I have so many amazing memories of you. The highlights: Snuggling with you and Grandad in your bed. Playing office with Leah and Emily in the Apple tree and you bringing us all the supplies and apple slices we could ever dream of. Faking sick from school just so I could get the special treatment on the couch: Clean sheets, a steamed potato with milk and just the right amount of salt and pepper, a show, and you on the other couch for companionship checking on me every few minutes. The famous 7up floats, orange jello salad, toast with applesauce, and pork n beans with hamburger. Going out to Kirtland and spending the night with you while you took care of Aunt Peg. Talking me through an extremely hard time when I was in 7th grade. Holding my hand as I was going in for surgery. Stories all about the Aunts and Uncles- I made you tell me these over and over and you never acted like you minded. In fact I think I loved it so much because we would sit and laugh and laugh about all the "stupid" things they would do. Bringing us the Aunts clothes out of the closet so that we could pretend like we were going to all the dances. Getting our special poems for our Birthdays. Getting us the big floor pillows so that we could be comfy every time we watched a cartoon. A visit EVERY time I was sick accompanied with a mason jar full of homemade soup. Leah and I decorating the Christmas tree with you and Grandad right before Christmas. Leah and I standing in the back of the El Camino holding the new refrigerator all the way from Sears and you being so mad at Grandad for letting us do that. Helping us get ready for all the garage sales in the carport with Grandad (who would just end up giving all the stuff away and we made a $2.00 profit when we could sneak in a sale). Picking me up from all my basketball practices at McKinley. Helping me with my talks-this is when I would give them. Always knowing exactly what I needed to hear and telling me that some of my boyfriends were interesting.
I think the biggest lesson I have ever learned from you is service. You never pushed it on anyone but you were constantly doing something for someone. It wasn't always convenient, in fact it never was but you did it ever since I could remember. Fixing smashed dinners for Grandpa Tanner, Aunt Peg in the bedroom being moved every 30 minutes so that she would not get sores, Taking care of Aunt Elsie when she had alzhiemers, changing Grandpa Jones' dressings on his head when he had cancer, taking care of Gwen and all the hours spent over at their house, taking care of the Bloomfield's, Always making sure Deedo had a fresh tablet and sharp pencils, You truly knew how to make a person feel at home, comfortable, and loved. I could go on and on.
I guess the main thing is that I really love you and have such a deep respect for you and words will never be able to depict the effect you have had on my life.
Warning: This post is extremely long and a tad bit personal, you may want to skip over:). This is a journaling post.
In July 2001, I had the opportunity to marry my prince. I have never looked back and and feel sometimes that I am playing the main character in a fairy tale. Yes, everyday is not always puppy dogs and rainbows but I can say that it is most of the time.
For Mothers Day Justin surprised me with a scavenger hunt with the kids. At each stop he told the kids a story that went with the clue. The crazy part was how much Nathan was into the stories and the whole hunt part. It was a blast! He is definitely more creative than I give him credit for. Here it is:
Clues
1. Go to the place where the magic began, where TRUTH was revealed and commitments made, all options out there and Mommy chose to start loving daddy and sealed it with a special action.
We went to the place where we had our first kiss, which was in the driveway of my parents house. Justin came home from his mission and was getting ready to go back out. He explained the situation to me and I began to fall in love with him from that day on because I knew he had his priorities in order. I sealed the deal and planted a great big smooch on him. Justin was emotional as he told the story. This is one of my favorite things about him.
2. Get in the car and start driving toward the place where many people go to see and hear the same thing many times during the day and evening.It’s a place where laughs are heard, tears are shed and relaxation can happen all in the same place.
Off we went where we had our first date: The AMC 24. We both love movies. He knew I had never been in a limo before, so he borrowed his dad's and picked me up. I sat in the back and he drove. On our way back from the movies, I kept smelling the WORST SMELL (if anyone knows me at all, you'll know I hate yucky smells!) Pretty soon I discovered that it was my feet!!! I had on these rubber sandals from target and it created bad news! He whipped the limo into the Safeway parking lot and off he went to buy me odor eaters. I thought to myself, Oh yea, I'm going to marry this man!
