Jaxon - 14

Jaxon in Gobin Valley.  He loved jumping from rock to rock

 This week Jaxon turned 14!  Wow!  We told him he's grown up now.  Jaxon is quite an adventure.  He always keeps our lives exciting.  Never a dull moment with that kid.  I have experienced every emotion with him.  Happiness, scared, surprise, frustration, proud, anger and love.

Jaxon pitching

 Jaxon has this unique quality about him.  He seems to be good at anything he tries.  He is very athletic and loves to play whatever sport is in season.  Right now, it's football.  Every day after school, he and Kyson round up the neighborhood kids and play football.  When winter comes, it will be basketball.  And, of coarse, in the spring there will be baseball.  My favorite.  I love to watch him play.  He knows the game so well and is so good at it.  He has only come across a few things that he doesn't seem to naturally be good at.  Unfortunately, when that happens he gives up on that and doesn't want to try it anymore. 

Jaxon shooting his Dad's gun

 When we went camping to Goblin Valley, Dale brought his guns.  Jaxon loved shooting them and was quite good at it.  He was also very good at throwing the clay pigeons in the air for people to shoot.  Must be all the baseball.

Jaxon jumping into the pool

 When we got our pool this summer, Jaxon wanted to move the trampoline next to the pool to use it to jump in.  At first, Dale did not like that plan.  He felt it was unsafe.  Jaxon's persistence won and he was the first one to jump in the freezing cold water.

Jaxon at the NJHS ceremony

 Jaxon doesn't love school but he gets pretty good grades.  I think the competitiveness in him is what keeps him doing well in school.  He doesn't like it when someone is better than him.  He is on the National Junior Honor Society and is a member of the Ambassadors, a club that tries to stop bullying. 

Jaxon has many wonderful qualities.  He's my little hugger.  He always has been.  He gives me many hugs a day.  He is turning into quite a little gentleman.  I took him out to lunch when he got his braces on and I felt like we were on a date.  He opened the doors for me.  He carried the trays of food and anytime I needed anything, he got up and got it for me.  What a sweetie!  I love one on one time with him and wish that I could do it more often.  He's also our teaser (Not necessarily a good quality).  He loves to tease Jake and Katie.  He can't stand being in the room without teasing one of them.  It drives me crazy and is the biggest source of tension in our relationship, but he also takes care of them.  Whenever Katie falls asleep on the couch (which is almost every weekend) He loves to carry her to bed.  If Jake ever gets hurt or is upset (by something other than Jaxon) he will jump up and try to help him. Jaxon is really funny.  He always makes me laugh.  He is a huge presence in our home.  If Jaxon isn't home, it's a completely different place.  I love him with all my heart, even though he is the reason for my grey hair!

Remembering 22 years ago

Dale sent me a text this morning that said "Happy Anniversary".  Our wedding anniversary was in August.  Today is the 22nd anniversary of the day we got together.  It wasn't our first date.  We were having a party with friends from work and we got together at that party.  Our first official date was to see the movie Sarafina.  I think it is so cute that Dale always remembers this day.  I spent a good portion of the day remembering all the wonderful memories from the last 22 years but mostly memories from when we were dating. I just want to list some of them and hopefully when I read this in 20 years, I will still know what I'm writing about.  Dinner at the Red Flame in bountiful where he told me he didn't want to do the two week thing.  Running across the Pace parking lot to listen to Broken glass in his car because my stereo wasn't as good as his.  My sister telling me he was a "player" and to be careful.  All the roses.  Watching for him to drive up to my house to pick me up.  Christmas work party.  Hot mustard at South Seas. Trip to Arizona and Palm Springs. Making me drive his car. Picking me up when I ran out of gas. His house in the winter listening to old country music and eating chili.  Meeting his mom for the first time.  Babysitting. Getting our pictures taken together. Werthers at the Haunted House. Snowmobiling at the cabin. Going to Logan and he wouldn't bring a jacket even though I told him it would be freezing.  Outrunning the cop.  Brushing my hair in the hospital.  Disney stuff. Stereo at RC Willey. Parallel parking at temple square.  Catch a Falling Star tape.  "The Letter" picture.  Wave runner crash. Dine and dash at La Puente. 100% tip.  Skycoaster at Lagoon.  watching TV while I cross stitched. Taking Jordan and Adam to the zoo.  Rubbing lotion on my legs at Pace. Our wedding day. The most perfect day!
He has always been so good to me and taken such good care of me.  He always has put my wants and needs above his own.  We are so blessed to have the kind of relationship that we do.  We get along very well and through all these years, it has remained the same.  We have a different life now.  It mostly revolves around the kids and we don't get to spend as much time together as we did back then but I still love to go on dates and spend time with him.  I love to get texts from him and still am happy when I see his car pull up to the driveway.  I honestly can say that I love him more than I ever thought I could. 

