Our STRIPLING WARRIOR

Oh, Tanner...never a dull moment with him!

The weekend has been filled with major changes and challenges. Taylor decided it was best to live somewhere else and we are facing "tough love". He knows we love him. During Sunday School and dinner we studied the story of Alma the Younger, perhaps Taylor will be struck dumb and find his way back to our family. After dinner, we moved Tanner downstairs and went through many things we had in storage. Tanner found my props I used for youth conferences when I spoke. He, of course, went into character starring as a stripling warrior. I had fun narrating the story. Hopefully he can earn some extra credit in seminary!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

I have been very blessed to be surrounded by some amazing women...

Many of you remember our amazing youth leaders. This photo was taken of my senior year in high school. It's me, Shelly Burdett, Kathy Olson and Becky Roner. I had many other leaders that I am grateful for, but Kathy Olson knew me the longest. She babysat me when I was just a few months old. She is probably my greatest influence in falling in love with a red head! She is someone very dear to me...

My Grandma and I were very close. When I was attending Santa Rosa Junior College, I often stayed at her house. We would stay up late and she would tell me stories about Grandpa and when my Mom and Dad met. She was also very close to my Dad. I miss her but believe her reunion with my Dad was spectacular and filled with much laughter. I can still remember her laugh.

I am very fortunate to have Missy live so close. She is more than an Aunt to my children. They adore her!!! There is something special between sisters and I am lucky to have her!

My mom is the strongest, talented and amazing woman I really know. Kathy Olson often tells me how she was the most prepared mother. She always had my diaper bag with EVERYTHING possible and always kept to her word. I have many memories of her helping our Girl Scout troop. She was the cookie coordinator and zillions of cookie boxes to distribute. Unfortunately, we had a huge flood and Mom was rescuing all the cookies. She also made my book reports look the best. I still have one of them on Panda's from 3rd grade. Mom was also dynamic with speeches and helped me with a few powerful talks. Christmas Parties and our numerous Disneyland trips are unforgettable. However, I have two memories that still have an impact in my life. When I was in high school, Mom was finishing up her schooling. She was juggling a full load, work and trying to make it financially. I remember waking up around 3:00 in the morning and she was up listening to Anne Murray and studying. I was invited to go to Disneyland with my cheerleading team, money was tight and I found her one evening rolling pennies so I could have just a few more dollars. For some reason, that memory still makes me cry. It taught me how important I was to her and that she was determined to make anything possible. My other favorite memory was in the delivery room. I saw her cry when each one of my children were born. She is so proud of them. I must admit the most powerful example of her strength was getting us through my Dad's death. She was gentle, patient, considerate, loving and supportive of our feelings, heartache and confusion. She is brave, more brave than I can ever imagine as she begins a new chapter in her life. She has also turned into the bionic woman with all the changes she is making to her house.

(I have encouraged her to start a blog...she is just too funny to share with email only!)

Happy Mother's Day!

And this is why I blog...

My Dad had many brothers and sisters. A few moved to the United States and when I was a little girl I remember visiting those that lived in Mexico. My Dad tried his best to keep me posted about my cousins. I never saw photos, except a couple baby pictures. I also know the day he passed away he had a chance to speak with a few of his brothers and sisters. Last week, I received a comment on a posting from my cousin in Mexico. I had no idea he was reading our family blog. I responded back and this evening I learned a little bit more about my cousin, Arqueles...Taylor couldn't believe he teaches photography and media technology at the Universidad del Valle de México at Reynosa. It has been so much fun to blog and reunite with not only family but old friends across the world, to the amazing group of Young Women I taught in Petaluma and those I grew up with in San Rafael Stake. Happy Blogging!

First Photo: Arqueles with his wife and daughter

Second Photo: Arqueles with his mother, Aunt Nora (my Dad's sister)

Happy Anniversary!!!

The first week of May is always busy for Jason! He is slammed with my birthday on the 1st, our anniversary on the 4th and then Mother's Day...

Today we celebrate 18 YEARS!!!

I am very lucky to have Jason. He is so funny and works so hard at anything he sets his mind to do. When we were dating we had to deal with his mother dying, but so grateful we had the opportunity to tell her we decided to get married. I remember the first time I realized I was in love and wanted to marry Jason. We had been dating (if you call that) for a month, actually we disagreed and argued more than date! I was at his house and his mom was getting sick. I watched how gentle and tender he was towards her. As the months passed, I couldn't stop watching how much he cared about her and how well he eased her pain and never left her side. She died a few months before we were married. Jason's mom gave me a great gift I will never take for granted. She allowed me to spend her last 5 months getting to know all about her life. She shared wonderful stories and cared so much for her Jason! I was there the night she passed away. It was my first real understanding moment of literally feeling her spirit return to our Father in Heaven. It was a beautiful, remarkable moment in my life.

