! But anyway...that's the plan if it happens. Lyndsey, our hospice nurse called me on Friday and explained to me that Mom was doing great, her oxygen was over 95% and she is same as ever. She never ceases to amaze any of us! Mom is just not ready to go! I asked if the phenomia would hit that quickly and she said mostly yes, but it could take a few days and that she would watch her closely over the weekend. She left instructions to check her lungs daily. I went in on Sunday and asked the nurse if she had checked her lungs and she had no idea of what I was talking about. Yea, that's a surprise....not! I expected to hear from Dale today, but I didn't. I probably should have called, but I had the kids today and just didn't think about it until his shift was over. I'll call tomorrow. Yesterday, I found her in her room about 1030 am. I tried to get there in time for church, but I was too late. Could have made it a little bit late, but she still had breakfast all over her and needed to be cleaned up so I just took care of that for her. They have a big bib made out of a large towel that goes over her head that was covered in juice and egg. Aide no where around...Rick just laughs and says they saw me coming! I didn't even get mad this time, doesn't do any good. I just cleaned her up myself. I believe I'm the only one who cleans her wheel chair. She's a messy eater, so I just don't get why they don't make it part of the duty as they take care of her, it would be so simple...but apparently not! She gets so mad when you try to change her, clean her up or make any changes. She really fights you. She's real strong! When she grabs you, she holds on for dear life. I had the nurse come in and check her lungs because she was coughing and sounds congested. She could hear the congestion in her upper bronchial, but not in her lungs. We'll see how that goes. I can't get Mom to smile very often, especially when I pull the camera out. She looks at it as such a foreign object. Probably hates the flash! But I kissed her on the cheek and she just laughed and that's how I got this giggle! She thought I was pretty funny! I miss my Mom!

2011-03-06T15:39:00.000-08:00

Disneyland was a blast! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this tradition. Each grandchild that turns 5 gets to go with Gramma and Grammpa...if their parent's want to come, they can...but the trip is for the 5 year old and gramps and gramma! Talan was so excited and SOOOOO patient to wait for Gramma to feel better after surgery! Mick & Brandyn really couldn't swing it with the little ones. They could have, but the trip would have been so hard with babies, they didn't come. We missed them, but the weather was so that they would have been MISERABLE, so it's good they stayed home.

We left right after work on Wednesday, Feb 16. Of course the weather had started up and we had quite a head wind to fight all the way through! In fact, the weather was not a favorite part of the trip, but we still had fun! We drove to Buffalo Bills, in Primm Nevada, just outside of Vegas. We arrived about 11 pm...dead tired! We got to our room, got jammies on and we were out! All of us real tired. The boys were so good, but asking about Fillmore, when are we going to be there??? Thank heavens for DVD players! My favorite part of this stop...Talan first thing in the morning about 6 am...."cock a doodle doo....cockle a doodle doo....! I just started to giggle and he said, "what?" that wasn't me....it's time to get up, didn't you hear that!" Do you think he was excited!

After breakfast at Denny's, we headed on our way. Disneyland here we come! I had purchased little toys to pass the time. Every hour or so, I would pop out with a new toy for them to play with. They had coloring books with markers, legos, a car that flashed that they could decorate with stickers, play dough. Those surprises were fun! Poor Payson was complaining of his ears hurting...the feeling of they won't pop like when your in the Mountains. We all had colds and I kept telling him I know, mine hurt too, just keep stretching your mouth in a yawn! By the time we arrived, he was really hurting and trying not to complain. We bought him some Advil and that seemed to help. We arrived at the Castle Inn about 2 PM. I had originally planned on having a low key day, swim, just relax and hit Disneyland the next 3 days, but the weather report was ugly so we decided to start right away while the sun shined! First ride was the Matterhorn. Payson had told Talan that was one of his favorite rides, so they decided that would be our first ride. Good choice, the line wasn't long at all-the rest of the week it was! We had a dinner reservation at Goofy's kitchen for Talan's birthday dinner at 5 PM so we had some time to get a few rides in. After that, we headed to Toone town and took on Roger Rabbit's ride, cause no line out the door. Very misleading though...line there was probably one of our longest of the weekend, but the kids had fun playing on the props! Soon it was time to head to Disneyland Hotel for dinner...on the OTHER side of Disneyland of course. We jumped on the Monorail where it drops you almost to the front door of the hotel. That was awesome! Have to remember that for next time! Saved us from some tired legs! The dinner was fun, not as many characters as before. Wonder if that is part of the economy, or just the time of year we went. When we took Payson, so many characters were part of that dinner, but this time only a few. Talan still at the age where he LOVES them, but is particular of who he likes. He was polite when the Princess's came by, but really didn't care if they signed his book or not. Would really rather they not! But he LOVES Pluto and Goofy & Mickey! He whispers to me..."Pluto's legs kind of feel like human legs!" And another time, asks me why they don't talk, cause they do on TV! Would love to get in the head of a child again! Wonder what all those little thoughts are! Payson loves some of the characters as well, but being 8, well, he's even more specific of who he likes and has to remain cool when having them sign and pose for pictures. My favorite is when he's with one of the chipmunks and he's making a silly sign with his hand to make it look like he has a beard. He thought that was pretty funny! Each of the boys had money to spend. Their parent's sent $200 to help with food and spending. The ONLY thing Payson really wanted was the Chipmunk hat and to be sure to take something home for Preslie and Hayden. I thought that was cute! Talan had his heart set on a shirt with a skeleton pirate on it..."you know Gramma, the one with X's on it" as he crosses his tummy to describe what it should look like. He bought a hat, a shirt and they both picked out a keychain for Mickie and they were good. They didn't hound us or beg and cry to shop for anything else. They were so good and pleasant to be with. Such a fun memory. Both so happy all the time, even though they weren't feeling the best! Talan had a sinus infection before we left and was on medicine for that and Payson was slowly coming down with it while there, but never complained! ANYWHays... the dinner was fun! They sang happy birthday to Talan with a cupcake and it was a buffet with little and big people food. Even peanut butter and jelly pizza, and all the sea food that Grampa could want! The characters all come around to your table and they dance and goof off in the isles with the kids throughout dinner! We had our picture taken with Goofy upon arrival, they take a professional one and also take one with your camera. I stayed with our camera and denied the upscale pricey picture they offered us. Kind of wish I would have bought it...it was way cute and not blurry like my camera! Wonder if they did that on purpose! One day, I would like to be rich enough to stay at that hotel...man is it ever nice, but ours was just fine as well. Right across the street from Disneyland and about 1 block from the entrance. Had an outdoor pool that Payson swam in once, but the rest of us said NO WAY...to cold for us whimps! I think we can take the kids to a hotel in Salt Lake City and swim and they would think they had died and gone to heaven!

After dinner at Goofy's kitchen, we headed over to California Adventure and rode the Toy Story ride. That is one of our family favorites. You ride as two and it's set up like a carnival where you shoot at different targets. It's addicting really! The score is something you try to beat each time. At the end of the ride it gives your score, the highest for the year, the day and that specific ride. It's crazy fun! Brandyn told the boys to ride it twice, once for him and once for them. When we got off that ride, we could see that it was about time for the new Color Water show and we were on the back side. All the tickets had been given away when we arrived that afternoon, but people were gathered here on the back side of it, so we thought we would give it a try. It's a water fountain show, like the one at the Balgeio in Vegas, but they show characters and song's projected through the water. Mick's friend Brooke told me, "it's a must see" so we waited and watched from behind. It was cool, but you could tell the other side would be SOOOO MUCH better, so the next day we thought we would give it a try. Disneyland and California Adventure land close at 8 during the week, so all the rides were done for the night and well...we were too! It's amazing how a long drive will wear you out! So we headed back to our hotel. The walk wasn't really too bad, but the weather made it a little rough. The boys were troopers and walked the whole way. Found out later that Mick & Brandyn had drilled the boys that they were walking on their own, that we were NOT to carry them! They didn't even ask. Talan would say he was tired and we would rest for a minute, then he would be okay to go! What a big boy he has become! The wind and rain had kicked up, so it was a little cold and wet going back, but it wasn't bad! We snuggled all in with some warm dry jammies and it was off to dream land until the next day of fun! The boys slept in, even Mr early bird Talan. We just let them sleep as long as they wanted. Rick had decided to go for a walk....a much longer walk than he intended! He thought he would venture around the outside of Disneyland, not realizing just how big that place really is. I bet it was a good 7 or 8 mile walk he took that morning, if not longer! He was tired before we even began! We told the boys that we needed to be a little bit organized so we could have time to ride everything that day..start at one end and work to the other. Payson said, "can we go to the Castle?" Well, yes Pays...that's just the entrance into all the magic...For some reason, he thought it was a ride, and even told his Mom that we didn't let him ride the Castle ride. Not sure what he thought he missed, cause we pretty much hit it all. (Except for the girly princess stuff!).

Disneyland offers the photopass as you enter Disneyland. They have photographers all over the place. You begin with the little pass with your # on it and keep it throughout your trip. When your with the characters, and of course the entrance, they take your pictures and then at the end of your trip, you take it to the photo center and purchase the pictures you like. I end up buying the CD with all of them, cause you just can't decide. It's really worth it I think! Those memories just are not ever going to be the same and it's nice to have them captured on a professional camera as well. AND....You don't have to bug some stranger to take your group photo so everyone is in it!

