Our New Year.

Wow! Our New Year definitely was not what we planned, but our New Years Eve was amazing!! Since Jack returned home from the hospital he hadn't gotten any better. He slept alot, didn't eat much, and couldn't really do much for himself. On New Years Eve Brandon and I went over foe a visit to Jack and ended up staying till around 11 o'clock. It was such a good day for him!! Brandon's brother, Jason, and Sissy spent the morning with him doing lots of talking and laughing. When we got there Jack was still going. He had lots of energy and was eating alot. I had left a large piece of choc cake there and he ate almost the whole thing. I got to sit alone with him for the first time and talk. I can't believe in the short time he has been in my life how much I have grown to love that man!! I just cried with him and ask him to send my love to my sister Tara when he sees her in heaven. Of course he said he would.

With Jacks good mood we also did a video conference with Ashle and Chris who had to go home back to Washington. It was so nice to all get to talk together.

That night when we said our goodbyes we really didn't think it was going to be our last...We didn't make it over yesterday, New Years Day, and today it was too late....

Our beloved Jack passed away in his sleep cuddled up to his sweet wife just was he wanted to.. We will truly miss him, although we are so happen that he is in a better place and no longer suffering. We love you Jack and can't wait to see you in Heaven.

Jack's choice for after he passed was to be cremated. So that is what we are going to do. We will be holding a memorial for him Jan. 23rd.

Christmas Ups and Downs

Our Christmas this year has had many ups and downs!! Nov. '08 my Father -In- law, Jack was diagnosed with Liver Cancer. He had gotten a few symptoms, but for the most party was doing really good!! He was still working and still spending as much time with family and friends as possible with being tired.

Tuesday Dec. 22nd we were suppose to be having a family Christmas party, but around three he started throwing up blood.. It was all down hill from there. You see Jack wanted to die in his own home not in a hospital, so he was refusing to go to the hospital. Lucky for us my Sister-in-Law Ashle, her husband Chris, and their 2 kids were there because Jack didn't want to pass with the grand kids in the house since it most likely wasn't going to be an easy passing. So we got him into the car and Brandon drove Jack and Sissy up to the ER after about 4 hours of throwing up blood.

We found out that little vessels had broken off and he was bleeding into his stomach. They planed to do the surgery the next day to stop. The next day we went up to the hospital and we were surrounded by lots for family and loved ones! It was so nice to have their support. Non of us thought that Jack was going to make it through the surgery, so we said our goodbyes... After about 2x as long as the surgery was suppose to take Sissy went in to see if there was any news. Lucky for us he made it through.

By Thursday, Christmas Eve, Jack was still in the hospital. We were suppose to go on carriage rides around the temple that night as a family, but with Jack at the hospital and Sissy there with him setting up hospice we didn't think we'd go. Jack and Sissy insisted that we go and enjoy ourselves, which we definitely did!!

We always have a good time when Ashle and Chris come, we laugh and laugh. As we were walking to the temple from the parking garage Ashle was trying to zip up her coat, but was having major problems!!! Now I'm so mad that I didn't get a picture of this, but I'm going to try and paint the picture for you. She had her gloves pinched between her thighs, knees together, and was waddling up the stairs!! Was made it even funnier is that the Mr. Moo (our nephew) said "Mommy do you have to pee?!?" We all laughed and laughed and then Ashle did need to pee from laughing so hard, so she was doing the potty dance in the middle of the side walk!!! We finally stopped and I got her coat zipped up.

We made our way across Temple Square looking at all the pretty lights!! To where the carriages were waiting.

Here we are waiting for our carriage. Me, Chris, Kylee, Moo, and Ashle.

Here I sitting in our carriage. Brandon and I went in one & Ashle, Chris, and the Kids in another.

The BEAUTIFUL Salt Lake Temple!

