Larry, Joy & Abbey

Ice Skating

2012-02-06T15:10:00.003-07:00

I forgot how much I dislike ice skating: its cold, the skates hurt my feet and I always wrench my back trying not to fall.

BUT, Abbey thought it was a lot of fun. So I might be torturing myself in the future.

Eleven Years

2012-02-05T13:44:00.002-07:00

This last week we pasted our 11 year anniversary. I was working and it was the middle of the week and we couldn't get away.
So we decided to celebrate over the weekend.
When we were dating we would get in the car and drive, flipping a coin at intersections to decide direction. We did that for this our anniversary.
We drove and drove and found this little restraunt in the canyon that had an hour wait, I was so hungery that we decided not to wait. so we drove on. We ended up in Ogden at a little burger joint. Not the best anniversary dinner that we've had. But they had good Coke ( and isnt it all about the caffiene?)
It had been a long time since we just talked and drove for hours and hours.
It was a great night and it has been a AMAZING eleven years!

Retirement Day 1

2012-02-02T12:13:00.002-07:00

Retirement Day 3

2012-01-30T13:02:00.002-07:00

Its hard to keep his sanity!

(He dared me to put this up)

2012-01-24T21:11:00.002-07:00

Larry has a very old phone. No camera, No MP 3, No internet.
It has finally stopped working. I was talking to him about it and Abbey asks "what does daddy need?"
"a new phone."
"Why Mom, Is it a pain in the fingers?"

Abbey Christmas list

2012-01-23T02:29:00.004-07:00

For Christmas Abbey only asked for 2 things.

1. A baby doll- she got a cabbage patch doll that she named Matilda.
2. She wanted a trip to the Australian Outback. This she didn't get. ;) But she drew a map of where she wanted to go. (The middle is Ayers Rock, the blue is a river (?) and the bottom is a city but she crossed it out because "she has seen a city and doesn't want to go there.)

Go UTES ???

2012-01-22T15:38:00.005-07:00

The is a guy at UTA that is a die-hard BYU fan. They have had a little rivalry going on for 39 years. Larry paint this guys office red with a big white "U" and this guy has painted Larry's toolbox With Larry retiring, he wanted to do one last thing to get him.

We have this amazing friend that works with the Cougar Club. She was able to get a few of the previous players and some of the current team to sign a Utah ball for us.

Thanks AnnaLane! It was a BIG hit!

Date Night

2012-01-14T23:36:00.001-07:00

I overheard a girl taking to her date and she said that they were deep frying at home and something fell in the oil and it splashed oil on her but luckily she had the recipe book on her lap and it was as bad as it could have been. He asked her a question and she said "That was one of the 2 times that I almost died!"

Really?!?

When I grow up.........

2011-12-21T12:14:00.002-07:00

Abbey is a big planner for the future, she gets this from her father not me.
Here are a few of the things that she is planning:

"When I am a mom, I will take karate. Can you drive me there mom?"

"When I get married, It will be on July 21st."

"I want to be a teacher but there is no room (job openings) so I'll be something else."

I want to keep a list and see if she really is planning or if she is just rambling. Either way i find what she says really cute.

2011-12-12T12:43:00.002-07:00

For school I had to write a blog, everything that I have learned this semester. I thought I would share with you the condensed and honest version.

The things I have learned this semester:
1. A Bachelors of Science degree is called a BS...It really is just bs.
2. Teachers have their favorites and sometimes they don't hide it and take it out on the others.
3. You can not teach leadership, either you are a leader or not.
4. Some assignment are pointless and just have to be done. They may not be done well but they need to be done.
5. There are surprises around every corner.
6. Life happens, even if you have other plans.

As of today, I am glad that the degree is done, not that I got it. That may change. In the future. When the memories of the classes have long since faded.

Blog neglect

2011-10-20T00:53:00.000-06:00

I have neglected the blog for a while because my motivation to do things is at the lowest point it has ever been. I am back in school for my final semester of the program. It feels like torture every time I think about doing homework or having to go to class. I won't even let myself think about having to do clinicals next month. if it wasn't for my great external support I think I would not have gone back.

I am working in the newborn ICU and enjoying it. It sometime is so hard to see babies the size of teacup dogs have so much medically happen in their young little lives. I have started cross training on the mom/baby and pediatric units. It is such a drastic difference in the type of care and even the personalities of the staff, it will take some getting used too.

Abbey has started kindergarten. She is in the morning class this year and thinks that the day is so long. I think it's because she eats all morning when she's home and has almost nothing in the afternoon til just before bed and she's just having a hard time concentrating on her school work. she is catching on to reading and math really quickly but she gets in trouble for chatting with the little boy next to her all the time. Apparently they are the two that chat the most in the class and alphabetically they are right next to each other. I just think that her teacher is a saint! I could not spent 8 hours a day with that many 5 year old and have any sanity left after a week or maybe I would take up heavy drinking.

