We also had a couple swim meets Landon went to.  And Shannon made him this great sign to cheer him on with!!

 Kate was a willing spectator!!

And I saw my first show at Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake.  Needless to say, I was terribly disappointed.  Maybe they're just better on Broadway.....maybe this was just a bad one.

Spring 2011

Spring brings a lot of things....very busy things....Along with a ton of cold weather and rain, spring also brings the Health Days parade...where Jaxon was a monkey. A very cute one, I might add.

Spring also brought Jaxon's class opera. Here he is with his very pregnant teacher, Mrs. Kendrick. We loved her...she loved him too.

He was Farmer Brown in the opera. Just looking at the pictures of him still cracks me up. The goatee was a killer. He and Gracie were both in the same class and loved being together. She was a zebra. What a great year 1st grade was!!

Of course spring also brings SOCCER!! One of Jaxon's favorite things, and this year was no exception.

Does anyone still read this?? Remember me?? I used to blog. Then I started on a dead run and I'm being really honest when I say I haven't had a moment's boredom.....till today. Plus, I have really been wanting to catch this up:) It's something I just enjoy doing and like doing. So, the last week or so of April my baby sister Shannon, myself, and her two youngest children took an adventurous trip back to Pennsylvania to visit our dad, aunt, uncle, and Grandma. We had the best trip. It was so rewarding and fulfilling and I was so glad we went. It makes me sad to think of my family back there that I just do not see very often. Everyone asks when you return from a trip, "so what did you do"?????? Well, we just enjoyed being with our family. It was awesome, despite a 3 hour delay at the airport, a 7 hour flight (that was supposed to be 5), and being stranded in Chicago overnight, (which is fine if you don't have two small children.) Anyway, here are some pictures of our trip.
This is Zaiah crashed out on the plane. Hallelujah. This can only spell relief if you are the mother/aunt taking care of him.My Aunt Rosie and Zaiah. (sorry Rosie, maybe I said I wouldn't post pics of you on my blog, but I guess I lied!!!)The "trail" across from my dads house. If you have never been to PA, it is a beautiful state.How sweet is this picture?? One of my favorite pictures ever. EVER. My dad and sweet nephew Isaiah. My Grandma loved seeing the kids. It was the cutest thing.

Spring Break

Dear Mother Nature,

Thank you so much for the fabulous weather during Christmas (sorry, I meant spring) break the past week!!! I looked at the weather forecast at the beginning of the week and was actually doing backflips outside because I couldn't wait to enjoy the week. Bring on the sunshine!!, I thought. The kids and I could hardly stay indoors with all the warm weather outside!! After the first day out in the sunshine I had to go and actually buy sunscreen because we had all gotten burned. It was just what we needed after so many months without sunshine in this dreary Utah weather!! The kids are so sad they have to go back to school tomorrow and spend the day locked up inside their classrooms. We soaked up so much vitamin D everyone's spirits were absolutely soaring!! And we didn't have to change our travel plans, we just went and enjoyed more sunshine!!! I love you Mother Nature, thanks again!!!

That's the letter I WISH I could have written. Unfortunately for Mother Nature, I made it all up. This is the real letter I am writing after the past week.

Dear Mother Nature,

You suck. You are a sadistic, buzz-killing, wench. After the past 5 months of snow, overcast, gray, dreary skies, you choose to throw the same weather on us for the week of the kids' Spring Break. HAVE YOU NO MERCY????? It was ok, I thought, after looking at the weather forecast. It's always warmer down south, we'll just head down there for the week. WRONG!!! There wasn't warm, sunny weather ANYWHERE within driving distance!!!! The people in Utah are about to go postal after the past week of 30 degrees and snow. When I gain my powers to control the weather I will lock you in your house for 5 months, not give you any sunshine, and pull your toenails out one by one. I bet the anti-depressant prescriptions are soaring in this state about now, you scum sucking, heartless wench. Thanks for nothing. You beast.

