Feeling A Little Nostalgic

So, I'm not a huge country music fan but I do like a few groups......ALOT! One of them is Rascal Flatts. They have a fairly new CD out and there's a song on it that is so amazing. It's called "Take Me There". The song is about a rare-gem-of-a-guy who wants to know EVERYTHING about his lady love. Here's some lines:

There's a place in your heart nobody's been

Take me there

Things nobody knows, not even your friends

Take me there

Tell me 'bout your mama, your daddy, your hometown, show me around

I wanna see it all, don't leave anything out

Your first real kiss, your first true love

You were scared, show me where

You learned about life, spent your summer nights

Without a care

I wanna roll down Main Street, the back roads

Like you did when you were a kid

What made you who you are

Tell me what your story is

[Chorus] I wanna know everything about you then

And I wanna go down every road you've been

Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live

Where you keep the rest of your life hid

I wanna know the girl behind that pretty stare

Take me there

Okay, so my nostalgic thoughts are on my "first love". I'm gonna share them. We were six, his name was Jeremy, we were in 1st grade, Mrs. Johnson's class. He had curly hair, freckles and the cutest smile. For class picture day, as you can see, he wore a bow-tie. I'm above him, in the third row, wearing a yellow vest. We are on the left side. Thinking back now, as an adult, I am amazed at his manners and how he treated me---so mature! He had a best friend, Vincent (sitting next to him in the grey sweatshirt), that didn't like me hangin' out with them (girls have cooties at that age, right?). I remember one day, Vincent, was saying some not-so-nice things to me and telling me to go home and Jeremy punched him and told him to go home and not to treat me like that. Vincent ran home crying like a baby. Jeremy would walk over to my house and, along the way, pick flowers to give to me. He was wonderful! Halfway into our 1st grade year, Jeremy had to move. I remember it was quite fast, one day he was here the next day he was gone. He ran over to my house to say good-bye. I was so sad! It's amazing, even at 6 years-old, the kind of detailed memories we hold on to. I never saw Jeremy again, I hope he's doing well. He made a big impact on my life and I'm grateful for that sweet, adorable little 6 year old who still continues to touch my heart 26 years later.

**My semi-pathetic attempt at taking a close-up of the two of us in this

class picture. Sorry it's so dark!

What Heaven Sees In You.......

July 15th, Tuesday--I was on one of my favorite websites http://www.sugardoodle.net/ looking for something totally unrelated, when I came across this YouTube link. I heard this song almost two years ago, for the first time. I cried the first time and still do, every time I hear it. It is such a beautiful song with such a tender message. I am blessed to have a daughter that I've been able to watch and daydream over all her special moments, including the ones she'll have in 3 white dresses. One of those moments have already happened and I treasure her special blessing day. The next is coming soon, only a year and a 1/2 away, her baptism! I tear up just thinking about it. I hope you enjoy this link! Grab a tissue!

P.S.--I have some terrific friends that are "female-producing-impaired", at least for now. I just wanted to let you know your day will come to, I'm being optimistic for you!

*These pictures are of Elise in her blessing dress and pictures I took of her when she was almost 2 years old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMfr9Ewp8o4

I Got Released!

