Owen's special day 2011

This was Owen's special day at Tana's. It was our 6th and final special day. After 3 kids spending 2 years each. It was in April and it was sad to think I would never have a kid doing a special day at preschool again.

He was very proud to show his poster to the other kids and share a treat!

April 16, 2011

I have really great friends. On Sid's 6 yr. anniversary of her passing the girls from work wanted to make sure my mind was occupied. A few missing from the photos. But we got together and brought our kids for some bowling followed by Golden Coral. It was a lot of fun and something to take my mind off the day for a few hours. Mike was gone so I appreciated the thought.

funny addie and owen

Addie and Owen making sure the are "protected" while riding their scooters. Funny kids!

sledding 2011

We love sledding the winter!!

Presidents Day and Rockin the Halls

This is Presidents Day 2011 at Sunrise Elementary with Addie. They did a really cute program with their class. The parents were invited to come. Mom, Dave, Aunt Vicki, Mike, Owen, and I attended.

Addie also got to "Rock the Halls". It is a program they have at her school. Depending on how many books you read you get AR points for it. She read enough to get to rock the halls. The parents are invited. And the kids who get the points get to run down the halls with the principal and loud music on while we line the halls with classmates and cheer em on. It was fun. Addie was proud of her medal.

Christmas 2010

Here are a few pictures from Christmas day 2010. It was a wonderful time spent with Mom and Dave.

Arlington and Aunt Mary

On Monday, December 20th we buried Aunt Mary. I will never forget how proud I was of her, even though she's not "my" Aunt Mary. We gathered at Arlington in a special place they hold the family until the funeral. It is all so precise and calculated. With burying something like 22 people a day there, I guess it has to be. Aunt Mary was a Lt. Colonel in the Army. She was a nurse. She served in World War II, Korea, and I think Vietnam. She was literally a woman pioneer of the Army. When it was time for the funeral we piled in our cars and followed the car carrying her body. I will never forget my breath being taken away as we rounded the corner of a little hill. There stood the band and soldiers all at attention for this Colonel. It was amazing. The band played and we followed to her final resting place. The funeral was short, but beautiful. I thought it was really cool how we had these rambunctious boys the whole time. Yet, they understand that at this time they needed to be quite and respectful. I am not sure who else noticed, cause I was in the back taking pictures, but Owen and Jake seemed to have an unspoken understanding that if they crouched down between the chairs, they might somehow keep warm. I thought it was really cute.

Rest in peace Aunt Mary. Thank you for the love and generocity you have given to your family all those years!!

More D.C

On Sunday, December 19th we toured D.C. Addie was so excited to see the Lincoln Monument. She was so cute with her own camera taking pictures. I also had shown her ''The Wizard of Oz". She absolutely fell in love with the movie and was shocked when I told her she could see the real ones in real life! We enjoyed our time at the Washington Monument as well. It was fun to go to the top. Mike pointed out if you looked really hard out the one side you could see in the distance the temple. It was also really neat to see the Vietnam Memorial. I couldn't help but think of Dave. He did great things for this country of ours. Along with countless others who put their selves in harms way for us each day. There is definately something about D.C that makes you proud of this wonderful country we live in!

That night after we got back, Addie pulled out yet another one of her teeth. Without a bit of drama. I asked her what she was doing in the bathroom and she said, "Oh, I just pulled out my tooth".

Washington D.C temple

On Saturday, December 18 2010, we were able to spend some time at the temple. By this day Carolyn and MaryAlice (mike's mom and sister) were in D.C. We were all able to spend some special time at the temple that day in our own way. I think it was special for Carolyn because it was her birthday and her children were all there. This is at night there. They put a lot of work into the light at the temple. I don't have any pictures that do it justice. It was so cold that night. We were all freezing to we didn't hang out there to long. I was able to go to the temple earlier that day by myself and had a very special time. That night after the lights we went to dinner together at a 50's style restaurant. I'm sure none of us will forget that dinner. We were all tired and hunger and it was very late. The waitress seemed to take forever. Keep in mind there are 12 of us. The next thing we knew they sat like 35 high school kids right next to us with the same waitress. Not good. We could barely hear and I think all of our patience was about gone. The next thing I know Mike gets out of his chair and turns around to the high school kids. I was about crawling under the table cause I just knew he was going to yell at these kids. We were all in shock. He then tells them it is his Mom's birthday and we are all from out of town. He asks them to accompany him in singing "Happy Birthday" to her. NOT WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING!! They all belted it out and it was great. I don't know about Carolyn, but my heart had stopped. It was a great end to the night!