Larry has. Decide that 39 years and 11 days of working for UTA is enough. He will be retiring in January! YEAH!!! I just hope that our sanity will last after he we have about 40 more hours a week to spend with each other. He will just have to find a hobby that will keep him busy.

This is the Place

2011-09-26T08:31:00.004-06:00

We went up to This is the Place State Park.

The barber shop was open and Abbey got a shave because she wants to "grow my hair long and don't want a hair cut"

We got caught in a rainstorm and when the animals started hiding from the rain, we thought it was time to go.

Square Ice Cream Cones

2011-09-01T17:45:00.000-06:00

Larry spent his summers growing up on a farm in

Swan Valley Idaho. There was this little store that has sold square ice cream cones since WWII.

(They couldn't get a scoop during the war because all the metal went to the war effort so they made their own)

This is the place to get your ice cream. they are always setting records of cones sold over the holiday weekends.

This is Abbey and Kaylie 's first one.

P.S. did I mention that it was Larry's Aunt Janet that started it?

Chocolate makes it all better.

2011-09-01T08:21:00.005-06:00

I had had a rough day the other day, With Abbey starting Kindergarten and my classes starting, abbey had a full on breakdown in the store and all the other things that seemed to go wrong that day. At dinner that night I said to Larry, Sometimes I wish we drank something stronger. (I had water.) Abbey got some chocolate milk and said "here mom this is stronger."

Modesty

2011-08-08T12:41:00.003-06:00

I was talking to Abbey about why we didn't stop at the store when I was in my jammies and told her that we can't show our girl parts in public.

Abbey quickly replies "Mom, my feet are girl parts."

Hoback, Jackson, Wy

2011-08-03T13:16:00.006-06:00

We went up to Jackson, Wyoming for the weekend.
The main reason was to take Abbey on the river for the first time.
She thought it was scary and cold but talks about going again all the time.
We went to Ripley's Believe it or not (So not worth the time) and the Bar J Wranglers. On the way home we drove up through Yellowstone, which made for a long car ride but it was fun to stop with the girls and see the geysers.

Happy feet. . . Abbeyized

2011-07-29T02:23:00.002-06:00

Mommy got her chuckles (chacos) back. But we had to sent daddies away. Did we put Nmm's(m&m's pronounced numms) in the box so the chuckles (chacos) won't get hunger?

(When yoy request a repair from chaco they say if you put chocolate in the box the shoe fairies get to it faster. . . None with mine but some with Larry's. We'll see which is faster.)

Unhappy feet, take 2

2011-07-18T20:57:00.003-06:00

Heard from my shoes again. They are in worse shape than I thought. They need to be completely redone. Tops and bottoms. It will be a few more weeks before they can come home.
Abbeyism: your shoes are at the shoe hospial (hospital) and the good nurses are taking care of them.

And the winner is......

2011-07-17T09:40:00.002-06:00

Along with 20,000 other people, I entered to win a car from Tim Dalhe on facebook. This week I got a call to go to the Utah Blaze game for a 1 in 24 chance to win the car.
When we got there and Abbey spun the prize wheel and won a frisbee and a DVD.
They handed out colored chips as a way to put us in groups. I made it passed the first eliminations increasing the chances to 1 in 15. The next drawing was the blue chip, I had a green chip. After some debate and some very angry green chip holders the decision was made that the blue chips progressed to the next level and the green chips were eliminated. That is the closest I have gotten to winning anything big but Abbey was the big winner for the night.

Who knew that shoes could.........

2011-07-16T12:27:00.002-06:00

I got an email from my chacos today. They said they woiuld be traveling home in about 5 days. Oh how happy my feet are.

Overheard

2011-07-12T02:23:00.003-06:00

A NICU nurse in cafe west said " God knew not to give me a child with special needs cause they' d be dead by now.

*I put this in because it's so ironic that this nurse takes care of the most special of patients and than says this*

My feet are unhappy

2011-07-08T15:56:00.004-06:00

Five years ago I got a pair of Chacos.
These have been the most amazing pair of sandals.
I have worn them every where, in every type of weather and to many types of occasions.
This week I noticed that the heel riser are ripping away from the sole of the shoe.
I sent them away to get fixed and even though I have a closet full of shoes, I just can't find the right ones to wear. Maybe because they are in a box going to Michigan.

Abbeyism

2011-06-23T23:29:00.001-06:00

We were watching tv before Abbey went to bed and when bed time came Larry tapped her tush and she turns and says to me " yes ma'am" Larry told her that he did it and she says " oh sorry. yes mans."

Last day of school

2011-06-06T10:24:00.002-06:00

I was trying to get Abbey pic on her last day of school. She has a bit of an attitude and would let me.

Calf Creek

2011-06-06T10:23:00.004-06:00

When we hadn't seen sun in a while in Utah, We went to calf creek falls in search of it. it is an amazing waterfall. it was a good fast trip because we were trying to miss the rain. There were 9 of us in a 12 passenger van.
They found the mud.

Maycie double fisting the sucker. What a cute little girl.

I wish, I wish....

