All I want for Christmas......

Bubble wrap.

Lots and lots of Bubble wrap.

Taylie's goose egg after a run in with our TV stand.



Lydia after falling off her bunk bed.
She tends to be accident prone.
For more see here.

And just so we don't leave the boys out.

More on this story.

Some days it feels like one thing after another.
I am so grateful for health insurance and doctors. 
With as much as we have seen them this year,
I am surprised they didn't send us a Christmas Card.

FDR's Pearl Harbor Speech

Thank you to all who have/are making our country safer. Grandpa Greer WWII, My father in law Bob Turner, my brother Ben, and my brother in law Kolya.

St. George Family Reunion

Remember our family vacation to Bear Lake?

We swore we would never go on another vacation again.

However this summer my parents bought all of us kids and our families

tickets to see Tuacahn's presentation of Disney's The Little Mermaid.

It was amazing! I was a little worried about it starting so late but

the three oldest kids did great! It is Lydia's favorite movie,

and with the exception of Austin who fell asleep the last 10 minutes

couldn't keep their awe struck eyes of the stage.

And Taylie had fun with her cousin Pyper at the condos with a babysitter.



Tuacahn's presentation of The Little Mermaid

The next days adventures started with a trip to the temple,
swimming, and a little off roading.

 Us in our Jeep and my brother Ben in my dad's Toyota Corolla.

I made the comment that I was so glad we were in the car because of the rattlesnakes.

Lydia asked what they were to which we told her they were very Poisonous snakes

and that the poison had killed people so not to play with them.

5 minutes later.

Ben and Alex fixing the car, Lydia terrified wouldn't leave their side.
The boys enjoyed playing on the rocks, see how close we were to
civilization? So close yet so far.



The next day before heading home we visited the county fair.



The kids viewing and feeding the animals.
Taylie called every animal Sadie after our dog.



They even got to ride a horse for the first time.

And to sit on some other animals too.



But the Best part of the day was this:



My Dad, All American Grandpa, and Cowboy.

It was a wonderful vacation spent with my wonderful family.

Can't wait till next year. Still will be a few years probably

before Alex and I try one on our own again.

But with family helping family, everything is possible. 

Birth Story: Lydia AnnaLee

Lydia 3 days old

Lydia is our honeymoon baby. She was born 9 months to the day we got married, we were married the first weekend in March and she was born the first weekend in December. She is very strong willed but very loving from the beginning and always a Daddy's girl. But she always does things on here own time.

On the last day of our honeymoon Alex and I decided to stop for Pizza, while there he asked if I would like some buffalo wings. I HATE buffalo wings. HATE THEM. He ordered some for himself and we decided to go to the beach and eat. On the 5 minute drive to the beach they smelled SO GOOD. I asked if I could try just one. And then another. And another. And before we got there I had at the whole dozen. Alex didn't even have one. I apologized over and over telling him I really don't know why I ate them, I really like don't like them usually but these just tasted amazing. Alex will tell you that is the one and only time he has ever seen me eat buffalo wings in our almost 7 years of marriage.

Prior to our marriage Alex had convinced me to join our local Fire Department with him. They are also the first responders for medical calls in our area and working as a nurse in a Doctor's office this interested me very much. I had been trained on their procedures, putting gear on in under a minute, and how to "catch" a hydrant. In the last week in March I finally qualified for my own gear. We went together to find some that would fit. The gear was used but in good quality but as they continued to fit me I found myself feeling more and more sick. I finally had to have Alex take me home. The guys at the station were joking I was pregnant but we just blew them off. 2 days later, the day before Easter we found out we were expecting. Or should I say Alex told me we were. He stole the test because he was so excited.

We told everyone. Grandpa Nana was very excited. Grandma Nana was a little more nervous. Her only daughter had just got married and now she was going to be a Grandma. It didn't take long though before she was buying cute outfits and toys for you.

