Going Private if anyone cares

I have had some weird things happening to my blog lately. I had a spam comment and a really rude comment posted on my last post so I deleted the whole post. Now I am going to go private soon. To be honest I am not sure anyone looks at my blog anymore but if you do and would like to continue then post a comment with your email. Thanks

My first 5K

On Saturday Oct 31st I participated in my first 5k (3.1 miles). I joined my sister in law's team for the JDRF (Juvenille Diabetes Research Fund) The theme of the event was "Say boo to diabetes" Liz (my sis-in-law) has Type 1 diabetes along with some of her siblings so I thought I would join the cause. I raised some money and trained for the race.
This is our little family on the light rail heading to the event. This was our first time on the light rail.

They gave out a lot of free stuff and had a lot of activities for the kids to do. Before the race the kids painted pumpkins.

Got their face painted.

Played in a bounce house and slid down an inflatable slide.

Me Kendall and Liz and the starting line. I was about 20 minutes late starting the race because I was in line for the bathroom.

Here I am crossing the finish line. Here is an explanation of the 5k. It was really a walk not a run (which I didn't realize) There was almost 20,000 participants and I saw about 6 other people jogging during the course. I jogged most of the way but spent most of my time going sideways to zig zag around people. I had to stop a few times to walk because I just couldn't get around people. I could've just walked it with everyone else, but I had made a new years resolution to run a 5k by the end of the year so that is what I trained and set out to do. We will chalk this up to my practice 5k because on Dec 19th I will participate in another 5k (Lifetime Fitness Reindeer Run) I figure since run is in the title then people will be running.

After the race they had a kids stage where different musicians would play. Taylor loves to dance and so she went to the front of the chairs and just danced away while the guy played. It was really cute, a lot of people would just stop and watch her and smile. After one of the songs the musician said "Looks like we have a winner to the dance competition. This little girl in the front." ( She was the only one dancing)

Natalie sporting the smallest team shirt we could find. She looks like the little ghost on the shirt with her little legs poking out.

Our family right before heading home.

Halloween 2009

Our family at my Nephew's 10th birthday party. He decided he wanted a costume party this year. In case you can't tell Preston is Gilligan and I am a Hawaiian tourist. I had planned on being a banana and Preston a Gorilla but our costumes were up in the attic and there wasn't time to get them down. This is 8 of the 11 cousins on my side. I am holding Natalie up in the back to get her in the picture (it was the only way) That is Nathan behind the Optimus Prime mask.On Saturday Oct 24th our ward had a ward trunk or treat. My brother was in town from Utah for his 10 year High School reunion and while he and his wife were attending that we took there two oldest Thomas and Henry to the trunk or treat. We pulled out some old costumes of Nathan's for them to wear Thomas picked superman and then had his face painted as Batman and then Henry picked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and had a scorpion painted on his face.

Then on actual Halloween we headed to my parents ward carnival. Nathan and Taylor did the fishing pond about half a dozen times each. I think it was there favorite booth.

Kids enjoying some hamburgers and capri suns at the carnival. Taylor's face paint could really use some help at this point.

Our little ladybug Natalie. She spent the night just walking around at both the trunk or treat and the carnival. She is loving the freedom that walking brings.

Taylor's professional face painting job at our ward Trunk or Treat. We have a lady in our ward that is really good at face painting.

Natalie enjoying some corn on the cob at the carnival.

Taylor's 1st Haircut

Okay most kids are not 2 months away from their 4th birthday when they get their first haircut but you come from our family you do. I did give Nathan his first haircut at about 18 months because I wasn't digging the mullet look on my little boy. On Friday November 6th I took Taylor to Snipits, a place in Chandler that is just for kids haircuts. Her hair wasn't very long but it was in desperate need of some style or shape.


Frontal before picture.

Side before picture.

She did really good. Not a single tear was shed, the place was really cool.

They even put a cute little ribbon in her hair. I asked her how she wanted her hair cut. Taylor's reply " I want to keep it long and I don't want bangs" So the girl cut to the shortest part of her hair and left the bangs alone so we can brush them to the side.