Summer is over

I don't usually have posts without pictures but I just wanted to do a little journaling to record what's going on right now.  Summer is over and school has started.  I remember when Katie was born and I thought that when she went to Kindergarten, Jadon would be a senior.  I can't believe that day is already here.  The 3 youngest kids are loving the new charter school which I am thrilled about.  It was a good move.  Jadon is having an easy year, so far, as a senior.  He is working at Arctic Circle.  He asked someone to Homecoming this week and I am so proud of him!  I found out that there was a girl in our ward who really really wanted to go to the dance and hadn't been asked yet so he asked her.  She was so excited.  Her mom told me she has never seen a bigger smile on her face.  Kierra is now going to Copper Hills.  She's doing well, like always.  I love how independent she is.  She has started talking a sign language class and LOVES it!  She knows that she wants to be an interpreter for the deaf.  I'm thrilled that she has a career in mind already.  She has her first job.  She is working as a sweeper at Fox Hollow elementary.  My goal right now is to get her to get her learner's permit.  She says she doesn't want to read the driver's license book because it's boring.  Jaxon is in 8th grade and continues to think that school is big waste of time.  Even though he feels this way, he still does well in school.  He is playing fall baseball and always recruiting the neighborhood boys to play football after school.  Jake is still obsessed with video games.  During the school year, we don't allow video games during the week so he struggles finding something to do.  He is full of information.  He is always telling me the things he learns.  He has a little group of friends at school which makes me so happy.  He really hasn't had any friends until this year.  I still need to find something that he is interested in, besides video games.  Kyson is a mix of Jadon and Jaxon.  He is most like Jadon but he has a lot of Jaxon's natural sports ablility.  He is always outside playing whatever sport he can.  He is also playing fall baseball.  He is very smart and is doing well in school.  I'm glad that he has a teacher that will challenge him.  He's a great kid who always wants to do the right thing.  I love that he always wants to make me happy.  Katie is a little spitfire Diva.  Other than the fact that she has to wear a uniform, she likes school.  She loves everything girlie but she also loves playing baseball with her brothers.  She still loves all the little babies that I take care of.  She is genuinely excited to see them every day.  Wherever she goes, she has a baby with her.  She still loves her mom more than anyone.  She loves to be with me.  I wish I could spend more one on one time with her.  Some days I feel very overwhelmed with everything that is going on.  It is rare that we have a free night with nothing going on.  I wouldn't change it though.  I love that my kids are involved with so many things.  It's good for them so they don't get bored.  I am still the Young Women's sports coach and volleyball has just started.  I love volleyball because it's not as stressful as basketball to coach.  I am excited that we are approaching fall.  It's my favorite time of the year.  I love getting out hoodies to wear and the crispness in the air.  I love the smells of Fall!  I feel very thankful for everything that I have been blessed with.  I am happy that my family is healthy and we live in such a wonderful ward.  I continue to miss my mom every day.  Last week, Lisa, Holly and I went through all her clothes and jewelry.  I was dreading it a little bit but it actually turned out to be a very fun afternoon where we remembered our wonderful mother.  I wish I knew what she was doing right now.  I am obsessed with reading right now.  I go in spurts with that.  I came across the author, Kristin Hannah recently and I just keep reading all her books.  I wish I could read more but I feel guilty if I am reading when the kitchen isn't clean.  I tell myself I can read an hour a day but I have to do a job to earn that.  Well that's about it for now.  My life revolves around taking care of my family right now. 

First day of school 2014

 We had four "first day of school" days this year.  Jake, Kyson and Katie are going to be attending Ascent Academy this year.  It is a new charter school in our area.  They get to wear uniforms now.  At first we were all a little torn about this but after being in school for almost two weeks, we love it!
Jake and Kyson were pretty excited about their new school.  It's on two levels, which is new.  They get lockers and they get to stay in the same school through middle school. Jake is in 6th grade and Kyson is in 4th grade.

