Thanksgiving-

I really like Thanksgiving and have many wonderful memories of having Thanksgiving with my Grandpa Rue in his wood shop and at the Labrum's in Logan. It's funny, I remember going to both sides and "sharing" but I mostly remember the times with my mom's family.

I am glad to be back to Utah and in the last 2 years we have now been with both families. Because my mom lives so far ( like 2 WHOLE hours) they decided to come up to my house and have my sisters come. ( My brother lives out of state) We also had my mom's sister Linda come with us too.

My mom and dad drove up early and got here to start cooking around 8 am. My mom and I literally cooked up to the time to eat. I got a shower in at the LAST second. My house is not large by any means and we had about 12 people here. It was full and fun!

My sister and her kids were here. Tyler was so excited. He wanted Lexi to come and play basketball all week and he LOVES having the "kids" over to play. As soon as they get here they are all off upstairs playing. ( playing is relative!)

We had a great dinner that tasted so yummy. It was so good and had all the trimmings. We had some lovely entertainment from Tyler and his story telling. He kept calling his Aunt Nicky, Nicky poo poo. He demanded everyone clap and would keep going when people laughed.

After dinner we sat around, laughed and talked. After all the playing and laughing my sister and Aunt Linda had to leave. Ty had played with the kids so much he curled up on my dads lap and he rocked with him for a little bit.

Bed time was a well deserved rest for me. I fell asleep after just a few minutes. Ready to take on the next day of tying quilts and enjoying my mom and sisters. The kids came and entertained Tyler and they had so much fun.

Tyler is such a follower. He would follow my sisters kids anywhere if they let him. They are really good to him. It is nice to see him enjoy the company. Poor Lexi was dragged from here to there and he would look at her and say PWEASE and she would smile and go along.

We tied a quilt for Dallas and Lexi stayed the night to have a "Spa night" with Nana. We ate burgers, painted her nails, did a huge bubble bath with the jet spa tub and she did wax stuff on her hands. She stayed up late eating popcorn and watching movies. ( I did not however get a photo!)

Saturday was a busy day of quilt tying. We did 4 of them and the kids will be so excited when Christmas comes. Ty was totally excited for yet another full day of "kids" to play. We knew Sunday was gonna be a rough one!

Today ( Sunday) we cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. My house had a whole thing of yarn on the floor! Ty was without playmates for the first time in a week. He was so cute and kept asking Dallas for a brother or sister to play. As IF we could go to the store and get one!

Stay tuned for blizzard pictures and an update from the neurosurgeon

A Month of Thanksgiving

It was challenged a while back to give thanks for something on every day of the month. I rolled my eyes and thought that it was not something I wanted to do. But I digress. I do want to do it. So I am starting a little bit at a time. In hopes that for the rest of the month I can watch what I am thankful for and address it. So I can see the good mixed in with the not so good.

1- My Heavenly Father. The month of November started out great. I started with a new resolve to do my best. To wake up and try harder than the day before. One of those resolves was to get back to where I was at one point a long time ago. It meant self sacrifice of some sleep. But it also meant regaining a spot on my knees. I haven't prayed so hard, cried so much and pleaded for SOMETHING to change. For me to be strong. For me to forgive and for me to be the best mom in the world.

Because I can communicate with a loving Heavenly Father , I am able to work through my issues. Find a place where I am at peace. I have no answers as to help us work through other issues but I am SURE that as I try just a little bit harder, the answer will be there.

2- Dallas : I am thankful for him as a person, but also thankful for him as my eternal companion. He is my best friend. He knows me. He knows my reactions to things sometimes before I do. He usually does a pretty dang good job of warding off or sheltering me in someway if he knows it is going to hurt.

He was the one that really got us thinking about another baby. He is the one that I have to cry with. The pain is there for both of us. He gets the brunt of it because he deals with the hormones, the sadness and then the sickness. He deals with the money spent on negative tests and tissue paper.

But most of all, he is my partner. He created one of the most amazing things in our life. He fathers and parents this child with ease. He has rose to the occasion of figuring out how to make it easier for Tyler. He is a wonderful father.

