So back at the end of March, Jace had a scary experience.
He had blood in his urine.
We rushed him to the doctor, who was worried, and sent him to get an ultrasound the next day.
The ultrasound results came that afternoon from the doctor (unheard of in my experience) saying they found a mass on one of his kidneys.
Jace was to get a CT scan, but couldnt get in for a few days.
Pretty scary when you think you have cancer.
Our doctors assistant wasnt okay with that and personally called around to get him in THAT day somewhere.
She was amazing.
So Jace went.
And our doctor personally called Jace that evening after business hours (from his car, no less!) to say that the CT scan didnt show any cancer.
Whew.
We went in a few days later to discuss (follow up) with our doctor. He explained what they saw on the ultrasound and what they saw in the CT. Apparently Jace's kidney is odd and is thicker than normal (his mom has weird shaped kidneys, so it must be genetic) and that is what the ultrasound picked up but couldnt distinguish. However, there was still the blood in the urine thing that was troublesome.
So off to a urologist we went. We had our initial meeting and scheduled a scope. That would check the bladder, the prostate, and the urethra making sure there was no cancer anywhere.
To say Jace was not excited about this would be putting it mildly.
He went in at the end of April, had the procedure, and we have received news.
THERE IS NO CANCER.
(lets take a minute and thank Heavenly Father for this blessing)
Best guess of the cause of bleeding is that Jace passed a kidney stone and didnt realize it.
So there you go. Jace's cancer scare of 2017.
Lets not do that again, okay?
Showing posts with label Jace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jace. Show all posts
Monday, May 1, 2017
Friday, March 31, 2017
Loving each other
We've been having some things going on in our family. Its still difficult to put into words as we are in the midst of it still--I'm sure I will share later.
But its caused Jace and I to be a bit more affectionate to one another.
Nash has noticed.
Tonight when Jace hugged and kissed me before he left to work (it was a decent kiss--not just a peck like normal), Nash said, "OH!!!!!! They are loving each other!!" in this sing-song-y voice.
Jace and I started cracking up immediately.
It was adorable.
The end.
But its caused Jace and I to be a bit more affectionate to one another.
Nash has noticed.
Tonight when Jace hugged and kissed me before he left to work (it was a decent kiss--not just a peck like normal), Nash said, "OH!!!!!! They are loving each other!!" in this sing-song-y voice.
Jace and I started cracking up immediately.
It was adorable.
The end.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Conflicted
I'm conflicted.
Right now, I am feeling a major NEED to PURGE.
Seriously, if it were possible, i think I'd sell most of our possessions and start over (with the exception of the paint color in most of the house. we JUST re-did that and I love it).
But I know thats not possible.
The inside of our home doesnt have very much storage space. There is one tiny hall closet that was just for linens that i have been trying to make work for a broom closet (hello, vacuum!) as well as games and linens. All other bedroom closets have been stacked full of important papers, old clothes that dont fit, old items from our pre-marriage days that we havent been able to part with, and nashs closet was chalk full of every item of clothing he has outgrown as well as every piece of baby "stuff" (infant car seat, baby bath tub, bouncer, music table, extra diapers he outgrew, teething toys etc) that we could cram in there.
We have a garage out in our backyard (i know weird!) and there is no access for an actual car. Its a HUGE space (that eventually will become our master bedroom/bathroom/closet--WAY down the road) that would be perfect for storage if there was a space to put things.
So, over Jace's PTO (paid time off) from work, I had him build me shelves for my garage. I drew up what I wanted and he went to work. They are dreamy and now I want more! (I'll post pictures as soon as I can get my garage put back together!)
I started putting things back in the garage that was already in there and realized that we needed to get rid of some stuff, especially because the goal was to clear out some much needed closet space IN the house.
So here comes the purge! I've been throwing away, trying to sell a few things, and have quite the collection to donate amasing. I have not been conflicted about ANYTHING...until I got to nash's closet.
