10 Years Ago.....

It's hard to believe it has been 10 years since my brother Richard's horrible accident, but this is a day I am sure we will never forgot. The day his whole life turned upside down. I'll never forget the first time I saw him in the ICU after I had flown home from SLC to see him the day after it happened. It was pretty hard to see him like that - but boy does he look good now! Unfortunately he still gets sick and gets sores and is in bed more often than he would like but I am amazed at how far he has come. If it wasn't for people like my mom and his caretakers, his life would be even more of a struggle. My mom does so much for him and I'm so glad she still takes such good care of him after so many years of doing it. For those of you who don't know, Richard is an amazing artist and has a graphic arts company - and for someone who doesn't have full use of his hands- he does the most amazing art work. I do good to draw a stick figure and he draws every detail! So To-To we just want you to know how much we love you and how amazed we are with what you can do. I'm sure life sucks for you more often than not...but we are so happy you are around. Life wouldn't be the same if we didn't get to come visit Uncle To-To in Vegas! So here's to remembering a horrible day I'm sure you would like to forget - but I am sure glad you survived!!!

We Love You!!!!!

As long as they are sleeping....

There is nothing more rewarding to me than a sleeping child. They look so calm, peaceful, and even sweet...and then they wake up. Since Ryker has been quite the handful lately, I can honestly say I really am excited when he falls asleep. Sometimes it is in the oddest places, sometimes not for very long, and sometimes he's wearing sunglasses (he didn't take them off for two days), but the only thing that really matters is that he actually sleeping!!!! Don't get me wrong, I love my little Rykus, but oh the joy of a sleeping 3 year old.

Grammy & Grammpy Come To Visit!

We finally had a visit from my parents. They came to visit the weekend before Thanksgiving and we had so much fun with them. My kids just love having them here and of course I do too. Our fun filled weekend started with High School Musical on Ice. My kids are obsessed with this movie and I found tickets at the last minute. The seats turned out to be incredible - front row right on the ice! It was great, the kids loved seeing it and were signing along to all the songs. I was too, I couldn't help it, we only watch the movie 3 times a day! The boys did some 4-wheeling on Saturday just around our house so Grammpy could finally try his new 4-wheeler. Of course a visit isn't complete without Grammpy playing / teasing with the kids. He sure can make them wild! We went to dinner and the girls went to a movie. Then we had Riley's primary program on Sunday - she did and excellent job by the way! I'm sure my parents were ready to go home after all of the excitment - which included Ryker screaming his head of for 2 hours because he didn't want to eat his dinner - oh the joy of parenting! Thanks Mom & Dad for such a fun & exciting visit. We miss you and love you lots!

Sorry the pictures are kind of screwy but they wouldn't go where I wanted them. You get the point ...right?

Happy Halloween!!!

We had such a fun Halloween. It all started with a trip to Riley's school to watch the Halloween parade and then I got to stay and help in her class for her party. It was actually a lot of fun - but I defenitely don't think I could be a kindergarten teacher. We then got a visit from Grandpa Howard & Grandma Betty to see the cute kids in their costumes. Finally it was time for trick-or-treating. Grandma & Grandpa stopprd by after to see us and then we went to a neighbors house for chili and treats after all the candy collecting. The weather was perfect - not as warm as Vegas, but at least it wasn't snowing or raining. I really do love Halloween - but we must move on to the next holiday and all the festivities!

The Pumpkin Patch

Fall isn't complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch. There is a pumpkin patch just down the street from our house that we go to every year and we got lucky and it was a beautiful day for pumpkin picking!

This is our Haunted Halloween House. Lots of fun and lots of mess!

Pink Punk Rocker

So Riley went to a "make-over" birthday party a little while ago and this is how she came home. Pink hair, with purple glitter, purple eye shadow and mascara, face painted, pedicure, manicure, she got the works! The only problem was we had to go shopping that afternoon and people sure like to stare at a 5yr. old with pink hair. It was also raining and we had pink hair color on everything! (Sorry about your jacket Lynz - did it ever come out?) Riley has never had so much fun at a party. She is definetly a girly girl!

Trip to the Zoo!

We finally got to the Zoo and just in time - it snowed the next day!

Ryker's Birthday Party!!

It took me awhile to post these, but we had Ryker's 3rd birthday last week. it was total chaos, but we had tons of fun with lots of little kids and parents everywhere. I can't believe how old Ryker is - time flies when you are having fun - I am having fun right?

Labor Day Fun!

We went to Park City and rode the coaster (it's like the alpine slide but its more like a roller coaster). Riley and I waited for 1 1/2 hours - I still haven't decided if it was worth the wait or not, but it was fun! Then we had to do the bouncy park and they had a blast. We ended our day with Jason's softball game, and by the time we got home we were all pretty worn out! It sure is fun to do stuff together as a family - I love it when my kids have fun and are happy!

BIG BOY!!!