If it is March 28th and my front porch still looks like this, am I pathetic??? Probably, but there have been no significant, repeated time frames that make me think that it's not still December, possibly Christmas, or maybe February at the latest. @#$(@#&!!!! Enough whining. Anyway, I have gotten out of the house a few times during the last 3 months. I have pictures to prove it!! Last week was definately the high point of it all. After 20 something years, he's still my man. Nope, not Jay. (silly, I haven't even known him 20 something years. I'm not even in the double digits with him yet). It's JON BON JOVI!!! He's something of a Greek God to me, and I did spend 2 1/2 hours in his presence the other night. After seeing him and listening to him, it made me wonder what was so appealing to me back in the mid 80's about him. (But back in the mid 80's, who knows why a lot of things appealed to me). He's better looking, he sounds better, and he is one heck of a performer. I love him



Sally & I
Alison & I

Grandma Noyes

My mom has always said "there is nothing more constant in life than change." But for my entire life thus far, one thing has not changed. I grew up in about 5 different places, I've had various family situations, (even a couple different husbands) but through it all the house at 323 N. 8th W. in Preston has always been my grandma and grandpa's house. It was my favorite place to be as a kid, and I was there every chance I could be (or at my cousins house next door). We spent almost every holiday there and my memories of the time I spent there are countless. My grandpa (who is truly one of my real life heroes) died 9 years ago, at the age of 92. Grandma had been living alone pretty much since then, and even though my mom spent every night out there, last October we decided it wasn't safe for her to stay there anymore and moved her to an assisted living home in Preston. It was sad to see things being given away and moved out of her house. I had a lump in my throat when Jay and I were hauling out the couches. It was sad and shocking to me when I went there with my mom once in November to get some things and felt the chill when I swung open the door to her house. I had never ever felt a chill like that in grandma and grandpa's house before. It was always filled with a warmth that was more than just heat.

At the end of January my grandma decided she was done living here on earth, and she refused to eat anymore. She rapidly declined and on February 4, 2011, passed peacefully away. I had decided since the death of my first husband that it wasn't sad when an old person died. I thought that you would be "ready" to say goodbye to them, like you had had enough of them and it was ok for them to die. I was praying that my grandma would die.....I knew her quality of life had greatly declined and she would be better off. Needless to say, since the time of her death, I have felt a profound loss.

She was everything you want your grandma to be. She was kind, she was funny, she was talented, she loved to celebrate, she took care of and accepted everyone, she made great food, and most of all, she loved me. I can still hear the way she said "hello Shaley" and I can still see her sitting in her chair reading her book. It is the end of an era for our family, and we all felt that deep loss at her funeral. When I think of the perfect life, I think of her and my grandpa. They came to earth, they worked hard, they raised a family, they lived the gospel, they stayed together, and they grew old and died. And if longevity can be inherited, I just might live forever. But nobody really lives on earth forever, that's not the way it's supposed to be. I realize what a blessing it has been in my life to have them as grandparents. I miss them more than I can say. And I know that I am one of the lucky ones to be a part of their great legacy. It's a legacy of determination, faith, and love.Grandma at her 94th birthday partymy mom and her sister, Marian, at the cemetary.
my cousin Daniel and Aunt ReneeMy brother, Jed, my mom, and nephew ColtenThe only "good" thing about her funeral was I got to see some of my cousins who live in Florida, and my Aunt who lives in Texas. My cousins Celeste & Stephanie, and Aunt Marian.
me and my cousin Jared.

Help!

Help! I'm addicted to LOST!! I know, I know, I'm about 6 years late getting on board with this....and it's Kaitlyn's fault. She started watching it a couple weeks ago, and then I started watching it.....and I've watched almost the entire season 1 in like a week or so. Are there any LOST fans out there??? Are all of the seasons this good??? Tell me, do, tell me. I haven't been this obssessed with a TV show since "Days of our Lives" in the mid-80's. I heard people talk about how good this show was but they always said if you didn't watch it from the begining you would be "lost." So I didn't start watching. Now I can't stop. It makes me a bad mother, a bad wife, and a terrible housekeeper!! I'm starting to think these people are my friends....I gave up facebook, and now I have LOST. Help!!

The Christmas Spirit

We love Christmas. And we love our dog. However, he isn't quite enjoying the Christmas Spirit like we thought he would. He looks completely depressed. But he makes a great Santa!! Merry Christmas everybody!!

Santa Letter

I think this is the cutest Santa letter I have ever read. I laughed out loud when I got it out of Jaxon's backpack from school. I think we would all do well to write the same letter.
Here it is:

Dear Santa,

I have made sum mastaxe but I will fix them for next yere.

Love, Jaxon