Friday morning, the first thing we did was head right to the Main street office. It was time to announce why we were celebrating at Disneyland. And.....Goofy had a sweet message just for Talan, so they called him on the phone so he could talk to him personally! Talan LOVED it. Then he was given a special birthday button to wear all day long! The day started out partly sunny, with just an overcast. About lunch time, we were at the Jedi Training area at just the right time. A new training for Jedi's was about to begin. We ran right over and got the boys a spot, front and center and reminded them how to act to get picked to go up front! Payson was pro from the prior trip! We bought lunch right there and ate while we waited . Soon it was time to act like a Jedi...scream and shout and jump up & down so you will be picked. First they picked Payson, and I was excited, but my heart was sad cause it's Talan's birthday...didn't they know that! He needed to be up there too! And soon, yes the boy with the Birthday button was chosen to join his big bro! It was fun to watch them enjoy this interaction with the Jedi Team! We rode the Autorama, teacups, Peter Pan ride, Pirates of the Carribean, the Jungle ride, Tarzan's tree house...and Rick & Payson rode Indiana Jones. We were in line but were quickly instructed that Talan was not tall enough! That's gay! So we rode Buzz light year and shopped in the stores while they took their ride. As the afternoon wore on, about 4ish, the rain really started to come down. I saw that the stores were offering Ponchos so I bought me and the kids one. Rick said he was fine...(.next time hon, your getting one!) The ponchos kept us dry most of the afternoon...and it was still fun. But about 530 Payson looked at me and said he wanted to go back. You could tell he didn't feel good! He hadn't eaten ANYTHING all day either. He just wasn't himself. So, he and Rick went back to the hotel and Talan and I continued on with our play. It was fun. We enjoyed Toone Town almost to ourselves. The only bad thing is, the cool playground wasn't so cool all wet and puddles! But we walked right in to see Mickey Mouse and walked on pretty much any ride Talan wanted to go on. Talan was all about Donald Duck and wanted to see his house. Of course it's a boat...and we checked that out as well. Buzz Lightyear had been broken all day, and was now running....sort of. It kept stopping with the apology of delay...but it was still fun! We even did the It's a small world ride...not that cool...kind of boring after a few chorus of the song! We were hungry and headed down Main street to the little cafe for a sandwich...unfortunately, they were closed so the only thing I could find us was hot chocolate and cookies. Talan said he wanted the hot chocolate and it sounded so good for my tired throat from coughing so that's what we ordered. Gramma, I don't like this, it's hot! Hmmm....thank goodness for the Capri Sun in your back pack! It was getting to be about time for the water show and Talan really wanted to see it so I said, let's give it a try, even if we DON't have tickets. We went over and found ourselves a perfect little bench to sit on. People were standing on it and they kept telling them that they could stay there, but they would have to sit down. They were all Asian and didn't seem to understand English. Talan got a good laugh at listening to them, and I pretended to talk like them too. "Gramma, how do you know how to talk like them?" GIGGLE GIGGLE! ...Then a power hungry teen worker came by and told us that we couldn't sit there at all. I said, well two of your other co-workers have just told us that we can, as long as we stay sitting down and we're sitting so we would like to stay. The two workers discussed some and then told us to stay but sit. Yes, Sir...urrr... a little annoying as we were all sitting! Then the show began. Of course EVERYONE stood so they could see, so Talan & I moved forward. They asked me for my tickets, and I said, I'm sorry, I don't have any and he smiled and said, I'm not suppose to, but you can move up here...NICE! The show began, but the bad thing, you have to stand to watch this show...late and tired legs not so good, but it would have been okay. The show began and so did the wind and the characters were all distorted, so they soon came on the loud speaker and announced the show would be cancelled due to the weather. UGH! So we headed back to the hotel. The rain and wind had really began to come down. By the time we were back...soaked to the bone! Talan was sooo so big and walked the whole way. We would rest cause his legs hurt, but not for long and he was brave! Payson had pretty much been in bed the whole time. He really didn't feel good and Rick said he was pretty sure he had a fever. Gave him meds and he slept most of the time.

Saturday again started out partly cloudy with some sunshine. Payson was DIEING to go on the Tower of Terror. He hadn't bought his special souvenier yet so we went inside Disneyland first to get that hat, then headed over to California Adventure land to hit those rides. I believe they got on the first ride of the day. Talan & I rode Monster's Inc while they were gone. Then we were off to Bug's land. They loved the little bumper ride and lady bug spin ride! While we were headed over to ride Toy Story again, we saw Woody & a green Army Man!! YES....Talan was sooo excited. We told Pays and Gramps to get in line at Toy Story and we'd join them in a few. Talan really wanted to see Woody. Bonus that the Green Army Man was there! Unfortunately, just as we were about to have our turn, the good ol Disney troops announced that Woody had another engagement and would have to leave, but Jessie would be there instead. Talan didn't say a word, but he didn't have to. Not a happy camper. Jessie isn't as cool as Woody for a 5 year old boy! Everyone KNOWS that! But he remained cool! When it was his turn, he had the Green Army Man sign his book and I believe Jessie did too, but it was obvious that Jessie was not winning him over. The photographer captured that with a few pictures that I thought were great! She really paid attention to what was important to Talan and took pictures of what he thought was cool! We caught up with Payson & Gramps at Toy Story and rode that ride again. Rick & I tried throughout the weekend to trade off with each boy. Talan wanted to be with me each time, but mostly I think he wanted to bug Payson. If Payson wanted a turn with me, Talan would put up a little stink, but we didn't play into it and it was all fine! They were so good, not perfect, just normal brothers and we all had such a good time!

We rode the HUGE HUGE ferris wheel and it was my idea to choose the side that rocked. You ride in a basket where 4-6 can fit. Payson & Gramps on one side and me & Talan on the other. It is so big that you can see the entire Disneyland and California Adventure land, including the city around it. And...the rocking...well, I thought Talan was going to fly out of his seat and I was grabbing him for dear life. It actually freaked me right out and all the boys, small and large got a kick out of that! California Adventureland is going to be HUGE when they have added all the new additions! You will need a 3 day pass just to enjoy that section and 3 days for Disneyland! Most of the rides are geared for the bigger kids, so I can see that as the family ages, we'll loose the big ones to that Adventureland and the little ones will enjoy Disneyland! Our trip with the girls will be a much different trip as well, involving more of the princess side of the resort! Can't wait for that too! Actually, I could go back now. I LOVE that place! Wish I lived closer! But mostly, I love enjoying it with those that I love! It seems crazy to me that the next trip will be with Kallie and Preslie when they are 5. Preslie will be 4...and I can't wait! We had so much fun with the boys. It was a special one on one time with them. I hope they will always LOVE to hang out with Gramma and Grammpa...cause they some of my favorite people! Thanks for going with us boys! Love you to the moon & back!

Ohhh...the things that I could do if I had the time!

2011-01-29T16:29:00.000-08:00

being off work for the past couple of weeks has been so relaxing...would have LOVEd to get more things done, but....well...just haven't felt like it. I LOVE to craft. And...I love it more when it's for someone I care about.

The two stockings are just the unfinished project that I apparently promised Shawn & Ang LAST Christmas....sorry guys...they are ALMOST done! Just need to bind them!

The Disney princess's are barretts for our little princess's. Kallie LOVEs them...walks around pointing to them..."it's a princess, it's a princess! I tried to take a picture of her with her hair all done up with Snow White in it, but she was jumping all around and it was nothing but a blur...got to catch her when she's not expecting the kodak moment. Angela's Mom made her the first one, and I fell in love and said, those are so simple...yeah...NO! After I got the hang of it- they were, but not so much at first. I still want to make tinkerbell...she's my Favorite, but I'm out of green ribbon. Maybe next week! The last two pictures are baby seat covers...I made one for Mick in U of U print and have had SOOO many comments on how cute it is, so I have played around with it some. Gave the Monkey print to a past Young Women who is about to become a Mommy...the pink...just saving it for that lucky someone. The kids say I should sell them...maybe...but marketing them, NOT so fun! Next project...a scrap book for a lucky couple...(hope they feel so lucky upon receipt)...and some sewing for our little princess's. Dang...I only have one week left...should have held out for MORE!

Had my follow up appointment with good ol Dr. Roth this past week. Have I mentioned how much I like this guy. Really...if anyone who reads this needs a new OB/GYN....this is the guy! Really, he's awesome in all ways!

His comments to me were..."gee, you really were messed up in there! I feel bad that we didn't operate sooner!" You even had a cyst, that was benign of course, but man...it was all corjungled in there...(is that even a word?). It sounds like I'm making fun of him...I'm not. I really love the guy! He talks to you like your a real person, and not just a person on the chart. He has true compassion and concern for not only me, but my family. He asks about them all the time. He remembers everything about us! He's amazing! The rest of the visit was about Rick's back and bad knee...he noticed that he was hurting when he came to talk to him after surgery! He wondered how he was feeling? Really...what Dr does that! Of course he asked about the time off and if I needed more....that's another story.

The Hewitt Company who handles short term disability for Discover was willing to allow 2 weeks off...that's the norm for a lap. surgery. They argued with me about the additional time off, until they spoke with his office. They actually called me back and apologized and encouraged me to request more time if needed and to be sure and take the proper paper work to the Dr's just in case! Dr Roth gave me more due to the mess that he found. He would have given me more I think, but I don't want to push it. I'm feeling fine, other than this STUPID cough that hit me the day after surgery and is still kicking my butt. Today I threw in the towel and went to see our family Dr...or should I say the Medical assistant....which is ALWAYS there versus the Dr...not sure what his schedule is....anywhos....cough horrible, really kicks up when out in our NICE FRESH AIR (NOT) and at night. Feels basically like I'm coughing up a lung. She put me on steroids, mega antibiotic that ran us $55 bucks with insurance and lots of vitamin C and liquids. Says I should feel better within 3 days! I hope so! Was hoping for more energy during this time off...lots of laying around. Tended Preslie and Hayden for just a few hours the other day...you would have thought I ran a 5K...came home and took a 3 hour nap! Today...just lots of laying around...now REALLY restless! Gonna hang with the Heartland ladies for a bit...don't worry girls...Doc says I'm not contagious!

Daddy's princess!

2011-01-23T19:17:00.000-08:00

Being a parent is hard...no matter what situation your in. Chris dove into parenthood the minute he met Kallie and has NEVER turned back. She's so blessed to have him in her life and it's a joy to watch him relish in her 110%! She loves her Daddy and is lucky to have him!

bye bye lefty ovary...didn't need you anyway!

2011-01-23T18:51:00.000-08:00

first picture is the bad ovary...second is the good one...I think!

For the past few months, maybe 6 or more...I've had a pain in my lower left abdomen. I spoke to my general family Dr about it and he ordered all the 50 year old tests...colonoscopy, ultrasound...etc etc....and found a cyst on my right ovary...but wait, it's the left side that hurts. He suggested I speak to my OB. Oh good...I like him sooo much better..good ol Dr. James Roth. They looked at my reports and said they weren't worried about the cyst...pretty small, have it looked at in 6 months and if it's still there he'll remove it....hmmm...wait a minute, but what about this pain. He said, well....it could be scar tissue caused from your hyterectomy in 2005, and I can remove it through a lapascopic surgery. Should we schedule you? I hesitated, didn't have any PTO left from work, and wasn't real excited about the well...it could be diagnoses...so I said, let me think about it. Maybe it will just go away. It didn't. It actually got worse. Several times, bringing me to tears and wondering....should I just go to the ER? But, I would take 4-6 ib-brokens, and it would ease up. Not ever really going away, but would just go into the background and I could ignore it. In November, it was real bad, and I called the Dr and they were ready to schedule surgery immediately, but wait...no PTO...ugh...I'm waiting until January. The end of December came, and I was hurting...so I gave in and scheduled. First they gave me the end of January and I begged for sooner....she gave me 1-11-11....I grabbed it and was ready. So now I have one ovary and no pain! YEAh...other than it has kicked my butt and I'm not feeling like dancing yet. Off work until 2-7-11...yeaaah...hoping to feel stronger soon!

I'm FIVE years old!

2011-01-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

Talan...aka T-ray turned 5 on 1-16-2011. Wowsers batman...already! Really! Wasn't he just walking around with the "binkie" face???

T-ray is so much fun to have around and will have you laughing most of the time. He's tender, a thinker, witty, a home body, and well, he's just our favorite 5 year old. We can't wait to celebrate with him in a few weeks at Disneyland! He followed in his big bro's footsteps and had a birthday celebration at Classic. A new found favorite place of the Schneider household. Gramma and Grampa showed up for just a few moments to say hi, and wish him a fun party, but too much bumping around at a place like that for good ol gramma who had surgery two days prior. Besides, the kids wanted her to play and that was not happening! Sorry dudes, later time!

