Happy Birthday Turkey

Happy Turkey day. Thanksgiving is always a yummy day. We have lots to be thankful for. It is always nice to reflect and really think about how much gratitude we have. For our family night a few weeks ago we listed all the random things we are thankful for. Here's a few, home, family, jobs, each other, books, school, TV, flowers, grandparents, sleep, baths, temple, church, camera, video games, and yes, then the boys started getting silly and carried away. I happen to always call them "turkey's" when they are being silly turkey's.

 Here are 2 of my favorite quotes...

It's not happy people who are thankful it's Thankful people who are happy.


Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

I had to share this awesome turkey Bodie made. When I saw it on the kindergarten bulletin board and compared his to all the other kids I thought "oh boy" but I did have a huge smile. The other ones had all 5 fingers on their hands/wings, nicely cut out round heads, even eyes and a perfect triangle opening beak. And Bodie's was just so cute, so unique and original. One of a kind I tell ya.

~~~

And a Happy Birthday to my dad. He would have been 69 years young. His birthday falls right on Thanksgiving Thursday this year. It is bittersweet. I miss him. But ya know, I've missed him for a long time. His illness took him away from us years ago. And now that his spirit is gone I can remember back to when he was my dad. It's just over a month ago that he died. I still can't believe it sometimes. But at least I do know he is himself again with a whole mind. That makes me very happy. As sad as it is to have lost my dad, it is also a happy feeling. What a peaceful way to mourn someone. I love my dad. And as Creed said in his talk in primary on Sunday, "I am glad I know that Families Are Forever".

 

Today we are off to visit his grave at the cemetery on his birthday, then to Alpine for the feast with Greg's family.  I hope my pies turn out. And I hope my mom enjoy's her day.

Creed is Great

 Wow, it's great to be 8! Creed had his birthday and boy was he happy about that. Greg was out of town again on his birthday this year. But, did fly home that night at bedtime. The birthday morning I had presents, balloons, camera's all ready to go. Jax was doing Greg's job of filming until I fired him and took over doing both camera's. :) Creed was happy to get presents, and really liked his scriptures, video game controller, and he asked for his own lamp for his room and some other things. He enjoyed his day at school and we went to dinner at IHOP with aunt Amy and G-ma to celebrate. Then back to our house for cake before heading to the airport to pick up Greg.

 When our kids turn 8 we let them have a friend party. So the next Saturday we went bowling! 

Creed's form improved as the afternoon went on.

 I loved how Jax helped Rafe sometimes, by whacking him in the head to help him throw the ball. Rafe didn't like that. Jax did his turn without bumbers so his score was lower, and Bodie liked sprawling out on the floor again. And learned to throw the ball instead of just pushing and rolling it.

 Here's the best group shots I got. His friends eating at the tables then all 11 kids (including my own) with Greg at the lanes.

 He wanted a Minecraft party. So uh, I did some cupcakes with it. He had such fun, he loved being with his friends, and his brothers. I loved watching him with these boys. He can be so silly. He made sure to make all of them feel important and glad they came and what great presents they gave him. And it was nice to get to know some of them that I didn't really know.

 I can't believe this kid was born 8 years ago. Time is going by too fast. I keep telling my boys to stop growing. It sure is great though having Creed be as old as he is. He can be such a great help. He is the best at being Rafe's buddy and cheering him up or buckling him in his car seat. He loves playing video games with Bodie, and loves sharing a room with Jax. Those 2 brothers are 2 peas in a pod. Creed is always goofing off and being silly and laughing, even when he's not supposed to. He does well in school and comes home and gets his homework done, quickly gets to practicing piano and does it well. He loves his cold cereal in the mornings and eating whatever concoction I give him for lunch. He is turning into a social butterfly. He is being more brave, he volunteered to sing a solo with Jax and another boy for the Primary Program, he just have a talk in Primary today, and in school his teachers say he is always talking and laughing with everyone and wanting to help, they enjoy him in class. And he started scouts! 

