Meem took all of us girls to the Nutcracker with Grandma P. and Aunt Marsha and her girls. We met at Marsha's for dinner before and then all 17 of us girls headed over. Meg had been before but it was Ava's and Vea's first time and they did great! We followed it up with drinks at Marsha's. It was a such a fun night with all the girls.
I was geared up to do The Color Run in Salt Lake and take my girls. Unfortunately Lance had to work the race so as usual its just the "sister wives" and all the kiddos. We definitely needed to go in full gear and I was excited to see what really happens since I am always in the store and have not seen any of the action. It was a very early morning and everyone did pretty well. We let the kids ride scooters and had 4 crashes out of the 8 kids with only 1 lost Alex! Pretty good I'd say! I think the kids really liked it but they were sad they didn't get to go up on stage. They all loved the mess and doing snow angels in the color zones. For us it was a lot of fun but also a lot of work to make sure all the kids were roped in. It was like herding cattle mostly. Next year I think we may have to do a just adults and some of the big big kids!
What I loved most about this was that my clan was there. I have such an amazing family and friends and I love that they came to support Lance and I. I really have a team of backup at all times and I just Love them!
Christmas came and went to quickly this year. There was so many things going on with a new baby, Lance having back surgery and my mom moving out that it all was smashed together. We managed to get it all done and it turned out to be a fabulous Christmas. We spent Christmas eve at mom's new house for the 1st time. We had spaghetti, let the girls decorate gingerbread men, open a few presents and played Awkward Family Photos.
I believe that Santa came through for the girls. Meg was so excited to get Makenna and her Lalaloopsy. Ava was thrilled for her itouch and guitar. We spent Christmas morning breakfast with Lances family at Marchelle's house. Then back to my moms for presents and off to Desiree and Bob's for dinner.
Jenn and Kev got here about noon on Christmas day and spent the week here. We ate a ton, played lots of cards and even got a girls day of shopping. I am thankful its over and ready for summer!
I guess it was bound to happen at some point but I still wasn't ready for it! My momma moved out. She has been here the last couple of years and it was truly a blessing in so many ways. It was very much meant to be that she would be here when we lost my dad. I am very sure of that and she could have stayed forever! It was just as nice for her to be here for us as I hope it was for her. She kept saying that she cant live with her daughter forever, are you sure??? I struggle with the changing of the basement and knowing that the scene will not be what it was the day my day died. I know this may be a good thing but it kind of makes it all so final for me. I think of that day often and I know its not erasing any memories by her leaving, it's making it feel like the next chapter and that is a bit weird I also worry about her being home alone. Not for scary reasons but for her sitting at home by herself, even though that rarely happens. I know she is a big girl and she is really going to be great! It's just going to take some adjusting.
I am very excited for her to be in her new house and it couldn't be any more perfect for her. It is so darling and best of all just down the road! I will definitely miss "keeping track of her" and lots of late nights with cocktails, make overs, movies and everything else. My mom is like no other and is just amazing! I hope to be so much like her one day! XOXOXOXOXO
I think we have started a tradition of bowling on dad's birthday. This is the second time we have done this and it's so fun to get together with everyone and celebrate his day, doing something that he really liked to do.
It is still so so hard to get your heart to understand that he is gone. So often I find myself taking to his pictures as I pass them or throughout the day hoping he is listening. It is also really difficult to make so many decisions without his guidance and to watch my family do the same. He really was the glue to hold everything in place and I think we are all learning to adjust to what is now suppose to be normal. We think of you everyday and miss you so much!
My mom, Kee, Jenn and I threw Meagan a little man shower. It turned out so so darling thanks to our "creative director" Kee. It really couldn't have been any cuter. We didn't play any games but instead we had everyone pick out of the pile a onsie or bib and pick what they wanted to iron onto them. It was perfect to help with interaction and give everyone something to do, plus Meagan gets to take them all home. We also made milk bottles filled with taffy and mustache stickers on them as party favors and everyone was asked to bring a book instead of a card to start his book collection. Such a great idea! She had a really good turn out and got a lot of fabulous things. We are finally getting a boy in this overloaded girl family! I am super excited for Gage and Meagan and to meet this new little boy!
Halloween came and went super fast this year but we did manage to get in a little bit of fun. The girls knew very early what they wanted to be so it was nice to have costumes purchased and not scrambling at the last minute. Sloany was to little so she snugged in her pj's. The girls got to go to Marilyn's Halloween party again this year. It is so great that she includes them in the festivities and they love it. Meg also got to wear her costume to a birthday party and for sure we take a day to hit Cornbelly's. They keep making it better and better each year and I really like taking them there. They come home exhausted, filthy but with a fabulous painted face!
This year for Halloween we went to Shan's house for dinner and then headed to a neighborhood near by that Shan and Haley had loved the year before. It was fun to have everyone together but hard to keep track of them all being our group was so big. It was such a nice night and didn't get cold till the sun went down. The kids were without coats most of the time. Sloany was perfect and just enjoyed the ride.
