Chewy our Puppy

Our puppy is getting so big, he is so cute and so much fun. I wish that he would stay this size forever. He is a Mini Pinschaweeiner.

Celebrating The Day I Married My Best Friend

18 years ago today, June 22nd 1991, I married my best friend. Bryan and I were married in the Los Angeles Temple in California. I never thought that I could be happier than I was on that day, but I was wrong. I have experienced alot of happy days, ALL because of that special day. 4 stand out in my mind - the birth of our children. I couldn't imagine life without my wonderful husband. We have been through alot of goodtimes and a few bad times, but as long as we have each other, we can conquer anything. Bryan puts up with alot from me and always is the first to apologize, even when it's my fault. He is the most patient man that I know. He always wants to keep a smile on my face, he believes, when the wife and mom is happy, EVERYONE is happy. Which makes sense. I love him so much, I love watch our kids play sports, cheer and perform as long as I have him by my side. I don't feel complete when we are apart. I am so grateful to have spent the last 18 years with the man that I love and my best friend. He is the greatest husband and father and I am so glad that he is Eternally MINE!!!

Scout Camp

Trevor left on Monday morning with his scout troop for five days. When I saw this picture it cracked me up because all of the boys are within a year of each other in age and the difference in heighth and development is from one extreme to the other. Trevor was so excited to play survior man for the week.

Summertime Craze

This was us (Trevor was at Football Camp) at Utah Summer Games waiting in the rain for the Medal ceremony. Cecilee's team took home the GOLD.

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This summer has been crazy!!! I think the older my kids get the crazier we get. I see my kids less in the summer than during the school year. GO FIGURE!! Trevor has been gone for the last week at UofU Football Camp and just left for Scout camp for a week. Then Cambria has been crazy busy with Youth Conference, Girls Camp, Cheer, day trip to Malibu with cheer coaches and captain, work, seminary counsel, etc. (And this is her last year with our family before she goes off to college. "I need more time".) Cecilee has been busy with soccer. She played in the Utah State Cup, Utah Summer Games and now preparing for High School Soccer and camps during the summer. Sydnee has been babysitting and going to summer school and taking a dance and cheer class from aunty Tia. Bryan is back in town working at Rocky Mountain Foods and coaching High School Football and plans to coach Trevor's 8th Grade Football team. I have a second job working at Tuacahn for the summer as well as my job at Simister Orthondontics.

I honestly have to sit down nightly and go over our schedules and make sure everyone has a ride (thank goodness I have Cambria, she is always so willing to take the kids anywhere, if her schedule permits.) Cecilee is getting her license soon and has been driving for me also. Life is crazy but we love it and wouldn't have it any other way. I have to enjoy each crazy moment, since I don't have much time with my kids, they are growing way toooo fast.

Utah Summer Games

Playing our Gold Medal Match in the Colliseum at SUU.
After receiving our GOLD Medal.

Cecilee heading the ball during our Gold Metal Game.

Cecilee kicking a Goal kick during the game

Every year for the last 6 years our kids have participated in the Utah Summer Games. This year was NO different. The only difference was that I ONLY had one child participate instead of 2 or 3. It was nice to only have one field to worry about and enjoy one game at a time. Cecilee's soccer team, THE BOMBERS, took a Gold Medal. They are an awesome team and they play extremely well together. They are coached by two of the most incredible men who know the game of soccer, but most importantly loves and cares for the girls. We had a great four days at the Summer Games.

Friends Forever

My son Trevor is going through that growing stage of puberty, SO - If he's going through it so are his friends. Well he has this friend that has always been smaller than him and he came over the other day and I was shocked to see that he is the same heighth as Trevor. I had to get a picture. Trevor is hoping that he is not done growing, but he's only 13, so I'm sure he's not. But all of his friends are going around him. We have an ongoing joke with Trevor that he can't get a cellphone until he gets armpit hair. (hahaha) So I am pretty safe for a while.