July 6th--Today is Sunday and I was officially released from my calling as Primary President. I've known since Wednesday but today it all sunk in. The ward split last week and most of my presidency went to the new ward. The bishopric felt it was time to release me rather than construct a new presidency all over again. I must say it came as, somewhat, a relief. I've enjoyed this calling quite a bit. There have been many trials and frustrations but none of them can compare to the joy I felt serving the children of our ward. I love them all dearly. I'm thankful for the many people that served and continue to serve in the Primary. I feel kind of an emptiness now. This has basically become a part-time job with all the time put into it but I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. The blessings that have come from this calling are all around me. I see how my marriage has been strengthened even more. I have a better understanding and relationship with my children. I feel more confidence in myself and my abilities. I see the importance of creating a foundation of the gospel for my children, the efforts put into building that foundation are so simple and really don't take much time. Both Brady and Elise seem to grasp all the gospel concepts quite easily, I am truly amazed. I see how important it has become to receive frequent priesthood blessings and I'm thankful to have a worthy priesthood holder as my husband to give one to me at any time--usually late at night. I've discovered that, with any calling, you will be blessed far more than you can imagine. To see the blessings and understand them you have to have faith and courage to recognize them and then you'll see that the blessings are all around you and so very obvious.
I'm ready to, again, take on another calling, should there be one in mind for me now, but I also have some personal goals that have been on hold since Brady's diagnosis and then receiving this calling shortly after. I feel I have time to focus on those goals now. Nate and I received a confirmation of the Spirit, last November, that our family is not quite complete. I remember sharing the answer to our prayers with my dad, at Thanksgiving time. He seemed to get a little emotional and expressed a feeling, he has, that there is still another child waiting to join our family. He wasn't sure which one of his children this child was to come to but was happy that one of us received a confirmation of it. He even shared the gender he felt this child is but we'll wait and see! As we find ourselves getting more comfortable with our current family routine, we realize it will be harder and harder the more we wait so we will be working on another addition to our family soon. Our procrastination has been selfish but if it happens, we know it's meant to be. We're ready for whatever our Father in Heaven has in store for our family.

Happy 4th of July!

July 4th--We had a "blast" celebrating Independance Day with our neighbors and friends. After last years 4th of July party turned out to be so successful, we decided to make it an annual thing. We brought out the grills to cook up all sorts of meats and everyone brought either a side-dish or dessert to share with the rest. It was hot outside but also overcast so it made being outside bearable. The kids had a fun time using our slip-n-slide and a kiddie pool. I think our grass won't need watering for a few days! The kids also spent time playing some games to earn prizes. Thanks to the courtesy of my dad, who ships way too many Happy Meal toys our way. The adults had a great time chatting and munching on all the yummy food everyone brought. We had games planned but decided to just chat. Once it got dark everyone brought out their boxes of fireworks. Nate, and some of the other men, had fun lighting up all the fountains. We all agreed the best fountain was one called "Zombies".

We were all sad to see it end until we realized Pioneer Day (July 24th) is coming up. Another

reason to party! .......and think of the Mormon pioneers, of course!

Pic #1--It's not a firework show without a blow torch! Danny Short and his daughter, Ashtyn.

Pic #2--Brady and me watching the show.

Pic #3--Brooke Saluone with her daughter, Nani, and son, Alema

Pic #4--Meredith Carmon and her daughter, Tianna

Pic #5--Brady & Elise looking pretty tired

Pic #6--Nate pretending to "smoke" the punk

Pic #7--The pyro trio! Nate with James Carmon and Tony Alonzo

Pic #8--The Short Family, Michelle, Avery, Danny & Ashtyn

Pic #9--The Alonzo's, Cathy & Tony with a sleeping, Ahnika

All She Wants for Christmas Is Her Two Front Teeth.......

June 29th--While up at the family time-share condo, Elise was wiggling away at her other, upper front tooth. She finally got it out Sunday night. Wow, I thought just the one front tooth missing made a big difference but both of them, good gads, what a change! And I thought she had a lisp before, woah!, her ability to pronounce an "s" is almost gone! Grandma Rosemary was able to take a pic of her. Elise was so worried the Tooth Fairy would not be able to find her at the condo. We put her worries to rest and assured her the Tooth Fairy would find her. And, of course, the Tooth Fairy did and gave her another $1 coin.
All of us, at the condo, broke out into song singing, "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." She thought it was pretty funny a song had been written for those two teeth! I remember losing both my upper front teeth right around Christmas-time. The music teacher at my elementary school, Seabeck Elementary, decided to teach the kids that song because of it. I can still remember how cool that was!
Shortly after Elise's tooth came out she was wiggling more teeth to figure out which one is next. Soon enough, she'll have enough money that I'll be able to ask her for a loan! ha ha ha No really, all her tooth money goes in our "Saving Up For a Dog" fund. She does it voluntarily, as well as any other money she earns. Brady and I do as well. Any contributions to our cause are greatly appreciated! ha ha ha j/k

Note: These pictures were actually taken on Sunday, July 6th. She had just lost another tooth on the bottom making those two bottom teeth loners. They've got that space all to themselves for a little while! TOO FUNNY!!!!

