Fummer 2017

Nash is growing up by the day. The day, people! Lol

Last year I made a list of like 10 things we were going to do/wanting to do for the summer. He had no idea what that was, so it was mostly for me.

This year he understands quite a bit more.

So I created our "Fummer" (Fun/summer) list for 2017.

Initially I just did our "big ticket items" on the printed out list...

then I printed a second copy and started writing in the available spaces. 

What I'm super excited about it that I'm working really hard to accomplish all of these by September (End of "summer" for most people...)

And so far we've done 5, and are halfway through another 4.

((edited to add: by the end of September we accomplished everything on that list except the secret project and teaching nash to ride his bike. Plus we had a whole slew of other things we did and accomplished as well))

Thats huge for me. I never ever want my kids summer to be so packed FULL of things that I want them to do, or that we HAVE to do, that they dont have lazy days--or we always feel stressed-- or i feel guilty if we didnt do something. My kids might never be in summer classes (other than swim lessons) and I've decided that I'm 100% okay with that.

You only get to be a kid once, and I think that as grown ups/parents we are so busy trying to make them have happy memories that we cause more issues than creating wonderful moments. I see so many people stressing out because all 4 of their kids have something going at the same time, and they need to pack for the vacation they are leaving on tomorrow, and they feel like they need to do 1000 crafts with their kids but also want their house semi cleaned, and then they feel overwhelmed and stressed....

I dont think it worth that. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I already put a crap ton of pressure on myself and feel guilt and overwhelmed doing little things; like going to swim lessons at the same time everyday for a month and going to the library 2 times a month. I cant overload with some unnecessary things just because its summer and I need my kids to be involved and active in everything, everyday or because I allow myself to compare myself to other moms who seem to be doing it all and with great ease. I just cant.

Just my 2 cents.

So, I'm excited for our Fummer of 2017, as relaxed as it may be :)

What I know

So, I wouldn't call myself an expert on anything.

I've done lots of things.

Lots of things well, and lots of things not so well.

I've learned lots.

One thing I know well (that I wish I didn't) is the horrible-ness of cancer.

When I was 5, my grandpa who I idolized, died of prostate cancer.

When I was 13, my aunt died of pancreatic cancer.

When I was 19, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went from stage one pre-surgery to almost a stage 4 after (ended up stage 3). She almost died. She then tested positive for the ovarian cancer gene. So she had a hysterectomy so that wouldn't take her life.

When I was 22, my uncle died of cancer that was caught too late and had metastasized to his bones.

At 26, I got tested and tested positive for the same cancer gene that my mom did.

What I'm saying, is (and this is just my close family.)..cancer is a beast that is relentless.

I learned: how to be strong, when you feel weak.

I learned: how to pick up and keep going, when you feel like falling apart.

I learned: how to cope with the feeling of loss.

I learned: what it was like to watch your parent go through something that basically was killing them, in order for them to live to see you into adulthood.

I learned: to rely on faith. To drink in the hopes and prayers of others.

I watched my mother have surgery after surgery, have a double mastectomy, receive a port to have chemo, do 6 months of chemo, do weeks and weeks of radiation therapy, lose her hair, stay in bed because she was so sick, I've seen her worry and stress about "what if" something happened to her--what would happen to her kids.

I've come to know a thing or two about cancer.

Its a monster. 

Jace's oldest brother Jeff had cancer when he was a toddler. Well, we found out today that the monster has returned. This time its residing around his colon. Jeff has colon cancer. He'll go in for surgery next week, and then have 6 months of chemo (i don't know about radiation), and then another surgery later to reattach his bowels. 

This, to me, unfortunately feels routine. No one should ever feel that way about something so horrible.

But here is what I know:

God is real.

God is good.

God loves us.

The power of prayer is real.

Faith of others can carry you through.

Hope is the best medicine.

Laughter will be tough to find, but crucial.

It is OKAY to be scared.

It is OKAY to cry.

It is OKAY to worry.

And its OKAY to express how you are really feeling.

Are you down in the dumps? Does that moment in time "suck"? Say it. Are you so tired of puking your guts out and cant stand your bathroom anymore? SCREAM IT. Are you worried about your future? Voice it. 

The Lord will hear you. He will guide you. He will carry you through.

THIS is what I know.

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!! 

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!!

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 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".