This friend of Trevor's comes from an amazing family. He is so softhearted and a sweetheart to everyone, especially his little sisters. It melts my heart to see siblings love each other, even though we know they love each other, sometimes its hard to show it, especially in front of friends. His dad has coached Trevor in soccer for a number of years and has helped him become the soccer player that he is. His mom knows all of the ins and outs of soccer like Beckham (maybe not that good), but she knows the game and is an incredible coach. To see her come on the field in her heels and coach the boys like she does, she knows her game. I hope that Trevor continues to make good choices in the friends that he chooses. Friends make a big difference in the way the kids turnout in the end. Friends can either MAKE you or BRAKE you. I totally believe that. I hope they remain friends forever.

Girls State

Cambria & Tiana with their monkey

Cambria's supporters and one behind the camera (ME)

Cambria & some of her roomates.

Cambria has been up at SUU for the last week attending Girls State. Cambria had a good time making new friends and learning more about the Government and Patriotism. She looked absolutely beautiful when we saw her walking down the aisle to get her diploma for graduating from Girls State. I, of course, got a little misty eyed thinking that she is growning up so fast and that I only have her for 1 more year. What a great opportunity for her, our family missed her so much. When we got home she walked into the house and saw Paula's bathroom and her empty bed and she started crying. She had a hard first moments in the house without Paula, but she is looking forward to catching up with her over the webcam and phone.

Thank you Tania!!!

It worked, I left that message on my blog and just minutes later I got a call from Paula. Thank you Tania for relaying the message. We don't have to worry anymore. She is doing fabulous and loving New York. I am surprised that my husband came up with that idea. I am so glad that I listened to him and took his advice. !!!!!!

TANIA BUSCARIOLLI

I know that Paula's mom checks my blog daily, so this is to her to relay to Paula. :

I heard from Paula Friday when she arrived in Los Angeles, but we haven't heard from her if she is in New York. Please, if you hear from her, if you could tell her to email us or call us so we know she is safe. My youngest Sydnee is more worried than any of us. She keeps asking, "Mom have you heard from Paula yet? Aren't you worried? I wonder if she's OK."

Please have her call us, we love and miss her. Thanks

Airport Fiasco

Bryan and I stood and watched her go through customs.
Paula and I hugged for the longest time and kept telling each other how much we loved each other. I love this girl, she will always be a part of our family.

Corby had his mom bring him to the airport so he could give Paula a treat & say goodbye.

Paula hugging Dad. We had to pull out 15 pounds of stuff from her suitcase. My arms were full of her stuff.

Paula listening to me talk to the people at the airport.
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We took Paula to the airport and said our dreaded goodbyes. When we got there it was as if the whole airport was waiting on Paula. They hurried us up to the front and said that they are already boarded and that we need to hurry and weigh and check in her stuff. Well when I looked on the internet for the weight limit it said 70 pounds. Well when we got there and they weighed her luggage we were 15 pounds overweight. We had to open her luggage and start pulling stuff out. She was hilarious, and the people working there were being so rude that I was about to tell them off. Cecilee pretty much had to help me stay calm. She kept saying, "OK mom, that's enough mom, mom go over there." Everything was so hurried and then they scooted us over to the customs area and started telling Paula to go through. I said, "Wait a minute, can we go in there? and they said,"NO" So I told him, then you are going to have to wait, we need to give her hugs and say our goodbyes." Well she went through her coordinator and friends and then came to me and we just held each other and cried. She said, "Thank you Mom, I love you Mom" and I just held her so tight I didn't want to let her go. I feel like she is mine. When we got home from the airport, she had 8 frames set up on our counter with pictures of her and each one of us and a family picture (8x10) with her included and a letter for each one of us. I thought that I cried every tear that I had, but apparently I had more to cry. She is such a sweetheart, and I owe it all to her wonderful upbringing of her parents. Her parents are amazing, it shows in their daughter. I am so grateful that we had this wonderful opportunity to be her family her in the USA. I hope that she had a wonderful time with our family.

Our Last Hours with Paula

Paula her last look at St. George.

My kids!!!

Cecilee and Paula

Paula in front of the St. George Temple.

