Cousins

The Flu

I had the lucky privilege of getting the stomach flu this week! It hit me in the middle night and I basically stayed in the bed from Wednesday to Friday! I had hoped that since the kids had the flu shots (at least I thought they did) that I would only be the one to suffer.

Nope.

The throwing up and diarrhea started Friday night with Logan. And then just a few short hours later Zoey joined the fun.

We were up with Zoey all night catching her throw up in a bucket. She slept on towels in between us in bed. It was a smelly and long night.

The both of them were in good spirits on Sunday. Luckily it was Conference weekend and we were staying home to listen anyway. We changed so many diapers and it seems like everything smelt of vomit.

It was just one of those weekends that one day I will look back and laugh about. It was so miserable going through it and watching them go through it.

Jake escaped it for the most part except for one  day of stomach cramps and throwing up once. I got the worse of it, putting me in bed for almost 3 days. I lost 5 pounds in 3 days from being so dehydrated and not being able to eat anything. I was miserable but still pretty excited about the weight loss, until I gained it all back within a matter of days once I started on regular foods and liquids again. Bummer.

I've never had the flu before. I even tried to go in for my sub job, but after barely being able to drive there and having chills and cold sweats and a fever, I left and didn't get out of bed for 8 hrs.

I think next year I will get everyone the flu shot!

Easter in Pleasant Grove

 We had a perfect Easter week in Pleasant Grove! My parents came out from NY with Charly and we got lots of family time!

They came on Thursday night, and we all met in Salt Lake including Bry, Kristie and Will at Costa Vida (or Cost-a Vida as my mom calls it). We ate and tried to have some convo but the kids were running around like crazy, so we ended up at McDonald's play place. The kids ran around and we got to relax a little.

Saturday we started out the day attempting an easter egg hunt at Thanksgiving Point. It was so expensive and so crowded. After we paid we walked in to hear there was a forever long wait just for the egg hunt. We turned around and got our money back and decided to find something else. We found Hee Haw Farms right in Pleasant Grove. Although we missed the egg hunt, they had tons for the kids to do and on a smaller scale that they were more free to run around. They had a huge slide with potato sacks, a fenced in petting zoo with baby animals out for the kids to chase and pet and kiss and feed. We did the facepainting and the tractor ride, and the pony ride. It was a darling little place! I can't wait to bring Zoey and Logan back again!

Saturday night we did a camp fire with Jake's family up in the canyon. Bry came down and met us after work.  It was a lot colder than expected, but I always love a fire and family.

Sunday we went to church! It was fun getting the kids Easter outfits this year. They always look so cute when they are all dressed up. After church we went up to Mt Timp temple to see the grounds and take some pictures. It was perfect weather and a perfect place to capture the cuteness of our little family. Oh, and Happy 30th Birthday Bry! So glad we got to spend so much time with you!!

Linda and Lloyd made an awesome Easter feast for us and then the kids did an Easter egg hunt in the back yard. Zoey and Logan caught on really fast to the excitement of candy in little eggs that they can have all to themselves! Zoey woke up in the morning wanting "Easter Eggs". Don't worry. We will make sure she understands the Atonement and the true meaning of Easter, but a two year old is only gonna remember the candy at the moment!

 Monday we headed up to Draper and got pictures of all the kids with my parents at FOTOFLY. Amazingly enough the kids actual sat, they actual smiled and they actually got a few shots.

From Draper we went north to meet up with David Jacobs and his family for dinner. I loved seeing David and Heather and their little ones. I can't believe Brody is 8 years old. Hayden is 6 and they have two little boys Logan's age.  Heather and I just chatted all night. I just love her. They are like family. Charly wasn't feeling well, but it didn't stop all the other kids from having a blast jumping off things and being silly!!

Tuesday me, mom and dad picked up Jake in Taylorsville at work and went to City Creek, the new mall in Salt Lake. It is gorgeous and so well done. We did a little shopping and got some lunch and sat outside in the awesome food court. I loved being with my parents and hubby! I rarely get them all to myself! We went to the temple with Linda and Lloyd and my parents and to JCW's for dinner. The boys then had a "meeting" and mom got to see Linda's best friend Sharron's Watermelon Apartment!

Wednesday my parents missed their flight, and came down to spend some time with us during the day. It was sad to say goodbye. I love having my family close by. Hopefully we can get them out here for good!!

Thanks for the great memories fam! It was a great Easter to add to many we've spent together.

Monster Jam 2012

It was Monster Truck rally weekend down in Vegas and we had a blast going down and having fun with family!

Jake, Jess and I headed down early so we could go to SUU to attend the Senior Expo for Jess. She is going there after graduation and it was fun to go and see the campus with her!

Before the expo started we stopped to get a little birthday present for me..... a Mustang Convertible car rental.

Except.... we got there and there was no convertible available! But....they said we could have any car on the lot and they gave us a hefty discount. You know me.... love a hefty discount!

