Bartholomew Clan

I am a Wonder Woman !

2010-09-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

this is me before heading out !

Record heat...bugs...wind resistant....killer hills....crazy drivers....smells of cattle....Sound Like fun? Despite these minor hurdles the Wonder Woman bike ride was amazing ! And the west desert was surprisingly beautiful. I loved being out in nature, just me and my bike. Peddling with everything that was in me. Actually the first 12 miles was quite nice. The last 3 miles to the aide station was alittle long. I wasn't used to going so far without stopping. But once I got there i had a snack, refueled, caught my breathe and was on my way again.

Halfway through the second round is where it started getting tough for me. I had about 8 miles to go. Every part of my body was burning. The heat was intense (it was 90 degrees outside) and I really wondered how I was going to make it. But then I could hear all the words of support of my friends and family echoing in my head...just keep going..just keep peddling...you can do it. And I knew i would regret it if i didnt finish. So onward I went. Once I realized I could do it, i just wanted to be done. Thats when my second wind kicked in and im sure the pure will to want to finish is what got me there.

Crossing the finish line was the most amazing feeling of my life ! My family, including my parents were there. As I came around the corner I could hear the yells and cheers...my name being called. It was such an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. I loved every minute of it and I cant wait to do it again.

I for got to mention I biked 30 miles in 4 hours. As of today I have biked 238 miles since July 17th.

Autism...my Dream

2010-08-25T19:05:00.000-07:00

I dream of the day you will be able to tell me with your words where it hurts, when you are sick.
I dream of the day you stand at the end of the driveway waiting for the school bus with your sister.
I dream of the day you graduate high school, as I shout, "Thats my boy! " while they call your name and you walk across the stage.
I even dream of the day you come home and tell me you have fallen in love and are marrying the girl of your dreams. And if these dreams are not meant to be, my dear son, then I dream of the day i greet you in heaven and meet my son, whole and complete and perfect for the first time.
You will never disappoint me, my son, even if these dreams do not come true. For your value to me is not in these dreams, but in the blessing og having known and loved you.

written by Carol...

I think i have shared this before, but i just found the paper so i wanted to share it again. for those of you who know Ben and our Family. you will understand how much words like these mean to me. And how very honored I am to be Ben's mom...
need a tissue ?

2010-08-08T18:25:00.001-07:00

sorry Celeste...but i love this pic....so sweet !
dad with the Grand kids... at the Best place in town !

Rachel with Grandpa

We were lucky to have Aunt Joan and

her family join us for dad's 60th !

Dad with... you guessed it. German Chocolate cake !

Is there any other kind? I think Not !

The local bakery working hard

to bring the finest cake for dad !

Lindsay and Ben

what beautiful faces ! :)

Dad and Ben..treking up the

mountain

ok...this is on the edge of the cliff

so having Bryan and Rachel up there

made me nervous.... but they had fun !

dad and rachel taking a break...phew !

are we done yet...lol !

this is the result of hiking and sweating all day !

dont i look amazing.... NOT !!! LOL !

Father and son !

Gotta love the plaid !

dad and all the grand kids !

i am amazed how great all the kids did

getting to the cave ! They did

awesome !

dad and his girls... its amazing im still breathing.

and im pretty sure Celeste doesnt sweat...LOL

She always looks great !

my little family !

Ben and vanessa chillin together !

me and my kids..they all left me in the

dust... but they didnt complain once.

I'm pretty they are part mountain goat..

just like thier dad !

What good looking kids !

but I'm not biased......

the view from the trail...
that little white dot is my house...

LOL !

seriously...whats with the rock climbing ?

so happy !

at least these rocks are on the cliff...

I feel a little better...lol

Bryan...leader of the pack !

where is everyone ?

what a handsome guy !

Joel And Celeste.. Good thing he was there

to keep the tunnel from falling on her ! LOL !

Joel, vanessa and Lindsay....

me and my honey...

dad and us girls !

We had such an amazing time with dad, Celeste, Joel, Eric, Vanessa, Colton, David and my family. I never knew you could pack so much fun in just a couple of days. But we did. On dad's actual 60th birthday we went to Timpanogas cave. who knew that could be so much fun. I was a little worried about the kids, but they left me in the dust... and never complained once the whole time. WHich just goes to show..never underestimate the revliance of youth !

a little timp cave info... you climb 1,092 feet in just 1.5 miles. up a steep zig zag trail. but well worth the effort ! The whole trip took about 3.5 hrs. Then we drove the alpine loop and headed to sundance. At this point my family...me feeling the worst...was exhausted ! So we went home to shower, nap and get ready for round 2. Dinner at Porters PLace.

Ended up with a a party of 18 people to help dad welcome a new decade of his life ! And it was a blast. Doesnt he look amazing for 60. I think he does. It was so wonderful to just be with family and do everything we could to make dad feel loved. I think we succeeded.

The only people we missed was Brittney and her family..who couldnt make it up and Cherie , who is in England visiting her family. But i'm sure they were with us in spirit ! This was definitely a bday that wont be forgotten. We had good food, good company, and good attitudes ! It was the best ! And we got to meet Joel and his kids... who we love ! It was great spending time with them and getting to know them better. I look forward to future visits...(sorry Celeste..Hope that isnt to embarrassing)

Anyway... I love my dad. i feel very blessed to live close enough to him to see him often and build this great relationship . We have alot of good times together ! Look forward to many more years of memories with my dad ! Love you dad ! your the best !

Lapband update !

2010-07-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

So.. as of today I've lost 25 lbs and 12 inches. I had my check up with the doctor this past week and so far everything is looking really good. Ive been blessed not to have any complications and everything is right on track ! Ive been very lucky to have such an amazing support system to help me and motivate me. Especially to Bryan. I never would have survived surgery, recovery or even thought about surgery if it wernt for him.
My other big inspiration , who lost alot of weight, without surgery, my sister Celeste. Plus she gives me all her clothes that are to big for her now. A definite bonus ! She is a runner. Which I have to say..more power to you ! Never could get into running. but lately finding the motivation to walk has been as equally challenging.
So..last week when Bryan suggested getting me a bike, I was surprising open to the idea. And Have been loving it ever since. I can't imagine biking as far as he does yet. which is 25 miles on any average run. But another goal to yet aspire to. I'm lucky to get my 5 miles in without dying..lol.
But seriously...since April 5th. I've felt more alive, more healthy and more energetic than I have in along time. And I hope that feeling never goes away !

Biker Mama !

2010-07-20T17:36:00.000-07:00

so..im officially a biker mama. Never thought that would happen, but it did. And no...I'm not talking about the motorized kind. I went today for the first time up the canyon. I cycled between Bridal veil falls and Vivian park. Which is approx 2 miles. So beautiful. Just when I thought I couldn't live life any better than It already is... I discover this. I do have to give Credit to Bryan for getting me started. And now that I am I'm totally addicted.

Words cant even describe how beautiful and peaceful it was.... cruising down the lane, the river on one side of me the mountain on the other. You couldn't ask for a more perfect setting . It felt amazing to get out there. Just me and my bike. Be able to feel the breeze, hear the birds, see the occasional squirrwl scurry across the path. it was amazing. Be able to just clear my head and let all my troubles go. Im so excited to do this on a regular basis. What an amazing way to get fit and and relieve stress. I totally love it !!!

My first bike ride....