ENDURE TO THE END

2011-01-23T18:34:00.000-08:00

I fed my Mom today, then I cried on the way home. Emotions come from out of no where when it comes to my Mom. Lately I've been numb, but today, I just wonder what is her test, my test, or whoever's test? Why does she have to endure to this end?

Her food is pureed, looks appetizing doesn't it. No wonder she would rather chew on her bib! Her skin is a mess, and has everyone at wits end. Dr. Canfield is beside himself, can't figure what it is. Now she has a skin tear on her hand, most likely from her scratching at it. Lyndsey tells me the social worker for our Hospice is trying to find a dermatologist that does house calls...yeah, bet that exists!

Happy Bday Shawners

2010-12-29T20:02:00.000-08:00

Shawn turned 27 this year and he thinks he's getting old! SIGH...if I could only have that age back...wait...nope...don't want to go there! Glad I'm where I'm at actually! ANyways...he decided he wanted to celebrate at Classic. He missed out when it was Payson's Birthday there and he wanted to go play with the family. ANd yes...our family needed some good ol fashion play time to laugh and enjoy one another. So that's what we did...This place is really fun...big gigantic slides, and climbing things, roller blading or skating, or scootering...play gyms, it's really a kid heaven and my big kids wanted to play like they were kids. We had a great time...TOO BAD I can't find any pictures...URRR! I know I had my camera...but no pictures. Don't know what happened to them. I'll have to steal from the girls...dang it...I was doing so good on this catch up on the blog thing...!

Anyways...it was a great way to celebrate Shawn. It felt good to watch my two boys laugh and play hard together again! We all had such a good time! We need to do that more!

Shawn's has developed into such a wonderful man who we are so proud of. He's so independent and works so hard for he and Angela. He's been selling Aflac and is now starting with a brand new company selling printers for Cannon. He's not afraid to approach anyone. He'll be awesome! He still coaches 2 soccer teams and he loves it, but it's a lot of work! I hope that he can enjoy the new job, and not have to be away at night so much! We are so proud of both he and Angela and the example they set for those around them. So grateful that Shawn honors his priesthood and keeps those promises that are so sacred! We are so grateful that each one of our kids are such kind and loving people and so happy that we feel like a whole family again! Happy Birthday Shawn! Old age is not that bad, but yes, being a kid at Classic is much better!

2010-12-28T18:21:00.000-08:00

The first weekend in November was a full one! Payson was baptized, and Hayden was blessed. It was a sweet blessing to be a part of each. Hayden truly has a corner of my heart. He gives me such comfort to hold him. I often wonder how much he & my Dad hung out prior to his birth and the lessons that both of them gave one another! Oh if only the sweet little guy could talk! When he smiles, well he smiles with his whole body! I just can't seem to catch it on film!

Payson, chose all on his own to be baptized. He has such a tender heart and yes, he has a special place in my heart as well. It's really a miracle as each child is born, a new part of my heart explodes with a love for them! I'm so lucky and so blessed! The missionaries have spent some time with Mickie and her kids. Payson has become of such a tender age, where he recognizes what is right & wrong. He wants to do the things that his Heavenly Father wants him to do. He asked Uncle Shawn to baptize him and had Grandpa confirm him. I'm so thankful that those men in my life have chosen to keep the sacred priesthood close to their heart and live worthy of it so they can bless the lives of our family! How grateful I am for the power of the priesthood and for the power of prayer. We have seen it lift us and strengthen us many times throughout this year alone! The gospel is what makes our family complete and eternal! It thrills my heart to see my children and grandchildren do the things that they know are true!

The END of a year!

2010-12-26T22:25:00.000-08:00

See ya...wouldn't wanna be ya!

Silly phrase, but actually kind of how I feel about the year 2010! Let's move on to a better year eh!

I haven't blogged in a long time...kind of got burned with a blog of mine, that someone twisted to something it wasn't...made me feel sick to my stomach how someone can actually take something that you put here, from your heart and...well....make it what they want it to be. It doesn't matter, I have to believe that. I know what I wrote and exactly what I meant...and that's what this blog is for...for my memories, and my history.

The thing I'm most grateful for this time of year is family...gee, bet that's a big surprise! I didn't care what I got for Christmas this year-I actually didn't need nor want anything! I have my family and we're whole again. Nothing else matters. We're one again as a group, and we can help one another get through ANYTHING! And we will! That's what makes us ONE!

hia ya!

2010-11-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

First night of Karate lessons for Pays...although he would rather have "REAL" karate lessons like his friend Parker, he seemed to have fun. Because their were only 4 or 5 students, they were taught more moves than planned. He wants a white belt...now! Hmmm...I believe you have to work a bit for that.
We were about 30 minutes early so we got to walk the halls of the school his Mom & Dad attended along with his Uncles. We found his Dad's football championship trophy and Shawn and Chris's regional soccer trophy. Brandyn was sad to find out his track record has been over taken...Mannn...it stinks gettin old doesn't it!
After we went to Arbys and saw this kid eat like no other. He must be growing....cause he put it away! We loved spending time with our guy. We need to make more times like this with each one. 8 years old...REALLY! Whew...how'd that happen!

2010-10-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

So Ang & Mick have been on me to update this blog...the longer I put it off, the more overwhelming it has become. When I look at the Photo gallery of the past 6 months, so much has transpired, and happened, that I really don't know where to begin! As my friend Gina put it the other day, Life is just running us over day by day. I physically feel like that today! Reading other blogs is fun, uplifting, inspiring even sometimes....I'm not feeling like much of that lately. Actually feeling down & discouraged and learning the real feeling of anxiety or saddness...I don't know how to explain it, like wanting to crawl out of my skin in some respects. But reminding myself of the many things I do have to be grateful for. All I have to do is look at my photo gallery! Family, good times and bad, that's what it's all about isn't it!
So where to begin...
We're blessed! We have a great family...we're normal I suppose...whatever THAT is~ and I'm telling you, being a parent of grown adults...man....no one warned me of the worries and heartaches that entails. I remember being annoyed with my Dad. You couldn't tell him anything without him pacing and worrying about it. It made me feel like I shouldn't share many things with him. I DON'T want it to be that way with our family! I love it when they do turn to us, as friends and parents for advice or just a sounding board. I wish for that to always continue! We have raised 3 great kids, and they in turn have chosen great companions that we have learned to love as our own! Although we may not always approve of what they are or are not doing, but we love them "to the moon and back" and wish for their happiness and success, no matter what!
The grandkids are a bonus, an extension of our love, that each time one is born, a new part of our heart is exposed that we didn't know existed. When I'm feeling down, the best cure is to have a Gramma & Grampa day. (and yes, I know how to spell it...this is just how they all say it!) I feel extremely blessed that they are all here, in the same state (Brent reminds me of that often as his are spread out over the US), just a jump in my car and run to them away distance!
It's always been my dream to have our children be our friends, and us theirs, and have each of us enjoy one another's company. That feels like success to me.

So I don't know how else to catch up, so here goes, it will probably be random, and I'm sure I'll miss stuff...but what do you do...It's 6 months worth!

2010-10-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

I mostly took care of Hayden while Mick & Brandyn and Angela and Tahnie played with the kids at Payson's birthday party. I played a little, but I was good to hold baby! My cousin, Jen, mentioned on facebook to Mickie that Hayden looked like my Dad. I had never noticed it before, until I was holding him that night. I was saying to him, "hey, you do look like Great Grammpa Slug...are you two buddies?" and he began to coo and smile and talk to me. He had never done that for me yet. It was so sweet, and tender, yep, it made me tear up a bit. I wonder...what exactly did my Dad have to say to him? I hope he's watching out for all of us! I sure need him!

2010-10-31T21:48:00.001-07:00

For Pay's real birthday, they had everyone over for dinner. The guys weren't back yet, so we were short a few. I hate that, but it was good that the boys were together supporting Chris at this game. They lost in the championship to Weber...that was a bummer! Chris tells Rick he's done with SLCC.
Anyway, we had lasagna, Payson's favorite and opened gifts. Rick & I gave him Karate lessons through the community ed. They start next week. He needs more toys like a hole in the head! And this gives us time to be with him. win win.! gotta love it!

2010-10-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

Mickie threw a party for Payson's birthday at Classic Skating for his friends. Rick, & Shawn went to Boise to watch Chris play in Regional tournament for soccer with SLCC, so it was just us girls, including Angela & Tahnie to help her & Brandyn out at the event. With all 4 kids, they really need an extra hand. It's a great play place that offers skating, blow up jump toys for all ages and a track to ride your scooters, or wiggle cars that seemed to be the hit with the little ones. Kallie and Preslie fought over the one Mick brought and the boys just ran non stop to all the things they offered. Laser tag, ball something or other that they got to shoot at one another, you name it, they did it. For being the birthday boy, Pays got to do the money grab machine and the spin wheel. I'm not sure how many tickets he got in the money grab, but the spinner, he won $10. When Brandyn got in his truck to leave, there was a $100 bill on his windshield...not sure why or where, but why look a gift horse in the mouth, or as I reminded Mick...geez, look, blessings boiling over again!

2010-10-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

Payson turned 8 a week ago. Can it really be that long ago that this little guy opened up our hearts to a blissful extention that we did not know existed! Have I said that before? Seems like it was just yesterday, okay....maybe just a few years ago, but REALLY...8 years ago! Wow. I thought it went fast with our own kids.
The blessing of being a grandparent is that you really know how to relish every second with them. Because we understand just how short the time is that we have them under our wings.
Payson is a social butterfly. He LOVES his friends. He loves to be on the go! When he comes here, it's an all day adventure of will you play soccer with me, will you play football with me, will you ride bikes with me...and you know what...we try to do it all. He can out run me in the back yard and now takes it easy on me for the soccer game, instead of the other way around. I'll say, okay, next score wins, and he will prolong that game as long as he can. He'll still cuddle to watch a movie, or snuggle up when he's tired when we're all just visiting. I'll eat that up as long as I can, because before I know it, he'll be this big kid that doesn't have much time for us ol folks. I dread that day! I'm so grateful for that special bond we have with him!

2010-10-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

For Birthdays, we try to have everyone over to celebrate. Sometimes it takes a whole lot of planning to get a date when all can be there. That's a challenge with a family, with everyone going in all kinds of directions, but we have managed.

2010-10-31T21:11:00.000-07:00

Kallie is growing up so fast, just like the rest of them. This is one day that Tahnie straightened her hair. It's to the middle of her back without all the curl. She's beginning to talk more, in almost full sentences. She's a Mommy's girl and won't have much to do with any of us when Tahnie's around, but she's a cutie. She love's her purse and books and loves being around her Aunt's & Uncle's, especially Tahnie's siblings! She's found Grampa's money and tries to hide it in her pocket and has found Gramma's bag balm 2 times! UGH! Now it's high in the shelfs, out of sight! I love how she says uh ha...(for yes) in the sweetest innocent voice. and "love you gramma, love you grampa"... And she LOVEs LOVES and LOVES baby Hayden!

