I am Blessed

My Forever Family

Ya know, I thought that I would hate this time of year for the rest of my life. It was 2 years ago today that I was shook up with the news of my daddy passing away in his sleep. I will always remember the day as Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. It was the most awful day of my life & I don't want another day like that again.

I couldn't get excited for Thanksgiving last year & seemed to be in a weird daze. This year I have been dreading it, until I really got to thinking about being Thankful for all the things I'm truly blessed with & how this is the perfect time of year to reminisce about all the fun times & memories I had with my Padre. I still feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone, so my mind isn't clear, but these are some of the things I am thinking of:

*My 3 boys were blessed to get to know my dad, & each have characteristics of him. I am thankful for that.

My sweet baby princess was sent to me straight from my daddy's arms. I am thankful for that.

I can whistle like my dad. I am thankful for that.

My Dad was able to be with me in the Temple when I received my own endowments & also on my wedding day. I am thankful for that.

My dad was the best listener & gave great advice; with an un-biased opinion. I am thankful for that.

Jas & my dad loved to talk sports & they got along so well. I am thankful for that.

I might have "num-chuck" calves & a long torso, but they came from my dad & I am proud to be his little girl. I am thankful for that.

I inherited my dad's love for the Yankees, BYU, Peanut Butter, "Nuggies", Neil Diamond, Willy Nelson, John Denver & Johnny Cash music, travelling, & hanging out with Family. I am thankful for that.

His passion for sports & his competitive streak lives on in me, & my kids :) I am thankful for that.

Some awesome quotes that will always stay in my family: "Judas!" "Slower than a blind camel" "Mash his melon" ... oh the list goes on & on- I miss him.

One of the biggest blessings I am thankful for is His Example. He was REAL - & life wasn't sugar coated. He made everyone feel good about themselves & served all he knew, up until his final hours on this earth. I am thankful for that.

*I am also so blessed to have my wonderful mom! I can't even explain how much she does for me & our family. I know it had to have torn my dad up to leave her, but he knew she was such a strong Rock & could help each of us kids through this life. She is an amazing lady, only worried about all around her- not herself. She has such a fun bubbly personality & lives her life in service. I wish I could do more for her, as she has done for us. I hope I can follow her example & be like her someday. I love you Mom & know that Dad is proud of you & is with you all the time. I am thankful for that!

So I hope I can try & remember each year what I have been blessed with, & not what I felt was taken from me. It won't be easy, & I'm sure I will have a few emotional melt-downs- but hey that just means I'm alive. I am thankful for that.

*I would be really thankful too, if blogger would let me download these other photos- I'll keep trying-hah!

*&$!*!

I posted quite a few below, since I hadn't for awhile. I'm going to go private, when I get around to the NIGHTMARE of typing in the email addies on blogger- Jeez!

U2 Vegas Baby

*Wild & Crazy Weekend with my Bro & Sis & Friends! I did miss my hubby & Babies- so did my Chi-chi's. Note to self: if nursing, remember to take pump with you on trips away from baby.

Yeah, tats look totally real! -I'm not quite sure what I was doing ;)

we look GINORMOUS in front of that fridge :)

My Hotty Bro Joel & his Gorgeous wife Missy - love this picture

*showing off the sweet Tats
Fun Times

*When we get together - all craziness takes place

Girlies getting ready to Rock Out!

Red Velvet Cheesecake WHAT?!? - Darn Delish

Don't Mess with the Zohan :)

We had a FABULOUS time in Vegas at the U2 Concert a few weeks ago :) They pretty much are the best concert anyone will ever see- Nuff Said! Oh, & Black-Eyed Peas Rocked my world too, as the opening band. Fergalicious was delicious. It was definately a SOLD OUT Stadium - it was chuck full 60,000 people CRAZY!!

Good Company (Joel, Missy, Ryan, Lainie, Jill & I), yummy food (Cheesecake Factory, Pei Wei, Circle K Nachos-haha :) at 1am none-the-less, Robertos, Great Shopping (Vickis Secret, GAP & so many others) & thanks for the Pedi Jeej. Just for the record, I really liked your scorpion spider on your toe :)

*Thank you to my lover boy who stayed home with the kids & my wonderful Mom! It was a Wicked Awesome & much needed quick trip :) ... Now Anaheim June 2010, anyone?!

