Forgotten Carols!

For part of our Christmas from my parents, we were taken to Ruby River Steakhouse, and then The Forgotten Carols. We have gone almost every year. IT is such a great way to bring the Christmas spirit into your heart. The music is amazing and very thought provoking. We had such a wonderful night, thank you so much mom and dad we love you. After it was over I bought the new kids version of this story, and then they all autographed it for me. If you haven't gone, then you need to go next year.
Oh yeah and Merry Christmas!

We are Thankful For...

We were able to spend Thanksgiving with my family this year and then drive up to Star Valley and have a second Thanksgiving Dinner with Ethan's family on Saturday. It was fun to be able to see both families this year because usually we trade off.
As we were driving we were talking about things that we were grateful for and as with everyone there were a lot of things, but here are some of them;
*I am thankful for my health and my little familiy's health. After having Cancer hit so close to home you realize how quickly you can lose someone you love.
*I am so thankful for my family both extended and my own little energetic family. I can't imagine not having family close by to see, talk to, and interact with.
*I am so thankful for the gospel and how it extends itself into every aspect of our lives. How although we are not exempt from trials we are handed some tools that help make them so much easier. Watching family that is not active or not members struggle and seeing an easier way out has made me appreciate the gospel and the peace that it brings so much more.
*I am thankful for good books to get lost in, even though my husband can't fathom how I can sit and dissapear into a book for hours and love it.
*I am thankful for crafting and the stress relief that it brings, and the satisfaction of making cute things instead of buying them.
*I am thankful for the people in my life who love me and who are my best friends. Thank you for letting me be myself, a little crazy and silly at times, but myself.
*I am thankful for Dr. Pepper! It is my nemesis, but I love it.
*I am thankful for my calling. I am so greatful that is makes me step outside of myself and my comfort zone and makes me talk to people I don't know yet. I have always really loved interacting with people, but haven't as much as I get to now. I also love the sisters that I work with in our presidency. I learn so much from them all of the time, and appreciate their friendship and wisdom too.
*I am thankful for service and the happiness that it can bring if we will only do it.
*I am thankful for cooking! I love it and I love new recipes.
*I am thankful for cute shoes and chunky jewelry.
*I am thankful for my relationships with my grandparents, the things that I have learned from them, and their legacy they left behind.
*Along with the last one, I am thankful that I am sentimental. I know that not everyone is, and even in my family most of my siblings are not as sentimental as I am. But I was made this way and I am glad. Silly things mean something to me that don't mean anything to other people.
*We are thankful for people supporting Ethan's business. You will never know how much that means to us, having the love and support of those that we care about is such a blessing in our lives. It is the true show of love and kindness to us. So thank you, and we love you!
*I am thankful for the snow. I love the snow! I actually love any kind of weather:rain, wind, snow, sleet, hail, rainbows and sun. I just love the seasons and the way that you never know what to expect with the weather.
*I am thankful for living in a place where most people are mormon, and even if they are not they respect that you are.
*I am thankful for adoption. My mom was adopted, Ashlynn was placed for adoption, I have 1 nephew, and 2 nieces that were adopted. It is something that I will forever be greatful for the effects of it in my life, and something that unless you have experienced it in some manner you will never fully appreciate it. It is truly a sacred process.
*I am thankful for holidays giving us an excuse to get together. I love to celebrate things. My mom has always been one that celebrates things big. Even for Valentines, and St. Patrick's Day she would give us little things. I love birthdays too, even if they are mine and I am getting older.
*Last but not least, I am thankful for Ethan. He is so wonderful and sweet. He is a great dad, provider, priesthood holder, and spouse. He does so many little and big things that make my life easier. Half of which I probably don't say thank you for. Ethan I love you and thank you for loving me and my quirkiness (if that is even a word), you are the best, and "I love you just the way you are".
There are so many other little things that come to mind that I am thankful for, but that will do for now.
Thank you Heavenly Father for all of the many blessings in my life, I know that they come from Thee!