Fun at the Condo!

June 28th-30th--Our family drove up to Wolf Creek, in Ogden Canyon, for the annual week at the family time-share condo. Nate's family has been going up to this condo for many years. It's where they are able to spend time together and enjoy some swimming and hot-tubbing. Nate, his brothers, and his dad enjoy some male-bonding time playing some hard-core racquetball (back in the day, when I thought I was pretty good, they all put me to shame!). This is the same condo Nate took me to meet his entire family for the first time. I remember how overwhelming it seemed to spend a few days with his family and try to get to know them when most of them were so shy and not really willing to open up to me. But I also remember some sweet moments with Nate, just being able to talk and be together.
This year, Elise and Brady found the courage to swim around on their own--with floaties, of course--and didn't seem to need an adult around. I loved watching them kick their legs and stroke their arms as they explored the large pool. Elise was slowly figuring out how to swim without floaties. If we had been there longer she might have learned to swim without them.
We had a great time visiting with family that was able to come. I truly enjoyed myself and I know Nate and the kids did too. Saturday night my brother-in-law, Dustin, and his wife, Crystal, whipped up some delicious shakes. They made Nate and I a Snickers shake. There seemed to be a little residue left of the strawberry shake they had made prior to ours and it made the Snickers shake even better! It actually tasted like banana. So there's a shake to try---Snickers and fresh banana shake, so tasty! Sunday was spent hanging around the condo and plenty of swimming. I took advantage of the excercise room and worked out for about 20 minutes. That night, my father-in-law, Dan, made it to the condo after a long day of bishopric meetings. Nate and I made him a yummy birthday dinner of hamburgers and homemade potato salad. My sister-in-law, Jenny, and my mother-in-law, Rosemary, brought some delicious fruit and we served that as well. After dinner we brought out the Marie Callendar's pies (fresh strawberry, chocolate silk, & lemon cream cheese) to sing to Dan. We gave him a card with a promise to take him to the Desert Star Theater when we go see "Indiana Bones" in a week or so. He loved that idea since he wasn't able to go with Rosemary a few weeks ago.
Aside from Brady and I getting a little sunburnt, we all had so much fun. Everyone got along really well. Brady and Elise LOVED playing with their cousins, Kayla and Quinn. Their other cousin, Cameron, seemed to sleep a lot and then interact at night (he's 14). Nate was thrilled to be able to play racquetball with his brothers, Kip and Dustin, and his dad.
On Monday morning, June 30th, we had to head back home. I had to work in the afternoon so we weren't able to stay any longer. We wish we had been able to. While on our drive back home, we had to stop in Ogden. Brady needed to vomit. We made it to a gas station just in time. He face was ghost-white! As soon as he was able to vomit he was just fine. We're not sure why he got sick but all was well the rest of the day.
Thanks to all of you that came and made the weekend so much fun! We'll look forward to going back the next time!

Our Annual Camping Trip To Palisades State Park

June 18th thru 22nd--Palisades State Park is in a town called Sterling. Sterling is just outside Manti, Utah. It is my kind of camping, indeed. There is a reservoir with canoes and paddleboats to rent. The camping sites are landscaped with showers and toilets galore. Over in a one of the corners of the park is a golf course and snack bar. I love this place!.........minus the many mosquitos and bugs. We come up here every year, usually for Memorial Day weekend, with my sister, Alishia, her husband, Shad, and their kids, Jacob and Samantha. This year we decided to come up during the Manti Pageant/Mormon Miracle Pageant. Nate had seen it before but it had been a very long time. I had never seen it and neither had Alishia and her family.

We rented a trailer again and were glad to have done so. This year we got a hybrid camper---it's a cross between a tent trailer and regular hard-shelled trailer. The trailer had a full bathroom, kitchen/cooking area and a U-shaped couch with a fold down table. My sister, Alishia, made the reservations for two sites with FULL hook-ups, a true treat! Because of the full hook-ups we were able to run the A/C everyday and enjoy a break from the heat. There were two beds. Nate took one with Brady and I took the other with Elise. Nate, being a little more tolerant than I, braved all four nights sleeping with a very clingy Brady. After one night of sleeping with a very clingy Elise, I couldn't take the lack of sleep another night so she got moved to the couch the other three nights and seem to do quite well.

