SAYING GOOD BYE TO NANA

Tomorrow morning bright and early myself and Aaron will be leaving for Virginia to visit my sister Linda. My other sister Paula will be flying up to Va. from North Carolina the following day. Also, Heather and Zeke will be flying in on Saturday. HOWEVER... this evening Evelyn and Lydia came over to say goodbye and give me a goodbye HUG... I have to say, it made me feel pretty special.Thank you my little girls for taking time to come and say goodbye to Nana..
Love you both and will miss you tons. I will try to blog while I am at my sisters.

NAKED BABIES..GUESS WHO THIS LITTLE CUTIE IS?

I was looking through some photos and I came across this wonderful photo of our little Trynity Rose. I have always loved this photo. She is posing with BELLA (Melissa's cat)..

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE PAST...

Seriously....I cannot believe how fast the time goes by....Here is a photo of me with Zach when he was four months old. I had such aspirations of being a "great mother"; and for a while there I seriously though that I was going to accomplish that. But then more children came, with more responsibilities and pressures and by the time my little boy was four, I already felt like I was falling short of my aspirations. I found this poem when Zach was four and I can still recite it today...

MY HANDS WERE BUSY THROUGH THE DAY.
I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO PLAY
THE LITTLE GAMES YOU ASKED ME TO.
I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME FOR YOU.
I'D WASH YOUR CLOTHES, I'D SEW AND COOK,
BUT WHEN YOU'D BRING YOUR PICTURE BOOK
AND ASK ME PLEASE TO SHARE YOUR FUN,
I'D SAY "A LITTLE LATER SON".
I'D TUCK YOU IN ALL SAFE AT NIGHT,
HEAR YOUR PRAYERS, TURN OUT THE LIGHT,
THEN TIPTOE SOFTLY TO THE DOOR,
I WISH I'D STAYED A MINUTE MORE.
FOR LIFE IS SHORT, THE YEARS RUSH PAST.
A LITTLE BOY GROWS UP SO FAST.
NO LONGER IS HE AT YOUR SIDE,
HIS PRECIOUS SECRETS TO CONFIDE.
THE PICTURE BOOKS ARE PUT AWAY,
THERE ARE NO LONGER GAMES TO PLAY.
NO GOOD-NIGHT KISS, NO PRAYERS TO HEAR.
THAT ALL BELONGS TO YESTERYEAR.
MY HANDS, ONCE BUSY, NOW ARE STILL.
THE DAYS ARE LONG AND HARD TO FILL.
I WISH I COULD GO BACK AND DO
THE LITTLE THINGS YOU ASKED ME TO.

GET WELL EM ROSE..WE LOVE YOU!

Thanks for the photo
Kelly...

MY GREAT SON-IN-LAW

I just want to say thanks to my wonderful son-in-law Brett for all that he does for me; and for all that he puts up with from me and my girls. He even puts up with me calling him "Barry" on occasion. I appreciate all of the love and support he gives me. Thanks Brett for helping with the sale of the CIVIC while Paul and I were out of town this past weekend; from coming down to Nephi to rescue the car to taking care of the selling of it and the paperwork, removing the license plate, moral support ... everything. I love you... Mom/vicki

WOW..THAT'S A BIG NEST!

This morning I had to go to our Bountiful Cemetery to meet with a client. I arrived about twenty minutes early and decided to take the golf cart out and drive around the grounds. We have a section in the cemetery dedicated to "green burial"... We are the only cemetery in Utah that will do green burials. This means that there is no casket and no vault. The deceased is wrapped in a shroud and placed in the ground. The grave is hand dug. Anyway, while I was surveying the "green burial section", I found this absolutely 'HUGE' nest that big huge creatures were flying in and out of. They were not bees..much bigger...I took several pictures until they started to get nervous, and then I had to get out of there before I ended up getting stung or something. That nest was the size of one of those minuature basket balls...seriously...how interesting is that?

Aaron Driving the Mustang to LuLu

On Thursday, Aaron, Heather, Ayana and myself drove the mustang to Vegas. It was an emotional weekend, however we had a great time. Melissa will be moving to
Arizona today and tomorrow to go to Mortuary Science School. She will be taking care of the Mustang for me while she is in school. Have fun Lulu. You will always be my beautiful little ballerina...