October Fest

So this month has flown by as usual. We have had so much going on, and most of it was so much fun. We went to a pumpkin patch earlier in the month with Gauge's preschool. There was a mini corn maze for the kiddos, and then they got to go pick out their pumpkin.











Then we had our Halloween Costume Party with my family. We made our own pizzas, and had a few different activities. We decorated cupcakes, and there were two versions of don't eat pete. One for the kids, and one for the adults which included; vienna sausages, artichoke hearts, and beets. There was candy involved, but it was way funnier to watch someone eat the other things. The kids colored pumpkins, and my dad made his famous Homemade Rootbeer. We had a blast.

Then there was preschool party's and Trick or Treating. What a fun time of year.

Hats Hats Everywhere!

So a few weeks ago we threw a hat party for my mom. We wanted to kick off her chemo with a positive twist. So we had an open house with good food, and fun hats! We told everyone to bring a hat or scarf of some kind so that when my mom loses her hair from chemo she will have choices. There were some really great hats and she will be able to use them sooner than we hoped. They told her that within 2 weeks of her first chemo treatment she would start to lose her hair. We were trying to give her friends and our family a chance to show how much we love her, and to show our support for her at this hard time in her life. It was so nice to get together and everyone including my mom seemed to enjoy themselves.
Since then my mom has had her first chemo treatment, and the first day things seemed to be going okay. Then the second, third, and fourth day hit and I have never seen someone in so much pain. She said that it felt like someone stabbing knives in all of her joints, and then were twisting them back and forth. She moaned and groaned and clearly was in excruciating pain. How hard it is to have to sit by and watch not being able to do anything to ease the pain. I have always known that my mom was strong, but I had no idea the amount of strength that she posseses. I love you mom and you will be in our prayers.

Hair or No Hair? That is the Question.

Ever since Enza was 9 months old she has pulled her hair out. Strange? Yes, but it gets worse after she pulls it out she eats it. I think part of that is because she is young enough not to know that it is really sick, and that everything goes into her mouth. IT has been sporatic until the last couple weeks and then it has gotten alot worse. I finally called her pediatrician and he was concerned. So we had to buzz Enza's beautiful long, thick and curly hair. She had a bald spot that made her look like Friar Tuck before we even cut it from all of the hair that she pulled out. IT was so sad to see her hair getting cut off. I cried. I know that it is just hair and that it will grow back, but it was hard that my little girl no longer looks like a girl. Her hair is shorter than our boys hair. We did go get her ears pierced and it helps, but only a little. We had to get a blood test to see what the levels of iron, and lead were. There was one other test, I'm sure what it was. IF all goes well which we are hoping it does then she will be fine but we may end up having to do a scope or scan to see how much hair is in there and if there is a good amount then they will have to go in and surgically remove it. The body won't digest it and it can be really dangerous, and can get tangeled up in her intestines.
I know that in the grand scheme of things this is small but right now with everything else that is going on it feels big and scary.





Here she is with no hair, but adorable flower earings. It is starting to grow on me. I find if I put a head band and big flower she looks like she just hasn't grown and hair yet.

Soccer!

As most of you know I love, love, love soccer. So Cruze was old enough to sign up this year and I was so excited to get him into soccer. AYSO called and asked if Ethan or I could coach and I said sure. I was so excited to coach and be around soccer. Well our little team is cute as can be and I love it. It is so cute to watch the kids run around like chickens with their heads cut off all the while they are tackeling eachother. We have one slight problem and that is that Cruze absolutely will not play. He cries and melts down when I try to get him to play. He is really good at it when we play at home and when we practice but his anxiety is enough that he will not play for the game. I am frusterated and a little angry with him, because he wanted to play too. Ethan has informed me that I just can't be his coach. I still have all of next season to coach this same group, but then I think I will give it a rest and retire.