2010-10-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

This was Rick's birthday. We had so much fun! The kids had given us a nights stay at the Homestead for Christmas, so I decided this was a great weekend to put it to use. So we headed up there after work. We had dinner at Texas Roadhouse first, and used a gift certificate that Tahnie & Chris had given us. Sweet, all this entertainment, all on the kids! YEAH BABY! We didn't get up there until 7 but it was still nice and relaxing. I love the mountains and I have missed camping so much this summer! The drive up there is always so beautiful and peaceful. We went for a walk, listened to a "cowboy" story teller around the fire and just simply enjoyed the time together without any distractions. Shawn & Chris were playing in a soccer tournament this weekend in Park City, so it was nice and convenient for that as well. When driving to their first game on Saturday morning, I was bummed, I didn't want to check out, felt like we had just arrived, so we decided to stay another night and have the kids come up to the Homestead for swimming and dinner! Perfect plan! Between games, we ran to the hospital in American Fork to visit and check on Dad, at this point he was in the transitional unit, before he was sent to the Sandy Rehab. Rick & I stopped and bought chicken at Walmart (not a good plan! ick!) and we all gathered for a picnic and swim at the Homestead about 7. Rick kept telling the kids, that all of them coming up there and being all together was all the present he needed! It is sweet!

2010-10-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

This is Father's Day and the last picture I took of my Dad before he passed. I can't erase it from my camera, I can't erase his phone number from my phone. I miss that man! He was having a rough day that day, in a lot of pain and didn't want to go anywhere. I was sad too! I went to see my Mom on that day by myself cause Rick was on call. Mom looked at me and touched my arm, and said, "your having a bad day today aren't you." She never makes any sense, ever! And she whips that sentence out like it was normal for her. All I could do was cry! I miss my Mom too!

2010-10-31T20:40:00.002-07:00

One of the fun things we did this summer was have fire's in our back yards. Brandyn started us off on that and they invited us over to roast marshmellow. We made all kinds of goodies. We made banana boats, smores with reeses peanut butter cups and hot dogs. We enjoyed the fun times together so much, that Shawn dug a pit in our back yard under the tramp in our sand pit. We used it a few times and invited our good friends the Jensen's over and Angela's parents. Ang's brother even blessed us with his guitar...Can't find those pictures! This has been a great bonding time for all of us. Brings us together for simple little things! This is what Rick & I call happiness!

2010-10-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

Preslie turned one this summer on June 18th. Mick & B threw a great bash with a huge blow up slide that all the big people got to enjoy! She's really a sweetie and we love seeing her grow. Last week at Gardner Village, she ran after me saying..."gramma, gramma, gramma!" Awweee, the sweet sound of that!

2010-10-31T20:28:00.000-07:00

Talan graduated from his first year in preschool this spring. He's getting so big. He loves to color with me and loves the one on one attention. He's so tender hearted and as all the kids, pretty much has us wrapped around his little finger!

2010-10-31T20:25:00.000-07:00

Payson played a lot of baseball this Spring and summer...he's pretty dang good too! A man at the batting cages a few weeks ago, watched him and told me.."he's got one natural swing!". Yep that's our Pays...a natural athelete!

2010-10-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

Halloween has come and gone, REALLY...will it be November tomorrow! WHAT THE HECK!
We enjoyed spending Halloween with Mick & her family along with Shawn & Ang at Mick's house. (One day maybe, we'll have our entire family gather for something other than a main event.) Mick & Brandyn have ran their selves ragged over the past few years trying to get to our house, to Brandyn's parents, to wherever, and the kids just didn't get much real trick or treating done. Pays and Talan are at the age now where they deserve that! Every kid needs a memory of running through their own neighborhood to see how much candy they can gather! Shawn & Ang brought soup, I made homemade root beer and Mick's friends brought over pizza. I wanted to stay inside with the baby and answer the door. The Utah game was on so Rick, Shawn & I stayed while the others headed out. Ang lasted a little bit, but she was cold, & wet, and Brandyn and Mick took turns. They brought in a haul! Rick had to leave about 9, he was on call, and the rest of us stayed and started to watch a movie. We started with Beetlejuice, a favorite of my kids growing up, but it had commercials...UGH. Then they put Karate Kid on. Shawn & Ang had seen it, so they didn't last long, and we all started to fall asleep. Payson cuddled up on my lap and I didn't want to move...don't know how many more of those I will get! When he was out, I headed home. We were all tired!
Friday, the day before, I didn't work cause I worked on Saturday, so I went out to Payson's school for their parade and tended Pres and Hayden while Mick helped with the party. I love being able to do things like that! When I was home, I would go, but most often I would be hauling a half dozen or more daycare kids with me and it was exhausting! I'm happy to make it a little easier for Mick to enjoy the little things that will be gone before they realize! I love being a part of my kids lives, no matter how big or small the part may seem! That's what it's all about isn't it!
Here's a few pic's from the Halloween month....

2010-09-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

June 28, 2010 Chris made it official and adopted Kallie Marie. It was a great day that each of our's and Tahnie's family were lucky enough to share. Chris and Tahnie both were brought up to the witness stand, just like on TV. Both sworn it and asked questions about their desire to complete this adoption. The judge asked Chris to tell her about his involvement in Kallie's life and what brought him to this decision. He was so nervous, but described how he fell in love with Kallie the same time he fell in love with Tahnie, how he would hold her and couldn't get enough of her. He has stepped into this responsibility so naturally, without hesitation. We're proud of his dedication to them both! We look forward to some day when they can become an eternal family.

2010-09-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

Summer has come and gone and so much has gone on. Where did time go! Seriously...did we really really have a summer??? The wave runners have not even left their little shed! How sad is that! Time just goes by in such a flash! The pictures below are of our trip to Oregon to see our sweet friend Toni the end of June. She lives in Beaverton, and has a beach house in Rockaway Beach. What a blast we had. We arrived Thursday evening, hit the road to the beach and didn't stop all weekend. What a blast we had-oh wait, did I say that!. SO so fun getting reconnected with her. And man, that girl can move. We hiked, hiked some more and hiked again. And I'm sure we slowed her down a bit. But the scenery we saw. This is only a portion of it. It was true heaven. Beautiful mountains and pines to one side, and beach front, ocean on the other. It would be perfect if it was like 80 degrees! I know...picky picky! They love it there. And everyone kept saying how lucky we were to have the good weather. It had rained almost everyday since April and we had sunshine! It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I had told Rick & Chris just before we left that I would love to travel the country one year during the summer and sight see all the small towns during the holidays...see their hometown barbeques and parades. Well, I got my home town parade all right. This was so fun! Tillamook cheese factory and their parade. Company couldn't have been better either!

Oregon and sweet sweet Toni

2010-09-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

My Mom

2010-09-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

Okay....so this picture IS kind of scary! We just had to take it cause it made us laugh! Crazy fro do and all...she was so out of it this night. And so so skinny! This was Wednesday, September 15, 2010 and it has been a rough month~ The first of the month, the care center called to report that Mom has a broken hip. We knew this would not be good. That she would most likely decline quickly. Linda has been traveling in a Motor Home caravan since the end of August and has just returned tonight. This has been a real trial for Linda, as she has worried about being gone and we both are preparing to say goodbye to our Mom for the 2nd time. This actually goes hand in hand with the care taking of both her & Dad being one of the hardest things we have ever done. It's an honor, but it's hard! We have both cried on each other, and can't believe how emotional we are, how Dad's passing and funeral seems like it was all just a dream. Now we'll be preparing for another one soon! Mom is one tough cookie. She hasn't declined as quickly as we thought. But honestly, I believe it's due to answers to our prayers and the pure knowledge that we have that Dad is telling her to hold on until Linda gets home. Dad was always concerned with Linda & I "being put out" as he would say in their care. I told Linda that he was helping Mom to wait for her. I believe that with all my heart. Last Thursday, I had the day off and went to an IT meeting at Crossland's. They have them occasionally, and I have complained so much I figured they were either kicking us out, or actually trying to communicate with us! The meeting went well. It was all the staff that has anything to do with Mom (one representative), my hospice ladies, and me. Rick asked me if I was intimidated and I said, heck no, they should be! HA! I have learned to speak my mind, in a calm, sweet, but firm way. The staff actually comes to me now as I arrive and ask about Mom. For awhile, I swear they would hide! This night of the picture, I was pretty discouraged. Mom was pretty out of it, even though she hadn't had meds since noon. She would look up at me, but not see me, looking right past me. It made me sad. I asked her if anyone was home and Rick just said, I don't think so hon! But Thursday after the meeting, I walked into her room where she was lieing down, and the nurse said, look Nona, Stacey is here. She smiled, reached out for me, and saw me. She didn't know me, but she knew I loved her and it felt so good. It has been awhile since I saw that. It brought me to tears actually. She told me that "George wants her to quit but she doesn't want to!" (Hmmm)
I had them get her out of bed, and I took her to the beauty salon to fix that crazy mop. She had a hair cut and set. It was a good day. Today after the walk, I went to see her, and she was sleeping soundly, so couldn't get much of a feel for today's status. The nurse reported that she now has an open bed sore on her bottom about the size of the top of your thumb. That's not good! SIGH

walk for a cure

2010-09-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

Jody emailed me a little over a week ago and invited me to join her in the walk for a cure for Alzheimer's/dementia that was being held at Murray High today. Of course it was on my Saturday shift at Discover, so I didn't think I could go, but the more I thought about it, the more I knew I just HAD to go. This disease is way too much. It needs to go! And far too many people are not speaking out about it. The number of people who have it or who are effected by it are staggering, and it's only going to get worse. It's the 2nd largest disease causing death and the cost...it's unreal! And the sad thing is...death is the happy ending for this disease...there is no cure, and we HAVE to find one! Jody & I decided we will be more involved and organized next year and put together a team, or maybe two...thinking maybe of a challenge. Maybe my kids would get into that! This year was last minute and not planned at all so our families didn't particiapte, but next year...we'll be on it! It was good to be with Jody. I have missed her and the Bradbury gang. Uncle Frank, Jody's Dad passed away with this disease in May and we'll soon loose Mom. We did it today in their honor. She put Mom and Frank's picture on a card around a ribbon for us-she's always thoughtful like that!. I made a t-shirt with my parents on it. We saw several families with their own team shirts on that were way cute. Hope to do something like that next time!