3. Tyler: oh the words that I could use. I am so thankful for WORDS in general. He has them. Those are things we were never thinking we would hear. But we do hear them. Sometimes they are mumbled and sometimes they are wrong but most of the time they are funny, correct and often in perfect context and with a laugh. His spirit is so much bigger than he is. Every person that meets him, comments on how amazing his spirit is. We love him more than life itself.

He asks every day for a brother or sister to play. WE keep saying soon and he gets a bit frustrated. But he sweetly says soon when he asks. We love him.

4. Family- I am so thankful for my parents. They are such great people. We all go in spurts of needing time and space and boundaries put up but they are there when we are all ready and willing. They will always put their foot forward. They always are there for the kids, even if the parents aren't willing to behave!

I love that my dad will call in the morning and ask to talk to Tyler on his way to school. My mom will listen a million times to the pizza story just to hear him talk. And best of all, one phone call and a question can be answered. One request and they will come up and hold all of our hands while we work through pain, discomfort and sickness in any form .

Oh and my mom.. she plays the devils advocate... so therefore she is WRONG!

5. I am thankful for my sisters. I started with 2 sisters and gained Chantel. Chantel and I have had to work SUPER hard to get to where we are right now. But no pain no gain and I can honestly say, I love her. I love Tammy and Nicky too! I can pick up a phone, call either of them or wait online to tell Chantel what I think and some really great advice has come through the ends of the lines.

I am also thankful for my other sisters. Sheena, Crystal and Maegan and Jennifer. When I married into a WHOLE slew of girls I was so excited to have new "friends." While that happened for a while I can honestly say I miss my best friend Crystal. She is one that really could have helped me this year through all that we are dealing with. She is a great mom and a wonderful friend. I guess there is no rewind button to figure it all out.

Sheena... oh dear Sheena. I love you. You are a great mom as well. I would have given you the moon if you asked. I hope that you know how thankful I am for all you did for me.

Maegan and Jennifer. You are both so sweet and I hope that those continue. I am so thankful to both of you.

Sometimes I wish I had that best friend back. There are LOTS of stories that might make her laugh .

For more.... Come back tomorrow.

Black Friday

For the last 3 years I have worked black Friday. I am so thankful that I have a job right now that can help provide and that gets me out of the house a little bit. Though I am sad to say, I am sad that people are so mean and rude. Is a good deal really enough to make you not be nice any more. The first dude I checked out today 542 bucks worth of 2 dollar movies. FOR REAL.. What are you gonna do with that many movies.

There were no brush at deaths and just a few bad names exchanged and my register broken by a disgruntled customer but I survived and was overly NOT interested in one item. If I had a little 3 year old girl I would have been all over those cute dress up clothes.

The rest of the day was great. I got home in time to play with Tyler, lay down for a nap ( thank you baby) and put in a Turkey. It was cooking for a fun filled afternoon of nieces and nephews running all over my house!

My brother and his wife surprised everyone with a trip to Utah for the holidays. I am so glad they came. I have not really "met" Max but a brief dinner when we moved. Overall we have both been in a different state and we have 4 year old ( or almost 4) and yet we have not been able to be together.

I was privileged enough to take their photos and we tried SUPER hard to get one of all the grand kids and grandma and Grandpa. Sadly, we had a sad Tyler so the grand kid picture didn't really work so hot BUT we got a few pictures of all of the kids with Nicky, with grandparents, and just cute cute ones all together. They will be coming up.

We had a little turkey dinner at the house and we went on up to Salt Lake and had a family swim party. Ty and Morgan were so cute. Morgan had her own fan club and she was happy to oblige him! I wish they lived closer :(

We left as grandma and Grandpa were in tears because the brief time everyone was together was over. The look on Max's face was so sad as he was getting out. He is so sweet. I want to keep him. He was getting out of the pool and he smiled at me and said " I love you" and I got a sweet hug. Ty kept waving at him and Lexi and Morgan just look at each other. I hoped I would get to spend some time with their mom but maybe next time.

I want to go see them :) and I want them to live here with us :)

I forget that though family times are overwhelming and crazy! They are full of little kids being connected and LOVING it. I remember my cousins and how much I loved them. I can't wait for that same feeling to happen to my kids.
I can't wait to show you the cute photos I have of these Sweet kids.