Bear Lake

We went to Bear Lake for Labor Day, and yes I do know that this post is a month late. I just wanted to do the post because we have some really great pictures.

This is the cake that I made for Ethan and Gauge's birthdays, it was pretty good.

Ethan opening his birthday cards and hitting the jackpot with some money.

Gauge absolutely loves the toys that he got from everyone. Thanks guys you are the best.

Our manly men, need we say more.

Cruze and Gauge in the ice cave. It is a cave that is open on top but it stays so cold that there is ice year around. The pioneers used to come up here to get ice for their ice boxes.

These were some really pretty berries that I saw and just had to snap a pic.

On the morning that I was in charge of breakfast I couldn't get Ethan out of bed. So Chase and I thought that is would be hilarious to have Chase climb in bed and put his arm around Ethan like it was me. So this is a picture of that and let me just tell you, it was as funny as I thought it would be. Ethan thought it was me and was rolling over to kiss or snuggle me. Hee Hee Hee! Thanks Chase and thanks Ethan for being a good sport.

This is a custom welcome-home-we-think-we-are-funny-so-we-are-going-to-draw-on-your-face and chest picture. We love you Chase and are so happy you are home.

This was a ping pong game called around the world. IT was so much fun.

These next two pictures are of our bracket for our ping ping tournament. Now I know that none of you realized what a force to be reckoned with I am at ping pong, but hey a girls just got to win sometimes. Okay so actually I am surprised as you are. It was fun I hope it is something we can do again.

I don't know if any of you have ever played the card game golf, but it is a family favorite. So this picture is of the losers of the rounds we played. We drew on eachothers faces. The next night, we did it a little different and the winners from each table got to draw on the losers from the opposite table.

The next group of pictures is from the minute to win it games that Danielle and Alan came up with for us to play. It was boys against girls and it was such a blast. I don't think that was the last of that.



The next pictures are from the beach, our favorite part of the lake. IT is so nice, because our kids are at such great ages to just play and not need us walking right by them the whole time.

Jizdani Designer Bags!

I cannot even tell you how gorgeous these handmade handbags are. My friend is doing a giveaway of this beautiful Handmade Handbag.Go to this link to see what a great bag this is and enter to win. I hope you don't win, because I want this bag, but I guess all is fair in love and war.
http://ptskjohnson.blogspot.com/2010/09/jizdani-designer-bags-giveaway.html

This is the link to her Etsy Shop. You can check out her other bags too. http://www.jizdanidesignerbags.etsy.com/

The Proposal!

Her She is!

Can you see the heart? It is one of my many favorite things about this ring. I also love the thickness of the gold, and the thick prongs, I will never lose my diamond.
Okay so it was not actually a proposal, but it was close. 18 months ago I lost my wedding ring, for those of you who have one, you can imagine how sad it was to lose it. IT wasn't the monetary issue for me, it was the sentimental aspect of it, and the fact that I absolutely loved, loved, loved my ring. We had had it made just for me. It was so sad, and my dear husband has not let me forget that I lost it and it must not have meant much to me if I lost it so easily. As you can imagine this really ticked me off, because it was actually the opposite and it made me sick that it was gone.
Now that you know what happened 18 months ago we can move on. As many of you know from reading my blog last week it was a rough week. It also happened to be Ethan & Gauge's birthdays. We celebrated with my family in Bear Lake over Labor Day weekend and Gauge's was on Sunday of that weekend so we thought that was good enough. Months ago we had asked my mom to watch our kiddos and I had this great and I mean great date planned for Ethan's birthday. Well after everything the last couple weeks we decided to have Danielle & Alan watch them and go out to Rodizio's on Friday instead. Then after all the emotions all I wanted to do was curl up in my pj's and watch a movie. Ethan would not drop going out to dinner, and he was driving me nuts about it. I told him if he got a babysitter we could go not thinking that anyone was going to be available with an hour notice. Well our sweet niece Loni was available and Ethan went and picked her up and took me to my favorite restaurant Macaroni Grill, after that he drove to Ensign Peak and I was wearing heals and thought he is crazy if he thinks I am hiking in these. I wasn't going to say anything, because it was really sweet that he planned this out of the ordinary date for me, for his birthday. So he turned on the song "Just the Way You Are", by Bruno Mars and asked me to dance (which is something he used to ask me when we were dating). Then at a predetermined part he pulled out MY RING!! Which he had remade for me by the same jeweler that we thought had gone out of business. I actually thought that he had found my ring when I first saw it, because it was the same.
It was so sweet and thoughtful and the most thoughful part was the timing of everything. Thank you Ethan you are the best at everything you do and are, and I love you just the way you are too! XOXOXOOOOOOOOOOX Thanks for being mine and I look forward to the rest of eternity with you. Happy Birthday to ME! I told Ethan that I really don't mind if for his birthday every year he gets to buy me a gift. Not too bad eh!