Here Creed is as a baby. A week old, then 8 months, then his first birthday. What a cutie. I love his blue eyes. We all love to watch Creed on our home movies. Bodie and Rafe even love it even though they aren't in it. They laugh and think he's the best. He holds a dear place in my heart and I love him and love that he's in our family!

Fall stuff

 Here's a review (not the best iphone pics) of some of what we've been up to this fall...

Up our canyon (Millcreek) for dinner and Smores with our friends the Davies. Enjoying a dinner on the patio on a fall evening with Greg's mission companion and their family, the Glende's. Then we tore out my parents basement for a reno. And Rafe was so happy and proud to get his first trophy.

 Next...

 Greg did Jax and Creed's hair for crazy hair day. (this was the day my dad passed away and I was with my mom) Rafe and Bodie have these weird bumps/growths surrounding one of their armpits. I forgot what it's called but, it's a virus related to a wart but it's not that and it lasts 9 months. Why 9 and not 6 or 12? Who knows. Bodie's are starting to go away but Rafe's are in full swing. Yuck. And Creed played a short season of indoor soccer. He was way bummed it was over. He loves playing.

I have an ugly story of Rafe and an episode from today. I was at Creed's last game, Greg was fixing his 3rd faucet at the duplex and I had all the boys and was trying to leave after soccer was over. Something made Rafe mad and he wouldn't come with me or his brothers. He started screaming/crying. Every time I would walk towards him he would back away, he wouldn't let me get his coat on, it was raining, he was being stubborn. Did I mention he was screaming his head off, and it was echoing throughout the whole Rec Center. So I finally just grabbed him, picked him up and tried carrying him out to the car past the Library entrance too and he starts kicking and squirming and I'm about to drop him and can't quite get a good carry on him. Everyone is staring. And then... Greg came out of nowhere and saved the day! My hero! He took Rafe out of my arms and quickly got him out of the building. He is better at that than me. So I was able to find Jax and Bodie in the Library (they were gone trying to hide from loud Rafe I'm sure) and get to the car after Greg had him in his car seat. Phew. I wonder when my 3 year old will out grow his tantrums? Stores and Rafe - don't go together either.

Um, what else... oh, I did a huge task and did the Reflections program at the school. That was a huge undertaking and was a ton of work. Luckily I did it with my neighbor, but boy I tell ya. A lot of work! I am so dang glad it is over. I was so relieved when I turned in the last of the entries. I have a new appreciation for PTA's and what they do.
 

Greg made us put up our Christmas decor this weekend. So we decorated our tree while eating Halloween candy. But, I guess because Thanksgiving is so late in November this year, we really have just over a month and a few days for x-mas stuff. So our Holidays are all meshing together.

I guess that sums up the gist of things.

Halloween 2014

 Finally getting around to talking about the big fun holiday! We all love Halloween at our house. After my dad's funeral and after spending day after day in Bountiful and with family we had to eventually go back to normal life. The boys didn't like having school, homework, goals, cleaning & piano to catch up on. Everything that was put on hold for a while. But at least going back was a fun few crazy days.

On Tuesday I ran over to Rafe's preschool program. Really cute, the teachers did a great job singing as the kids kinda got stage fright and didn't sing much at all, ha! Then on Thursday, since no school on Friday, all the other boys had their costume parades and Halloween parties. I love going to the school parades. Always fun to see the many different costumes. I am kinda sad I had to miss Jax and Creed's school though. Bodie had a kindergarten program that morning right after his parade. So I was up at his school. He is a silly character and had fun doing his program and singing the fun songs. I texted Greg that it was weird as I sat in their gym watching with no other little kids with me. Just me, no whining Rafe since he was in school too.

Then after Bodie and I raced down the hill to catch Jax and Creed and their classes out on the play ground for recess, so I saw them and some of their friends dressed up.

And can I just say... Holy Elsa! The movie Frozen is still quite the hit. One of the kindergarten classes had 6 costumed girls. I dare you to find a group of little girls where there wasn't an Elsa. So funny.

