October happenings

This month has gone by so fast. James came home the end of September. And just left the other day. he was home for a month. I don't know about other wives out there. But if we didn't need the money from James' job, I would love for him to stay home! I love spending every day with him. We get along better now, after almost 16 (yes that's right) years of being married, then we did when we first got married. I keep hoping that we win the lotto or something so that he can stay home.


Anyways, We got a few projects done while he was here. We, well he did it cause I wasn't home, put in a 5 foot wide fence to hide our garbage cans on the side of our house. Also we both along with the help of Kaleb, Austin and Austins friend, Bryce, dug up the area behind the fence so we could put in a cement pad. I have always hated seeing the garbage cans, so now we don't see them when you pull in the driveway. Sorry its late and i know I'm rambling.


Also, I went to Seattle (that's why i couldn't help with the fence) with my dear friend Lori. We flew out there so that we could drive her van home. It was shipped from Germany to Seattle. So we had an awesome road trip home. It was long, but I had a blast with her! She knew James before I met him, so it was great to hear a few stories about him :) hehe



We had a bonfire night with our neighbors, the Monson's. They had dinner and a pie contest. So I made my yummy Chocolate Ribbon pie. I didn't care about the win or anything, i just wanted to place. So the Judges went in to judge the pies... Then they came out to announce the winners. So they started with the first place winner. They had given us all a number so that they could us them to keep track. So they said, and the first place pie winner is, and they said number 1!! And Kaleb said YES!! That was our pie! Kaleb helped me make it. He used the beaters to mix it up. So it was a big deal to him. I let him go up and collect the prize. It was a lovely baking dish with yummy apples in it, and some of the Lavender Hill Honey!! Yummy Yummy!!



Let's see, what else? Oh yeah, umm I had a sinus, ear and chest infection. That was fun. I got antibiotics from the Dr. But I didn't finish them. So the infection ended up going into my broken tooth. It hurt so bad! Then the night before i could go to the dentist, the infection drained into my cheek and my jaw where my bad tooth was. It was horrible. It looked like I had a golf ball in my cheek! So my little chicken self went to the dentist with my wonderful hubby by my side :)
Dr. Larson is the best ever!! If you need a dentist, go to him! He fixed me up as much as he could for now, until the swelling is all the way gone. So I took the meds, and it made me very very sick! I thought I got the swine from my sis in law who was sick the day before i got sick. But nope. it was my meds. And of all days it happened, it was the one year anniversary of when my dad passed away :( I missed the whole day! I wasn't able to go the cemetery to let go of the balloons that we do. It was really hard for me to miss it! But James and Kaleb went, cause Austin was a bit sick too.



My dad... I miss him so much every day!! It hurts so bad knowing that he will not be here with us to live our lives. To see my kids grow up into wonderful men. He was such a great example to them and I hope that they hold that with them for the rest of their lives! My heart breaks for Julie. She lost her husband at such a young age! She is such an awesome lady! She was the one woman that made him so very very happy! I love and admire Ju with all of my heart! She is the best!

Murder Mystery Dinner Party

We had a Murder Mystery Dinner party the other night. Our good friends The lowreys, Moved back from Germany (well Chad is visiting with his family for a bit then he will be deployed to Iraq) so we had to have a party for the time that he was here. We had such a great time with everyone!! I must say, we do have great friends that love doing this with us as much as we do! We loved all the funny accents and the skits that had to be done! It was such a wonderful night with great memories with great friends and family.

This one is Lelani (Lori) the beautiful hula dancer. And Les Baggs (Chad) The clumsy tourist

that lost his luggage

Then here we have Holly Day ( Carol) the sexy billionaire's wife with the eye popping shirt (hehe). And Bo Jo (Matt). The former surfer boy with his own line of surf boards. He was the murderer!

Here we have Naudia ( Chelsey) the stunning swimsuit model by day and a man eater by night. And Cheif Weki Weki (Brady) He was the chief of his tribe.

I had to just show this one with out my costume. I was just a golf Lady, so I was in shorts and T shirt, But James was Rip Tide. He was a scuba Diver that had to swim to shore cause his boat broke down. Rip is giving us a shot of what he had to do to swim to shore.

Then finally a group shot of us all. It was a great night. We must do it again!

Some thoughts for the day...

Today James left for work again. He was home for about 11 days. The job before that, he was in Pennsylvania for 5 weeks.

I have mixed emotions when he goes to work. When he goes, it means that me and the boys are alone. It is good to spend the time with them cause they are growing so fast. It means I have to fix the things that need to be fixed while he is gone (i don't mind it at all). And when I can't do it myself, Brady is always good to help me out.

But on the other hand, when he goes to work, it means that he is getting paid. And when he gets paid, our bills get paid and we can pay down our debt that increased when he wasn't working for 6 months.

It means that we can get projects done that need to be done. Like the stairs in the garage. When we put a door into the garage from the house, James put in a temporary staircase. It was a bit steep, but it was worked for the time being. Then while he was home he was able to build a new one. It is much nicer then the last one. He did a great job on it.