Thanks for a great afternoon. Family... and Thanks mom for giving me brother and sisters.

Day of Thanks

What a day of reflection and Thanksgiving. I can't fully express my thoughts tonight to truly show what I feel. But I want to try. At least for my family to read and me to remember.

I am SO thankful for Dallas. He has changed my whole life. From the first day that he loved me he changed me. Nothing beats knowing everyday that he loves me and that he TELLS me. He tells me every day I am beautiful and because he loves me so well I feel it.

I am thankful that he is a good dad. That he loves Tyler and is such a support to both of us. He is very encouraging and really wants what is best for him. He works so hard for our family and he is my best friend.

I am so thankful for Tyler. So many amazing things have happened since he came into our family. He is the MOST most amazing special spirit I know. He works so hard to do the things that I take for granted. He has accomplished more and over come more in his 4 years than I and most people ever have. In the last 2 months he has soared with his language and communication. Because of that, other people are seeing just how smart he is. He makes me smile EVERY DAY. He has the most contagious laugh and the most gigantic spirit.

I am thankful for what he has become and look forward to the things he will accomplish. I am thankful for the team of doctors we have that work so hard to get him being his best and so thankful for the team of therapists that help him on his way.

Which leads me to my next thankful. I am thankful for my family and for the support that they have offered. Though sometimes we are at odds with what we think others should do overall its all about Family. It is about the caring and supporting of each other regardless of the circumstances.

I am thankful for Dallas' family. I am thankful for his parents raising such a great person. I am thankful for their support and love. I am hoping as we continue through the year that things will keep getting better and we can continue to be thankful for each other.

I am thankful for my friends. I have some great friends that are so supportive. I am thankful for how much they care about me and my family. I am thankful for those who have come into my life, if even for a season, I have learned from all of them.

Last but not least I am thankful for my faith and for the Savior. Learning and understanding the atonement of Jesus Christ and doing my best to live up to what I have been taught. Because of my Savior I have all the other things above.

Because of the of that I am the luckiest Girl in the entire world.

Thanksgiving Eve

Have you ever had those memories. The ones that keep coming back. The ones that make you smile and you want to replay over and over and over again.

I have 2 of them.

I have more than 2 but 2 with Thanksgiving.

One favorite was on my mission in South Bend Indiana. We were invited over to the Cooks house. I was so glad. Sister Cook was kinda a straight faced, cold lady but she had wonderful daughters. She was divorced, worked as a principal and had a gorgeous house and I really liked her.Her daughter was great as well. Sister Krause was someone who I learned a lot from. She was also going through a divorce and I really looked up to her and her strength. Oh she was so wonderful. I really enjoyed spending time with her. I can still see her house. It was one block off Ironwood, on the corner. I don't remember what street but I can take you there... Especially when I close my eyes!

We were able to talk to our family through email and IM that day. I LOVE my family. I was so homesick. I was learning to love my companion and have since realized how much she meant to me at the time. We were in the same situation. We were all alone. She had just moved into the house I had lived in for months. I can't imagine what she was feeling.

That day we talked to our investigator and we answered her concerns. She was baptized that December. I often wonder what happened to her.

We also met with a family. Tammy, her daughter and son. Tammy was very sick. She was learning about the Gospel. Some day I know it will touch their lives and she will remember what we taught her.

The best part of Thanksgiving was realizing all I was thankful for. Being out of my element and being alone made me even more grateful.

Thanksgiving 2005- One I will never forget. It was my first thanksgiving as a married couple. It was also the first time I attempted a Turkey. I took it to my in laws house. They were kind enough to invite my parents and little sister to eat with them. As my father in law gave the blessing on the food he remembered a small little boy in a incubator in the NICU.
It was a hard Thanksgiving to sit there as Ty was up in the hospital. I was having a hard time with some of the surroundings. I left the table crying, but Dallas quickly took care of me. I was so thankful.

This year:

We are here in Arizona. We aren't having a big family dinner. We are having a dinner.

Together.

The most amazing thing that I is how much I love them. How amazing they are. How much hope, love and admiration I have for both of them.

Heavenly Father knows me. He gave me Dallas, Tyler and all the experiences that have made me me.

