In Utah We Say "Prade"....

There's just no getting around it - I need to post July in a hurry - because the order of documentation is vital.... and other stuff.  So I enjoyed the miracle of 3 grandchildren and the joy that they bring into my every single moment of life.  We started out the day celebrating at the Provo Freedom Festival Prade....  The stars of the day were as follows:

Sharkman - because every prade needs a shark

The 'Not shy around cameras' kid

and an extremely beautiful.... buggins

So - you see - we had all the ingredients for a spectacular 'prade' experience.  Not to mention the family... parental units and aunts and uncles in plentiful amounts.

Mikowel and Lee Lee

Ryan .... and his love....

'Baking with Blonde' and stranger behind her.  (creeeepy)

and some cute little Apples from Washington.

I was there - and here is proof...

the middle legs are mine!

Our favorite part of the 'prade'....

was no doubt

NIE NIE!!!  The Grand Marshal!

(such a freaking fan I can't stand it...

Ryan M. asked us if we actually wanted to run

out and touch the hem of her dress...)

(duh - of course we wanted to)

Here is my Blurrrrry picture ):

big huge fan - we screamed out her name and

told her we loved her - she waved extra hard,

so did Mr Neilson.... and her kids squirted us.

There were a few of these.....

oh and this guy came....

gotta have the gov there eh?

We lied and said we voted for him.

we think he has a funny name....

Over all - the morning was wonderful - we gathered on Mandy's front lawn right on center street.  They had roped off the area and no one could get on it it until 5 am - but Mandy and Ryan staked off their own property, and bazinga - best seats in the house!  Thanks guys!

But the winner of the first Prade is.....

Sharkface Mandy

So.. that was the morning Prade... then we rested and headed to the Sandy Celebration

for yes.... another Prade - this one is by far the lamest prade ever - it's full of trucks, and extremely stupid advertisement places, several floats we'd seen earlier in the day when the wavers were not so wilted, flyers, more flyers, more roller skaters, flyers.... and politicians, and flyers.  The best part though..... freakin candy throwing.  I got a cavity just catching it.

Partae on familia...

we really liked the couple behind us in the chairs - whom ever you are.... you are now family.  No matter what your rap sheet says at the police department.

off to the food - nuff prades

Kabobs....always  better cooked off the back of a

big old truck... and the fixin's along with them!

sparklers... and smiles

sleepy little party boys....

and the picture for Matt to rotate for me....

and FIREWORKS OH MY!

eat your heart out sharkface.... we had a great day.

There's gonna be a weddin'

Because Wedding Weeks make me a tad on the

psycho side of life.... I will post the poem that my

children had to see everyday and return to

post July and August and Weddings OH MY!

(hey kids... I love you)

Good Roots

Help me to give my children good roots God.

As I work with my plants I see that

the sturdiest, and those which bear most freely,

are those whose roots go deep, gripping rich soil;

they have a base from which they

and grow tall and beautiful and sound.

Let this household furnish that

kind of soil for my family, God.

Enriched with good music, good books

good talk, good taste,

But above all, goodness of action.

So that those who come here feel welcome,

and those who leave here feel warm.

And those who live here know,

in every fiber of their beings,

that they belong to people who,

for all of our faults, are good people.

People of decency and honor, who would

not willingly hurt or cheat any living thing.

Let my children grow freely, God,

In whatever direction their nature directs.

But give them root strength, too.

So that they will never deviate

too far from their own beginnings.

Help me to give my children good roots. 

Last night as my little boy... (sappy, and snot filled post)

I've missed an entire month of blogs - blogs that are inside my heart waiting to be posted - pictures that tell the stories of love from my family.  But tonight I just want to post a quick thought.  I went upstairs to my son's room and looked at him sleeping.  Like so many many millions of times before.  I looked at his eyelashes weighing down on his cheeks.  He's all curled up in a ball, all 6'2" of him.  His hair is still soft and of course cut perfectly.  I can hear his breathing - his lungs allowing those breaths of air that he struggles with.  Oh how I love this kid.  But, his heart that once beat for his mom - now beats for Katie.  Tomorrow he's headed down to marry his bride in the next week, his sweetheart, the one that matters more in this world to him than anything.  His car is packed, chocolate milk in the fridge, cookies in a zip lock, pocket change for gas for his trip.  He's become that which I knew he would become.  His soul is good, and true, and centered on the right things in life.  He's honored his Priesthood, he's served the Lord, he loves the Temple.  Seriously, what more could I ask as a mom? The next time I see him, will be the day before his wedding.  A celebration of the beginning of a new Mrs. Hillary!  For now, each text and phone call from Katie makes him smile, and his step is lighter.  I know he is truly in love.  His goals are playing out just as he's worked for and dreamed of.  He will be a good husband, a kind one, a loyal one.  On those tough days when top ramen is the meal of the day, he'll make sure that it's served on a special plate, and that there's a flower on the table.  Times will be difficult, and challenging with school and work - but wow - when I see that beautiful young lady he'll be married to, I know that the sky is the limit with their abilities.  It's time that they start their own world, and as a parent, I know the struggles and joys of that journey, but isn't that what you spend a lifetime teaching them about?  How grateful I am that we were able to spend a few weeks with him - before he becomes Mr. to the Mrs. of his dreams.  Lucky for me - I have had a wonderful life with Ryan, and I know that it will just get better and better with Katie in that life too.  Up at 4 am to make scrambled eggs and toast and send him on his way.  I wish I could stop my eyes from leaking... must be because I have known and have felt the great love you can have for your children, and how your heart aches to let them go, but you do because what is out there, is all that you told them about when they were that little one in your arms.  Oh... and I reserve the right to tell you when you need to be better, nicer, apologize, and to pick up your socks... I love you always and forever.  Sweet dreams.