TAKING A BREAK FROM PACKING and STRESS..

I decided that we should "Make a Family Memory" for LuLu and take a break from packing and the emotional stress that she is going through. I know that Melissa absolutely 'LOVES' roller coasters and so we decided to take a quick drive to SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN.
We got up at 5:00 am on Saturday and drove the four hours to California. We had so much fun...

RIDING THE BIG COASTERS....

I soon found out that not all kids love the big roller coasters. Here is a photo of Ayana when her mom and Aaron told her that she absolutely had to ride all of the rides that we did, because there was no one to sit out with her. She really was a good sport, even though she cried and a couple of times and pleaded with Heather not to make her go on the big coasters. I was even nervous on a few. But we both tried to be good sports, since we knew that Melissa, Aaron and Heather are coaster junkies...

TYPICAL AARON....

AGAIN... Just as we were about to get on the SUPERMAN RIDE...I mean we were right at the door to load on the coaster (as you can see in this lovely photo)..the ride has 'TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY'...
Ayana was so excited...Aaron..not so much... However, we stayed in line and refused to move from our spot. We had decided as a group that we would wait 15 minutes for them to resolve the issues...and we started to count down the minutes...The closer we got... the more excited Ayana got, thinking that they would not repair the ride in the time frame we had alloted...however...at the '3 MINUTES LEFT mark' the doors opened and we rode the ride. It really was FAST...Ayana survived...but left the ride crying...

LuLu ENJOYING SIX FLAGS...

I have never seen anyone like the big coasters like Melissa does (except maybe Aaron).. Here we are in line to go on the BATMAN RIDE. Unfortunately, they shut it down just as we were about to get on. Ayana breathed a sigh of relief...but we got out of line and headed for the SUPERMAN RIDE (hence the cape)

FINALLY A RIDE THAT AYAYNA LIKES

While Aaron, myself and Melissa rode the GOLIATH COASTER, Heather took Ayana on a kiddie ride...

ON OUR WAY HOME...AARON WANTS PHOTO FOR MIKAYLA

After we left SIX FLAGS, we headed back to Vegas. On our way out of town we were stopped at an intersection close to the park and Aaron noticed the street sign. Aaron's nickname for his neice Mikayla is McBean! He quickly asks for my camera and leans out the window to snap this photo for Mikayla. Aaron makes me smile!

FAVORITE PHOTO (from the past) FOR THE WEEK

I have been going through some of my old photos from the past, and have decided to post a "favorite photo" each week. This photo was taken when Aaron was a senior in high school. He had a motorcyle that he really enjoyed. Aaron use to love riding motorcycles, especially with his dad. He kept this motorcycle until after his accident (look in this photo, no face scars and all of his fingers..). He sold it when he was still in his wheelchair as the pain of looking at it everyday and knowing that life would never be the same again was too much to deal with. He hasn't really wanted to own one since then. I love this photo of Melissa and Aaron. They were extremely close in high
school. This was a happier time of life for Aaron. Thanks to all who have loved and supported Aaron through his rough times. Your love and support is much appreciated.

THEY DON'T MAKE HUSBANDS LIKE THIS ANYMORE!

Paul has been on the road traveling on business. He got back into town late Saturday night after being gone for six days. He got up early this morning (Sunday) and cut the lawn and let me sleep until ten o'clock. (it was SO NICE!)...We then went to breakfast with Audrey and Aaron and while we were at breakfast I happened to mention that I would like for him to build me a new cage for my outdoor Doves. (I have 7 of them). He immediately got on the telephone and called his brother Eugene and said "Vicki, has a project she would like done, would you like to help." Eugene has been so great to us, always helping when we ask him for assistance in painting, laying new floor, yard work, whatever! Here they are at work on the new Dove Cage.

TRANSPORTING THE CAGE AND THE DOVES

It was almost dark when Brett & Paul carried the Dove's cage around to the back yard and placed it under the big Pine Tree. Aaron helped Paul place the branches inside the cage and the girls helped me to transport all seven of the doves to their new home. I will probably paint the cage later in the Summer because right now one of the Doves is sitting on a nest with two eggs; so I don't want to disturb her any further. I have such a great husband that would do anything for me. I don't know if I deserve him sometimes.

