Monday, April 25, 2011

St. George

The weather was absolutely perfect! It was hard to come back to the cold when the temp's were mid to high 70's and sunny, and a bit windy at times. It was a nice break, just to get out of town for a short vacation. The car rides there and back were pretty good thanks to some snacks and movies for the kids. Poor Courtney was the only one that didn't have a fun(?) car ride. Thankfully she slept off and on. We stayed with Brock's Gramma Jackie. Buzz, Heidi, Chloie and Avery were in St. George too so we got to hang out a couple times which was super fun!



Brady and I goofing around on the car ride to the museum. We got to sit with each other a lot so Gramma could ride in the front.We went to the Dino museum (I think Brock had the best time. . .the kids were a little young to really appreciate more then a little time there).

After that we headed to In-N-Out for lunch. Then we got to go swimming with everyone. The kids were terrified and took a while to warm up to the idea on letting the death grip they had on us loosen a little. They really liked the hot tub though. I think the pool was a little cool. We lounged at the pool for a couple hours then headed back to Gramma's.Gramma made a delicious spaghetti and meatball dinner (which we got to enjoy for a couple nights). We played a good game of Scrabble. . .a super close game, but Avery pulled off a win. Then after another yummy spaghetti dinner the next night Gramma had bought an egg dye kit and also got some stickers for the kids to decorate eggs, so we picked up some eggs to boil and made a night of it. They were all so colorful and the kids had fun.The next day we headed to Turtle Rock for a little hike/walk around. Lauren had her usual shoe issues so had to be carried until she figured out how to walk better and keep the rocks and dirt from flipping into her shoes. It is so beautiful with the blue skies and bright orange rocks.Then we headed to Tuacahn for a picnic lunch and to see where Gramma volunteers. We got a little demonstration of what she does there (collecting tickets) and got to see the stage. It would be super fun to venture there for a production. . .one of there days. The kids got a little souvenir there (Brady wanted a picture of his snake which he LOVES). Then we ended the day with some yummy dinner at The Pizza Factory.Our last day started out a little rough for me. I got a really bad migraine, so the morning and afternoon were waisted away lying in bed drinking a Coke Zero and tons of ibuprofen. I finally got up (again) at 3PM and we headed to the Sand Hollow Aquatics Center (no photos, because I didn't want to have to worry about the camera, plus I wasn't feeling 100%). We left Courtney with Gramma and she slept the whole time! Lauren was super scared (demonstrated by her death grip) and Brady warmed up pretty quickly. We definitely need to get some swimming lessons in the works since they have never had any. Brady went down the water slide once with me and that was enough for him. They played with the water toys and went down the mini slide the rest of the time. Lauren warmed up to the idea of letting go of us about 40 minutes into the swimming trip and actually had a ton of fun.


That evening we got to accompany Gramma to her clubhouse for dinner with all the 55's and over. Then a good night sleep followed by a long ~7 hr trip home (with a couple errands along the way). Needless to say we were all pretty exhausted. We got unpacked and I did laundry until about 11 PM then slept, worked a 24- hr shift, and got off Easter morning (that will be a post for another day. . .the picture files are HUGE and take me for-ev-er to download and I have to do 2-3 at a time or it won't work. I need to figure out a better way, but haven't figured it out yet).

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Boutique TOMORROW!

Can't wait to see how everything works out tomorrow. I have been working like crazy to make things for this boutique, along with several other friends. I have seen some of the things they have been making and they are incredible!!! It goes from 10 AM- 5 PM @ 2017 Kensington Ave (just below 2100 E and N of 1700 S in Sugarhouse). Hope you can make it!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

March

Wow! I didn't realize how much of a slacker I have been on the blogging lately. . .I guess I've been too busy crafting for a boutique I am doing with some neighborhood friends Friday, April 8th (more to come on that. . .). I am sure Brock can't wait until I am done, since I have pretty much taken over the downstairs. Oh, well . . .I will be done one of these days:)



Lauren and Brady were able to go to the Make-a-Wish Princess Tea Party. . .I originally didn't have anyone to watch Brady and when we RSVP'd they said other boys AKA princes would be there too so Brady was excited to go. My mom ended up watching Courtney, and Brady decided he still wanted to go. I am sure he felt a little left out initially. There was only 2 other boys (both little boys, < 2yrs old) and all the girls were getting make up on. At that point he wanted to go, but soon he was having 'the best day ever' (as he would say it).