Princess Cayz Pics

*Cayz 9 1/2 Months old in these adorable Pics I can't believe how fast my lil' girlfriend is growing up! She has such a fun personality & sweetness about her- she lights up our days :)

Kellie from Elements Photography did an amazing job, as usual- we love Kel & can't wait to meet her lil' McKai man!

Halloween Fun

*jacked up blogger won't rotate my picture- anywho it is Treyg & Kai showing off their halloween goodies Kel gave them :) -oooey gooey slime w/ eyeballs, brains & fingers..mmmm
*One of our favorite Halloween tradition's is going to this Mansion House - she has tons of fun decorations, firepits, train rides, balloons & she gives out big candy bars!

*Jas AKA: the priest in a kissing booth?! WHAT??

*Train Rides - fun for all (Creed: BYU Player, Treyg: Batman, Kai: Nacho Libre)

*Yep, that is Nacho Libre (Crazy Wig & all) Some people thought he was a lion & bear superman, so everytime he'd say trick-or-treat he'd say, "I Nacho"

*Cayz Ladybug Princess

*The whole Crew

*one of the parties we went to... Nacho was sleeping at home

- but Jas & I represented him with our Priest/Nun get-up (I know I totally look like the Hot Nun from Nacho, it is Crazy the similarities!) *Creed w/ some buddies at their School Halloween Party

*Halloween Parade- I didn't do so hot taking his picture there :( it wouldn't take until he got in front of the gate

*another fun tradition: Carving Pumpkins

*We made these yummy Ghost Krispies for a Party

*Jas did an awesome job with this Pumpkin

*slipping in the kucky punkin guts (Treyg wanted to be a toilet for Halloween- we laughed, then at Creed's Halloween Parade we saw a "Toilet Costume" it was one of Creed's friends- hilarious!)

*Creed carved his pumpkin all by himself- did an amazing job! Only one cut on his middle finger :( not too bad...

*Cayz loves pulling herself up to things now- she loooooved this GINORMOUS Pumpkin - oooh she is so fresh, check out that lil' lady!

*Our Fav Fam Tradition: Chocolate Haunted Mansion

This year the Choc Mansion lasted 2 days.... we usually last a week or more! -Haha

Creed is 7!

Creed had another fun filled Birthday. We had a family party at Pirate Island Pizza. Jason surprised him & got home from Texas on his B-day (w/Gpa Curtis) & picked him up from school. He was excited about his cool presents: Pirate Legos, BYU football, light up truck & trailer, space shuttle, games, clothes & orange crocs :) We also surprised him & took him his favorite Taco Time meal for school lunch...

Creed is such a great help & good kid. We are happy & blessed to have him in our home. He is the life of any party. Creed loves sports & is currently taking Gymnastics. He is excited for his 8th b-day to be baptized. Love you Creed Bear- you are an awesome dude!

GOING PRIVATE

New Chapter- New Blog

Yep, after almost 2 years, I am going Private! Thanks to the Crazies who Freak me out... just a tip when you email someone you don't know, don't start off by saying "I don't mean to sound creepy" - just a suggestion! So, if you want to keep up with my Wild & Crazy Life leave me your email addie. I will send you an invite.

Loves

Life is CraZy

Hangin' with Dad eating Ice-cream (Treyg not feeling well :(
"Tum & Det it Dutties" -Tekai

Treygs feeding ducks FINALLY!! (It took us all day to get here-too many things going on)

Big Tex before he flew out to Texas with Jason

Melatonin=LifeSaver

Bedtime- it's not real safe around here!-haha

Loves- Cayz & Mayz (matching jammies)

Ginormous Corn Dog -Enterprise, they don't mess around!

BFF-Cayzli & Maizy

Echocardio- little pulsometer on my baby girl's toe

Cayz Echo monitor - before she was really loopy & out of it! -Not an easy day for me :(

Puppies going for a ride!

