Labor Day and ALS Bucket challenges

  Labor Day for me, always signals the end of summer. :(  Boo! 

Here's Coby getting a sweet picture of the storm rolling in. 

It seems like every other year there is a huge storm around Labor Day.  And if you've been around for any Bear Lake storms, you know that they come in fast and are usually quite amazing!  Coby captured an awesome shot of the lightning.  

This year ALS awareness has skyrocketed!  I believe it began with a professional athlete who did the ice bucket challenge and then challenged a few others after completing it.  They have to donate $10 for the challenge, do the ice bucket challenge and challenge others or pay $100 if they fail to do so within 24 hours.

Here's Coby doing an upside down ice bucket challenge....or Ice GARBAGE can challenge here! 

          Just like Coby to do his "own" thing! :)

Then Corbin took his shot!

Next came Jaden!

And last but not least came me...HOLY SUGAR that was cold!!

"This one's for YOU Poppy" as Corbin said in his video.  To date, more than 53 Million dollars has been donated for the cure of ALS.  I pray it helps them find one, but NO ONE...especially a man of Jim's caliber, should have had to suffer through this agonizing disease.  We miss him!  Oh, how we miss him!

It's been a fun weekend hanging out with Honey and the Ben Rich's.  Love our early morning walks with Miss Whitney.  Staying up late watching movies.  (Blended and the Other Woman were HILARIOUS!) Being lazy, soaking up the last of the summer sun, trying to keep Cole from doing whatever he wants in the water and watching my boys on the jet skis.  It's been a great Bear Lake summer!

Poor Ambie

Poor Poor Ambie!  She was moving into her first apartment in Utah.  She got locked out and tried to climb to her apartment on the third floor.  She made it to the top...but upon realizing that she was locked out there too...she attempted to climb down.  It didn't end so well...

After a fast fall 3 stories down...she ended up with a shattered heel and ankle, a fractured tibia and fibula, two fractured bones in her spine, staples in her head and probably a very bruised ego!  :)  My heart just aches for her!

After all was said and done...she ended up at the University of Utah Hospital.  Her heel and ankle were too swollen for x-rays and surgery...so they began in on her cute right leg.  Apparently, her tibia and fibula bones were bowing and they had to put in all kinds of screws and bins to correct it.  Looks so painful!  But she was a trooper! She's scheduled next week for her surgery on her heel.

She looks thrilled to have me taking pictures doesn't she?!!  She's in a large brace from her hips to her neck and has a cast from the very top of her right leg to the bottom.  Here the Physical Therapy Nurse is helping her learn to walk up and down the stairs.

She conquered it like a champ!

I feel so bad for my sweet little Ambie.  Always willing to do anything and everything for anyone else.  She drops everything just so she can watch our kids and stay with Pup when we are out of town.  She's constantly lending me her shoes, clothes and bringing me scensy candles just because.  It pains me to see her in so much pain and knowing the long road to recovery she will have to endure.  But I know she can do it!  She told me that as she hit the ground she heard clearly, "Everything happens for a reason."   She has taken that message in stride and I have yet to hear her complain.  She's staying positive and looking towards the future with hope.  She and my sweet mom are getting closer as Amber is realizing how much my mom actually does for her.  I know that despite all this rotten luck...good will come from it.  I sure love her and can't wait to make her go on a run with me!  :)  And by run I mean....a fast walk, because heaven knows you can't call what I do running!  :)  Good Luck Ambie!  :)

Earplugs BEFORE Evanston

Notice anything interesting about this picture??!!!

Look CLOSELY and you will notice the BIG orange earplugs!  We were on our way to Bear Lake and between all the constant whining, fighting, dog panting, wife-playing-on-her-phone-FUN....Coby just couldn't take one more second of our lovely family!  So, he did want any annoyed-and-can't-do-anything-about-it man would do in his situation...he put in his earplugs!  And there you have it...Earplugs BEFORE Evanston!

Kid goes to Kindergarten...

How could this have happened??!!!

Kid can't be old enough for Kindergarten...RIGHT?!!!

As much as I tried to convince him to just stay home with me and be my "little friend"...

This cute boy opted to ride the bus to school and out of my mommy life 1/2 a day Monday - Friday.

And there he goes...my baby!  My little friend is gone.  :(  I was super sad on Sunday about him leaving and he gave me his blue blankie and said, "Here Mom.  Blue Blankie will make you feel better.  Just hug him tight and if you need to cry you can...it's ok."  After he left and I came home and put Cole to bed...I saw his blue blankie and sort of lost it.  

Here's his classroom where he couldn't wait to find his seat and begin!

And there's his cute teacher, Mrs. Jeppson welcoming the class just before Kindergarten started. 

And he's Back!  Hallelujah!!  