Wednesday night after being at my moms earlier, we quickly carved one big pumpkin Greg grabbed at the store. The boys were kinda sad not to get their own, but we had no time all week. We always have next year.

Ninja, Zombie Basketball player, Mummy, and a Skeleton. Make that a last minute bloody zombie ninja and a Mummy zombie. aka: Bodie, Jax, Creed, and Rafe.

 Halloween night we went down to our neighbors house in our ward that hosts a big pre trick-or-treating Garage Soup potluck party. So we ate and headed out to get the donuts down their street then on to collect candy. It was a great time. Perfect warm weather. And check out that sunset! It's weird to say we had a beautiful time Trick-or-treating. But it was.

When Rafe was done I drove home with him to answer our door. Then a while later Greg and the other boys made it up the hill and then Bodie stayed home. Then even later they all were done and came home and ate some candy, watched a quick show, washed off and went to bed. It was a Happy Halloween!

Funeral

This is all about the Funeral. I still can't believe it - we had my dad's funeral! That means he is gone and we buried his body. We knew the day and time would come eventually. But, it was still sudden.

Sunday night the 26th we had the viewing. It was a nice evening. My on-going Migraine took a break for Sunday and Monday. Phew. It was a good turnout. Mom did great, and was glad to see people and surprised by who all came. Dad was loved.

Monday morning, I couldn't sleep (again) and just had a pit in my stomach when ever I'd think about speaking and the funeral. More people came by for the viewing before hand. Then it was a quaint group for the funeral. We couldn't decide on which of my dad's sisters would speak, so we asked all 3 of them to do it together (tag team). And my 2 brother's and sister and I all wanted to speak. So, we figured we'd all go up together and mention some memories we had and share something short and sweet. I kinda didn't want to have to speak (too emotional). But, also felt I should , and I prayed I would hold it together and not get up and blubber and mumble - and I was ok. Speaking went pretty good, considering. Greg spoke as well and did great. The grand-kids all sang "Families Are Forever" and "I am Child of God". We ended the service in an hour and were headed up to the cemetery. 

Here's my boys all ready for their Grandpa's funeral. They were so happy to get a rose to wear. And all the men and boys wore my dad's neck ties. Although, Bodie and Rafe didn't wear one (to their dismay), it would have drowned them.

The part I knew would be hard and bring the flowing tears did. The family prayer. My bro. Cameron had to do it. And, when they close the casket - oh boy. My sweet Creed was bawling. Jaxon also was teary. Bodie and Rafe are so young - but, they were pretty reverent. They knew it was a special time. We rode with my mom in the limo up the hill to the cemetery. I was so torn. I really wanted to be down by the grave and take a bunch of pictures of the pallbearers bringing the casket down the steep hill, being followed by all the grand-kids in their boutineers. But, I was with the family group coming down with it all. 
I quickly tried to capture some. Then all the pallbearers, sons, and my dad's brother-in-laws and grand-kids put their roses on the casket.

Right as we were getting started at the grave for my brother Drew to dedicate the grave, the sun went away and it got soooo cold. We didn't have our jackets. So, we didn't stay too long.

Here's most the grand-kids staying warm after.

One last family picture before dad was truly laid to rest.

What a beautiful day. Incredible view.

Jax and Creed got to ride back down to the church in the limo for the luncheon my mom's ward did for the whole family. They were pretty excited about that.

I was finally able to eat. My appetite wasn't much all week, and I certainly couldn't eat that morning of the funeral. Then we gathered up the pictures and blocks on display and headed to my mom's to relax for the afternoon and evening. 

Before sunset we headed back up to Lakeview Cemetery to visit dad in the ground now. Then the kids went crazy with collecting flowers as a keepsake, ending with a gorgeous sunset. You can see a little of the stand of flowers left down on his grave.