Where to Begin!

It's not really that late tonight, but I can't sleep. My mind is racing with thoughts of how do we do this, what can we help with, and what will the outcome be? A week ago last Tuesday we found out that my mom has Uteran Cancer. She has been sick in and out of the hospital, and doctors appointments for the last 4 months. They thought that it was a thousand things but none of the medicine helped with her pain. They finally did a biopsy during one of her surgeries and found CANCER. They did a complete hysterectomy on Tuesday and took out 20 lymphnodes. They biopsied those and found out that 5 of them are cancerous. Because she got diagnosed with uteran cancer first, and then it was found in her lymphnodes it means that she has both kinds. in a month after she is healed and strong enough they will start Chemo and Radiation. My poor sweet mom, doesn't deserve this. She came home yesterday and then had to go right back up there really early today. She was throwing up and her heart was racing like crazy and wouldn't slow down. So she is now in the Cardiac ICU. They found a spot on her lung, her blood enzymes are high and one of her heart valves is enlarged. Unfortunately the news just keeps getting worse and worse.
To top all of this garbage with my mom, my grandma that we live with/take care of fell on Tuesday night and cut her head open. I had to take her to the E.R. and they had to put staples in her head. She came home that night not stable on her feet anymore and so we had to take stations at the end of her bed all night long. We have decided that we can not give her the 24 hour care that she needs anymore. IT is truly breaking my heart at the prospect that tomorrow we will take her to an Assisted living home and leave her there alone. I can't even fathom how any of us are going to walk away, knowing that with grandma's Alzheimers she will be so lost and so much more confused. I know that this post probably sounds pretty negative, and I don't mean to be a downer, but I need to write it to get it out of my head. Whenever I try to voice this it still doesn't feel any better, I don't know what to say.
I guess I am just mad that you always just feel like your mom will always be there. Then when there are major issues with them that you can't help and have no control over you feel like you have wasted so much time. I feel like I have totally under-appreciated my mom. She is such a wonderful example and teacher of so many things. She is kind and patient, and serves everyone around her. She has such a calm temperament, and just lets things go instead of picking a fight with people, because she would rather not upset people. She is wise and she has such a great testimony, and knowledge of the scriptures. I just hope that we get to have her here for a lot longer. We still need you mom. I love you more than words can say. XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

P.S. Thank you so much for all of the kind and caring people who have watched my kids, brought us dinner, prayed for my mom, called to check on me, cried with me, and understood that I just needed a listening ear and shoulder to cry on. And of course Red Mango, thanks Amanda. I have never felt so loved and blessed to live in our ward and have the friends that I have. I love you guys you are the best!

The Lion King!!

SO we got to go see the Lion King last night at Capitol Theatre with my family. It was absolutely amazing. You always hear how great the costumes are, but until you see them for yourself you have no idea how truly incredible they are. We went out to eat at the Olive Garden before which of course is a tradition for my family whenever we go see something at Capitol Theatre. Thank you Mom and Dad for an amazing night and for always making sure that our lives were balanced with sports, music, family, service, culture and laughing. You are such wonderful parents and I am so happy that you are mine. I Love You!!