My parents had concerns (to put it mildly) of getting married and now that 18 years have passed everyone is happy I married Jason. He has definitely become another son to my Mom and Dad. I will never forget seeing my Dad's reaction when I told him we were getting married...It was the first time I saw a "white" Mexican.

Jason and I have so much fun together. We are getting closer to the time when it's just "us" at the house. (We started to experience this a few nights during the week, now that the kids are teenagers!)...and we love it! Jason is ALWAYS supporting me, much more than I do for him...Yeap, I am lucky and look forward to many, many more decades of marriage!!!

Life is just going by too fast!!!

Are You Kidding Me???

How can I be 37 years olds?????

It was a few years ago that I was attending USA Cheer Camp in Southern California. It wasn't so long ago I was going to school at Novato High and driving the bat mobile. (photo taken 1987!!!)

And how could this be...the Olympics were just held in Salt Lake City!!! I am still recovering from the excitement and little sleep during that magical two weeks. We still have the Olympic spirit in my house everyday. Impossible to believe it's been 6 years ago!!!

So, it's true...37 years old. My knees tell me everyday I am getting old. I am plucking more gray hair (perhaps due to teenagers) and naps in the middle of the day sound incredible! But whats more important is I am a very happy 37 year old mother, wife, daughter and friend! Happy Birthday to me!!! Spending it in Denver at US Figure Skating Governing Council with a few friends. Jason is surviving with the kids along with Missy's help! To celebrate my birthday in Denver, I am going to Rockies vs. Dodgers game!!! Mom bought me a ticket for my birthday and I have terrific seats watching the Dodgers play behind their dugout and thinking of my Dad!

(hint: boys what I would love for a service gift is the windows cleaned inside and out!!!)

Happy Anniversary!

Today would mark the 38th Wedding Anniversary for my Dad and Mom.

We love you Mom!!!

Last Night of the Ice Show

Last night of the Ice Show. It was a great evening!!! Jordan skated another great program while the boys ran the spotlights for the third night in a row...Jason also announced after spending the day working on the backyard. It looks beautiful!!! I think the boys have watched enough skating for the next few months...

There was a time Colleen and I spent hours and many days/evenings decorating, shopping, hanging out etc... Now our visits are very few and far between so I treasure any time we get to catch up...I just love our friendship and it's been so rewarding to watch all our children grow up so fast! Well, rewarding is a nice way to describe the entertainment of raising teenagers! Colleen is an amazing mother. She will go straight to heaven....

Brooke and her PERFECT baby McKaylee and Jordan. Really, McKaylee is perfect. One of the

most happiest, cheerful, well behaved baby I have held. She loved the lights and just smiled the whole evening.

Missy and Tyson (a.k.a. Travis) joined us this evening. Tyson works with Jason and Missy. He is a funny, great guy who loves reading our blog...(Hi Tyson!)


Tiff and Missy...................Veronica also joined us.

Auditions for the "BLADES of GLORY" sequel

starring Tanner and Austin!!!

Who is Austin???...Brooke's husband and the father to their PERFECT, darling baby and if Tanner and Austin went to high school together they would have been quite a team!

First Night of the Ice Show

It's been a long week preparing for the ice show. Tonight was the first show and Jordan looked beautiful. This is her first performance to slower, softer music. She looked like a grown lady on the ice. Time is going by so fast. The music is called "Home" by Michael Buble. It was the first song used for my Dad's video during his funeral. She had a fantastic time and enjoyed skating to the crowd. Ever so often we all experience opportunities of being so dang proud of our kids. This evening a parent shared a story with me concerning Jordan's integrity. During the ice show, the skaters wait in different dressing rooms for their turn, often watching DVD's or listening to music. Jordan was hanging out in one of the rooms with a few of the younger skaters, when inappropriate music was playing. She told the group they should change the song because it wasn't appropriate. Little did she know, the impression she made on one young skater. The young skater told her mom and the difference that made to her!

I also enjoyed spending some time with old friends!!! Jason did a terrific job announcing and the boys stayed busy running the spotlights. I will take photo's tomorrow of the boys and all the lights. It's quite amazing.

This is what happens when I cook!

I inherited my Dad's perfectly round face, chubby checks and healthy teeth with a little gap between two but I DID NOT inherit his cooking skills!!! The kitchen hates me and I hate the kitchen. Thinking about cooking makes me depressed. Ever so often I do pull off a "dinner". Monday night I made chicken seasoned with salt and pepper and served with rice a roni (chicken flavor) and Taylor made an awesome salad. Missy came over and was impressed! However, when I checked the chicken in the oven, the dish was broken...a Pampered Chef casserole dish! I give up, what a mess it would have been if I made those funeral potatoes!

Ouch!

