What are friends for?

This is my sad moment.. but I really need to get it out here. My best friends husband died tragically on Saturday night (Dec 26th). I will leave the details out not only because its personal to everyone involved, but because some people couldn't handle the details. I have had this triangle of friends- we call the "Love Triangle"- me, Brook and Tracy- friends forever- sisters if you will. When you become best friends with someone you vow to always help them and be there through EVERYTHING.... will this definitely takes the cake. Tracy is the strongest out of the three of us, she is a rock, and is hard to crack and get into her circle but once your in... your in. Well, now Brook and I have to be her rock for a while. I have experienced things as a friend I thought I would NEVER have to... this has been the most devastating thing I have ever witnessed.
Its amazing to see all the generous people that come out of the woodwork when something like this happens. To all of you who have donated money, food, firewood, love and compassion- GOD BLESS YOU!! I truly didn't realize how many people are out there who will lend a hand or give anything they have when given the opportunity. Thanks to everyone for the emotional support as well, for Tracy, the kids, the family, and for me to.
I would like to also tribute Ken. Even though this wasn't the best way to leave, I understand why it happened. We will never know the battles you fought... but we LOVE you! I will NEVER be able to go camping or to Las Vegas without thinking of you and raising a toast! Thanks for loving my best friend with more love than she could ever realize! Thanks for being such a great Dad to the kids- they worshiped the ground you walked on. You were truly a loving and kind person who never worried about yourself- only everyone else. I hope you are with Marty. Work hard in heaven, conquer your battles, become your best self. I am sending all my love. Please watch over your family.
To Tracy, I have already vowed my life and any extra time I have to you. You would do the same for me. I love you and will help you get through this, I promise. The road is going to be long and hard but we will make it!!! Your not alone- EVER! I have prayed for you the last few days, and that's something I haven't done in years. Please hang on... we love you.
To the rest of everyone who reads this... hug your family and friends every time you see them. Let them know you care... you never know when someone needs just a little something. Live every day like its you last. Life flies by.

Apologies

Sorry there havent been any posts forever, in our money saving ways we have canceled our internet because I can use it at work when I need to. So sorry that the last blog is from Halloween, soon we will be back up and running at our house and I will post pics and whatnot. I start the RN program on the 4th of Jan, which means that I am done at the clinic, the 23rd is my last day. I am bittersweet about it, there have been so many things going on down there lately that there are things I am glad to be leaving, but I will miss my friends, doctor, and some of the patients. So back to the care center I go...... not sure how I feel about that either. What is it about this time of year that is so STRESSFUL, DEPRESSING, and CHAOTIC?!? Shouldnt we be grateful for what we have and enjoy the holidays?? It seems that each year gets worse, I want to just pack up and leave and forget the whole damn thing. So anyways, I know I need to change my attitude but things are just not quite where I want them to be. But off to the program I go and know that even though I will be twice and busy and stressed that at the end of July I will be a better person, make more money, and have a more versatile job that I will be able to find where I belong in the nursing world. I am really considering going on to PA school instead of Nurse Practicioner... so we'll see where I end up. Hope you all have a great Christmas and I will post as soon as I can.

Halloween

OMG!!! What a week its been! First of all, the good news, I got AcCePtEd to RN school!!! Yay!! Its been a totally crazy week since then so anyone I overlooked in sharing my good news I am sorry! Last year I had this crazy idea to throw a Halloween party at Basin Clinic so this year I was BrIbEd (really- begged) to do another one. Wow- crazy but it was so much fun. The only bad thing was I was the one left to clean up the mess when it was all over, but being that I wont be working there next year it was all good. I was going to be a scarecrow but 2 hours before the party my sister in law Monica (who is the greatest by the way- she is a kid at heart in someways) calls me and says "Lets go as Fairy's!" (Haha right?) so I dug out my old prom dresses and we went as Fairys- was actually a lot of fun. I got the bright idea to use Brynlee's play makeup for my costume and literally had to scrape it off with a butter knife that stuff is like GLUE on your face!