What's Halloween without an adult party?! Lance and I had decided to be gnomes this year. It was a nightmare to track what we wanted down but I got them ordered. By Friday night neither of them had arrived. I was so upset!! They were awesome! So we had to go into improvise mode. Luckily Gina had a few back ups for me and Lance hit up Taylor Made. Shan Clint, Haley and Gabe killed it with their Neapolitan costumes! Everyone really looked fabulous and it was a great time. I love to get together with everyone. Especially if it involves cards or Just Dance!
I cannot believe that we made it through one whole year without my Dad, through so many 1st's without him. As time goes on I don't miss him any less or come to terms with it any more than you did the day he left. I just think that you learn to deal with the new normal. There is not a day I don't think about him. Every time I wake up in the middle of the night I wait and listen, he is the first thing that pops into my head. When I get up to go to the bathroom late night I look to see if he's in the hallway, maybe watching the girls. When I am up really early getting ready to go to the gym and rolling I always hope for him to be in the stairway to my mom. I can't look into that stairway and think of anything else than that morning. I miss him, we all do so much! The girls still talk of him often! I love that and want us all to continue. They are young and I want them to hold onto as much memory of him as they can. We love you DAD!!!
Saturday night we met for enchiladas and to color eggs. We were definitely lacking quite a few of our clan but we still had a great time.
This year I felt completely unprepared for Easter. I think there has been way to much going on that I cannot get it all done as I would normally like. Meggy got up about 6:30 and I made her get in bed with me till 7:30 when Ava got up. After seeing what the Easter Bunny brought the girls we spent the morning blowing bubbles, playing with chalk, eating our Sunday chocolate doughnuts but no coupons to go with them and reading. It was a very mellow morning! Even though we missed Lance being here it still turned out great and the girls were very excited that the Easter bunny came.
On Sunday the family came over for Easter linner about 3. Followed with egg hunting, prizes, strawberry shortcake and lots of treats. It was a really good Easter!
Last year my little family went on a road trip to Vegas, Cali and St. George for the holiday break and had such an amazing time that we wanted to do it again only this time the whole family came. We left on Christmas day and came home New Years Eve at 11:40 PM! The trip this year had many great times and many not so great times.
The girls absolutely love to go to Vegas and Cali, really anywhere and they are really good travelers. They were not ready to come home. The weather was really pretty good most of the time in Cali. We only got a brief stop in Vegas with Dan, Ade and the kids due to traffic and Lance not feeling well. I guess we need a re-do.
We spent a day at the Aquarium, shopping along the way, a day at the beach, way to much time at the candy and ice cream store. Ate lots of yummy food and really had a great time.
It is so nice of Jenn and Kev to accommodate us all. We have learned that 10 adults, 3 kids and a Jack staying together for 7 days is way to much for every ones patience levels. The girls I think are good with it but the boys struggle a bit. We have lots of strong personalities in our family combined with no one wanting to hurt any ones feelings and topped off with a bit of walking on eggshells. Sometimes the combo is a mess but sometimes it makes for a lot of fun and an even better family. I am hope that we are all growing and learning new things this year cause I love you all!
We had Christmas Eve at our house this year with half of my family and half of Lances family. It really turned out great! Tons of yummy food, treats, Wii and presents.
Tonight we carved pumpkins with the fam. I really don't love to carve pumpkins. I think it is one of those things you do cause you are suppose to and the kids love it.
We also wanted to say a big fat congrats to Gage for getting accepted to the fire academy and a surprise congrats to Kee and Ted. Is it possible for our family to make boys?!? We will soon see!
The whole fam headed to the State Fair this year. It has been a long time since we have been and it was super fun. We waited about 45 minutes to get the girls faces painted but I have never seen Ava be more patient. That is all they wanted to do. We loved the big slide, Navajo tacos, some of us loved the Super shot and for some reason we had to hit every card board cut out, stick your head through the hole to take a pic thing. Good times baby!
I could not be more blessed with the best mom and seesters. We had a great girls night out with only two things lacking, MEAGAN and more time! Shopping, dinner, make-up, to much smart cookie and lots of sex talk made up our night.
It is so nice when Jenn comes, of course cause we love and miss her but she makes us put the daily shit on hold and play lots. An area where I really struggle. So here is to the first of many girls nights out to come as the party season is just beginning! I LOVE YOU!!!
Amber and the boys stayed with us the week before the reunion. It is so different to have boys in my normally quiet household but I loved it and the girls did too. We did a TON of swimming, biking, eating and lots of playing outside. It was so fun to have them here and to squeeze baby Rome.
The weeks family reunion was a weekend get away to Pine view this year. For as big as the family is, it was a great spot for everyone to be able to fit. We did lots of jumping on the tramp, canoeing and falling in the disgusting lake, eating, games and some great classes. Lance and I even got in a bike ride. We don't get to see Lances big family very often so it was fun to catch up with everyone.