Its no secret that I want more children. I long for the day when my arms are holding more babies and when Nash has siblings to play with. Most of his baby stuff will stay with the hope and goal of using them again in the not too distant (i hope!) future. It was super emotional for me. I cried about his tiny shoes. I had forgotten about his mobile. I found the millions of soothie binkies that I forgot we had. And then...the TOYS. I feel like we have a zillion toys and ONE child! I want to put everything i consider "baby" away....but now that he sees it, he keeps playing with them! I mean, more than his other toys! I know that he will forget about them once they are out of sight for awhile. But I mean, you shouldve seen his face when I bagged up some old toys that I told him were going to another little girl or boy to play with. It was like i took away his most favorite thing in the world!
So. I have been letting him play for the last two days with more toys I found. I've been going back and forth in my head--maybe i could leave them out for him to play with....and then THEY NEED TO GO NOW! Super conflicted. lol
Edited: If anyone is wondering, my purge desire has won out over sentimentality. I stuffed them all in a bag and it will be on its way out to the garage ASAP. :)
Right now, I am feeling a major NEED to PURGE.
Seriously, if it were possible, i think I'd sell most of our possessions and start over (with the exception of the paint color in most of the house. we JUST re-did that and I love it).
But I know thats not possible.
The inside of our home doesnt have very much storage space. There is one tiny hall closet that was just for linens that i have been trying to make work for a broom closet (hello, vacuum!) as well as games and linens. All other bedroom closets have been stacked full of important papers, old clothes that dont fit, old items from our pre-marriage days that we havent been able to part with, and nashs closet was chalk full of every item of clothing he has outgrown as well as every piece of baby "stuff" (infant car seat, baby bath tub, bouncer, music table, extra diapers he outgrew, teething toys etc) that we could cram in there.
We have a garage out in our backyard (i know weird!) and there is no access for an actual car. Its a HUGE space (that eventually will become our master bedroom/bathroom/closet--WAY down the road) that would be perfect for storage if there was a space to put things.
So, over Jace's PTO (paid time off) from work, I had him build me shelves for my garage. I drew up what I wanted and he went to work. They are dreamy and now I want more! (I'll post pictures as soon as I can get my garage put back together!)
I started putting things back in the garage that was already in there and realized that we needed to get rid of some stuff, especially because the goal was to clear out some much needed closet space IN the house.
So here comes the purge! I've been throwing away, trying to sell a few things, and have quite the collection to donate amasing. I have not been conflicted about ANYTHING...until I got to nash's closet.
Its no secret that I want more children. I long for the day when my arms are holding more babies and when Nash has siblings to play with. Most of his baby stuff will stay with the hope and goal of using them again in the not too distant (i hope!) future. It was super emotional for me. I cried about his tiny shoes. I had forgotten about his mobile. I found the millions of soothie binkies that I forgot we had. And then...the TOYS. I feel like we have a zillion toys and ONE child! I want to put everything i consider "baby" away....but now that he sees it, he keeps playing with them! I mean, more than his other toys! I know that he will forget about them once they are out of sight for awhile. But I mean, you shouldve seen his face when I bagged up some old toys that I told him were going to another little girl or boy to play with. It was like i took away his most favorite thing in the world!
So. I have been letting him play for the last two days with more toys I found. I've been going back and forth in my head--maybe i could leave them out for him to play with....and then THEY NEED TO GO NOW! Super conflicted. lol
Edited: If anyone is wondering, my purge desire has won out over sentimentality. I stuffed them all in a bag and it will be on its way out to the garage ASAP. :)
Friday, September 16, 2016
Yeesh.
How depressing have my last posts been?!
I was able to meet up with an old friend last night. We talked for like 4 hours. I didnt come home till 1 AM. It was good to reconnect and have some adult time. (thanks Katy!!) I'm pretty sure she wasnt thrilled with how late we were up (her kids are SUPER early risers) but I'm glad we did it.
As I talk about things...my life, real life, things that are great and not so great...its all for me. This blog is my journal. Its a way for me to record what I was feeling, what was going on in my life. And I want it to be real. I want to remember how I actually felt about something. Because, who knows. It may help me out in the future if I go through another similar experience. Or it could help me give advice to my children, or friends. Or maybe, since this blog is public, it helps someone else out that just happens to read my blog.
Life is a roller coaster. No matter who you are, or what circumstance your life is in; at some point your life will go up and down, upside down, topsy turvy CRAZY. Because life is unpredictable and hard and weird and great and tiring, and awesome.