Ryker says good-bye to his binkies and hello to a new skateboard. My little boy is growing up. He is turning three on Sept.9 - and isn't waisting any time. For anyone who knows Ryker, you know his great love for his binkies or his "Dee's" as he calls them. Well there were 3 left on his binkie holder and they got lost Saturday morning. After looking forever - Jason told him he could finally get a skateboard because he had no more "Dee's". So we went to the store and bought a skateboard. (We have been telling him for months that if he got rid of his binkies he could have a skateboard). He got rid of them on accident - we found them later and hid them again and told him the Binkie fairy has them. He has done so well - I can't believe it. He only asks for them when he gets tired and we have had a few moments when he tells us he doesn't want the skateboard anymore and he wants his "Dee's". We are going on 4 days now!

I took the picture of his binkie collection so we could remember them - but I just couldn't get myself to throw them away. They're in hiding! He has also been wearing his big boy underwear with very few accidents and went to nursery with no tears this week. Trust me these are huge accomplishments! My cute little boy is growing up!!!

Ryker and his new skateboard

Tagged - The 4's

I thought I was going to get out of doing this because everyone had done it before I started my blog, but I guess I wasn't that lucky! So here it is:


4 Jobs I've had
1. Mom
2. Surgical Tech in the operating room
3. Secretary for Structures Inc. (My aunt & uncles concrete company in AZ)
4. Worked for my Dad at Dick Worthen Dist.


4 Movies I can watch over & over
1. The Italian Job
2. Just Like Heaven
3. Coyote Ugly
4. High School Musical (I have no choice - my kids watch it all day everyday)


4 Places I've lived
1. Las Vegas, NV
2. Gilbert, AZ
3. Salt Lake City, UT
4. Farmington, UT

4 TV shows I enjoy
1. ER
2. General Hospital (I never get to watch it anymore)
3. Amazing Race
4. Friends (I know its not on anymore, but I really miss watching it)


4 Places I've been on vacation
1. Austria, Germany, Italy (All in one trip)
2. Kauai, Hawaii
3. Cruise to Eastern Caribbean (San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Martin, St. Thomas)
4. Cruise to Western Caribbean (Grand Cayman, Jamacia, Cozumal Mexico)


4 Favorite Restaurants
1. Macayos'
2. Cafe Rio
3. Olive Garden
4. Cheesecake Factory (mostly for the cheesecake)


4 Websites I visit daily
1. School website (sad to say that's were I spend most of my time)
2. Check email
3. Blogspots
4. Oldnavy (I like to shop)


4 Places I would rather be right now
1. On a beach laying in the sun
2. At a movie with Jason
3. Shopping with no kids
4. Sleeping


4 People I think I will do this too:
(I think everyone I know has already done this. OK - I found a 4 who might not have done it yet)
1. Angela
2. Julie
3. Jenny
4. Lalani
(If you have already done it - sorry- you don't have to do it again!)

Ist Day of School!

I can't believe Riley is old enough to go to kindergarten! She was so excited she woke up at 6 o'clock this morning and couldn't fall back to sleep! She has been counting down the days and it finally arrived. I know she will have lots of fun and make some new friends, but I can't help but be a little sad and worried about her. When I went to hug her goodbye I got all tear-eyed and I really didn't think that would happen. She is so grown up and ready for this that I can't help but be excited for her. She is in a spanish immersion program and the teacher was talking to them in spanish and I was getting a little worried - I had no idea what she was saying. Riley is quick learner so I am sure she will pick it up. So many fun things happening! Ryker and Rayden get to stay home with Mom. I think he is going to have a hard time without somebody to play with (or I'm going to have a hard time without him having someone to play with!) and Rayden might get to have a few moments of peace. Riley loves her so much she can hardly leave her alone.

We were getting ready to walk to school

Riley in all the chaos!

(I think she was a little overwhlemed with the mass amounts of kids)

Summer Vacation

We finally got to go one vacation this summer. We left right after I took my last final and we were gone for a week. We went to BrianHead first and stayed in my uncles cabin with Jason and his family. We had lots of fun and the guys got to go 4-wheeling! We did some mountain biking and frisbee golf. Then we went to Vegas to visit my family and we decided that maybe August isn't the best time to visit - especially if you haven't lived in that kind of heat for 10 years. It was fun to see all my family and some of them got to see Rayden for the first time.

Isn't the view cute

This is an overlook in Cedar Breaks

We blessed Rayden when we where in Vegas so that both our families could be there. It was so nice to have everyone together - it was crazy but fun!

Our "pretty girl" Rayden

This is my mom and sisters


Me, Angela, My Mom, &Lindsey

Summer Fun

We love to go to the lake - but with a new baby it has been a little more difficult. The kids get bravier every year and Riley started running and jumping off the dock into the water where we keep our boat. Ryker is finally brave enough to swim in his life jacket without anyone holding on to him. Thanks goodness for Jason's parents boat so we can hang out in the shade when we aren't out on our boat.

This picture is from the pool where the kids love to go - we don't get there often enough, but this was one of the rare occassions! They sure had fun.

This is Rayden's first trip to the pool -

of course she was the best dressed baby there!

Finally Blogging

So I have finally joined the world of blogging! It has taken me forever to get it up and running, but I have had so much fun looking at everyone elses blogs that I couldn't wait to start my own. Don't expect anything to fancy - I will do good to get pictures and words in the right places! Thanks to Lindsey for getting me started and showing me all the fun people who are doing it. I have caught up on so many peoples lives!