2010-08-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 26, Mom turned 83. She seemed happy this day. I had stopped at Schmidts, and bought her a piece of her favorite cake that we use to have with her over her birthday, usually up at Uncle Leo's for the family reunion! She LOVED it and ate every last bite. I also gave her a new little outfit. I hate how her clothes get ruined and she looks so messy most of the time. When she eats, her meal is all over the front of her. And they don't bother to change her, mostly because they just don't have time. Makes me crazy. Wonder if they would like to wear clothes all day they had spilled their coffee or meal down the front of them...and they wonder why she gets agitated. Wouldn't you! I had asked Mick if she wanted to join me and she gladly said yes. We didn't get there until dinner time. Oh how I HATE dinner time! They hadn't brought the meal yet, they were just gathering all the patients in the dining room so it wasn't bad. We just visited with Mom there. The patients loved having the kids there. Mom usually won't sit still, always pushing her way around the center, saying hello to everyone. One man told me last week that she always comes to sing to him in the morning. Not sure how I feel about that! But she's happy! That's good. She has no idea who I or anyone else is. Not even the people that care for her daily. Each of us a new person, each day. Mom says funny things, mostly stuff that doesn't make sense. She said Preslie is a beautiful little boy. The kids are kind of scared of her. Talan wouldn't stand next to her for the picture, but he likes to go. He went with me a few weeks ago when the boys slept over. Safe distance though, not too close! I hope my Mom has a happy year. I guess if your going to be a widow, Mom's state of mind is the way to do that. I can only hope that in this little world that she lives in, that she gets to visit with those loved ones that have past on and that her & Dad can finally see more of one another again! She talks about loved ones alot, mostly her Mom & Daddy. She'll ask me if I've seen her Daddy, or if I want to meet him. I just say, no, not today Mom, but if you see him, go with him okay! When she refers to her Dad, she's speaking of my Dad, but when she says Daddy, it's her Dad. It's just like when your raising your kids, and you learn to follow their language. Last Sunday, when Rick & I visited her, we were in her room and Rick was sitting on a chair next to her and I was on her bed. She scooted her chair right up to Rick, as close as she could, patted his leg, and flirted a bit. Rick was George that day, and if Rick would have leaned into her, I know she would have kissed him. It was kind of funny, but creepy too! We usually laugh some when we visit, if we don't, then we would cry! I wish I could say visiting her is easy, but I can't. It's a challenge and it breaks my heart that she is not the woman she use to be! I miss my Mom. I miss the times that I could talk with her and share my life with her. That part has been gone for a very long time!

2010-08-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

Payson is in the 2nd grade this year. Can you believe it! He's grown so fast! And he's lovin the 2nd grade. Friday, they had what they call the fun run. That's where the kids run for 20 minutes to raise money for their school. I changed my lieu day to have that day off and Rick took the day off so we could go out there to support him. I LOVE being there for stuff like that. He would run faster as he ran past us. He's such a champ. He tallied 19 runs around their ring they had set up! Pretty dang good. I bet the kids were quiet the rest of the day for their teachers!! Talan & I even ran around once too. Grampa didn't think we could do it, but we showed him! Afterwards, Rick & I went to Mick's for a bit, colored with Talan, played with Preslie and held Hayden. Then we had to go get some paper's signed for Mom's benefits. It was a good day, just hanging out with my hubby and grandkids.

2010-08-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

So Rick & I have been talking about loosing weight for some time now. We would cut back, work out a little, Rick more than I...and nothing....nothing would change and we both hated how our body's had changed. Mostly we just want to feel better. This HCG diet is a diet that we have heard a lot about, and I have hesitated due to the 500 calorie a day...are ya kidding me! Who does that! Of course you would loose weight! Anyhow's...several people at work have done it and been very successful, so Rick & I decided to do it. We're on our 9th day, and yes we are hungry! The late afternoon and nights are the worst. We both mentioned this morning that we weren't really hungry. But I'm not going to lie...a good ol choclate chip cookie sounds pretty good about now! Rick has lost 17 lbs. and I have lost 10...yeah that stinks too, but they even told us at the health food store that I should be prepared to watch the weight just fall off of Rick. Man, that is just not fair! Neither of us feels ANY different at all. That's discouraging! But I'm trying hard to be patient, knowing full well that the first part is water weight. The next few weeks will be the test. We will be on this for 26 days...we're on our 9th day. Friday night we went on a little date night to see the movie, Eat, Pray, Love, with Julia Roberts. It's about how she wants this major life change and travels the world. Italy was one of her first stops...the food shots were unbelievable! It was just like a food or restaurant commercial! Basically, the date night was pure torture. I wanted to get out of the house so we wouldn't want to eat...not a good choice, now all I want to do is have one big plate of spaghetti!
Chris keeps tempting us with offers of their junk food. He tells me I'm weak and I won't last. Makes me want to do it even more! Just like when they all told me I wouldn't sky dive...but more than ever, I want to feel better. I want to have more energy and not ache like an ol lady! The plan forces you to plan and prepare meals a head of time. It's made Rick & I sit down for a meal together..and many of them we will have even when we're not on this silly diet! It's all about the amounts really.
Sundays are tough for me still. I just hate staying home after Church. I really miss Dad then! It's surprising how use to something your whole existence becomes to. The routine of the crazy drive to & from to get him, and the visit with Mom trying to have some kind of conversation. I really miss that! A lot! So today, I looked at Rick and said, let's hike to Lake Mary. It's up Brighton canyon and I remember it to be more of a walk really...he just looked at me funny and did what I asked as usual. So I wasn't the brightest crayon in the box. Even a slight climb, at a high altitude was more than our bodies could take at this point. 500 calories is just not enough! So we just sat and gazed around at the beauty for a bit, enjoyed each other's company and came back home. We just don't do that enough! I love Rick, I love the mountains. I miss spending more time there! I want to camp more. I want to play more. It was cool today, only about 60 degrees, but a beautiful day it was!

2010-08-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

Summertime is over. The kids are all in school, and it's just plain...I don't know..it's depressing! The wave runners haven't even come out of the tent this summer...SaD!! I have always hated saying goodbye to summer! I have so much to catch up on..so many thoughts and activities with Rick & I and the kids. I feel like I lost the whole month of July! What happened, where did it go?? Next goal, make up some blogging...so many pictures, so many things, but it's time to say goodnight!

2010-08-23T20:23:00.000-07:00

Hayden Tate was born on August 3, 2010. What an entrance. After giving us stress about when he was going to arrive, before the funeral, during the funeral, or maybe at the cemetery when Mick fell...he came just a few days later. And he took his time! Wonder what those great grandpa's and grandma's were telling him about! I felt like my Dad was holding him up there, I could hear him say..."those girls have been through enough" let's just wait a spell!" And he did. Mick was in labor all day long after they started her. She arrived at the hospital around 9 am and she didn't deliver him until 730 ish pm. When he was layed on her tummy, I knew that he had just left my Dad. That made me cry! It caught me off guard how emotional I was about it. I had to really swallow hard! What a comfort it has been to hold him! If only he could talk and tell us about heaven. How cool would that be! Mick & Brandyn have their little hands full. It's been a blessing in disguise to have Brandyn home to help Mick through this. I know that Heavenly Father has something in store for them as far as work goes. I just pray it's not miles and miles away!!!

2010-08-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a month ago today that Dad passed away. Seems like yesterday, or just a few days ago anyway. What a whirlwind of stuff to do, gathering of most of our loved ones, and honoring my perfect Dad! So much I want to journal about that time...so many tender things, but not here, I think I'll do a book for all of us...in my spare time! Dad died on Friday, and we didn't have his memorial until the following Saturday. This was to allow as many to come as wanted to. Karen & Dale arrived at Linda's (the gathering place) on Sunday afternoon. We met with Jared Fairbanks the mortician that evening. That's when it all began I guess and it didn't stop until the Wednesday following Dad's funeral! Brent & Linda arrived on Wednesday early afternoon, and Janell & Bo with their little one arrived later that day. Aunt Bonnie, Mom's sister and son Tommy arrived on Friday afternoon. We really didn't stop all week! And they all stayed at Linda's! I even slept over from Thursday-Saturday. Felt like I was missing out on some party or something, and well the drive...it stinks!
My most favorite part about the whole ordeal was the gathering of our family. Aunt Bonnie & Tommy being here was beyond cool! To have Aunt Bonnie sit and tell us not only who was in pictures, but the story about them was the coolest story time I have ever had! I so wish we had a recorder going! Our children would gather at night for eats, and visits, that was so nice. We just don't do that enough! Dad was surely smilin down on all of that! It brought us 4 siblings together to plan something honorable and memorable for a man we love so much. It was sweet. The care of Dad has forced (not sure I like that word but don't know what else to call it) Linda & I to communicate, talk, share, and even vent many times over for the past 2 1/2 years. It's brought us closer as we shared not only the care of Dad, but many of our own heart aches and joys with our own family! It makes me sad to think that we don't have that any more. Mick says, well, what are you going to do about it Mom? It will take effort, just like any friendship does!
Of course emotions were all over the place this week. Still are at times. Find myself missing Dad so much on Sundays. Driving to Mom's yesterday brought tears to my eyes as I remembered how very tender he was with her each and every week!
The hardest time for me was driving home Sunday night after most everything was over. I cried like a baby! I felt like I was driving away from something that I will NEVER have again. What will happen to our family now that our Dad is gone. How will we come together. Only time and efforts will tell!

2010-07-24T04:41:00.000-07:00

My Dad.....

Yesterday, July 23rd, 2010, I had the sweet experience to hold my Dad's hand, rub his forehead, and tell him that it's finally okay to let go and cross the veil. He fought it for many months, and his body was worn and tired, full of many pains. He showed us the true character of who he was, the caretaker, the patriarch, the leader of our family that he took full responsibility to care for each of us, and he needed to feel secure that we all would be ok, but especially his sweet wife. He wanted so much to care for her and see to her needs. I promise Daddy, we will!
I prayed for many months for the Lord to take him, his suffering was just too much. I hurt today, I miss him so already, I wasn't prepared for how much this hurts even when I know he is in a better place. My brother put it best on his facebook status:

My family and I, along with many friends say good bye to my dad, George L. Allgood. He was known by many as Slug or Slugger, a knickname he picked up many years ago. It is a passing that is regretted in some ways yet peaceful and deserving. He was a strong and competetive man with high morals and one I am very proud to call my dad. His rest is long deserved and he will be missed by us all. His love for life and family are unexplainable.......... I Love You Dad!

Rain or shine...I'm celebrating the coming of summer!

2010-06-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, while I was at work, my good friend Carla called and asked if we were interested in joining them at Park City for the holiday week. I knew all my kids had plans, and well the weather was looking a little bleak so I told her thanks, but I'm betting not, but I would talk to Rick. I mentioned it to Rick and he just asked where the $$ were coming from....then the next day at work I got a text that said, ya want to run away for the weekend with me??? So I took that as a yes to pass along to Carla. They have a membership at the Mountain Side Resort and they can pick up side deals that are steals if rooms are available. We had a single room for $200 bucks from Friday through Friday...you just can't beat that! Even if we didn't use it the entire time, it's still a steal! So excited to get away. We decided to stretch it out the best we could and took Tuesday off as well! So much fun! Rick & I had it to ourselves until Monday, when the kids came up for a barbeque, then we asked Mick if the boys could spend the night. She made it a surprise for them they had to earn. Friday, we hurried and packed after work and headed up for dinner and our arrival. Saturday, we did nothing but lounge. It was cold and rainy so the pool wasn't that tempting. We shopped at the outlet stores, Rick's idea and just enjoyed spending time one on one again! It felt so good! We hadn't really done that for quite sometime. Life gets in the way too often and it felt so good to slow down and smell the roses again! We enjoyed the Sunshine on Sunday with a walk to Main street, a day at the pool, a walk down below the Resort and explored an old Cemetery where so many of Park City ol timer's are buried. Most having passed away in the early 1800's. Many young couples and small children. The graveyard is tucked away in a corner of the mountain just below the resort, you would never know it was there but we stumbled on it once when just farting around in the car. It was a reverent exploration, just wondering what their lives must have been in the mountains so many years ago!