This is a view from the side. I don't like the way it was styled. I think it looks much cuter when I use a straightening iron so it is nice and smooth. I don't have any close up pictures of Taylor after I have styled her hair. Those will come at a later time. At least the day is documented.

Grandpa's Funeral Day

This past Monday November 9th was the funeral for my Grandpa. The oldest Grandsons from each family were the casket bearers.Grandpa was a World War II veteran so there was a Military Honor Guard at the burial. It was all very sobering. Patriotic stuff always makes me emotional so you can just imagine how emotional I was. Especially when the trumpet was played.

All of the siblings. My Mom is the one in red, she is the youngest of the 5 kids.
All of my immediate family posing for a picture. Honestly it is not the greatest picture but hey at least we are all together and took the photo opportunity. The baby is the 89th Great Grandchild born and his name is Warner Walter (Walter is my Grandpa's first name). The best thing is my brother had just come from Utah and visited Grandpa 4 days before his stroke and only 10 days before he passed away. Grandpa was able to meet his namesake.

After the funeral services and luncheon we all got in play clothes and headed to my parents house for some family togetherness. The kids rode bikes, scooters, walked my parents dog. The adults and older nephews played some football and basketball.

Preston decided he would take advantage of the day off work and take a nap on the front lawn.


After a while Natalie accomplished her goal of waking Daddy up.

It was a really good day together as a family even considering the reason we were all together. I love my family and appreciate the times I can spend with them.

The past few days have been an emotional roller coaster

On Thursday November 5th my maternal Grandpa passed away at 4:45 am. My Grandpa is an amazing person. I love him so much and cherished every time I got to spend time with him. I will miss him terribly but I am so grateful that my kids were able to meet and know their Grandpa Great. My Grandma passed away a little over 8 years ago ( a little over a week before I discovered I was pregnant with Nathan). I am so happy that my Grandma and Grandpa get to be together again. A couple of things that I want to remember and tell my kids when they get older.
Nathan while saying his evening prayer on Wed Nov 4th "Bless Grandpa Great that he will survive." We then had the discussion of how sometimes what we want isn't what Heavenly Father wants. That Grandpa Great probably wouldn't survive much longer because it was time for him to get to work in Heaven and to be with Grandma Great again. Nathan asked some questions and we had a great little moment together.
I went down to the Hospice center to see my Grandpa on Wednesday the 4th. At this point he was only able to slightly nod to let you know he heard you. I was able to give him a drink from a small sponge. I was so grateful to have that opportunity to serve him. My cousin Britney was also there at Hospice with her husband while Preston and I were there. We stood on both sides of the bed while our Husbands sat at the foot of his bed. When we were kids we would always sit on the arms of his recliner. My mom crossstitched a picture with 2 girls sitting on a grandpa's lap with the phrase. There is always room on Grandpa's lap. So as Britney and I sat there we mentioned how there is always room on Grandpa's lap. Grandpa gave a very slight nod in agreeance. I told him I loved him and turned quickly away to leave before I lost all of my composure. Preston said Grandpa mouthed the words I love you after I turned around.

Taylor and Natalie went with us to the Hospice center but I didn't let them go into the room. So Taylor drew him a picture that my Mom showed to him after we left. After waking up to learn that Grandpa Great had died.
Taylor asked "Oh is he in Heaven now?"
Me- "Yes"
Taylor- "When are we going to see him again?"
Me-"When we go to Heaven."
Taylor "Oh, are we going to go there today?"

This picture was taken in June.

On a happier note. Thursday November 5th was also our 11th wedding anniversary. Or as we refer to it, our family's birthday. So that morning Preston and I had pancakes on our red plates and we sang happy birthday to our family. Preston bought me these beautiful flowers.

Friday night we went out as a family to celebrate our birthday at Famous Dave's

Taylor loved the Famous Dave's pig and gave him a few hugs.
Natalie on the other hand was not a fan. If she ever saw him in her vicinity she would frequently look over her shoulder to keep tabs on him. This is one such occasion. I guess she isn't ready to meet all the Characters at Disneyland.