Brandon and I freezing our butts off ;)

Ashle and Missy (Kylee)

Their cute little family. Mr. Moo fell asleep on the ride. :)

The next day, Christmas, was some what eventful. Every Christmas morning we all get together with the Bennet family and have Christmas breakfast at Grandma's. This year g-ma was out of town so we did it and Jack and Sissy's. Although that morning we got a call from Jack in the hospital saying that they were giving him more blood because he was bleeding again. Sissy ran out the door and up to the hospital. Ashle called us and asked if we would come help get breakfast. By the time we got there Sissy had reached the hospital and told us that it was a false alarm that they were giving him blood because his hematocrits were low. Ashle kept calling them his Hermaphrodites. lol it was so so funny!! so they got that under control and Sissy said she'd have him home around one that day!! We were all so excited that he would be home to spend part of Christmas with us! Here are some pictures from our Christmas breakfast.

From the left: Oby, Cloe, Tonio, someone who looks to be Jamie, and Tami.

Ahsle and I workin in the kitchen

Jamie decided to use Izzy's new knee pads as boobie cups =)

We were trying to get a picture of Jamie and Aisha's cute little family, but Mr. Moo decided to join in and make this lovely face!!

Brandon and I Christmas '09

Jack finally got home and settled around 2 o'clock. Just as we were about to open presents Gina his Hospice nurse showed up to get things rolling which was truly a blessing!! I have such respect for them. To spend her Christmas helping us and making sure Jack was comfortable was so nice!!

Here is Jack with Mr. Moo one of his most FAVORITE people in the world!!

Here I am opening my presents=)

Chris and Missy opening theirs. Isn't she so darn cute!!

Over all our Christmas was really good. We got to spend it with our loved ones :) Merry Christmas everyone!!

Christmas # Two

Brandon and I consider our selves very lucky!! We have 3 Christmases this year and we made sure we really enjoyed it because we're not quite sure what our next years Christmas has to offer for us. With the move and going down to one income we are sure that next years Christmas will be a small one.

This year we got very spoiled!! Our first Christmas we didn't get any pictures. Probably because we opened it WAY to early. My parents Mark and Bridgette in Idaho sent our Christmas home with us on Thanksgiving. We were planning on being good cause they told us to not open it till Christmas. We made it to Sunday and had to open!! We weren't going to say anything to them till Christmas, but Brandon was Super Smart and decided to post on Facebook that he got a Kampuchea.... Needless to say I talked to my parents about Christmas way before I was planning on it....

Our second Christmas was 12/20 in Joseph. My parents Terry and Becca were leaving to Texas so we did it a week early.

Kourtney and I got matching PJs.

Brandon 's first present was a "Better Luck Next time Card"

My mom had fun wrapping Money with odd items and giving him

"Better Luck Nest Time Cards"

As you can see here he got a bottle of "Hidden Valley Ranch"

Luckily he also got $20. :)

Mom loved her Willow Tree Person

Kourtney used the gift card from our Idaho Family and Our Joseph Parents to get all new snowboarding stuff. Super cute board, bindings, boots, coat, and beenie. :)

I got this VERY cute mirror =)

Temple Square

Our first trip to temple square this year was so much fun!! Katie, my best friend from high school, brought up a friend and we all went and looked at the lights!! It was good to see here. We've gotten the opportunity to go about every year since we graduated and it has been quite fun!!

Beautiful!!!

Katie and I. I sure love this girl!!!

Brandon and I

Justin, Katie and I

The New House!!!

In late October we made the decision to move to Sevier UT. It's not far from my Mom's house in Joseph. For those that are asking themselves, "Where is Joseph?" It is in Central Utah Off I-70. Google it :) I am going to be working for my mom and Brandon will be going to school full-time at Snow College Richfield. This will help him get it done quicker and not have to go less than part time in the evenings.

Below are some pictures of our new house. PLEASE, keep in mind that it is a work in in progress lol. Lots of work will be happening. As soon as it is warm enough we will be painting the house tan with black trim and these pictures were taken before the leaves, wood, and awkward trees were removed. When it is finished more pictures will be posted =)

This weekend we also did some painting. In the left corner of this picture you'll see that the kitchen had yellow painted. For those of you that know me you know that I wouldn't be able to leave it that way. So we painted it GREEN!!! Imagine that!! We love it!! My sister Kourtney came over and helped too.

Here is our photographer.

Here is our living room. In the near future the carpet will be changed and the walls are going to be sheet rocked.

