5 Years

Time seems to go by so quickly and we don't even realize it. I can't believe how quickly the past 5 years have gone by!
This time 5 years ago I was at the hospital at my mother's side. The day was pretty amazing actually. Everyone had gone by to see her that day. Dear friends and family! We had no idea of what was to come, but we all had the feeling that we needed to visit her. She had the chance to spend tim with her grandchildren, children, and husband. We thought she would be in for only a few days, but it ended up being her last day.
I feel so very fortunate that I had those last few hours alone with my mother. It is a time that I will never forget and will always cherrish. I suppose what they say is true...your parents care for you as a child, and you care for them as they get older. The Lord is so mindful or our needs and desires and that night I know that He was there with mom and I. I was able to do things that I never thought I could, and I know that in the end my mother knew how much I loved her and how thankful I was that she was my mom. I am thankful that I had the last few months of her life to also be able to help take care of her, but the true hero in all of this is my father. I always knew how much he loved my mother, but to see him take care of her every need and to be there with her....it left no doubt in my mind. To this day I am thankful for those memories.
Mom has been gone for 5 years now, but not a day goes by that I don't think about about her or wish that she was here with me! I miss her terribly, but I know that she is in a much better place, and I know too, that I will see her again someday.
Mom, just want you to know that I love you and I'm thinking of you today, and always!

COLLEGE

Another week, another son starting school, only this time it isn't just any school, it is college, at a real university! Help!!! When did I get so old to have a son going to college? I wanted to post a few pictures from when Robert was a baby until now, but he doesn't really like to be all over the blog, he does it just to make me happy....so no naked baby pictures of him, but he did let me take a picture today! I had to beg for it, but I got one, well, maybe two!


I am really proud of him and all he has done! I know that it was a hard choice for him to deciede where to go to college, but I really do think that UVU (Utah Valley University) is the best place for him. They have one of the best nursing programs in Utah, and it will be a great stepping stone for his PA, and the fact that he has a scholarship there made it even better! I know he'll do great!
Good job son! Hope you have a great semester! We love you!!!

FIFTH GRADE!!!

The big day has finally arrived! We did a few last minute fun things to celebrate the end of summer with the boys.
For family home evening (FHE) with the boys on Monday night we went to Trafalga and played a game of miniature golf. It was Brian's choice and we had a really fun time. The mini-golf place had redone the inside course since we were last there and it was really neat. Flourescnet color and an under the sea theme.


After golfing it was time for Back to School Night at Westridge Elementary School. Robert started at this school in 3rd grade and had a wonderful experience here and a good education with great teachers! We feel so lucky that the teacher that Robert had for 6th grade, Carrie Rawlins is still there and now she will be Brian's teacher for 5th and 6th grade. They combine the grades and you have the same teacher for 2 years! We can truely say that she is one of the best teacher's at the school! Brian is also thrilled because two of his friends, Logan and Kache are in the class with him, along with other kids that he knows, so he is excited for a great year!

Then on Tuesday if was off to UVU to buy books for Robert, get his parking pass for college and his institute class that he will be taking! He is taking a missionary preparation class since he is planning on leaving on his mission by January. We are really proud of him. It was so weird to be in a college enviroment. I have to admit that I didn't feel old enough to be there with a child.
We also went to Red Lobster for lunch! Thank goodness for gift cards to pay for it! Not one of our normal lunch places but when it's free...why not! Brian decided to venture out and try something new. He usually goes for mac and cheese or pizza off the kids meal. This time he chose crab legs and broccoli. Thank goodness our son loves veggies! He said he was trying new things because it was a new year! Good for him. I think the best part for him was breaking the legs and bringing home the crab claw (which was in the garbage about 5 minutes after we walked in the house). He really liked the crab and says that he is going to continue to try new things..good for him!







Robert even had to get in the act with the crab claw!!!

Then last night before bed Giovani gave Brian a father's blessng for the start of the school year. I think think it was the best part of the day! I am so thankful for the priesthood and that Giovanni can give our sons blessings. In the car after we got Robert's books he said that he didn't even want to open his Chemistry book because he is in a hard class since he did concurrent enrollement in high school. Brian told him to just study and pray! The best answer that could have been given! I am so thankful that our sons know that Heavenly Father is there to help them and they have someone that they can turn to for help and strength and support! It is going to be a great year! Our family will have some changes over the next few months as Robert prepares to leave and serve the Lord, but I know that we will all be blessed because of it, and I know that this semester at college will be a great experience for him. And Brian is going to have a wonderful time in 5th grade!
This morning he was up and ready to go and excited about the new day.




I miss him not being here, but I am so proud of him and know that he is having a great time!! Welcome back to Westridge Brian! Make it a great year!

END OF SUMMER FUN

As I wrote in the last post I took Brian and his two friends Kache and Talon to "Discovery Park" in Pleasant Grove (my kids call it the wood park because it is all made out of wood). Here are a few pictures that I was finally able to download from my phone.