Mick & Brandyn with their kids and Shawn & Angela joined us for the afternoon on Monday for a barbeque and just hang at the pool kind of night. It was fun to visit with them and how they also had the opportunity to gather with our good friends the Wright's. I love that family! I love my family. We missed Chris, Tahnie, and Kallie. Tahnie had to work and Chris wanted to join her for dinner at Texas Roadhouse. A little frustrating, but it is what it is I guess! Tahnie's schedule is demanding and she's rarely free, so when we plan things at the last minute, she rarely will join us. We missed them.

The boys were not excited to find out that the surprise was a sleep over, until later when they realized the sleep over was up there. They thought it was just another sleep over at our house! Their eyes lit up when that realization hit! They played us hard and wore us out fast! We swam in spite of the rain the next day, played pool, played ping pong, played and crafted in the play room and swam some more. It was hard to finally call it a day and clean up to head home! I wish we could have had the whole week up there...maybe another time. I enjoyed every minute of each day. Loved the getting to know my hubby again part! He's so good to me and I'm lucky to have him!

2010-06-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

So after Uncle Frank's funeral, I was headed up to Logan to the burial, but something pulled hard at my heart strings. Payson had an end of the year program that afternoon, and we had just listened to Uncle Frank's tribute of family and priorities...I decided I needed to be with Pays that afternoon. The burial and dinner, just wasn't as big. Although it would have been fun to visit more with everyone, it just didn't feel right. Kind of like Uncle Frank, or someone was whispering in my ear...go to Payson...that's what counts right now...so...I was going to hug my little ones as Uncle Frank would have. So after reaching Farmington, I got off the freeway and headed south to Mick's. I'm so glad I did. The look on Payson's face was SOOO worth it. I tried to get some pictures of me hugging him and Mick's little family...but we kind of suck at pictures, so well..again, use your imagination!

A hug for Uncle Frank...who have you hugged today?

2010-06-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

My sweet Uncle Frank Bradbury passed away on 05-16-2010. When I heard the news, I was of course sad, but my next reaction was truely...good for him! Yeah for him. He has endured to the end and all is well with him again! Oh how I hunger for him to come get Mom! Is that bad?!
I couldn't attend the viewing due to my work schedule, but I was able to have the day off for the funeral. I arrived early by myself as everyone else had to work or other obligations. Linda had taken Dad to the viewing the night before as we thought it would be easier on him not to have to sit for a period of time. I greeted my sweet Aunt Joy and gave her my love! She was so at peace as I had talked to her as soon as I heard. So thankful that he didn't have to suffer any longer and the sweet blessing of having him at home! How lucky! It was so fun to see all my loved ones who I spent so much of my childhood with. Aunt Joy is my Dad's sister, but Frank's side of the family adopted us into theirs when I was very young and we spent many camping and holiday celebrations with them. I was the adopted cousin and I felt at home with each of them. Oh, how I have missed them all!
Uncle Frank had a hug for EVERYONE! Anywhere we went, he was flirting and lovin on the people who waited on or met him. And they LOVED it. He was immediately loved by all who he came in contact with, he was a tease and a flirt, and had a laugh for everyone! He just made you smile by walking in the room!
Uncle Frank and Aunt Joy are so much of my memory as a child and young adult. Uncle Frank baptised and confirmed me and maybe even blessed me. He stood where my Dad chose not to! How I love them for not only that, but for loving me and including me in so much a part of their lives. It was a perfect sleep over place and to head out camping with them was an adventure. Many trucks and trailers-many times having close to 100 of us to gather. So many cousins strung out along several tarps. Oh how we laughed and played so hard until we dropped. They taught me to fish, to hunt, to play cards and games and eat and just love and enjoy one another as family! How I want that so with my own family!
One of Robert's girls put together the most beautiful book in honor of Uncle Frank and Aunt Joy. She states in the book how she wanted Frank to have a book of pictures to look at as his memory failed him with the dreadful disease! I cried as I looked over this book. So much a part of me was etched in there as well. So lucky to have been a part of his life! I will miss you my dear sweet uncle. But I know you are with your family who you have missed so much. Tell Doug and Jeanie Hi! And all your awesome brothers! What a reunion that must have happened when you crossed the veil, I'm almost jealous!

Happy Mother's day to me!

2010-05-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Mick & Brandyn joined us for dinner. Tahnie had to work and her family had taken Kallie to Wyoming with them. Shawn & Angela joined us for dessert...but camera had been placed on the shelf at that point I guess....I stink at taking pictures!
Rick barbequed for all of us and then we all joined in a family baseball game..I love the picture of Mick...even little ....un-named baby was part of the play! She looks so cute prego! The boys just can't get enough of all of us playing together. It WAS fun...and I'm with Mick...I see an entire family game of baseball coming our way, wouldn't that be a blast!
I LOVE having my family together...it's getting harder and harder to have them all at once...they all have their inlaws we have to share with..it's getting easier for me to share...but..well...it's just hard! Life is too crazy!
The biggest joy I get from life is knowing that my family surrounds me. We have had our trials, but we all love one another and that's what matters right! I couldn't be more proud of my kids..they have each developed into such great people and I LOVE their choice of spouse! They have truely become a part of our family that I can't be more happy with! It's such a joy to have each and every one of them around us! Thanks for always honoring your Dad & I..for always loving us and trying to be the best you can be! We are so proud of each of you and feel so blessed to call each of you our Friend! Being a wife and a mother has always been such a joy to me...it really is what defines who I am! I'm so very lucky! Love to each of you!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

2010-05-15T11:28:00.001-07:00

As most Sunday's go, we spent the afternoon with my Mom & Dad. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the picture of my Dad & Mom holding hands is one of my favorite things that I get to experience each week. I love watching the enduring love my Dad has for our Mom, who no longer knows who any of us are. He loves touching her, just holding her hand, or patting her leg. She's very receptive to him and acts like she knows who he is, like those touches are HOME to her. But nothing else is famialiar or makes any sense. Some of her sentences make sense, like "I haven't seen my Daddy lately, have you?" and then she give us the "mixed salad version of a sentence, with lots of words that don't go together and then she begins singing a hymn to us! This disease is awful and wearing! I HATE it! and I miss my Mom! The picture with Linda & I was taken two years ago, when the disease began to take a toll on her..two years later, we have a "scarry creature" as my kids will describe but one healthy strong woman that is holding on for who knows what. Really...what is this purpose...I just don't know! It's heartbreaking to watch my Dad be so lonely and grieve for the loss of his sweetheart that he has yet to bury!
SIGH!

CONGRATS SHAWN

2010-05-15T10:35:00.001-07:00

After attending Iowa Western, BYU, BYU Hawaii, and the University of Utah..Shawn graduated with his Bacherlor's degree in the Humanities department, majoring in Communications-walking with his class on May 7, 2010. I can't express how proud we are of what Shawn Has completed! There was two ceremonies at the U and we wanted to be at the one where he received his diploma! He wanted to hear Governor or Ambassador Huntsman speak, but more importantly to us was to see him receive what he has worked so hard at! We joined them for the graduation ceremony at 11 am. Shawn has worked hard and accomplished a major goal that he set many moons ago! Taking on the full responsibility to pay for his schooling getting only lunch money or small donations from us. Thank heavens for soccer scholorships and school loans that helped him so much! We know that he'll move forward and far in all that he decides to do! He has started working in a sales position with Angela's uncle Todd, called MBOFFICE.me. They offer Architectural Services, Web Services, Admin. Services, and Creative Services. He's way excited to be a part of this new company and we wish him the best in whatever he endeavers! We couldn't be prouder!
We had a great celebration with our family and Angela's family and their friends at our house, of course everyone sporting the true colors of the U of U! It's good to see all the support that he and Angela have around them!

Kallie turns 2

2010-05-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Kallie turned 2 on 04-27-2010 and we celebrated with the whole family the Saturday following. Kallie's a little firecracker...does not stop until she drops into sleep. Her movements are all so girlish..she prances when she runs and she has the cutest move to brush her hair out of her face...I wish I could catch it on film! She loves her cousins, and her Grammpa...both Rick & I were walking down the hall the other day, me in front and she ran to us shouting "Grammpa"...what...am I invisible! She'll take our hand and pull us to the toy room or wherever she wants us to go...she loves to have someone join her and watch her dump all the toys out of the buckets! It's a joy to have her here with us! She loves the car we gave her and she loves to play in her kitchen...she's known to go fill the cups up with water and dump them into her sink..problem is..water is from toilet...ewwww! Gotta love those 2 year olds! Chris & Tahnie gave her a mini tramp...it's been so cold that she really hasn't been able to enjoy it. Hope spring arrives soon!

Happy Birthday Mick!

2010-05-09T00:28:00.000-07:00

Mick just turned 28...wow...did I really say that! I can't believe it...did we blink and just jump from her as a small baby...and now she's a beautiful wife and mother of almost 4!
I'll never forget that late Friday night that she was born. It was the ol days when I was in the recovery room trying to get warm and Rick was beside me on the phone. For a new daddy who wouldn't even consider the thought of having a girl first, he was babbling on and on about how beautiful she was to our good friend and neighbor, Karen Bingham down the street! Most of our family who had been at the hospital had all gone home, but Rick was still on cloud nine and would remain there for quite some time! (28 years maybe...he's always been a sucker for his little girl!) He just couldn't get over how perfect and precious she was...neither could I. Our lives changed forever that day...as we entered into the role of parenthood. What a blessing she has been in our lives! Mick is fun to be around, she can make you laugh and is such a good listener! I've turned to her more times than I probably should have and I'm grateful to not only call her my daughter, but my best friend as well! Over the past year, I've sat back and watched her...it's hard to explain. She became a great Mom right away with Payson...but today...it's more than that. She's developed into this grown-up woman, with a beautiful family, right before our eyes and we couldn't be prouder! Happy Birthday Mick...we love ya to the moon & back!

What's better than a "gramma day?" A WHOLE week with them!

