FINLAYSON

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

NATHAN'S MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR - 2011

With my sweet Dad being gone, my mom decided to do BIG Magical Mystery Tours this year with her grandchildren. Nathan's, Zak's and Braydan's MMT was this past week, June 4 - June 11 and my mom took them to go see a lot of the church historical sites. I was able to go with them this year and it was fun to get to know the boys so much better, and to visit these amazing places that I have never visited before. We left early Saturday morning and flew to Ohio where we were able to stay for two nights with Jen Bengtzen's brother and his wife. The boys were so excited when they saw the hot tub and the man cave downstairs for them to have free reign of! We went to church with them on Sunday and then visited the Kirtland Temple, the Isaac Morley Farm, The Quarry and the John Johnson Farm. It was a busy day but interesting to see these different places. On Monday we woke up early, said our goodbyes and drove to Canada. We were able to visit Niagara Falls and take a boat ride called The Maid of the Mist which took us under the falls. It was breathtaking. Tuesday we went to Marine Land, Niagara Falls and sweet Nathan was able to feed his favorite animal...a baaluga wale. It was SO fun to see him - he loved every minute of it! We left Canada early Wednesday morning and headed to Palmyra, New York to visit more church history sites. We saw the Hill Cumorah, Joseph Smith's log cabin, Joseph Smith's home, the Sacred Grove, the Palmyra Temple, and the Book of Mormon Publication Site. WOW! It was a long day! At Joseph Smith's home we met one of the most amazing sister missionaries and she quickly became one of the boys favorite things on this trip! Before leaving to come home, we made one more stop - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and then ran to the airport and came home.

I have such a hard time being away from Rick and my sweet kids for a long period of time, and while I was in Canada I couldn't talk to Rick because of long distance, and I missed them so much. I'm so thankful for Rick and all he does for me and for our family. I often wonder how I got so lucky!

Marine Land - Nathan in heaven

Hill Curmorah

The Sacred Grove

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Nathan on Maid of the Mist

Niagara Falls

Marine Land

The Quarry

The boys at the Moss' home

Niagara Falls

Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls

Texas Airport during our layover

The B Spot Resturant

LDS Historic Site

Kirtland Temple

Although I missed my family so much, I LOVED spending so much time with Nathan. I found myself just watching him and so amazed by his kindness, manners, and the respect he showed others. He is such a good good boy and I am so thankful he chose to come to our house.

Friday, June 3, 2011

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - 2010/2011

I went and picked Connor and his friend Collin up from school today and when they hopped in the car Collin said to Connor, "Dude, how did you get the hottest girl's number?" and Connor, being very cool replied, "You have to be tall, strong, and not let anything get in your way!"

MEMORIAL DAY

Our first Memorial Day without my sweet dad... this year will be a lot of firsts. The head stone was put in just this past week and it is beautiful. My mom, Teague and his family, Kirk and his family, and my family had lunch and visited the grave - one more holiday down.

Friday, May 20, 2011

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

Thursday, May 19, 2011

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!

Monday, May 16, 2011

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.