'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

...we were all singing a new song... it was quite delightful but very very LONG!

A new tradition has graced my home. Dominick the Donkey - an Italian song. Scott even typed up the words so everyone could sing along.





This, of course, was our "pre" present activity which followed our delicious Christmas Eve dinner of ham, "potoes", veggies and salad. We even had a little cheese cake to top it off.

I don't have any pictures of the mayhem that took place while presents were being opened BUT I do have pictures of the "calm" which followed.

Annie and Hank playing Bed Bugs

Colby watching the action

Rick and Jamie

Jenni and Max playing Don't Break the Ice

BTW.. in the background of Jenni and Max is my gift from Scott. A NEW 55" flat screen - very nice!!

After the presents were dispersed and happiness reigned - everyone left for their homes to await the visit of the jolly ole' man in the red velvet suit. Scott, Rick and I did the same.

Christmas morning more FUN to unwrap.

Scott unwrapping drawers for his new workbench

Rick got a new iPhone AND some BYU memorabila

Rick gave Scott a new toy for the Wii. A BOWLING BALL - just what this "addicted to bowling" guy needed. We had to test it out before breakfast.

Once again - it was another great Christmas at our house. We missed Rusty and Collette but they seemed to have had a wonderful day as well. Christmas IS the most wonderful time of the year. Can't wait til next year!!

I couldn't be prouder!

We had family pictures for the first time in almost 5 years. Hank was 10 months old and he's now 5 1/2. I am so proud of my family. They are all such wonderful people and I am so lucky to have them in my life!!



The entire fam... front row: Colby, Lynn, Jenni, Hank, Annie, Randy, Max
back row: Dyson, Jayden, Jamie, Jeri, Scott, Rick, Collette, Rusty





We are so cute!

Miss You Forever~

I can only write a few things right now about my mom as my emotions are too close to the surface. I can only write that a girl always needs her mom. I can only wonder if - at 9:30 each night - I will stop thinking that its time to call her. I can only continue to thank her in my heart for being my listening ear when things were tough for me. I can only remember how much I loved her and wanted to be with her when she passed away - and how lucky I was to be there. How grateful I am that my mom spent her last days at my house - with family around her.

I will miss her for the rest of my life.

Mom's engagement picture

Our family in Egypt. Isn't she beautiful?!!

Mom and dad at Jenni's 18th birthday

Mom in July 2007 - at my wedding to Scott

Mom at her 85th birthday party - July 2007

FOUR generations... Dorothy, Jeri, Jenni, Dyson and Colby

Mom at a party at the Seville

A smile for her beautician (me) for fixing her hair.

I love you mom!!

All Things Fall-ish

I love all the seasons in Utah. However, fall is especially nice. I love the smell of autumn - the beautiful colors and the crisp air. I love Fall Festivals, Halloween and Thanksgiving. I love craving pumpkins and making pumpkin cookies. Below are just a few things that have made this fall meaningful to me.

Here's my WILD mountain man at the Mountain Man Rendezvous in Ft. Bridger, Wyoming. This is held every Labor Day weekend. This year Scott has his "finery" ready to wear. He was a big hit with the fox hat.

Max - he turned 3 in September. He had to wait a week to celebrate his birthday but when the day came, he partied with gusto. This was taken the day he had 3 shots. His smile is so infectious!!


My hard working husband! No job is too hard or big for him. He sledgehammered out our cracked/broken sidewalk. The neighbor kids think he is the "coolest" around and Cody (the little one) calls Scott his best friend.


The beautiful fall colors up at the cabin! They were so bright and beautiful this year. I wish they would last longer than 2 weeks!


FOOTBALL!! It's a "rebuilding" year... we'll get 'um next year. Enough said...


Corn Mazes and Hee Haw's! I can't wait to take the grandkids this year. Hank has already mentioned the HUGE haystack slide!!


And HALLOWEEN!! I love Halloween... I love to decorate and dress up. I love to see all the cute costumes on the neighbor kids and grandkids. What's better this time of year than caramel apples, candy corn, apple cider and chili?!


However, sadly, there is a change this fall. My mom. She is no longer herself. She's struggling with age and wanting to be with my dad. Her mind is very confused and her thoughts jumbled. We've had our differences over the years but she was always there in the tough times. She lost my dad about the same time my first marriage was falling apart. We cried together over our losses. She's cheered with me over the accomplishments of my kids and finding Scott. I miss that mom. I don't know how many (if any) more falls I'll share with my mom as she is in the winter of her life. But "cheers" to my mom and the fall of 2010 that we are sharing together.

(1998 - Jenni's wedding)

I believe.....

My favorite story growing up was Peter Pan. Yep.. not any princess story but a story about a kid who never wanted to grow up. There's a part in the story where Tinkerbell dies.. (on no not Tink!!) To bring her back.. all the children of the world are asked to clap... and to clap LOUD. As the children are clapping they say loudly "I believe, I believe..." A miracle then happens.. Tink jumps up and all is well.