I found myself talking to you quite often, I also found my self sick multiple time a day. It was so bad that the Doc's at work made me get and IV for dehydration. Water made me sick but Gatorade wasn't much better. Alex was very supportive, he would hold my hair, pull over while we were driving, and would stand in the bathroom door eating apples while I would lose my lunch. He also bought me Olive Garden because I was craving it (it was a stretch on our newlywed budget) and didn't complain once when I took one bite and lost it.

Once the sickness subsided I found myself once again craving foods unusual for me. Anything smothered in BBQ sauce. We use to by chicken nuggets and sit under our tree. Another favorite was Carl's Juniors Western Bacon cheese burger and root beer. When we found out "it" was a she Alex and I had been fighting all day. But after that we couldn't stay mad. We went to dinner to celebrate our little girl.

Daddy and Lydia, 1 week old

Summer turned to fall and we started to get her room ready. Winnie the Pooh themed. Alex would stand by the crib every night and turn the Mobile and pretend to put her to sleep. It was so precious. I found myself sleeping on our couch to help with back pain and Alex would push the love seat against the sofa so we could sleep together. It was so sweet. Our lease was over on October 31 and we found a house to rent. So while I was at work Alex moved us into our new place and redecorated your room.

With just weeks left I was getting more nervous, but then a unexpected sad event gave me hope. (For more on that click here to read about the passing of Alex's birth mom.) Thanksgiving came, then my due date. December 1st. That evening we waited. And waited. Nothing happened.

December 2nd I walked a mile, googled ways to induce labor and tried every one of them. Castor Oil, Prim Rose oil, bumpy car rides, exercise, and jumping on the bed just to name a few. We even watched Father of the Bride part 2 where she has the baby. Nothing happened.

December 3rd 2am.
I awoke with severe back pain, which wasn't uncommon but this was different worse. It came and went and I just couldn't get comfortable. So I got up and started cleaning. I dusted, organized and every 5 minutes would double over in pain unable to move. I thought labor was always in the abdomen, I never realized it could be in your back so it never even crossed my mind. I knew I was starting to "nest" though which was a good sign. Nesting is cleaning and preparing your home most pregnant women go through this close to their do date.

5am.
Alex gets up to go to work and finds me on the floor leaning over the dishwasher trying to load it. Thinking we must of killed the baby trying to induce labor he insists on taking me to the hospital. It was snowing and several cars were slid off the road. I would squeeze his hand with every pain and they were about 3 minutes apart. Luckily the hospital is only 12 minutes away.

6am
We are told we aren't going anywhere, I was 5 cm dilated and could have my epidural at anytime. Yes Please! However the doc who did it is old fashioned and doesn't numb your back first. It took him 20 minutes and 4 insertions to get it right. I was in tears squeezing my mom's hand (Alex the fireman he is was curious to how it was done) I learned later when it was time for the epidural to wear off and one leg was more numb than the next that the nurses call it Patel Syndrome after the doctor who did it. Apparently I wasn't the only it happened to.

I labored all day with slow progression even with pitocin and breaking my water. I was having trouble keeping my oxygen and blood pressure up so I was made to lay down with oxygen on most of the time. Family and friends would stop by and see me wondering how close I was coming. Delivering at the hospital I work in their was quite a few.

4pm
I was allowed to start pushing. I pushed long and hard. Alex and my nurse were great with encouragement. My Doctor though seemed more content chatting it up with the student he was training about volleyball and Hawaii. It frustrated Alex very much.

5pm.
I am exhausted, not wanting to go on but knowing I had to started to wear me down. I was so close to saying "That's it! I am done! Take me to the OR and get this baby out!" But I just kept asking how close, how many more pushes. To which the answer was always no more that 15 minutes. I can do 15 I would tell myself.

6pm
Still pushing, doctor is still chatting away. I am almost delirious from exhaustion. Family outside was beginning to worry. Once again I asked how close. A few more pushes.