2010-07-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

so.... I've become a cyclist and I wasn't even planning on it. But none the less it happened. Bryan and I went to the bike shop yesterday and ended up getting me a great bike. First we spent the afternoon getting me all fitted for a helmat, biking gear and of course the bike. Then Last night Bryan taught me how to ride it..how and when to shift. How to wear a helmet etc...
I'm actually quite excited. We went out for a test run last night so i could get a feel for it and know what to do when Bryan isnt around. We went 4 miles, which was pretty good for me. Although nothing for Bryan who can bike as far as 25 miles and feel like it's a good run. But he has been cycling for about 5 yrs. So he has a bit of an advantage over me.Maybe someday I'll get there. but for now I'll stick to my 4 miles.
And so the next chapter in my weight loss and fitness adventure begins. So if you see me around town, dont honk... you might scare me and make me crash...LOL ! at least til i can get the hang of it better. :)

being positive !

2010-06-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

so.. it just hit me today how negative I was being and how much it was ruining my chance for happiness. I'm talking about the summer. Every year I dread,dread, dread the summer. And it's an aweful habit I have let myself fall into. Then i had this " aha" moment today while I was walking. Like a bolt of lightning. how could I have been so stupid ?
so here are my reasons for loving summer this year :

1. I don't have to wake up kids and go through the daily struggle of getting everyone out the door for school.

2. I can walk in the early morning again, instead of trying to do it later when Im to tired.

3. I have many family activities planned that should be fun. One of which is my dads 60th birthday ! And he looks good for 60 !

4. I can shoo the kids outside to play !

5. I can work in the yard and try to grow some veggies...LOL.

6. my roses will bloom, which i always love and look forward to.

7. I can organize and clean out all the crap in my house I dont need or cant find ! HAHA !

8. I have a dear friend and family coming to visit me.

9. I can open the windows and let the fresh summer air in after being cooped up all winter !

10. I can visit my favorite places with my family and friends. which is always a treat.

hopefully this will help me stay focused on the joy of summer !

4.

lapband update...

2010-06-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

ok... so far ive lost 18 lbs and 8 inches. which in itself is very exciting. My new frustration is exercise. finding the time and the energy. And as happy as I am to be losing weight. I'm starting to look very unproportioned..lol. So now i am on a mission to remendy that problem. We will see how successful I am.
but on the bright side, im feeling really good and am happy with the progress i have made so far. Thank you to all of you for continued love and support on my behalf ! Have a great day !

autism Concert May 20, 2010

2010-05-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

My family

Marian,Bryan,Lindsay, Bena md Rachel

Me and my dad !
Rachel and Grandpa !

my little Diva !

my 3 beautiful kids !

it scares me how beautiful

lindsay has become !

Ben wanted to hug a tree just

because his sisters did !
too cute !

My beautiful angel girls !

Grandpa and the kids !

i love thier beautiful smiles !

So, we got the opportunity to go to an amazing concert in SLC last night. It was at Abravanal Hall. The Utah symphony did a benefit concert for families with kids who have autism and they did a great job entertaining the kids ! Dad went with us. It was so much fun. I dont know what was more entertaining, the concert or watching Ben . He loved it so much. And it was really nice to meet other families who have children with special needs. As you can tell by the pictures, the weather was perfect and Bryan even got to join us at the end (he's been in Ca all week). It was nice to dress everyone up and go out for a special evening. Not something we get to do very often. It really was the perfect evening !

lapband update ! May12, 2010

2010-05-12T18:09:00.001-07:00

So, this is me today. 16 lbs lighter and 7 inches smaller. Not a real big difference, but this documentation is more for me. so I can keep track how i am doing. But decided to share it here in the process. Anyway, I went to the doctor today for my check up and Im doing good. Pretty much back to normal. My emotions have leveled out and im not in pain anymore. My port still bothers me from time to time. But im informed thats normal. Thats right...the doctor told me I am normal..hahaha !

anyway... Im excited that im feeling healthy and happy and overall just better. And of course the continued love and support from my family and friends has been amazing ! I'll keep you posted.

1 month anniversary !

2010-05-05T19:24:00.000-07:00

well...it has been exactly one month now since my lapband surgery. And I am finally feeling back to my old self. I have been off sugar and caffeine. I'm learning to love fruits and veggies more. Right now my favorites are edumammies and strawberries, but not together ! Today I got out in my garden and did some yard work .
I recruited Bryan, who i have to say has been such a trooper through this whole process. After working all day. Comes home and takes care of me, the kids and the house til he drops !I never would have made it through this past month without his amazing love and support ! Nobody can accuse him of being lazy. Thats for sure !
I went pants shopping today and am already down a size and they were on sale ! So that made me super excited. And thanks to the generosity of my sister Celeste, who has already lost 50 lbs on her own, I have a box full of clothes waiting for me to fit into. Which is very exciting because she has beautiful taste in clothes !
I am grateful Bryan discovered this procedure and had the loving, sensative insight to tell me about it and help me learn about it. So I felt good about doing it. And for that I will be eternally grateful. I look forward to living a healthy, active life so i can take better care of myself and my family ! And Im excited to find my waist line again ! LOL !

Sunday entertainment !

2010-05-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

I love how self entertaining Ben and Rachel were today ! They made little houses out of shoe boxes and then played with them forever ! It was awesome ! Gotta love them !

2 week check up !

2010-04-21T13:49:00.000-07:00

so I had my 2 week check up today. It went very well. I was actually quite happy. Im officially down 13 lbs. My body has healed well and there were no unexpected complications. I can resume "normal" life... well.. as normal as is possible for me...hahaha.
So i head back to work tomorrow..no more playing hooky for me ! But im excited to get back to doing what I need to and moving forward with my new way of living. The sacrifices and the lessons I have learned have already been worth it !

sure sign of spring....

2010-04-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

You know your headed into a great spring when the Tulip Festival at thanksgiving point gets here. One of my favorite ways to kick off the new season !

the weight loss journey continues....

2010-04-17T07:56:00.000-07:00

well, it been 13 days since my lapband surgery. 13 days of no sugar....no chocolate...and no caffeine. If you would of told me that one day I would willingly give up these things, i would of told you you were crazy. But I have and i am amazed at the changes that have happened in my life.
This whole procedure has affected me in ways i never thought it would. Since food is no longer my coping mechanism. Ive had to find other ways to cope. in doing this I have opened a whole new world to myself. I've learned to find positive ways to cope with stress and get my life organized.
I was so scared to do this, but now that I have I am really happy I did. I have a sis who is a nurse. She herself has lost 40 lbs. Its been really good being able to connect with her in a way I never have before. Sharing our experiences with each other and others that want to know.
So the journey continues.. as I adjust to my new life and look forward to living it healthy and eventually skinny !

Letting the cat out of the bag !

2010-04-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

Well.... I wasn't going to say anything because i didnt want to draw so much attention to myself. But I just can't keep it to myself anymore.

On April 5th I had Lapband surgery. Some of you know, but alot of you dont. SO there it is. This was not a rash decision. I did so much reading and research over the past year , with the help of Bryan, whether or not it was the right decsion for me. Not to mention preparing myself mentally and emotionally.
The surgery went well. There were no complications and I'm well on my way to recovering. It's been a bit slower than i expected, but I'm feeling better everyday. Bryan and my kids have been an amazing support and I couldnt have done it without them.
I knew physically it would be challenging, after all this is a major lifetime change for me. But I had no idea the mental and emotional challenges would be so overwhelming. I have had to totally relearn how to eat. And sadly give up some of my favorite foods. But hopefully the sacrifice will be worth it in the long run. I didnt realize how much of my life revolved around food until my life couldnt revolve around food. Its been an experience like no other I have ever had in my life.
But I decided to do it for my health and well being. Improving health problems i currently have and hopefully will preventing future ones. So i can be there for my child ren and someday my grandchildren.
Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive and encouraging me through this whole process. i am excited to start a new life fit and healthy !

If you want to learn what a lapband is just go to www.lapband.com

Have a great day !

