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Birthday Catch-up

Ack! Why am I always behind?  Is anyone else shocked that tomorrow is November?  But moving back to September otherwise know as Birthday month in our house.  (We have a lot of September Birthday's between our families.)

This year Mia really, really wanted a Birthday Party; a cake decorating Birthday party.  At first I thought it was brilliant, as she began to plan it I realized something, she actually wants it to be real cake decorating not just throw some candy on and call it good. I tried to tell her I didn't know how to decorate cakes, I tried to tell her that the only thing I  knew was don't bend your wrist, I tried to tell her it wasn't something I knew how to do let alone teach, she didn't care.  With a week out and me at Pat Catan's buying decorating tools, because I don't even have tools, I  tried telling her I don't know how to do it, and can't we please just do something else, like a fire and movie in the back yard? she said, with all the confidence in the world. "I am sure you can learn by Friday."  I have to say the party was a complete success, the kids said it was the best party they have ever been to, and I still have parents telling me what a wonderful idea it was.  I also learned that Mia is rather talented.

For my Birthday Josh surprised me by taking the day off of work so I could have a day off of work.  He lovingly got up early, shut off the alarm clocks, got the kids up and ready.  I rolled over saw the clock and that the bus would be here in 10 minutes and everyone was still asleep, jumped out of bed, and started to rush to get everyone going, I heard Mia downstairs with McKinlee eating breakfast and was proud of her initiative, and rushed down to hurry her and McKinlee along only to find Josh.  He said, I am home, it's your day off, go back to bed.  Going back to sleep wasn't possible in my adrenalin induced kids missing the bus and having to get everyone up to drive to school state of panic, but I did go read.  It was a wonderful day.

Time to Go Home

Eventually all good things must come to an end.  We can't believe how blesses we were on this last minute trip.  For having no plans and not telling anyone we were going; until we were on our way, thing couldn't have been more perfect.   I am still in shock in how quickly we made it to Utah, it was amazing that people from the other side of the world happened to be visiting at the same time.  There are many friends and family that we missed and would have love to see, hopefully next time we will have more time to plan our trip and we can find a way to see each one of you. We were able to do and to see a lot of the things we wanted to, but missed out on quite a few, we wanted to stay longer, but we had to go back, Josh had to go back to work, and the kids needed to get back in their routine.

 

Going home proved to be quite the adventure.  We left in the early morning hours of July 6th, realizing how insane we were to drive that far in two days, we decided that we would take three going back.  (We have now decided that if we ever do it again we will take 4 days both ways)  McKinlee has let us know that she prefers to take a plane.

We left and noticed that our malfunction light was on, it comes on from time to time, usually because the gas cap isn't on tight enough or something silly, so we ignored it.  Just outside of Grand Junction, Colorado we could smell burning rubber, so we pulled off at the nearest gas station, everything seemed okay, some of the fluids were low so we topped them off and left, still the smell of burning rubber wouldn't leave.  We started to panic a little, we were coming into the canyons of the Rockies, almost to the point of no return, we had to do something.  We stopped again and Josh did a more through investigation, thankfully we found the source of the problem this time, we had ran over a hard piece of plastic that had melted on our muffler.  Not a problem for the car just smelly.  Phew...I didn't want to miss this.

I have always loved Colorado, I am more in love with this beautiful state more than ever. I want to move here!  It was by far the most beautiful part of our trip.  We put on John Denver, sang Rocky Mountain High at the top of or lungs and took in the spectacular view.
 

We traded the Rocky Mountain High for the Amber Waves of Grain 

Ryken wasn't impressed.

