Mostly Trey

 Landan and I went to Shirly's funeral last Saturday.  It was a nice service.  Later in the week I took my kids to the cemetery to see where she had been buried. I took a picture because I wanted to have a picture of the floral arrangement we sent.  I thought it was gorgeous.  It is the heartshaped one with the sunflowers.   I loved how the sun came shining through.

Trey has adjusted nicely to kindergarten.  The first week of school, He told me Miss Rowley was nice but she was not as lovely as Miss Stacy.(his preschool teacher)  He even wrote miss Stacy a note saying " I love you, I miss you"  Well last week Trey came home and said " Miss Rowley is nice and beautiful and gorgeous and sunshiny and I love her" 
He says the funniest things and asks the best questions. that often I do not know the answers.  He examines the toilet frequently. "where are those pipes that lead to the sewer when I flush.  I can't see them"  "Where does the water go after it goes down the storm drain?"  If I say " I don't know"  I get the response " Come on Mom, Just tell me"  I guess he thinks I am smarter than I am. or my latest favorite.  "What is a bureaucracy?"  He is a worry wart.  He is constantly brushing his teeth to prevent gingivitis.  Every time we get near water he asks if he is going to drown.  He rides his bike to school. Only he really walks it half the way because he might get going too fast on the hill.  He wants to be a crossing guard again this year for Halloween.  I was excited since we already have the costume.  However, He wants to switch it up this year and hold a GO sign instead of a STOP sign.  He is the funniest, most delightful kid, when he is not throwing tantrums. Now if I can just find his TORNADO SHELTER and NO DRINKING UNDER 21 signs that he wants for christmas, I will be the best mom ever.

A good friend

A few months ago, Sharolyn, who Megz and I lovingly refer to as Shirly, asked me to write down my memories of her.  I started to do so, but got a little lazy and never finished the project.  I guess people always think they have more time.

Sharolyn passed away Tuesday.  She was just 34 years old. She died of fibro sarcoma primary bone cancer.  I knew this time was coming but I was completely unprepared.


I met Sharolyn in 8th grade.  She passed me a note in vocational core that said " Do you watch Days?"  I wrote her a note saying I used to watch it with my friend Amy but hadn't seen it in a long time.  The next several notes was her catching me up on what had happened in the last few years of that soap.  We were instant friends.  I think partly because we both liked to be a little rebellious without going too far.  She always was full of energy. when I was with her we always laughed a lot.  We loved to be a little naughty like when we sang Entrepreneurship in Mrs Monteirth's class We changed it to entrepeneurSHIT.  I know I know super mature but it was hilarious in 8th grade.  Funny thing is.. later in life she was indeed an entrepreneur.

Sharolyn and I have remained friends since the 8th grade.  At some points in our life we were closer than other times. I remember when she was diagnosed with cancer the first time.  It was thyroid.  It was a scare for sure but she seemed to get over that one quickly.  Around this time, Megan, Shirly and I went to Vegas together.  It was such a fun time, which over the years we have joked about many of the funny things that happened on that trip.

She was with me during the time I was dating Landan, in fact some people thought he was dating her and not me.   While Landan and I were engaged, we went with Sharolyn, Michael and Ty on a trip to Moab.  We had a great time.  She had purchased this really unattractive van/car that we went on road trips in.  I am looking at it in the background of this pic and thinking it looks a lot like the van I now drive.

She was at my wedding.

Sharolyn, Along with Melissa and Heather entertained at my wedding.  Shirly was a great pianist and singer.  She also had many other talents.  She made an incredible video for my Special Olympians as well as making the wedding videos for two of my siblings.

Sharolyn tried out for American Idol and made it on air.  She dressed as half man/half woman and did a duet with herself.  It was hilarious.  I remember how excited she was about that.  Sometimes her exuberance for things or the way she looked at a situation made me roll my eyes.  However, it is funny how those eye rolling moments are actually what I find most endearing about her. She was simply Sharolyn!  She seemed to always know who she was and it didn't matter what others thought.

In the last 5 years or so, I noticed a certain maturity about her.  Her view on life was so incredibly optimistic.  I can't help but wonder if subconsciously people know when there isn't much time left.

When she called me to tell me that she had cancer again, I remember feeling very upset but also thinking she would get through this one just like she had with her first bout of cancer a decade earlier.  When I found out doctors gave her 3 months to 2 years I was devastated. It was so unfair.  She hadn't had all the worldly opportunities that she so desired. 

I am grateful for the last year of opportunities I had with her.  Whether it was going to see a play at Hale theatre.  Or going out to dinner, meeting at her house for pizza or visiting her at the hospital it was always a good time.  Her attitude was so positive that sometimes I forgot that she was sick. I admire her for that!

This picture is with a cast member from "hairspray"

She was a dear friend who will be greatly missed. "Some people come in our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts-and we are never, ever the same."  Thanks for being my friend, Shirly, I love you.

pinewood derby and no training wheels

 For activity days, we had a pinewood derby.  It was a daddy daughter date.  Unfortunately Landan had to work so I got to be dad.  The girls had a lot of fun.

 None of these girls had the fastest cars.  BOO! They are so sad

Addie and Trinadee were acting out what would happen if Trinadee's car beat Addie's in the loser round. Good thing Addie's car was victorious!

This has been a big summer for my boys.  First, they both learned to pedal.  SO they got their bikes. Then they both learned to ride without the training wheels.  PJ conquered it first and does it with a lot more ease than Trey.  Trey is way too aware that there is a possibility of him getting hurt.

the big 40th surprise

For my mom and dad's 40th wedding anniversary, we took them on a scavenger hunt.  The first clue was delivered to their house by Phil and Jeannette.  The clue told them to go where they went on their first date.

There first date was at the Huish watching "tora tora tora" obviously a movie my dad selected.  My kids gave them their next clue to the orchards where they spent most of their dating time fixing sprinklers.  (How fun) Kyle and Carlene Family met them there to give them their next clue to Aunt Paula's house.  My dad's sister Paula is the one who wanted them to get married. My dad said My mom was too young for him so unless an angel appeared to him he wouldn't marry her.  Paula dressed as an angel and appeared to my dad.  The rest is history...  The next clue was to the Red Barn where they get their weekly ice cream cones.  At that point Jimmy drove them up the canyon to the last location, which was their tree.

 here they are walking to the tree

 This is the new tree they started in 2009  because the original tree was dying.  The original tree was carved in 40 years ago it was a heart with JED +CH and then again in 1996 where they added "still in love"

 when the parents arrived all 40 of us were waiting there with balloons.  That is right folks, on their 40th wedding anniversary they have 40 members in their family. 

WE sent them soaring!

Only 39 went up Jeffrey's got stuck on his braces.  Hee hee it was one of best moments of the night.

 We presented the parents with their gift.  Because the original tree was dying, Tommy and Jimmy cut out the part that had their writings on it and framed it.

 We then had cake that Bones made.  He makes the best chocolate cake

picture of all of the grand kids.

It was a good time!  I think we all had fun and my parents liked it

another week

Monday was the first day all three kids went to school together.  I was left all alone for 2.5 hours.  That time went by really fast.

Trey's awesome backpack with his name on it. No one will be able to successfully steal his backpack

 Trey did so great on his first day.  When I picked him from school that day, he said " Mom, I wasn't sad at all when you left, only just a little."

 PJ"s first day of tuesday/thursday preschool.  He had a great time.

On Friday I still get one on one time with PJ.  I took his tool bench outside for him to play and it was like he got a brand new toy.  He has been playing with it non-stop.  Apparently I just need to move the location of the toys to get the kids to play with them again.