6:11pm
Lydia AnnaLee enters the world posterior (head first, body just facing the wrong way) with the cord around her neck with help of a vacuum. 7lbs 5oz and 20 inches long she was beautiful! But most of all even the long delivery and the cord caused no problems she was perfectly healthy, so worth all of the work and waiting. I was so weak and shaking so bad it was hard to hold her. Which was okay with everyone else because they couldn't get enough of her.

Lydia and Mommy, One week old

I loved having her at Christmas time! I would sing her Christmas songs for lullaby's and change her under the lights of the Christmas tree. Some of my best memories. She is an angel. My Christmas Angel.

Happy 6th Birthday baby girl! I can't imagine my life without you!
Love Mommy

The Story of Us: A sad, sad, day.....

Remember this photo from my last post?

I was going to share this one on December 8th, the day he proposed.

But due to a severe wind storm that hit our area today this is what my tree looks like now.

On a separate note:

Lydia, 6 years ago today you were given your eviction notice.

You were due December 1, 2005

however on this day I found myself riding up the elevator

to my work with a nice lady who asked me when I was due.

You always have done things on your own time.

I love you! I can't believe you are almost six!

Lydia's Birth Story coming soon!

The Story of Us: First Date to I Love You



Alex and Tracie August 2011
The tree where he proposed.

 November 10, 2004 My Parents 25th Wedding Anniversary

I woke up that morning with the worst migraine in the world and the anxiety and anticipation of the upcoming night didn't help. I thought I might have to cancel the pain was so bad, but luckily for me I work at the best place in the world, with the best Doctors' in the world. And these great guys who were determined to marry me off (by trying several times to set me up on dates with guys in their wards) gave me shot in the bum for the migraine and the nausea and sent me on my way with threats (jokingly) of what would happen if I came to work the next day with out good stories of my date.

He picked me up and we drove through Ogden looking for a place to go bowling, he showed me his brother's house and I showed him where I worked. When we arrived at the bowling alley things go a little awkward, his accent was a very thick just being 6 months off his mission and I had a hard time understanding him, the first 2 games seemed so long but by the third we were talking about our likes and dislikes which eventually turned into how many children we wanted to have someday. We ended our night at Wingers enjoying each others company and learning more about each other. He drove me home and walked me to the door and said goodnight. My parents were waiting for me and after asking if I had a good time asked if I would consider going on another date with him. I told them I would if he asked.

That Saturday he called and asked me to go out with his friends. Unfortunately I already had plans with friends and I had promised myself that after ditching my friends with my other boyfriends I would never do that again, so I declined. Then believe it or not she ditched me. So my Dad and I went car shopping. I had a great job, was single, and not seriously dating anyone. I decided that I needed something newer and something with better traction for the Winter.  (Not to jump ahead but lets just say I was engaged before the first payment was due)

The next day we sat together in the singles ward, his sister and I whispered and giggled. Alex, well lets just say I have never seen someone so intent on a speaker in my whole life. In the end I couldn't resit poking him in the ribs a few times trying to distract him. He was nervous that I didn't want to go on another date with him that is why I turned him down the day before. So to make it up to him I invited him to my family home evening, we were going to a play at Northridge. He decided he was going to hold my hand that day and I unknowingly made it very hard on him. I have a habit of sitting on my hands when they are cold he finally just flat out asked if he could have that, and pointed to my hand. So to the point, so romantic. We held hands the rest of the night.

After that we saw each other at least twice a week he would cook for me and we would play games. He would stop by my work and bring donuts or pizza, would decorate my car, and leave me candy and roses. The girls at work were SO JEALOUS!

The week of Thanksgiving we decided that we would spend it with our separate families and then he had plans to go to Idaho to see a mission buddy. My Mom was urging me to date other people since it had been 2 years since I had dated anyone. She like Alex but wanted me to experience the fun of dating. My Aunt came down and I excitedly told her of all that had been happening. In the middle of this conversation my phone rang. It wasn't Alex, but to my surprise another boy from the singles ward asking me on a date for that Friday. My heart sank, technically Alex and I were exclusive and we hadn't even talked about becoming exclusive but deep in my heart I didn't want to date anyone else. I was so happy when I was around him. But like I said in my other post I told my self that I would never turn down a date so I agreed. My Mom was glad that I had agreed, my Aunt told me she could see a change in my personality after speaking with this other guy and could tell how much I must like Alex.