If you had known me growing up and through high school, I was a pretty happy gal. There were crummy things in my life; sure, but overall I really didnt have much to worry about and I worked really hard to be happy. My english teached called me a disney princess and my CP chem teacher called me his social butterfly. I loved people and life and just wanted things to be good.
And life happens. It gets hard and scary. You have your heart broken a few times. The world starts crumbling. You begin to doubt your self worth. You feel alone.
Some people retreat in order to survive.
I know that for me, I definitely retreated some. I had to just plug along hoping that with time and some effort, things would work out and change for the better. And they did. And then infertility happened. And that changed me. It changed my perspective on things. And Nash came along. And that changed me. For the better. And then Jace's addiction came to light, and that REALLY changed me. First for worse, and now I believe for the better. I'm a more aware person, who really just believes in total and complete HONESTY now. For better or worse, the truth is the best thing.
Through it all, i've found myself not the same girl that I was in high school. Life has changed me. And thats okay. You are supposed to change as life goes on and circumstances happen. What helps me is looking at it through this imagery of a song:
http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/doug_walker/stones_in_the_river-lyrics-1249113.html#ixzz4KRvojUju
like stones in the river
we are tossed and turned
when the current moves so strong
stones in living waters over time
are shaped until the edges are gone
polished and smooth, that's what we will be
if we put ourselves in god's hands
each day of our lives is a gift from the giver
to smooth all the edges
like stones in the river
I am making an effort to be more happy. To find the good in my days. I promise I am. And I'm really sorry to anyone reading this who thinks that I'm just a depressing soul whom they pity. Because that is not who I am.
I am a woman who is imperfect; going through hard things. But I also am a daughter of God, a mother, a wife, a business owner, and I'd like to think I'm working on becoming a better friend as well.
**also, since its friday I'll leave you with a "friday funny"--my son is really in to "An Extremely Goofy Movie" on netflix. I went in to get him up for the day this morning and he exclaimed: "Shake your groove thing momma!"
HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!
I was able to meet up with an old friend last night. We talked for like 4 hours. I didnt come home till 1 AM. It was good to reconnect and have some adult time. (thanks Katy!!) I'm pretty sure she wasnt thrilled with how late we were up (her kids are SUPER early risers) but I'm glad we did it.
As I talk about things...my life, real life, things that are great and not so great...its all for me. This blog is my journal. Its a way for me to record what I was feeling, what was going on in my life. And I want it to be real. I want to remember how I actually felt about something. Because, who knows. It may help me out in the future if I go through another similar experience. Or it could help me give advice to my children, or friends. Or maybe, since this blog is public, it helps someone else out that just happens to read my blog.
Life is a roller coaster. No matter who you are, or what circumstance your life is in; at some point your life will go up and down, upside down, topsy turvy CRAZY. Because life is unpredictable and hard and weird and great and tiring, and awesome.
If you had known me growing up and through high school, I was a pretty happy gal. There were crummy things in my life; sure, but overall I really didnt have much to worry about and I worked really hard to be happy. My english teached called me a disney princess and my CP chem teacher called me his social butterfly. I loved people and life and just wanted things to be good.
And life happens. It gets hard and scary. You have your heart broken a few times. The world starts crumbling. You begin to doubt your self worth. You feel alone.
Some people retreat in order to survive.
I know that for me, I definitely retreated some. I had to just plug along hoping that with time and some effort, things would work out and change for the better. And they did. And then infertility happened. And that changed me. It changed my perspective on things. And Nash came along. And that changed me. For the better. And then Jace's addiction came to light, and that REALLY changed me. First for worse, and now I believe for the better. I'm a more aware person, who really just believes in total and complete HONESTY now. For better or worse, the truth is the best thing.
Through it all, i've found myself not the same girl that I was in high school. Life has changed me. And thats okay. You are supposed to change as life goes on and circumstances happen. What helps me is looking at it through this imagery of a song:
http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/doug_walker/stones_in_the_river-lyrics-1249113.html#ixzz4KRvojUju
like stones in the river
we are tossed and turned
when the current moves so strong
stones in living waters over time
are shaped until the edges are gone
polished and smooth, that's what we will be
if we put ourselves in god's hands
each day of our lives is a gift from the giver
to smooth all the edges
like stones in the river
I am making an effort to be more happy. To find the good in my days. I promise I am. And I'm really sorry to anyone reading this who thinks that I'm just a depressing soul whom they pity. Because that is not who I am.
