Nichole

I guess I should keep the family updated. (June)Nichole had been living down in Fillmore at a new foster home, her drug use was getting out of control. (October) The judge ordered Nichole to drug treatment for her Meth use. (Oct. 30) Nichole took off from drug treatment after 3 days. (Nov 1) Warrant issued for Nicholes arrest.
I asked Nichole to please call in and let me know she is alive. That lasted about a week and half. She stopped calling.
I know she is alive from her contact with other people. She did leave a voicemail Thanksgiving morning, I didn't hear her call and she never called back.
I also know she is still using. All we can do is pray.

Fun

Aspen's Baptism:

Halloween weekend! When we went trick or treating we picked up a puppy!...true story.


Chandler riding his quad enjoying the last of the warmth.

Summer Wheelin'!

This summer we have had a lot of fun riding our quads!

August Birthdays!

August we had a couple birthdays and now that Blogger seems to be letting me load pictures I will post some.

Happy Birthday Tyler! The big 1-5!!!


Happy Birthday Aspen!!! She is 8 my first born, only daughter and we are half way to dating and driving!
This year she wanted sooo badly to go bowling. So she had a VIP bithday party at Jack n Jills new Lehi alley.

Why?!

Why can't I get any of my photos to upload??? I have tried several times on different days! So no pics for now, no birthday photos etc.

18!?!?!?!

Nichole will be 18 on Wednesday, I can't believe it! She was over for the weekend so we gathered up some family for a BBQ. Matt worked on dinner for six hours, smoked pulled pork. I was just waiting for man and beast to follow their noses to our backyard. It was delish! Homeade tangy sauce, cheesy potatoes, fruit salad and birthday cake. Good food=good times.

Wait what?

It's July? I have been a blogging slacker.
What we have been up to:
I had my traditional Twilight party before another movie comes out. I did a "New Moon under the Moon" party, with the help of Matt's fathers day gift, a new backyard screen.
I went to see Eclipse with a big group of ladies and it was a lot of fun!
Fourth of July we had a bbq and a backyard movie, only fireworks purchased this year were sparklers. We can see the PG fireworks from our front yard!
Went to the sand dunes all day Monday and rode ATV's til we could barely walk.
Getting ready to go camping up in St. Anthony, ID hopefully we will be good with pictures. (bought a new camera, need to break it in...wait no lets not break it)

Chandler the 3 year old!

Chandler had a specific birthday party theme request. "I want a robot dragon party!" So the decorations were robot (table cloth, banner, cups) and the cake was dragon. We throw birthday parties on the even numbered year but we still let him have a friend over for lunch and cake.






Chandler always has the best luck on his birthday, last year he got on a real train and blew the horn, this year a fire truck!

3 things about Chandler:
1. He is a comedian and loves to make people laugh.
2. He lovvvvves fruit snacks, he is keeping Treetop in business.
3. Chandler loves his family, is very smart and is starting the horrible threes!

It's May?

This year is flying, when will the way time flies stop surprising me?
-I started a new job, I work at Allstate Insurance. I really like it, I work 3 days a week and the ladies I work with are a lot of fun.
-Matt is starting to get busy at work, the higher the temperature the busier he is.
-Tyler is counting the seconds til school is out. He watches the kids a couple hours in the afternoon til the parents get home, $$$.
-Aspen had her spring piano recital and then her dance recital, she did a good job...but as a dance group they kinda looked all over the place.
-Chandler is turning three in a week and we need to accomplish the potty training ASAP! He is signed up for preschool this fall and he can't wait!
-Nichole is still living in Orem, working and going to group everyday except weekends. She will start UVU in the fall.

Would post the videos of the recitals but having technical problems...no really...we even have the manual out...yeah that desperate.

A little early...

...too be this excited!!! I Booked the next Disneyland trip and I can't wait!!! I am so anxious...and...well...we are not going until September....:( That is a long time to be this excited! We are trying that time of year to test out the weather and crowds. I think it is going to be perfect.

Cancer sucks

Monday I had surgery at the Dermatologist's office again. I had a bump develop over a couple months and had him check it. He knew it was cancer. It was biopsied and came back as possible melanoma so under the knife I went.

