Happy 25th Birthday Christy!

Today is Christy's 25th Birthday! We love her and miss her so much more than words could ever fully express. There are great teaching and learning moments that come daily when you have kids, but especially when trying to teach them about loved ones who have passed and helping them understand why they can't be here with us.
We went to Grandma Cindy's house today and then went to the cemetery to see where Christy is sleeping. We get there and he runs up and asks Grandma Cindy "Is Christy here?" He keeps thinking he'll get to see her. He knows this is where we come to see her, and Kristian has always known that Christy "lives in the stars with Heavenly Father and Grandpa Hal"... But the thoughts and feelings he shares about Christy just melt my heart!

On our way home from the cemetery he says to me: "Mommy, Grandma Cindy is sad." and so I asked him why she was so sad..."She misses Christy! Christy is in the stars and she is watching us." Yes, Kristian, she is watching over us every day. He then looks out the window to the stars and says..."I can't see her! I can't see Christy! .... I want to see Christy, Mommy. I want to see Christy!" I know Kristian, Mommy wants to see her too.

It is such a hard thing to teach a young child about how we can't see her now, but that she's there in heaven looking down on us. I explained the best I could, but his sweet tender heart couldn't understand why we couldn't just go see her!

We got home and once again had to look up at the stars..."Christy will come down just for a minute to see me. She wants to see her Mommy and Daddy. I want to see Christy too! ... Mommy, I want to see Christy!" The tears just starting falling... my heart was so deeply touched by the innocence of that simple comment. Again I tried my best to explain, but his eyes were still filled with confusion and sadness as he tried to understand what Mommy was telling him.

It is such a sweet reminder to me of how important life is and how grateful I am to have the knowledge, faith and understanding that "Families Are Forever" and that some day we will be able to return to Heaven, up to the "STARS, to see Christy, Grandpa Hal, and Heavenly Father!"

We love your Christy! We miss you so much! Happy 25th Birthday!!

24th of July Weekend -- 2009

We had a fun 24th of July weekend! We were able to spend the weekend in Wyoming with family!! A small group of us went golfing in Kemmerer (sp?) on Friday morning: Jodi, Angie, Scott, Mom, Brad, Dallin, Jon, and I all went golfing. I don't golf so I went mostly for moral support and to be the occasional caddy. But we had a great time together! We got home and Aunt Jodi went and let Kristian hit a few balls. He does better than his Mom (no big surprise there) but he had so much fun hitting the golf balls!! He was cute and would hit the club twice on the ground just before hitting the ball. I don't know if it was a good luck thing or what, but it was so cute!!


Most of the weekend was spent outside which was perfect. It was mostly overcast, rainy for a few moments, but it was nice to not have the sun blazing down on us. We did a great many activities:
Addison and Jodi were playing games together, here Addie gives Jodi "High Five" for doing the "Washer Toss Game!"

Daddy and Addison
Kristian was helping Grandpa get the horse-shoe pits ready and cleaned out for a friendly and competitive game of horse-shoes!
Here Kristian enjoyed the use of his squirt gun as he chases Grandpa Brad around the yard trying to get him wet!...

Grandma Jan planned a scavenger hunt that sent the kids all over the yard looking for clues! Here are all the kids getting ready to start the "hunt"...

Dad and Kristian, and Addison and Jodi... we all took turns riding the 4-wheeler! Uncle Tyler had brought out the kids' small 4-wheeler which Kristian had so much fun riding (thanks Ty and Tiff) and sad this is my only picture as my camera battery died.



Kristian LOVES riding on the "dig-dig" with Grandpa! He had so much fun steering and riding around the yard picking up rocks, etc. What a fun day!
Saturday morning we piled in and headed to the big "Lyman 24th of July Parade!" The kids had so much fun!! We then went and got snow cones to support Calli and the cheerleaders, then headed home for some more fun in the sun at Grandma's!

Getting Sassy: SASSIFIERS!!

Amanda Middleton and Tamara Whitehead are co-founders and creators of Getting Sassy, LLP. We have started a business that we are not only very excited about, but extremely passionate about! Tamara is the Director of Sassy Relations and me, Amanda Middleton, is Director of Sassy Designs! Our product is the exciting, cute, and very Sassy: SASSIFIERS!!



We are specializing personalized pacifiers!! All of our sassifiers are hand-crafted and designed with personality and creativity! We are working on our website, which is: www.gettingsassy.com or you can go to www.sassifiers.com and get to the same place. It is under construction, but we hope to have it up and running soon. Until then, I have added a few sample photos of some of the products we have already designed! Take a look! I'm anxious to get your feedback!


"Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible. "
~ Cadet Maxim

Happy 4th of July!!

Of course I didn't have my camera with me to get any pictures of this year's 4th of July festivities, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun. Because Jon is in Paramedic school this was probably his one and only year that he wasn't required to work! YIPPIE! We got to have Daddy home with us to celebrate the 4th of July. Grandpa Tall's (Mark) birthday was on the 3rd, so to celebrate we went to dinner at yummy Texas Roadhouse, then when it was time to go, we found ourselves a nice spot to park and we put pillows and blankets in the back of Jon's truck and watched the West Jordan fireworks. The kids loved them and had a wonderful time! It was great to spend the evening with family.
I love the 4th of July and I love to be reminded of the freedom we have and too often take for granted. We truly are blessed to live in the land of opportunity. I want to express my appreciation for the troops (past, present, and future) who have fought, are currently fighting, and those who will fight in the future to make sure that we always have our freedom! I'm so proud to be an American! God Bless America!!

HOGLE ZOO!!

Ok, so it only took me a week to get these posted. Last Saturday we joined Jodi, Michelle, Zach, Avery, and Evan and went to the Hogle Zoo! We had such a great time! It was the first time we've been to the zoo this year and it was wonderful!! (and hot)
Aunt Jodi and Kristian...looking at the elephants!
Mommy and kids waiting for the "Bird Show"!
Riding the Carousel! Kristian really wanted to ride the elephant! He seriously could have spent all day just watching the kids go around. Addison liked it at first, but got a little nervous as it went up an down, so she sat there, but mommy had to hold/hug her the entire time. She was so cute!
GORILLA: Zach, Avery, Evan, Kristian, Addison
Mommy and Addison on the Train Ride. This is always the last thing we do before we leave the zoo! It was a great day and we're so glad that we were able to spend the day at the zoo with family and friends. Thanks Aunt Jodi!!