2011-05-14T02:27:00.004-06:00

Abbey was blowing dandelion seed and she was making wishes.

The first one was " I wish the world would be a better place."
I told her that was a very sweet wish and she said

"It will all get better soon mom when the constructions is all done."

Overheard...

2011-05-04T13:32:00.002-06:00

There were two parents talking and one said to the other

"He's ready academically but I think I'm going to keep he out of kindergarten because he's so small."

The other mom said " What are you going to teach him than, That size does matter.

2011-04-24T12:04:00.002-06:00

I was watching Alex Boye sing on tv this morning

(what a voice!)

Abbey was wanting to watch something else and said

"Mom, I don't like this guy, he's different."

I was so worried and asked why

she said " He's a principal, I can see he's wearing a tie."

If you need a chuckle...

2011-04-18T02:41:00.005-06:00

On the way to Gramma's Abbey is chattering like usual in the back seat.

She says " Mom, Do frogs go potty?"

Me "Yep"

Abbey "What does frog pee look like?"

Larry looked at me and said "Well how are you going to answer that one?"

The last day that I'm 4

2011-03-28T11:16:00.004-06:00

We had the cousins over on Sunday to celebrate Abbey's 5th birthday.

She kept telling everyone that it was that last day that she was 4.

We decorated cupcakes and just played around.

WOW I have a 5 year old!

Where does he come up with these things

2011-03-24T18:41:00.003-06:00

My husband gets bored.

He has decided that he needs another project in addition to everything he does around here, at work and for the Union.

he other day he says that there is a project at the Utah Field house in Vernal that he is interested in.

The project is to Re-hair the Mammoth.

After contacting them, he found out the project is no longer available.

He was telling Abbey and me about it

and

Abbey says "Don't worry Dad, Some day you can Re-hair me!"

Almost Done

2011-03-17T18:48:00.005-06:00

This is just before 5 pm today.

New floor, New counter, New sink, Broken faucet!

2011-03-17T10:52:00.003-06:00

Wednesday March 16, 2011 at 330 pm

back together and waiting for a new sink and countertop.

My Kitchen

2011-03-13T14:06:00.003-06:00

This is what my kitchen looked like at 2 pm on March 13th.

Larry started about 8 am and said, "we can have this done today"

We Have A Voice

2011-03-09T10:37:00.003-07:00

I started the Bachelors nursing program at UVU in Janurary.
Since starting there have been many times I have asked myself why I am doing this. Especially because there is one class that the instuctor treated us like 4 year olds and wouldn't even listen to complaints about technical problems or she expected use to have the knowledge of graduate students. I don't need it to work as a nurse and I already have my license. It isnt really needed right now. So why am I torturing my self.

Here is why- A few weeks ago things got really bad and she kick a student out of class and told students that if she couldn't control it (like life outside of her classroom) she could not acknowledge it. So many people complained, and complained to the right people and we now have a new instructor in the middle of the semester and don't have her next semester either.

Many time I have been asked if I liked the program. Now I can say that I can recommend it because not only do they listen to our complaints but they do something about it.

Quilting

2011-03-01T14:14:00.005-07:00

Larry has decided to take up quilting and has taken over my sewing machine.

This is the first one that he did.

One good thing about this is he has arrange an area in the house that is just for sewing and I don't have to put my machine away or leave it on the table for days to weeks on end.

10 Years!

2011-02-01T09:53:00.002-07:00

In ten years of marraige there is a lot of things that have happened we have

moved 3 times
I got my MA, LPN and RN
Larry got his scuba instructors certification
Abbey was born
Abbey made it to 4 years old (some days are questionable)
Larry survived 10 more years (some days are questionable)
Certain phases have become part of daily life (that's not a mommy word)
Bought a house
gone through 3 cars
Still have the same truck
Paid of 1 of those cars
Larry has had 1 job
I have had 12 jobs
Found more love than I could image 10 years ago

to quote a friend, "Fell in love and stayed that way!"

Yellowstone

2011-02-01T09:52:00.005-07:00

We went to Yellowstone for our tenth anniversary.

It was so much more fun than I thought.

We went in to Old Faithful and The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

We had an amazing tour guide to Old Faithful.

He related everything about the park back to the geology of the area. It was fascinating.

I love the contrast of the hot and cold and the landscapes are so beautiful.

The Year 2011!

2011-01-23T22:36:00.003-07:00

A friend showed me this the other day. I thought it was interesting.
This year there will be 4 days of all ones: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11.
Now add you age you will be this year and the year you were born and it will equal 111.
My age this year 35, the year I was born 76, 35 + 76=111.

It came in the mail...

2011-01-22T23:37:00.005-07:00

It seems like for the last 500 million years that I have been working on my nursing degree. This last December I finished the first part, the Associates Degree, that let me take the test to get the Utah State license. They both came in the mail in the last 2 weeks. And yes, I am bragging a bit!