We went in and I was already a little upset at the thought of a couple stitches and a small scar right there just below my collarbone. BLINDSIDE! He shows me with his fingers that they will be removing a rectangle of skin 2 inches wide and an inch tall. Instantly the tears hit me....have I mentioned or does anyone know me cause, I don't cry...like ever.... anyways all I could think is that I wanted to leave, not have the surgery. But of course I didn't leave or even mention it. Just cried. Apparently the bump is like the tip of an iceberg and it's spread under my skin, the Doc said "It's bigger then you think."

During the surgery all I could think of his was "seriously, again...already. how often am I going to be getting sliced and diced. will this take my life? I am so young. I am a mom."

The stitching up part wasn't so bad because I knew his PAC was awesome with stitches, my last scar you can't even see.

Matt was there holding my hand. Stayed as long as he could before he HAD to go back to work, thank you baby.

I left shaking and holding my ribs hoping I didn't fall apart right there in the office. The ladies asked if I should drive or if I wanted a coke. "No I am fine."

It feels super tight and I walk around hunched. Shoulders to my ears, I have to make myself relax.

I know it gets worse. That so far I am ... lucky?... people have worse cancer situations... I guess I am just scared.



On a fun note this is my 101 post!

Phoenix Spring Break

This year the spring break was a whole week! My Uncle David lives in Phoenix and offered his guest rooms to us. I thought how perfect! Place to stay, just a little extra gas money and an affordable week long vacation was planned! Well the weather was great and it was beautiful BUT there was no vacation from the whining, complaining and sibling rivalries, dang!

One day we ventured into Phoenix (David lives 20 minutes North in Peoria) to go to Smeeks, a store I heard from Nie. Sorry Nie but I was hoping for a bit more candy... you know paper bags and barrels of candy to load up on...this store was more novelty but still cute...I guess.


The we went to the amazing Encanto Park, where there is an island in the middle with an Enchanted Island with rides.



We also went out on Uncle David's boat despite the fact the water was freezing. Well Tyler really wanted to ride the raft. He seemed to have a lot of fun so I jumped on with him. That inspired David to go too fast and we were knocked off into the freezing ice cold water. SHOCK!


Thursday night Matt got off work and flew down to spend the weekend with us. Friday we went to the Zoo and Saturday we ate a box of popsicles and played in the sprinklers!

***On a sad note, we think we lost our camera. Maybe at a park... So I took a few pics with my phone and we had our camcorder but that camer was like $400! Well I hope it does turn up.

Seusstastic!

We had a Dr. Seuss party to celebrate the writer's birthday! It was a lot of fun and we put a lot of creative work into it. Matt and I attempted our first "fancy" cake, using fondant. It didn't turn out great but you know what Dr. Seuss' style was a bit sloppy so it all worked out!

Aspen Who with Thing 1 and 2!

Aspen Who and her hair




Green Eggs and Ham

Yertle the Turtle




We played games from the "Cat in the Hat", watched "In Search for Dr. Seuss" and the Lorax gave the guests some seeds to grow Truffula Trees!

Love Day!

Today I was determined to make my family feel loved...from the inside...by making them full!!!
This morning while making breakfast I had a scavenger hunt all setup for them to find their gifts. Each had their own set of clues and final destinations, they loved it! Then it was the full deal breakfast, pink pancakes, strawberries with whipped cream, hashbrowns, sausage and bacon all topped off with OJ. We are on the late church schedule (1-4 ugh) so before we left I served homeade hot coco and butter pound bread, ya know to hold them over til dinner. Made from scratch Lasagna, caesar salad, breadsticks with sparkling cider. Man do they feel loved!!! ...or full...

Thanks son

for the laugh!



Checking on kids before bed and we find Chandler like this!! I think it is extra funny because of his tent, so just his little legs are poking out. The flash of the camera didn't wake him or daddy moving him. Too funny!

North Carolina

So Matt and I went to North Carolina in January, looking at homes and jobs. Matt got two job offers but after looking at homes we knew we were not suppose to move there. N.C. was beautiful and full of trees!


We enjoyed exploring Raleigh and having some carolina bbq at "The Pit". We were both ill and on Nyquil most of the time but it was nice to sleep without Chandler waking us in the night!

Cousins Party photos

Christmas 2009

We had a fun Christmas at home with family. Started the morning with a delicious breakfast and then presents. Most of the day the kids played the new Wii, in the evening Matt's parents and grandma came over for dinner. Prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and finished off with pudding. It was a great day!

The anticipation


Nichole and Tyler

Aspen

Chandler and Daddy


Happy Holidays!!