We also made a haunted house- this was actually a lot of fun, the kids had a blast. Then we hit the ward Trunk-or-Treat which was a TON of fun this year! They had games, chili dogs, hot chocolate, family pictures, a bon-fire, the whole nine yards. Thanks to the party planners in the ward!! Couldn't have been any funner! Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween! Now its onward to Thanksgiving and then Christmas..... oh boy!

Family Pics 2009

First things first..... THANKS STEPHANIE!!!! Your wonderful, you did such an awesome job and I am so PLEASED they turned out so well!! (Even though I never doubted you in the first place).

It has been a few years since we have attempted to do family pics because we dont have the best luck. The kids are not cooperating, Dave is onery and wont smile, etc. This year was great, I love Fall and wanted outside pics so we just took a drive up Dry Fork, pulled over on the side the the road for some of them and got some great pics. Then for the rest of them we went to the top of dry fork in the most beautiful yard I have ever seen! These people had to knock down hundreds of trees to build their house, and its complete forest surrounding their home- so amazing!

You guys be the judge and let me know what you think!

Fairey's 2009

Heber Creeper Birthday

24 years old..... wow is all I have to say, and for those of you thinking "young spring chicken" I am a firm believer that people are as old as the life experiences they have had, and not their biological birthday age. I have met some old people who have the pesonality of a 18 year old, and vice versa. I feel a LOT older than I am, but I have had some experiences that have made me that way. Anyways, my birthday was TERRIFIC, couldnt have asked for a better day, we got up early and headed to Heber to ride the Heber Creeper, which growing up in Wallsburg I have been on the train a few times, but honestly it was better this time. As parents we go places (Like Chucky Cheeses, swimming at the rec center, etc) that I really HATE going, but I cant say that about this trip. It was honestly SO MUCH FUN!! It was so breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL down Provo Canyon, to the point it tears my heart out and makes me so homesick I cant stand it, because face it everyone.... Vernal is not a pretty place to live. The kids LOVED the train, they were so good, I was worried that a 4 hour train ride would result in tragedy. We sat on the outside car, which was a little chilly at moments, but hot chocolate and cider cured that. The ride went all the way down to Vivian Park and then back, what a great view of the canyon and Timpanogas that you dont get to see when driving down. So I got some great pics, so bear with me as I will post most of them. Then after we took the kids to see both of their Great Grandmas, which honestly, I REALLY do think I have the best Grandma's in the WHOLE world!!! We left Brynlee and Caeden at Grandma Allred's in Heber while Dave took me to dinner at Ruby River (YuMmY!) with my best friend of 10 YeArS~~ Chelsea McPhie (I guess Neerings now) and her hubby Kirk. It was really a good time, good company, good food. Couldnt have asked for better! I also would like to post a SpEcIaL thanks not only to Dave who really was so great about making sure I had a good birthday with no stress, but to my Dad. Thanks for letting us stay the night at your house (I promise, no rugs were washed this time, I moved them for Caeden to pee) and thanks for the birthday card that made me cry, and thanks for the new jeans and wallet you bought me... how did you know thats EXACTLY what I wanted?? :) You are the BEST Dad ever, couldnt ask for better, love you more than you'll ever know! Thanks for the Birthday wishes from everyone else!!

The mountain in the middle is Wallsburg- home

This was the actual engine that took us

Another project down!

I have had these old windows for mOnThS and have been planning on doing a few things with them, but FINALLY buckled down and got the first one done today. The hardest part was finding a saying that was "hang worthy" and wouldnt get old. Dave was given out a little slip of paper in church on Sunday with this on it and I felt it did justice to be vinyled on the wall forever. President Hinckley was truly a great man and I am proud to hang this saying!.

Halloween Tree

Halloween is my FaVoRiTe holiday!! I could really forget Christmas and have another Halloween..... I saw these cute trees in a magazine and had to make one! Of course, its not exactly the same as in the book- have to personalize it right? I know this is a boring blog but unfortunatley there is not much else going on right now, as soon as something exciting happens I will get on it!!

First Day of School!!

