Happy Birthday Nana!!

Happy birthday to our Nana!

We love you so big!

You are a warrior, a survivor, a feisty little thing...

Your grandbabies love you so much!!

Your kids love you so much!!
We hope you have the best day EVER!

Temple Day

Saturday morning, Jackson and Kaydon met Nana and Pops at the Bountiful Temple. Pops had 40 family names for them to do. They got through 28.

For the first time, Jackson was able to perform all of the baptisms. He described it as very emotional and something that he wishes he could do every single day.

They told me of a long wait, not knowing why it was so long. They told me that the lady at the desk stood to tell them that the wait was due to a father, dying from cancer. His son had just turned 12. The father wanted to participate in baptisms for the dead with his worthy son before he passed through the veil. Jackson asked that they take as long as needed. Jackson said it was very emotional to hear her tell them of something so sacred and so important between a dying father and his 12 year old son.

Jackson is ready. He is ready to be a worthy and honorable Melchezidek Priesthood holder. He is ready to serve a full-time mission to wherever he is called. He is ready.

Kaydon is beyond excited to be ready. He is following in his brother's footsteps and is the greatest example to our family of worthiness, consistency and honoring the Priesthood which he holds.

Nana Update

Nana had her second round, of three, of chemo yesterday. She is so amazing! Her bone pain and neuropathy have been rough, but she remains so courageous and so happy despite the challenges that are monumental! She is so eager to go back to work soon. May 1st is the goal date for her to go back to her job.

Pops continues to be such an amazing partner to Nana. He is so good to her. He always makes sure she is comfortable and laughing. Any chance he gets, he makes sure she is laughing. He continues to go and teach Nursery every Sunday, while she rests. She hasn't missed any of her appointments and just takes such good care of her!

We love her so much!! We are so proud of her!!

Nana's Having a Birthday

Nana is having a birthday tomorrow! She is going to be 61! How cute is that head of hair of hers?!?!

I knew that I had to get her a Vera Bradley bag. I love the one that B Beck gave me SO much that I haven't used anything else since I got it. Mama loved it and so I got her one that looks almost just like mine. When I showed it to her, she was SO excited. It made my whole week!

We had dinner, Jackson bought a cake, and we loved on her. She is perfection. Seriously. She is perfection!!

Happy birthday to this mama of mine and nana of my boys!!!!!

Kicking Cancer's Arce

Yesterday was the day that the surgeon went in and took out the rest of that cancer. Miracles happen. Know why? The only thing the surgeon had to take out was that ovary. No bowel. No other organs. That bowel had cancer in it. Not now. Nana has four holes in her tummy. Nothing but a thing that is. The boys and I drove down yesterday and loved on that Nana. She won't remember it, but we don't care. We have pictures. Pops was right... we should have audio recorded what she was saying because it was priceless. She LOVED cranberry juice yesterday. Colton is a good boy. Who is Eric? How are P and Rock? Who is Jackson's new girlfriend? Kaydon is handsome. Pops has great ideas. It's weird that Braxton isn't the one in the hospital. She is tired of the bed. She wants a shake, except she throws them up so not today.

Oh, how we love this badass?!!!!!!!

Ninjas

Yesterday morning, I was SUPER excited. We were going to active shooter training and I was stoked. I was so prepared to be a ninja and I could not contain my excitement. Fast forward four hours and we arrived at the building. I immediately wanted to go home. I did NOT want to be there. P was there. Rock was there. X-man was there. I had my guys who would never let anything bad happen to me but I wanted OUT. It was intense. It was a four hour ordeal. We went through classroom training. Then we went through four different situations. The first was the "fight" part. If the offender is within 21 feet of you - you need to prepare to engage. I didn't like this part. I mean, I love kicking people and punching and kneeing. But, the thought of engaging someone with a knife or a gun who is intent on killing you was not my idea of fun. Then, we went to the negotiate part - the talk the person down part. Screw that! I'm not going to talk to someone nicely who wants to kill me!! Then, we went to the active shooter (and they used guns - with blanks - but guns!) part. It was an office building set up. They had us walking through and then they shot that damn gun. I was out! I mean like - run Forest run - OUT. I ran and didn't stop. Others barricaded themselves in. Some hid. I just ran like a bat-crap-crazy woman! Finally, we assessed the day and went home. I was traumatized. I am not a ninja. I am a runner.

You know who is a ninja, though? This beauty right here:

Nauvoo & Some Nana Lovin'

Last night, we drove down to Sandy to have dinner with Pops and Nana. I tried to think of something that would boost her spirits. Who doesn't want a foot rub?! Nana got a foot massage and a fresh coat of bright pink polish. She just relaxed. It made me happy to be taking care of her for a few moments. She is doing so well! Her bone pain and neuropathy are under control with meds. She hasn't vomited yet. She still has most of her hair, although it will be coming out soon. She smiles and sleeps. That's all we expect of her!

