EARLOBES, EARLOBES, REAL GREAT!

On February 20 my sweet dad passed away - 3 months ago today.  He was diagnosed with cancer the first week of January, and fought so hard for 51 days.  Our family made a promise to each other when we found out that my dad was sick that we would fight and win, and yet we were fighting against an unfair, cheating opponent. In the last few weeks of his life, with another round of chemo looming,  my dad took time to talk with each of his children, asking us what we thought he should do.  The first and only round of chemo didn't seem to work at all, and the cancer was like a snowball, getting bigger and more out of control as it spread.  My dad was so willing to go through another round and all the sickness that comes with it to make sure that none of us thought he was giving up, but the doctor wouldn't let him - his body couldn't handle it. He fought until the end and gave it everything he had and more.  When the hospice nurse came, I told her that my dad was a fighter, and she said "there is no doubt about that, look at him." (he was bright yellow from his liver not working for so long).  Thank you dad for showing us how to fight.

I was able to spend quite a bit of time up at his house the last four weeks of his life, and that is precious time I will ALWAYS treasure.  During that time he expressed to me and my family the way he feels about us, and I hope I was able to let him know how much I love him.

Three months have gone by, and yet it seems like I haven't been able to see him in so long.  It is crazy to me how I miss him every day.  So many things remind me of him and make me wish he was here with us.  His little song "earlobes, earlobes, real great, I love earlobes, can't wait" has been going through my head all day, and even though it makes me so sad, I have to smile at the funny little things he said and did.  I miss my dad...

Sweet Dad...I love you.  I miss you.  I wish so much you were here.

Love,
Alicia

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm so thankful for so many things today, but if I had to pick one thing it would be FAMILY.  As I'm writing this, I am sitting across the table from Brittani, she's telling me how she has never kissed anyone at school, or at a dance, and then her next sentence is "we should get a fruit dryer"!  I feel so lucky that I can just chat with my sweet daughter, that Rick has given me the opportunity to be a stay at home mom so that I can be with our children.

Each of my children are so different.  The other day, I was dropping Nathan off at school and I just had to laugh - he was in his PJ's (it was pajama day at his school), he had two instruments (one for jazz band and one for band class) - he is in 8th grade and so sure of himself.  I absolutely love everything about that boy.

Connor and his posse have found a vending pop machine at someones house, so everyday after school, rain or shine, they head out on their bikes, pick up friends along the way, and go to get a drink!  He is so dang funny, everything he does.  We are going to have to limit his soda intake so that he can stay healthy, I just think it is so funny though - their new thing!

Rick is the love of my life. I love being around him.  I love the dad and husband that he is.  He is my everything.

Today, on Thankful Thursday, I am so thankful for my AWESOME family!

GOODBYE 5637 WEST 10770 NORTH!

About 13 years ago we built this awesome house.  Brittani was 3, Nathan was 1, and Rick and I were in our twenty's!  We brought Connor into our family in this home, made thousands of wonderful memories, made some great friends, and grew as a family.  Today we closed on the sale of 5637 and cleaned out the last few things that were left behind, and started a new chapter of our life.  I felt so many emotions today; excitement, sadness, nervousness, and relief.  I know that wherever we live, as long as we are together as a family, it will be HOME.  I am so thankful for my sweet family, that they love me no matter what, that together I know we can get through anything.  I'm also so thankful for this amazing home, that in it I watched my beautiful children start to become incredible people.  I'm thankful for night games, wrestling with each other, Nathan pushing Rick into the wall, denting it, and feeling so tough every time he walked past it!  I'm thankful for Halloweens, birthdays, Christmas stockings for 150 children in Mexico, finding out we were FINALLY pregnant with Connor, Brittani turning 16, Nathan receiving the Priesthood, and SO many other precious memories that I have in this home.  I will always, always, always love 5637 West 10770 North.

RED BUTTE GARDEN

MOTHER'S DAY

A few weeks ago Brittani and I were asked to speak in church on Mother's Day (what a treat!).  I asked my mom if she wanted to come down and go to church with us and Rick asked Leslie if she wanted to come go church with us, so we had an audience!  It worked out so nicely when we realized that Nathan would be ordained a Teacher in church also, so both grandmas were able to be there for that.  It's crazy to me how quickly Nathan is growing up.  He is such a handsome, kind, loving boy.  He tries so hard to make good choices and be a good person.  One thing I admire so much about Nathan is that he NEVER talks bad about anyone.  He is about 6'2" and is still growing!!!  I'm so proud of the man he is becoming.

After church Cory, Spring, Jaxon and Brenna came to our house to give my mom her gifts before they went to dinner with Spring's family.  Cory is doing a reality show on the Discovery Channel about small airplanes and has been gone for the past couple of weeks filming for that.  It was fun to have them over and spend some time with them.  Later, Teague, Jen and their family, Nolan, Amanda and their family, Ashlie and Will and Leslie all came over for dinner.  We ate, played games and had a nice evening.

                                               The Mother's Day gift my sweet children gave to me.

                                                                            Cute Brenna

                                                        Sweet Connor and Sweet Jaxon

It was a lot different this year with my dad not being with us.  It still is so hard for me to really believe that he is gone.  Teague graduated from college on Saturday, and when he walked in and was waving at us, it broke my heart that my dad wasn't there to see him.  Kirk leaned over and asked if I thought it would ever get any easier (we were both crying at this point), but I honestly don't know if it ever will.  He will be so missed at graduations, ordinations, weddings, parties, holidays, and every other day of the year...

PROM #2!

2 proms in a row!  Brittani was asked to Pleasant Grove's prom by her good friend Jordan Bramhall.  She had SOOO much fun and looked SOOO beautiful.  I'm glad we are done with proms for a year!