The kids have loved being able to see cousins every single day for a week, and getting reacquainted with the Williamsen cousins they never get to see that live out of state. We've had a lot of family time and a lot of rolls and lunch meat - ha ha. It's back to regular life again. Dad would have enjoyed so much seeing us all together and sitting and visiting with his family. Good bye dad, love you forever!

My dad

Gosh, I don't want to write this post but, I also can't get behind in writing it. I know I want to remember and share this for posterity. 

So the day came, the day my dad died. It's been exactly 1 week since last Wednesday morning when he passed away. It seems so weird. Surreal and hard to believe and get used to. But, also I feel peace and happiness. Happy that he is free from his ill mind and happy for my mom to be able to have her life back after caring so well for my dad. She has cared for him and loved him so selflessly. It was getting harder and harder by the end. I imagine a relief is lifted for her. I look forward to what her future holds and what she is able to do.

I want to do a brief review of how it all came to be. So, 5 years ago he was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer's. And his memory was slipping away. It started out with names, and words. Then got worse, then more confusion. My mom retired early 13 months ago to stay home and care for him full time. Because he needed it. And this last year he really was on a decline. And by the end of this September we held a family Fast for my parents. My dad was getting combative and agitated and a little violent. There was no way she could take care of him if he was going to be like that. So we prayed that he wouldn't and she would find a way to continue to care for him. Putting him in a care home wasn't really an option financially. So the very next week, after a few phone calls, Hospice came (Home Health) and the nurse said he qualified, at the beginning of her assessment she could tell. The picture below is the last one I took of him, while the nurse was going over paperwork with my mom. Dad was there with us and even was joking around and laughing a bit.

They got him on some medication to help him, and it did help at first. After about a week, my mom was trying to figure out the meds and how many doses and work with all the side effects. Waiting to get them in his system. Then they had to stop some of the meds because they weren't helping him the way they help most dementia/Alzheimer's patients. These new meds made him very drowsy. So he was sleeping a lot. Then he slept even more. My mom had to wake him up to feed him and get him showered. 

The last Saturday the 18th we all met at my parents and gutted her basement getting ready for a remodel. I peeked in on my dad that day while my mom was trying to feed him. He slept that whole day. The next few days, she was able to give him a hair cut, the aide and nurse had come by to check him. And then by Tuesday night, my mom called to have my brother and sister come help try and wake him up, he hadn't been awake for a while. He didn't really wake up. (Perhaps he was in a coma?) That night she said she could hear him breathing heavy and kinda fast all night. So Wednesday morning the 22nd she got up and jumped in the shower after checking on him and when she got out, he was gone. At 7:30am she called me on the phone to tell me. We cried, Greg and I called around and found people to take the boys and I headed up to Bountiful for the day. And the next 7 days actually.

In the rest of the pictures: It as trippy to see his official obituary. My brother Drew and sis-in-law Alecia and their kids flew out the next day and so we were all there together to help plan everything for the funeral. In the picture we had all met at Russon Bro's Mortuary to see dad/grandpa Lee and they talked to the kids about death and showed the "white glove" spirit demonstration they do. And then the grand-kids all gathered together practicing their songs for the funeral.

My mom's siblings were so great. They brought meals for our whole group several times. My dad's sisters flew in and notified everyone for my mom. We got started with funeral planning, cemetery, picking the casket, flowers, mortuary, obituary, and gathering pictures. 

Funerals are a big to-do, and we are so glad it is over. It's been bitter sweet feelings. My mom is holding up well. We have all been blessed with strength to get through this last week. Dad was too young. It is sad. But I feel a happy relief for him at the same time. I'll talk about the funeral next.

Scary Rafe

It's beginning. The never ending asking how much longer until Halloween. Oooh, I keep forgetting every year to make a countdown chain or something. My boys are so excited. Here is scary skeleton Rafe yesterday wanting to show all the kids walking home from school his costume. He and Bodie have been wearing them for 2 days now. I've purposely waited to get them out because of that.

I do love Halloween time. And now it's fall break, what are we going to do?!

