Olivia's 3rd Birthday

 HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!!!  Lance had the day off so already we were off to a good start!  Our day started off with pancakes and her new Strawberry Shortcake movie that mommy and daddy gave her at her party while Tyson took a nap.  Then it was off to McDonald's play place for lunch, Liv is funny, she always wants to go to the play place, but she doesn't actually go up in the tubes and down the slides. 

 After Lunch it was on to Hogle Zoo as per her request...The weather was pretty cold and overcast when we got there, like 50 degrees, but it warmed up a little as the sun came out. I think Liv was most excited to see the Giraffes, she wanted to move on so we could go see them. 

 Lance and I thought that even though it was a little cold, it was a good day at the zoo, not really crowded and most of the animals were out and about in the cooler weather.

 Cute Little Stinker, he was really a good boy!  Such a good sport in the cold.

 Seals and Sea Lions.  This is really a great exhibit!  So neat!

 Yay!   The Polar Bear came out just as we got there and Liv was really excited.

 Bears.

 finally made it to the Giraffes.  They were all outside when we walked over there then they all went inside, so we got to see them all and up close.  Olivia loved the little baby one.

 Lynx Cat

 I'm sorry for whoever believes in evolution, but there is just no way that we evolved from monkey's...Look at these things! 

So goofy! and his friends were eating paper.  And last time we were at the zoo we watched the gorilla poop in his hand and eat it...Yummy.  Lastly we went to the gift shop where Daddy bought Liv and Tys a toy.  Liv picked a white tiger stuffed animal, later named Trigger, (Stripped Tiger) and Tyson a little weasel wobble thing that was attached to a ball that he could chase around. Thanks Daddy! Liv was cute, she said Thanks mom and dad for taking me to the zoo. Such a Sweety.

After the Zoo we went to Honey and Poppy's and played on the swings and slide, then off to dinner, California Pizza Kitchen.  Honestly dinner was a little bit of a disaster. We had an interesting waiter, I'm pretty sure he didn't know what he was doing...He couldn't stop talking and then it was just one thing after another, two hours later, we finally left the restaurant.  First my mom spilled her water all over the table and straight into my lap.  Later I took liv to the bathroom and that was a bathroom drama that last about 15 minutes.  She didn't want me in the stall with her or have my help.  She needed to go potty more, but wouldn't sit back on the potty, then she didn't want to leave the bathroom. meanwhile her ice cream sundae is out on the table and the candle is about out.  Then when we get her out of the bathroom, on her first bite she spilled her ice cream all over herself.  It was so cute because she was so sad.  Lance laughed later that that was a 3 generation spillfest!  

We did have a funny moment though.  We saw Nicole and Weston Maughn come in and I tried to call her phone to tell her someone was watching them and freak them out but they didn't answer so we had our waiter go over and say, "Just so you know someone it watching you right now." and then he walked off, we were at the back of the restaurant so they couldn't see us right away but it was funny to watch them be so confused.   Finally they saw us because we were all laughing so hard.

At the end of the day, we had one more present for Liv, play dough ice cream maker, so she played with that and we got ready for bed. It's amazing for how tired she gets during the day, she sure goes to bed late.  But overall, it was a great day! 

Liv's Birthday Party

 Saturday April 20th, The morning started with Liv and Tyson snuggling after breakfast and then I went with my brothers and mom to pick out the headstone for my dad then back to Honey and Poppy's house to decorate and set up for Olivia's 3rd Birthday party, we had a Care Bear themed Party for her.

 We had a cake and ice cream bar and played a few games like Shark attack, this is like musical chairs except that the kids run around a blanket to music and who ever sits down on the blanket last is the new shark.  Then we had the kids color their own Belly badges like the care bears have on their tummies.

 Liv started loving Care Bears when we rented a Care Bear movie from the library.  She was hooked

 This theme has been in my mind for about 2 months now so I have had plenty of time to make these fun decorations.  Party planning and crafts like these are my favorite!

 

  Rainbow Cake with buttercream frosting: 6 different colors, Fun!

 

 

  

 

 Both of Honey's pairs of glasses were broken so these are the ones that were left...Love it!

 Liv and her new Share Bear

 Handmade Share Bear, She is Liv's favorite Bear

 Mommy and Liv

 Care Bear Belly Badges

 Daddy and Liv dancing to Disney music before the guests arrive.

April 8th 2013

  My dad has been diagnosed with ALS since January of 2012 and was still working and well until May of 2012, Starting with annoying twitches all over his body and losing lots of weight from muscle loss and strict diets, then slowly we watched as he lost the mobility in his legs, then his arms, and hands.  Then needing to have a breathing machine a little at first to breathing on it constantly.  As of late the twitches have moved to his neck and face and even talking and swallowing have become difficult tasks. My mom and dad have tried everything under the sun to try and beat this disease including diets, vitamins, medicines, HGH shots and even stem cell therapy in Mexico, but to no avail...the inevitable would come and sooner than all of us expected....Today was a normal day where we do laundry, play and call Honey and Poppy's house to see how they are and what they are doing.  my dad was having a hard time getting some flem out of his throat so they were going to have the nurse come over to help...to me everything seemed ok...Later my mom called and requested my brothers and I to come over that night to be with my dad and discuss the options of a tracheotomy.

