Jenna's Dance Debut - for the local high school drill team at a clinic

Jenna's first day at preschool - finally pics

Jenna's in Preschool!!!

Can you believe it? My baby is in preschool? She has gone twice now and she loves it - and I am relieved that she does. Her teacher is a sister-in-law to my high school spanish teacher (and probably one of my most favorite teachers). My little brother, Adam, had her for first grade and then Russell, my even younger brother had her in preschool.

Anyway, here are a few pics of her first day of school...ok, I WAS going to upload some pics but there seems to be a problem, so I'll try later (apparently blogger doesn't like DH's camera and how big the files are)

more California pics

ok, here's the video of my favorite song

Our vacation!

OK, Disneyland was awesome and was so much fun with Jenna and Jason there (especially Jenna, I love Jason, but really - Disneyland is so magical for little kids).
We left Saturday mid-morning and drove 7 hours until we got to south of Las Vegas, NV - a place called Primm and we stayed at a hotel where we heard the roller coaster until about 1 AM and then some sounds from the next room that I'm glad that Jenna didn't hear.
Saturday we drove into Anaheim and we were happy to find out our hotel was directly across the street from Disneyland, it took us less than 10 mins to walk out our door and get inside Disneyland! Jenna was so excited and then the first thing we did was take her on Snow White - oops, kinda scary! We then took her on some more fun rides like the Carousel (her favorite ride) and the TeaCups which I thought she would hate but she loved them and wanted to go faster and faster.
We met a lot of characters and my favorite was Goofy - he took the time and danced for awhile with Jenna, it was so cute and she loved it and it really helped her warm up to the other characters.
The princesses were of course Jenna's favorite by far...and paying the $70 for the 3 of us to eat at Ariel's Grotto was so worth it! We sat down to eat and 4 different characters came to our table and talked with Jenna for awhile. One of them was the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella (Jenna's current favorite story). Our waiter was awesome - couldn't have asked for a better waiter and then one of the royal court members came over and talked to Jenna because she was dressed like Snow White - he sounded exactly like Crush from Finding Nemo!

Well, I'm sitting outside and it's currently 100 degrees so I am going to finish this another time and go inside before I melt.

Check out my Slide Show!

My new favorite song

Seriously this song cracks me up and I love it!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=I_wQK0mHbuU

How much is your body worth?

I did this test, apparently it's not even worth a new car - sorry Jason

$4590.00The Cadaver Calculator - Find out how much your body is worth. From Mingle2 - Free Online Dating

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

I love you Bo Bo

Today has been hard. We've known for the last year that my parents dog, Bo, was going to pass away. It didn't make today any easier. Last night my dad decided to have Bo put to sleep (that seems so harsh to say). This morning he called one of his friends in animal control and had them come to his house to do it. My dad also had a neighbor make a cedar box to bury him in. The neighbor was so sweet, he even lined it with some nice soft red fabric.

Gosh, this is so hard. Bo has been with my family for 13 years. I grew up with him, he's my dog. He cuddled with me when I was sad - he made me laugh so many times.

I think the best way to memorialize him is to tell you about how we got him.

One day when my mom was out running errands my dad had been talking to one of his friends in animal control and they told him about a pair of ShihTzu's that he had just picked up. The elderly woman who had them just couldn't take care of them anymore. We instantly fell in love with the male, Bo - while the neighbors fell in love with the girl, Gidget. My dad told us not to mention anything to my mom until he got to talk to her - well, we didn't. As soon as mom walked in the door we were asking her if we could have a dog. She knew something was up and gave my dad that look like, what did you do? So, with all 5 kids and my dad in love with Bo, how could she say no? My dad cut a hole in the fence in between our house and the neighbors so that Bo and Gidget could spend time together. They would run back and forth in between the 2 yards and pretty soon got used to their own families and spent more time apart. I think that even though my mom didn't want a dog, she loves him and really loved having him around - even if she did complain every once in a while.

So, now today I am in mourning. I never thought that an animal could make such an effect on my life. He grew up with me. I love him and I will truly miss going over to my parents and not hearing him whining at the top of the stairs, wanting help down the stairs.

.

Utah's Pioneer Day Celebration

Oh my! What a relief! The float is done and it was a huge success! We even had quite a few people tell us that we had the best looking float of all 100+ floats! Many of the floats were made by professionals and we did this as an all volunteer group! We have some wonderful people who were in charge of it and made sure everything got done and they spent countless hours getting it ready. Jason and I added our approx 30 hours - but that was nothing compared to what they did. The people are made out of chicken wire, sheets, and lots and lots of glue & paint. The flowers are made out of foam and wire and we spray painted them.

For those of you non-Utahn's - here's the low-down on Pioneer Day. On July 24, 1847 LDS President Brigham Young looked down upon the Salt Lake Valley after a long trek across most of the US and said his now famous words, "This is the right place". We celebrate our state's pioneer heritage every 24th of July. It's a wonderful time to think back because I have pioneers in my family line and it's great to have a reminder of what they did for me. Some of my relatives we not even "Mormons" when they crossed the plains, but joined later.