Saturday night, the children and I went to Old Nauvoo. It was our ward Christmas party and it was done SO well! We took a couple of neighbor kids with us, because we really seem to not go any place without extra kiddos. The boys were SO embarrassed by my outfit, but I was on point! Once we got there, they realized they were the ones who were out of place! I rocked that dress like nobody's business!

My Trip

Mom picked me up from work on Friday and we drove up to Idaho Falls. It was a lovely drive. We stopped at Burger King to get a burger and fries and just kept on driving. We could not wait to get to Aunt Lois' house to love on her.

We sat and visited and visited and just relaxed until it was dark outside and the cool Idaho Falls breeze was blowing through the open windows. Mom and I went downstairs and got into our beds and went to sleep. I woke up around 10 on Saturday morning. Whoops! I went upstairs and Aunt Lois made French toast with homemade bread (that she made that morning), sausage, fruit, milk (in a glass pitcher), and all of her best dishes. The French toast could either be eaten with homemade rhubarb jam, homemade raspberry syrup, or homemade maple syrup. After breakfast, my mom's cousin came to visit. We were still in our jammies!!! Mom and I needed a nap after that!!! When we woke up, we went out to the "chair room." It's a gorgeous covered patio with all sorts of collected seating. There are hanging chairs, rockers, a church pew, a homemade wooden bench, a homemade picnic table, and more. The wind blows through there and the wind chimes sing and sing. I colored and chatted with my mama and my sweet aunt.

My Aunt Lois is 90 years old. She does EVERYTHING on her own. Her impeccable yard, her impeccable home, driving, walking, shopping - everything. She amazes me. She is beautiful, sharp, active, hilarious, so kind, the best cook, a master quilter, a reader, an organ player, a friend, neighbor, hostess. She is everything I want to be when I grow up! She climbs up onto her back cinderblock wall and crawls along the top to trim vines. True story.

Saturday night, she made a chicken thigh meal that was to die for. Seriously. After dinner, she took me downstairs to her storage room where she has pounds and pounds of all kinds of chocolate. (She makes chocolates and dips chocolates and on and on) We cut up a bunch of pieces and took them upstairs to taste test. Oh. My. Gosh.

On Sunday, we got up and went to church. It was "her turn to drive," so we picked up her little widow friends. They are too cute for words! She helps them into church. So cute. After church, I went back out to my chair room and listened to the chimes. She made another seven-course meal that was so yummy that I couldn't stop eating.

I did not want to leave her and she didn't want us to leave! My boys needed me and I needed to be back with them. Jackson said that going to Aunt Lois' without them was the meanest thing I could do as a mother. I will take them up there soon so that they can love on her too.

I am SO blessed to have my Aunt Lois. Mom and I need to do more girl weekends, too. This is the first one in about 21 years. We have to do that more often! I loved every minute of my time with her and my time with my sweet aunt.

Road Trip to Sandy - Nana's Birthday

On Sunday, the boys and I went on a little road trip to Sandy to take Nana an ice cream cake for her 60th birthday.

Jackson's best friend for years, Dalton, found out that we were just down the street for a couple of hours and came RUNNING to the house to see us. I love that boy. They were so stinking excited to see each other.

We sang to Nana and then headed back home to a beautiful sunset.

Happy birthday, Nana! We love you!!

Muffins & Moms (or Nanas)

This morning, Colton's school had Moms and Muffins. He told me last night. I had a meeting this morning. I was scrambling to find a mom to go with him since his mom is a failure! Aunt Carrie had to work. Grandma Leanne had to work. Nana pulled through! She drove all the way up from Sandy so that Colton wasn't alone! I am so thankful that Colton was not alone at this activity!! We love our Nana!

Nana Visits & Warriors

On Saturday morning, Nana drove up to bring us 14 pints of homemade honey from Lovell, Wyoming AND to bring Little Miss her new cape. Nana gave Kaydon a cape a few years ago and he still wears it often, as he pretends to be a warrior who is saving the world. Gosh, I love that kid! Brooklyn likes to "train" with Kaydon. Brooklyn can't adequately train with Kaydon without a cape. Duh! So, Brooklyn has been begging Nana to make her a cape. Saturday, Nana brought her the cape. Brooklyn and Kaydon "trained" for the rest of the day. She came in and told me that she had made it to "knighthood." Becoming a warrior takes a little more practice! ;)