I had to get a picture of this- Creed does this every morning when I drop him off - "I love you" fingers & blows me a kiss= my heart melts!

Sportin' her BYU attire! Check out her "midgee" Converse"-still a bit big!

I don't have any time to blog anymore- it is getting ridiculous!! After running around with 4 kids all day, I'm exhausted trying to work out, clean up & try & relax-haha! It will be sooo nice to have my hubby home for good next week-- woohoo!!

We moved everything out of our Home last week :( sniffle sniffle... We are renting it out for now & living like 2 miles away- my mom has a house that we are staying in for now. We are blessed to have family, I would've been a complete NuT CaSe by now without them!! Take er Easy - I'm not completely Lupors :) HAhaha... hey some of you are my friends!

Creed is liking 1st grade & is starting gymnastics again - he is an awesome helper to me & loves BYU games & singing the Fight Song :) We will be Celebrating his Bday next week- when his daddy gets home. He likes to color pictures & write cute notes to all of us. He has made a ton of friends in the neighborhood & is the leader of the pack- Go C-dog!

Treygen has been sick on & off for about a month- yeah, huge Nightmare! & we are still trying to pin point what is wrong- tests aren't showing yet. He is pretty kicked back most of the time; he is excited to start gymnastics also & likes BYU & eating oranges! The other day we were driving & he says to me "I just wanted to tell you I hate Utah, Utah sucks!" my reply "Oh buddy, that's not really nice, you might like BYU more, but if you can't say something nice, don't say anything k?" Treyg "Yeah, I guess I like Utah, but they still suck!" Oh Judas- I really need to watch my mouth- I say "sucks" a lot! -my Bad.

Tekai is a ball of energy! Literally a Ball- he's a little tank! He has the cutest gruff voice & pronunciation of words, I love it! He enjoys watching "Binnius & Bird" (Phineus & Ferb) while I'm getting ready for the day, & also sits through Scooby Doo. I never had kids sit through shows while I got ready- it is kinda nice. Everyone continues to see Gpa Virge in him & we are happy. My mom calls him "Little Virge Date" & he says "I not Birge Date, I Kai Guy!" He thinks he is strong enough to carry Cayzli too- a bit scary! He will be taking a gymnastics class also- we gotta do something with his guns :)

Cayzli girlfriend is a little love bug. Oooooh we can't get enough of her :) She is crawling all over the show & pulling herself up to things. I want her to slow down & stay little. She is pretty little 13 1/2 lbs. soaking wet! haha... she does fit into her size 1 shoes now & a few of her bracelets are too tight- she is getting a little muscle on her, & will be 10 months next week--AAAHH! Cayz had her 2nd Echocardiogram done on her heart. They ended up having to sedate her cuz the loopy medicine still had her swinging her arm around in the way. Everything went well & looks good- Phew! She also thinks it's fun to wake up in the night, I don't share the same thoughts on that! I am her pacifier to go back to sleep- this needs to STOP! She was doing soo good sleeping through the night- but must realize she wants her momma's love.

The Pups all have new homes, but one. We have had several interests on him, so hopefully soon he will be loved by another family. We are all getting too attached, as always! Cinny & Satch love playing with him & they all cuddle together- so cute!

Jason is working for a new company "FunDayz" it is a fundraiser card sold Nation wide & is awesome! It is unlike any other out there. He has been doing it in Houston & is now going to take over Vegas & St. George, & possibly up to Northern Utah. They have amazing merchants all over the Nation. (Disneyland, Sea World, Target, Olive Garden, Lowes-just to name a few.)

He will finish his degree on the side- since he is really close to being done with it. We are proud at what a hard worker he is. And can't wait to be a FAMILY again :)

I am going to coach gymnastics again :) I get ancy to get back in the gym! It's in my blood I guess. I'm doing a few projects on the side too- I'll have to post pics when they are finished. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with life, but who isn't? I am blessed to have wonderful family & friends around me to build me up- Thanks, I love you all.