Skiing

2011-01-20T07:13:00.004-07:00

We took Abbey skiing for the first time, she had a quick lesson and did so well. She now thinks that we need to go every day. Now when she sees any skis she says" mom, theres some skis, lets go ice skating." I cant convince her that you go skiing with skis.

After about an hour she just was so tuckered out she just couldnt do it anymore.

"Free" Glasses

2011-01-20T07:12:00.003-07:00

On facebook I was able to get a code for free glasses from coastalcontacts.com. Just pay shipping and handling. So I tried it. I was able to get a pair of glasses for $20.

The website lets you try them on virtually, which always looks funny and the size of the glasses and the picture never match.
What do you think?

I wonder how her mind works

2011-01-06T19:36:00.003-07:00

Abbey: Mom do boys do the kiss of life to other boys?

Mom: What is the kiss of life?

Abbey: Its when you put your mouth on someones and blow air into them.

Mom: That's right, Yes boys do CPR to other boys.

Abbey: why?

Mom: you do it when someone is not breathing.

Abbey: Why?

Mom: because if you don't breathe long enough your heart will stop beating and you will, well, die.

Abbey: Oh.....

Big Long Pause (any silence is very unusual with Abbey)

Abbey: Mom Do whales do CPR on other whales?

Mom: I don't know

Abbey: Will you ask them next time you talk to a whale?

2010-12-31T12:16:00.004-07:00

It has been a bad week. I have had trouble with student loans and getting registered for the nursing boards, Abbey is sick and Larry is having a bad week at work. Added all up it was a bad week for me...
We tried running to Moab for the day but without getting our feet dirty it is a very temporary relaxation.
The last straw was that UVU didn't give me the right transcript for the nursing board. I found out 1 hour before I was supposed to meet my friends from high school that I only see a few times a year.
I spent the next hour in line at UVU before I had to put a 1 1/2 limit on catching up on 6 months of life for four friends with a combine kid count of 13. Really not enough time.
We left Orem at 330p, bad traffic, bad weather and bad drivers, we got to down town SLC at 530 p. just enough time to turn in the transcript. And we were on the way home. Bad traffic, bad weather and bad drivers, we decided to stop for dinner. After dinner traffic was better, but still bad weather and bad drivers. This was just after 600 p.
Just past Lehi's Parkway Crossing we hit the mother of all potholes. Flat tire! At the emergency pull out there were 5 cars and no room so we went to the next exit and stopped behind a white minivan.
We got our tire changed and the white minivan was still waiting for her help. so we tried to help her. She had no jack and wasn't sure where her spare was. Her husband was serving in Iraq, and she had a very little one and her mother in law in the van. Larry was out there for an hour in below freezing temperatures changing her tire.
Even though it was just one more thing that happened when I thought I'd had enough. I am better off because of it.
I learned 3 things last night:
1- I have an amazing husband! who has made sure that I am prepared for emergencies.
2- God puts you where you need to be.
3- I will not own a dodge caravan because the spare tire is under the drivers seat and a pain to get out.

And it is so...

2010-12-25T11:44:00.002-07:00

Abbey came in during rest time and Larry and I were napping. She laid between us touched us with her hands and feet and said "AHHH, I am Loved!"

The Great Pumpkin Pie

2010-11-26T05:32:00.003-07:00

The only thing Abbey wanted to due with her pumpkin was make a pie.
So Larry helped her cut it up,

bake it,

smoosh it,

and make it in to 2 pies.

All with the help of Libby ;)

ER

2010-11-24T12:50:00.004-07:00

I finished my capstone, preceptorship or clinicals for this semester. I had 96 hours at Orem ER. I was excited but really didn't want to do an ER. It turned out to be AWESOME! The nurse I was assigned to was great about just letting me take care of the patients. I could totally take care of patients myself, mostly. This ER very little but I was a great place to learn.
some of the things I saw in the time I was there:
Hyperkalemia ( high potassium, bad for your heart),
Blood sugar over 900 (normal 70-100, bad for everything),
Broken bones,
Croup,
Lacerations (some cool, some not so cool),
Rhabdomylysis (breakdown of muscles, bad for the muscles),
MVAs
Miscarriages (very sad, but good learning experience),
P.S. It has the same Doctors that staff the other IHC ERs and the wait is about 5 minutes.

2010-11-02T23:06:00.001-06:00

We saw some sheep and Abbey says: Oh they are so cute except for the little one. It is really cute.

I am a...

2010-10-29T09:11:00.003-06:00

Abbey costume this year was a Gnome (due to Dr. Doofenshmirtz).

Than last week she say a dog costume and wanted that.

Yesterday she wanted to be a werewolf.

Having already made her costume she is a Gnome but she says what ever she want that day.

The Great Pumpkin

2010-10-26T12:03:00.004-06:00

Abbey planted (with Daddy's help) pumpkins this year.
There were a lot of blossoms, a few bulbs that started, a couple that made it to pumpkins
But only ONE that survived.

This is what grew.