2010-05-08T23:43:00.000-07:00

Mick & Brandyn had the opportunity to go to Cancun for Brandyn's sister's wedding...we got the opportunity to take care of the kids for them. It was a blast!
I arrived Sunday night to spend the night so I would be there bright & early when they headed to the airport. Kallie joined me. That was a little nerve racking at first, but it was fine. It was fun to play with all the kids, but man...not as young as I use to be! Monday night, after a fun day at the park...well I was exhausted! It was good to see Chris when he picked up Kallie. Preslie would not let me put her down-so the two little ones was a handful I'm not use to!...but hey...we bonded and now we're great friends!
The weather didn't cooperate to the extent I had hoped, but we managed to still find fun things to do! Talan is a great artist, and loves to dictate things for Gramma to draw! Payson loves being the big brother. He was a great help when he stuck around. He's Mick's little social bug and LOVES his friends. We chased baseball practice, and just hung out with one another and found time to play at Hollywood Connection for a little bit of miniture golf and Liberty Park to the Tracy Avairy to see the cool birds. We had hoped for more outside play, but rain rain, wouldn't go away! Grandpa would come join us after work and it was good for all of us to have him as part of the play group! The kids think their Grandpa is pretty rad! Too bad I didn't get any pictures of it! The week went by so quickly and I can honestly say, I miss being a stay at home Mom...but now it's not my turn...it's Mick's and I'm so glad she gets this opportunity to be at home with these sweet kids of hers! And I'm so grateful we get to be so much a part of their life! Grandkids truely are the sugar on top of it all! There really isn't anything better!

2010-04-17T23:12:00.001-07:00

Wow...where do all the days go? I am overwhelmed at times as to how fast time travels through each and every day. Today, as most days off go, I only accomplished about half of what I wanted. There's just not enough hours in the day. I often wonder if I'm capturing all the important things. Am I leaving a mark that will be remembered for good? Do the ones that I hold dear and closest to my heart, really understand how much I love them? How grateful we are to have them a part of us! It's truely an honor to be their parent! I sure hope so! Because I am very blessed with a great hubby who is my best friend and kids that I can call friend as well.
We've had several conversations with our kids lately. Trying to express to each and every one of them, that it's "Family" that matters. That it's "Family" that makes us who we are. I was telling one of them of an interview I had many moons ago with an airlines. It was the second interview and the interviewer was asking about me. "Tell me about you" she said. So I proceeded to tell her of my family, my 3 kids, what I have been doing over the past few years with my family, etc. She stopped me and said "No, I asked you to tell me about YOU." What she didn't understand was that "My Family" is me. It's what defines me and who I am. I'm very proud of that. They make me who I am and I love them more than life!

2010-04-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

This evening we went to watch Pays play in his second baseball game of the season. He's now on the "big" fields. He was awesome. He got two hits and on base both times. When may I ask did this little Pdawg of ours become such a little boy! He's such a natural athlete that always picks up any sport that you introduce him to! And he's competitive! He's so much fun and he will always hold a special place in my heart. This week, starting tomorrow night, I get to hang out with Mick's kids while they head off to Mexico. I CAN'T WAIT! I'm as excited to do this as I would be to head to the beach! I have missed hanging out daily with these kids!

2010-04-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

I love my Bunco ladies! I really do! We really know how to laugh and cry with one another! I have played with this group for about 20 years. We're not all the "original" group, however most of us have been together for most of those years. Delee Skeen invited me to join and she has since dropped out. I miss her! It's her sister in laws that actually started the group-Holly & Sheri. Anyway, we have been through many things together and mostly we laugh and just enjoy each other once a month. We have laughed, cried and worried together. We had babies together,went nuts with babies hanging onto our legs, wondering if they would EVER let go, gone through dating years of our children and have sent missionaries out and then married them off, and now we're becoming gramma's together and taking care of our parents, or losing them together! It's been a great way to stay in touch with my good friends who have moved away. Each of us being so supportive of one another. It's been so fun to get to know these ladies that I would have NEVER met! We are spread out all over the valley! Last week we gathered at Cheryl's home and she shared with us her story right now of her little Grandson who has just been diagnosed with leukemia. UGH! My heart jumped. My heart aches for her. He's just barely one year old. Not much older than our dear Preslie. I wanted to run right over to Mick's house just to hold her and hug her! Why must such a young innocent child suffer so! (I know your answer, just don't like it!) Two of our Bunco girls are missing, that's why only two at one of the tables. Patti is training for the trek she is in charge of and Jane was out of town I believe. I feel blessed to be a part of this group that gathers. We each hold a piece of one another's heart and well...just to summ it up...I love them with all of my heart and feel it an honor to be a part of this group! We decided the other night that we're all going to the same "Old folks" home together, that way we can play bunco anytime we want!

2010-04-17T22:03:00.000-07:00

Kallie is not so much of a "Gramma" fan these days. I believe right now she views me as someone who will take her away from her Momma time, so she doesn't want too much to do with me. This particular night both Tahnie and Chris were trying to do homework and Kallie was not interested in that fact at all. So I was trying to distract her. Thought making something quick that she could help me with would be fun. Rice Krispies sounded good! She loved pouring the goodies in the pan, of course after sampling each one, and stir, stir stir! It lasted about 5 minutes, then she had had enough. We tried for a cute picture, but she wasn't having it! Oh well, it was a fun 5 minutes that I was a "ccol gramma!". We'll get there!

2010-04-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

I LOVE having the kids over. They wear me out, but we just love it. Here's just a few of them playing. Payson is playing with the Meyer girl who they have had so much fun with. This weekend here was the day they were moving out. The owner of their home decided not to extend their option of lease to buy. Makes us so sad, they were such a good family and so good for Payson and Talan to have someone fun to play with, even if it is a GIRL!

2010-04-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

The Lion's club always sponsors a large easter egg hunt at the ball diamond n our stake and Brandyn's parents always volunteers to help bring it together so we try to go support it. They place several thousand plastic easter eggs out amongst the field and they have the kids go in age groups to gather all they can. It was a COLD spring morning and the kids needed hats and gloves. WHAT am I talking about, we ALL did! Notice the red noses!! Preslie even got into the action and was in heaven with just one egg in hand! It was hard trying to keep up with all the kids. Payson is in the big 7 year old section, Talan in the 4-5 yr olds and the girls in the baby section! Tried to get pictures of all, but just not fast enough on my feet! The kids loved it, even though it was FREEZING!

2010-04-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

After the Easter egg hunt was over, Mickie & Brandyn needed to go back to Lowe's for a part for their new dishwasher. Payson didn't want to go so he came to our place. Talan on the other hand wouldn't leave his Dad's side. He had really missed him while he was working in Casper and it felt SOOO good to have his Daddy home. I love how he is Brandyn's shawdow. It's pretty dang cute. Anyway, Pays came to our place and I decided we needed some easter colored eggs. Even though no one really eats them. Not after I tried to poison Rick & Shawn one year...(now that's another story for another time-and probably not in writing!) So Pays colored them, then Talan decorated them with stickers when he came over. We need to plan that tradition just a bit better next year. We need to have all the kiddos together doing that!

2010-04-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

Aunt Joy had her annual easter egg hunt and luncheon at her house. I traded days at work so I could take Dad out there. The weather was very cold and Dad's in a lot of pain with his back and hips so he decided not to go. I was sad. Just don't know how many more opportunities he will have for that kind of thing, but I really wanted to go. So I invited my family and some of them joined. I miss Aunt Joy & Uncle Frank and all their family. I have some of the fondest memories from my childhood with them! I went on many of those hunts myself, then turning the magic age of 11-then you get to be a helper! That was SO COOL! We got to color them and hide them...we were in charge of that and Cecil and Henry would be in charge of the money that we won! nickel or dimes written on some of the eggs that were hidden. I remember hunts done at two of the different cafe's they use to own, and then moving it to her back yard. It was fun to see everyone. So many there now that I couldn't pass the name test...but that's okay....your at Aunt Joy's and that's pretty dang special. This year was her 65th hunt...crazy! And I didn't get one picture of her. DUMB! Uncle Frank wasn't there. He has fallen and hurt his back, causing his Demensia to set him back further, just like it did for Mom when she got sick. Aunt Joy has hopes that he can come home when he's sronger. It's so much to care for him on her own, even with the grandkids downstairs...that's a lot and I worry for her! I know too well what she is going through! I HATE old age. I'm afraid of it!

2010-04-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

The Girl's finding their baskets

2010-04-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

Easter afternoon was a blast. One of Shawn's Bishop from his mission was here for General Conference with his family. So Shawn asked if we could include their family in our celebration. I was excited! I love meeting the people that loved my boys while they served the Lord. This Bishop speaks english, along with his sister and brother in law who also joined us. However, his wife and 2 children did not. That made things interesting, but none the less it was fun to visit with them and include them in an "American" celebration. We had the festive ham and potatoes dinner, along with the easter basket and egg hunt. All the kids enjoyed it! Shawn told me they had two girls, but found out in time thankfully that indeed their youngest was a BOY. Oh no, Easter bunny brought a PRETTY PONY DOLL! UGH! Shawn had to make a quick trip to the local Walmart to save that mess, but all ended up perfect. I can understand why Shawn loved this family, who wouldn't! And I can see why he's on his 6th year I think he said of being Bishop. Wow...that must be hard. His sister Lily that also joined us lives in American Fork and feels very lonely for family. I told her to come to us as often as she would like!
The picture of my legg with papers on it tells us "It's a Boy!" (it's impossible to read) These cut out letters were in several easter eggs of their own for Mick & Brandyn's announcement of what they are having! I just knew it was a Girl!

2010-04-17T21:24:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Sundays with my parents. It's exhausting both physically and emotionally most of the time, but I have really grown to LOVE this time with them. It SUCKs royally watching them go through this nightmare, but it's an honor to serve them. I'm grateful I get the opportunity. Mom no longer knows who I am. Last Sunday, she vehemently (SP??) told me I WAS NOT her daughter. I just laughed and said whatever Mom, now please will you come with me back to your room so Dad can visit with you!" She still breaks out in song during her conversation with us. They tell us that all just love her at the Center, that she's funny and loves all the people. She scoots herself around in the hall in her wheelchair most of the day. One day she pulled the fire alarm, not just once, but twice. She reads everything, but I've noticed as she reads Dad's hat, she isn't reading properly anymore. But she must have made out the word "Pull!". Linda & I got a good laugh out of that one! She's off in some lost world of her own. I'm grateful she's happy. Dad, on the other hand is miserable in physical pain as much as his heart breaking. He misses her so! As I have said many times, it's so tender to watch him as he wants her to be as close to him as possible while we're there. He'll scoot her chair right up to him so he can hold her hand and pat her leg. She ALWAYS softens as he kisses her upon arrival. Many times it will take a few to get her to give into that kiss, but once she does, her mood changes. It's pretty darn sweet to watch! One lady at the center will say, so "Your George? your for real?" Yep Yvonne, he is very real and he's Nona's!