So, for everyone out there...HAPPY 24TH OF JULY!!!

What song was #1 on your b-day?

A friend of mine gave me this link...thought it was fun

http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/SelectMonth.htm

Oh, mine is "I Will Survive"

Thanks to everyone

I wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and condolences this last few weeks. It has been a week since my aunt passed away. It was a wonderful service. It was short, just like my aunt had asked. My dad conducted the services and also gave a talk - he did an awesome job! My aunt, Judy also talked - she wrote this poem that I want to share.

You could find her in their trailer in the mountains near the stream.
You would see her beauty radiate, her smile a perpetual beam.
Her laughter made us happy, as her mouth she timidly hid,
And we loved to watch her face glow, embarrassed by what she did.

She loved to be with family, and friends that she held dear
in times of joy and times of sadness, she knew they were always near.
Her zest for life was evident in the way she tackled the dream,
And when it all seemed too difficult, she walked squarely down the beam.

She collected pigs, you may not know this, but they were everywhere.
They were in the kitchen, on the shelves, and in every here and there.
With her faithful dog named Shadow, in peaceful tending they sat,
Hundreds of them I'm telling you, she got them from this and that.

Karen was a JAZZ fan, but not the kind like me,
She didn't paint her face and act a fool like Jean.
She loved to go and watch us but stood some feet away,
But then when it was game-time, she'd go, but a distance she would stay.

When in Hawaii for treatment, with her first time cancer bout,
I went to visit for a while to see if I could help out.
We'd gone to the beach to get some sun, some young boys saw us there,
Thought she was Sinead O'Conner, got her autograph, and we did snare.

Another time while shopping, her head from chemo was bald,
There were those in the clothes shop talking, their words to me did scald.
But Karen wasn't offended, rather went straight-way to the mirror to dress,
And exclaimed "Judy, why didn't you tell me, my hair was such a mess?"

We laughed at all those experiences and shared so many more,
And now she's gone ahead of us, she's no doubt opening the door.
We'll all be there soon you see, our challenge is to prepare while here,
And when our time to graduate is come, there will be no reason for us to fear.

Now, Karen is not so far away, she's only around the bend,
And we'll be with her in twilight and in the morning glen.
The tears we shed, the heavy hearts, are just because we've loved,
She's free from pain and suffering, she sits with family above.

The circle of life is now complete, tho' her departure from us, too soon,
But we'll see her in the flowers, in the flow of the evening moon.
She'll touch you softly on your cheek, just as she did in life,
She goes in peace, she is content, your daughter, your mother, our sister, your wife.

My aunt, Karen

As I posted earlier this last week, my aunt Karen has been battling cancer. I found out this morning that she returned to her Heavenly Father during the night. I've never had a family member die from a terminal illness - it has been hard. I didn't see her much in the last year because she was so sick. I am really going to miss seeing her at family get togethers. I'm going to miss hearing her laugh and seeing her tease all of us. I know that she is in a much better place and that she now feels no more pain. She is with her mom and she is happy.

I've been tagged again

My friend, Kerstin, tagged me...so I'm playing

4 Jobs I've Had:
1. Carnie (so DH says - my family owned rides and I helped run them)
2. Mattress Warranty Lead
3. Desktop Compositor
4. Scrapbook paper collator

Movies I Can Always Watch:
1. Where the Heart Is
2. The Cutting Edge
3. Memoirs of a Geisha
4. Rocky & Bullwinkle Seasons

4 Places I've Lived:
1. Ephraim
2. Clearfield
3. Bountiful
4. West Point

TV Shows I Enjoy:
1. ER
2. Scrubs
3. Medium
4. Crossing Jordan (although I heard it was canceled - I am so sad)

4 Foods I Love:
1. Chocolate
2. Rolls
3. Apricots
4. did I mention chocolate?

4 Websites I Frequently visit:
1. Friend's and Family Blogs
2. Scrapjazz.com (I think I live there)
3. Postsecret
4. SLC Mommies

4 Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:
1. my bed
2. Hawaii
3. laying on the grass listening to the sounds
4. my mom & dad's backyard

ok...ummmm...I will tag MindySue, lesfitz, and inspiration

The 4th of July parade & carnival

I am so glad this week is over

It started out with an emotional Saturday last Saturday - which I don't want to get in to, but I'll just say it was adoption related. (No, no news to report)

Then, on Weds my aunt, Karen, was taken to the dr to see how her cancer was doing and they found more fluid, this time around her heart so they sent her to the hospital. They told her that the fluid around her heart was cancerous and at this point there was nothing they could do - so they sent her home the next day so she could die at home. Karen is so great and has always been so supportive. She is married to my dad's brother. We have a joke in my family about being the favorite aunt and who the favorite aunt is - that's how they all sign their cards & stuff. It's been really hard & emotional. I'm worried about my uncle and my cousins. They don't know what I know - they don't know for sure that they will see each other again and that she will be ok. I know they believe in heaven, but they don't know that families can be together forever and that is so hard. It's going to be a long time before I get to see her again and that makes me sad. I will miss her and I wish I could give her one last hug, talk to her one last time. As of tonight, she has not passed.