Fairy tales and children's stories are great.. most have happy endings. However, sadly there are times in real life when happy endings don't happen. So its especially wonderful when believing and hoping does end happy. That's my story from the past 8 1/2 days. I, along with my family and friends, believed that Hank would get better. My "clapping" was really praying. I know there are people that don't believe prayers are answered but I do. Many relatives and friends were praying for Hank. I believe my family was part of a miracle. Hank didn't have leukemia - after his doctor was positive he did. Hank did not have dialysis while other children with the same condition did. Hank only stayed in the hospital 8 days while other children have been there for weeks.

Yes, I believe....... I truly believe a Miracle happened as an answer from prayers.

The Last 48....

My emotions have been so on edge - I can hardly type this blog. Friday started out as a perfectly wonderful day. My good friend Sandy and her husband were in SLC and were heading up to the cabin with Scott and I. Sandy and I were driving together -so we could stop and buy some groceries. As we were heading up the canyon my phone rang - seeing it was Randy I immediately thought he was calling about the 4 wheelers. When he started talking I interrupted to tell him I didn't need them - then he said louder "no mom, Hank has Leukemia!"... my world crashed. I have never received such a terrible call in my life. Hank.. sweet 5 yr old Hank! My Wii buddy - the 4 wheeler KING.... no not him! I had to call Jenni, Rick and Rusty to let them know about Hank.... that was so difficult.

I cried for hours but when Hank was assigned a room I left for PCMC. I arrived just as the oncologist was talking to Randy, Annie, Jackie and Sarah. She mentioned that there were several possibilities - that she wasn't totally sure it was Leukemia... a LIGHT of hope! I stayed for several hours then drove to Lehi so I could be back at the hospital before 10:00 for the test results. When I got home - I made a quick mention on Facebook about him. The out-pouring of love and prayers from friends has been amazing.


Saturday morning... could it really be only Saturday? It felt like a week in 15 hrs. Randy, Annie, Jackie and I waited patiently for the doctor. She finally arrived. The first words out of her mouth was that Hank DID NOT have Leukemia! Wow... all our prayers and tears had been answered. Could we have been anymore blessed?! Hank has HUS (read Annie's blog) which is affecting his kidneys. He'll be in the hospital for a few days as they try to get the bacteria out of his kidneys and have them functioning correctly again. He's still not out of the woods but the doctor feels he will make a full recovery.


Nothing in life is more precious than our families.Nothing states it better than a comment Annie made several years ago... "We love each other very much!" YES WE DO!!

Family Reunion - kindof

We did a little celebrating the week of July 18th - kindof a mini Reid family reunion. Pam minus Alan and Sheryl with Steve came to Utah for a short visit. Pam had half her kids here, Sheryl had half her kids and I had half of mine as well. But we had a great time anyway.

Sunday we had a little BBQ so we could get together and visit. It was a VERY HOT day! Whew.. we ate outside then quickly came inside and jammed into the living room to visit leaving the cool, almost cold, basement empty. Go figure.

Scott created delicious dutch oven ribs! yum yum and his now "famous" dutch oven chocolate cake. Too good for words.

Steve and Scott bonded around the ovens.

A couple of shots of the outside table eating crew...

Klara (Jaymi's baby) wouldn't let any of us hold her and then she went to Scott. Apparently he communicates well with children.....


.....or he's just a fun kid himself


Scott found another "victim" to teach craving to. Caleb loved it. He did a pretty good job on Mickey Mouse.


Grandma, Klara and Jaymi. Klara sat on grandma's lap once in awhile but preferred her mom.


The in-laws of the cousins or something like that. I'm not sure what that makes them to us.. out laws?? Steven is married to Jaymi and Catherine is married to Daniel - though I have a lot of pictures of Steven and Cat together~

Becca turned 15 the next day. We sang to her but she was embarrassed. I didn't think we sang THAT bad!!


Daniel, Becca, Steve and Sheryl

Jenni showing a little "leg" with Pam and Annie


Dyson might have been happier to stay home and play with his friends. YES he's that old now!!

The little boys couldn't get enough soda to drink...


I'm not sure that we had enough for them......


Look at this face.... cutie!


What's better than families!! Next up.... August visits from my Portland kids... yippee!!

"Happy Together"

Imagine me and you, I do

I think about you day and night, it's only right

To think about the boy you love and hold him tight

So happy together

THREE Years... only... but it feels like I've known him forever. We started as friends years ago but then the time came when two hurt hearts found each other and made each other happy. I am so grateful/happy/lucky/thankful.. all those words and more ... to have Scott in my life. He loves me.. and he loves the most important people in my life - my kids and grandkids. CHEERS to Us and to many more wonderful, fun, happy years together!!

A few random pics of our time together.

Christmas 2008

Hiking to Timp Cave with Dyson, Colby and Jenni

Pushing Max in the stroller

Mesa Falls after the marathon

Running the 1/2 Marathon in Delta
for "Goose Days"

Captain Scott
Sailboat - Cayman Islands

Jump on It with Taylon, Dyson, Hank and Colby

Camping in the Uintas with
Jamie, Jayden, Randy, Annie and Kids, Jenni, Lynn and Kids
and me

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together