Friday was an interesting game! It started off with two players colliding trying to catch a pop fly. Both players (from the other team) were knocked out. The catcher finally got up but the 1st baseman started to seize. The ambulance took him to the hospital and I heard he is ok. The boys told me it was the worst collision they have ever seen. A few innings later, Taylor was hit by a pitch in the elbow. Tanner took the photo and if you look closely, you can see the ball bouncing back from hitting his elbow. By the time he reached third base, he couldn't feel his fingers. The next inning he played first and didn't say anything. Then he was up to bat again and this time couldn't grip the bat. So we left the game and got the elbow xrayed. Fortunately, no fracture! We came back to the second game (double header) and the other team had a player take a line drive to his two front teeth. He was then rushed to the dentist. Despite all the activity, we lost the first game and won the second game. Taylor's elbow is feeling much better too!

Poor Tanner!

Tanner has been sick all weekend long and when he is sick, he acts like a grumpy old man! It's a challenge with Tanner to distinguish when he is acting or not. He deserves high awards for his dramatic presentation of an ill, coughing person. We dragged him to church and I loved having him cuddle next to me in sacrament. It reminded me of those rare moments when he was a hyper toddler, it was when he was sick that he slowed down enough for me to cuddle him. I still couldn't decide how sick he really was. Yes, he coughed and his voice was scratchy but his acting skills portrayed a pathetic ill teenager trying to get out of church. Now, in all fairness...Tanner was sick. He came home from church and stayed in bed for the rest of the day and evening. Fortunately, we didn't have school today but the boys had two baseball games. Tanner dragged himself to the field and Taylor took this photo from the dugout.

Update on Tanner's drama contest: It was on Saturday and that's when he started to cough and moan. I am still unclear on this whole activity but he had to give the monologue in 3 rounds. One judge gave him all superiors! Many positive comments were made and the negative was mostly on his timing, speaking too quickly and dictation. Tanner said it wasn't great because he felt so sick but he had fun and looks forward to many others!

Rubies...

Today was Jill's funeral and I was so moved by a few comments that were made. Jill was a different woman. She was stubborn, bossy, extremely talented and very determined. When she set her mind on something, look out! She never let the cancer distract her and she never gave up fighting. She was a poet, gifted pianist and always into fashion and jewelry. A close friend of Jill's spoke at the funeral...she was a wonderful speaker! She told us about her last few days. When she visited Jill last week, she noticed she had on all her ruby jewelry. Her husband mentioned that's all she keeps asking for and thought it was odd. Jill's friend knew the meaning of it...a few months ago, Jill called her about a scripture she read in Proverbs...

"Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above the rubies." Proverbs 31:10

The rest of the chapter in Proverbs describe a woman of strength, honor, faith and the lack of fear. I thought it was interesting during her last days, so heavily medicated, she thought of those rubies. The Bishop gave the closing remarks, quoting a comment that finally brought some peace with my Dad. He said he once heard in order to feel a little bit of heaven in your home, someone from your home needs to be in heaven...

It was a beautiful service and Jordan was deeply touched to see photos of her and Jill during the DVD presentation. Jill was 35 years old and battled cancel for over 6 years but she never let the cancer take over. She fought it hard but still lived life to the fullest.

An Angel from Above

It was November 2002 when Jordan started her first Learn to Skate lesson. Jill, pictured with Jordan was a substitute for Jordan's class. After Jordan's first session of Learn to Skate, she started private lessons with Jill at the Olympic Oval. Jill coached her for 15 months and exposed our family to figure skating. Jill choreographed her first program and took her to a few local competitions. Jill was also a courageous lady who battled cancer at the age of 29. After countless surgeries and unbelievable courage, her battle finally ended Tuesday evening at the age of 35... I spoke with her last year, shortly after her cancer returned. She still had her stubborn determination to fight this cancer. Even though she had Jordan for a short time, she was a stepping stone for our adventures in Figure Skating. She also taught our family about courage. This Saturday we will attend her funeral and reunite with old friends. I believe Jill will enjoy watching us gather together and reminisce the impact she made on all of us. She was one of a kind and now watching from above without pain.

I Can't Wait for Mom to Move to Utah!