On Thursday, the neighbors had some friends over and one of the friends little boys put his hand through our fence and Fez bit his finger. There was one small puncture wound and then some scratches, but nothing really bad. To me, it looked like a definite warning bite. Well, the parents of the little boy felt like they needed to take him to be seen by a dr so they took him to the ER and they of course had to report to animal control. So, now Fez is under a 10-day home quarantine. Which means that we can't just let him out in our backyard to play or go potty - he has to be on a leash. The animal control officer will come by 2 more times to check on him to make sure he hasn't started to get sick or anything (to watch for rabies mostly). We also paid for the ER copay. And, next week we are going to start putting in privacy slats in our fence. We have probably over 200 feet of fence to put slats in and it's $35 per 10 feet! Thankfully since my parents yard and their field is the back part (the largest part) - we won't have to put them there.

So, that has been my week in a nutshell - we did get to go away camping again for a night and my dad and brothers watched Fez for us. It was definitely nice to get away and Jason was so good to take care of Jenna since I had been taking care of Fez and had such an emotional week.

darn those taggers

I have been tagged by MindySue on Scrapjazz and she will pay for this...so, I have to say 7 random things about myself and then tag 7 other people

1 - I went to the state high school tennis tournament - played second doubles
2 - I have had over 10 surgeries
3 - I have never broken a bone
4 - I am completely out of random things
5 - I am deeply upset that Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip has been cancelled
6 - I have worked at some weird places that all having something in common - see if you can pick it out...Dick Kearsley, RC Willey and POS
7 - I would love to visit the Netherlands one day (and not for the reasons some of you may think)

ok, I have no idea who to tag, so I will take nominations at this time

bad blogger...

Sorry for the long overdue update. We have been pretty busy.

For Jason's birthday we went camping for 3 days. Yes, I even slept in the tent. Jenna brought her cousin Landon with her and they had a lot of fun together. Jason was fly fishing and Landon asked him to teach him how to fly fish, so Jason took the time out to help Landon learn to fly fish. Jenna & Landon spent a lot of the time playing with Braydon, Jenna's 2nd cousin. They loved "fishing" without hooks. And get this...Jason and I went on a 2 hour hike! We were so worn out and hot by the time we were done, but it was so great to accomplish that.

I have been so busy at work - Basic Grey released a new line and started discontinuing 4 other lines and then in mid-July they will be releasing more lines...so, I've been working as many hours as I can. I've never done manual labor before and it kicks my butt.

Well, it is late, and I am getting tired - I will try to be more diligent about updating this blog.

Oh, guess what? I have been writing in my journal lately - up until these most recent entries, my last entry was made 5 years ago!!!

Full of updates

Wow! This week has definitely had it's ups and downs.
Jason was called to Elders Quorum secretary and was set apart today. He has been in primary every since we were married pretty much. It's going to be a BIG stretch for him because he hates, despises, fears the telephone...well guess what the secretary does. He has to call people to make sure they got their home teaching done, make appointments, etc. Oh, will this be good for him.
Jason also sold his first painting ever! They put their paintings up at the university he works and someone emailed Jason and wanted to buy it! No, we're not millionaires - or thousandaires. But, how about $75-aires!

In other, not so happy new, my really good friend gave birth to her little baby daughter, Chloe, this last week. She wasn't due until October, but somehow managed to live about 30 minutes before returning to her Father in Heaven. My friend and her husband were able to bless her before she died, so that does give them some comfort. They are such a strong family and I am amazed at how well they are doing. Tomorrow will be hard, they have to meet with the funeral home and get a spot at the cemetary. I could never imagine having to do this - how hard. They will be having graveside services later on this week.
My friend's brother also has a child that is a little over 1 week old that is struggling to survive. She was also born premature and is in the local children's hospital.
Please, pray for this family - they are struggling so much right now and could use all the prayers available to them.

More than ever, I love Jenna and am so thankful for her blessing in my life. She is not always easy, but she brings so many smiles to my face and makes me laugh all the time. She is learning and growing and is healthy. I couldn't ask for anything more. I will never understand why it is that I have been so blessed to not have such trials as others. I am blessed to have a Heavenly Father who loves me so much - that he knows what I can and cannot handle. He and His son, Jesus Christ, are my rocks, they comfort me, they carry my load. I am grateful to know that no matter what happens, I will have my family forever - that if anything were to ever happen that I will be able to live as a family again with them. No matter what, I know this and am eternally grateful for this. I love all my friends and am grateful for you. Your thoughts and prayers are always so wonderful - they comfort me. I wish I could repay each of you for your kindness. I hope by reading this you will know how much you mean to me and how much I love my Heavenly Father and his son, my brother, Jesus Christ.