Catching up...

I have been wanting to find the time to post some updates on this blog. One of the things that I have wanted to add are pictures from Darren's memorial that we had last August. It was such a great day and it was fun to have family together, Darren's friends, and even an old friend from high school that Don and I hadn't seen in many years. The reason for getting together is sad and we miss Darren very much. The memorial was a perfect activity in his honor. We released almost 30 balloons with messages written on them. We started with 30 but balloons kept popping so I think by the time we released them there were only 25 or so. The number doesn't matter, it was the messages to Darren. We played frisbee golf too which was his favorite activity. My friend Lauri, mom, and I made a quilt out of Darren's shirts (and even a pair of boxers)which turned out great.

Pictures will be added later- I have run out of time! It's the story of my life.

While out in California for Chris' shindig, I took the kids on a field trip to Sutter's Fort. I had to do a presentation on a heritage tourist site and I chose to do it on the Fort. We got there on a living history day so it was actually pretty cool. Mariah was with us as well but she was the official photo taker so she isn't in any of the pictures. We had a great time.

Chris came home!

We headed to California for a quick weekend to welcome Chris home from his mission. He has been serving the last two years in the Bilbao Spain mission. He hasn't changed a bit! He looks exactly the same, didn't gain a pound. I am sure the changes he has made have been on the inside and not on the outside.

 

Jalyn enjoying the ride to California.

 

Mountain Man Danny. What's with the beard?

 

Me and Dennis!
Chris- looks exactly the same!

 

I shouldn't complain...

Life has been tough the last few weeks. I try to balance and do it all and usually I do it pretty good. I keep pushing forward. I don't have any other option.

Just needed to vent...

on another sad note...

Ok, this is getting to be too much for me. We had another tragedy in the family when my 13 year old cousin Kendall passed away in his sleep on January 16. His passing was caused by a seizure that he had in his sleep. It was a whirlwind week of family, planning, and mourning together. The funeral was on January 24th and it was beautiful. It was held in one of the first ward buildings that Brigham Young had built just a few years after entering the Salt Lake Valley. It's located at 300 East and 500 South. My Uncle Bob presided and Whit, Kenyon, and Ashlee all spoke. Each talk was fantastic and truly paid honor to Kendall and his life. I am grateful for my understanding and belief in the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that we are here on this earth to learn and grow and we will return to live with our Heavenly Father again. This testimony that I have gives me peace during these sad times but I think I have experienced enough for now. We will miss you, Kendall! Say hi to Grandma and Darren for me!

Donna May Winters Cook

My wonderful and sweet Grandma passed away on December 22, 2009 at the age of 85. She will truly be missed.

This is me and my Grandma when I was 8 or 9. She was a great lady. Just this week, before any of this happened, my mom and I relived some memories of Grandma by making her famous homemade Christmas treats. My mom made Grandma's fruitcake and divinity and I made her fudge. (Mom tried to make the fudge but she did it wrong- mine was better...) Mom got some reaction from Grandma in the hospital by wafting the fruitcake under her nose. :)
We will miss her but we are grateful she is home with our Heavenly Father and I know she was welcomed home by her grandson, Darren. Darren was just the right one to help her back. That was what Darren did best...help others. We love and miss you both!

Posts will come...

I know I have said it before but this time I REALLY mean it! I want to add so much to this blog but I just don't have the time. I have two weeks of school left in the semester and then I will finally do it. I want to share pictures and stories of the memorial we did in August for my brother Darren, I want to brag about the good grades I am getting in school, I want to post fun pictures of the kids and tell funny stories about them...and I will...in a couple of weeks...hopefully before Christmas...

See you then!

Fall Fun at the Pumpkin Patch...

We went to a pumpkin patch in Davis County and had a blast! We ran through the mazes, slid down the monster slide, shot paintball guns, competed for distance with a corn sling shot, lassoed some fake cows, ate yummy kabobs, and took the tractor ride out to the patch to pick our perfect pumpkins. The weather was perfect and it was a great family outing.

Pumpkin Carving...

The annual pumpkin carving event! Halloween started out a little disappointing when we found two of our pumpkins SMASHED and destroyed in the street. Apparently some fun loving hooligans made their way up and down the street spreading their Halloween cheer. Jalyn was devastated! It was her pumpkin that was smashed and she had worked really hard at the pumpkin patch to find the perfect one. It was so sad and after some consoling, she was willing to take Mom's pumpkin and work her carving magic. Shane went to the grocery store and got another pumpkin with the free coupon he got from school. Thankfully it all worked out and the carving was deemed successful!

Mariah missed out on the carving fun. She had been up in the night throwing up and didn't feel well all day. I washed and sanitized her bed, as well as Shane's, scrubbed the bathrooms, and wiped down every doorknob (we do NOT need sickness in our home). Hopefully we got it all. After a few hour nap, Mariah was up and ready to party. Poor thing. I am glad she felt better so she could go out with Thing 1. It just wouldn't have been the same if Thing 1 had to go by herself.