Both of my babies started school yesterday!! Brynlee is going to Kindergarten, which there is something about kindergarten, going to the school with all the big kids, that makes it harder on a mom. I tried talking her into letting me take her for her first day but she wasnt interested... "I am big now, I will ride the bus MOM" So I met the bus at the school.... had to make sure she found her class ok. Then with a tear in my eye and a broken heart I went to work.

Caeden also started preschool, which was kind of tricky because the day care that he goes to we call "school" also to make it a little easier. So after taking him to his real preschool- which I thought was going to be a kicking, screaming, teeth biting nightmare and actually turned out really great, he went right in and hung up his back pack and no problems. Taking him back to daycare was a little of a challenge- he was crying and carrying on "I want to go to my other school!!" So we are going to have to work something else out... he only goes on Monday and Wedns every week so I need to work it out so I have those days off! What will I do all by myself??

Happy Birthday Caeden!!

My little boy turned 3! I cant believe it... time flies! We celebrated with cake that I made!!!! (It was actually easier than I thought it would be!!) However I had the tractors placed on the cake and Dave proceeded to come in and tell me they were doing the 'wrong jobs' and he moved them around so they were in working order.... seriously??? Caeden LOVED his cake- he didn't even eat a piece of it... once the tractors came off that's all he wanted to do with it.... silly boy. We got him a John Deere green wagon, and a shirt with a tractor on it. Grandpa Ford came out (which is always the best part) and gave Caeden two cap guns, a rifle and pistol (I still have the caps I am holding onto until he goes to stay with Grandpa for a day or two) and he gave him a John Deere hat that I am STILL arguing it off Caedens head for a bath and to go to bed every night. Kaleb and Shaylee and Grandma Jill got him a big wheel tractor and Grandma Fairey and Aunt Monica gave him $5 and a gumball machine... which I am considering using as potty training bribery. It was a great day... lots of fun for Caeden... he seriously is still singing Happy Birthday to Me!!

Also an exciting week because Caeden started a new Daycare called Little Doo Dahs (yes, it is a cowboy theme... so cute!!) The babysitter we have had all summer has gone back to high school so that meant change again! However I took Caeden down on Monday to "get a feel" for this daycare so Tues morning when I had to go to work it wasn't a total emotional breakdown... and he LOVES it!! We are calling it "school" instead of daycare so I think that helps. He seriously was out of the seat belt and opening the door before I even had the car in park this morning he was so excited to go. Which made me so HaPpY!! It was bittersweet though because when your kids dont cry because your leaving and they actually WANT you to go.... its sad, almost more sad than when you leave them crying. I posted a picture of his guitar that they made today... and it was SO SWEET, I asked him to sing me a song on his guitar and he sang me the "Bob the builder... can we fix it? Bob the builder, YES WE CAN!!!" Please catch on that we are Bob fans and John Deere fans at our house!!!
Thanks to everyone for the GrEaT birthday!! Thanks Dad ~aka~ Grandpa Ford for coming all the way out, we wished you lived closer! We LOVE you lots!!!!

The birthday gifts!!

What ~*~CuTe~*~ kids!!

Hows that for a homemade cake?? Watch out Betty Crocker!

Me and My Grandpa!!The RIFLE!!! YAY!

The little things

Well, right now I am working (Ambulance) and came home to tuck my little AnGeLs (HA HA HA) into bed... and they looked so cute, I had to post a little something. (Especially because Brynlee has pulled a big spot of her CUTE pink paint off of her wall since I made her bed this morning!!!! So I am trying to focus on something positive right now.) However mad they make me at times I would not trade them for AnYtHiNg! Being a mother is one of God's greatest ReWaRdInG CHALLENGES. From the second you find out your pregnant it doesnt end until 6 feet below ground 70+ years later... and I think even then, we still watch over our kids. We as mothers are to dry the tears, kiss the owies and broken hearts, hug them until they scream "I cant breathe!", give them piggie back rides, learn how to play Barbies all over again, learn how to be a truck driver, check on them at least twice every night before we can go to bed our weary selves, the list goes on and on. In return however, we get to watch them grow, get millions of hugs and I love you's (that by the way are Mommy's FAVORITE hugs!!), and eventually they will get married and give me grandbabies, (hopefully not for at LEAST 20+ years).

