8 Years

Today Chad and I are celebrating our 8 year wedding anniversary! Well, actually, we celebrated this past weekend with a downtown get away. It was fun. The past eight years have flown by with him. I love Chad so much and am thankful for the wonderful husband and friend that he is to me. He is the best. Happy Anniversary Chad!

Dear Grandma

Dear Grandma,

It has been 3 long years without you. We love you and think of you every day. I hope you are happy and doing well.

I have so many fond memories of you. Of course, birthdays together are at the very top of my list and I am so very thankful to have shared that special day with you. I would not have wanted to share my cakes with anyone but you.

You always made holidays special. They were so much fun and must have taken hours of work on your behalf. I have many fond memories of Christmas morning there in your basement with the full stockings hanging on the mantel. Thanksgivings too. You were so nice to let me sleep over and "help" prepare the feast the next day. As my eyes are burning now, I am reminded of preparing the stuffing. Sauteing the celery and onions...ouch!

I laugh now thinking about how Luke and I would talk you into making us different things for lunch. I remember so clearly many, many times watching you over the stove making me grilled cheese and tomato soup (my all time favorite comfort food, thanks to you) and Luke would request a Totino's pizza and Bean and Bacon soup. You would make all 4 of those things to keep you grand kids happy. You are the best.

I feel most grateful though for the roll that you filled as my mother when my own mother wasn't there for me. I could talk to you about anything, and I did. Thanks for listening. You were great to lend me advice and I really truly feel that you left this world as one of my very best friends. I loved every moment that I spent with you. I treasure that time that we had together and miss seeing you so often.

You loved all of us with all of your heart and we know that. You were a shining example of the way that we should live our lives and raise our families. You taught me more things than I could ever put on paper. You were a wonderful mentor and I thank you for all that you did for me. I recognize how much you sacrificed for my family and appreciate so much everything that you have done for us.

On the anniversary of your passing, I remember so perfectly our family sitting closely around you throughout the night. I held your hands. I couldn't put them down. Your hands did so much for me, for all of us. They were beautiful. Perfectly aged, long pretty fingers. I wish I'd have taken a picture of them to share with the world. To say "these are the hands that helped me through my life, through my happy times and my hard ones". I didn't want to let you go. I needed you, I always have. I know that you are still near. I have felt your presence. I find comfort in that and know that I will see you again one day. I look forward to your loving embrace and sweet kiss on my cheek.

With all of my love and appreciation,
Erica

Lagoon

Bumper cars, roller coasters, swings, rockets, lines, planes, trains, boats, games, merry go rounds, water, haunted houses, laughter, huge corndogs, crowds, ice cream, friends, and grandparents....It must be LAGOON!

Kindergarten!

Wow! My boy started kindergarten today. I can't believe he is so big already. Jack was so excited to start school that he could hardly stand it. We took our time getting ready, snapped a few photos, and then Jack literally ran all the way to school. Notice in the pictures how the day starts with huge smiles and a lot of energy. After we reach the school his face is full of concern. Then, after school, huge smiles again. I thought that was funny. He had a good time, really likes his teacher, Mrs. Bibo-Brown (the lady "with curls just like me only gray"), and can't wait to go back tomorrow.

Thanksgiving Point Farm

We went with our ward playgroup to the Thanksgiving Point Farm today. The kids thought it was so much fun to feed the animals, lock themselves in jail and go on a pony ride. We spent most of the time with our friends, the Hoggans. You will notice cute little Alyssa in some of our pictures.

Bittersweet Birthday

I celebrated my 29th birthday yesterday and was so fortunate to be surrounded by many of my family members and friends. My birthdays are not as cheerful and happy as they once were. In fact, the past three years my birthday has been surrounded by sadness and tears. No, not because I am getting older. But because we lost our dear Coral, my grandmother and one of my very best friends in 2005. My first 26 birthdays were shared with my grandmother. I miss her greatly and especially on our special day. Despite the tears, which have gotten to be less and less over the years, my birthday was perfect.

My day started with a visit to the Jordan School District where I had to get a birth certificate extension for Jack. I spent hours going through boxes and never could find his birth certificate, thus the extension. Anyways, the office was right by my brother Luke's house so we decided to drop in on him. He is always working so hard on his house and has done some amazing things. It is fun to see. We went outside and jumped on his trampoline. Jack hopped on that thing, said "Watch me!" and pretty much did a flip. And then he did it over and over. It was cool, I don't know why but he sure was braver than usual in that moment. Luke and I had a good old fashioned "butt war" on the tramp and even though I was certain that I could win him, I didn't, but had fun anyways. It was fun acting like a kid again and laughing as I was playing with my brother.

Chad's dad married the most wonderful woman and we are so thankful to have her in our family. Her name is Becky and she came down from Bountiful to take me to lunch. Becky is so cute. She showed up with balloons (embarrassing a little) and we ate at Kneaders. I love kneaders, especially the little key lime tarts they have for dessert! It was so good. Then she followed us home for a few minutes, checked out a picture of Ken's old girlfriend (is that supposed to be a secret?) and played a game with the boys. Oh, and she brought me a cute little cake. She made such an effort to make my birthday special, and she did a good job. Thank you Becky!

Just after Becky left, my dad and his great wife, Debbie showed up with a bag of goodies. They live in Hyrum, Utah and are farther away than we'd like them to be so I don't get to see them too often. They were so nice to come down. I love them and was so happy to see them that day.

Next was a trip to the cemetery. I wanted my grandma's grave to look nice on her special day, so we took flowers and balloons. This is the bittersweet birthday part. I did good and got all of my tears out at the cemetery and that allowed for me to go about the rest of my day happily. I miss her so much.

My grandpa and his new wife, Patsy live very close to the cemetery, so I just couldn't help but stop by and say hello. It was a quick visit, but a nice one as well. The boys played in the back yard and they had fun. They always love it there. Want to know the funny part? Grandpa didn't even remember that it was my birthday.

The boys and I met Chad at home. He had stopped and picked up a BBQ chicken pizza from The Pie. It was delicious! Just as we were about to start eating, my grandpa called and apologized for forgetting that it was my birthday. Hey, he finally remembered! We ate pizza, laid around for a few, and then we went outside in the back yard and set up our tent.

All summer I have wanted to have a camp out with the boys in the back yard. Something always comes up and we had not yet made it happen. Well, for my birthday, that is just what I wanted to do. Chad had to work the next morning, so he was not up for a camp out, but the boys were thrilled. We pumped up our comfy air mattress and made it up like a bed. We told scary stories with our flashlights. Jack was coming up with some awesome ones. One of them was about a Higglysquatch and hot lava. We were so sleepy that we quickly dozed off. Aside from the occasional noises outside that woke me up, and the kids literally sleeping on top of me, I slept pretty good and the boys did not have a problem sleeping out there at all.

My birthday was so nice. I am thankful for the family and friends who went out of their way to make this day special for me. Thanks to all of you. Thanks for the visits, phone calls, and messages. I love you all and am so grateful for you. Happy 29th birthday to me!