2010-03-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

Man...I need to be better at blogging! So much going on around here and nothing is recorded by pictures or journaling! What am I thinking!!
Saturday, we had Mick's kids while she worked and really enjoyed them. Kallie played for awhile too while Chris & Tahnie went birthday shopping for Tahnie's Mom..and not ONE picture. What was I thinking! We truely love having the kids here. They bring us so much joy and they keep us on our toes! Grandpa, play soccer with me, play baseball with me, play football, gramma, will you draw with me, play cars with me...sometimes we're okay with the question, "can I play the computer?" yes...please, go play the computer! PHEW we want their energy!
When Mick got off, Mick, Ang & I took off to Gardner village. Mick wants some new furniture and wanted to check out the sale. We were going to have the kids picture's taken with live bunnies until we found out the price..EEK! $85 per sitting. Are you kidding me! They are cute pictures, but well...not THAT cute. We'll take our own. The boys didn't want to go, and well...Mick needed some grown up time. So they stayed with Grandpa and us ladies left for a few hours. It was fun. I'm lame and only broke out the camera for Preslie. I really need lessons on this. We should have taken pictures of us girls as well. I really enjoyed the time with Mick & Angela. I love spending time with all of our kids! They each have grown into people that we are so proud of. I'm in awe as I watch Mick develop into this grown women with a family. Sounds weird, and I don't really know how to express it, but she's this developed wife, Mom, housewife, who is doing an amazing job with her family. She's become her own person, who is not only my daughter, but my friend! She's funny, loving, kind, and thoughtful of others. I'm lucky to call her my own! Angela is an amazing wife to Shawn. She's so supportive of all his desires. She also so thoughtful. She was telling us the other night how she went to her visiting teacher's house, because she's homebound with a small child who can't go out right now. She thought she needed a lift so she went to visit her. WOW! That's the true vision of sisterhood! I was touched by that!
Chris & Tahnie are officially moved in. Last night was their first night sleeping over. They have slowly been moving things in throughout the month, and made the final move yesterday. It was hard tearing the boys room down totally, so they can make it their own. I'm not sure why, but it meant, putting their childhood away I guess. I'm okay with Mick's room being gone, why was it so hard for theirs? Who knows. When Chris & Tahnie came to clean out Chris's room...I was a little stressed. So many garbage bags used and taken outside to be thrown away. So many things that were part of who Chris was as a little boy! I didn't want to part with many of them! I have to confess, I went dumpster, or garbage can diving. It was especially hard to tear down Shawn's. He's always wanted his room to remain the same. So his kids could go down to what use to be his room. I would have loved for that in a way...but at the same time-it doesn't make sense right now! Don't get me wrong...it feels good that we have the room to provide for a "lift up" for any of our kids. We're happy to have them. Putting away memories was hard for not only me, but the boys as well. Especially Shawn. I've lovingly packed them away...so that some day, we can pull them out for his little ones. Maybe make a cool office display for him someday! Silly, I know. But I love those times with our kids! Now, if I was a great blogger...I would have taken pictures of them each cleaning out their rooms, and packing it away...but well...you'll just have to use your imagination.

gramma AND grampa day..YEAH!

2010-02-27T21:28:00.001-08:00

"THERE'S NOTHING TO DO!" Just ask Pays...he's sooo bored...or just trying his hardest to get Gramma to give in and let him play the computer....!
Today, Mick had a training all day and Brandyn had school so we had the kids. I told Payson afte Preslie had her nap we would do something fun.. Mick called and told us about the Kid's safety Fair and it was free...Free is always good!(check out Preslie cuddlin with gramma! Yeah...she never does that! I rocked her to sleep for the first time in months! Awwee! gotta love it!
So we headed out there to see what was up. We checked it out on the internet and Pays said it looked fun! So FINALLY...as Pays would say, we headed out the door. There was alot of sales stuff for all the "mommy & daddy's" there, but some fun stuff for the kids. Talan's main focus was getting his face painted. Believe it or not by his pictures, he's loving it and sat up in the chair like a big boy and told the lady all by himself what he wanted on his face. He wanted Batman! He can give some looks to kill...just like his Dad...but he was loving it all the same. They played golf, hit some balls, played disc whatever you call it...and Payson even held a big snake...ewwwee...Talan and I didn't want any part of that! It was a fun date with them! Preslie was awesome. Just loved sitting back in her stroller checkin out the people, except in the real crowded parts where all she can see are people's behinds...she gets a little cross at that point..who wouldn't!

2010-02-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

Well....I walked past our calendar this afternoon and realized February is basically over....OVER! Must say I'm glad. Soooo ready for spring! I hate winters! They seem eternally LOOONNNG! So excited to see the grass drying from the snow and tulip leaves peeking their way out of the sad brown ground! Yep, I have been diagnosed with Spring fever!

January was busy...I'm not sure with what...just busy! Played with the grandkids as much as I could...took a shot at ice skating with them...(pictures above), Payson was a champ, Talan could have been, but not too solid on his feet so he was scared. He said "hold me gramma"...hmmm no, I'm just barely standing myself! But it was fun. Love spending time with them. Should do it more, would really be great for these largo legs of mine!

Toni was in town for a few days and had a few hours to share with us! I was so excited. I have found this friend in her that feels like..well...I'm not sure. Like I've known her forever! She has this love of life that is so contacious! Rick knows and loves her from long ago...and well, she really touched and probably saved his life in many ways. And we both are eternally grateful for that, but more importantly...she's a great friend now...so much fun to be around! We follow her journey as she blogs each day, and find such a strength in her that stands so tall.She amazes us in all that she does and the love she radiates to all she meets! I think of that often throughout my day, whether I'm in the elevator headed up to my pod world or in the store. Toni speaks and smiles at everyone! I wish she could see the joy she brings to all she meets. She will become your best friend the minute you meet her-I wish she was closer, but hopefully Rick and I will head up to see "Her beach" in Oregon real soon...this summer anyway! Can't wait! We went to Park City for lunch while she was here and just bummed around main street looking at all the gallery's we could find. It was fun to bum out of work early and head up there with her. Rick wanted to come, but Shawn's car broke down and he needed his Dad. He was glad to help him!

I sold the extra bed in Mick's old room and decided to make a play room for the kids. I had Cindy, (Ang's Mom) come over and paint the walls with a tree with a swing, clouds, a sun, and wrote the words to the song " I have a family here on earth..." all around the room. I painted one small section with magnetic chalk board paint for them to draw on. So far, Talan Loves that part. Payson loves the fact that they have a TV in there and is begging for a WII system in there.. and Kallie plays in there non stop, especially when she's the only one here. Even little Preslie seems to enjoy the room as well! It was fun having Cindy over to paint. She's one talented lady, and well a lot of fun to be around. She & I have a lot in common...and she's sooo easy to talk to. I wish I had more free time to spend with her! I hate that my life is full of working hours! My fault though...so I'm not complaining...really I'm not. Many don't have jobs. I just wish I could change the amount of hours I have to be there! Hey...if anyone finds a job that pays 40 hour week, but I only have to show up for that pay like maybe 20...I'm there! We would make a great team..just call me!

2010-01-26T16:26:00.000-08:00

Yep....he's in the money.....he's in the money....YAHOO for Rick. His name was read out on the "ARROW" on Monday, January 25th. They are going to double his paycheck...(for one week).

Frank...sorry...I'm not Rich...Rick is...you'll have to hit him up for the loan---j/k~well we'll see how much he really gets and if Uncle Sam gets his not so fair share! It's ALLLL HIS! LUUUCccKKY day for him...MAN that NEVER happens! Thanks ARROW...and don't make fun of my hubby for not getting excited...he does...you just have to know him to understand him---he HATES the phone! I'm just excited he heard you and called back...hey Do you know how to get a hold of "OVerhaul mY Truck"....if he's running a lucky streak...lets keep on down that road uh!!!

2010-01-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY T-RAY!

Me: Talan, what would you like for your birthday?

Talan: I want a bees shirt that is black right here and gray, and maybe some buttons.

Me: man, that's easy!

Me: (a few weeks later)...Talan, what can gramma and grampa get you for your big 4th birthday?

Talan: Gramma, I told you, all I want is a bees shirt. Annnd, maybe some pants.

Me: What kind of pants? (we're on the phone).

Talan: uh...like these gramma, geeez! That's all! I weally want them!

So he got them. A bees shirt, levis and a ipod shuffle so he can rock n roll like his broffer!

Talan is so fun! He says and does the funniest things! His expressions are priceless!
We had a great time bowling with all the family then a scrumptous dinner at Mcdonalds- YUM!! Thanks for having us! We had fun!

Sunday's

2010-01-10T16:38:00.000-08:00

Sunday...
What is a Sunday to you?
Church at 11 am....YES.... a sleep in day! How I LOVE them. Rick hates them! He wishes church could be over by 9!
It's attending a meeting here or there with various assignments to bring people unto Christ.
I love our calling....did I really say that? Don't tell them that though! J/k! I don't like the searching for those lost sheep, (I feel bad for an awful comment I shared with Shawn & Angela last night-they know what it was and I'm sorry, I need to try harder) but I LOVE teaching those that have come for comfort or looking for the truth! It's truely an honor to facilitate that class! I don't know how else to describe it! What a honor to be a part of that! Have you ever noticed the change in a room when you testify of Christ!

Sunday's consist of ALOT of driving...good part...one on one time with my Man!
And...Serving my parents.
Today, Dad's not feeling well. Coughing and sore throat. Doesn't feel up to the visit with Mom but wants a pizza! Delivered and visited, watched a bit of a game with him and carried out his wish to check on Mom. He said today, "I think she likes it there!" I do too Dad! But I didn't share the part about how I don't! It doesn't matter! Her cushion to her wheel chair is missing again. Really, how do they loose these things. Her clothes...they come and go even when they are clearly marked with her name. But her pad to her chair. She's in the chair most of the day. Only gets out to sleep and they say she doesn't nap. SIGH! She's uncomfortable without it, she lifts herself in her chair and groans while we visit. I ask for help in finding it...little response but they will look. Yeah, right! Why don't I believe them! Mom's eyes look different today...kind of grayish. Empty, but she's talking about all kinds of stuff. It doesn't make any sense but the words consist of family names, mostly those from Louisiana. She talks about Stacey...said she's gotta work on getting something for Stacey. I tell her I don't need anything..she's totally confused at my response. What would I know, she was talking about HER Stacey! We leave her before meal time. I don't like being there for that....too frustrating as she plays mostly with it and ends up with it on her lap. I try to help her, she gets frustrated...just isn't worth it for either of us!

Now we come home to a quiet house. Linda tells me I will learn to like it. Not so much! I'm happy and proud of our children and happy they are creating wonderful lives of their own. It's still loney without the noise here! I love their friendship we share and hope it grows deeper as we all grow older!

2010-01-05T17:01:00.000-08:00

so notice in the first picture of ladies...Carla suggested we pull a funny face..hmmm...girls...you weren't listening! So Carla & I are the ones who will play uh!!!

New years was awesome. Just a quiet, quaint dinner with dear friends hosted by the sweet Jensen's. I LOVE these people. They are such giants in all they do! Such examples of Christlike love and well...I just can't get enough of them. We need to hang out more! This little saying describes these sweet people as well as another I sent this too....(you know who you are!) And to those who couldn't make it...we missed ya!
There's a miracle called Friendship

That Dwells within the heart

And you don't know how it happens

Or where it gets it's start.

But the happiness it brings you

Always gives a special lift

And you realize that Friendship

Is one of God's Most precious Gifts!