Thanksgiving dinner was amazing and in my family we stay up late playing games. I left my phone in my room to charge, the house phone rang and it was my Hunny. He had tried my cell phone about 2 dozen times but thought I was ignoring him. I invited him over to play games and told him I had something to tell him. We walked in the rain and I told him of my date. He was very supportive of my Mom and agreed that I should definitely date someone else so I would know if I was making the right decisions. We went inside to have pie and Alex being the ever helpful but jester that he is offered to take them back to the fridge for my Mom. He then pretended to trip to make her think the pie was going to fall on her. What he didn't realize was they tray wasn't sturdy and they came about six inches away from splattering in her face before he caught them. It was quite funny but he was a little embarrassed.

 That evening after going to a movie with my cousins he kissed me for the first time. Which surprised me because he had told me on our first date that he had never kissed a girl and didn't plan on it until he was engaged and we most definitely were not engaged. I wasn't complaining though it was wonderful.



I just love to kiss him.
Engagments Jan 2005

  The next day we spent the day at my parents house sitting on the floor of the living room going over his mission books before my other date and before he left for Idaho. We laughed at the pictures and he told me some great stories of his Mission. Like getting arrested and kicked out of the country.  Have I not told you that story? Well that is a different post for a different day. My Mom watched us together, she could see how happy we were and I think that is when she knew he was the one for me. Our time together was cut short by the sound of his pager going off, as he ran out the door to the fire station he yelled that he loved me. I yelled back that I loved him too, but it fell on deaf ears as the roar of his engine faded into the distance. My Mom raised her eyebrows and asked if that was the first time we had said that.

I just nodded and headed downstairs to get ready for my date.

The Story of Us: At the Begining

 The story of us actually starts long before there was an "Us"

I remember as a little girl probably six or seven asking my Mom how she met my Dad and how would I know when I found the one that was meant for me. I remember asking her "What if they man I am suppose to marry is in Russia? How am I going to find him?" I don't remember her answer. I just remember the question.

February 1995
I had just turned 12 and one of my Best Friends parents had just adopted two little boys from Russia. Curious I remember going to play over there and seeing Alex (or Alexey as he went by then) for the first time. He was smaller than I had expected and almost 12 year old to be and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why he was so disobedient. He kept sticking a stick into this machine that was spinning. And they would tell him no and he would look at them with a blank stare. ( I know now that he didn't understand a word they were speaking to him.)

For the next years until his mission he lived 4 houses away, his family sat two pews ahead of mine at church, we were in the same Sunday School classes, attended the same Youth conferences, and the same school. He was one of my Brother Adam's Best Friends and spent the night at our house on occasion. That being said, all I remember is he wore the same American flag tie each week, spoke with a funny accent, and we would try to get him to teach us naughty words in Russian ( he wouldn't).

 He remembers me dating "weird looking guys" and apparently one time he put burrs in my brother's hair while they were moving pipe and he says that when he came to apologize that I ripped him a new one about treating my brother like that and that it had taken me an hour to get them out of his hair (I don't remember this). Apparently he was afraid of me after that. (And my Dad, he caught Alex letting Derek ride on the hood of his car. My Dad let him have it!)

We never hung out. We never dated. To put it best were were acquaintances, nothing more.

So how did to strangers become Husband and Wife for Time and all` Eternity?

Summer 2004

The Day I got home from a very spiritual and life changing Pioneer Trek with the Young Single Adults (YSA) ward they had a special meeting for us, on the stand sat a very handsome yet somewhat familiar face. I turned to my Dad and asked "Is that Alexey Turner?" He confirmed it was and I was like "Wow, he has changed."

