March 12th, 2013

It's been years since I have posted to this blog.  Not quite sure what has inspired me to return to it tonight.  Today I spent some time in the yard and I always find myself reflective about life when I'm digging around in the dirt pulling out weeds.

This blog has previously served the purpose as an update of our family's lives. Maybe I will continue with updates, maybe not.

Life seems to be speeding by so fast.  It seems impossible that Nathan will be graduating in a few months from high school.  In less than six months, he will have moved on to college and we will have just our Hannah and Logan left at home.  How can that be?  Where has the time gone?  I feel like the past few years have been a blur with all the chaos we have experienced through cancer.  I still have not finished healing from the cancer experience.  I feel bruised inside.  The physical and emotional scars from cancer still linger.  The hospitalization last August, followed by multiple scans and paralyzing fear in December took a toll on me and my family.  It shook me to the core.  The following months were awful.  My family was beaten down and I didn't have the energy to help them.  January and February 2013 were some of the most difficult months I have ever had.  It was dark, very lonely and overwhelming.  March has felt much brighter for us and I hope that it will continue to get better.

Alan has a job!!!!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Alan was offered a job last night! We are so excited. It is with a company in Plano. They specialize in facilitating property taxes. Although the salary is a lot less than his last job, we are so grateful for having a job right now. We feel so blessed and so thankful for our family and friends that have been such a strength and support to us over these past couple of months. Thank you so much for your prayers, love and concern. It has meant so much to us! We love you!

Bethany and Hannah rock the house...Christmas 2008

Don't be jealous of my mad video-taking skills.

We need your prayers! : )

I just wanted to post that Alan lost his job yesterday...4 days short of ten years working for this company. I'm a big believer when it comes to "strength in numbers" for prayers. We would appreciate it so much if you kept our family in your prayers. Thank you so much.

Ya, we love taking pictures of Logan!

Cutest little puppy...just a little late!

I forgot about some pictures that I had in my other camera from Halloween...so here is Logan...a little late, but just as cute! Check out those green eyes. My only child with green eyes.

Our little pumpkin boy

Our little Logan in the pumpkin patch. Logan's nickname has been 'pumpkin boy', so I couldn't wait to get him into a pumpkin patch for some pictures. When Nathan saw this picture he said, "Whenever you feel bad about anything, all you have to do is look at that picture and everything is good again.". So true.

Hannah turns 10!!! (October 28th)

Happy 10th birthday, Hannah! I can't believe you are already 10. Hannah decided to have her birthday dinner at Red Robin. We all had a lot of fun.
You are such a sweet girl with such a sensitive and caring heart...esp. for animals. We love you, Hannah Monet!
Shanyn and Tracy. Xander is off to the side...very busy.
Hannah opening up her gifts. She got some webkinz and some great clothes from Shanyn and Tracy and a computer Nancy Drew game from Grandma and Grandpa.
All the waiters are singing to Hannah in this pic. Look at that awesome ice cream sundae they brought her!
Daddy and Logan


Here is the family at Red Robin. We feel so bad that Bethany had to miss out on Hannah's celebration. She was on her third day of being flat in bed, sick with the flu. : (

Ward Halloween Party

Everybody hanging out at the car for "Trunk or Treat". It was a lot of fun this year. Bethany and Caleb (her construction worker friend) went on to the youth dance after handing out the candy.
Xander loved pushing Logan around in his stroller.
Here is my adorable nephew, Xander. His costume was hilarious...as you can see, he was dressed as Michael Phelps. The words "Phelps" is on the back of his suit and swim cap. I LOVE the rolls.
This is what Logan thought of it all. He just zonked out for most of the night. He was supposed to be a little puppy, but we only made it to painting the nose on. His costume remained in the diaper bag. : (
Meow! Hannah our little kitty-cat

Nathan, our hippie-boy

Oh ya, McCain and Palin have our Vote!!