The first day was spent getting settled in and figuring out all the camper had to provide us. We discovered the many mosquitos took a liking to Nate, me, and Elise. We were getting bit all over the place! Poor Elise, along with all the bug bites she had terrible allergies up there. I tried to make her feel a little better by telling her the bugs liked her so much because she's so sweet. Her comment to that was, "Well I don't mind them biting me but I don't like that the bites make me itch so much!" Brady, quite surprisingly, must have one benefit to having Type 1 Diabetes. The bugs didn't bite him! He walked away from this trip with no bug bites. I was so shocked and amazed! We coated the kids, and ourselves, with bug spray 3 or 4 times a day but they still bit us.

Anyhoo, our second day was the day we went to the pageant. It started at 9:30 pm. We figured the kids would fall asleep during the pageant but was told it was worth it to take them. We got to the pageant area around 7:30 to grab seats and take a look at all the booths and vendors around. We were disappointed to find several groups protesting the pageant and our LDS faith. We had to walk through one of the groups to get to the entrance. It was awkward but we held our heads high. By the time the pageant started it was dark and quite cold. We brought jackets and blankets and managed to stay, somewhat, warm. The pageant, in my opinion, seemed a little too over-dramatic and dragged out a little too long. The message was powerful though. By the end our two little ones were asleep. It was 11:15 pm. We woke them up and walked to our car to head back to the campsite. Once we got back it didn't take long for us all to be sound asleep.

For the rest of our camping trip we mostly hung around the campsite to rest and relax. We took a few trips to town for groceries and to look at some of the fun shops, along with a stop to a really yummy malt shop. We enjoyed visiting with Alishia and Shad. Brady and Elise loved playing with Samantha. Jacob, well, he enjoyed playing video games in the camper, most the time. I'm glad we were able to go and we'll plan to do so again next year. I think we'll stick to going Memorial Day weekend from now on.

Happy Father's Day!

Sunday, June 15th--Happy 7th Father's Day Nate! Today was a beautiful, sunny day. Our church starts at 9:00 am and so our Sunday mornings are usually rushed to get ready and out the door in time. Today was no different, except that Nate was able to take a few minutes to check out his Father's Day gift. He had received some really cool Swiss water bottles a week before but today was the day he got just what he wanted. We bought him a Jeep remote control car. He LOVED it! Some of the dads in our neighborhood, for the last few months, have been taking their kids out and driving around remote control cars. They all seem to have a blast taking turns and the dads enjoy figuring out the cool things the remote control cars can do. Nate really liked the idea of owning one himself and spending time with the kids helping them figure it out. As we both contemplated what to get our own dads we thought it would be a good idea to get them each a remote control car too. It's something they could enjoy on their own or take out when the grandkids come to visit. I picked a Chevy Silverado remote control car for my dad and had it shipped to him. Nate picked a hot, red Corvette for his dad. My dad called me to let me know he received it and, jokingly, wondered why I didn't ship the real deal. ha ha ha

For Father's Day dinner we went to Nate's sisters (Jenny) house. She barbequed up some yummy burgers. We had some great visiting with everyone and the kids had fun playing with their cousins. Then it came time for Nate's dad (Dan) to open up his gifts. Along with the remote control car, he got a couple of gift certificates/cards to restaurants, a comfy-looking pillow and some bath products. As he was opening the box to get the car out I over-heard a pretty hurtful, rude comment made by one of Nate's brothers as to why we would buy him such a thing but once the car was out and the batteries in I knew it was something he would enjoy a lot. Dan seemed to have a permanent smile driving that sweet, red Corvette all over Jenny's house. Eventually, he took it outside and drove it around a little before giving some of the grandkids a try.

When we got home the battery to Nate's car was charged and so he took the Jeep outside and drove it around. The kids had a blast watching him. He's excited to take it camping in a few days.

