Friday, November 30, 2012

Happy 3rd Birthday Lil' Griff

Baby of Mine, your gonna be 3 tomorrow!!!
WoW!
I can hardly believe it, but there is no denying it. All I have to do is take a look at him and I can see all the changes happening way too fast.
He used to be so plump and round. He wieghed a whopping 10lbs. at birth. He had rolls on his rolls.
  "Cankels" and chubby baby fists and oh...the fattest feet! (feet have not changed, they are Fred Flintstone size) He had this great melon of a head, with jet-black hair that used to stick straight up off the top of it. (there is no trace of black hair anymore)
 He now has sweet golden hair-
Each year he grows a little bit taller. Those baby rolls are long gone. He is really changing...he has kid legs, shoulder blades, cheek bones. He still has the same bright, yet dark and big brown eyes that look right into you. His spirit and strong character is both amazing and mind-boggling at times. We have to constantly try to keep up with him. Every now and then I take a photo of him and see the baby in the boy and it always brings me to pause. He is our last baby...
it's all going by very fast.
Griff- I love your laugh...I love how your nose gets that little wrinkle when your laughing really hard. Your smile is huge...almost as huge as your personality. Your name "Griffis" could not fit you any better...you are SO MUCH like your beloved Grandpa Tex. Some days, you are so much like him...I have to step-back and take a breather. You are LOUD...in a good way- not in a bad way (most of the time). 
You give everything a GO. You have NO FEAR.
We love you and look forward to all the fun and memories we have yet to make.
 
Happy Birthday Lil' Man.
XOXO-
Momma, Daddy, Mac & Lilly

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!


We hope that each of you had a blessed Thanksgiving day.
Ours was really good considering that I just wasn't sure how we were all going to feel about it. 
We started the day off by getting up and heading out to play in the snow!
We are very blessed to live in such a beautiful place. It was sunny here at the house and we only had to drive for about 20 minutes to find some snow. It's nice to have the option of living so close to the snow...not in THE SNOW. LOL.
Anyhow- we stopped at Ski Bowl since they aren't open yet and had a blast playing and trekin' thru the snow.







 I had set my coffee down for just a few to take some pictures and Griff scooped it right up and drank it all down...the boy loved my white chocolate peppermint mocha!
 I thought for sure he was going to be wired after the caffeine hit, but he surprised us. He was fine.
Just before we left, we each talked about what we were thankful for, we talked about Grandpa Tex and how much we missed him and then we sent him Happy Thanksgiving hugs and messages up to heaven with our balloons. 
It was awesome-