We all got there about 7 and it was not looking good, my mom was in tears and they both looked so tired. Little did we know that we were not going to discuss the option of the tracheotomy...my dad had already made the decision and it was that he couldn't fight this fight anymore. We all went in their room with the question as to where this evening would go, not really knowing at the moment.  We all sat around my dad (Bobby via Skype on the computer) in his bed as he tried, with a very faint voice and little strength to talk to us, he said only 4 things that were clearly audible to us... "I am in pain..."  , "I can't do this anymore."   Then as we realized what was actually going to take place tonight we all told my dad how much we loved him and what an amazing example he is and the great fight he has fought was among the most valient of the Lord's children.  The next thing he said to us was this, " I will always be with you."  This of coarse caused all of us to break down and have difficulty trying to talk anymore.  My cousin Teresa(who is a great surgeon) was there to administer morphene to calm his body. She did so and as we watched his body and face slowly get more relaxed he then said the next and last thing to us... Barley audible and in two long breathes he said, "What's next?"  My mom took it literal and said she was going to kiss and hug him.  In one light I think his technical mind wanted to know what was going to happen so as to avoid as much panic as possible and in the other light, I think that he was so close to the veil that he wasn't talking to us anymore, like he was saying, Okay I have completed this task that you have asked of me, now what is my next task. 
The next moments seemed so long but we all stayed by his side and reassured him that we were all there and he was okay.  We watched as the color left his face and eyes, I held his hand tighter and baried my head in his legs because that was the ultimate in pain to watch him breathe his last breathes. It was only a few minutes later that Teresa checked his pulse and we took his breathing machine off.  Only a few short seconds later, Coby said, "He's free," and at that same moment I heard my dad say to me, "Don't cry, I love you."
 This is one of those moments in life, that I don't want to remember but I never want to forget. It is amazing and so special that in the roughest and worst moments like these you feel the closest to people. My mom held my dad as my brothers and I all held a group hug tightly together. How many people have the opportunity to sit my the bedside of someone they love so much and tell them how much they love them until the very end?  I left my mom and dads house within the hour because I needed to get home to feed Tyson, When I walked in Liv, Tyson and Lance were all awake in the living room watching a movie, I turned the lights off so that Liv couldn't see that I had been crying.  When lance looked over at me as I set my purse down, I mouthed the words, "He's gone." Lance was shocked, having no idea that the visit tonight would be the last.  We embraced for as long as we could before Liv could tell thought anything was wrong.  Lance took her to bed, I took Tyson to bed and then we gathered together to embrace and cry as I told Lance how the night had gone.

The next day to follow came with more tears, baggy eyes and crying headaches.  Lots of calls were made and messages sent out, but the love from family and friends came pouring in.  We arranged funeral plans, my brothers doing most of the work, and gathered pictures, and my mom wrote the obituary.  The viewing came Friday night and Saturday morning followed by the funeral service at Noon. We figured we had about 600 people attend in total. My brothers and I all spoke and so did Uncle Paul.  We also have two songs "I Believe" Sung by all the girls in the family and "Brightly Beams our Fathers Mercy " Sung by all the boys in the family.  It really was a great tribute to my dad!

Fashion show- April 4th

 Our cute neighbor and babysitter that has known liv since she was a baby is in advanced sewing class at Alta High school and needed a model to make an outfit for.  She measured Liv and made this adorable dress and shirt combo. Then we came to Alta at 9:30 am for a fashion show.  Liv was so cute, she was posing and waving and when she did the walk on the tables, she blew a kiss at the end.

 Liv loves Bailey...here she is playing with her hair waiting to go on.

 Posing and Twirling.

At the end there was cookie refreshments to share.  I gave one to Tyson and let him suck on it for a little bit but as soon as it looked like it was going to break apart I took it from him to give him small pieces and his lip curled out and he started this dramatic sob that was almost silent.  He is just like his mommy, don't take our cookies away or we will be sad.

Camera Happy

 Today after Tyson woke up from his nap Liv poked her head in over his crib and was talking to him and making him giggle.  Then she wanted to get in his bed with him so I turned on the light and somehow this led to both of them snuggling on the chair and being great posers for the camera.  I love these pictures, they show so much of their personality!

 Liv thought it would be fun to test Tyson's new tooth on her finger...she soon found out it was sharp!

 He is such a happy boy! 

 Silly Liv! What a sweetheart

Easter

 First the Easter egg hunt and finding our baskets that the Bunny left for the kids at Honey and Poppy's house.  Another adorable outfit, lipgloss, nail polish, a little chick that peeps and candy. Even the Adults got a bag to share...we got yummy chocolates and toffee and fun individual door mats.  Thanks Honey Bunny! 

 Of coarse...the classic egg toss game...Liv did pretty good and lance and I won the adult egg toss!!

 Cute Honey and Cute Tyson in their spring stripes!

The kids have so much fun playing together! So grateful for cousins that are close!  Bob and Sara, wish you were closer, so we could see you all the time!

Easter Morning-March 31st 2013

 Olivia and Tyson made out with some great stuff from the Easter Bunny...Liv got a Dic Mcstuffins doctor bag, a Care Bear Movie, a cute outfit and some candy and treats. Tyson got a hammer and nail toy, an outfit and lots of yummy snacks and teething cookies. Thanks Easter Bunny!

 Liv was so excited to break out her Doctor stuff, first she checked Daddy and then she was especially excited to check Poppy and take his heart beat.  She has been at their house a few times when the nurse is there and Liv always asks to have her heart beat checked so she was really excited to get to be the doctor.

 Olivia is so sweet to Poppy, whenever he needs to lean forward in his chair she'll go stand right by him and hold his back so he doesn't fall backwards.  She loves her Poppy!