Also we started cleaning out the garage (that needs to be done at the end of the summer anyways ). James and I made some very cool shelves for the garage. He saw a pic of them online, and they turned out so cool! They hold some much of our crap that was spread out on other shelves through out the garage. But we were not able to finish cleaning out the garage before he had to go back to work.

I love and support James in everything that he does, tries to do and that he has accomplished for his family and himself. He can do anything that he sets his mind to. I love his willingness to try new projects, and then the look on his face when he gets them done!

I hope our boys are picking this up. You can only teach them so much as children, then they are on their own with what you taught them. And it is up to them to do with it what they choose.
I think we have done a good job with our boys. Time will only tell.

Summers almost gone...

Today is the last Sunday we have before my kids put on their new clothes, new shoes, new backpacks and head off to school. They both will start on Thursday Aug 20th. That will also be Karlee's 17th birthday!! I can remember the day she was born! Time is flying by to fast!!

I love it when my kids are home for the summer. I love laughing with them. Austin has become such a clown. I am already expecting phone calls from his teachers. But that's ok, that is who he is. And I am grateful for him! I love snuggling on the couch with Kaleb. He is also starting to develop his own sense of humor. He doesn't always make sense, but he sure tries.

Kaleb is going into his last year of elementary. 5th grade. And Austin is heading off to 8th grade! WOW my kids are getting old! I love that they are developing into their young adulthood, but i do miss them as my little boys.

I remember people telling me when my kids were younger, to cherish every moment with them because they grow up so fast. I thought, yeah right, whatever! I thought it would never go by fast enough sometimes. Other times i wanted to pause time and hold onto it forever. But the time sure does fly by. I see young moms when they are in the store with their kids throwing a fit and i just chuckle. I miss it, but i don't want to do it again. lol

We had a scary thing happen last week with Austin. I am grateful for the wonderful people that helped save him! Not that i didn't know before, but life is so fragile. And when you are given a second chance at something that you thought you might not have had, you need to do everything in your life to the fullest!

Getting older

Yesterday was my birthday. I don't care to much in celebrating my own birthday, so i don't look forward to it coming each year. But it does no matter how hard i try to avoid the day.



On Saturday Julie and her family came up to Brady's and Chelsey's for a bbq for my birthday. It was bitter sweet. James wasn't there. He has been working back east for a few weeks now. I don't thinkhe has been home for my birthday in 3 years. lol. That's ok though :) And this was the first year with out my dad being there. That was hard for me. I kept my sunglasses on (we were outside) so that if I got teary eyed, it wouldn't show.



Over all I had a good Birthday. One of the best in a few years, but the worst also cause I will never have another one with my dad again. But I do know he is there for me and with me everyday.

My Bug

Today Kaleb had a birthday party for his 10th birthday. Wow I cannot believe he is that old :( He invited 8 friends. And some of them weren't able to make it. There were 3 that did. He was thrilled just to have them here.






Time sure does fly by. Sometimes you look back upon your life and think wow, where did the time go. I had people tell me to enjoy my kids while they were little and I thought whatever it goes so slow! But no, it doesn't. It flies by like none other! I am the parent to a 10 yr old and 13 yr old. I miss the baby stages and the toddlers and everything else. I don't want to do it again, but I do miss it.



Enjoy your family in the now, You never know what tomorrow will bring. Cause when you look back upon yesterday, the days turn into years.

Reese's homecoming

On Mothers Day, my cousin Reese came home from his mission in Africa. It was great to see him come home!
On the following Sunday we went down to hear him talk in church. Reese is such a great person. When he speaks you can hear a bit of his french accent in his words. He prepared a very nice talk. He spoke about the things he learned and the things he is grateful for. One of the things he was grateful for, was the chance to get to see my dad out there in Ghana. He was very happy to be able to see him, little did he know, it was the last time he saw my dad.

Me and the boys went to stay up and Denzil and Judy's house on Saturday. I love to go up to see our family. They are such a great group of people to be around. It was great to get away for the weekend to spend some time with them.

Austin hurt himself while we were up there. He hit his ankle on the window sill. We thought it was broken. Even the Dr thought it was broken before the xrays. So all these visions went through my head. The sight of Austin in a bright green cast on his foot. Or a black foot brace for the summer. Luckily it wasn't broken! They Dr told him to stay on crutches for a week. He told him this on Sunday at the Dr. And then he used the crutches at school on Monday. But when it came time for his 7pm soccer game that night, he worked his foot and stretched it and walked around on it so he could play in his game. And yes he did. He played the entire game! And his team won the game! 4-0!! it was great! that was the first win for them this season. They have tied a few. but no wins yet. Until that game!

It was great! I have so many blessings in my life and I am grateful for all of them!

The pantry pics

Here they are. The before and after pics. I love the new pantry's. They are great! I am so happy that James put them in for me. He is a wonderful hubby!

New Pantry!