Our Autism Journey

2010-03-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

i would like to take you on a journey down the road less traveled. A journey I never expected to take, one that has changed my life forever. 10 yrs ago we were blessed with a beautiful baby boy and we called him benjamin. He was perfect in everyway. Then one day i took him in for his routine check up. i am sent to a specialist and next thing i know I am hearing words like , therapy, not normal, developmental delays...somewhere along the way the owrd "autism" comes up.What is autism ? I never even heard the word. But by age 3 Ben was officially diagnosed with it.

So like any parent would do. I research it. Get as much infor mation as I can. What i learn is astonishing. this cant be happening to me, my family, to my son. But it was. And just like that my world was turned upside down.All of a sudden i am faced with the knowledge that Ben will always be this way. He will always struggle socially, academically, developmentally. Now the daunting task of figuring it out how to best help him. Once the shock, the grief, the anger and the denial all wore off.. i was able to face it , accept and make a game plan to embrace it.

Awareness and knowledge is so important today more than ever. to educate everyone we know what autism is. how much it impacts our lives and teh lives of the ones we love. How hard everyday can be in the life of a child with autism. Not being potty trained til he was 7. Not being able to communicte what he needed or walk on his own til he was 4. Being overly stimulated in his environment. Not knowing how to express his emotions so we know how to help him. Being in his own world and not letting anyone be a part of it.

Nobody knows what causes Autism. And there is currently no cure but there is hope that one day that will change. that one day no parent will have to recieve the devestating news that thier child has autism. Until then all we can do is spread awareness and raise funds to help find cures and help families get the help they need for thier children.

We never would have made it where we are today without the help, love and support of so many around us. We relyon the strengthof our faith of those who love us and most importantly, love Ben. We watch him grow and learn like any other kid, yet we also watch him struggle and process learning so differently from other kids. Nothing can replace the learning and life lessons I have recieved because i have been lucky enough to be Bens mom. i find comfort in knowing that im not alone. that we can make a difference in our corner of the world.

April is autism awareness month. And May 1st is the annula autism walk. We would love any of you who are able to join us. Thank you for all your love, support and prayers on our behalf. We love you !

www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/utah/benswalk

Join our team and make a difference

specail thanks to Mike and agility physical therapy for being our team sponsor ! you rock !

Gearing up for Autism walk.........

2010-02-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

ok folks.......so the autism walk is on May 1st. This is the place park at 10:00 am. registration is at 8:00 am i am the team captain. Our website is walknow for autismspeaks.org/utah/benswalk.
Get ready for it....... thank you for all your love and support....... call me if you have any questions....801-473-4646....thank you

rachels bday...turning 9 !

2010-02-04T06:39:00.000-08:00

Rachel with her friends,grace and Celeste
Rachels new bike

rachel with the special wlaaett grandma whitwood made

Ben and his new shirt

Rachel and her friends

Rachel being silly...in her new nightgown

and pink fuzzy slippers

our family

rachel with mom and dad

random picture:

rachel made this little snowman.

isnt he cute?

Rachel and grandpa ralph

Singing happy birthday to Rachel

Rachel loving her new bike

rachel with grandma and grandpa Bartholomew

Lindsay and grandpa ralph

Rachel and her friends

rachel and her bday cake

a moment of reflection....

2010-01-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

I got an email today about a walk for autism. And all of a sudden I was overcome by all these emotions of what autism was and how it has so profoundly changed my life in ways i would never have imagined. The sobering fact that now 1 in every 90 boys will be affected by this developmental disorder. i still remember the day I was told Ben was autistic...being in denial and being told that i have to accept the fact that this is just the way it is and deal with it. Probably one the hardest things i have ever had to do in my lilfe.
Well...here we are 10 yrs later and there are days I still feel like i was just told my son has autism...like getting kicked in the stoamch over and over. No matter how much you cry for it to stop, it doesnt....and wanting so desperately to understand what he is thinking, what makes him tick. and he does the things he does. i fear I will never fully understand no matter how much i try.
on the bright side....he loves life and has a laugh that would light up a room. Will just randomly give me a hug and kiss when I least expect it and then I remember why i love him so much. And makes so excited for the day I will get to know him for the amazing man that he is.

ok...anyone have a tissue?....sniffle

im not dead !

2010-01-21T06:05:00.000-08:00

so...it's been awhile since ive written here. i know...life ! but i have returned and will try to do better about keeping my life updated here. Just spent the last 2 days on the most amazing anniversary get away ever. Bryan and I went to anniversary inn. We stayed in the lighthouse room. So cool. bed in the lighthouse...waterfall shower....wow ! Then we went to dinner at the lion house, my absolute fsvorite place to eat in slc... and then headed to Park city for some much needed shopping therapy..lol
we also saw avatar, went to a laser show and visited trolley square. i didnt know it was possible to pack so much activity in a 48 hr period...but it is....phew !

Elder Bennett Whitwood !

2009-10-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

Baby brother Bennett with my parents
Brothers Bennett and david with Lindsay and Rachel
in front of our house

Me and Bennett

way to excited !

ok, so I don't know if i ever posted these pictures.Life has been nuts. And if anyone wnats copies, just let me know. But htis is my Brother on an mission to Panama City. I havent heard fro him for awhile but last word is he is doing great and loving it.

We are all so pround of him !

our pumpkin family...

2009-10-27T06:49:00.000-07:00

Rachel with our pumpkin family. I htink we are ready for halloween now !

bathroom renovation complete !

2009-10-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of my new bathroom. Im so excited to finally have it completed.

Didnt Bryan do an aamazing job?

Thought of the day !

2009-10-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

Success is many things to many people, but to every child of God it ultimately will be to inherit his presence and there be comfortable with him. Our ultimate aim in life is to recieve eternal life int he kingdom of God, which is Heavenly Father's greatest gift to his children. (D&C 14:7)
But to win that prize we must become more like our Father, develop his attributes, and follow his plan of happiness. Harold B. Lee

mud castles !

2009-09-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

rachel and her friend
they used a drinking glass for their castle

Ben.... hamming it up for the camara !

gotta love the creative minds of kids and the ways they find to amuse themselves.

a moment of Gratitude....

2009-09-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

so Im reading this blog entry by mark and bre. If you get a chance you need to read it. It on my blog list.Bre was Ben's kindergarten teacher. While im reading it Ben is screaming in the background and I just start crying. Not because Ben is screaming but because i started to think about all the amazing people in our lives that have helped us with Ben. How much having Ben as a part of our family has changed all of us so drastically. Even though the days can seem long and frustrating, how blessed I am to be his mother and how I wouldn't have it any other way.
So I just wanted to say thanks to all of you amazing people who have helped us, loved us and more importantly loved Ben. We love you !

house renovations...Let the fun begin !

2009-09-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

so we decided to start fixing up the house with the hope of one day,maybe, selling it and getting something a little bigger. But even if we do end up staying here then it will be that much nicer for us.

The before picture i took got erased, but here is a pic of our bathroom and Ben's room after the walls got redone, but before they are painted. we are also going to refinish our hardwood floors.

it will be nice to get it all put back together. Right now my living room is Ben's bedroom and the kitchen sink is also the bathroom sink. but overall not to bad.

I'll try to keep everyone posted.

Ben's Cabbage

2009-08-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

This is Ben's cabbage. Doesn't it look great ? Way back in Feb/March he came home with a little plant from school. We had no idea what it was at the time. He wanted to plant it right then, but it was to cold. So I got to keep it alive until it was warm enough. Well, naturally he wanted it right out front in the flower garden and this is the end result. He has been so excited all summer that he has his very own plant in the garden !

Our Amazing Vacation to Jackson Hole !

2009-07-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

it's so tiring being driven everywhere !

Our poor little car managed to us and all our stuff !

Yes ! We caved in our roof !

Our hotel in Jackson

Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil

I want to be a Cowboy !

Our little pioneer

Lindsay actually voluteered for this picture!