1st day of preschool 2010

2010-09-30T10:45:00.000-06:00

Telling Dad she's on her way to school

PCC Fire Dancers

2010-09-30T10:39:00.000-06:00

PCC

2010-09-16T15:11:00.012-06:00

Going to the PCC is a must! It was so amazing. It was an all day thing. We had the guided tour and are amazing guide were so good with Abbey, they took her to do things so we could see the shows.

Abbey sat down in front of this and than turned around and took off running. that's when the picture got snapped.

Abbey made this fish from the coconut leaves

We all got the "tattoos" at Abbey's request. She made Larry get the warrior one, Abbey and gramma got the princess one and she had me queen one.

Pearl Harbor

2010-09-16T15:11:00.011-06:00

We went to Pearl Harbor and the "punch bowl" cemetery on the same day. It was a very humbling experience. ( even Abbey could feel the reverence).

Although not every one felt the same, Just a note: there are places that some subjects should not be discussed.

Oahu

2010-09-16T15:11:00.007-06:00

I know that these posts are very late but I broke the computer when I fell and had to get it fixed and get the photos retrieved.

We hopped over to Oahu for a few days to see pearl harbor and go to the PCC. This is the view from our balcony on Waikiki Beach. There seemed to be a rainbow every 20 minutes probably because it rained every 20 minutes which was a nice way to cool down .

Balcano

2010-08-26T20:19:00.005-06:00

All Abbey wanted to see was the "balcano". due to some volcanic activity some roads were closed so we could see all of the lava flows, but we did get to see the crater, in the rain.

Shaved Ice

2010-08-26T20:12:00.002-06:00

This is Abbey's favorite treat. She wanted one everyday.

"Mom it is almost as big as my head"

Black Beach

2010-08-18T11:34:00.003-06:00

One day we decided to follow this road to see where it went. We followed it to the end of the island and the view was amazing. We found out that there was a beautiful black sand beach at the bottom of a "little" trail. We went back the next day...The trail was a little harder than a little trail, it was more like hiking up to Timpanogos cave without a paved trail. The beach was wonderful and the sand was amazing, it didn't even feel like sand. I couldn't keep Abbey out of the water. It was a fun little jaunt. When it was time to go Abbey was having a fit because she was dirty with sand and her dress was wet and we had to hike back up the mountain.

2010-08-17T23:09:00.002-06:00

Zipline

2010-08-17T22:51:00.002-06:00

We went on a zip line on the Big Island

It was 7 lines that got progressively longer and higher.

These were our guides

view from the start...you have to walk off the plank.

There were 4 amazing waterfall that we zipped by

All geared up.

The Observatory

2010-08-09T11:51:00.004-06:00

On the Big Island you can go from sea level to 11,141 feet in a few hours. The night we went they were looking at Venus, something about an eclipse. There you are above the clouds with the most beautiful sunsets. Just one thing, it is COLD! And there is a constant wind. So we just stayed for a little bit.

July 24, 2010 745 pm

Abbey was such a trooper considering it was almost midnight Utah time.

2010-08-07T02:59:00.008-06:00

So we went to Hawaii- We started on the big island because Abbey and I wanted to see the volcano. This island is not what you imagine when you say Hawaii- It doesn't have the beaches like the other ones, mostly lava rock but it does have its own kind of charm. every time we left the condo Abbey wanted to get in the ocean, most morning I would give in and let her swim. She really liked the waves.

After getting wet we would have to carry her over the sand because she didn't like her feet to get dirty. (Please note for future story)

2010-07-29T22:07:00.001-06:00

Wow, It's been a while!

2010-07-11T04:19:00.002-06:00

I noticed that it has been a while so I'll just leave a quick update.

Abbey has been doing swimming lessons and she loves them. She is our little "dolphriend". she is doing summer school with Auntie Mistee and is such a little genius. she recognizes her letters and numbers. She has grown 2 sizes in 2 months, Shes getting too big. She likes to pick out her own clothes and she does a pretty good job of matching colors.

Larry had a flare of his planter fasciitis that turned into a bone spur or the bone spur caused the fasciitis. I don't know which but he has been pretty immobile. recently he also did something to his finger (really not sure what). But he has been in a splint for the last week and feels crippled. Hopefully we'll know what he did soon.

I have not taken any nursing classes this summer and been trying to enjoy the relaxed pace. Larry thinks that it took me 2 months to relax. I am not sure that I have really done that yet...I started a new job at a care center in SLC but after the 1st night I have decided that the drive after a night shift was just not safe. So that is over. So spending time with Abbey and Larry and getting ready for the next semester and studying for the NCLEX is what I'm doing now. Even with so little going on, I'm surprised how little time I have.

I promise to be better in the future and more pictures.

Utah Field House in Vernal

2010-06-08T20:32:00.005-06:00

Abbbey likes being in the belly of the dinosaur

Chillin'on the dinos tail

T Rex faces

Abbey's Rx

2010-05-17T22:06:00.003-06:00

Larry was having a bad day and Abbey told she knew how to make him feel better but that he had to follow all the instruction.