That Country Fair days he was selling lace temples and pictures. I spent at least a half of an hour talking with him about  the lace and how he started selling it before purchasing some for myself. He doesn't remember this at all. He had a calling in our home ward as a Sunday School teacher for the 16-18 year olds so he rarely came to the YSA ward.

October 31, 2004

I attended our home wards Halloween party. He opened the door and asked what I was suppose to be. He doesn't remember this either. He likes to say God wouldn't let him see me until it was time. Frankly I was wondering what I needed to do to get noticed. What did it take? The blue shirt in our engagement picture is what I was wearing when he finally noticed me.

November 7, 2004 My Mom's Birthday

I woke up with butterflies in my stomach, not sure why I got up and got dressed for church for some reason taking extra time that morning. My phone rang and the Bishop called wanting to meet with me. After receiving a new calling I was more relaxed and made my way to Sacrament meeting. I sat by myself because the young lady I usually sat with (who just happens to be his sister Jamie) wasn't there.

I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and feel someone watching me. I looked around just in time to see him quickly turn his attention back to the speaker. This happened several times during the meeting he would be staring at me but when I would turn to smile he would look the other way. As soon as the meeting got out I saw him in a chair in the foyer. Deciding to take matters into my own hands I walked up to him and started a conversation. It went like this.

Me: Hi you staying for classes?
Him: Why do you wanna know?
Me: I was just wondering....
Him: Why?
Me: I usually sit with your sister and she isn't here today.
Him (interrupting me): I will stay and sit with you if you really want me to.
Me: No, that's okay.

And I turned around and walked away. Wow, I thought I definitely don't need that. Then I here my name being called through the chaos in the hall. I turned around to see Alex.

Him: Would you like to go on a date Wednesday? Why a Wednesday? He told me later so that if the date was bad he wouldn't have wasted his weekend. .  Nice huh?
Me:  Um sure what time?

What did I just agree to? Oh well, it's just a date and I had promised my self never to turn one down and to give everyone a chance. I texted my brother Adam. He took awhile to respond with an Oh.

Adam was worried about me going on a date with one of his best friends. His wife's response.

"It's not like they are getting married."

My Knights in shining armor

Today as I was getting the twins dressed to attend their first Football game with Grandpa. You would have thought it was Christmas with the way they had been talking about it all week. It could not come fast enough. They looked so cute dressed in black and gray and yellow and blue matching football sweats.
As I was helping Austin get ready he put his little arms around my neck and gave me a kiss.

"Mom," he said. "Don't worry about us we will be with Grandpa. If you need anything he has his cell phone and you can call us on it okay? Just call his phone."

How sweet that he is already taking care of his Mommy.

They are both like that though, love to give me hugs and kisses.  AJ has taken to calling me Mother, not in a condescending tone but a tender, loving, way that makes my heart melt.

I painted the N for Northridge on their cute little cheeks and gave them the football black under eyes and sent them on their way. They had a lot of fun on their outing ......however Grandpa did say they were asking if the game was over before it started. Maybe next year they can make it through the 1st quarter before that questions comes up.

Love at Home

When I was a child and my brothers and I would be fighting, my Dad would start singing "Love at Home"
I have started to sing it to my children when they are fighting. I learned this week that his Dad would sing it to them. While it doesn't always work it helps calm me down. Isn't it amazing the things we learn from generations before us with out even realizing?

My Grandpa Tolman was born on October 19, 1923. It was a freezing, cold, day and according to him it froze the hair right of his head and that is why he was bald. Some of the stories I remember him telling where of him and his brother getting caught up by their suspenders in the trees while riding a cow. Once when their cat had a litter and his Mom told him they couldn't keep the cats. So he and his brother took them to the well and said "I baptize you.....Amen" and threw them in the well. I don't think she was very happy with them about that. He went on a Mission to the North West Region and while there met a girl named
Mary Madeline Gingell. He told her that it was to hard to remember and he would have to change that. After his Mission he proposed to her on a family car trip by singing "Mary, Mary, quite contrary will you Marry Me?" They were married in the Logan Temple July 29, 1949.