 They were the first to start school on August 18th.  Katie was very upset that she didn't get to go with them.  Kindergartener's had to wait until the next week to start.

 Kierra was 2nd to start school.  This is her first year at Copperhills highschool.  The Sophmores had an orientation day on August 22nd.  She was very nervous about getting lost in that huge school.  She tried to go over to the school with Jadon before school started but that didn't work out.  She was so funny.  She had a map of the school and she highlighted all her classes so she would be able to find them.  She still got lost.

 Finally, Katie got to go to school on August 25th.  She is in afternoon kindergarten and that was the longest morning of her life.  Every 15 minutes, she asked when she got to go to school.  When we finally got there, she had absolutely no issues leaving me.  She found her seat and sat right down and started talking to the girl next to her.  I wonder where she gets that from? 

 She is so independent!  She got out of the van and started walking into the school without me and Dale.  We did teach her later that she has to cross at the crosswalk.

 My little kindergartener in her cute little uniform.  I can't believe that my baby is in school already!

 Jadon is a senior at Copperhills this year.  That's even harder to believe than Katie being in Kindergarten.  I still vividly remember Jadon's first day of Kindergarten.  I can't stand how fast time goes.  This year is going to go by so fast and before I know it, I will be blogging about his mission call!  His first day was the same as Katie's.

 For some reason, the middle school started a day later than the highschool so Jaxon stayed home with me on Monday while everyone else was at school.  He's such a funny kid.  When we went shopping for school supplies on Monday night, he had me laughing so hard.  He's in 8th grade.  That scares me a little because 8th grade is a hard year and Jaxon doesn't really love hard!

          Jadon the Senior with Katie the Kindergartener.  Weird! 

19 years!

On August 12, 2014 Dale and I celebrated our 19th anniversary. Because my mom passed away the day before, the day itself was kind of hectic but we were able to take a few hours and go out to dinner.  I love going out to dinner with just the two of us.  Our life is very crazy right now and sometimes it feels like we never have any time for just the two of us to talk.  We have been through a lot together over the last 19 years.  I feel very blessed to be married to someone that I get along so well with.  Dale was fortunate enough to get 5 days off of work when my mom passed away.  I was so glad to have him with me through all of it.  He is my rock. It was a hard week and it always helped to talk to him on the phone or just be with him.  He just always know what to say.  He has always treated me so well and he knows me better than anyone.  I love you Dale!

Saying Goodbye

Hanging out with mom in her room for the last time

 On August 11, 2014 my mentor, my hero, my mom went back home with her Heavenly Father.  We were able to have a very special weekend with her before she passed away.  While we were eating dinner on Saturday night (Aug 9), my dad called me and told me that they were having a hard time waking mom up so they called the nurse, Julie to come over.  She told dad that mom probably had about 2-3 days left to live.  That phone call took me by surprise.  Even though she has been sick for so long,  I didn't think the end was that close.  I had been at her house the Tuesday before and I had no feeling that she was going downhill so fast.

Dad trying to hear what mom was saying

We cleaned up dinner and piled in the van to go up to see my mom.  When we got there, she wasn't awake and she was breathing very loud.  We all sat in her room.  Lisa and her twins were there.  Within and hour Holly and Paul and their families arrived.  I called Parry, who was at a Real soccer game, and told him what was going on.  He came over with Shella, Xavier and Joel.  We were sitting on her bed and in the chairs by her bed.  Some people were standing but almost everyone was in her room.  The home health aide, Sephora, tickled her feet and moved her around to wake her up.  She opened her eyes very wide.  I imagine it could be scary to wake up to see so many people staring at you.  I remember her saying "I have a great family!" We took turns having the grandkids sit by her.  Some talked to her and others just sat by her.  When Katie came over to her, mom's eyes lit up and she said "You are so pretty".  Katie just kept hugging her.  When Kierra came to sit by her, mom said "You just keep getting prettier and prettier". 