What a good sport!

Downtown Jackson

The Snake River ! So beautiful !

Bar J Ranch ! The best Cowboy dinner and show we ever went to!

Ben was in Cowboy Heaven !

Bryan's famous Breakfast outside !

MMMM!!!

coolest dude in town !

Yellowstone National Park!
Everything was so green and beautifu;

Old Faithful!

Dinner anyone ?

Beautiful Jenny Lake !

More geyser action in Yellowstone

what a cutie !

I think she is a little camara though......

There she blows!
We got to see old Faithful go off

Twice !

Rockin on the porch swing

Not really into the cowboy thing,

but wore the hat to humor mom

My mini Garth Brooks!

Entrance to Jenny Lake

The 3 family members brave enough to do the Alpine Slide

Fort Bridger!

Strike a pose, Vogue !

Enjoying the shade at Fort Bridger

We got to take the most amazing trip to Jackson hole for the fourth
Fort Bridger

Jenny Lake

Yellowstone National Park

Teton NAtional Park

Fireworks, Parade

Bar J Ranch

It was 6 months in the making and we pulled it off without a hitch (almost) We did have to change a flat tire. But other than that we got to enjoy the most beautiful countrty I've ever seen in my life. We stayed in a cabin at the KOA and at a hotel in town. Met alot of nice people. Saw amazing wonders of nature and just got to spend time together without all the interptions life brings when your home. It was great and I couldn't have asked or hoped for a more perfect vacation. I promise I'm not just saying that !

newest member of our family !

2009-07-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

So, we just wanted to introduce everyone to the newest member of our family. We are very excited to have such a new car. I'm sure it will bring us many years of joy and happiness.

A beautiful Painting !

2009-06-27T19:47:00.001-07:00

I know it's been awhile , but I just had to post this painting. Lindsay painted it and I'm in awe of her imagination and her talent ! Maybe I'm biased , but isn't is breathtaking ? I love just sittning and admiring it beauty !

My flower garden !

2009-05-19T08:16:00.001-07:00

This is a gerber Daisy that is in my flower Garden ! Isn't it lovely ?

Lindsay took the picture. I think she is an amazing photogapher !

Errol and Susie's 50th Wedding Anniversary !

2009-05-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

way to excited to be here !
Don't They look amazing ?

Exact relica of their wedding cake ! Yes it's as yummy as it looks !

The x-stsitch I made for them !

The cream cheese mints I made for the reception,

Also as yummy as they look !

Our 3 kids. Aren't they beautiful ?

Lindsay with her cousin Amberley !

What beautiful youg ladies !

Dead fish in my Fridge !

2009-05-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

Ben got to go fishing day with his class at salem pond yesterday. He had a great time. But now it sits my fridge because nobody can touch it. This is what I get to see everytime I open my fridge now. Do you know how hard it was to explain to Ben that the fish is dead forever and putting it in water will not bring it back to life ? There are not enough words in the english language.

cute kids !

2009-05-09T19:53:00.000-07:00

I know I'm biased, but This a way cute picture of my kids taken at the park. Actually my friend took the picture. Didn't she do a great job ? I think so. It's been so nice to have warmer weather so the kids can be outside more ! We hope everyone has a great week !

Are you ready for summer ?

2009-04-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

Just wondering if anyone else feels as confident as I do about putting

on a swimsuit when it finally gets warm enough ?

My Dream !

2009-04-25T18:18:00.000-07:00

I didn't write this but it pretty much sums up how I feel :

My Dream

I dream of the day you will be able

to tell me with your words where it hurts

when you are sick.

I dream of the day you stand at the end

of the driveway waiting for the bus with your sister.

I dream of the day you graduate high school

as I shout " THAT"S MY BOY!" while they call your name

and you walk across the stage.

I even dream of the day you come home and tell me

you've fallen in love and are marrying the

girl of your dreams.

And if these dreams are not meant to be, my dear son,

then I dream of the day I greet you in heaven

and meet my son - complete and whole

and perfect for the first time.

You will never disappoint me, my son,

even if these dreams don't come true.

For your value to me is not in these dreams,

but in the blessing of having known and loved you.

My calendar says it April, but look outside !

2009-04-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

hey Az..... in case you were wondering if Utah got snow, here is your answer. Your eyes are not decieving you. There is about 6 inches out there. This is not a leftover winter scene. This is real life on April 16,2009. Again, no complaints about the heat ! I'm pretty sure we will never thaw out. By the time it thinks about warming up it will be winter again. Have a great day !

hey Az ! it's still snowing !!!!

2009-04-15T14:10:00.001-07:00

Hey Az ! We got a crazy snow storm today !

it's been raining and snowing all day

Will it never end ? Be sure to warn mom

it might STILL be snowing when Bennet comes to

the MTC! hahaha !

No complaints about the heat

we may never thaw out up here !

Autism History ......

2009-04-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

The history of Autism goes back as far as 1911 with Eugen Bleuler a swiss psychiatrist coined the term. However the term applied to adult schizophrenia.
In 1943 Dr. Leo Kanner of John Hopkins University described autism for the first time. He based his discovery from 11 children he observed between 1938 and 1943. What he studied were children who had withdrawal from human contact as early as age 1.
During the 1940's through the 60's the medical community felt that children who had autism were schizophrenic. This lack of understanding of the disorder lead many parents to believe that they were at fault.
During the 1960's people began to understand autism and more precisely identify autism symptoms and treatments.

I hope they call me on a mission !

2009-04-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited ! I just found out that my brother is serving a mission to Panama City, Panama.
How cool is that ! He reports to the MTC on August 5th 2009 ! We are all so proud of him !

more Autism facts

2009-04-06T06:45:00.000-07:00

1.Not being able to speak........ Is not the same as not having anything to say

2. The rate of Autism was one in 10,000 births just 10 years ago, now one in 250 children will have some form of Autism

3. While people with Autism share common characteristics - each person is unique with their own strengths and challenges

Quote for the day : " Empathy is not defined as feeling the same as another, but rather the ability to hear what another is saying and to tell them that you heard."

not a good activity !

2009-04-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you child decides to use your hat as an activity. It looks like this.

Patron Saint.... A story of Autism

2009-04-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

I read this and was so moved I wanted to share with all of you.

Jonathan's World Design By Cher Autism Graphics
Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger, "Armstrong, Beth - son; patron saint - Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie - daughter; patron saint - Cecilia. Rudledge, Carrie - twins; patron saint - give her Gerard. He's used to profanity." Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her an autistic child." The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," says God. "Could I give an autistic child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she the patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today, she has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?" God nods, "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'. She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! I will permit her to see clearly the things I see... ignorance, cruelty, prejudice... and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely she is here by side."
"And what about her patron saint?", asks the angel, pen poised in midair.
God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."
Jonathan's World Design By Cher Autism Graphics

Autism facts !

2009-04-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Autism facts !

1. 0ne in 150 children are diagnosed with Autism

2. It is a neurogical desease

3. There is no known cause or cure for Autism.

4. Boys are 4 times higher risk than girls

5. This is the face of Autism

How cute is Ben ?

April Is Autism Awareness Month !

2009-04-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

So, I thought since April is autism awareness month it would be a great opportunity to let everyone know. There is a great link on my blog you can go to and read all about it . Let your family and friends know the importance of Autism awareness. . We are also participating in the annual walk for Autism in May if anyone wants to join us. There is a link on my blog for that as well. Spread the word for Autism. After all knowledge is power !

Thanks everyone for you love and support !

March 30th in Utah ! Hey Az check this out !

2009-03-30T13:13:00.000-07:00

no, your eyes are not decieving you. This is snow on March 30th, 2009. I wish I was back in San Diego right now. So all of you that might think about complaining about the heat, just think of me and look at this picture ! Have a great day !

