Merry Month of Blogging | Bridget's birthday in Denver

Day three

This summer we were able to go to Denver with James's family over Bridget's birthday. The trip was pretty fun. We had a great time celebrating Bridget's birthday at a Colorado Rockies game. She is a baseball fan and has been since she was little. We've taken her to several Bees games but this was her first Colorado Rockies game.

{My cute family at the ball park}

It was scorching hot. It felt like someone had poured molten lava on us. Literally like the surface of the sun. But even the record high temperatures couldn't detract us from the fun of being in a major league ball park.We ate hot dogs, cheered for the Rockies and had a great experience at the ball park.

Denver is a place I hold very dear because its where we lived for 10 years when I was in school. We moved the middle of my junior year and it was always hard for me. Although I don't have any family there, its still home and I would move back in a heart beat!

The trip also allowed me to meet up with my good friend Damon Drew and meet his partner Christopher. It was a fun dinner with the hottest Thai food I've ever eaten. I loved being able to introduce James and Bridget to Damon because he's one of my oldest friends.

I had a great time showing my family Denver and can't wait to take them back again! Come back tomorrow for more pictures from our trip.

Merry Month of Blogging | Handprint turkeys for Thanksgiving

Day Two

As I've said numerous times, Bridget and I have loved having Tonya and Paige live so close to us. We've had so much fun doing crafty projects together. I am so thankful to have my sister live so close to me. It's been such a blessing in my life and for my family.

When we're doing crafty projects, I like them to not only encourage Bridget's creative side, but to also measure where she is developmentally. It's fun to look back at her projects from last year and see how far she's come. I'm so thankful Bridget has a creative side and loves doing projects with me.

{Bridget's Masterpiece}

To celebrate Thanksgiving, Tonya and I decided to do hand print turkeys. The girls had a blast having their hands painted and pressing them onto the paper. Bridget was so proud of her turkey and had a great time making it.

Although it was a little messy, the girls had a great time making feathers out of their hand prints, choosing the paint colors, gluing everything together and cutting out their turkey legs. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Merry Month of Blogging | Christmas Advent Calendar

Day One

My blogging efforts this year have been less than stellar. We've had a great year but because we're I'm so lame, I haven't blogged about it at all. Since its December 1 today, I thought I'd try to blog every day about something we've done this year.

Every year for Christmas, James's mom and dad buy all the grand kids a chocolate advent calendar. I'm not sure how the tradition started all those years ago, but Bridget has loved it! This year my mom bought Bridget one as well so we have twice the chocolate advent fun. I can't complain because I know how much Bridget loves opening the little doors and finding the right number. 

{A present is always a good way to start the Christmas advent calendar}

 This year she's been able to find the right numbers herself as well. She knows 1-9 by sight but still has trouble with the double numbers. She's doing so good at preschool and having a great time.

Giving thanks for a good year

{Aliso Beach, California  September 2011}

For our family, this year started on a low note. James was laid off for the second time and we had just barely struggled through another depressing Christmas with no job prospects on the horizon. Thankfully, James found employment with the first company he started with in the surveying field, Meridian Engineering. It felt like coming home for us and we've been very happy being back.

We've had a lot of fun this year and the highs have out numbered the lows. We traveled to Boise, Denver, Las Vegas, West Yellowstone, Aston, Idaho, and Newport Beach this year with family. It was a lot of fun and we're already looking forward to visiting some fun places next year!

As the year comes to a close, I have a lot to be thankful for. I am grateful for modern medicine and the ability to make people better. In August during a routine physical my doctor became concerned about my abnormal menstrual cycle. It didn't mean much to me, it was something I'd dealt with all my life but she was very worried about it.

A fast trip to the OB/GYN and one hideously uncomfortable vaginal ultrasound later, it was determined that I had to have a hysterectomy. This hit us pretty hard. The "having our own babies" boat has already sailed for James and I, so that wasn't an issue. But I will admit I was scared about the recovery and the procedure. I had the best doctors around and although the procedure took longer than planned and I struggled to come out of the anesthesia, the results were good and my ovaries remained, which meant no need for hormone therapy. Hurray!

Two weeks later, everything changed. I got a call from the OB/GYN Oncologist while Bridget was at school. She said after further examination, there was one cancerous cell in my discarded uterus. It was small - less than a centimeter big. But it was big enough to concern her. The presence of cancer in my uterus meant an increased chance of the possibility of ovarian cancer later. The decision was made to go back in and remove the ovaries to eliminate the threat of ovarian cancer. That surgery will happen on December 7. Hmmmm....

Cancer is ugly, its scary and although I put on a brave front for my family since we caught it so early, I was scared. It made me think about my life and what was important to me. My cancer story had a happy ending because of my hysterectomy. I know many people aren't that lucky. I'm so grateful for Dr. Laine and Dr. Zimpolic. They are listened to my crazy concerns, wiped the tears away and held my hand when I just couldn't be strong anymore. They are both amazing women and I owe them my life.

Tonya lost her dear friend Whitni earlier this year to a rare form of single cell ovarian cancer. At the time she died, we had no idea that there was a tiny cancerous cell getting ready to take over my body. Whitni lost her brave battle against cancer after fighting it like a gladiator. She was a rock star and she will be missed. I am so lucky to be able to sleep next to my husband at night, pinch Bridget's bum when she runs up the stairs, be frustrated with my family when they irritate me, go to the grocery store, and do laundry after my own tiny cancer scare.

Christmas and Thanksgiving this year means something different to me. I'm so grateful for my family and the love and support they have given us through this difficult process. I'm a lucky girl. I have so much to be thankful for. I can't possibly name everything here. It shouldn't take something as serious as medical problems to make a person realize how much they are blessed. None the less, I have a new found love and respect for the wonderful people in my life and I hope next year I can do what I can to serve them so they will know how much they mean to me.

We wish all our friends and family the very best this holiday season. Have a wonderful Christmas filled with joy, laughter, love, and most importantly our Savior. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Halloween 2011 | Photo shoot

I met my friend Emilie last year by accident. I won a session from her and we've been friends ever since. Once again this year we took Bridget out to her cute studio in Draper for her Halloween Photo event. This year didn't disappoint! She managed to capture Bridget's cute personality and her awesome Queen of Hearts costume. It was a great time and we're already looking forward to next year!

Fall Photo Shoot

It has been so much fun having Tonya and Paige so close to us. We hang out all the time, do crafty projects and have a lot of fun. Tonya and I decided to take advantage of the warm fall weather we've been enjoying and take some pictures in the leaves. It was a lot of fun and Tonya took some amazing pictures. If you need family pictures taken, you should definitely call Tonya.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween!! 

(More to come later)