Cutest Headbands Ever!!

A friend of mine from Jr. High and High School has just barely started selling these adorable headbands on Etsy. You should go check out her blog to see some pics, and if you love them, then buy a few. Good luck Tonii!


http://ptskjohnson.blogspot.com/

Weekly Thought!

The weekly thought is about self worth. I think is is something that as women and moms we struggle with. There is definately times that it would be nice to get a few more thank you's from those we love.

"I am certain our Heavenly Father is displeased when we refer to ourselves as a "nobody". How fair are we when we classify ourselves as unimportant? How fair are we to our families? How fair are we to our God? We do ourselves a great injustice when we allow ourselves, through tragedy, misfortune, challenge, discouragement, or whatever the earthly situation, to so identify ourselves. No matter how or where we find ourselves, we cannot with any justification label ourselves a "nobody." As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up, our arms out, and walk with him." Marvin J. Ashton, "In His Strength," Ensign, July 1973, 24

Have a great week and remember we are all important and have many different things to offer to those around us.

Oh Brother Where Art Thou!

My little/big brother got home from his mission on Friday. It was so exciting to see him. Two years seems like an eternity. It went by fast and slow just like everything else in life. He has been serving in the Nova Scotia/Newfoundland mission. We are all so happy that he is home. For about the whole first year he was gone Cruze kept telling me that he wanted uncle Chase to snuggle him. The kids love him so much, as do the rest of us.

Weekly Thoughts!

Many of you may know that I am the secretary in the Relief Society Presidency. I love my calling, the presidency I am so lucky to get to work with, and I love the sisters in our ward. This calling has been so great for me to be able to get to know so many more sisters than the ones that I previously worked with in YW and Primary.
So I am now doing weekly thoughts and/or quotes through our email and I have decided that because they are uplifting I am going to put them on my blog. Some of them have questions and I would love it if you added your two cents on my comments.

This quote is about the unity in our home and the effect that the mom's attitude towards her family can have. After you have read the quote ask yourself, How can I increase unity in my family?

"May I suggest that we give more of ourselves...It might be something as simple as smiling more in our homes. What would you think of speaking more cheerfully? Trying more often to say please and thank you? What would you think of finding an opportunity for one sincere compliment for each person each day and then watching them respond? What if you decided to be cheerful tonight at the dinner table and at bedtime, and in spite of what others do or say, hold to your course. " H.Burke Peterson Conference Report Oct. 1972

What a challenge, good luck!!

Star Valley

Enza playing on the blanket waiting for the fireworks to start.

Gauge playing at the park

Cruze going up the ladder on the slide. The kids played at the park as well and had so much fun. Poor Enza had to hang with me instead, because there was no sand just little choking sized rocks.

Earlier that day we were outside playing on the dirt bike and exploring grandma and grandpa's yard. Star Valley truly is one of the most beautiful places on earth.


We went to Ethan's old stomping ground and had the boys race around the track. For those of you who don't know Ethan was an amazing track star in junior high and high school. He placed at state and could have got a variety of scholarships but chose to work and save money for his mission instead. I would like to say that he was blessed with me for his efforts. He is still a very impressive runner. I wish I had that problem.



Every year over the 24th we go up to Star Valley Wyoming to be with Ethan's family for pioneer day. They have mountains, fields, and the ultimate Candy Drop. In case you do not know what a candy drop is you are truly missing out. It is when a small airplane flies overhead and drops candy to all the waiting kiddos. They love it and rush to find candy, however my kids were so enamored with the big airplane that was flying low that they didn't get much candy. I kept prompting Ethan to go and grab some candy for them. Either way they loved it and keep talking about it.

All in all we had a very nice trip and the drive wasn't too bad. Bless the portable DVD player.