I am a woman who is imperfect; going through hard things. But I also am a daughter of God, a mother, a wife, a business owner, and I'd like to think I'm working on becoming a better friend as well.
**also, since its friday I'll leave you with a "friday funny"--my son is really in to "An Extremely Goofy Movie" on netflix. I went in to get him up for the day this morning and he exclaimed: "Shake your groove thing momma!"
HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Life Lately
Oh boy. Can life be so busy and exhausting but at the same time monotonous and boring?!
Lately our little family has been BUSY.
My car "Cozey" that Jace has been using as his work car is dying a slow and painful death. My dad has been so wonderful to keep her chugging along, but she is really on her last leg. Jace and I have been working overtime to earn extra money to buy a new (to us) car.
The weather has been a mix of good and not so good. We have had some nice monsoons and the rain to go along with them. Nash and I have been going out in all the rain for a bit to play. But with the monsoons has come such heat and humidity that Ive been mostly miserable!! Plus now the mosquitos (quitos as nash calls them) are out and i'm being eaten alive!
A few weeks ago, late at night during a storm, Nash and I were outside playing. I walked on the sidewalk barefoot and stepped on something so sharp and painful!! I figured it was a pine needle from our neighbors tree. I got nash to bed and started digging into my foot with tweezers. I got some out. Over the next week, i was soaking in epsom salts every night, applying a baking soda paste to it every few days, and digging more stuff out with tweezers. I have been in pain, but not unmanageable and i KNEW that there was still something in my foot. I was just getting ready to make an appointment with my doctor (for fear of infection) when my leg started to throb. I kept checking to make sure I didnt have blood poisoning and I decided to just suck it up best as i could and performed a mini "surgery". I grabbed a razor blade and cut an X over the wound. I took clippers and took all the skin off and then i squeezed the end tip of a pine needle out of my foot. The relief was wonderful. My foot was sore and hurt from all the cutting i did, but it didnt throb and my leg started to feel better. That was 2 days ago and Im walking for the first time in weeks without pain!
My business has picked up alot over the summer! I've been photographing lots of new babies and their families. I seriously have been able to snuggle so many beautiful little angels.
My living room has become my studio...and its a disaster!! I miss having my big open room, but with all the babies, I needed a well lit room to fit their families and to have enough space for my stuff! Someday when we do our addition in the back, I'll have a great big studio with awesome lighting. Someday.
My mom has been amazing to watch nash when I have a photo shoot. I'm so grateful to my family-- they have been my biggest supporters in my business and have stepped up to help out.
Jace has been working longer hours lately. And then he has his addiction recovery meetings on wednesday nights, then works a second job on fridays and saturday nights. We only get to see him 4 days a week for an hour or 2 a night.
Poor Nash. He has been doing so well, and honestly is such a good little boy. He gets so bored with just me though. I play alot of the day with him (inside since its so hot!) and most days I try to take him to my parents to go swimming. He mostly loves to go visit "gamma and papa" and play with their cars, watch tom and jerry, and convince my dad to take him outside. He also loves to play with and bug joe. I think once the weather turns a bit nicer and we can spend more time outside, he'll be content with just me again :)
He has been saying the cutest things. Like he says "colorings" when he wants to draw or color, "sandy-castles" when he wants to play in sand, and "its slippering" when its wet and he slips. So freaking cute.
We have irrigation every 2 weeks in the summer. Nash hasnt played in it yet...because 1. i think its gross and 2. irrigation normally comes when he is asleep. Yesterday though, irrigation came an hour or so before his nap, so I went out with him for 45 minutes and played in our yard. He had a BLAST and took the BEST nap. Win win!
Nashman spiked a fever on Sunday and started throwing up. I was treating him with cool compresses, pedialyte, tylenol, and motrin. When he wasnt getting any better, and in fact his fever was rising, Monday night we took him to out pediatrician's twilight hours. The result? STREP THROAT. Poor baby!!! We had a few nights of not so great sleep, but the antibiotic and tylenol and motrin have been doing their job and he seems to be doing much better.
