Christmas Festivities 2011

Despite all the sickness we encountered this month, we still managed to have a great Christmas season. 

Maggie isn't quite old enough to truly "get" it, but she was still pretty fun. 

She loved singing Jingle Bells and shaking her own little bells, watching Christmas movies every night, playing with our Christmas Advent pieces, looking at our lights by the fireplace, and spending time with family when we could.

 I finally started to download and look back at all the pictures we've taken and we have a lot! 

 Here are some things we did this season...

Festival Of Trees

We went for Jonas' birthday, he loved lights. I think we hit it at a pretty descent time, but really no matter when it's always a bit crowded. Next year I either need to enter my own tree, which I'm seriously considering, or go right at 10 am so it's not too packed. Otherwise it's something that we'll have to pass on. 

 

 The Weasley's House from Harry Potter....SO COOL!

 Our little friends, Charlotte and Lily's Tree. Look at that cool Carousel horse!

Can you see the lights in her eyes? 

Random Happenings

 Ok this is kind of a creepy picture...my vampire baby... it's chocolate dripping down her face. We were all tasting some chocolates and Maggie thought that is was fun and yummy. She was actually biting off big pieces. I'm so grateful that she has the ability and desire to taste.

Love this smile

 One of her many Christmas outfits...she was so funny, just talking up a storm and so her facial expressions were great.

she must have her daddy's genes...bags under eyes when they are very tired

attacking Dad as he prepares for his Christmas Day Talk

 

Visiting Great Grandpa Coleman and Aunt Sharon

Temple Square Lights

We went with both families this year. Logan had a choir concert at the Assembly Hall and so we went on probably one of the coldest nights to hear them sing. Good thing it was warm inside. On our way back to the car we stopped took one picture and went home. So it was nice to go another time when it was much warmer. Maggie wasn't happy unless we were moving, that's nothing new. What a personality!

 Love it when I take fabulous blurry pictures.

 

 Besties!

Neighborhood Bonfire

Hot Chocolate, dutch oven scones, fire pits and friends. We blocked off the street and had a little party. It was cold, but the fires warmed you right up.

And now that my computer has decided to only upload one at a time...I will have to continue tomorrow!

Tis the Season

For everyone to be sick!!!

Well not everyone, just me and Maggie, so lame.

I think we are finally on the up and the reason there is a post. Being sick really puts a damper on posting and kind of the last thing I wanted to do. Not to mention the fact that there have been very little picture taking going on. Hopefully these next few weeks that can change. 

Thanks for all your concern and loves! 

It felt like a big process to finally get Maggie's cold under control or at least know exactly what it was that we were dealing with. In medical world she had caught the Rhinovirus, the basic cold. But as we say, basic colds are not so basic when you can't cough yourself or handle those extra secretions. We thought we were handling it well, but like most colds it moved into her chest overnight and caused her to have pneumonia and her left lung to basically collapse. During this transition, I hopped on board the sick train and came down with something different, the stomach flu. So luckily Whit took care of his sick girls and so far still healthy...knock on wood!

A couple visits to the x-ray machine, a shot of rocephin at the pediatricians, a strong dose of augmentin, nebulizer treatments every 4-6 hours, cough assist treatments every 4 hours night and day, bi-pap mask 23 hours a day, and 2 weeks later....

we managed to stay out of the hospital and pretty sure we've popped that lung back open. 

Grammie brought some Christmas cheer by sending the Elf on the Shelf our way.

 She had to go to sleep with her lipstick in hand. She must be feeling better!

Ah nuts

Someone isn't feeling well at all.

For Lindsey's Birthday

Lindsey, this blog has been your diary for several years now. It contains priceless insights into your heart and allows so many, even me, to glimpse at the depth of true love, dedication and gentle tenderness you have inside you. Thank you for keeping this blog. Now it’s my turn to have a go…

Happy Birthday Lindsey, I Love you! I still feel the same youthful, giddy crush today that I had when we were in Jr. High and High school. I still get excited about being with you and I love you, just like I did then. Only, the roots of my love for you have anchored so much deeper in my heart than they were seventeen years ago. Since then we have weathered some pretty strong storms, storms that no one should have to face… But we have confronted them together and as a result our relationship has been tested and proved stronger than any of us could have imagined and we have done more than any one of us could do on our own. That is what I love about us; we are together, we do things together, we love to be together. 

I love that you put up with me so well. I am sorry for all of my shortcomings and weaknesses. But, being with you makes me want to be better and because you are with me I know I can do it. You are such strength to me, you are my motivation, you are the reason I can do everything I do. There have been countless periods in my life when I thought it would be impossible to love you more. I look back at those times and realize that my love has grown beyond what I could’ve imagined and I cannot picture my life without you, you are the girl that I will love forever. Thank you for being my bride, wife, friend and lover. I cannot fathom loving anyone or anything more than I love you, but I have thought that before, and know that in the years to come I will love you deeper, stronger and greater. I look forward to that and our future together. Happy Birthday my Nena, thank you for making me so happy.