It's interesting how fast time flies.  Bittersweet really!  On one hand, I'm super happy...but on the other I'm very aware that it's literally flying by and I don't really like it.  How could he be 5 years old already and starting Kindergarten?!!  He's been my little friend for the last 5 years and I've gotten pretty used to having him around me all the time.  He's super entertaining and funny and a good helper and listener (despite his CRAZY LOUD volume and constant need for Hot Coco!)  I'm sure going to miss him during the day.  But this will be good.  He'll get to learn lots of new things and if there is someone who has a love of learning, it's my Jaden! Mrs. Jeppson tested him and said that he's one of the brightest in the class and that he's definitely ready for Kindergarten.  I'm excited for the things he'll learn, the friendships he'll make, riding the bus and figuring out who he is.  While it's a little sad to watch him taking this big step...this is probably just what Cole and I need. Good luck Buddy!  You're going to do GREAT!  

Happy Birthday Vegas Style

Vegas...here we come!!

Sometimes Coby's jobs have fun perks that I get to tag along for...Mandalay Bay (my favorite hotel in Vegas)...Oh Ya!

We had a little time to kill before we could check in...so we headed straight for Cowabunga Bay after we got off the plane. ***NOTE*** - that's right...Cowabunga Bay passes work in Vegas too...but it's like 10 times as big with AWESOME slides!!

It was the perfect day!  Lots of Sunshine, NO LINES and we got to spend time hanging out and having fun!  Coby was so happy for "Vacation Tif" to join him in Vegas!  Apparently, she SO much more fun than "Mom" Tif!

Later that night we headed to a little appetizer dinner in an Irish Pub in the Mandalay Bay Casino.  Then we were off to see Vegas for a few hours!  First stop...The Hershey Store.  A Statue of Liberty made of delicious chocolate??!!  Oh, if I could have gotten around the guard watching it...I would have been in chocolate heaven!

Then we walked around and people watched...My Oh My there are some "interesting" people to see!  Boy am I glad for the life I have in good old Salt Lake City!  I know it can be kind of a bubble...but it's my bubble and I like it!

The next day we slept in, I got to hit the gym and then leisurely take my time and head out to the pool/beach with a good book!  I was able to read, and feel the warm sun on my legs and listen to what sounded like the waves rolling in all day.  Later that day Coby even took me to a thrift store...NEVER again in Vegas....not worth the drive!  And if you know me...you know Thrift shopping is one of my favorites!  

Usually, Coby's trips out of town consist of a few hours here or there, and I won't lie...the thought of being alone to do my own thing was great...but being alone for most of the day on your birthday isn't that exciting!  :) I did, however, love all the birthday texts and messages throughout the day.  That was fun!  But, being alone made me realize how much I missed the chaos! In his defense, when he wasn't in meetings we were living the Vegas high life and I was loving it!  I think what I loved most was just being with Coby.  He's my best friend and there is no one I'd rather be with.  It was a short little trip, but lots and lots of fun!  

Thanks for taking me to Vegas sweetie!  It was a GREAT Birthday trip!  And Thanks Lady for watching over our little monkeys!  

Just waiting....

Be still my heart...

Here's Jaden waiting for Corbin to come home from school.  It's only been a day since Corb went back...and after constantly asking me, "How much longer until Corbin is home?", here he sits and waits.

And despite all the constant teasing, he absolutely ADORES Corbin!  I would give anything to see what he would have been like with Jack in the picture.  Would they all have been close?  I believe they would have.  Someday we'll all be back together again and no one will be waiting for anyone to come back home.  But until then...be still my heart.  Don't grow up little boy.  

It's official...he's a 4th grader

I'm not exactly sure how this happened....but....

My Corbi-Mac-a-doodle is an official 4th Grader!!  

I'm so exciting for him to start this new grade.  He's made a few really great friends at school and his Teacher (Mrs. Flannery) is AWESOME!  She's a sports fanatic...so I'm sure they will get along just GREAT!

11 Years of Happy!

Happy 11 Years of Happy to my Best Friend!

I don't know how I got so lucky to have this sweet, wonderful and amazing guy all to myself for eternity!!

 Tonight Coby took me To Market Street Grill.  Where we had a delicious Fish dinner.

 It was seriously SO yummy!

 And then came the dessert....homemade strawberry Ice Cream!   

 And Coby's favorite...creme brulee!

 Then it was off to see Wicked at Capital Theater downtown with some of our good friends.

Cam and Amy along with their hubbies got tickets last year with us.  This is by FAR my FAVORITE musical of all time!  We saw it for the first time on Broadway in NY in 2005 when I preggers with Corbin.  I've seen it 3 times and it has always left me breathless at different times.  The music is beyond amazing!  It was really fun to go with Cam and Ames.  I just love these girls!

 I love this man more than anything in the world!  He's my everything!  He's so amazing that for the first few years of our marriage I use to have a re-occuring dream that he just wasn't real and that I had made him all up in my head.  I would wake up feeling sad, and then I would feel his hand next to me and a feeling of relief and complete joy would fill my heart.  

 He's always patient, kind and will hold my hand in our special way even while he's sleeping.  He loves me unconditionally.  He is forgiving...always forgiving and to this day...I don't know what I'd do without him!

He truly is my double rainbow!  I love you Monster!  Happy Anniversary!