Lindz b-day !

2009-03-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

Here are few family photos of Lindz on her b-day. We also took her and and a friend to the hale theatre to see "All Shook Up" An excellent play I would recomend anyone go see ! love you guys !

carnival fun !

2009-03-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

So we went to a family carnvial at Ben's teacher's ward. Here are some funny pictures we got of everyone getting in on the fun. It's o.k. to laugh out loud. We did ! Have a great day !

my haircut!!!!!!!

2009-03-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

This picture is dedicated to Celeste

what do you think?

split in two !

2009-03-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

Well..... it's been an emotional day. Pleasant Grove 1st ward just got split in two. Alot of bitter sweet emotions go with this. Although I try to look forward to meeting new people and learning and growing from this. I will deeply miss seeing all the people I have come to love at church, which is where I saw most of you. But I just want all of you who are no longer in the 1st ward that we love you and will miss you. We wish you lots of luck as you meet new people and form new relationships in your new ward. God be with you til we meet again !

thought of the day !

2009-03-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

Everyday may not be good,

but there is something good in everyday !

pugsley pioneer !

2009-03-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

This is our pooch pugsley ! Ready for long trek back to her bed ! Your eyes are not decieving you. She only has 3 legs.

quote for the day !

2009-03-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place.

Rules !

2009-03-15T15:08:00.000-07:00

So I just read a really good book called Rules by Cynthia Lord. It's about a 12 year girl who has a brother with Autism and her day to day struggles with it. She talks about rules she teaches him so he can deal with life. It totally could be Lindsay's life, but our whole family can relate. I just wanted to share a little with you.

Excerpt...... " I click the seat belt across me and open my sketch - book to the back page. That's where I keep all the Rules I'm teaching David so if my someday-he'll wake-up-a regular brother wish doesn't come true, at least he'll know how the world works, and I won't have to keep explaining things.

1. Sometimes you gotta work with what you got
2. say excuse me when you burp
3. flush
4. you can take your shirt off when you go swimming but not your shorts
5. it's fine to hug mom, but not the clerk at the video store
6. keep your pant on unless mom or a doctor tell you to take them off.
7. if you want to get away with something, don't announce it first
8.At someone elses house you have to follow their rules
9.sometimes people laugh when they like you and sometimes they laugh to hurt you
10.Pantless brothers are not my problem

So I was thinking......... Here are some " Ben" rules

1. You have to stay dressed until 8:00 P.M.
2.If you sleep in your own bed all night by yourself you get a Mcdonald sticker
3.It's not o.k. to say bad words anywhere, especially in church.
4. No splashing when taking a bath, mom doesn't want to wash 12 towels that weigh 10 lbs each
5. shampoo is not bubble bath
6. you don't need a cup of sugar in your cereal for it to taste good.
7. Don't take anything apart without permission.
8. no cutting drawers, coutertops etc with sharp knives
9. screaming hurts everyone's ears regardless of what time it is.
10. dog fights are not funny............ ever !
11. Is there a parrot in the house ? Yes, his name is Ben
12. you can put your fork in your own drink, but not anyone elses

we love Ben, but he definitely keeps us very aware of what we do and say, everyday !

bowling...... and the winner is.........

2009-03-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

so we decided to go bowling for family night. This was a first for us. We had a lot of fun. I must admit much to my surprise that Ben totally kicked all our buts. He was so excited about the whole event. Definitely a successful night ! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

quote for the day !

2009-03-06T14:20:00.001-08:00

Teenagers....... The reason some animal species eat their young.

love you Lindz !

phone frustration !!!!!!

2009-03-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

is anyone else annoyed, frustrated, bothered or put out by the fact that unless you are using your cell phone you have to dial 801 even for any phone call whether it is local or not ? O was just wondering if it's just me or if others are feeling my pain ! Thanks for listening to my whining for a minute............ o.k. I feel better now........ moving on.................

Rachel's Baptism !

2009-03-02T05:41:00.001-08:00

me and my sis !

the adams side that made it

all the Bartholomew's that made it

the kids together

Me and Rachel

Rachel with her dad

our little family

Here are a few pictures of Rachel's Baptism. It was a beautiful day and we are happy Rachel made the decision to do this. We are also grateful for the Primary, Bishopric and family that attended and supported us,

lockdown ! Never assume it won't happen here !

2009-02-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

ever get that feeling when your heart goes in your throat and it won't go away until you know everything will be o.k. That happened today when my daughter calls and says she can't come home because her school is in lock down. Naturally all kinds of movie senarios start going through my head. And even though the only info I have is there was a shooting by the school and the suspect is on the loose, I have to go to the school and get Lindz myself so I know she is alright. Apparently every other parent had the same idea. after an hour of concern and frustration I finally have confirmation that she is alright ! As I was looking for her I realized I didn't even know what she was wearing or recall if I told I loved her before she left this morning. Did she know ? Did she feel safe ? Thankfully the school knew what to do and how to keep the students safe. But I was a little more relieved than usual when everyone was home safe, And then I enjoyed a nice big diet coke !

A nice surprise !

2009-02-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

A sweet act of kindness from a sweet husband just to cheer me up and help me have a better day. What a great surprise ! it really cheered me up.

sunny San diego, sort of !

2009-02-22T18:10:00.000-08:00

my adorable nephew who I got to hang out with

These birds just crack me up !

He's swimming upside down ! Pretty cool !

I was brave enough to touch a starfish, but not an eel.

I know, I'm a wimp

me and dad at seaworld and I have one word for cali seagulls

PHYCO!!!!!!

beautiful cali sunset from seaport village

me and my dad on the hornblower, again before

we hit 7 foot swells and wish we were dead, Fun, Fun !

whale watching excursion after the storm and

before we got deathly seasick in 7 foot swells, YIKES!

a bit of sun with looming clouds in the background. Where's the sun?

look closely & you will see how soaking wet we are !

a domonstration of how unsunny it was in cali

Me and my sis hangin on the beach on Corondo Bay !

Doesn't this look just like me ?

As you can see I got to spend this past week in San Diego. It was alot of fun. I went with my Sister, her son and my dad. I got to eat at some great local restaurants, do some fun shopping, hang on the beach and we all got deathly sick whale watching. Which took me exactly 24 hours to recover from. I think my favorite was Coronado Bay. It was so beautiful. We went to the hotel del Coronado which was like stepping back in time. We spent 2 days at Seaworld and I have to say, WOW! Those seagulls are nuts ! They literally swooped down and took the food right off my dad's plate ! It was crazy ! But every moment in ali was worth it.

Now back to reality, fun fun ! I hope everyone has a great week !

King Benjamin !

2009-02-22T17:56:00.000-08:00

I was in church today with Ben. The lesson was about Following the prophet. We then continued to talk about different prophets in the book of Mormon. Sis. Allred asked Ben who king Benjamin was. In his own innocent understanding he says, "King Benjamin is me ! " It made me laugh. He seems to be very happy to be at church most days, which makes me happy. Have a great week !

finally after 9 years !!!!!!!

2009-02-09T05:58:00.000-08:00

Ever since Ben was a baby he struggled to sleep in his own bed. Well, when they are little you expect them to want to sleep with mom and dad. The older they get the uncuter it becomes ! Til finally one day everyone's patience has ran out. The new bunk bed we just bought is our last hope we are clinging to to get Ben to sleep in his own bed.
Finally for the first time last night he actually did it. Now I'm trying really hard not to get excited, because one thing I have learned with Ben is victories can be very short lived. But I have to take joy in the moment and pray that this will finally be an answer to a very long and weary prayer. Wish us luck !

lucky kids !