They have 8 children and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and a great great granddaughter. He was a very loving man and very funny. He always had funny sayings, Horses and ducks and cows and pigs, Come and Eat the mustard and the meat. My dad says these and I find myself saying them to my kids. Breaking out in song and making up funny songs just because. He always had such a great sense of humor.

He would let us grandkids but wigs on him and I remember him proudly wearing a T Shirt with the saying "With a body like this who needs hair?" His favorite icecream was Neopalatin and his favorite candy bar was a payday.

 He was short in stature but large in spirit. He had a huge testimony and made sure his grandchildren knew how important it was and also how much he loved us even when we were not making the best choices. He loved his wife, and we were not to disrespect her. I remember as a teen a cousin and I were not being very nice to her and I don't think I have ever seen him so mad!

He would sing song my name every time he saw me. "Hello Tracie Fern," I believe he has a nickname for each grandkid. I miss hearing him call me that.

The day before he past away he did his Home teaching and when we went to visit him (he wasn't sick) he told us, I am going home tomorrow who is coming with me? We laughed thinking he was teasing. I remember praying that night for him not to be in pain anymore. The phone rang about 3AM and I knew something was wrong. I don't think I have ever had a prayer answered so fast. We went to the ER and found him resting on Grandma's chest. He passed away later that evening. He was my first Grandparent to pass away, just 2 months prior to his 80th birthday. August 19, 2003

It was very hard, I hadn't been making good choices with my life but had just started to get back on track when he passed. I was very sad he didn't get to see me come back to the church. The following summer I had the opportunity to go on the Pioneer Trek with the YSA. We went to Rocky Ridge, for those of you not familiar with this area it is a very steep rocky hill that we pulled hand carts up. I was struggling with the handcart so one of the members of the YSA bishopric told me just to hold onto him. Everything was going better until someone dressed in white pulled me off of my "family" I had "died" and was no longer able to help them or get help from them. I broke down sobbing, realizing what a tragedy it was for the pioneers. When I reached the top this YSA Bishopric member Mike Layne (he is such a good man, and someone I will always look up to) hugged me and asked why I was crying. Was it because I wanted to quit or was it something else. I told him of my struggles in life and getting back on the right path and how sad I was that my Grandpa passed before he could see me making the changes in my life, and how I wanted him to be proud of me. I never told anyone else this, just him.

Later that summer my brother Adam got married. I rode with my parents to the temple and my Dad started to tell me about a dream he had that night. Grandpa was with him at the temple and said I want you to know I will be there today, and then in the dream my Dad and Grandpa were all of a sudden standing at Rocky Ridge watching me climb the hill. He turned to my Dad and said I am so Proud of her and the choices she has made. And then his dream was over. My Dad said he didn't understand the last part of the dream but I was crying in the back seat of the car.

I knew. He is always watching me, he loves me, and will always be apart of my life even if I can't see him. And now I knew he had seen my changes and how hard it was to come back to the church (just like Rocky Ridge was hard to climb) and he was proud of me.  I told my parents the story and they too were in tears. I am so grateful for Eternal Families and a Loving Father in Heaven. I am so blessed. He would have been 87 this Wednesday. Happy Birthday Grandpa. I love you and can't wait to see you again! And to see you with hair!

Love,
Tracie Fern

Halloween 2010

Most of the Tolman cousins and my kids with Aunt Jeryka



She hates Jelly, even in donuts.



They love to be Fireman

First Halloween



Blast from the past!

 

Again cause it is so cute!



Writers Block....

The last few days I have found myself stuck. The summer fun over and now in a blogging rut. I have so many pictures of events from this year that I haven't blogged about yet so maybe that should be my next project. Getting caught up. And if that fails I guess I could always see if this works;



What's one more? Or with our luck two?
Not so sure my Hubby would go for that though!