My blood pressure spiked on Sunday night too. I dont know from what for sure, but it hasnt gone down. And if you remember right, my blood pressure got so high during pregnancy that they thought I might have a stroke. So I went into my doctor yesterday and I'm back on blood pressure medication until I can get in to see my cardiologist and figure out what is going on.
We are going to be taking a few days to go up to our cabin. We cant go over Labor Day this year like we try to, so we'll be escaping for a few days.
And thats life lately. Lots of work, lots of playing with Nash, and lots of heat and indoor time right now. Boring, but busy!
Lately our little family has been BUSY.
My car "Cozey" that Jace has been using as his work car is dying a slow and painful death. My dad has been so wonderful to keep her chugging along, but she is really on her last leg. Jace and I have been working overtime to earn extra money to buy a new (to us) car.
The weather has been a mix of good and not so good. We have had some nice monsoons and the rain to go along with them. Nash and I have been going out in all the rain for a bit to play. But with the monsoons has come such heat and humidity that Ive been mostly miserable!! Plus now the mosquitos (quitos as nash calls them) are out and i'm being eaten alive!
A few weeks ago, late at night during a storm, Nash and I were outside playing. I walked on the sidewalk barefoot and stepped on something so sharp and painful!! I figured it was a pine needle from our neighbors tree. I got nash to bed and started digging into my foot with tweezers. I got some out. Over the next week, i was soaking in epsom salts every night, applying a baking soda paste to it every few days, and digging more stuff out with tweezers. I have been in pain, but not unmanageable and i KNEW that there was still something in my foot. I was just getting ready to make an appointment with my doctor (for fear of infection) when my leg started to throb. I kept checking to make sure I didnt have blood poisoning and I decided to just suck it up best as i could and performed a mini "surgery". I grabbed a razor blade and cut an X over the wound. I took clippers and took all the skin off and then i squeezed the end tip of a pine needle out of my foot. The relief was wonderful. My foot was sore and hurt from all the cutting i did, but it didnt throb and my leg started to feel better. That was 2 days ago and Im walking for the first time in weeks without pain!
My business has picked up alot over the summer! I've been photographing lots of new babies and their families. I seriously have been able to snuggle so many beautiful little angels.
My living room has become my studio...and its a disaster!! I miss having my big open room, but with all the babies, I needed a well lit room to fit their families and to have enough space for my stuff! Someday when we do our addition in the back, I'll have a great big studio with awesome lighting. Someday.
My mom has been amazing to watch nash when I have a photo shoot. I'm so grateful to my family-- they have been my biggest supporters in my business and have stepped up to help out.
Jace has been working longer hours lately. And then he has his addiction recovery meetings on wednesday nights, then works a second job on fridays and saturday nights. We only get to see him 4 days a week for an hour or 2 a night.
Poor Nash. He has been doing so well, and honestly is such a good little boy. He gets so bored with just me though. I play alot of the day with him (inside since its so hot!) and most days I try to take him to my parents to go swimming. He mostly loves to go visit "gamma and papa" and play with their cars, watch tom and jerry, and convince my dad to take him outside. He also loves to play with and bug joe. I think once the weather turns a bit nicer and we can spend more time outside, he'll be content with just me again :)
He has been saying the cutest things. Like he says "colorings" when he wants to draw or color, "sandy-castles" when he wants to play in sand, and "its slippering" when its wet and he slips. So freaking cute.
We have irrigation every 2 weeks in the summer. Nash hasnt played in it yet...because 1. i think its gross and 2. irrigation normally comes when he is asleep. Yesterday though, irrigation came an hour or so before his nap, so I went out with him for 45 minutes and played in our yard. He had a BLAST and took the BEST nap. Win win!
Nashman spiked a fever on Sunday and started throwing up. I was treating him with cool compresses, pedialyte, tylenol, and motrin. When he wasnt getting any better, and in fact his fever was rising, Monday night we took him to out pediatrician's twilight hours. The result? STREP THROAT. Poor baby!!! We had a few nights of not so great sleep, but the antibiotic and tylenol and motrin have been doing their job and he seems to be doing much better.