I just sat by her and looked at her and remembered all the wonderful things about her.  She is truly my hero and I owe her everything.  She never had a bad word to say about anybody.  She is the most selfless person I know.  Her entire life was devoted to her family.  I only hope I can be half the mother to my children that she was to me.  We all left their house around 11:00 that night.  I came back to their house on Sunday after sacrament meeting.  Dale and the kids stayed home this time.  They all felt like they had a nice goodbye the night before and were ok for that to be the last one.
When I got to their house, I could hear her loud breathing as soon as I got out of my car.  Julie came again that day and suggested that we increase her levels of morphine to make her breathing quieter.  She thought that would make everyone, including my mom, feel more comfortable.  Julie didn't think she would make it through the night. I spent most of the day going through mom's photo albums to get pictures for the video that we would show at the funeral.  It was a hard day because mom wasn't awake very much.  Dale came up there at dinner time to hang out with us.  Holly, Paul and Lisa were there with their families.  Before Dale came up, the bishop came to visit mom and luckily she was awake.  Before he left, He gave her a kiss on the forehead.  Dale came in the room right after that and said "Boy, you look bright eyed!" She said "Well, the bishop just kissed me!" I love that she kept her wit until the very end.  We just hung out together all night.  I was trying to decide if I should spend the night there.  I had the feeling that she was not going to die in the middle of the night so I went home so Jadon and I could start working on the video.

Dad looking at mom just minutes after she passed away

 I got up at 7:30 and left by 8:00 to go back to mom's.  Lisa slept there and Holly and I got there at the same time.  We just sat in my mom's room.  She wasn't breathing loudly anymore and she was asleep.  Julie was there again and she told us that today would be the day.  We decided that, as soon as Salote got there, we would all go to the funeral home and pick out her casket.  It was a quick trip because Dad picked it out quickly.  When we arrived back home it was about 10:30.  As soon as we walked in her room, we could tell something was different.  She was very peaceful.  Lisa decided to iron mom's temple clothes.  Salote was just sitting next to her bed and holding her hand.  Holly and I were sitting at the end of her bed.  All of a sudden, Salote said "I think she's gone"  It was very peaceful.  She didn't make a noise at all.  Lisa went to get Dad, who was talking to Doris in the front room.  Doris and Dad both came in.  Doris started crying and saying how much she was going to miss her.  Dad just stood and looked at her and cried.  Salote was wonderful about attending to mom.  She rolled up a towel and put it under her chin.  She took off all the tubes and wires that were hooked to mom.  She placed her hands together on her stomach.  She looked so peaceful.  I called Parry and only said two words to him.  He said he would be there in 20 minutes.  Lisa called Paul and told him.  They both arrived at the same time.  We all sat in mom's room, for the last time with her, and cried.

Kierra's balloon for Grandma

After the mortuary came and got her, we spent the rest of the day discussing the funeral.  It was a really long stressful day.  Too many decisions that had to be made too fast.  It was decided that the funeral would be on Thursday August 14, 2014. 

Monday night everyone, except Paul Adams who was out of town, came over for a remembering Grandma FHE.  Dorris contacted a bunch of people from the ward and they brought dinner to feed us all.  It was amazing!  Each grandchild wrote a memory or something to Grandma on a balloon.  After they shared what was written on the balloon with the group, all the grandkids let the balloons go at the same time.  It was very neat and a perfect way to end the day. 

We love you grandma and will miss you!

Katie had no fear about seeing Grandma's body.  She went right up to her and touched her and talked to her

The viewing was Wednesday night at Mom's stake center.  We got there early to set up and just before the funeral everyone sat together and watched Mom's video.  It turned out really nice. 

I loved how the casket spray turned out

All of Mom's kids

When we got home from the viewing, this is what we found on our porch.  I was so touched to find that so many people cared about me and my family.  It really meant a lot.  My friends also brought dinner into our family for two nights.  It was really sweet.

Holly, Lisa and I putting her temple veil on just before closing the casket

We had a viewing for about one hour before the funeral.  This was much harder than the night before.  I think it was because I was feeling very anxious about speaking.  Several minutes before they were going to close the door so that we could have the family prayer, I got very nervous and shaky.  I remembered that I hadn't eaten anything that day.  That probably wasn't very smart.  Dale was chosen to say the family prayer.  He said a beautiful prayer.  It was very hard for me and I was very emotional.  After the prayer, Lisa, Holly and I went to put mom's veil on.  I couldn't take it.  I was sobbing by this point.  Lisa tied it under her chin and asked me if I wanted to cover her face.  I couldn't do it.  I shook my head and left to my safe place, Dale's arms.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever been through.  I had no idea it was going to be like this.  I knew my mom's time was short at the beginning of the summer so I thought I would be better prepared when the time came.  I didn't watch them close the casket.  We then filed into the chapel for the funeral.  I didn't know how I was going to make it through the talk because I was shaking and having a hard time breathing.  Luckily, Lisa and Holly went before me.  They both gave great talks.  They talked about the funny things mom had said and done.  I'm so thankful that I was able to laugh before I had to get up to speak.  My talk was short but I felt like I couldn't speak for very long.  I was emotional in my talk but it went better than I thought it would go.  I basically talked about what a wonderful example my mom has always been to me.  I felt so relieved once my talk was done and the rest of the funeral went by and was beautiful.