 We decided it was time to head back home and get the turkey cookin' and all our yummy sides!
I was a little nervous about the turkey because I brined it. I have never used a brine before, but had heard that it really adds a lot of flavor to your turkey. It turned out amazing! We will brine all our future turkeys. I also made a new cranberry and orange stuffing dish and green bean casserole dish...they both were soooo yummy! 
We all ate until we felt almost sick!
It was nice to have some quiet time together...just us...in the comfort of our own home. It turned out to be just what we all needed I think. We missed seeing everyone, but we definitely made the right decision to just stick close to home and take it easy.
I did embark on a new expedition that I have never done before...I decided to join Destiny in the middle of her Thanksgiving Shopping and Black Friday Shopping. She had already been out hitting big deals by the time I met up with her. I wasn't sure how it was going to go, or if I would enjoy any of it...but I knew that it was very un-likely that I was going to be getting much sleep anyway. I had been trying to "let go" of Dad all day and I knew sleep wouldn't come easily, plus I had been sick and up coughing all night the few nights before.
Anyhow- there were a few door buster items that I had on the kids' Christmas lists and if I lucked out and got any of them, it would save us quite a bit of $$. I was very skeptical, but gave it a shot. Destiny went to Sears for me and got in line for 2 items there that I really wanted. I got there about 45 minutes into her wait. I got in-line with her and at that point she had one of the items. The second one, would only be given to us at the register and all we knew was that there were only 6 left!! We were way back in the line, but you couldn't tell what people were in line for. They could be waiting for all sorts of items, so we really had no choice but to stay in line and hope there was one left when we got up there. As we got closer to the registers, the line divided into two lines, so we each went separate ways to double our chances. Bless Destiny's heart....she did all of this for me...she didn't want the big door buster I was after!! We stood in line for a good 2 hours before making it to a register...and I got the LAST ONE!!! I couldn't believe it!
From there we went to Kohl's and had about an hour and 15 minutes before they were to open at Midnight. I went and got in line and Destiny walked over to Starbucks to get us some warm drinks. We really lucked out on the weather. It was clear, dry and not too terribly cold. We waited in line until the doors opened and made a dash in separate directions for the items we wanted! I had never done this before and I have to say it was nothing at all like what I have seen on t.v. and the news. No one was pushing, rude or yelling. Everyone was respectful and it wasn't that bad....it was VERY crowded, but it was tolerable. I got every single door buster item that I wanted and so did Destiny! I saved a total of $157.00! Awesome! Our next store was smooth sailing as well and I got my door buster item again...and it was the very LAST one! We had to wait in line for at-least an hour to pay for it, but I was glad I got it. It saved me about $50.00! My savings were really adding up and no-one had been shot at yet, so I figured we were doing all right. LOL.
We also went to Target and Toys'R Us. No problems there either.
I got home just a little after 3am. Wow...I was tired and sick and probably should have stayed home, but in the end...it turned out to be well worth it!
Thanks D for letting me tag-a-long and thanks for getting in line for me at Sears!! 
We have spent the rest of Thanksgiving break hanging out, eating, resting, playing and eating some more...Pat went and got a few things he wanted for the garage and Griff and Lilly helped him put them together.
I love that Griff uses binoculars to help him work on this project!



After cleaning up our Thanksgiving dinner and the kitchen I turned to find Griff on the counter with the trash can lid...he was licking it...yes, GROSS...
but we all know he has eaten a lot worse!
Ha, love this kid.
~ Happy "late" Thanksgiving to you all ~

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The last phone call...

Exactly one year ago...at this exact time...I spoke with my loving Dad on the phone, not knowing that it would be the last time I would get to talk with him...the last time that I would hear his voice.
I had asked him how his drive was going and he said pretty well. He had just fueled up and was getting ready for the long haul on a lonesome Utah route....very rural, very dark and now in my mind "deadly".
Spanish Fork Canyon...it took his life. 
He sounded great. He wasn't tired. He said he'd touch base with me in the morning and promised me he would pull over for a some ZZ's if he needed them.
I told him to be careful and that I loved him.
He said "I will and I love you too."

Today has been hard. I tried all day to be positive and keep my hands and mind busy...but...well, it just wasn't enough. 
My heart surpassed it all...
I know God needed him and we all know that he got a damn good soldier when he called upon him.
I just really miss him...I know we all do.
Hugs to all of you-

Save the Ta-Ta's!

The Tahitian Ta-Ta Team is gearing up for Romp to Stomp 2012!
We have been the #1 fundraising team to stomp-out breast cancer for a few years now!
Yahoooooooooo!
Our first fundraiser this year was last Saturday. Our awesome team captains organized our 3rd annual Poker Tournament. It was a huge success...a total of $814.00 was raised!
WoW!
We aren't done yet! 
Romp to Stomp isn't until Febrauary, so we have plenty of time to raise more money!
Wink, Wink....you will all be hearing from me soon!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Happy Birthday Pat!

Happy Birthday wishes to the love of my life, my best friend, my soul mate and
 the best husband in the world!
 
 Let us love with a love that will never grow old, let our dreams turn to silver, our memories to gold. Let me be the friend who knows your heart best. Let our home be a place of comfort and rest. Let your heart be assured that you are to me all the wonderful things that a husband could be. I love you!

 
 We all love you!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Still Feel Lost at Times...