So, we picked the Jeep Wrangler! Jake and I have been eyeing this car for a few months, so I was excited to get my hands on it!

We went to the Senior Expo and then headed down to St. George for some shopping! Of course on my birthday when I actually would allow myself to splurge on an outfit, I can't find a darn thing!! We stopped at Brick Oven and then headed back to Cedar City to stay with Jake's aunt and uncle.

Lloyd and Josh met us there and Saturday early afternoon we headed down to Vegas. We stopped to eat at a casino buffet (where I ate more in one sitting than I have in 8 months when I started dieting!) We also headed down the strip and took advantage of having the jeep tops down and the nice weather!!!

The Monster Jam was perfect. Perfect weather. Perfect entertainment. And a darn near perfect hot pretzel! The trucks were doing back flips, and double back flips, and catching on fire and all the good stuff to get you off your feet with excitement. Of course there were a million drunks and trashy people, but it's not a monster truck rally without them!

It was a great weekend and really fun way to spend my 28th bday! Thanks Linda for watching my babies so I could have a great weekend!!

A Little Bit Of Snow

We didn't see much snow this year! It was the most mild winter I can even remember. Before I left Baltimore we didn't get a single two hour delay or snow day! And once I got out here to Utah I saw snow maybe twice. Here are some pictures of the kids playing in a bit of snow. It was all melted by the next morning but at least we got some use out of our snow gear!

Zoey loves to eat the snow. She even shared some of it with Logan. Zoey loved being in the snow too. Logan isn't too thrilled with it, but he was happy to play on the pavement where there was no snow!

Losing Linkin

Unless you have had to opportunity to know the love and loyalty of a dog, then you really might not understand the sadness in losing them. We lost Linkin on Feb 29th. He was staying with my parents in NY while Jake and I figured out our living situation here in Utah.

My mom let Moose and Linkin out early one morning and minutes later my mom got a phone call. A woman was on the other end screaming and crying. She had hit Linkin with her car. My dad ran out of the house shirtless and shoeless. He carried back a lifeless Linkin back to the house. They tried to bless him and revive him, but he was already gone. He didn't seem hurt, but just looked like he was sleeping peacefully. My dad laid him on the bed and stayed by his side most of the day hoping he would wake up. He never did.

My mom had to tell me. We cried on the phone for a long time. I cried most of the day. Jake was really quiet. We loved Linkin so much. He was our first family member. It has been so hard living day to day without him. My parents loved him so much too. My mom said she has never seen my dad cry so hard. My dad and Linkin were the best of friends. I am so sad that my dad had to see that all happen.

Jake and I know that Linkin is in a good place. We hope he knows how much happiness he brought to us. We miss him every day. I often just break down thinking of him. I also smile a lot remembering how much fun he was. I think Jake misses him most of all. He mentions him daily. He says a piece of him is missing.

My parents are bringing Links ashes to Utah when they visit in a few weeks. I think he would have wanted his ashes to be sprinkled in the wind as we drive in our car with the windows down.

I have been wanting to make a "What We Love About Linkin" post for a long time. Long before he died, but sadly I am now only getting around to it. But, these are the things we loved about Linkin.

~ He rode on our shoulders in the car. One time he was so comfy he peed down Jake's back!

~ He often sat eagerly at the back door waiting to chase down the squirrels. After he would come back in, he would be ready for another chase in a minute or so.

~ When we let him out the back he would run the yard in diagonal lines to make sure he covered all his territory.

~ He barked at the neighbors in their own yard EVERYTIME! How dare they enjoy their own yards!

~ He watched TV. Any spotting of an animal would drive him wild with excitement! After a while he would coming running if the commercial jingle was snappy enough cause he thought it would be a dog food ad or something.

~ He always pulled on his leash. Always. Everytime.

~ He loved to lick empty tuna cans.

~ He would always cuddle into Jake legs at night.

~ At night I loved to cuddle Linkin in my arms. He hated this, so pretty soon when I called him to come and cuddle he would stand up, jump off the bed and hide under it. Somedays he couldn't escape my loving and I would drag him out from under the bed to kiss and love him!

~ If Jake and I were kissing, Linkin would come running from anywhere in the house. He always to get in on the kissing! This is also how we could trick him into cuddling with us!

~ When you walked through the front door Linkin would get so excited he would find a random shoe and take off running down the hall with it.

~ The second we got off the highway in NY near my parent's house, he would freak out cause he knew he was going to Grandma and Grandpa's house!!

~ Toby and Moose were his best dog friends!

~ He smelt soo good after a bath!

~ After a bath he would just run room to room rubbing his wet body all over the floor and furniture to try and dry off.

~ Linkin would have turned 4 this month.

Until we meet again Linkin. You will be in our thoughts! You were such an important part of our family. It will be hard to create memories without you! Thank you for loving us and bringing so much joy into our hearts!