3. Wouldn’t you know it the next place to go is a place of beauty and magnificence, it’s a place that will be remembered for all time in Mommy and Daddy’s life.A place that has many many colors all around, and makes a great place for a nap!
This is the place where Justin popped the big question. We all got out of the car and went to the place he proposed and he told our engagement story. Nathan was way more into this than I could have ever imagined which of course deepened the experience for me.
4. Off we go again on the road to a place that springs forth with life and wonder, where miracles happen every day as well as hard to handle tragedy.Where emotions can range from joyful to misery, this is a truly a place set apart from all others.
We drove to sky ridge hospital where my babies were born. Justin took the boys and I to the new born nursery and told them the story of their births as we looked at all those tiny babies in their first few hours of life.
5. Time for a break, oh where shall we go, a place of bounty a plenty for all to enjoy, lets have a blast and wander to a place where they make excellent meals a place of delight and yummyness.Tucked away in a little corner it is by a SUPER TARGET we shall find this wondrous place!
One of our family's favorite places to eat is Costa Vida!
6.We have a good drive ahead of us with many places yet to go, lets go have some fun at a place we all love to go, where Watermelon seeds have flown and climbing have abounded, lets slide and have a blast so all will be astounded
We then made a quick pit stop to the Dairy Queen (little did I know this was part of the plan) for a little treat to off set our burritos and headed to our favorite park where tons of memories have been made. This is also the park where we have our 4th of July picnic every year.
7. To a place of magic and wonder, where worms are found and vegetables grow asunder!There is no place like it, we all love to go, where so many adventures happen and always get a show.So lets go enjoy the green bean cave and swing from the trees!
The answer to this clue is is my parents back yard. We live back here for about 10 months out of the year.
8.We’ll just drive past this next place, where mommy loves to eat her 2nd favorite treat!Nope not Dairy Queen as well all know mommy’s blizzard is long gone in the tummy it went and happy was she.No, this place has fun things for all, wonderful happy people to great and give free food away, we love to wake up and enjoy yummy things from here!
This is Chick fil a. Every Friday morning we load the kids up in the car, jammies and all and go have breakfast here. I look forward to this all week!
9. Onward we go to the place we get sun, the place we get wet and the place we have fun!Lets go enjoy for we all know we love to shake, rattle and roll.Take a deep breath for under we go for the first time this summer, off we gooooo!
The pool. We live here in the summer (along with the backyard)! We take strawberries, blackberry's, grapes, watermelon, sandwiches, frozen water bottles and spend all day here!
10. As tired campers we must journey onward to where? The next place of course!This is one of the most magical places of all!This place we all love (most of the time) when smells abound a plenty (good and bad).A wondrous place where there are no other worries in the world!Where running around is fun, acting like a dog is great, where drawing on the walls will get you in trouble, but hey who cares!We love this place!Lets go rest and enjoy the rest of the day!
This was one of my most favorite clues because we all love home. It is seriously one of my most favorite places to be in the entire world. When we got home there were roses, chocolate bars, and homemade cards from the boys. Pitter- patter, pitter-patter I don't want this day to end! Any ideas for father's day?
You find your only $20 cash you've had all year in the toilet.
The lady in front of you took the last sanitizer wipe and you look down to see your toddler sucking on the shopping cart handle.
As you are driving 70 mph down the freeway, a large board book is chucked into the side of your head and as you react you try to miss the concrete barrier two inches from your front bumper.
Your cute munchkin has a cold and as he kisses you, you are wishing upon a star that it is only slobber you feel in your mouth.
You hear a loud bang, followed by another, and another, and another and realize you better hit the floor as balls and toys of all sorts come flying out of the ceiling fan.