Today is....

Today is an Oreo kind of lunch day......for me anyway. The kids had PBJ and by the time I sat down to eat mine they were asking for more. So being the loving, caring Mother that I am, I gave my PBJ to my boys. Oh the sacrifices we make for our children. :)

My Gradution Speech



First Day of Kindergarten



The Lunch Bunch

I don't remember much of my Graduation.

No, I was not under the influence.

My High School "Sweetheart"

broke up with me 3 days before.

I am not bitter about this now.

Then I was devastated.

Well, until the All night party

And his BFF became my rebound guy. SCORE!

Both of these guys were poor choices, but I learned from the relationships

 (well as much as you can at the age of 18-20 and you already know everything)

You know the song by Rascal Flats: God Blessed the Broken Road?

That is how I feel about them. I needed to learn little about my self from each

to make me who I am today.

Now if I was to pick a graduation song that I would want to be remembered by:

Vitamin C Graduation (Friends Forever)

And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives

Where we're gonna be when we turn 25

I keep thinking times will never change

Keep on thinking things will always be the same

But when we leave this year we won't be coming back

No more hanging out cause we're on a different track

And if you got something that you need to say

You better say it right now cause you don't have another day

Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down

These memories are playing like a film without sound

And I keep thinking of that night in June

I didn't know much of love

But it came too soon

And there was me and you

And then we got real blue

Stay at home talking on the telephone

And we would get so excited and we'd get so scared

Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair

And this is how it feels

As we go on

We remember

All the times we

Had together

And as our lives change

From whatever

We will still be

Friends Forever

So if we get the big jobs

And we make the big money

When we look back now

Will our jokes still be funny?

Will we still remember everything we learned in school?

Still be trying to break every single rule

Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?

Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?

I keep, keep thinking that it's not goodbye

Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

And this is how it feels

As we go on

We remember

All the times we

Had together

And as our lives change

From whatever

We will still be

Friends Forever

La, la, la, la:

Yeah, yeah, yeah

La, la, la, la:

We will still be friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?

Can we survive it out there?

Can we make it somehow?

I guess I thought that this would never end

And suddenly it's like we're women and men

Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?

Will these memories fade when I leave this town

I keep, keep thinking that it's not goodbye

Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

As we go on

We remember

All the times we

Had together

And as our lives change

From whatever

We will still be

Friends Forever

As we go on

We remember

All the times we

Had together

And as our lives change

From whatever

We will still be

Friends Forever

As we go onSo my speech would be to go on and remember all the times we spent together. Because each day we are given is a precious gift and we should look back fondly our time spent with Family and with friends. Because one day all we will have is memories.

We remember
All the times we
Had together

And as our lives change
From whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever

On another note. I love Harry Potter! If you do too, take a minute to view the video below to Vitamin C

 

The Maze Game

Have you ever played the maze game? If not you definitely should on YouTube.

This is a video of Alex laughing at just the thought of showing it to Lydia.

This is the video of her watching it.



Definitely not the reaction he hoped for

but I think it is still funny.

What book(s) are you reading right now?

What book(s) are you reading right now?

Right now I am reading Black Beauty from the Great Illustrated Classics with my kids.

My kids love to read, especially Lydia. Together we have read:

The Ramona Series

Charlotte's Web

100 Dresses

She has just started kindergarten and has caught right on to reading.

It makes me so excited to see her love for reading because it is one

of my favorite things to do, I have shelves full of books.

I can't wait until she is old enough to read them with me:

The Work and The Glory series

The Harry Potter series

The Babysitters club

and many other books by mostly LDS authors.

My Grandpa Greer helped create my love for reading.

We had our own little book club, he would read a book

and then give it to me to borrow and we would

discuss the book when I was finished.

I would get so excited when he got a new book

because I knew that I would get to read it next.

Eventually I wanted the books at the same time so we

could discuss them as we went along.

He passed away, then grandma did.