Last week Gio and the boys went to San Diego over night. We were all suppose to go and have one last family trip to the beach, but my back has been causing me some problems (old car accident injury) and so I stayed home, but the boys and Gio had a great father and sons' overnighter in California. (Working for JetBlue really has it's perks!)






How sad that summer is coming to an end. It has been a great three months and we have done a lot of exciting things. It is hard to believe that in3 days Brian will start 5th grade and that in a week Robert will be a college freshman. Where did the time go???
This past week there have been a few exciting things going on and so I thought I would just post a mixture of pictures....
There was the father and son campout. Only Gio and Brian went because Robert was still pretty sore from his scooter accident.


Then a few days ago Brian went with his friend Seth to Midvale Days....they were in a watermelon eating contest and at one point Brian was laughing so hard that he had watermelon coming out of his nose. I wish that we had been there to see it!

A couple of nights ago we had an Italian night with some of our Italian friends. It was great fun to all be together. We had wonderful food, great company and Roberto even seranaded us for a while. The kids swam in the pool and Brian made a new friend. It made us feel like we were back in Italy for the evening. Thanks to all those friends who cooked, and those who came. We had a wonderful evening! We will have to do it again soon!








Last night Gio took Brian and his friend Kache to the Utah County Fair. They were hoping to go to the demolition derby, but the tickets sold out...here a few things that they did, and saw....




To top off the week we went to a missionary farwell today for one of Robert's friends...Downing. It was so nice to hear this young man speak in church about how he has prepared himself to serve a mission. When I saw him standing there it made me think of Robert and how in a few short months he will be gone too....but for now I really enjoy Sunday afternoons when his friends come over to play Xbox 360 live....We are so glad for the friends that Robert has and the example they all set for one another. The thing that is so great about them as well is how accepting they are of Brian and how they include him in their fun! It really is great to have a teenage son!!!


I am so thankful for the family that I have...a husband who loves me and treats me like a queen, and two sons who are the joy of my life. I really am blessed!!!

OH WELL......

Last week Brian went down to Southern Utah, to Cedar City to stay with his friend Talon. He is in the Shakesperian Festival in the play, "The Secret Garden", he plays the part of Colin....and has been down there for the whole summer and won't come back until after school has started. He and Brian are really good friends and we thought it would be a fun experience for Brian. We sure missed him while he was gone, but like when Robert leaves, the house was much quieter. Before Brian left I told him to make sure to take some pictures with his camera on his phone so that we could download a few for the blog. He told us of all the fun things that he did and the places he went, but, guess what, no pictures.....oh well.....

On Monday I took Brian, Talon, and Kache, (another friend) to Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove. The boys had a great time. We bought treats and hung out at the park for a few hours. I took some cute pictures of the boys, and some silly ones that I wanted to post. I used the camera on my phone (it takes pretty good pics), only guess what....I'm having problems with the internet on my phone and for somereason I can't send the file with the pictures, so, I will have to include them in another post......oh well......

Then yesterday while I was working my regular 8 hr shift (into it only about 1 1/2 hours) Robert comes upstairs into my bedroom saying some not so nice words and limping and holding his body and I see blood, all the while I'm talking to a customer making them a reservation for Aruba. I end the call as quickly as possible so that I can tend to Robert. Seems that he had another accident, only this time on the scooter a block from home, with no helmet (as usual) and wearig flip flops on his feet. He has some good road rash on his shoulders, his right elbow and foot, and after going to the doctor for xrays he has a small fracture on his left wrist and now is wearing a splint for two weeks, then we'll be able to see if the fracture is worse or not (once the blood supply to the bone is cut off), or if it is healed. Needless to say...I am now changing bandages in the mornings and medicating his wounds. I'm not a very good nurse, and an even worse doctor (that is Gio's job), but I'm the one home, so lucky me...I'm learning to handle stuff a little bit better, I have no choice!....oh well.....

Then this morning Robert comes up stairs to tell me that as he is warming up some milk in the microwave that it makes this popping sound and dies. GREAT! So I'm thinking to myself, it is just the breaker, however...after checking everything, nope, it's not the breaker...it is dead... gone and none usable. Not what we really needed right now with all the other expenses that we have. However...who can live without a microwave. I know that we sure can't. So...Lowes or RC Willey here we come.
The only consolation is that we have had this counter top microwave since 1994 when we first moved to the states. We have more than gotten our monies worth from it! Now I can get a nice white one that goes over the range and doesn' take up so much counter space in my small kitchen. Finally, but another time would have been better...oh well.....

What else can possibly happen...I better not ask!

Even though, pictures or not, it isn't the end of the world, there will be more, and we have the memory of the trip and the park, and microwaves can be replaced. However, I will continue to thank my Heavenly Father that Robert wasn't really hurt. His wounds will heal and the scooters scratches are no big deal, but not having him anymore or being seriously injured would be hard.

The Lord really does watch over us! I love my sons and husband and they can't be replaced...the other stuff, that is just it...stuff....oh well....but family....!!!