To Nate: I'm continually amazed at the time and devotion you give to our children. They know and understand your deep love for them. Your love goes beyond just doting and adoring. Your actions speak so much louder than words. The interaction between you and them is unlike anything I have ever witnessed between a dad and his kids. It's pure, unconditional and quite mutual---very touching for me to see and be a part of. We have the added luxury of having you work from home 3 days a week. We're incredibly blessed and I know Elise and Brady enjoy having that extra time with you, as do I. Whether or not there's another child Heavenly Father wants to have join our family, I know your desire to continually be a wonderful father, to all of our children, will never change. Brady will grow up learning from the best example---his own dad---and because of that he will be the best dad too. I love you so very much, always and forever.

To my dad and Nate's dad: Calvin and Dan, what a blessing it is to have men that honor their priesthood and love their families deeply. We know both of you are always available for advice, counsel and anything else we need to help raise our children in righteousness and everlasting love. Much like their understanding of our love for them, Brady and Elise know and understand your deep love for them. Thank you both for all you do for our family. You are great examples to us all and we love you both so much!

A Night At the Bees Game

Monday, June 9th--Or is it Stingers....or Buzz...or the Do-Hickeys....or who-the-heck gives a rats patoot (there's my Happy Valley plug)!

Alrighty then, Nate took the chillin's to a whatever-they're-called baseball game on Monday night. Along for the fun was grandpa, grandpa, Aunt Wendy, Aunt Jenny and cousins, Quinn and Kayla. Sadly, and I truly mean that, I couldn't go because I had to work. Honestly, I enjoyed the quiet time, once I got home, but I would have loved to go to a baseball game with my family too. I made good use of my time. I went grocery shopping........alone! What a difference going without kids! I was in and out, with a cart full of groceries, in 20 minutes. Incredible time! I even took time to go through areas my kids never let me spend time in. I stopped at the Artic Circle and ordered a yummy burger combo and then on my way home. I unloaded the groceries, put them all away and then sat down to eat my tasty dinner while taking a rare opportunity to watch a chick flick.......in total silence. Ahhhhhhhh This beats a Spa treatment any time, in my book.

So back to the game, the kids have a wonderful time with their cousins, aunts and grandparents. They got to ride the train around the baseball field and go through a pirate maze. I highly doubt any of their time was spent actually watching the game. Around the 7th inning the kids were getting cranky. The home team was losing so the gang decided to pack up and leave. Elise and Brady always LOVE the Trax ride to and from our Salt Lake destinations. They got home around 10:00 pm and I was glad to see them and help Nate put the kids to bed. Once the kids were in bed Nate ran to the computer to check the score. The home team actually caught up and won the game! Nate was kind of bummed, knowing they won, to leave early but also glad to be home. He said they had a great time! And, even though I wanted to go with my family, the alone time was very, very nice. I think I needed it more than I thought.

Soon She Might Need Dentures!

Thursday, June 12th---ha ha ha ha j/k For some reason she's a little embarissed about taking a photo with a tooth absent but Princess Elise won't need dentures anytime soon.....we hope. She is losing her baby teeth like crazy. There's 3 other loose ones, ready to come out in the next few weeks. This makes her 4th to come out. It's one of the big, front teeth, on top, and, WOW, it makes a difference to how she looks and even talks (she'll have a little lisp for a while). Today she worked like crazy to wiggle it out and finally got it. JOY! Mom has discovered, with all this loose tooth business, that pulling teeth grosses her out quite a bit. Who would have ever thought, considering some of the bodies I massage! ha ha ha I just can't pull any so it's either up to Elise or daddy to help out and daddy was gone working today. She did a great job and is excited for the Tooth Fairy to come tonight. The Tooth Fairy brings her a $1.00 for each tooth. She protested today when she found out one of her friends gets $2.00 per tooth. We told her, "Oh well, the Tooth Fairy gives you what she feels you deserve and you need to be thankful for that." She thought about it and then said, "Maybe the Tooth Fairy feels like my friend needs the extra money more than I do because I have a bucket with lots of change in it." So we said, "Yep, I bet that's what it is." I then told her that molars seem to get more money and so she then proceeded to start wiggling them all. No luck though.