As you are walking out the door with keys in hand and on time for your big important meeting, your sweet baby goes squirt-squirt in his pants yet again and you become known as the late girl.
You hear silence for 3 minutes and when you walk into the bathroom you notice big brother has taught little brother how to remove paper backing off every panty liner you own and are sporting a brand new look as well as redecorated the entire bathroom.
Your son(who of course you think is the SMARTEST and cutest) clips out a HUGE chunk of meat out of his tongue using dad's super sonic clean toenail clippers.
Your little one is thoughtful enough to cover your cute black shirt (the one you only were for special occasions) in peanut butter and orange marmalade throw up.
You hear your son jumping on his bed at 1 in the morning and realize he is doing the potty dance while still asleep. As you move at lightening speed to the bathroom you see that he relieves himself just before you get the toilet seat up.
You hear your kids screaming just as you place your razor right above your ankle.
The phone rings and they decide to go into meltdown mode. (every stinkin time!)
You walk into the bathroom wearing your favorite fluffy pink socks and are wishing so bad it was just water that is soaking in.
Hi, I'm now 19 months old! I love anything that has to do with making a BIG mess! I love when Nathan joins me, which is almost 100% of the time and that creates double destruction! When my mom catches us, I swear, she is so cheerful and happy, I can almost see the birds swirling around in the kitchen!
I love to laugh and have fun and give an occasional kiss here and there. I love to read books, dance, and sing songs, but mostly I love to be in a lap. I could stay there all day if anyone would let me. My favorite word is happy and that must be why my nick name is, Happy Pants!
This is the beautiful artwork we left for mom today and I know she thinks we are brilliant because we created this in about 9.2 seconds and used a plethora of radiant colors!
No, my mom is not expecting... Todd is getting MARRIED!!!! We are so excited for Martha to join our family and can't wait for the new flavor she will add. I'm so excited! AHHHHH! Did I mention the excitement? Okay, breathe!
Yesterday: 1. Took a walk with the kids to Kohls, and the grocery store where we bought 8 half gallons of milk for 50 cents a piece. 2. Went to the museum with Nathans class to study the dinosaur exhibit. 3. Tried, wink-wink, to teach the kids about service and swept off Mammy's deck. 4. Nathan and I washed and vacuumed out a much neglected vehicle. 5. Ate turkey and wild rice soup with Mammy's famous sourdough bucket bread. DELISH!
Today: 1. At the crack of dawn, went over with the kids and ate banana pancakes with Mammy.(she is missing her lover so we try to keep her company, but of course nothin's better than the real thing!) 2. Watched Tessa and got to do her hair! 3. Wrapped a baby shower gift that I already had in the closet. 4. Went to my volleyball game and tried not to re-bruise my knee for the 467th time. 5. Took the boys to the Falcon Bluff's track meet 6. We all watched the Wizard of Oz and ate oranges before bed.
Tomorrow: 1. Make ooey gooey popcorn for the birthday girl: her name is Debbie:) 2. Take kids to the Disney store so they can each give them 3 plastic bottles and receive a free gift. 3. Eat leftovers: chicken, broccoli, and sun dried tomatoes with bow tie pasta. 4. Go get all the ingredients to make Italian sodas for a luncheon. 5. Put the kids to bed, catch up with Justin, and watch American Idol. 6. Put together teacher appreciation gifts for all the primary teachers.
What a special time of year! I feel like our family learned so much about the meaning of Easter! For instance: the egg represents new life as a baby chick emerges out of the egg. Who knew?! I love to reinforce the true meaning of Easter and am still trying to grasp the amazing concept of the atonement and the Resurrection. Wow, what a gift!
We filled the holiday with fun chats all about Easter and spring, colored eggs, made Easter cookies, went on an adventurous egg hunt with all the cousins, had an unbelievable dinner, and delivered goodie baskets!