These were the instructions:
1. Take some deep breathes
2. Smell a tree
3. Smell the grass
4. Smell gingerbread
5. Smell a shoe

I was laughing so hard when they finished and it definitely made Larry feel better.

Is it really May already?

2010-05-07T12:52:00.002-06:00

When I picked Abbey up from preschool, she opened the door

and

2010-04-22T18:01:00.003-06:00

Going out to dinner this is her outfit of choice. (Note the leggings are from Halloween and have spider webs on them and the fuzzy slippers. )

Either this or....

2010-04-21T20:49:00.004-06:00

Today at Gramma's Abbey"sneaked the scissors and cut my hairs"

she got her bangs and took a section of her braid out of the back

and some off the nape of the neck.

The stylist who fixed it explained that we could do a really short layered style or a mullet....

BEFORE:

(I don't know why her arm is up)

AFTER

Watch out!

2010-04-10T17:32:00.002-06:00

This is what comes right at you when Abbey decides to give you a kiss.

HaHaHaHa...

2010-04-02T09:56:00.002-06:00

Abbey has decided to dress herself....

(This is one of the better outfits)

This is Life

2010-03-30T13:01:00.005-06:00

My little Abbey turned 4 this passed week!

I have been so busy with school that we didn't plan any parties.

We made cupcakes and went out to dinner.

As we were making the cup cakes Abbey says to me

"*Sigh*this is life, Mom, this is life!"

Abbey reminds me all the time what is important.

I almost cant remember life with out her.

Happy Birthday little one!

in the nursery

5 months

1st birthday

Daddies little helper

15 months

18 months

2ish

3 years
3 1/2 years

Conversation in the car: Episode Two

2010-03-11T08:52:00.003-07:00

"Mom, how do babies come out of your belly?"

"How do babies come out?"

(before she said at the hospital with Nikki Doctor)

" through moms special bums and through moms belly."

"that's right"

"the doctor cuts moms bellies of and gets the baby out."

"that's right."

"Mom, how do they get your belly back on?"

" with stitches."

"oh! Mom your so silly."

Conversation in the car

2010-02-28T16:59:00.002-07:00

" Abbey look at those birds"

" Mom, those are silly birds."

" they are emus from Australia"

" how did they get her?"

"Maybe in a plane"

"No, they rode a horse."

"All the way from Australia to Utah?"

" WE'RE IN UTAH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

More Moab

2010-02-20T00:04:00.005-07:00

My photo

Larry's photo

We took almost the same picture

5 months, 3 weeks and 2 days

2010-02-19T22:54:00.008-07:00

I know its been that long because it was the day before I started a new job that sucked the fun out of life but we were final able to get away for a few days last weekend to MOAB!!!

I work the night shift on Saturday and came home at 7 am. Larry and Abbey let me sleep til about 9 am. We were on our way about 11 am. I didn't sleep at all on the way down (good thing since I drove most of the way).

We went to Arches and did the primitive trail around the Windows, Abbey called it the Trail of Doom. There was about 1-2 feet of snow but the trail had been well packed. Abbey did really well with only a little complaining. At one point the trail goes up the mountain and it was really slick, Abbey couldn't get up it. So Larry went up and let her climb up him. she called him "Daddy Mountain" the rest of the day. As always when you go up, you have to go back down, which was also really slick. Abbey and I kept falling. I put her on my lap and we slid down about 25 feet, It was so fun! Just what we needed.

This is the Trail of Doom on the East side of the Arches.

Thanksgiving Point Dinosaurs

2010-02-14T02:29:00.005-07:00

I've always wanted...

2010-02-12T10:14:00.002-07:00

A bath tub that is big enough for two.

Mostly because I want to be able to stretch out and be covered by water.

Today I realized that the tiny tub we have is big enough for 2.

I thought that it might be a funny Kodak moment but

A- pictures of me in a tub... bad idea.

B- It's hard to take candid pictures of myself

and

C- Well, refer to A.

SO use your imagination.

I was in the tub. All scrunched up with my legs crossed and knees sticking out.

Abbey comes in and climbs in the tub with me. She sits with her head on my knee and her feet over one of my shoulders and the water is deep enough that she's pretty well covered. She decided that she was dirty and got the soap and just like in the movies she put her leg straight up and washed it and than the other. She is way too grown up!

I've decided that being a mom means not quite getting what you want... but what you get is so much better!

2010-02-07T07:24:00.002-07:00

This last week, Larry and I passed 9 years being married. It landed in the busiest week of the semester so we have had a chance to celebrate.

Although he drives me crazy I cant image being without him. He has truly made my life better in so many ways.

Happy 9 Years!

New Years

2010-01-24T03:40:00.004-07:00

For New Years Eve we went to the zoo for Zoo Lights. I didn't expect a lot, just that the zoo would have lights strung. I was so surprised, it was so cute and they had all kinds of animals in lights that moved. I tried to get pictures of them but most of them came out blurry.