Who the heck is managing this blog? No one? Really?

It's been a bit o' time since the last blog. 

I'm gluing the pieces of time together

and trying hard to make it all make sense.

I picked up an extra plate because I had

too much on the jumbo one I was trying to use.

Life comes at you fast,

you need to be surrounded by

those you can love,

and trust,

and that can help you visualize joy.

To not let those broken dreams get you too down.

There are so many special things happening in the near future,

and some so very sad - but how lucky I feel to have

the opportunity to test my faith, to show my love,

and to breathe in and out every day.

Oh Crap.... and tomorrow's Monday

could someone break that Yanni CD that's playing

and give me some Stained....

Posting some Joy this week,

stepping over the sad.

(It's causing big dog jowls on my face)

(and when I do my yoga, it flaps in the wind)

(Em and Drew... I sent my heart home with you,

but I saved a bit for Jman)

My Dad is inside there somewhere.... I know it

Saving my last dance for you.

I ache to be hugged by you,

my heart begs you to remember,

my soul knows beyond doubt,

you are my Dad forever.

I honor you today,

and love you beyond any words

can express,

but perhaps a picture can.

Happy Fathers Day

Chocolate cake, no coconut.

Please pass the couch....

Hey Ryan.... I fixed up your couch for you.  I think Katie will LOVE it!  Sorry your elbow doesn't bend.  I really like your new purchases.  A nice couch for being a potato on... and a love seat for... well - BYU newlyweds.  I also installed cup holders, popcorn holders and a remote holder - that way you won't be arguing about who will be in charge of refreshments and control of the remote.  I love that you are gathering things to make a home.  There will be plenty of love and joy in that home.  I am getting excited that you will be marrying your sweetheart soon!  Even more excited to have all of my living room back from storing things   I'm excited that in 24 hours you will be together again.   I love you both just a bunch.  Oh, I also installed electrical shock units just to automatically go off now and then so you will remember and kinda miss your mom.     (creeeeeeepy!)

Ulaine Pitbull... Superstar

Seriously folks - this is my twin - no no no not the one on the left, that one on the right!  (Gosh - do I LOOK like I have a mustache?) These two together (are not really right and normal..... but.... ) are my buddies.  I never fail to laugh when I'm around Elaine, we bring out the absolute crazy in each other.  My kids love her - my husband loves her... well... you know - when Rich isn't.... you know.... (wow - he must have heard my comment by the look on his face!)  I remember the first time I met Elaine - I had just moved into our home and she came to the front door - not even knowing who I was and said, "Come on - get the kids - we've got a basketball game to play!"  I'm all.... um.... ok and you are???  Elaine!  Now Hurry!  Off we went (you know you should NEVER ride with strangers - she could have kidnapped us and taken us to Vegas, where we would have instantly SOLD those children and gambled ALL our money away)  I came home that day and realized that I must have done something extremely amazing in heaven to get to have a friend like her.  Over the 22 years we've known each other we've watched our kids grow, talked over a million hours on front door steps, exchanged jokes that might upset any Bishop, laughed so hard things came out of our noses, and cried until we had no more tears - oh wait - I still have that Elvis picture of you at Halloween - you glued hair on your chest and came to the door in a yellow tux.... priceless (and probably illegal).  Isn't that what life is about?  We can go a year or so without even contact and then BINGO - we're off to the races with whatever is happening and we've never left each others lives.  I stole her U of U flag (brand new) off of her house one day... then called and said, "Some idiot just left a new U of U flag on my doorstep...."  She's all... "Crap - someone just took mine!"   One Christmas she let me have the target shooting cardboard dear, dressed as Rudolph - I put it on my house with arrows through it blood everywhere - scared the neighborhood kids to death.  My ever most fave in the world.... The plastic Nun and Firer... complete with light bulbs.  I see more shenanigans in our future.... I know she would give me the shirt off her back (and has actually - I have several lovely blouses in my closet.... oh - did you want those back?)  She's the one I call when the world crumbles.  She's the one I know will understand.  She's the one that her heart is SO FREAKING big.... that her chest (although sagging onto her stomach now) is larger than life.  Rich is my buddy too - I'm still waiting to grill up a burger on that new deck.... could you hurry that along Rich?  I was in a meeting at work today and Elaine came into the store - I waved and my boss asked me if I knew her.  I asked if she was identified on any store videos for any reason.... he said not yet...  and then I told him I was her twin.  Can't you see the resemblance?  Dear Elaine you are always going to be Thelma, I promise to be Louise.... I love you - I love that my life has had purpose - because you were in it.  Remind me to give you those Christmas Ornaments.... with the two chestnuts.... I have a few left over.  xoxox Pitbull forever...