Halloween Party!

Naturally in Utah you can never predict what weather you'll be handed on Halloween.. rain is better than snow though right?!

We ate some chili and then took some pictures of the kids, and we were off to do some 'Trick or Treatin'...... it had started to sprinkle, but we were prepared for such weather... but then it got worse, and worse the further we were away from home. The kids were dripping wet, Dannys umbrella that he took from my mom broke, and was inside out... needless to say, it was Freezing! Finally, I wore my hood from my jacket, and he used my Roxy umbrella.. better though that the weird flower one he had tho. We barely made it to many houses in my parents neighborhood before we just ran home because it was coming down so hard. The kids all took their costumes off in the garage, and went and got pj's on, and we hung up the costumes and jackets to drip dry! The kids played some fun games, and watched some cute Halloween cartoons, and best of all... destroyed Grandma Bulls basement. (they're little, so they can get away with it)








Josie was so cute when she was 'Trick or Treating'...everytime someone put candy in her bucket, she was so surprised that they were just 'giving out free candy'.. she came running to Danny every time saying, "daddy look! look!" The whole time I was thinking of what Jerry Seinfeld talks about in his halloween bit.. "everyone that we know is just GIVING OUT CANDY?" "I can wear that!"

The kids had so much fun dispite the ran, Kelli's hair was dripping wet, cause her hood wouldn't stay on from running from house to house, and she refused to walk under the umbrella. She was so fast, I never really got a picture of her in action.. but she had a blast!

Happy Halloween!

This halloween was pretty crazy.. we had to wait til Halloween day to do a lot of our things to prepare because of Dannys work schedule. Kelli every day was asking when we were going to carve pumpkins and she handled it well when we'd tell her day after day, not til Saturday. Saturday morning I woke up early, rolled out the halloween cookies and we started on the homemade rolls for the tradtional chili that my mom makes, and has made every year since I can remember. Danny and I figured that since we were already making rolls, we mind as well make some yummy cinnamon rolls. Man alive, that process takes forever, but the delicious treat at the end is so worth it. The rolls and cinnamon rolls were my wonderful mother in laws recipe, and everyone loves it!

I shockingly enough made Kellis costume.. and she insisted on not having anything else "Indian" on it.. cause its not how she looks on the cover.. I did my best.. she was pretty mad that I didn't go buy her a big diamond... she even told me that lots of stores in the mall that sell big diamonds, and I could run and pick one up real quick if I wanted to... I passed though!

My mom was in southern Califoria for a few weeks while my dad was there on business, and Josie at the last minute informed me that she wanted to be Tinkerbell.. so I had my mom run to the Disney store in Cali, and pick up a tinkerbell outfit.. I think it turned out so cute!

On Halloween, we couldn't find our pumpkin carving tools, so I was running around like a crazy person trying to find some, and I ran into the Dollar Store, and they didn't have anything, but I saw a couple pirate things, and bought em for Danny. We were going to make him an outfit, but ran out of time. Mind you, it was in the childrens section... so the hat was a little small.. but now Kelli has her pirate costume she's been asking for, and it cost me $2 bucks!

Real Family Pictures

Well, after being married for almost 6 years we finally got a real family picture taken! It was kind of a long shoot-- it was after my Grandmas funeral and lunch and my kids were so over it! We took a big group with all my siblings and their kids, and that will be posted soon cause its so fun to finally have a good picture taken. Its at kind of a funky angle, but whatever, i like it!

 

Good Night Sweetheart

Many of you know that I recently lost my Grandma. She fell a few months ago and broke her hip and we all knew that this was going to be the end. It was her first and only surgery in her life. She was cared for at Manor Care and they took such great care for her, and grew to have such a love her for. Which would of been hard to not love her.

She was the kindest, funniest, most clever, and endearing person. She loved to sew, paint, cook, and bake anything and everything. There are so many memories, vacations, holidays, and those intense game nights that we will all cherish, and hopefully remember forever. She was always so loving and so kind, and she will truly be missed.

You know, most people want to write all these amazing paragraphs about their loved ones, and are so poetic about things, but I'm not really that type. I'm more of a, straight to the point kind of person--- but for some reason, I can't think of anything to write about my grandma. All I can think is... how things wont be the same. I know the last 5 years she was going down hill and it was a slow "wearing out" process, but she just had so many good qualities and was such an example and was so balanced in her life that its hard to see someone end up at the point of not being able to care for herself.