We stopped for the night in Hays, Kansas.  The kids loved swimming, Josh and I loved being out of the car and relaxing.  We also loved that the kids could burn off some energy before we took off the next morning.
We slept in a little the next morning, and by "slept in" I mean we were up by 6.  Grabbed some breakfast on the go from the breakfast room got the kids into the car, and were ready to go.  That is until our engine wouldn't start.  We had a dead battery, and did you know with all of the environmentally safe precautions that are being put into cars these days people are told they can't jump start other cars?!  We didn't either! We had the cables we just needed a car.  Praise Be to the breakfast lady she had a portable car jumper that she loaned us.  She was our hero of the trip.  So thank you Hampton Inn Breakfast lady, you literally saved the day.
We were off again and headed to Missouri.
We made a quick stop at Liberty Jail.  I don't talk about my religion very often in my posts, it's not that I don't have a strong conviction to it, it's more that a lot of my readers are already members and I don't want to come off as pushy to the ones who aren't.   In all honesty, I have to admit I wasn't that impressed with Liberty Jail.  Don't get me wrong,  it was humbling to see in person the trials and sacrifices made by others so our church could become the amazing source of strength, help and support world wide that it is today. I just expected it to be this incredibly spiritual experience, Josh had told me it was one of  the places, that as a teenager, his testimony was assured.  That is why out of all of the sites in Missouri, and our limited time, we chose that one.  I tried to reason that maybe it was because our tour guide was new, she was a cute, bubbly little 18 year old girl from Springville, UT. and she was more worried about getting the history right, than testifying.   Or maybe it was because I was with 4 kids, and Ryken wanted to climb in to the jail cell and I was busy keeping him out if it.  I could just see him ripping off one of the wigs from the statues.  I was bothered by my feelings, I started to think that maybe my expectations were just too high.  It was neat to see, I can't even imagine the suffering and the pain early members went through.  Governor Boggs of Missouri even issued an extermination order against the Mormon's, at one point while in Liberty Jail  Joseph Smith, himself, asked why God had forsaken him.
I have come to realize that it wasn't the powerful testifying moment for me because I am already past that level in believing.  I no longer need the testimony and sacrifice of others to help my own testimony,  I have already endured my own trials and ridicule because of my beliefs.  I haven't had the physical trials of my ancestors.  I haven't been beaten, ran out of my home, worried for my life like those who have gone before me, or those in other parts of the world.  But I have had to make the choice to believe or not to. I have had to stand up to my friends and others for what I believe, I have listened to them make fun of me, try and persuade me, try and pressure me into changing my belief's and values.  At one particular difficult time in my life, I even questioned if God himself had also forsaken me.  Please don't take this as I have had major trials, I know things have been more difficult for many others in the world, and I in now way compare myself to them.  However,  I have had to make a stand for what I believe, even when everyone around me said I was wrong.  I know I am the better for it, so although it was amazing to see, I am more proud to say that I have endured and hopefully made those who have gone before proud.

Not many people know this about me, but I have a fear of bridges.  Let me clarify that, I have a fear of driving over a bridge suspended over a body of water trapped in my car, and having 4 little ones I have to worry about getting out has intensified this fear.  I would say irrational fear, but the bridge collapse in the mid-west is still very fresh in my mind.  It doesn't help that I live in the US City of Bridges;  but that's a different subject.  Somehow, I don't know how, I am sure my kind, considerate, and very loving husband didn't intend for this to happen, I was the one driving each time we crossed the Mississippi.  I was nearly in tears the second time over, the first time it was dark and although I was having a little anxiety, I couldn't see what was beneath me.  Josh was so kind as to snap this for me.  I guess the plus side to me driving across, is my eyes would have been closed if he had been driving.  So thank you honey for taking one for the team. Next time let's plan the taking turns out a little better.

 

 That night we stayed in Bloomington, IL at my Favorite Aunt Kathy's house.  It was so wonderful to see her.  We took the kids to an adorable park, stayed up late catching up, I found out that is that side of the family that is so fertile...that may be a little too much information but I have 3 unplanned children, and I was doing everything right in planning out my kids.  It was nice to know where it comes from.  She also let us play with her new "baby" her quilting sewing machine.   Mia loved being with her, she loved quilting, she wants us to buy her one, I think she needs to get closer to Aunt Kathy.

The next day was the last of our trip, in total we drove almost 5000 miles, saw many friends and family along the way, gave the kids both good and I am sure some bad memories, but I have to say the gray skies over Pennsylvania never looked so good.

 



Moab and a Redneck 4th of July

After spendin' a week in Northern Utah we headed south for some much needed time in Red Rock Country. Truth be told...I have been a little homesick.

 

For once the Price area wasn't horribly ugly, or maybe I have just been gone for too long.

and then I was home

 

We had big plans to take the kids hikin', raftin, petroglyph searchin', star gazin, and many of the other wonderful things there is to do there.

 

We decided that it was too hot during the day 106+ degrees to go hikin', with four little ones.  The last thing we wanted was massive meltdowns halfway to delicate arch, so we waited for the night and took the kids to the Window's in arches.  It was a perfectly clear night, I have never wanted a telephoto lens so badly in my life.  (alas, I had to steal this one from someone else, I tried to find who posted it so I could give them credit.)  But you all see how wonderful it was, especially for Mia

 

We went swimmin', where Wynter showed no fear and loved slidin' down the huge story foot tall water slide, jumpin' off the divin' board and was sad when we wouldn't let her go off of the high dive.

 

For the 4th we decided to escape the heat and spend some time in the La Sal Mountains.  So we headed up to the beautiful Oowah Lake.  With my parents, my brother Spencer and his family, and my brother Michael

Mia enjoyed walkin' Charlie.

 

 The kids loved fishin' With Uncle Michael

McKinlee and I went for a walk around the lake, she was nervous when we had to cross on a log to get through a marshy part.  Then we had to jump over a creek, I helped her by tossing her across, in the process I lost my footing and not wanting to go alone pulled her down into the creek with me.  We had a good laugh together.

After a picnic lunch we went shootin'

 Mia was a pretty good marksman, she hit every target, and only missed once.  She even out shot my daddy, well everyone did,  He didn't hit a thing.  Mia was happy to point out that it was her first time holdin' a gun, and she is just a 10 year old girl.  Poor dad.