Today James and I spent most of the day in the garage cutting and nailing wood to make new slide out drawers for the new pantry we are putting in the kitchen! I am so thrilled to be getting these done! I have very little space in my kitchen for anything! I keep most of my little appliances down in my food storage in the basement. Whenever I need something i call to the boys who are down there already and ask them to bring up whichever item i am needing. They don't always like doing it, but they are good kids and will do i for me anyways :)

I am thankful that James knows how to do this kind of stuff. He is very patient with me. I do know how to do a lot of things that most girls don't know how to do, but the things I don't quite know, he helps me learn.

Tomorrow will be another busy day. We are ripping out the old cabinets in the kitchen and installing the new ones. And I have to make a fruit salad for Chelsey's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (tomorrow) Chels! And then also during her bday party we have a soccer game in Tremonton. So we have to hurry to make it back for her bbq. We don't want to miss it, but Austin has to be there for his game.

I will post pics later of the kitchen when it it done.

Mothers Day

I hope all of the moms out there had a great day!! I know I did! . Kaleb wanted to make me breakfast. So when James woke up Kaleb went to find him. Kaleb whispered in his ear that they needed to make breakfast for me. It was so cute.

Then a bit after that we drove to SLC. My cousin Reese was coming home from his mission! And on Mothers Day! My Aunt Dell was the most happiest person in the world today! He was serving in Africa. He was a skinny guy when he went there. He is even skinnier now! Dell will get him back to his old self in no time.

Then after we got home from SLC. My lovely step Mom Julie came over for a bbq. Her dad and her sister Christy (yeah I know, great name huh?) came over with her too. And of course Brady, Chelsey, Karlee and Jordan. We had a great time! We sat outside and enjoyed dinner, some of us played soccer and the a few games of frisbee... There was lots of chatting laughter and great memories that we had! Thanks so much to my awsome family for coming over to our house for the bbq!!! Love you all!!

Yard Work....

Jame and I have been working on the yard the last few days. It is looking great (even if I do say so myself).

Under the front windows of our house we put in some new flowers and mixed in some new mulch. Just to give everything a fresh new look.

We also planted a few burning bushes in the front of the yard next to the driveway to help hide our irrigation water filter. And the rock that sits there in the front, we hope to have our name engraved on that soon. We didn't do anything special, but we like it.

We hope to put up a new fence around the east side of our house and redo a rock wall, also on the east side of our house. James and I are hoping that some family will be able to come up and help us with that huge project. It will be worth it in the end, as is all of our accomplishments in life.

Trials and Tribulations....

So this is the first blog that I have done. So we will see how well I keep up with it. lol

The last 7 months of my life have been a struggle. Some good times, some hard times and some lessons learned.

First of all, the very hardest trial in my life occurred. My wonderful, loving, caring Dad passed away. Still not quite sure how. He had come home from the hospital after his 17Th surgery. This surgery (hip replacement) should have been his last one to completely fix him since his car accident in Feb 2002. Little did we know, it was his last and now he is completely healed and will never be in physical pain again.
Losing him has been the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. I wish we could have had so much more time with him. He was taken from us way to soon. I know that God has bigger plans for him and I struggle with that every day.
My kids are having a hard time as well. Last night I heard Kaleb crying. I went and got him and brought him into bed with me and just held him and talked to him. It breaks my heart that he hurts. He said that he misses the pestering that Papa used to give him. And he misses the dutch oven cooking and Papa playing with him at Bear lake. Kaleb was talking about how much fun he had with Papa on the wave runner at Jenn and Tyler's cabin at Bear lake.
When I was talking to Kaleb We heard a sound outside and it was a light rain shower that came through for only minutes. I told Kaleb that I once heard that when rain came like that for only a few short moments, that it was our loved ones in heaven crying because they missed us here on earth. So he felt pretty special knowing that papa was missing him too.
Then there is Austin. He doesn't want to talk about him at all. He wont go to his grave. Since he died in October, after the funeral and stuff was over, Austin has only talked abut him once. He said it is far to hurtful to talk about him. And makes him too sad. But the one time he did talk about him, he showed me a paper that he had been keeping notes on. He would write down his memories of Papa when they would come to him. I think Austin is more like James when dealing with death. Quiet and reserved. Trying to be there for everyone else. Being strong for those around you. I am very proud of the young man that Austin is turning into. And for the man he wants to be.
I am so blessed to have and have had, great men in my life. My dad was the first great man in my life. He taught me so many lessons. My Grandpa Paul. That is where my dad learned from. My grandpa is beyond words on how great he is. My Uncle Denzil. He is the man i turn to now when I would have turned to my dad. I have so many fond memories of him when I was a young girl. My Brother Brady. He is always there for me when I need him. He bought a home in Smithfield a few years ago. and months later when the house next door was on the market we bought it. It is so nice living next door. My kids love having their uncles house to just run over too. And last but certainly not least. My hubby. James. He is so wonderful! Words fail me when I try to describe him. I have been married to him for over 15 years. We have been through our own share of trials. But we have a very strong marriage because of it. He is my tower of strength that has gotten me through this very trying time. He is a wonderful dad to our boys. He is such a wonderful husband. I am very proud of him for all that he does for our family. And for all that he provides for us. He is the go to guy in my family. And they all love him dearly for it. As do I!