WoW...we have been busy. My posts have been pretty lame. Not a lot of writing or thoughts jotted down- just pictures up-loaded in a hurry with hardly any explanations. Oh well, guess our lives have been a bit busy lately. I just try to keep up, keep my spirit up and keep moving forward. I am certain Pat feels the same way. The kids are doing well. I am truly blessed to have them...they keep me going for sure. I am usually so excited about this time of the year. Thanksgiving is almost here and we have lots of birthdays and Christmas right around the corner! I am somehow just really lost this year...I am trying so hard to "get it all together", get organized, decorate the house, breathe and enjoy the excitement of the kids and family and friends, do some Christmas shopping....UGH- I just don't have it this year.
The void, the hole, the heartache...it's heavy, hard to carry, hard to fight. Dad will be gone 1 year on Thanksgiving Day. 1 year...how? Really how is this possible? Our lives have not been the same since that horrible day we got the call...I know our lives will NEVER be the same. I miss him more than I can describe or find words...so do the kids. I think I was hoping that once we hit the 1 year mark, it wouldn't hurt so bad...or something a long that line. It still hurts like hell. I hate every part of it. I also hate that it falls on Thanksgiving Day! Just plain sucks...I can't be anymore honest or blunt about it. We have Pat's birthday, Griff's birthday, the 1 year mark of losing Pat's dad, Christmas, Mac's birthday, New Year's and even my birthday and lots of other family birthdays and sadly 1 year marks of others that we loved and lost. Yikes...it's a bit overwhelming. I know we will all be fine...I am just venting.
I seem to feel better, cope better after I jot down my thoughts. It seems to help all of us. I try to constantly remind myself of all the things I have to be Thankful for. I have many...many...and don't want to take them for granted, ever. 
So, I will close with this-
I miss you Dad...really miss you. When I close my eyes, I see you...see your smile and hear your laugh, no matter where I am. I pull out your old shirt and can still smell you....I feel like I am with you sometimes. We will be thinking of you on Thanksgiving and do all we can to have a good day and send you happy wishes.
Love you always- Laura Lynn

Thursday, November 8, 2012

It is what it is...

I have been pretty quiet about this election year...I knew that it was going to be a somewhat "hostile" one, no matter who won. The election is over and to be honest, I don't trust any politician. It would be dumb to do so...there is way too much corruption, bribing and $$$ in it. No one can swoop in and fix all of the problems of the economy and world in a 4 year term! So, the election is over, it is what it is...let it go and move forward. We need not be a divided country...we need to find common ground and push ahead as best we can. We are all in this together, we all live in the USA and just want what we think is best. It takes courage and strength and grace to be able to come together and figure things out...on all sides.
“Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.” -alice swaim
Bless You All.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Election Day 2012

Well, the election is over...we voted for who we wanted...
"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him." Daniel 2:20-22

End of the Season

Sandy Red played thier hearts out on Saturday in the Championship Game against Clackamas. In the end, Clackamas took the game. The boys were all very upset, but also proud of how they all played, proud of each other and proud of their coaches!
What a great season. 
They finished 7-2.

We are very proud of you! 
Way to go BOYS!

Happy Birthday Grandma Kathy!

We celebrated our kind and loving Grandma Kathy's birthday last week.
She is most definitely special to all of us and very loved!


 I attempted to make Nonna's (in TX) Chocolate Chip Pie. 
It was good, but not as good as hers!
Thanks for sharing the recipe Nonna. It reminded all of us how much we love and miss you!


Yep-
Families are Forever!

Trick-or-Treat

Halloween Night was full of fun and good friends!
We had our usual "open house" where neighbors and friends came and went most of the eve with their little ghouls running from house to house for treats! 
At The Potter House, the adults get treats too....warm and toasty spiked apple cider.
It's always a nice treat when it's cold out.
We had our house decked out for the trick-or-treaters.


 These are just a few of our Halloween Pals that we party with every year (0:




 We even had the fog machines and strobe lights going!







Thanks to all that came out and stopped in.
Hope you all had a great Halloween!