This is my favorite. The frog on the left tries to catch the fly and hits the other with his tongue.

The joey jumps out of the mothers pouch.

This one was Abbey's favorite even though she couldn't get inside.

This is right by the male tiger. When she was on the statue, the tiger roared really loud and scared her. You can see that she is crying in the picture.

Just after Abbey got off the rhino she says to Larry, " I hope this rhino doesn't charge my bum!"

Christmas

2010-01-19T09:26:00.004-07:00

Abbey went shopping with Grammie and she pick out this bus. We made her wait the 2 weeks to open it but she would tell everyone she didn't want anything for Christmas because she already had her bus.

she helped open all of the gift. Larry got new boots just before and she had us wrap them up so he could have the as a present.

Abbey got a new bike but she didn't want to give up her trike. at first, she didn't even realize that it was for her.

Right now she has her inside and her outside bike. She's getting pretty good at not falling every time she turns a corner.

Having children remind you of the Joys of the holidays.

2010-01-10T15:08:00.003-07:00

I love that we live in Utah and with in 10 minutes we can be in a canyon.

We went for a walk up to Bridal Veil Falls.

Abbey spent most of the time on her tuskus. It was really slick.

We saw cougar tracks and were able to follow them and see when it started to run.

Abbey started a snowball fight and didn't cry when she got hit...

What a big girl she has gotten to be.

You can see the snowballs if you look close.

LMAO

2010-01-02T22:01:00.003-07:00

We went to dinner the other night and had a great waiter that got down and talked to Abbey at her level.

As they were talking she was playing with her stuffed dog Chingy.

He started asking her about him and said " he looks like a good dog. I beat he doesn't bite."

Abbey said " He's not real!"

Larry and I couldn't hold it in... but the waiter kept his composure and said " So he is."

2010-01-01T12:50:00.003-07:00

Abbey did this in preschool for Halloween.

I thought it is just so cute and a clever idea.

A place of honor

2009-12-18T14:48:00.003-07:00

Our first Christmas card came this week.

Abbey was so excited and she said

"Mom, It's Ella and Wyatt! I miss them so much!"

She put it on the fridge just like this:

Evil Laugh

2009-12-18T14:32:00.003-07:00

Abbey worked so hard to stack the block as tall as she is.

After this she just did it over and over

(Turn the volume up)

Just a little update

2009-12-11T01:06:00.002-07:00

I realized today that it had been over a month since my last post.
Larry is hating the cold weather, It wreaks havoc with the buses. He is really getting in to photography, he's loading his own film and wants to get into color photography and development. And as always he's always there being a great dad (Abbey's so excited about him picking her up from preschool) and making sure our home is livable.

Abbey is just a bundle of energy. She is loving preschool and has a new "big girl bed" (finally). She wants to go back to dance class, she says she misses it. She now has monsters in her room and hates to sleep alone now that the bed is big enough to fit mommy in it too. With my every changing schedule she has been such a trooper, which has made bed time really easy but I miss the awake time.

I have my finals on Monday than next semester the real nursing classes start. I think they put this semester in to test our patience. Remember this has only been a test... I quit my job at the USDC and now I work at IHC on nights. It will be better for my class schedule next semester. I still need to get our tree up and do the shopping and maybe, just maybe I'll be able to get the house clean before school starts again.

I promise to have pictures soon.

Allergies

2009-11-06T10:28:00.002-07:00

The other night we were going to the store after pick Abbey up from Gramma's and Abbey sneezed twice and said "mom, I am allergic to Daddy. He makes me sneeze."
I could not convince her that she probably not allergic to daddy.

Than she says "it's his hair. He's got the crazy hairs all over."

So she agreed that if he got a hair cut and a shot from Dr. Nikki it would make it better.

But if not she could go live with Gramma's.

2009-11-04T08:40:00.002-07:00

I took some time this morning with Abbey and was just in awe of what an amazing little person that she is becoming. She has brought so much joy and laughter into house. Some of the things that I don't' want to forget
1. She and her daddy has chocolate eyes.
2. She thinks to be a mommy she must have green eyes.
3. She tells me if I've used a bad mommy word but than she tells me that it is a good daddy word.
4. She is so excited about everything (lunch, horsey, going for a walk etc.)
5. We told her that we were going somewhere special and she yells "Yeah! Gramma's" ( she see this 4-5 times a week.)
6. When we pass daddy's work she blows him kisses and yells that she loves him.
7. At bed time, I ask her what time it is and she say" Hug, Hug, Hug and Kiss, Kiss Kiss" and runs around getting hugs and kisses from mommy and daddy.
8. She has sleep through the night since she was about 4-6 months.
9. She is very good on ling road trips but she talks the whole way.
10. I am so glad that she choice to come live with us.

My weird weird child

2009-10-17T13:19:00.004-06:00

Abbey had a dream last night that a bug car ate her and she was yummy.

Abbey's Photos

2009-10-17T13:16:00.007-06:00

Abbey's really interested in the camera lately.... Could that be her dads influence sneaking thru?