Air and Space Museum

On Friday, December 17, we got to meet up with Jason, Erin, and kids. That is Mike's brother and sister-in-law. They drove from Florida the night before. We went to the air and space museum. The one on the mall and also a hanger off the mall. Owen is hugely into planes. We all had a really good time there. There is so much to see and do. This is me by the flight attendant part. I always wanted to be a flight attendant, but at six feet, I am too tall. This is the Black Bird SR71. It was Owen's very favorite. They also have a replica of the space shuttle. And too many cool planes to show everything.

Washington D.C.

December 16, 2010 we flew out to Washington D.C. Mike's great aunt Mary passed away and was being buried at Arlington National Cemetery. We flew in a few days early to explore the city. The night we flew in D.C had recieved some snow. It felt so Christmas-like. With the music playing on the radio, the snow, and all the lights. We met Mai and Ben, my longtime good friend and her boyfriend, at a local restaurant. It was perfect! We were in such a beautiful neighborhood and had such a great time. It was the perfect way to kick off our vacation! I always feel so lucky to have gotten to see Mai twice in 16 months.

Brandt and Kim's wedding

On December 4, 2010 Kim and Brandt were married in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a beautiful dinner and reception. Kim is my cousin's daughter. Her grandma and my mom are sisters. This is a picture of Kim and Brandt. This is one of my mom and her sister LuAnn. We were so glad to be a part of their happy day together.

2010 blizzard

We had our first snow. Then we had what the news was labeling "the 2010 blizzard". This is the kids playing in the first snow. This is pix of the blizzard. Nov. 23, 2010. They released school early. Mike and I were released from work early. Basically the news was encouraging everyone to be home early for this storm. As we live in Utah and get snow storms frequently this seems unusual. I made sure Mom was home. Patti had already gone home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Once I knew everyone was safe at home I could relax. For awhile I thought wouldn't it be funny if nothing even happened. Then in the late afternoon early evening it hit. Lots of blowing wind, cold temps, and snow. A blizzard! How fun. Because we were safe and warm in our home. This is us making brownies for the storm. This is a pic out my bedroom french doors with the snow. Should be fun digging out tomorrow!!

Crazy Addie and Owen

The crazy things Addie and Owen come up with. One day they are gonna look back on this and think what the heck?!! This is how I found them dressed up the other night. Addie had on my boots and Owen had on Mike's boots.

Addie's babtism

Addie was babtized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Saturday, November 6, 2010. The day after her birthday. It such a special day. There was a very special spirit with us that day. Mike babtized and confirmed her. We had a lot of special friends and family who attended. There was a talk on babism with all the stake. Then we seperated by ward. Addie was the only child being babtized from our ward that day. Addie's friend Gracie and her sister Isabel (Sidnee's best friend) sang a beautiful little song. Mike and the priesthood confirmed her. I gave a talk I could barely get through. Then I showed a video I had put together on Addie's life so far. Brother Turner gave some closing remarks. Then Owen gave the closing prayer. It was such a beautiful day. Addie was so thrilled. I watched her taking it all in. Listening to the songs and talks. She has grown so much. I am so proud of her. She is so kind and loving. We always remark, "Where would we be without Addie?". Don't think I would want to know. Mom made her beautiful dress. It was very difficult for her as her hands and eyes don't work as well as they used to because of the chemo. I was thinking as I helped dress her in that dress that it wasn' t so long ago I got her ready in a beautiful white dress that Mom made her for her blessing day when she was a newborn.

I am so thankful for all the friends and family who came. Also for those who helped and also made delicious food. Again, she was so lucky to have family there. All grandparents were there. We missed my Dad and Sidnee who were looking down on us and sharing in that special day. We are so proud of you Addie!