  I love the pictures with Josh and Ryken.

 

After the mornin' at the lake we went back to my parents for some slip and slide

 

We watched fireworks at my friend Kelly Packard's house.  I am kicking myself for forgetting my camera.  Mia had a blast there were several girls her age there, I was starting to think she wasn't going to come back to Pittsburgh with us.

 

The next day Josh and I packed up, went on our last built in babysitter date, and left early on the 6th.  That post will be coming soon.

 



A last minute cross country trip

Not all of you know Jarom.  Jarom is Josh's little brother.  He was 9 years old when Josh and I were married. When Josh and I were dating Jarom came and spent a week with Josh while his parent took a trip together, at first Jarom thought it would be a fun week, hanging out with his older brother, at college...he soon found out that an apartment full of aspiring engineers is not very exciting.  So he started to find his way over to my apartment, he knew Josh and I had started dating, seriously, and an apartment full of girls was a lot more fun.  Everyday for a week I would find Jarom knocking on our door or waiting on our stairs waiting for one of us to come home.  We made cookies, got Aggie Ice Cream, played games, I taught him how to play some guitar cords, random stuff.  It was a great week.  While Josh and I were engaged Jarom would squeeze his way between us when we would watch movies or cuddle on the couch, when we got married he refused to take a shower before heading to the temple, it got to the point where Josh's other brother and sister's had to leave for the wedding or miss it.  They left him, a neighbor ended up bringing him later.

After Josh and I were married Jarom and I would go on little dates together.  Ususally to get Ice Cream, while Josh would stay home with little Mia.  After we moved to Pittsburgh, we talked all of the time mostly about stupid stuff, once he was 16 and Josh and I would visit Utah, Jarom and I would still go on our little dates, we began a quest to find the best cupcakes in the Kaysville, Utah area.  When Jarom received his mission call, he went to Paris France, I would write him often,  he served for a while in the office, a few times we ended up on the computer at the same time and have a few quick chats.  We were buds, we have been for almost 13 years.

Two weeks ago Josh and I were sitting outside, our air conditioner was broken and it was too hot inside.  We were waiting for a repair guy to show up.  While we were waiting we received a phone call from Josh's parents, Jarom had gone into cardiac arrest while he was working, was in a coma and was in the process of being life flight-ed to Salt Lake from Cedar City, UT.

I did my best not to panic, thoughts of Taylia ran through my mind.  We talked about whether or not Josh should fly out to Utah.  I looked up flights and told Josh what it would cost, he said it would be the same if we drove and everyone went.  So the next morning we got up and did exactly that.

We made it to Utah in two days, the first day we only made it Davenport, Iowa, we were lucky enough to get the last hotel room in the entire state.  They had a massive 4 city airshow going on, and we finished the long 19 hour haul to Fruit Heights, Utah the next day.  The only tragedies we had on the trip were a poor little bird who lost a fight with our mini van, and we left our pillows at the hotel in Davenport.  I didn't realize how big of a loss it was until I went to target to replace them, and they were $60 each!  I opted for some cheaper ones...I miss my old pillow.

 

The next morning we went to see Jarom, he had recovered enough that he had been moved out of the ICU.  I think he was happy to see us.

 

Once Josh's Grandparents heard we were coming, arrangements were made for them to come down from Star Valley, Wyoming.  To see the kids, I mean us...or so they say.

We also got to see our very dear friends the Shumway's they were leaving for Seattle the next morning.  We visited until the kids were melting down tired. It was so great to see them.

 

The next day Jarom had surgery to have an ICD put on his heart. 

Josh's favorite Family that he baptized most of in Taiwan happened to be in town so we got to out to dinner with them.

 

Josh and I got to spend a little time here

My sister came down from Idaho with her family, and my brother's ex-wife let us take Zach for a few hours.  We also got to spend time with Josh's best friend from High School and his family.

 

Mia and Eliza got up every morning and made everyone breakfast.

 

 we went out for frozen yogurt with my Aunt.  It just so happened that our very dear friends from Pittsburgh the Kimber's were ordaining their son a Deacon that same weekend.  They invited us to attend and we were more than happy to go. 

 

Some much needed time was spent with my Grandparents

 

My Grandpa is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, we were lucky he was somewhat coherent, even though he didn't really know who we are.

 

Grandpa wanted a specific picture taken with Wynter, he set the pose

 

and I took the picture

I listened with tears in my eyes as he told Mia that he loved her, that he knows she is a good girl and hopes she will always be good.  He also told her to help her mom, I am sure Mia didn't understand the magnitude of what was being said by this wonderful man, but my heart was touched.  They could very well be the last words I ever hear from him.

Jarom is doing better, he is tired but acting mostly like his old self.  We even got to on one of our dates, although the first cupcake place we went to was no longer there, but we were offered tattoo's by a very nice guy.  We found another place.

 

We also went to Moab, that post will be coming soon.

 

I guess what I am saying is, Thanks Jarom for almost dying. We really made the most of it!