December 2012

The Killers Concert

Nate and I took Cassidy to the Christmas Carol play with Shannon and Garrett's family. Joyce also came along. We enjoy the play at Hale theatre.

Cassidy had a choir performance at Sunset View. Her and Daniella love choir. I love Cassidy's choir teacher. He is so dedicated to the kids, he rides his bike to school and encourages the kids daily. Cassidy loves her teacher Mrs. Jolley and Coby has the best student advisor  Nan Theobold.  I appreciate  my children's teachers and feel oceans of emotions about the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary.

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving was a great day. Me, Nate and the kids had it at our home, just the four of us and I loved it. Coby will be 17 soon and I am not sure how many moments like that I am going to get. So for me, it was precious.



Cassidy was soo helpful with the table and preperation.



This is was an attmept to get us all in at the table. I love it. We went over to my brothers after dinner to visit with him and my parents. Cannon was with her mom this year, so it was the three of them. We played the game Apples to Apples and drank coffee. My mom's hip and back are almost healed. After that we went to visit with Joyce and Nate's family. It was a  nice day so we drove to the cememtary to visit Allen.

The day after I worked, but afterwards Cassidy and I attended my friend Melissa Dixon's gingerbread house making party. Nate was so great and helped us build our houses before we went. It was a fun time.

Cassidy loves activities like this.

Nate the great is 38

Toast to Nate, he is 38!

Shanna and Scott had literally just gotten engaged, that day and it was so fun to be with this great couple for their special time. We love them and can't wait until they become The Fords!

Nate had a birthday, he is 38. We had his annual sushi birthday( it's the 3rd annual). For the two people that read my blog I am sure you have seen the photo's of years past. It has become one of our favorite things to do. Nate invited his co-worker and really good friend Angelo and his wife Theresa. She doesn't like Nate's goatee, but we love her.

J

Jason and Jaime came down for the big birthday event. We love it when she is in town and we can see them. It hardly ever happens, so we love it when it does. Love her, he needs to marry her already!!




Here is a photo of the girls, celebrating Nate's birthday and Shanna's engagement. Fun night at Sappa bar and grille. Salt Lake City.

Moving on






It  has been over two months since we lost Allen. It has been one of the hardest things I have ever been through. Allen loved me and I knew it. He embraced me into his family and was happy that his son choose me. Nate really rolled the dice on a single teenage mom when he asked me out on our first date and from the moment I met my father in law he took me under his wing. My life is great, I have remarkable children, and a wonderful husband and family. I have great friends. I had Allen too, and I loved him. He loved me. When I think of my favorite people he was one of them

   




I am lucky to be part of a family that gets it. They don't suck, they are not mean, they help one another and they don't judge. I am not perfect and they are ok with that. We miss Allen, it's still hard, and it's going to take time to feel better. It snowed today and I watched Nate shovel our walks and play in the snow with Cassidy. He helped Coby with his snow tires... what would I be without Nate? I hope Joyce can find some peace, she raised a great son. I hope somewhere along the way that can help her not be sad.

A tree on our street. We got at least 4 inches of snow.

  

My Vote

We all have an opinion, and I am thrilled!

The Last days of October 2012

Shannie has us up to her beautiful home up Hobble Creek for dinner and pumpkin carving. It was fun to be with the Crane and Porter Families




Deputy Fife




Cassidy and Grace





Grace and Ember had the same mad hatter costume, very cute. Cassidy was a cop and Kate was a spirit dancer





We took the kids to Lagoon on the October 28th, 2012. Coby came along with his friend Cameron Larson. Haley, Grace and Alta, plus Malik and Mason. Cassidy had never been to Lagoon. Frightmares is pretty fun, you get to go to Lagoon and four haunted houses, we had a wonderful fall day.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween.
2012

Red Barn with Cranes, Porters and Hammonds




We can't  get enough of the fall traditions. Shannie invited us again to the Red Barn in Santiquin for a hayride.

 




We have such cute kids. The girls always have a great time.

 




I think all of our kids are here except Coby and Jessica's oldest Oliver. Coby was on a DECA trip and Oliver was in route from Chicago with his dad. From left bottom, Nash, Lindsay, Haley, Fischer,Ashley, Austin. Top Alta, McKinlee, Grace and Cassidy 

 




Jess and Nash

 





We had a beautiful fall day to kick off fall break. I love my cousins.

  

Madonna plays Seattle

Kara called me up a little bit ago and said, " I bought you a ticket, we are going to see Madonna is Seattle and I am not taking no for an answer!" I wasn't sure  how to swing it all with everything that has been going on at home with the loss of Allen and my big project at work, but....what the hell right?

I love Seattle. I went with my mom about 10 years ago and it is her favorite place. I told her she has not choice, she has to get better so I can take her back. I should take Kara back too , she is such a good friend and we had such a fun time

I think I am wearing the blue sweater in every photo, you forget how chilly it can get there. I remember this fisherman from when I went before. He is right by a place we ate at called Elliots.

Love the market.

Elliots, shooting Oysters. Oysters on the half shell I might add

Lunch at Kells, Kara's favorite place, we had the best Dugeness crab sandwich.

Our Hotel on Alaskan. If you look close you can see the water in the back.

Party time. Madonna. She was great. She put on a really fun show. She sang most of the 80's and 90's songs that we love! Seattle is such a great city. I love it. It's liberal, its beautiful, it has nice cool weather, I love love love the fish. I am so very glad I went.

Double Digit Birthday

Birthdays at our house, seem to last a week. It's fun, to celebrate in different ways with the ones we love. Big N and I took Cassidy to Carrabas for dinner the night before her 10th Birthday.

Coby thoughtfully went to the mall when he wasn't working or at school and bought himself and Cassidy shirts from their favorite cartoon. Adventure Time.  Cassidy's has Bmo and Cob's has Jake the dog. They both wore the shirts to school on Thursday the 20th of September.

Birthday Queen at school. We took Krispy Kreme doughnuts for Cassidy's class and Cassidy's best friend Daniela joined us for the movie. Finding Nemo

Family Party at our house.  Ember who is also 10(on Septmeber 18th) came over with her family and we had dinner. Cassidy requested shepherds pie. We made cupcakes, Ember requested german chocolate with white frosting and Cassidy requested milk chocolate with chocolate frosting.

10 year old dolls

Uncle Jason and Aunt Jaime stopped in. Cassidy is showing off her 22 cricket that her dad gave her.

Grandma Joyce with her 10 year old girls

The next day we did pedicures with Grace and Mckinlee.

The girls were darling picking out their colors. They made me leave the salon so they could feel big.

They picked fall, and halloween colors. Happy Birthday Cassidy. Two digits! 10