I am so thankful.

Thanksgiving 2008

My bestest Mission blogging buddy, Beth, posted this on her blog and I really have thought about ( and stole some of them) it this week and am ready to post it. Please comment so I can come see and hope you all can participate.


T- Tyler. He is such a amazing spirit and we are so blessed to have him in our lives. He has taught us A LOT!
H- Husband. He is such a great provider. He is so full of love and concern for Tyler and I. He is my best friend.
A- Aunts. Tyler has some wonderful Aunts that remember him always. It is amazing to see how much they care for him.
N- Neighbors and friends. I have a wonderful set of friends. Maloree has been such a blessin to me and so has Jen ( all of the Jens) I have so many that have blessed my life in such ways they will never understand.
K- Knowledge. Knowledge of the plan of Salvation and for the knowledge of our Saviors love and his ability to know me.
S- Sanity. I am so thankful for the chance to have moved to Arizona where we were able to get respite and Hab. I don't know how we would have survived without it. It has given me my sanity.
G- Good nights rest. I have been blessed to be able to sleep when I need to and survive on little if needed. I am so glad that I have a wonderful, soft bed and I am so glad to have it.
I- Income. I am so glad that we have the jobs we have. It has provided us with more than we could have hoped for. It has been such a blessing.
V- Vision. I am so glad that I have the ability to see and that we have the ability to see a wonderful Doctor for Tyler. That with help he can see.
I- Internet. It is so easy for me to keep in touch with my family. Instant messenger keeps me and Tammy talking all the time and quick access to Nicky. It gives me information and support.
N- No hospital stays. We have had such a healthy year that having Shunt surgery was the "worst" that could happen.
G- Good doctors. We have had amazing doctors help with Tyler. We have finally gotten in a place where we feel really good about the team we have put together. Including Dr. Labrum!

2- Two wonderful families that love and support us.
0- Zero credit cards and items that make us further in debt. Cash is good.
0- Zero major health crisis to combat TODAY!
8- eight months till my birthday!!

This was harder than I thought it would be. To me these make me happy! And most important Thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Black (and blue) Friday!!

As the Turkey coma started wearing off and people started trickling into "the largest retailer in America" the "thankfulness" started to be a thing of the past. The true colors of "bargain shoppers" started to show through. But I digress.... The Eve of Black Friday.....

Thanksgiving was a wonderful day. I let Dallas sleep in as much as he could and we cleaned our house. Really cleaned. All the bathrooms were done, the bedrooms were cleaned and dishes were all done. Just in time to head to Florence with Grandma Warner.

Dinner was great and we loved the company. It was nice to be there and it was nice to have such a great dinner that some one else had to clean up!! We had to head out early. I had to go to work. I needed to be there by 7.

As 7pm rolled around the store was dead quiet. Most of the night crew had gotten there early and the in stock team was allready ready to go for the night. The customers were few and far between and the need for workers were getting fewer and fewer.

As the clock struck 2 we started droping the "blitz" items. We had them all wrapped up and associates standing guard. And this is when that coma induced niceness wears off.

Black friday is about to begin. People are demanding. They all want to be the first one to get that limited item. They have to be assured that they are one of the elite. Man do they get testy!!!

5am rolls around and I am going on on hour number ten. And being true to the words of that "new" commercial. EVERY LINE in the store was open. Not just a select 3 or four EVERY 22 lines were open. Cellophane was off and HELL BROKE LOOSE. Electronics was swarmed by angry bee like creatures who had been in line for that Wii since 9 pm. We were lucky no one was serioulsy ingured or trampled. And those $2.98 movies.. well they were not the place to be!!

All in all the rush was over in about 2 hours. The magical idea of EVERY line open in a Walmart faded and complaints from loving walmart customers got louder. I wonder who got the better deal...Those working and seeing the madness and craziness of the day or the people who left battled and bruised for that ten dollar item?

So what did I take home from Black friday? Season six of Sopranos for 29 bucks. And blue and purple feet from a 15 hour day. Only to be called back by 2 pm. And no ... I was not crazy enough to go. But I did make it to my shift at 7 pm....

Yep... I think I walked away crazy... and with holiday pay!!!