We had our ward Halloween party on Saturday night, and Alan went as McCain and Bethany went as Sarah Palin. I think they really pulled it off!

Happy 17th Birthday Bethany!

Happy Birthday Bethany! 17 never looked so good!!!
Shanyn and Tracy had to go out of town the next day, so we were able to watch Callie. Isn't she cute??? Okay, cute and HUGE.
We went back to the house for Bethany's favorite...apple pie and cookie dough ice cream. I'm so glad that Shanyn and Tracy and Xander could come.
Hannah, Bethany and Nathan at the restaurant. We couldn't get Logan in there...he was pretty cranky and just wanted to be held and walked around.
It's tradition to go out to eat at a restaurant chosen by the birthday girl (or boy). Bethany loves Macaroni Grill. Shanyn and Tracy and Xander were able to join us...they always make it so much fun. Bethany asked if I would PLEASE not ask the waiter to sing for her birthday. Tracy picked up on it and asked himself. The lady singing did a beautiful job. It was a lot of fun!
Bethany turned 17 on October 21st! It is so hard to believe that our little girl is really growing up...so fast. Here she is with some beautiful flowers that her friend gave her.

I got tagged!

I was tagged! Six weird and random things about me!

The rules are:

* Link to the person who tagged you (MB)
* Post the rules on your blog
* Write six random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself
* Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them
* Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
* Let the tagger know when your entry is posted

So, here they are...

1. I always have to sleep with one foot out from under the covers.
2. I don't like uneven numbers...esp. 3, 9 and 13. Seven doesn't count.
3. I air play piano music, or air type out words when people are speaking in church.
4. I can never fall asleep in a movie.
5. I ALWAYS read a magazine from back to front. I have no idea why I do this, but I always have.
6. I won't wear fingernail polish because it will never stick to my nails.


I tag


Shanyn
Jennifer
Pat
Collette
Megan
Harmony

Logan is sitting up!

Logan has been sitting up now for about 3 or 4 weeks. We still try to keep a pillow around him in case he decides to flip back. It is so hard to believe he is six months now! He had his six month check up on Sep. 25th. He weighed 20 lbs. and was 28 inches long! Yup, he's a big boy. He is also sitting up in his new high chair and eating solids now. He loves sweet potatoes! Okay, so he has only had sweet potatoes so far. Hopefully he will like the rest of it.

Time is just going by too fast.

Bethany's last day at work at the Wet Zone

Well, I actually had photo's of her on her FIRST day of work, but "someone" deleted them from my camera, sooooo...here she is on her last day. Notice how thrilled she is to be finally done with flipping burgers, making snow cones and Nacho's and filling water balloons in the Texas heat. It was a great first job for her and she may even go back next year since the pay is a couple of bucks more than most summer jobs.

Hannah's Harp

I can't begin to explain how excited Hannah was to have the opportunity to play the harp. This has been her dream for a long time. We didn't think she got into the program, but several weeks into school, we got a call explaining that one of the harpist dropped out. She was elated and told us this was the only thing she wanted for her birthday (well, she wants a webkinz, too). It is taking a real leap of faith for us financially. We think it will be worth it in the long run because she really loves it, and according to her harp teacher, she was able to catch up with the other two girls within a week!

Brother bonding time

Nathan and Logan

Bethany's letterman jacket

Awwww. The long awaited letterman jacket has finally arrived. She was so excited to get this jacket for golf. The school "pays" for the jacket, while the student forks over the money for the patches. $170 later, she has the jacket of her dreams. Now if only Texas would cool down enough for her to be able to wear it!

Faux action golf shot

Notice where the ball is.

Bethany beating the boys off with her clubs.

I just picked up Bethany from a golf tournament yesterday and just wanted to take some pics of her before she put all of her stuff away. She really enjoys being on the golf team. This is her third year.

Look at that baby face!!

Those are some kissable cheeks. Just love this baby!!!