Zoo Zoo

After years of talking about going back to the zoo as a family, we finally did it this last Saturday. On a whim. We realized our day was free, so decided to head up to the Hogle Zoo. They have been updating the zoo a lot. And it was cleaner and nicer than I thought it would be. So we spent a couple hours there and enjoyed seeing our boys loving seeing the animals. Rafe was just a baby last time we all went. Although kids field trips often go to the zoo. It was perfect weather too. The parking lot was over flowing, I was worried. But it wasn't too crowded inside. 

As I was taking the picture of the Orangutang, he climbed right on up to the window and reached for my camera. It was kinda cool. But we were safe behind the glass. One thing I thought was lame of the zoo, is that we had to hold Rafe up to see anything. You'd think they would "cater" more to little kids. The fences were too high and the arm rest platforms were in the way for Bodie, so he was always peering between wood and wire fences or trying to climb up to see.

Where were all the monkeys, zebra's, ostrich, and male lion? All the boys were wondering. Jax was bummed all the birds were taken indoors somewhere for the winter. But all-in-all it was great fun.

And on a whim on Sunday evening we drove up to our spot on top of the mountains by East Canyon. It was pretty of course, and cold, so we were only outside for 60 seconds. We were weeks later than normal to see the fall colors. But still did see some nice orange and rust color.

Happen'n

 Our shy Bodie is coming out of his shell. His Kindergarten class had a program. They performed a bunch of Nursery Rhymes. And at the end they recited one on their own in front of everyone. Bodie practiced and practiced. We changed the one he was going to say a few times. But finally settled on a short and sweet Humpty Dumpty. He did very well. He is really loving school. I have been able to go help in his classroom several times. And I love being in there to see how he is and what he does. 

And I love the middle picture where he is very, very carefully doing the Itsy Bitsy Spider (I call it that) or is it Incy Wincy?

And while we had programs, played with friends, played video games, did Bodie's last soccer game, Grandma's house, watching Gen. Conference, Creed sleeping over in this little brother's room, Jax was doing this...

 He finally got to go on the Elk Hunt camping trip with Greg and posse. He has wanted to go for years. And talked about it for years. I lost my battle of him not being old enough. And Jax was giddy as could be to go. Greg said he was a trooper. He woke up excited, hiked, waited, hiked, waited, talked and asked a billion questions, did little complaining, and had a great time. Don't worry, he didn't shoot the gun.

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A few more random things we've been up to... Greg filmed a video about the Glove trying to get it made, marketed, and the works, I did 2 assemblies (yikes!) for Reflections at the elementary school -I'm one of the co-chairs this year and probably in over my head. I didn't volunteer for it by the way. And some fun shots of Rafe mowing the lawn with daddy this week. He is always the one to go outside and be with dad while he mows. And just today I took the little boys to a park for a bit. They had lots of slide fun together.

Fall Ball

 We are in the thick of fall stuff right now. We had to scale back some sports because we had way too much overlapping and no free evenings. And with school, homework, scouts, dinner, soccer, T-ball, and B-ball practice, and everything in between it was going to be over loaded. 4 kids all wanting to do activities can be a little crazy and time consuming. So Creed will do something later, Jax passed on soccer for Basketball, Bodie is playing soccer again with his little buddy and Rafe is doing what all of his brother's have done when they were 3. 

T-ball for Rafe! 3 year olds are funny trying to play sports. Rafe is all kinds of confused. So far we have to tell him every step of the way what to do and where to run. Maybe by the end of the season he'll "get it" a little better. He is so cute playing. He skips to the next base, puts his tongue like a ball to his cheek or lips, doesn't say a word, wont' smile unless I tell him to, and is happy to finally be the one getting a treat after a game. Many tears have been shed seeing his brother's always get treats while he doesn't. He is loving his baseball.

And I have to mention the character Bodie. Playing soccer again. He is always touching or pushing and goofing off with his BFF Canon at the games. We are always telling them to pay attention to the ball and the game. His shoe comes off at least once a game, and he'll get some good soccer ball contact a couple times a game. Lots of running and exercise for him.