I know I am not the only mother who worries and fears that something horrible will happen to their children, believe me, I have seen some HORRIFIC things working for Gold Cross that have changed me FOREVER. I will NEVER go to bed mad at my kids, without hugging and kissing them and letting them know how MUCH I love them. I will not let anger change the way I am, I will pick my battles and only worry about the big things... not so much the little things. I will take them to do things, go to the park, swimming, camping, because really.... in the scheme of things.... what is an hour?? Its more than an hour to them... its much more.

However I am still learning as a mother- and I will admit Brynlee is my learning experience, the oldest always is. But I love her and there is not a better daughter out there! She is so PrEcIoUs and WoNdErFuL!! She has come such a long ways with her speech, you would never know she ever struggled, she is so smart (too much most of the time) and she is so beautiful and HaPpY all the time! Brynlee I love you!! Your incredible and I will always be there for you no matter WHAT... as your mom and your friend.

Caeden... what a treasure you are, can they get more boy than you?? I mean really, we are still counting the big trucks anytime we go to town... and it makes me laugh and have such a warm feeling in my heart when you get up in the big truck with your dad and you are GlOwInG with such pride.... it makes me smile! I love how you need to come in and make sure I am still in the house and give me a kiss and tell me you are going back to work... outside in the dirt yard (what are you going to do when we have a lawn???) You will FoReVeR be mommies little boy!

And then there is David, I cant forget you.... thanks for EvErYtHiNg!! I love you.... even when I tell you I could wrap my hands around your neck... Thanks for all you do.... and lets keep working on things everyday... as long as we work together it will all be ok.

Thanks to all the friends, family (JaNeen, Tracy, Monica) I love you too and honestly most days I have NO CLUE where I would be without you... I love you all!

By the way this is our new family member... I think Brynlee has decided Pepper is her name... I just call her puppy.

YeS, that is a Hannah Montana hat... what can I say?

*24th of July!!*

Me and my buddy!!!

Look at those cute boys!!

Now THATS a dirty bum!! He he

The boys and their trucks!

Coming in out of the rain for a min.

Yes.... More CaMpInG!!! We moved to a new campspot which is really nice, secluded, not many other campers around- it was so nice and ReLaXiNg!! We went on a 4-wheeler ride down the the Little Brush Creek caves, which were so awesome! Caeden kept saying it was the "monster's house" which he was probably right! :) We went with friends and had a little picnic and the whole nine yards, was really great! It rained really hard on Sat afternoon and after that Caeden was playing in the mud with Carson and boy did they get DIRTY!! Boys and their toys! We 99% of the time just sat around camp and enjoyed ourselves! Nothing better than camping!!

(And Bryn was at her Dads so thats why no pics of her :( )

4th of July Weekend

We went to Flaming Gorge camping for the 4th. Lots of happenings up there, the antique car show, fireworks at Dutch John (which is a really good fireworks show by the way). Our friends Nichole and Robert came and tented it with us and they have a boat we went and cruised the Gorge and swam- great weather other then the little bit of rain that chased us off the lake.

Caeden going on the big potty for the first time!!!

(This really made my weekend SO much better!)

Etzel- I WANT one of these!! Pink!

Hiking- Caeden found.... a gun!! Whats new? We make guns out of stick, peanut butter sandwiches, anything!

The goats were happy to see Ellecia- they were getting fed well.

Dave and Caeden at Dyer mine Cabin

I told the kids to try and find a lizard (honestly... I didnt know there were lizards here, I was just sending them out to do something!!) and they came back with one!!!!! So Dave helped them tame it... very entertaining. DONT send your kids to look for something unless you really want it to be found! A valuable lesson! Haha

Amidst all the cool cars.... there was a cool tractor... and if anyone could scope out a tractor- it would be my son.

My boys, sitting on the front of the boat, what a nice pic with the Cart Creek bridge behind them that you have to cross to get to the dam.

YUCK!! Why do people have these for pets??

*~*Happy Birthday America!!!*~*