2009-02-07T17:24:00.001-08:00

One word "bonus". Thanks to a nice little bonus from Bryan's work we weren't expecting we were able to get the kids beds up off the floor. it's nice to feel a little more organized and put together. And hopefully the kids will think so to, eventually anyway !

Lindsay's amazing talent !

2009-02-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

Lindsay drew this in art class ! I love it ! I don't know where she gets her talent. i can't do anything better than stick people. Yeah, Linz !

unwelcomed visitor !

2009-02-06T06:06:00.000-08:00

I've had an unwelcomed visitor intrude my body. Yesterday I woke up with a terrible sore throat which turned into a terrible cough and my lungs felt like they were on fire. So when Bryan got home he made me go to the doctor and come to find out I developed brochitis, YUCK!!!!!!! Just when I thought I had escaped the clutches of illness this winter, this happens. That's what I get for getting cocky pre- maturely. I just pray now that the rest of my family is spared this agony I suffer .

Husband of the year !

2009-02-05T12:50:00.000-08:00

This is my old dresser that has served me well for 16 years. We bought it at a yard sale for $20.00 when we first got married . Talk about getting your money's worth. Now on to better things.
So I have been kind of hinting for awhile that I wanted a new dresser, but really only half serious. And this is what I end up with. How cool is that ! We had to completely rearrange our bedroom just to get it to fit. It barely clears the ceiling ! Trust me when I say it's even more beautiful and majestic in person than what you see in a picture ! Bryan bought it for my birthday (which is still a week away) . He asked me if this would keep him out of the doghouse for awhile, um definitely more than awhile!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!! Happy birthday to me ! I love you Bryan !

wake up Bryan !

2009-01-26T06:33:00.000-08:00

Bryan rides UTA to get to work. A couple of days ago he asked me to pick him up at the AF park and ride. So...... I get there and I wait..... and wait...... and wait........ finally I get a phone call from Bryan. He had fallen asleep on the bus and ended up at uvsc in Orem. I thought it was so funny that this happened to him I wasn't even mad about the time I had to wait to pick him up. However he didn't think it was funny. Better luck staying awake in the future. In his defense this is only the 2nd time in quite awhile he has done this.

finding blessings in adversity, what ?

2009-01-25T19:36:00.000-08:00

It seems to be a contradiction in terms....... being blessed through adversity. Yet today as I was sitting in relief society listening to the lesson I realized that it has happened to me, but I never fully recognized it until now. I've spent so many years just surviving and making it day to day I didn't take the time to fully appreciate the nature of my circumcstances and how blessed I've been in so many ways. One of the biggest blessings has been our son , Ben. He has also been our biggest challenge. I can't even hardly think about Ben as a challenge without feeling guilty for even thinking it.
I love him more than anything in the world and have often wondered how we got to be the ones lucky enough to raise such an amazing spirit. However there are days I wonder if I or Ben will live to see the end of the day, if you know what I mean. I've learned so many things and had experiences I never dreamed possible because Ben has been a part of my life. experiences and blessings I wouldn't change or give up for anything. Yet, the hum, drum of everyday life can be wearisome, long and frustrating.
In D&C when Joseph was in his darkest hour and thought the lord had abandoned him, he cried out wondering where he was. When all along the lord was there for him. Just not in the way that he had hoped. And the experience was for his own good. This simple act of the love the lord showed Joseph, even though it seemed harsh, has happened to me in my life. I, too, have wondered why I have been given the trials I have and why an innocent child must bear the cross he does. Then I realized even though it may seem a trial, it is really a blessing. It's what makes us grow and be strong. And hopefully one day when this is all over I will be able able to see the full picture of this life and why it was all for my good.
In the meantime I just count my blessings that I have an amzing husband to help me get through all this and amazing girls who love and teach and help their brother the best they can. and we all have the Lord when nothing else works !
I love you all and hope you a great week !

one more thing...............

2009-01-23T07:07:00.001-08:00

We took our kids to the Draper temple open house. I would strongly recommend any one who is able to do the same. It was such an amazing experience to be be able to show our children what the inside of the temple looks like and explain the importance of it. Pretty cool ! And our kids thought so to !

updated blog, what do you think?

2009-01-23T07:02:00.000-08:00

So lindsay helped me redo my blog. I love bright and cheerful it looks. It's a good thing i have her around. I'm so retarded when it comes figuring anything out on the computer that is to complicated. I think she did an awesome job for me. what do you think ?

family pics !

2009-01-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my other favorite family pics we just had done in honor of rachel turning eight. My awesome friend did them for us and I think she did a great job. I have to say my family were all good sports because we had these done at the temple and it was freezing despite the sunny weather. Of course a little bribery never hurts either. haha !

celebrating our life together !

2009-01-23T06:51:00.001-08:00

So......... Bryan and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary. I can hardly believe it's been that long. Time has really flown by. I really feel blessed to have found such a great guy. He works hard and takes good care of his family, especially me. I have to say overall i can't complain even though I sometimes do. Hopefully the next 16 years don't go by as fast, but they probably will.

reality check !

2009-01-19T15:14:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like the honesty of a child to help you keep it real. While I was getting dressed today my 7 year old walks in and this conversation happens.
Child - Mom, do you think your pants are to small ?
mom - No, I think they fit fine, why ?
Child - Well, they look a little small to me.
mom - Thanks, now please get out.

Good thing I went to the gym today. Otherwise I may have no self confidence. You gotta love your kids !

lving without it !

2009-01-14T06:33:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have one of those moments when a light comes on and you see things in a whole new light ? Oddly enough i had one of those moments when my T.V. broke and we were faced with the question, do we replace it or live without it. After weighing all the pros and cons we decided not to replace it for the sake of our family and for budgeting purposes. The T.V. that broke was in our living room. WE had a small one in my bedroom, so that got moved to Living room.
This is a big step for me, giving up my t.v. But it should be o.k. We told the kids we, as a family, watch to much t.v. anyway. They were resistance at first, but last night for the first time in a long time we sat around the table and played uno instead and everyone was getting along. It was really great. Tonight we break out Beatles monopoly. So hopefully learning to live without will be a good thing. So far it is.

posting...

2009-01-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

Me and my sister

Don't we look just like each other ?

What a great looking pair !

love ya, sis !

Christmas morning with Grandpa

Way to get in the christmas spirit Grandpa !

the grandkids in their new pj's

Don't they look great !

My family on Christmas Eve

Celeste,David,Bryan,Marian,Lindsay

Ben,Colton,dad,rachel,mom

Well......... What an amazing christmas we had this year. My sister Celeste and her son came up for 10 days from Az. The frigid weather was quite a shock to their system. My poor sister froze the whole time while my nephew practically lived outside. Being only 7 he thought it was the greatest thing ever. My sister didn't think it was very fun when she needed to get in her car and the doors were frozen shut.

My whole family came to my house on Christmas eve and we had a great evening together. Celeste made German Stollen and Empinadas ( from Argentina). And of course Hot Chocolate. My sister is quite the international cook. Thankfully for the rest of us. It was all so yummy!!!!

Christmas morning dad was at our house bright and early, 6:30 A.M. to be exact, to watch all the grandkids open presents. It was such an amazing experience and well worth the effort. We all had such a great time together the whole time Cleste was here. I'm so glad she was able to come up.

Unfortunatley not all the news is so wonderful. The 24 hr, I wish I was dead the whole time flu visited our house. And everyone got it. It started with Rachel and ended with Celeste. Thankfully nobody was sick on Christmas day. and now everyone is healthy and hapyy ( knock on wood)

Now Christmas is over and my sister has gone back to az to thaw out. I have amazing memories to keep me warm and look forward to a little peace and quiet next week when the kids are back in school. I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas this year.

Hey Celeste, thanks again for coming. I had a blast ! Next stop, San Diego YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cutest gingerbread house ever !