As a family going through their things when asked what

I wanted: I asked for his Work and the Glory Series.

That was all I wanted, so I now have 2 complete copies .

But only one has special memories.

I was able to take a few other books too.

I miss him.

"Do you make time for hobbies and interests outside of being a mom and how do you do it?"

This post is part of Wednesday's Lunch Brunch at Blossoming Bloggers.

I make time for my hobbies and interests outside of being a mom by scrapbooking after they are asleep and by attending the Scrapbook Expo in Sandy with my Sister in Law. I also find that cooking or baking help me relax, so sometimes after a very difficult day I will make cookies or bread. The downside to this hobby is the extra dishes. Most recently though I have discovered blogging and Picnik picture editing and have spent alot of time doing that after the kids are sleeping, but my two all time favorites was to relax and just "reconnect" with being me is:

1) Shopping. Growing up I was not a teen you would find at the mall shopping. HATED IT. I would have rather been reading. Get me in and out and I was good. But now being able to go shopping by myself is Heaven. The quiet drive, browsing each isle at my own pace and just imagining what I would buy if I had enough money to splurge. No kids asking for this or that and hubby timing how long we are there. I can head to Walmart for just a few items and spend a good 3 hours just wandering and thinking. To me it is so relaxing. I know weird, but I love it!

2) A Long HOT Shower. No little bodies to wash or fingers poking me. Just sitting at the bottom of the shower letting the water wash away the days stresses. Nothing better! Enough said.

9/11 Fallen Firefighter tribute.

Pictures of the Fallen Firefighter bike ride.
Alex and I took these and I edited them.

Yesterday approximately 3,000 bikers, and a few firetrucks participated in a Fallen Firefighter Tribute ride from Sandy to South Ogden. Our wonderful South Weber Fire, along with Layton and Uintah hung this huge American Flag across the overpass of the highway they would be riding under towards the end of the ride. It was an amazing site to see, even people not in the ride were honking and waving and many would get off the exit to come take pictures. And when they found out about the ride stayed to watch.

 One elderly woman pulled off and with tears in her eyes took many pictures. She spoke with my husband and one of his Lieutenants, her son is currently serving in Afghanistan and she was so touched to see this tribute and wanted to share it with him. She asked if she could take their picture in front of the flag to send to him. I offered to take the picture for her so she could be in it with them but she told me: No this is not about me. This is about them and the men who serve and all who have died serving our country.

It took a little over 8 minutes for all of the bikes to pass. Below is the video Alex took from his place below the flag, and the one I took (which is shorter) from my view point. Thanks to everyone who came out to support this event. I hope you enjoy the videos.

We have not forgotten. We won't forget. God Bless the USA!

Funny things the kids say........

 I am the oldest of 5 children and the only daughter. I grew up playing tackle football with my brothers, cousins, and neighbor kids. I love to play football. I love to watch football. Especially the Green Bay Packers. Tonight they played the Saints and I was trying to get my kids into it (mainly so I didn't have to watch another episode of Barney) by having them cheer with me.

Me: Okay kids, yell "Go Green Bay Packers!"

Lydia: Mom, why do you like green peckers?

I laughed so hard, she started to cry thinking I was making fun of her.

I was able to talk her into coming back out to watch and tried to explain that sometimes kids say funny things without  meaning to and that I wasn't making fun of her.

Me: All right now, they are also called cheese heads so yell "Go Cheese heads!"!

Children: Go Jesus!

Well I guess that works too......

Gotta love it!

Sometimes when the kids (especially the twins) have their backs to me and I want there attention I will say to them. "Hey you, with the face!" They will turn and look at me and laugh. Well tonight I was texting Alex to bring some milk home and Austin wanted my attention.

Austin: Hey you! With the face!   

 Me: What?

Austin: I like your eyeballs.

Me (trying not to laugh): What?!?

Austin: I like you eyeballs.

One of my Bridal pictures.
In Focus Photography

And then he runs off to play.

Kids are so funny.