Let's Take Bets on a BOY or a GIRL...SCROLL DOWN TO SEE

We had lunch at Carl Jrs' with the kids before going to Fetal Photos. At lunch we each had a turn to guess if Adrienne & Brett were having a boy or a girl. Everyone voted on a girl except for me, Brett, Evelyn & Audrey. Oh, I should explain. I told the girls to make silly faces for the camera...Mikayla..is that the best you can do?

TRIP TO FETAL PHOTOS

On Friday afternoon, Adrienne & Brett (Barry) allowed us to come along with them to lunch and then to Fetal Photos to find out if they are having a boy or a girl. It was so much fun. Those present were....Adrienne and Brett (ofcourse), Evelyn & Lydia, myself, Heather and Ayana, and Mikayla. We ate lunch at Carl's Jr. and then headed over to Fetal Photos.

Hi Nana...I'M A BOY!

You should have heard the excitement and the yelling and screaming when the ultra sound tech said it was a BOY!
We are so happy for Adrienne & Brett. I gave all of the little girls a $1.00 even though Evelyn was the only one who guessed correctly. Way to go BARRY!

MELISSA'S PHOTO BOOK IS HERE!

I finished Melissa's photobook last week and it arrived in the mail yesterday. It is so beautiful..I am so glad that I did this for her. The photos I snapped tonite of some of the pages really don't do the book justice. It turned out to be 64 pages long. Aaron flew to Vegas last night and took the book with her (I ordered one for me and one for her) and she called and was so excited about it. If you haven't already done so...check out Aaron's web business at www.mycustomphotobooks.com. You will absolutely love the phtobooks, the puzzles, mugs, ceramic photo tile, mouse pads, etc...

SUPPORTING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Please go to my list of Blog Friends and click on Aaron & Ryans blog and see what great things the guys at "MY CUSTOM PHOTO BOOKS" are doing to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Anything that you custom design off of their great web site in the next 60 days....50% of their profits (which is a huge donation for the guys) goes to supporting Breast Cancer Awareness... You get a great keepsake, but most of all you help save the lives of moms, sisters, friends.... just like yours...Please check it out.. You won't be sorry...

RELAXING ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Our Beautiful Evelyn relaxing on the lawn at Nana's...

Even the Pets like to Relax at Nana's House....

Adrienne's Dog Phoebee relaxing on Baby Kingston...

Water Fight at Nana's House....

Cheap entertainment is what it is.... as Adrienne and Heather turned the hose into a "firemen's hose" and proceeded to soak not only all of the little kids but each other, while Audrey, Brett (alias Barry), and Paul and I watched. The girls seriously had me laughing so hard (which I really needed today)...

This Seriously Made Me Laugh so Hard.....

Adrienne soaked Heather so much that her pants literally fell off...
I told you Heather that those pants were too big on you....

Heather and Adrienne putting out Ayana's Fire...

MORE WEEKEND FUN at Nana's

Mikayla's Favorite Thing to do at Nana's House is to climb the Flowering Pear Tree and just "HANG OUT"..This wonderful tree is slowly dying and Paul and I know that some year soon, we will have to have it removed. We have planted a Mamosa Tree right next to it in preparation for that sad day. I know that Mikayla will really miss this tree. I am reminded of Zach when he was little. He use to love to climb Grandpa and Grandma's pear tree in their yard in Nephi. As I look at these photos, I can see Zach some 30 years ago.

Pretty Little Lydie and Zeke

Zeke just loves Lydia. He is always wanting to hug her and lean all over her. Usually, Lydia doesn't like the fuss and complains, but today at lunch she was kind enough to allow Zeke a free hug.

OUTDOOR KITTY & BANK OWNED KITTY

My two stray cats; which we have named "OUTDOOR KITTY" (the gray and white one) and "BANK OWNED KITTY" (the orange one) had a face off this morning. Both cats wanted to eat at the same time. So, they just sat there and growled at each other. I had to leave for work so I don't know who won.

Living it Up In Utah

Yeah...Melissa is Home!

POOLSIDE with AUNT LULU

Melissa is home for a week and the little nieces and nephews are spending as much time as they can with her. They just love their Aunt Lulu. Today they wanted Melissa to get in their pools with them in my front yard. Here they are enjoying the sun and water. Perhaps I need a "real pool"....