The Shooting Trip on New Year's Day

Just got these downloaded from New Years Day.

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Rolling with the punches

I was reading my friend's blog last night and was impressed to stop and count my blessings once again. She is battling breast cancer that has metastasized to her bones. She is so very brave. She never misses a stride. From an outsider's vantage point, you may not even realize that she has cancer in every bone including her skull and in her liver. The doctors have given her 1 to 3 years. Yet, she volunteers at her sons' school, works out with friends, and maintains a seemingly normal life through all the pain and sickness of her disease and treatment. I guess her battle puts many things in perspective.
It seems that life is a lot of rolling with the punches. I guess that is how it will all play out in the end - how well we learn to roll. Scott's mom fell the day before Christmas breaking both of her arms severely and her nose. She was fortunate that the neighbor came shortly afterward to stoke her fire and found her. After a short hospital stay, she has been at the Quabbin Nursing Home where Melissa works for rehab and evaluation. When she visited the doctors last week she expressed her desire for corective surgery despite the risks. Without which, she would be relying on others for everything including eating for the rest of her life. So, Scott canceled his school and the kids weekend in St. George and made reservations to be with her before and during the surgery. We were so fortunate to find a ticket so affordable. I will not be able to go at the same time as we could only get one ticket and I have a screening interview with Canyons School District the same day her surgery is scheduled. It is good that he will go alone these days! They have scheduled two highly reputable surgeons to cut down on her time under anthesesia and increase her chances for a positive outcome. We are so blessed to live in a time when medical science can do so much.

Down come the Decorations

Well, another holiday season has come to a close with school starting again today - THANK HEAVENS! I still have about three weeks off to clean it all up and put it away. The two weeks went pretty peaceful. The kids helped Grams accomplish her goal of quilts for all (well - almost). No one had any explosive encounters. Token visits were experienced by those who felt moved to do so and extended family tolerated each other uneventfully, although obviously offended. All in all...pretty successful. Especially when most members of the family still found at least one opportunity to feel the spirit of Christmas sometime during the holidays!
Seriously, we are so blessed! All of our children are healthy. Our family circle is growing larger and richer with each new addition. Thirteen and counting grandchildren with three more grandchildren coming this summer. Grams is healthy. Grandma Wilbur is recovering under Melissa's (and Scott's) watchful eye. Our home is a safe, secure place and we are all progressing towards our goals. WE ARE BLESSED!

Happy New Year!

Getting Ready for the New Year

Scotty and Andy passed the time waiting for the New Year playing Sing Star. It was a first for Scotty. But, Andy really gets into it!

Hello Frosty!

The long cold days between Christmas and New Year's Day give the opportunity for a lot of creativity. William, Leo, and Jaxon were inspired and led by Seth to create this snowman in the backyard. They visited Grams for the eyes and nose. They are quite proud of their creation!

Holiday sentiment

Asa is all done! So are the rest of us!

Christmas 2008 was a great time for family. Christmas morning was very nice. Keali and Andy both came home and joined with us for the morning and then Dan's family, Justin's family, Shayne's family and even Eric's family were all able to join us later in the day for lunch and family gift exchange. Grandma made everyone a quilt this year. She really worked hard to get them all done in time. What a labor of love!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Magical Visit

Santa came to the house on Sunday evening before Christmas to give a bit of last minute advice to the little ones. He told them to eat all their food and be sure to make their beds every day. I wonder how he knew they needed just a little reminder?

BriAnna's Wedding

Make a Smilebox slideshow

BriAnna and Benigno Garcia
November 22, 2008

Later that same day...
Beni was baptised!

Behind Again

Three weeks between posts is far too long for this crazy group. We have had Will's eighth birthday, Halloween, Andy's 30th birthday, the sealing of Dan and Brandy's girls, and Will's baptism. I need to be sure to post more often.

The boys all carved their own pumpkins.
Even Bradley gets in on the carving of the pumpkins!
Beware the crazy chick with a knife. No need to wait for the Grim Reaper.
Seth made it just in time.

Asa makes a cute duck!

Boston as a monkey. Mom and Dad beware of the antics to come!

Gabes true colors are shining through (not really)
Tug was Dennis the Menace (although I have never thought of him that way).
I couldn't resist borrowing this picture of Ava. She makes an adorable Doodle-Bop!
I don't have pictures of the rest of the kids or grandkids. I would love to have them (hint-hint).

And now to the angelic (if only for a day)



The sealing was awesome. I have never been happier for any of my children. All five of them have waited along time for each other. What an amazing day!

Moving again!

Well, Keali had a great learning experience. Her apartment was broken into and all of her stuff was stolen - even her shoes! (I almost feel sorry for the theives.) I guess they got what they deserve. No, really, she did recover most of her things like her computer and TV. But, her shoes...they are still gone. And, her mannequins for school. Wow.
She decided right away that she should move into a new neighborhood and has already done so. She now lives out in West Jordan off of I-215. The up side to all of it is that she has less to move, ha-ha.

Empty Nest - - NOT

Well it has been the year for kids to move out. Keali moved out in the early Spring. She did not quite empty her room so everyone still thinks she will be coming home. However, I think she likes her independence and the quiet of her own place. It has been a bit weird though.
Andy just moved out yesterday. He bought a condo in Harvest Hills. It is a cute three bedroom on the third floor. Auhg! He doesn't have much to fill it up so he will rattle around for a while. Bradley is in mourning. (however, he wasted no time in moving in to the newly vacated bedroom) Andy told grandma that she needs to get a little mini-skirt and roller blades so that she can bring his dinner out to his car when he honks on the way home from work everyday. Ha-ha!

School Holiday

Fall break and we decided to attend the Scarecrow festival at Thanksgiving Point. Mello and the boys met us there. It was great fun. The kids went down slide after slide, ran through the haunted house a hundred times, had their faces painted, and we all watched a really funny performer. Shayne even brought baby Boston. Andy dubbed him DOY (daddy of the year) It was pretty cute to see him and his tough guy persona and a designer diaper bag over his shoulder:)



The comedic performer was really good. There was a place in the show where he chose a "helper" from the audience to assist him. He picked Chelsea. We were all really nervous that she would actually juggle the knives (She said she would have tried) It was a relief that he took them away!

Another First

Once again, I got to lead the cheer squad for another new sporting event. Andy and Justin signed up for a sprint triathalon in American Fork on Saturday. On the day of the race, Justin could not get off work so Andy had to go it alone. Race day turned out to be a rainy, miserable day. Jaxon begged to go with me so he and I donned our hoodies and went with Andy. When we arrived we discovered that we were poorly outfitted for the day and had forgotten the cell phone to call for reinforcements. After searching for a phone unsuccessfully, I asked a complete stranger if I could use her phone. I requested dry clothes for Andy, a blanket and a phone:) By the time that Andy emerged from the water, BriAnna was there. Cheering is pretty fun. And, at the rate that I am building my running stamina, cheering will be my permanent roll. When I mentioned this to Andy he suggested that we put signs on our van "TEAM WILBUR."