My blood pressure spiked on Sunday night too. I dont know from what for sure, but it hasnt gone down. And if you remember right, my blood pressure got so high during pregnancy that they thought I might have a stroke. So I went into my doctor yesterday and I'm back on blood pressure medication until I can get in to see my cardiologist and figure out what is going on.
We are going to be taking a few days to go up to our cabin. We cant go over Labor Day this year like we try to, so we'll be escaping for a few days.
And thats life lately. Lots of work, lots of playing with Nash, and lots of heat and indoor time right now. Boring, but busy!
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Pre-Easter Easter Shenanigans
MMK...picture overload!! Saturday was both families Easter hunts!! We started off with the Hunt's hunt at Josh and Jamie's. Nash was totally confused, but that's okay! The family also did "Easter Egg Roulette" that Jamie saw on Jimmy Fallon. Some eggs were hard boiled, some soft boiled, and some raw and you had to choose one and smash it on your head. I took like 12 minutes of video while also snapping pictures. It was pretty funny.
After Nash's nap, we headed over to my parents house. Grama and Papa got the kids some Easter baskets full of goodies and a clue to go outside and get their eggs!! Each kid had 6 eggs full of fun surprises!! Nash was super cranky the whole time we were out there. He wanted to just run around the yard instead of looking for his eggs. It was super frustrating for me!! lol. After we found the eggs, Jace and I took the kiddos out to let them run around the grass while we blew bubbles in the beautiful weather. It was a FULL day of fun and family! We went home that night and the Easter bunny made his way to our house!!
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Christmas 2015
I'm so behind. Its the end of February and I just realized that I never posted about our Christmas. Its been so busy with my business and sickness between me and nash. I get this blog printed out every year for our family records/my journaling....so i know it needs to be documented!!
This Christmas was so weird. I had been so sick with back to back sinus infections and Nash had been sick too with colds. Jace was stressed at work. But it was our first Christmas in our new home and by golly we were going to enjoy it.
Jace's parents were going to stay in Utah with their daughter Jen and her family for the holiday. So Jace and I made our plans and arrangements to fit our schedule and include my family in there as well. Out of NOWHERE I got a phone call from my SIL jamie, letting me know that the Utah hunts were all coming down spur of the moment.
Now, if you have been following me for years, or if you know me, you know that Christmas' since I've been married have not been our favorite. One family does what they want when they want to, but gets upset (or has gotten upset) if we happen to not be there. The other family just tries to make it work out that we can see each other. Jace and I also have been trying to start our own family traditions and everything always gets complicated. Basically, normally I stress so much that I make myself sick. Well, this year I was already sick--so it fit that my Christmas was going to be stressful.
I tried to spend extra time with the Hunts (as much as I could with us being sickly), and plan my little family's traditions, as well as make sure we were part of what we had planned with my family.
Christmas Eve we went and had a yummy dinner at the Hunts. We talked and spent time together. Unfortunately since they started later than was planned we didnt get to stay for their annual crepe paper ball.
We then went to my parents celebrated Melanie's birthday, got a special visit from Ann and Pat, and participated in our Christmas program where Jace and I sung a new song that had all of us in tears. The kiddos got to open 2 presents from Grandma and Papa, kids got into their jammies (that were the boy and girl version of each other--that we didnt even plan!!), we discussed Christmas morning and times and went home!!
Nash was up and down all night. It was very miserable for both of us. I went to our orange tree and picked 3 gallons worth of oranges and juiced them until 12:30 am. Santa finished setting up around midnight (its so easy when you have one kid and they are still under 2), We woke up , had to wake Nash up and started opening presents by 7:30. Nash was so out of it--he didnt care about anything. However, he got a train table! and a ball pit from santa, new church clothes, and new shoes, candy, books, 4 different types of balls, a few stuffed animals, a new water bottle, and a "tar" just like his daddy's guitar.
Jace and I both got new water bottles and our favorite candies. I got him a chainsaw and surprised him with the old Batman cartoons we grew up with on DVD. He built me my mantle, got me a misfit (a generic fitbit lol), and a very delicate gold necklace.
I then got up and made biscuits (my first ever!) to take to breakfast at my parents.