So I have let her take some pics

Here they are:

Abbey goes to preschool

2009-10-07T15:49:00.003-06:00

I did these pics the night before Abbey started prechool. This is her first day outfit. She loves it, especially the color days. We have started having them almost every day. She is just a stinken' smarty.

She just posed for most of the shots.

'Mom, I'm done!"

we will miss our papa

2009-09-28T16:32:00.002-06:00

Larry's dad (Kay) passed away last month. What a sad occasion, although we are glad he is back with the love of his life and not feeling anymore pain.

Kay was always about family, he was always telling me about how Larry's siblings were doing out of state and about Larry's childhood.

He was so sweet with abbey, he would sneak treats to her, especially nuts that she loved.

At the funeral Larry spoke about things he had learned from his dad and things he will remember, Abbey was by his side the entire time. When we made her sit down she said very loud," I want to say how much I loved Papa and I will miss him."

I guess she summed it up for all of us. We will miss our papa and love him very much!

Kay LaMarr Martin

2009-09-24T08:54:00.005-06:00

Kay LaMarr Martin, 82, passed away September 14, 2009 at home with his family in Willard, Utah. He was born May 7, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Hugh Leo and Gladys Rose Hunsaker Martin. He was raised in Swan Valley, Idaho and Salt Lake City. He married the love of his life, Shirlene Sears, in 1948 in Salt Lake City; they were later sealed together for time and eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple. They lived together in Salt Lake City and Willard, Utah. After her death, he married Ligaya Mon-tehermoso in 2003 in Willard, Utah. He served his country during World War II in the South Pacific with the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines. As a past member of the Columbus Ward, he held the office of second counselor in the bishopric and scout master. He also participated in many civic functions. He established and ran M & S building with his son Brian. He made many close friends with his customers over the years. He was very family oriented and always had a joke to tell. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister, his wife, Shirlene Sears Martin, daughter, Ann Marie Martin Heward, stepson, Manuel Montehermoso. He is survived by his wife Ligaya, four sisters, and his children: Kay Larry (Joy) Martin, Brian Sears (Lonne) Martin, Janet Martin (James) Labrum, Michele Martin; step children Ramon Montehermoso, Ronald Montehermoso and Andrea M. Bran-scomb, 29 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren and many other generations of Martins. The family would like to thank the friends and Inspiration Hospice that

helped care for Kay.

HMMM!

2009-09-12T17:12:00.002-06:00

Abbey told me she talked to God and that he was nice and he lives in the sky and that he petted her. But that he went away when she tried to pet him .

A Little Update

2009-08-30T07:09:00.002-06:00

Well school has started again, but I don't think it will be to bad this semester, I only have 3 class and they are all on Wednesday. I'm in class from 8 am to 5 pm. It's a really long day to sit on my bum. I'm working at the developmental center in American Fork.
It's so early to get Abbey up, we have to leave before 5 am. She has a rough morning but seem to do okay the rest of the day. She starts preschool on Tuesday, hopefully she does well. she's getting so big and the things she says to me are so adult.
Larry is reconstructing our garage again. He is finally going to get his dark room, or at least a makeshift one. He has really gotten in to developing his own pictures. He is so great with Abbey, he called himself a mister mom yesterday... I don't know for sure if he meant it in a good way.
Well that's our little up date...

This is the Place

2009-08-03T03:05:00.004-06:00

We tried to avoid the crowds for the 24th of July this year and

went up to This is the Place state park on the 23rd.
It was so much fun.

Abbey loved all the animal.

Her favorite were these little pygmy goats

(one was prego and SO cute. She was bigger round than she was tall.)

She got on a horse and could have stayed there all day. It almost makes me wish we had some.

She loved it all.

There was a group from California that reenacts the Mormon Battalion and the just adored her and showed her how to make rope.

She now carries it around tying things up.

Abbey has taken over!

2009-07-25T17:36:00.003-06:00

I was getting ready to do a new post when I got up to do something, Abbey LOVES to type and this is what I came back to:

DFGGTHyhfjmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmrghthyhythyhyththhhhgrhhhhhhhk,,,,,,,,,,,,nu576e.
asdsnhy2t3ygcz,,f/tyyyyhhhhhhjkjjugyyuiuikpp'

2w

Our Navigator

2009-07-20T18:08:00.003-06:00

Abbey has recently taken an interest in maps.

When we go for a ride she studies the map and asks

"What road are we on?"

She wants an answer like I-15 or highway 89... She doesn't like if we answer state street or the freeway.

Than she says "Oh, we're right there."

Bryce Canyon

2009-07-19T20:46:00.003-06:00

We ran off for a weekend to Bryce.

It's such a relaxing spot....but not this time.

It was cold at night and I didn't pack well for Abbey, so she and I sleep in the car.

Not comfortable.

When she's tired nothing pleases her.

She didn't like hiking down into the canyon.

Although looking down from the top didn't bug her.

It was goood to run away even for just a little bit.