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March 13, 2013

One Day, In Retrospect, The Year of Struggle Will Strike You As The Most Beautiful












Well, today was the day.
1 year.   1 whole freaking year.
1 year ago today was THE worst day of my life.
Well, worst week really.  Okay worst year??
It's hard to believe my Dad has been gone for a whole year.
A lot happens in one year.
I feel like I've lost a year.
I look at my kids and they're a year older.
I look at me, I look older.
The calendar says a year has passed.
I don't remember much.  It's almost like I've been in a fog, a coma, if you will, but a coma where I'm awake and alive, just not on the inside.
It's been a crappy year, I'm just going to be honest with you.
And I miss my Dad.

We spent the previous weekend at my brother's house, sledding, eating chili and relaxing, much like we did last year.  It was necessary, I think, for us to try and reenact the events of the previous year, as if, even for a single moment, we could have him, or more like the memory of him, back with us. And it was hard.  Way harder than I ever thought it would be.  The sky was the same color, the snow covered mountains were the same as I remembered them.  It was all the same, and yet a whole year had passed...and it was all totally and completely different.
My Baby Mia, last year, 9 months old
My baby Mia, this year, wearing the same clothes, 1 1/2 years old.

Some of us, 2012

All but one of us, 2013
I thought long and hard about what we should do today to remember him.  I wanted to do something in his memory, something he would have enjoyed. But staying in my garments in bed watching old westerns and eating ice cream just wasn't going to cut it, although in reality, he would have loved that.

So.  Plan B.  My brother and his wife and kids came down from Logan.  We visited for a while.  We went to lunch at Olive Garden.  We went to Scheels.  


We bought some balloons and went to a park and sent them to Papa.



 






















We watched them til they disappeared.   We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  We celebrated his life.  We missed him.

We made it through the first year without him.  It was hard.  It was rotten, filled with so many trials and hardships.  Lots of good stuff happened too, don't get me wrong, but it was a tough year.

Many people have told me that the first year is always hard.  And we made it.  Together.  I don't know what I'd do without my family.  All of them.  And I intend on leaning on them to make it through the next year, And the next.  Together forever, am I right?

I have my Dad's watch.  I took it with me last year.  It beeps every hour, on the hour.  It's a comforting sound, that little noise, and I always think of him when I hear it.  I took it out today and looked at the date.  3-13.  And I lost it completely.  On year ago, my Dad wore this watch for the last time.  And it makes me sad.  His nasty skin flakes and dirt and dust are still in between the links on the band.  He used to sit in church and clean it out with his pocket knife.  Now you see him, now you don't, I still don't understand how it could be real.  How is he not with us right now?!?  But we carry on.

Dad, I miss you like crazy.  I wish you were here every single day.  I have wanted to call you so many times this past year.  You would be so proud of my kids.  Izacc still says the funniest things.  I can just hear you laugh about one of his stories.  Ian is so smart, he would blow you away with what he knows.  He misses you too.  He told me tonight he misses you to 100 and that's a lot of numbers, he said.  And your little Millie is turning into such a beauty.  She's got the attitude you told me she was going to have, feisty and full of life.  She's been biting lately, mostly her brothers. She rules the roost, just like you knew she would.  And I just plain miss you.  Your laugh, your teasing, your super ticklish feet and your half finger.  I know you're alright and right where you're supposed to be.  I'm selfish I guess and wish you were still here with us.  I look forward to the day I get to see you again.  And I love you.

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March 11, 2013

Something Awesome

Hey guys!  
I wanna tell you a story.
Izacc is my oldest.  He is  in school.  
All day long.  And it works for us.
BUT Spring Break is coming up.  
And I had no stinking idea what I'm going to do with him.  He had a day off last week and we all went nutso!  So I have been PANICKING trying to figure out what we can do to keep busy without spending a million dollars.  
But then heaven opened up and my friend told me about something fantastic.  I am am pretty excited about it.  
And I want to tell you all about this steal of a deal too!

Utah Kids Club!  Ever heard of it?!  Seriously!!!  
Utah Kids Club is your answer to Summer Fun (And Spring Break!!)
They have discounts everywhere you want to go!
Cowabunga Bay, Seven Peaks, Cherry Hill, Living Planet Aquarium, Fat Cats, Mulligans, Hollywood Connection, Bee's Baseball, Treehouse Museum, Ogden Dinosaur Park, Ogden Union Station, I Fly, Flowrider, IRock, Jump N Bounce, Kangaroo Zoo, Jump On It, WAIRHouse Trampolines, Get Air, Airborne, Trafalga, Laser Assault, Red Butte Garden, Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary, Scera Theatre, Off Broadway...the list goes on and on.
No more going to the same place over and over!!
With Utah Kids Club you get 1 FAMILY Membership and can go where you want, when you want.
Plus you get 2 FREE Kids Meal Certificates each month!
Get Rid Of Bored and Nutso and Get a Utah Kids Club membership!!
Right now, they are having a seriously awesome deal.  When you use the exclusive code, you can get the $12.00 Family Membership for only $7.99!!!
Go to www.UtahKidsClub.com and click JOIN.
use coupon code save0211
That's 1 Family Membership (to ALL the fun places) And 2 FREE Kids Meal Certificates for $7.99!!!!
Seriously!!!!!
I can't wait.  The snow is melting and we are going to have some fun.
And you should too!
Go there.  Do it.  Pass it on.  Bring your friends.  You won't be sorry!
 www.UtahKidsClub.com with coupon code save0211.
You're welcome. 