My grandparents had this tradition of making all their kids and grandkids breakfast when they came over to open their presents on Christmas Day. After both my grandparents passed, my Uncle Gary has continued on that tradition with everyone pitching in. This year, he had all of his kids and grandkids under his roof for the first time in many years and decided that they wanted to be together just them.
SO. we had to revise our 20 year old tradition. I made the homemade orange juice (uncle gary was normally in charge of) and the biscuits (my aunt joyce was in charge of those). My mom and Dad did scrambled eggs and bacon, and hashbrowns I believe. It was delicious.
Then we opened presents. Jane could hardly contain herself she was so excited!! We went by person. As our family grows that will probably have to change, but it worked out. We gave jane a magnetized dolly dress up book (frozen of course!). We gave Samantha a stuffed kitty. We gave Randy and Joe the same matching shirts that said "World's okayest brother" HA! We gave Jeff and Melanie a photo book that I made of Samantha's first year (I did the same with Jane). We gave my parents a cute throw pillow with the names of the grandkids in the shape of a heart.
People were so generous to us. Joe gave us a gift card to Applebees and a babysitting coupon for a date night, Randy gave me a beautiful necklace, jeff and melanie gave me a giant clock to put above my new mantle!, mom and dad gave me a studio lighting kit for my photography business, got jace a skill saw!, and gave so many other fun things (knife sharpener, apron, books, etc). Nash was spoiled and got a musical car from grandma and papa, a musical plane from jeff and melanie, a mickey car from jane and sammie, and from uncle Joe.
We cleaned up and went home for Nash's nap.
When he got up, we got ourselves over to the Hunts. :) We gave Jeff and Kara the same type of pillow as my parents, but they have 7 grandkids on there (including the newest 4 week old Asher). We had Jen and Ken this year and shipped all the presents up to Utah. Once they decided to come here they brought them with them, so we could see them open them. We got Calvin a couple of new books, Asher got a soft and silky blanket, we gave movie tickets and a family tree frame (complete with pictures already in it!!) to Jen and Ken. Then we opened gifts and people were very generous again. Nash got a blankie from nana and popa, a fire truck from his great grandma van (pretty sure...), a car from Gracie, a pillow pet dolphin from josh and jamie, and a pull along puppy from jen and ken (again, i'm pretty sure...). Kara made us a pretty Lion and Lamb plaque, grandma van gave us turtles and a fruit bowl, and jeff and mindy gave us cash. ;)
We spent a few hours there talking and holding Asher and then we left to go put Nash to bed. Over the next couple of days we spent more time with the Hunts as they were leaving and I finally started feeling better. It was exhausting, but all in all a good Christmas. Next year I think Nash will be more excited for it, and hopefully we arent sick again!
IF YOU DONT WANT TO READ ABOUT MY CHRISTMAS, THEN SKIP TO THE BOTTOM WHERE THE PICTURES ARE!!!
This Christmas was so weird. I had been so sick with back to back sinus infections and Nash had been sick too with colds. Jace was stressed at work. But it was our first Christmas in our new home and by golly we were going to enjoy it.
Jace's parents were going to stay in Utah with their daughter Jen and her family for the holiday. So Jace and I made our plans and arrangements to fit our schedule and include my family in there as well. Out of NOWHERE I got a phone call from my SIL jamie, letting me know that the Utah hunts were all coming down spur of the moment.
Now, if you have been following me for years, or if you know me, you know that Christmas' since I've been married have not been our favorite. One family does what they want when they want to, but gets upset (or has gotten upset) if we happen to not be there. The other family just tries to make it work out that we can see each other. Jace and I also have been trying to start our own family traditions and everything always gets complicated. Basically, normally I stress so much that I make myself sick. Well, this year I was already sick--so it fit that my Christmas was going to be stressful.
I tried to spend extra time with the Hunts (as much as I could with us being sickly), and plan my little family's traditions, as well as make sure we were part of what we had planned with my family.
Christmas Eve we went and had a yummy dinner at the Hunts. We talked and spent time together. Unfortunately since they started later than was planned we didnt get to stay for their annual crepe paper ball.
We then went to my parents celebrated Melanie's birthday, got a special visit from Ann and Pat, and participated in our Christmas program where Jace and I sung a new song that had all of us in tears. The kiddos got to open 2 presents from Grandma and Papa, kids got into their jammies (that were the boy and girl version of each other--that we didnt even plan!!), we discussed Christmas morning and times and went home!!