I am just getting tired of crying over my Dad...it's not any harder to deal with him gone, it's just lonely and I miss him so much. A few nights ago I had a dream, it was an odd dream but Dad was in it and he seemed so real. I heard his voice and I woke up telling myself that felt so real but it's really a dream. (However it was really weird, my Dad was telling me how he killed the snake that was strangling a baby at the casino) So, later that day I watched Jordan skate and of course she was practicing her ice show number to Dad's music...(fought back the tears again). We also have a sweet Hispanic employee at the rink, doesn't look like Dad but he has the sweetest personality and is always so kind to me and his accent reminds me of my Dad. The kids have TiVo all the George Lopez shows because it makes them laugh and George's humor and facial expressions are similar to my Dad. I came home to Jordan watching the same episodes of George Lopez. So today I decided, I just can't cry and keep missing him so much...so I thought, what will it be like when Mom moves Utah?The radio was advertising tickets to the "Producers", I thought, Mom would be calling me right now purchasing tickets for Tanner and her. When she gets here, they will spend so much time at Kingsbury Hall and Pioneer theater. I was late to the baseball game and thought, Mom would already be at the field, 10 minutes early with snacks and drinks for the other parents and a chair waiting for me! Of course, she would probably have lunch with Missy before making the game or stopping by the rink to watch Jordan skate. I can't wait to spend Sunday dinners with her or having Taylor drive over to her house to help her with projects. I look forward to the Tulip Festival and walking the gardens with Mom. Her weeknights would be busy as Jason and Missy call her up to go catch a movie at the Gateway. And if she was here right now, she could take Tanner to the state finals for his drama competition this Saturday because he doesn't want me to go watch him (UHMMM!) So today was busy and hectic but I had a great time thinking about what Mom would be doing when she moves here! I just can't wait!!!

What was he THINKING????

Taylor went to Jr. Prom with his girlfriend, Veronica. I really like Veronica. She is sweet, cute and has good grades. Jr. Prom was not a big event, or at least Taylor didn't make a fuss about it. I can't remember what was going on that day, I am sure something with skating but Jason and I were not around when Taylor was getting ready. HOWEVER, we should have been!!! I noticed in his Jr. Prom photo he was wearing JEANS!!! Not only JEANS but tight JEANS that probally fit Jordan! Jeans that are cut narrow around the leg...What happen to the days of pegging them with safety pins! Didn't I teach him better! I felt so bad for Veronica, her boyfriend wearing JEANS to Jr. Prom...Taylor said at least he had a tie on!!!

Speaking about Proms and High School...this evening all the kids were out of the house with parties and sleep overs and Jason was working late. After I saw Taylor's photo in jeans, I thought I would look through my prom photos and see if any of my dates were odd enough to wear JEANS!!! Nope, my dates wore tuxedo's! Not the baby blue kind either!!! I would post a photo or two but I think my kids would die a painful death if they saw me as a teenager at Prom! And who knows what has happened to some of my dates from High School...some might be criminals and wouldn't that be scary if they were found on my blog!!! However, I did come across these photos of our senior year. Suzy, Carin and I along with Jeff all went to different high schools but we had a great senior year! Weekends were always packed with activities, dances and just plain fun. I was lucky having a great group of friends!

Cousin Karli

While I was with Kathy in St. George, I found many photos of Cubby, Missy, Karli and myself when we were younger. Kathy was my first babysitter since I was just a month or two old. Kathy was an amazing Girls Camp leader and contributed to the incredible, inspiring, wonderful and life changing experiences in the Sierra's with Girls Camp. Now, she lives in a place that is miserable in the summer (hotter than...) but has a beautiful home and a mini Costco in her garage. My kids love spending time with Kathy and her sweet dog Billy. Kathy wanted me to keep the photos of my younger years, so I started to collect a pile of photos including Karli, Missy and Cubby. I couldn't believe how much Karli's son, Jayden resembles her. Take a look!

I couldn't make Jayden's photo larger but I love the eyes! Karli...is that the pepto bismol doll???

I love the fur jacket!

The first photo is me, Karli and Tuffy. (I loved that dog!) My mom always made us terrific Halloween costumes. It's hard to see it in the old photo but Karli has her nose painted with whiskers just like Jayden's.

I am sending a package for Baby Kaelyn (Cousin Kristi's baby) and I will include the photos of Karli. I miss everyone in New Mexico!!!

Congratulations Tanner!!!

Many of you know Tanner is a funny, witty kid who has an interest in theatre. He entered in a drama competition for the state of Utah. He gave a Humorous Monologue, portraying a "redneck" character for over 3 minutes. I was not there because Tanner keeps his hidden talent a secret! However, he was quick to call me this evening to tell me he advanced to Regionals. He received two superiors and one excellent. I don't know what all this means, I understand the figure skating judging system and the rules of baseball, but I never imagine Tanner would take us through this adventure. I plan to contact his drama teacher for more details. I was able to read his judging sheets and the comments that were made. The next level of competition is April 12!

"Your very physical brand of comedy was a pleasure to watch-your accent worked, and you seemed to understand how to pull the humor out of each joke. Next time: Speak more slowly. We need time to process the humor and it was hard to understand all the words, which was a shame, because it was so funny. Get your hair out of your eyes!" Judge 1

"Terrific Job! You really captured the character. Way to keep the tempo going throughout! Really lighthearted and fun." Judge 2

"Good Job. You have high energy. Just make sure the words, even "cowboy" words aren't slurred to much." Judge 3