I love my family!

The handsome Pallbearers

carrying the casket to the burial place

All mom's kids again

When we picked out the casket spray, we asked the florist to put 25 yellow roses in it so that each one of mom's grandchildren could take one home.  This is all of them, except Brooke, Camren and Mitchal with their roses

After the dedication of the grave, we all went back to the stake center for lunch.  It was so nice to sit and eat and visit with everyone without feeling stressed.  When we went home that night we were exhausted.  The next week was hard.  I think of my mom constantly.  I find it ironic that almost every night for the next 10 days there was a rainbow in the sky.  I like to think she sent them to all of us.  Little things make me miss her.  I was shopping at Target and saw some white chocolate M&M's.  I almost picked up a bag because I was use to getting those for her whenever I saw them.  I will always think of her when I see them.  The day before I was getting Katie ready for her first day of Kindergarten I realized that Katie will be the first grandkid that mom isn't here to buy her first day outfit for.  That made me really sad. Not because Katie won't get the outfit but because my mom isn't here to give it to her!  I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful mother!  She was an amazing person who was kind to everyone and had no enemies.  I truly think she doesn't have any regrets in life.  She lived her life serving everyone she was around.  Heaven is lucky to have her!

Girl's camp 2014

Jen and I in our Adventure is out there hats

This is the 2nd year that I was the assistant camp director for our ward.  After camp last year, the camp director, Jen Crane, and I decided that we wanted to go somewhere with a kitchen.  I suggested our cabin.  We decided that would be a great idea.  So we have been planning camp at the cabin for the last year.  Our theme this year was "Look up" and we tied it to the Disney movie "UP". 

Our group at the top of the hike.  We are standing on a cliff but you can't tell because of the fog.

Because I am familiar with the area that we were going to be camping in, I volunteered to find a hike that the group would be going on.  Several weeks before camp I took my family on 4 different hikes trying to find the perfect hike!  It was very stressful because I knew that so many of the girls didn't enjoy hiking so I didn't want it to be a miserable experience for them.  However, I didn't want it to be too easy either.  I wanted them to see that they could do hard things and enjoy it. 

Kierra and Sarah Grow hiked out to the island on the lake

After talking to the leaders to get their opinion, I decided to do the Blood lake hike.  It rained pretty much the whole day the day we got to camp.  We had scheduled the hike for the 2nd day in the morning.  Some of the leaders wanted to cancel the hike but I really felt like we should still do it.  When it was time to leave, it wasn't raining but it was pretty wet.  I decided to go check it out before we took the girls up there.  A few leaders and I drove up there and discovered that not only was it not muddy, but it was beautiful!  It was foggy and it made the mountain look magical.

"Look Up!"

The girls ended up loving the hike and had a great time.  It was so much fun to hear them talk about how fun the hike was and to see them smile as they hiked.  I loved it!

Because of the rain, we had to move all of the activities we had planned for outside in to the cabin.  One of the main things we had planned for outside was all the crafts.  It was pretty crazy to have 34 girls painting and crafting in the cabin but it worked and we all had fun.

Our 7 YCL's

We had 7 Youth Camp Leaders to help with our planning of camp.  Each YCL was in charge of 5-6 girls.  They were in a tent together and helped cook and clean up the meals.  It was fun to work with these girls.

All 34 girls that came to camp

The girls with the awards that the YCL's gave out at the end of camp

All the girls and the leaders after all the tents were taken down, the cabin was cleaned and we were packed up and ready to go home.  We had such a great time and made some great memories!

All of the leaders and Kierra, the photo bomber.  I love being part of the Young Women's!  I have such a great time with these women.  We have so much fun together especially when we are sleep deprived and it's late at night.  I hope I get the chance to go to camp again sometime!