Lauren and Brady being welcomed by one of the prince'sLauren getting her make-up on, complete with purple sparkly eyeshadow

Walking on the red carpet lined with all the princesses (girls from all over Utah who have won a pageant AKA scholarships). The kids were on Fox13 news that night walking down the carpet and eating tea and cookies.Lauren was surrounded by princesses. . .They were SO cute to her and just adored her! She had an amazing time! It actually made me want to bawl to see all the little kids like Lauren being treated like the princesses they are.Lauren dancing with the Prince. She was having fun. . .no smiles for the camera though. She even danced with Brady!Brady had tons of fun being surrounded by girls! They adored him too and he loved every minute of it. He took this princess AKA Belle outside to dance. He even danced with a little 2 yr old for a second. . .super cute! Lauren with her jewel shoes. . .she absolutely LOVES shoes! I remember her asking all the Disney princesses if she could see there shoes while we were in Disney world.Lauren checking out her goods. She got a necklace, some toy rings, a crown (she is wearing) and a princess slap bracelet along with some perfume samples (which she graciously sprayed all over the van while I was pulling out of my mom's driveway. . . making quite the intoxicating drive home).Brady was excited they found him a boy gift, and toted that turtle around for days afterwards

Courtney LOVES girly things already. Bracelets, purses, necklaces, babies, you name it! It is SUPER cute to see her so I had to snap some pictures

Monday, February 21, 2011

Birthday Fun

We had a fun time at Jenny's house celebrating Chris and Becah's birthdays this Sunday.
Brady, Lauren, & Nick had fun playing with each other, eating popcorn, and sleeping over at Grandma's house.
Courtney LOVED all the attention. . .here she is with Aunt Heidi. Courtney gave cousin Taylor a LOVE, which was SO adorable! She especially loved sharing Chris' cheesecake.All the girls. . .well except me. Good/bad side of having the camera and taking pics is never being in them.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

February Happenings

Brady had his Patriotic program a couple weeks ago. It was SUPER cute to see him and all his classmates singing patriotic songs and saying their parts. He did a good job. He had his part memorized the first day he got it and would tell it to me almost everyday until the program. It was cute to see some of his friends too. Lauren and Courtney came too. Brady got a certificate saying he knows the Pledge of Allegiance and it's meaning. It was probably his only program (other then school-wide programs - which are full of kids and parents and difficult to see him since the Kindergartners sit in the first row).
Greg and his family gave us a bird house we could build for Christmas. Brady loves to put things together and could hardly wait to build it. Unfortunately we kept putting it off, so when Greg and Erica came over this week to borrow a camera battery Greg helped him build it. He of course had a blast building it with Greg. Now if our trees would grow faster;)

I had to take some pictures of Courtney because I LOVE her piggies:) It reminds me a bit of Lauren when she had hair long enough for pig tales. We love her chubby face too:) She is speaking more, which is nice because she can tell us what she wants/needs sometimes. She is also getting a bit more brave and can stand unassisted for a few seconds too.Lauren with her piggies at about the same age as Courtney. She couldn't walk yet either, unless she was holding onto our fingers.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

FINALLY!!! Lauren's Journey. . .the slide show

I finally loaded the movie I made (after shortening it- speeding up the pictures which meant changing the music a bit too and making the file smaller - hence a little grainy). It's about Lauren's journey, from pre-diagnosis, surgery, ending with the completion of her Make-a-Wish trip (Disneyworld). It brought tears to my eyes when I put it together, and still makes me feel a variety of emotions. I am grateful the hardest part of the 'journey' is now over.

She started her 'regular' 3 month checkup today and all CT scans (chest, abdomen, and pelvis) remained cancer free, she continues with some small lymph nodes around her spleen but they haven't changed and aren't enlarged. Unfortunately her lab results were invalid (very difficult draw from an IV that took 2 pokes too!) so we need to go back to the hospital tomorrow to have them redrawn. . .I haven't broken the bad new to Lauren yet, we found out after being home about 30 minutes. She HATES pokes! (and who wouldn't blame her?).

Hope you enjoy the pictures.