Happy Birthday!

Love forever,

Whit

Happy Birthday my Jonas

Today Jonas would be four. 

Funny, he already seemed four to me because he was so tall. There were many times he was mistaken for at least six. He also seemed older because his little spirit was much older and despite his weak body, it shined through.
I'll always remember the day you came into this world. Though the details may fade, I'll never forget how happy we were. I cried when you came and I cried when you left. Every moment that we spent together is kept safe in my memories. Memories I remember often and others that come with gentle reminders.
Every Sunday as we drive to family dinners and more recently as we've been visiting your grave, I think of all the Sundays that Daddy would be working and it was just you and me. We would drive around town looking at houses, picking out our favorite ones and whittling down the hours.
This one seems to be on my mind a lot and it makes me happy.
I Love you baby boy! You are always in my heart. 

 

November 18th

One year

...

 

I have been ignoring this post. Mostly because I've wanted to say something meaningful, but also because it kind of hurts to think about. That day was when my already hurt heart completely broke. The pieces have been glued back together because of Whit, Maggie and my faith. And in general we really are doing well in life. I find that if I think about it too much, well the glue doesn't do much to keep it together. 

So in simple terms....

Are we ok? Yes, we really are. Are we hurting? Absolutely. Deeper than ever. 

Our first Angel Day. 

Whit took work off that day and it truly was a happy day. We dedicated the whole day to Jonas. 

We drove by his grave and had a wonderful surprise of seeing his headstone in place. It felt great to see it there for him. It took me a year to realize that it's just a stone and no matter what it looks like, it's ok. But I needed that year to learn that. 

We went to Make-A-Wish and looked for his star. It took us a long time, but I think we found it.

Then we went again to the grave with most of our family. It was night and beginning to snow, but it felt great to be there with everyone and celebrate Jonas. We lit a candle and sent off a balloon. 

Then ended the night with dinner. On a day like that, it felt so nice to be surrounded by family. When what you want most is unavailable, the next best thing is being lifted up by those that care. 

Since his Angel day we have been busy, busy. I think keeping busy has been our defense mechanism.

Because we really, really, really miss him. 

So again not thinking about it to deeply keeps those pieces together. Maybe more time will help that glue get stronger.

For Whit's Birthday

Last year was probably one of the worst birthdays for Whit. We had just come home from our Make-A-Wish, Jonas was sick and we knew this was the end, Hospice was the topic of conversation, no presents or anything special for his day. He probably got Top Ramen for his dinner.

Because of the kind of guy Whit is he could have cared less about his birthday. 

Other things were much more important.

A year later, maybe I can make it up to him. So I thought I would share all his amazing beard and mustache pictures. He's so proud of them! I greatly prefer a non-bearded Whit, but let him go through his phases. So hopefully this will make you laugh and I'm sure it will inspire Whit to grow one again.

 Oct 31, 2005

 

 Nov 2007

The Fall 2008 Beard: Oct. 31, 2008

 Nov 2008

 He likes to slowly shave it away

 and is so not embarrassed to go out in public

 a couple of days later...the end is the worst! 

 

we also remember the hair of Spring 2009: June 2009 shortly before being cut

 The short lived Beard of Sept 2009

 

 October's Beard of 2010

Now the longest, most consistent and most documented beard

Fall 2011 Beard

 

Aug 2011

 Sept. 2011

 October 2011

later at the end of October.. the beginning of the end

 

 slowly..

slowly... gone.

But I haven't even taken a picture of Whit since it's been gone. What have we been doing!

Whit we love you! Hopefully this put a smile on your face and you won't think of growing a beard until the usual time...next fall?! 

Happy Birthday!!

St. George in October

 The warmer weather reminded me that I hadn't posted about our pre-Halloween trip. We came home the Sunday before Halloween, so those pictures kind of took precedence.

We had a fabulous time with Whit's parents and relaxed more than we ever have down there. Usually we are the kind to spend all day at the pool, even naps. With the weather a little cooler than the usual 100 degrees, we figured we would be ok to stay inside. Funny...I guess it should be the other way. We hit all our favorite shops, had our usual movie nights, and got to have some quality time together.

 Our first morning was Friday, and it was dress up Friday on Disney Channel. Good thing I brought the cute tutu my sister-in-law made. Maggie loved wearing it and playing with the pieces.

 still surprising us with her head control sometimes

 It was a tad bit chilly for our morning walks...

 but it warmed up just in time for us to get some good swimming time. 

This little girl loves her water, it's so good for moving!

 she's gonna get it.. she's gonna get it

 There's nothing much better then wearing your daddy's glasses while lounging in the pool

 

 Look at that Mohawk!!

 Whit's mom and dad were so nice to take us to our FAVORITE pizza place. 

They also introduced us to a new Mongolian restaurant that was really fun and pretty good. 

I was too busy trying to finish my HUGE bowl to take pictures

 Maggie was thoroughly entertained by her Grandma and Grandpa the whole time