But it just wont be the same to not have her around... to hear my Grandpa say his funny and weird saying to her, or to have her try and do the jitter bug in the middle of the room, or teach me the Charleston. Or to have to carry her purse around her own house so that no one would steal it. She was always dressed to kill and always had on her red lip stick. She always carried her money around in her envelopes and had my grandpa on a tight budget so she could buy all her grand children, and great grand children Christmas presents at the end of every year. Her and my Grandpa were such an amazing couple to be around. He talked to her, and will now talk about her with such love you can feel it in the air, and you can see it in his eyes... you dont come across that kind of love often. They were always holding hands, and looking out for one another. Towards the end of her life, she wasn't 'aware' about things that were going on around her, but I went there, on a Thurday afternoon, with my mom and Grandpa, and while my mom was working things out with the insurance, I sat in the room with my Grandparents. He just sat and sang songs to her, and sang 'their' song to her, and her eyes lit up with joy and she would mouth the words with him, while he sang to her. "I'll be seein'g you.... in all the old... familier places..." etc etc.. To see my Grandpa kneel at her bedside for hours, singing, and talking to her about "old times" while he's in his mid 80's... that couldn't of been comfortable, but he wanted to be as close and he could be to her. My Grandpa whispered to her, "its ok Sally, you can go" and her reply would be, "I can't leave you alone." It was so sweet. They loved eachother, and supported each other.. and were there with each other through so many trails, holding hands.



The funeral we held for her was amazing! My sister and 3 other cousins did such a great job, talking about memories, her past, and the gospel. I was a mess through the whole funeral... just when you think there aren't any tears left.. i surprise myself... all my cousins and our children got up and sang.."Families Can Be Together Forever" which I'm pretty sure I said "I have a family............" and I couldn't say anything word. The closing song, was this song called, "good night sweet heart" --- no not the one from Top Gun. and and that point, Danny leaned over and said with tears in his eyes.."this is cruel and unusual punishment." It was the sweetest song, and it was one of my Grandpa's picks, and favorite songs between them. There wasn't a dry eye in the church, and I'm so grateful for everyone who came and supported our family. There were so many family friends there, it just made it that much more special.




It was such a great day, and such a great way to remember some one.. thats what I love about the church, is focusing on the life that was lived and not the death! Its such a great way for everyone to get together and tell stories and share their memories.

Love you Grandma...

Who will I marry Mom????

A question that started with my 4 year old daughter the other day while driving in the car. Why in the world is this a major concern? I'm not real sure, but she was intent on finding out what she needed to look for. For a while now, when all my little nephew and nieces get together, they are always pretending who the Dad and Mom are, and who's married to each other... but the other day, after my MONTHS of drilling into her head, "you can't marry Thomas, Nate, or Seth... they are your cousins".... Finally set in her head, and panic started.. If I can't marry them, then who do I marry?? This is my conversation with my daughter while driving in the car:

Kelli: "mom turn the music off, I have to ask you a question."

*I turn off the music
Me: "whats up Kelli?"

Kelli: "so, if I cant marry my family, who am I going to marry?"

Me: "well, I dont know. You probably will meet him when you're going to school with you get older, like in college or something"

Kelli: "so he'll be my boyfriend? Like forever?"

Me: "yeah, but you shouldn't have a boyfriend til you're ready to get married. That way you can date and find who you want to marry"

Kelli: "what should I look for when I'm dating???"

Me: "He needs to be nice, go to church, funny, cute, smart... (and while i'm thinking of more things to say, and before I could say anything else, she says..)

Kelli: DANG! Sa-rissa (my SIL: Larissa) is SOO lucky, she got to marry Scott and he's all those things!!!




It was so cute, and the only thing I could think of to say was;

"Your RIGHT Kelli, Larissa is so lucky to have met and married your Uncle Scott."

She just nodded her head and said.... "well, I better start dating then to find another one like him...."

So here is to your Scott. You've always been such a great brother and willing to help family and friends out whenever its needed; Whether its done silently without anyone knowing, or ripping up carpet to lay wood floors down while on your vacations, or re-vamping a barn for your friends wedding. You are such a great example that even a 4 year old can see that you are something special. I'm so lucky to have you as my oldest brother, and your example I know has been so easy for the rest of your brothers to follow, since I'm lucky to have 4 brothers that are so willing to give, and to serve just like you. Thanks for your example, I'm so happy that Kelli recognizes such great qualities at such a young age, and has you and the other uncles to look to for love and guidance
Love you Scott. xoxo