2008-12-12T15:52:00.000-08:00

I know I'm in blog entry overload right now, but ray-ray came home with her creation so i had to sare it with everyone. the first thing she said was it was a present for me. How sweet is that ? I love this time of year and I love my kids. There is nothing better than this

Santa's budget !

2008-12-12T13:23:00.001-08:00

So I thought I was being clever when my kids starting rattling off what they wanted for christmas and it was getting out of control. So hoping to stop the madness I told them they wouldn't get everything they wanted because "Santa" was on a budget. They said o.k. went on their merry and I thought I was in the clear . Until 2 days later my 7 year old came up to me with a handful of change and said " I found some money for santa so he can get me everything on my list.
How do you rebound from that ? Well, I don't even remember exactly what I said, but something along the lines of children are only allowed a certian alotment of toys, because there are so many children. Santa doesn't use "real" money etc, etc...... Whew! Good thing it's not bad to tell those kind of lies !

"Santa did enjoy a nice ice cold diet coke though, haha!
Merry Christmas !

Lind-z Christmas concert

2008-12-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

Doesn't Lind-z look so grown up in her concert dress. She doesn't like the way she looks, but I think she looks beautiful. But of course I'm not biased. It was a beautiful concert. Even though we didn't get of pic of Grandpa Ralph, he was there as well and really enjoyed it as well. I love Ben's smile ! it's so contagious. I was surprised how hard it was to get everyone to smile at the same time. I love my little 7 year old diva. She always has to look just so. If you look at Bryan and Ben they smiles look alike to me. I hate to brag, but I'm going to anyway. I think I have a great looking little family. I hope everyone is having a great week.

Micheal Mclean concert !

2008-12-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

Bryan, Lindsay and I had the opportunity to go to the forgotten carols concert with my parents. I had never been to it before. What an amazing experience. The spirit of Christ and the magic of Christmas was so strong. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. The quiet reverence was so amazing. I feel really lucky that I got to offically kick off the Christmas season in such an amazing way.

Merry Christmas to our family and friends ! 2008

2008-12-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone had a good year this year. Here is a little bit of news about our family.

Bryan - Still works for Bureau of reclamation going on 10 years now. He enjoys biking when he can and when the weather permits. He keeps things running around the house. Thank goodness. It seems something always needs to be fixed. He loves to take his wife on fun dates, mostly the movies. He also helps his other family,(parents, siblings) whenever he can.

Marian - Finally got out of retail and went from part time to full time. I have to admit that took some getting used to but now I love it. I work for Developmental Center( Training school). I take care of the residents that live there. I've been there since Feb of this year. It's the first job I've ever had that I truly love. I also keep busy being a mom and a wife. That pretty much takes up the rest of my time. I do manage to squeeze in girlfriend time for my own sanity.

Lindsay - Has blossomed into a beautiful young woman. She is 13 now and in the 8th grade. She loves art and writing and is really very good at it. She is my right hand man, next to Bryan.Being the oldest, She helps out alot with babysitting, jobs around the house etc....... She also does the typical teenage stuff like hanging out with her friends and blogging.
She is the reason I got into blogging. She has a strong, independent spirit.

Ben - our little Ben, who is 9 and not so little now. He is in the 3rd grade. He is all boy. I'm pretty sure his life motto is the louder, the dirtier, the more michievious the better. He loves cars,trucks, trains, basically anything with an engine. Like father, like son. He is dad's right hand man whenever something around the house needs to be fixed. He is a bear in the Cub Scouts and seems to really enjoy that. He also loves riding his bike.

Rachel - who is 7 now and in the 2nd grade. She went from my little pink princess to a
Hannah Montana wanna - be . If you tell her she looks cute she will tell you she suppose to look cool not cute. She also loves art. Although not quite to the level Lindsay is at, she loves it. She is all girl. Much like her mom, she always wants to go shopping and she can never have to many shoes or purses( thanks Aunt Brittney). She is a great "big" sister to Ben even though she is 15 months younger. She also has an amazing, independent spirit about her. No nonsense about her.

The royal highnesses - Pugsley and Eve. Our Black and white pugs who we love. They are spoiled rotten, but are a fun part of our lives. They have the patience of Job when it comes to the kids.

We love you all and want to say "Thank You" for all your love and support you have shown our family this past year. You guys are great. We hope you have a very merry Christmas !

Thanksgiving !

2008-12-03T07:11:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful I didn't have to go anywhere for Thanksgiving. It was nice to just relax and spend time with my family.
What I'm thankful for :
1. Bryan - he will clean anything except the toilet. No complaints here
2. my kids - I love it when they come home and tell me all about their day
3. my job - as crazy as it may sound. nothing is more rewarding than being able to take care of special spirits that are unable to care for themselves.
4. friends - whoever I visit or hang out with, I'm grateful for friendship
5. movies - what a great way to escape reality

2008-12-03T06:29:00.000-08:00

Twilight !

2008-11-21T17:16:00.000-08:00

Well....... After working all night I was crazy enough to go see Twilight this morning. There seems to be alot of varied opinions already about it, good and bad. But my personal opinion is it's worth watching. I really liked it and would go see it again. The only recommendation I would make is read the book first if you haven't already. The movie will make more sense. I don't want to say anything to ruin the movie for those of you who haven't seen it. But I think it's worth the effort to go see it ! Have a great weekend !

Emergency room, part 2

2008-11-09T15:28:00.001-08:00

That's right ! I was in the emergency room again this morning, YIKES!!!!!! I woke up hurting so much I thought I was going to die. I also thought I was going to have surgery to fix the problem, but after four hours of more tests and morphin. They told me my cist wasn't big enough to require surgery. Basically I have to live with it until it goes away. Which could be as long as a week. They gave me percecet this time to control the pain. Thank you doctors!!! I go to my regular doctor tomorrow to follow up and make everything is on track, whatever that means ! Anyway, thanks for listening to my complaints. I will try to write something a little more positive next time !

Peaceful Rain by my teenage daughter

2008-11-09T15:19:00.000-08:00

I have to brag........ Again......... Lind-z wrote this amazing poem when she was at church. So I wanted to share it with everyone. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

Peaceful Rain by L.B.

Peaceful Rain, washes away my pain.
Yesterday's sorrow, won't be there tomorrow.
THunder like a drum beat, the world under my bare feet.
The wind blowing through my hair, the world so beautiful you have to stop and stare.
The small raindrops on the leaves, and the gorgous smell of the damp trees.
Lightening like golden rays, and in the nest are the scared blue jays.
Peaceful rain, it's worth sitting at your window pane.

lol

Emergency Room ! What ?

2008-11-07T04:29:00.000-08:00

5 minute pity party.......... thursday I got a pain in my side, but I thought I just pulled a muscle because I did some furniture rearranging ( by myself because Bryan was out of town) anyway, I didn't think much of it until it started getting worse to the point I could hardly walk yesterday. Bryan insisted I go to the E.R. so I did. After about 3 hours of tests and waiting they discovered I have an ovarian cist that burst and that is why I hurt so much. So now I have an excuse to take it easy for a few days. If it's not not better by Monday I may need surgery to get rid of it. So we are going to keep our fingers crossed that it will disolve on it's own.
what a crazy night ! I love Loritab ! HAHA!

husband bragging moment !!!!!

2008-11-02T20:27:00.000-08:00

so....... My washer broke and I didn't get it back for 4 days. You can imagine the laundry build-up from that ordeal. Bryan, bless his little pea-picking heart, Spent all day, on a Saturday, playing catch -up so I wouldn't have to and so I could sleep since I had to work the night before. How many husbands do you know that are willing to do that ? My husband rocks!!!!!! lol

way to go Lindsay

2008-11-02T20:23:00.000-08:00

o.k.......... I have to give a shout out to Lindsay ! She got an outstanding citizenship at school. You have to have 5 or more teachers give you an outstanding to get it. She also got to go to a party for it at school. Way to go Lindsay !!!!!! You rock !!!!!!!!

tagged

2008-11-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

Cool..Brittney tagged me....I have never been tagged before. I tag.....celeste, linda, and kiki Answer each of the following with one word answers!