We are super excited for the move and will be there full-time starting the first weekend of January.

Thanks Giving

For Thanks Giving we went to my parents in Idaho. We had a blast. I was event full though. My dad had surgery the beginning of Nov. He got an infection so by Thanksgiving he was just barely up and about. He has an IV in to drip antibiotics and it needed to be changed Thanksgiving morning. My Mom is a nurse so the Doc gave her the stuff to change his IV, but hasn't been practicing for a few years to the tools had a few changed..

So we used one of the needles to experiment with to see how it worked and then we prepped dad for the change. So we tied the rubber thing around his upper arm, mom stuck the needle in his arm, pulled this little clicky thing, attached one of the connectors and then all the sudden, don't ask me how, but blood started FLOWING onto the floor!! I dashed to get the paper towels and mom figured out how to stop the flow. Lucky for us it was hardwood flooring and was easy to clean up! We had it cleaned up before our guests arrived as well. Can you imagine going in to eat your Thanksgiving dinner to find the place looking like the turkey was killed right there on the kitchen floor!!! lol It was super funny!!

Here is dad still smiling after the experience..He decided he wanted to go to the hospital for the next one. =)

Cache

Stacy, Eric, and Baby Rider

My Newest Nephew Rider D. Salvesen

My Niece and Nephews from Idaho Minus one (Kenz)

Tylee, Teagan, Rider, and Cache

Jack and Sissy's Anniversary

For Jack and Sissy's anniversary gift we took them to Witchapalooza at Gardner Village for dinner and a show. We had a GREAT time!! It was a good meal and an excellent show! We laughed and laughed and laughed! We had the best seats in the house so we got lots of attention from the cast. A little too much I would say. One of the witches decided that they were going to rub up on Brandon!! He Immediately asked if I was jealous. Of course I wasn't she was not a good looking witch =)

Here are some pictures from our night out:

The Village People!! They all did this at the same time although it was the wrong time in the song ha ha

So we asked them to take a picture...All these years later and they still can't seem to get it right lol!!!

Take One:
Take Two:

And Take Three:

(at least they are both looking at the camera!!) And for us..Take One:

(we've seemed to figure out the picture taking thing in two years together lol)

Horse Back Riding

While we were up in Idaho for Stacy's Baby Shower my dad got out the horses for everyone to ride. Lots of people don't know that my dad is a Cow Boy at heart. For most when they meet him they think he's a total city guy but then the find out that he's been riding horses FOREVER!!

Here are some pictures from their ride around the house:

Brandon on Nick and Kourtney on Lady

Brandon Concentrating!! Go horsey Go!!

Teagan following in my Papa's footsteps!!

Stacy's Baby Shower

We went up to Idaho this past weekend for Stacy's baby shower. Everything went really well for not having much time to plan. My sister in law Candice was throwing the shower but she wasn't able to make it.

You see my niece Tylee has been really sick off and on since she was born. Test after test after test and they weren't able to figure out what was wrong. Well a few weeks ago Tylee had a really bad episode and the hospital in Boise Id FINALLY figure out was it was. Lots of problems with pancreas. So they had to stay home and get her taken care of.

So my mom, Kourtney and I put it together and made it work. We had it at Brownstone restaurant in their party room and it went great!! Here's some pictures.

I made all this for her. Even though she didnt believe I made the blanket.

The Party room Mom and a few guests.

Stacy with her gifts.

Stacy opening gifts. She had so much!

The Guests. We had 27 RSVP and like 40 show up! Crazy!

Donut Falls!

Brandon and I have been talking about going on this hike for MONTHS. So this weekend we finally did it. A friend from work told me aboutit and how her 1yr old walked the whole way.

So here i am at the beggining all ready to go!

Here's Brandon about half way there!

Now the whole time i'm thinking to myself, "a one yr made it the whole way by him self! what wrong with me!" This itty bitty hike made me realize how out of shape I really am!!

But what when we got to the top and saw this, I knew it was worth it!

Brandon went rock climbing to the top so and took this great picture.

And this is why they call it Donut falls :)

We had a great time and I recommend it to anyone :)