Nash was up and down all night. It was very miserable for both of us. I went to our orange tree and picked 3 gallons worth of oranges and juiced them until 12:30 am. Santa finished setting up around midnight (its so easy when you have one kid and they are still under 2), We woke up , had to wake Nash up and started opening presents by 7:30. Nash was so out of it--he didnt care about anything. However, he got a train table! and a ball pit from santa, new church clothes, and new shoes, candy, books, 4 different types of balls, a few stuffed animals, a new water bottle, and a "tar" just like his daddy's guitar.
Jace and I both got new water bottles and our favorite candies. I got him a chainsaw and surprised him with the old Batman cartoons we grew up with on DVD. He built me my mantle, got me a misfit (a generic fitbit lol), and a very delicate gold necklace.
I then got up and made biscuits (my first ever!) to take to breakfast at my parents.
My grandparents had this tradition of making all their kids and grandkids breakfast when they came over to open their presents on Christmas Day. After both my grandparents passed, my Uncle Gary has continued on that tradition with everyone pitching in. This year, he had all of his kids and grandkids under his roof for the first time in many years and decided that they wanted to be together just them.
SO. we had to revise our 20 year old tradition. I made the homemade orange juice (uncle gary was normally in charge of) and the biscuits (my aunt joyce was in charge of those). My mom and Dad did scrambled eggs and bacon, and hashbrowns I believe. It was delicious.
Then we opened presents. Jane could hardly contain herself she was so excited!! We went by person. As our family grows that will probably have to change, but it worked out. We gave jane a magnetized dolly dress up book (frozen of course!). We gave Samantha a stuffed kitty. We gave Randy and Joe the same matching shirts that said "World's okayest brother" HA! We gave Jeff and Melanie a photo book that I made of Samantha's first year (I did the same with Jane). We gave my parents a cute throw pillow with the names of the grandkids in the shape of a heart.
People were so generous to us. Joe gave us a gift card to Applebees and a babysitting coupon for a date night, Randy gave me a beautiful necklace, jeff and melanie gave me a giant clock to put above my new mantle!, mom and dad gave me a studio lighting kit for my photography business, got jace a skill saw!, and gave so many other fun things (knife sharpener, apron, books, etc). Nash was spoiled and got a musical car from grandma and papa, a musical plane from jeff and melanie, a mickey car from jane and sammie, and from uncle Joe.
We cleaned up and went home for Nash's nap.
When he got up, we got ourselves over to the Hunts. :) We gave Jeff and Kara the same type of pillow as my parents, but they have 7 grandkids on there (including the newest 4 week old Asher). We had Jen and Ken this year and shipped all the presents up to Utah. Once they decided to come here they brought them with them, so we could see them open them. We got Calvin a couple of new books, Asher got a soft and silky blanket, we gave movie tickets and a family tree frame (complete with pictures already in it!!) to Jen and Ken. Then we opened gifts and people were very generous again. Nash got a blankie from nana and popa, a fire truck from his great grandma van (pretty sure...), a car from Gracie, a pillow pet dolphin from josh and jamie, and a pull along puppy from jen and ken (again, i'm pretty sure...). Kara made us a pretty Lion and Lamb plaque, grandma van gave us turtles and a fruit bowl, and jeff and mindy gave us cash. ;)
We spent a few hours there talking and holding Asher and then we left to go put Nash to bed. Over the next couple of days we spent more time with the Hunts as they were leaving and I finally started feeling better. It was exhausting, but all in all a good Christmas. Next year I think Nash will be more excited for it, and hopefully we arent sick again!
Picture overload about to commence. Starting at Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.
((i left my camera behind Christmas eve for the hunts. those photos are on my phone and i'm too tired right now to transfer them. i'll have to come back and do that)
((i left my camera behind Christmas eve for the hunts. those photos are on my phone and i'm too tired right now to transfer them. i'll have to come back and do that)
I had pillows made for both grandmas. My mom's has a heart with the names "Jane, Nash, Samantha" over and over. Kara's has the same heart but with "Grace, Corbin, Aly, Alaric, Ryker, Calvin, Nash, Asher".
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