Yourself: A mom
Your partner: dependable
Your hair: originally, brown
Your mother: provider
Your father: entertaining
Your dream last night: don't know
Your favorite drink: diet coke
Your dream car: anything newer than 2oo5
Your home: cozy
The room you are in: bedroom
Your fear: rapid dogs
Where you want to be in 10 years: Hawaii
Who you hung out with last night: family
You're not: skinny
One of your wish list items: to be skinny
The last thing you did: sleep
You are wearing: scrubs
Your favorite weather: winter
Your favorite book: twilight
Last thing you ate: tomato soup
Your life: rewarding
Your mood: happy
Your best friend: Brittney, Brandi, Kandi, Lind-Z
What you are thinking about right now: getting to work on time
Your car: 1994 Dodge Caravan
What are you doing at the moment: being tagged
Relationship status: Married
What is on your TV: The Nuclear Option (Bryan's show)
When is the last time you laughed: tonight

scarecrow festival

2008-10-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

These are some pictures from the scarecrow festival at Thanksgiving Point. It was alot of fun. I went with My friend Brandi and her kids. We were there all day. It was a great way to survive the kids being out of school for fall break. I really thought the pirate would scare Ben, but he thought it was pretty cool. That and the helicopter which we got to see take off. We hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween. Fasten your seatbelts, Christmas is knocking on the door. Now that is scary !!!!!!

Dear Arizona Family ......Burrrr

2008-10-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone who is still basking in 80 degree weather ! Yesterday's high a cool 45 degrees. Last night's low an even cooler 36 degrees and I drove home in a blizzard this morning on the way home from work. That's right a blizzard !!! All of a sudden I'm having to remember, in a hurry, where my winter wear is. Thankfully Bryan is a very organized person and had everything stored in a rubbermaid container under the bed. Crazy!!!!!!!!! Aren't you looking forward to visiting in February now ? Hey Bennett O. Don't forget your thermal underwear and your electric blanket...... HAHAHAHA!!!!!

We celebrated Ben's b-day yesterday. That was alot of fun. We did the usual cake and ice cream thing with the grandparents. Then we went up the canyon for a haunted halloween train ride. (kid friendly) We all found it kind of funny that Ben was terrified of the moth flying by the light on the train but not the feaky looking dead guy with an ax sticking out of his head. He even sat next to Ben. Ben loved it. I think more than anything else that was one of the best presents we could of given him. At one point on the train Cherie started laughing hysterically and none of us still don't know why.

But we had alot of fun with dad, Cherie and even David took time out of his busy schedule to come with us. Funny story about David. One of the "ghosts" that wondered through our car was a cat lady. She got right up in David's face and asked him if wanted to go on a date with her. It was pretty funny. David said" No, I'm good, but thanks for asking. It was a pretty fun day.

I hope everyone is doing good . Have a great week. I look forward to hearing from you ! LOL

taking a stand !

2008-10-10T05:43:00.001-07:00

SO................... Tuesday night I went protesting for the first time ever. Bryan went with me. They are trying to put a treatment facility for teenage sex offenders just 2 blocks from my house. YIKES!!!!!!!!!! We were even on the channel 4 news with Brent Hunsaker. It was quite an experience. But I was grateful for the oportunity to be able to take a stand to protect our children. Anyway, hopefully we will be able to prevent this fom happening. We are praying and keeping our fingers crossed. WE hope everyone will get on board to support this cause ! Thanks for reading. Have a great day !

autism awareness

2008-10-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

So I decided to use my blog for a little Autism Awareness. Hopefully it will be helpful to all those who read it. First let me say I love all my kids. They are good kids. Our son, was diagnosed with developmental delays when he was 15 months old and our lives have been the same. I'm amazed at the strength and love our 2 daughters have growing up with an Autistic brother. As with all siblings there is definitely a love/hate relationship.
Every one in 150 children will be diagnosed with Autism each year. Autism is a neurogical disease that can't be cured and there is still no known cause. Boys are 4 times higher risk than girls because of their genetic make-up. There has to be a genetic link in your family for a child to have autism. We didn't have any immediate family with Autism so re really had to research to find that link.
Life can be rewarding and challenging when raising a child with Autism. The past nine years have definitely been interesting. I don't wish to get long winded about my life and "woe is me" I love my son and I know he is a special spirit that I have been given the privelage to raise. That doesn't mean everyday is rainbows and sunshine. But then anyone with "normal" kids knows that's not the case anyway. You can't wait for them to get here. and then it's all you can do somedays to let them live.
Anyway, Some challenges children with autism face are, speech, potty training, abstract comprehension. gross and fine motor skills, communication, no sense of time ( days, weeks etc..)
nocommprehension between right and wrong, meltdowns, etc..... just to name a few. A great website to get more information is autismspeaks.com.
Congratulations , if you actually made it to the end of this little Autism tangit. Thanks for reading. i hope everyone has a great week.
FYI - April is Autsim Awareness month !

new experience

2008-10-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

o.k. So I had an interesting experience yesterday. My friend suggested I get my upper lip waxed because I've never done it before and I only have one word about that.....OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My friend is a pro at it, but of course i scream like a little girl. Very embarrassing ! After that we went shopping at the mall to take my mind off the pain. That worked pretty good. Plus Lindz was with us and that's where she wanted to go.
Why wasn't she in school ? Because I let her ditch and have a girls day out ! We all know how important that is. Lindz is at that fun age where we can do stuff together. I just have to make sure not to do anything that will "embarrass" her. I'm just thankful she still wants to hang out with me.
so...... I went to see the new movie with Richard Gere. Anyone dying to go see that, don't forget your tissues. Idon't want to say anything that will give anything away, but let's just say It's takes an unexpected twist. Enough said. Next on the movie list, Eagle Eye !
Other than that just keeping busy, with work,family and life in general . I keep thinking with all my kids in school life might slow down a little, but so far it hasn't. Bummer.
speaking of kids now that they are all gone to school I'm going to sleep now. I hope everyone is having a great week.

learning how to blog

2008-09-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

so...... Lindsay helped me add some fun stuff to my blog. I have a count down to christmas. Which can be helpful and frightening at the same time. I also have one for my anniversary. Bryan and I are still trying to figure out what to do for that.

On a sad note I have to go to a funeral today. My cousin was killed up Spanish Fork Canyon. He was only 24. My dad called to tell me and he said, "Give your kids an extra hug and never drive up Spanish Fork Canyon. I think this accident really shook him up.

Last Sat Night We went to a concert at the Conference Center In SLC . It was fun to have a night out and listen to some great music.

Rachel just had a wardrobe melt-down. She doesn't like the shirt she is wearing , it's green and pink, very cute. she is wearing it with black pants and she was freaking out because she said it doesn't match. So I had to convince her that black goes with everything, but she still went to school upset.... ARGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

And speaking of wardrobe, I gotta go and figure what I am going to wear to my cousins funeral.

Have a great day

family

2008-09-26T06:43:00.001-07:00

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

2008-08-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

so............. I'm new at this blog thing. My daughter is trying to get me motivated about it. So, here goes. School is back in session, which makes me happy because I don't have to hear "I'm bored" all day. I did some shopping with a friend today, which is always fun.
I work full-time ,which can make life nuts, but I love my job so it's not so bad. I would love to write more, but mom duty calls. I'll probably write again when my daughter makes me sit down and do it again. Have a great day !