Breakfast at In-N-Out.

Today was our last day with our Brazilian daughter and sister. We took off in the morning and went and picked Sydnee up from a sleepover at her cousins and Paula was able to say goodbye to Kiana, Tayvia, Keawe, & Cali. She loves children and its so much fun to watch her with them. But the feeling is the same with them, you would think that Paula is their actual blood cousin. They are going to miss her. We then went to breakfast at 10:00am to In-N-Out. I had NO idea that they were serving food that early in the morning, but for Paula's last day we went there to eat. Then we went by the Temple and visitors center so she could drop off a thank you card for the missionaries and to take a picture in front of the temple. We then went up on the DIXIE rock to over look St. George. She has had a wonderful time here in Utah and is very excited to see her family in Brazil but, will miss everyone that has made her stay so wonderful here in St. George. She has made sooooo many friends. We have had people stopping by for the last few days to say their goodbyes. Lots of boys coming out of the woodwork wanting to take her to lunch. WOW, where were they a few months ago, now they make themselves known. GO FIGURE!!! We then stopped by Golden Spoon and got yogurt and came home to finish packing. She stuffed everything in her two suitcases and they each weighed 65pounds. I am having such anxiety letting her go by herself on an airplane and to these HUGE airports by herself. I told her my worries and she said, "Mom, I came here by myself and I could hardly speak any english and I managed fine, but now I can speak good english, I am not worried." I don't know, it's the mom in me, and I think of her as my own daughter. I am so worried, I pray Heavenly Father keeps an eye on her and sends people to help her find her way. She is this tiny little thing with 2 HUGE suitcases and a big purse and carryon bag and scrapbook in arms. Please keep her safe. We are so sad to see her leave, but we have thoroughly enjoyed having her as part of our family. I can't look at a family picture with my 4 kids and not think that someone is missing. Thank goodness I have a family picture with Paula in it. We are on our way to the airport. Lets see if I get some pictures there, I will probably be crying tooooo much.

Hard Day

Today was a hard day emotionally. Cambria was invited to attend Girls State and she would be gone for a whole week and home on Saturday, June 6th. But the hard part about it, is that Paula leaves to go home on Friday, June 5th and Cambria will not be here to see her go. So, she had to say her Goodbye before she left for SUU. WOW-I knew that "GOODBYE" was going to be hard. They just stood in the garage and held each other and cried. Cambria cried for a while when I was driving her to her friends to get a ride to Girls State. They have become very very close friends, more like sisters. They love each other so much, but I KNOW that they will see each other again. Well after that emotional morning, my kids called me at work and said, "Mom we can't get Diesel, our new puppy, to eat". I told them that dad should be home and he will take him to the Vet. Well Bryan called me and said that there was not much the Vet could do for him but clean out the infection in his eye. While on my way home from work, I was talking to Bryan on the phone and he said that the puppy passed away. I just started crying, the last few days I had done everything that I could think of to keep him alive. I even went and got Puppy formula and a bottle and bottle fed him every few hours. I was so sad, I just cried the rest of the way home. WOW, all of these darn goodbyes. I HATE goodbyes!!!

I am soooo dreading Friday to come - I don't want to say goodbye to Paula. On Sunday she and I had a good cry in the kitchen just hugging each other. She thanked me for the party and we just cried and hugged. I love her so much, I think of her as one of my kids. Thank goodness for modern technology and webcams. That will help with the distance between us.

Paula's Going Away Party

We set up her American Flag and her scrapbook for everyone to sign as they walked into the house.
Paula and Cambria with some of the girls. Kylee, Lexie & Paige.

Paula with her first host family. Host Mom-Kathy, Rachel, Paula, Naomi & Kiera

Paula with more friends.

Cambria and Kortney signing Paula's book.
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We had a great evening for Paula on Saturday for all of her friends to come and sign her scrapbook that I made her and her American Flag. We had about 80 kids come and go all evening. Paula has really made some good friends and all of them are sad to see her go. We had lots of food, swimming and visiting going on. Lots of fun.