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween! This year has been so busy that I wasn't sure that we could pull it off. I originally talked Jackson out of dressing up and staying home with me instead to pass out candy (one less costume to worry about!) but 5 minutes before everyone was heading out, he threw together a vampire costume and headed out. Thankfully, Mariah's friend's mother stepped in to take care of Mariah and the two girls looked AWESOME! They had a great time and I am way impressed with the way the costumes turned out. Jalyn didn't want to go as anything "cute". "Halloween is scary Mom, I want to be something scary!" is what she said to me. So the skeleton is what she chose to be. Shane was more difficult. Since we were very last minute, he had to pick something that we could throw together with items on hand. This is the costume Mariah wore last year- The Rain Forest. It's a frog hat and then he was dressed as a tree. He was pretty disappointed that no one could tell what he was. I think he looked adorable.

This is our neighbor's house and it is always decorated for every holiday. The yard is COVERED in decorations. We always look forward to the new additions. It definitely makes for a festive street.

And this is why he costs us so much...

This kid is a maniac! He has broken his arm twice, his finger once, stitches in his chin, and too many bruises and cuts to count. He has cost us more money than the other three kids put together. He has not fear! I keep saying we need to get him in gymnastics or diving while he is still fearless.

Muscle Man!

Shane is showing off his muscles. I love this seven year old!

It's been forever!

I know, I know...where have I been? Why haven't I been posting anything on the blog? If you could see the bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep and feel the knots in my shoulders from the stressful semester, you would understand. My life has been a whirlwind of tests, papers, map making(at least making an attempt), commuting, and trying to squeeze in 15 minute power naps so I can make through to the evening. I decided to take on 15 credit hours this semester and it is turning out to be just a bit too much for me. But, I really want to graduate in August and so I will be doing it again next semester. I am excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel! I am all set up with my credits and I even have an internship lined up at Zions Bank for the summer. I am really looking forward to the experience and training that the internship will give me. So I apologize for neglecting the blog. I am sure I will continue to do so but I will do my best. I will at least try to post pictures. Only six more weeks of fall semester! Whew...

Labor Day Weekend 2009

We spent Labor Day weekend with the Summerhays family at the family cabin near Sundance. We had a great time. We hiked to Stewart Falls, cooked hot dogs and smores, ran under waterfalls, and explored nature. While exploring nature, Mariah caught a snake and each of the kids took a turn passing it around. I couldn't believe how fearless each of the kids were. Parents were surrounding the group trying to keep them as safe as possible and remind them to pick up the snake from the tail and not the head. The kids were just thrilled to touch the snake. We had a great time and thanks to the Summerhays for another great day!

First Day of School!

August 26, 2009
First day of school for the kids. Jackson schedule starts sooner than the others and so we didn't get a family picture. I don't think they even woke up until after Jack left. They each had a great day, love their classes, and their teachers. My little Jackson fits in his locker as he tested out on the first day of class when he had his friend lock him in the locker. The friend, Logan, couldn't get the combo to work for about 5 minutes so Jackson was stuck inside and got a little claustrophobic. What a goofy kid!

Shane's 7th birthday!

We celebrated Shane's 7th birthday with a bowling party with his buddies and then dinner and pinata with friends. He had a great time and even learned to "land" a back flip. He was pretty excited about that. This is Braxton, Shane, Jalyn, Cole, Mariah, and Jackson eating dinner outside. Shane requested steak for his birthday dinner. Good choice, buddy!

This is Shane trying to get our attention so he can show us his back flip. I am sure there is some safety rule of how many kids should be on a trampoline but the net will save them.

Is that 8 kids on the tramp?

Here comes one more!

New posts to come!

It has been a busy month and I realized I haven't posted anything for a while. I am going to get right on that. I start school on Monday and then my life will be extra hectic so I better get posting soon. So much has happened...I finished summer term, we celebrated Darren's 30th birthday with a disc golf tournament and bbq, we hiked the Y, we played, we attended the dedication of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, Jackson got locked in a locker at school, and the younger kids started school today! So much to talk about. Stay tuned...

Spudman in Burley

After taking the kids to the Days of 47 parade on the 24th (loved hanging out with Travis and Andrea Williams that I haven't seen in 12 years!), we headed up to Burley, Idaho to hang out with the Downs and then watch Krissie in the Triathlon. We had so much fun. My kids are farm kids. Juli's backyard backs up to some horses and the kids just have a ball. This time we were there the kids found 3 barn kitties and tormented the poor cats. They spent all their time outside, playing with the cats, jumping on the trampoline, and climbing trees to rescue the kitties that probably ran up there in the first place to get away from the kids.


Finally a good picture worth posting of Juli and I. We keep trying! Watching the runners at the finish line truly inspired us to enter next year's triathlon. That excitement lasted almost 24 hours for me and then reality set in. Doing a triathlon will hurt!

This is Mariah and Shane running the final bit with Krissie. It was so cool to see all these runners come in with cheering crowds. It makes me all emotional. Shane almost tripped Krissie (sorry!) on that final stretch. Remembering those feelings I had watching Krissie makes me almost want to train for next year. Oh wait, see above comment...that will hurt. :)