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October 10, 2012

Dating Divas Halloween Couples Contest

Yo.
I know I have been absent from the blog scene this past little while and I hate that.  I'm coming back, baby, in full force!  
But 
There is a fun reason for today's post.
I'm entering our super awesome Angry Bird costumes from last year into a contest!
Huzzah! 
In case you don't remember, here they are:







Fun and fabulous, am I right?!?
So
we need votes.
Lots and lots of votes.
Starting October 16th you can go here and give us some love.
And if you do I'll make you some cookies.
Or brownies.
Or send you a present.
Or something nice like that.
Anyway thanks for your support.
More to come.
But until then
Go vote for us!!!
Pretty please??
Thanks.
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August 12, 2012

We're Back, Baby! Also, it's Sunday!!


Yo.   
So it's Sunday and so I'mma throw one of these at you.  
Pretty sad that the last time I did this was uh, well, the day before the worst day of my life so far.  
But it just makes for a more drastic "look how big my kids are" unveiling right?!  
Albeit a little out of focus and melancholy, it's my babies.  
And it's Sunday.  
And we're back, baby.



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June 16, 2012

There's A First Time For Everything

Well, well, well.
Guess what my big fat butt did this morning!!

If you guessed slept in, well, my friend, you would be incorrect.

Me and my BOB ran our first 5K!
(BOB would be my Big Ol' Butt for those of you not in the know)
Get out of town, right!? Who is this girl you ask!?
It's me, baby!  
Well, the new me anyway.  
The old me thought running was for suckers and that it would most definitely be the end of me if I were to try to run.  
In 6th grade, I HAD to run the mile.  I think I did it in 12 minutes.  
And thought my life was over.
In high school I was in track, but I was a thrower.  
We had to run 2 laps every practice. 
I dropped out.
Well look at me now.
I've still got some post baby chub.
I'm tall and awkward and the complete opposite of graceful and athletic.
But guess what ya'll?! 
I did it!
I DID IT!!!
All you haters can suck it!  
 And I'm talking to you 6th grade and high school me(s)!
Go sit down and think about boys or something.  

Here's how it all went down...

My cousin Stuart, his sister Sarah, and their Mom Sue all signed up to run the 5K and I am so glad they did!  It was awesome to be there with people I love!

Here we are, doing a little pre-run laughing.  You know that's important, right?!  Forget stretching out those calves and thighs.  The belly laughs are where it's at.

I THINK this is Stuart's game face...although it could just be gas...

It was 7 am and Sarah was more that happy to be up and going...

Yeah, uh, I got nothin' here...this could be gas too...

My awesome Aunt Sue, who I learned today has quite the running past.  She's awesome.  Oh I already said that?  Okay well, she is so deal with it!

These are my adoring fans, so dedicated that they woke up super early and hauled their tiny butts out to eat granola bars and whine.

It's a tough gig, being my fan, but they're pretty great at it.

Here we are learning "Da Rulz"

A quick prayer and we're off!



Lap one went well.  I was good.  Life was good.  My new special running clothes were giving me the wedgie of my life.

Lap two: a little tricky, starting to contemplate hiding around the corner and just jumping out at the last minute and finishing in with the speedsters.  Also, why does all running clothing decide to head north in the event of a little southern movement??!

Sarah looks pro.  I think this needs to be a Nike ad.

Stuart.  STUART!!

He crushed it!  He even hurt his back earlier in the week and he just rocked it like a boss!


Lap three: Cursing late night munchies from last night and considering making a pact with the Devil to get me out of this situation I am in.  And then I noticed that approx. half of the runners we started with were done and having delicious Gatorade and bananas.  Boo.  Also, my Ipod between my cleavage was creating a strange pool of sweat...ahem.  And I look like a frog.  And my pants and I were on a break.

Last lap: done.  Don't care about anything else but making it to the end.  Even if there were a bunch of dirty, dirty cheaters out there running with me...you know who you are!

Donezo.  Finish line!
Seriously donezo.
I ran my first 5K in 37:40.
It was a 3.73 mile course and that means I ran 10 minute miles!
SUCK IT 6th GRADE ME!!  
Bwa ha ha ha ha!!!
Yeah buddy!

Here comes Sarah...and Stuart!

Yay!!


So that was it!  We all did it and it was actually kind of fun.  What am I saying?!  Who AM I!?!

Would you like to know the secret of my success??
I'd be more than willing to share if you promise not to judge.


My little secret would be my super awesome playlist my Ipod I created.
I had a whole bunch of tried and true songs that I'd been testing out for weeks.
But in the 11th hour, I switched up the scene and added some new ones to the mix.
And just put the ol' 'pod on shuffle.
Would you like to hear the mega super awesome pump-you-up playlist my Ipod created for me?!
Okay.  Here's what I ran to in the order of their appearance:
Not kidding, #1 was Eye Of The Tiger.  (My Ipod has the best sense of humor ever!)
#2 Hey Ya by OutKast  (Shake it like a Polaroid Picture)
#3 Pain by Three Days Grace (Yup, fitting I know)
#4 Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machines (It's a way good song to run to.  Try it!)
#5 Good Life by OneRepublic  (It was a great moment, actually)
#6 Everybody Talks by Neon Trees  (I sorta wanted to die during this song)
#7 Billionaire by Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars  (I DO want to be a billionaire!)
#8 Fire To The Rain by Adele (Ah Adele) 
#9 I'm Yours/Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Straight No Chaser (I think I was hallucinating at this point)
#10 Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon  (I ran through the sprinklers, you know, because I was on fire.)
#11 Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely) by Pink (I was almost done...and lonely)
And finishing it off, #12 Cowboy by Kid Rock (DON'T YOU JUDGE ME!  You know you love this song!)

So there you go.  My big secret: an awesome playlist to keep your spirits up.
Oh and training since March.  
But you know, technicalities.
I can't wait to do it again.  And I know my time wasn't that great but ya gotta start somewhere, right?!  At least it's a start!


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