Life is going by fast!

I was really hoping to keep up better with the blog but I have failed! Since this last blog, I have finished my cancer treatments! 3 years was long enough! So far so good! The doc did say the next 2 years will be very important so I will continue going in every 6 months with full blood workups and chest xray once a year. I still need to have yearly full body mole checks from here on out. Travis had some moles looked at and was told because of me having stage 3 Melanoma, he is 8 times likely to get it too. I thought that was very interesting!

I took the week of Thanksgiving off so I could get Christmas projects done! Didn't get them all done but I did get a lot of them completed! Dave stayed home with me and he was lonely while I was in the "dungeon" (that's what he calls my craft/sewing room) By his description you would think it was in the basement, which we don't have! It's right off the livingroom. I had to get Candi and Desi's done since they would not be home for Christmas and needed to be mailed out. Travis and Jessica will be here this year for Christmas and it will be nice to see Avery! Thanksgiving was nice. It was just Dave and myself. I fixed the meal and it was nice just being able to relax and do what we wanted to do. Someone didn't even get dressed all day....won't mention names...but it wasn't me!!

As Christmas approaches I am looking forward to it. I feel good and that's a nice feeling! Still finishing up odds and ends but it's nice the majority is done. All packages have finally all gone out. LaTerrell is so excited for Christmas and Rolando is figuring it all out now too! They did open one of the gifts I had sent. Candi was scared to tell me and I just laughed and said Mark had opened his too!! I love the kids are so excited! What a fun time for them! What a blessed time for me! As Christmas comes upon us I want to wish all my family and friends a Very Merry Christmas and may the New Year find you more happiness!! God bless you all!!

Travis and Jessica's graduation

Dave and I went up to Rexburg for Travis and Jessica's graduation! What a proud moment for me!! Of course I cried!! I took Avery but he was not a happy camper with me but we made it through. When the 2 of them walked, Jess had Avery and when they announced her name, they stated Jessica Ann Sage and Company. She even had a graduation hat on him and the audience ooohhh'd and aaahhh'd and I stated those were my kids!!

Saturday morning was moving day! Travis got a u-haul (ended up with the biggest) and the McBride family and Ammon came and helped load the beast. It was done in no time and very much appreciated to have that help! Travis then drove the beast to their apartment in Idaho Falls where he has a full time job! The McBrides came and helped unload the beast. I am eternally grateful to them for their help!! Blake had also graduated BYUI and I am so proud of him!!! For those who don't know who the McBrides are, Kristol is my sister! We had her husband Terry, son's Blake and Justin and daughter, Tiffany. (Keesha was gone with a friend). We worked them hard! The apartment has stairs but they were troopers!!

After that Dave and I drove to Logan to check on our house there and to see family. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to see all the family there! It was a short trip but oh so worth it!!!

Have I ever mentioned, I love my grandkids????

Brooke Shea

Brooke Shea came into this world on 6/3/11. She was a tiny thing weighing in at 6 Lbs and 8 oz. and 18 3/4" long. She couldn't wait for me to get there, she was working on her own time! The bottom pic was the first one taken at the hospital and Desi had just sent me the top picture and boy has she filled out! She's a little cutie that's for sure! Just had a little, ok huge scare this last weekend. We almost lost beautiful Brooke. She almost died due to suffocation. She couldn't get her binkie out but thankfully Desi went to check on her and got her breathing again. Just a little scary!! Glad Desi listened to that still small voice and went in!!!

Sister's Retreat

Every year my mom and sisters try to get together for what we call "Sister's Retreat". This year my oldest sister Debbie was able to get the Park City condo from her sister-in-law. We arrived Thursday and left Monday!! I arrived in SLC on Sunday before. Stacey, Brian and Mom picked my up from the airport. Brian treated us to Texas Roadhouse! That was fantastic!! On Monday while Brian worked we went quilt shop hopping! Stacey found new ones around Utah Valley! On Tuesday we met Kristol, Keesha and Tiffani at Gardeners Village. We went from shop to shop and when the restaurant opened, mom treated us to lunch. Of course, we found more quilt shops in SLC!! On Wed. we took mom to her cardiologist and kidney dr. and then headed to her house! We packed her up for the retreat. Good thing Brian let us take his truck! Thursday we shopped for the trip. The Sisters have to eat!!! We had the truck loaded and put in the fridge stuff at the last minute and took off for Park City on Friday. We were the first ones there so we got to pick which room we wanted! The sewing machines came out and so did the fabric!! Everyone had their own projects to work on and when Sandy was done with hers, she helped me!! Saturday we went to yard sales. After that, we went to get pedicures and then to lunch. Dave introduced sushi to Stacey and Kristol and now they love it. This was really good sushi too!! The noodles we had weren't near as good. Would have been better to just stick to the sushi. Of course the sushi has to be cooked, no raw for us!!

Debbie taught us how to make hooded bath towels and we also learned how to make some really cute hot pads. We watched movies, sat in the hot tub and ate!!! On Monday we cleaned up, packed up and left. Mom wasn't feeling too well. Then Tuesday came and it was time to head home to my hubby!!! This retreat was fabulous and it was so much fun!!! It was also nice to come home and be with Dave!!! He was missed!!

After starting this 3 years ago for Travis and Jessica's wedding, it's finally almost done. This was a very time consuming quilt. Of course it didn't help that right after I started it I was diagnosed with stage 3 Melanoma so the quilt went on the back burner. We had a Sister's Retreat in Park City last week so I took it with me to work on. I would get up at 5am and work on this all day long! I am so thankful to my sister Sandy for helping me with this! She loved doing it and I loved that she helped! I just have to finish the last border. I will then find someone to quilt it for me. Way to big for me to handle.

ABC Books

If you don't know already, I LOVE my Grandkids. They are my world! I saw this ABC book and of course I have to do them!! This one is for Candi's kids and I have enough for Desi and Travis and of course can't forget MaKayla! Hers will be pink!!!! LaTerrell is struggling with school so we told him when he learns to read, we will buy him a bike so now everytime we talk, he tells me he reads all the time and that he knows how!!! We just made him the deal last week!!! Such cuties they all are!!! Wait until you see what I am doing for them for Christmas!!

When it rains, it pours!!

Friday, I had to take my car in because it was over heating. Just found out that it's going to cost $3000 to fix it!!! Seriously!! I don't want to curse it but what else can go wrong!!! Dave called and told me and I just cried! I knew it would be over a grand but three??? Just bend over!!! This really cuts into my quilting budget!!! Oh well, like I say, When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!! Not much else you can do! :(

Mark

Desi and Mark came to visit us in March! He's gotten so cute and was so much fun!! I taught him to growl and now he growls at everybody! He got his first haircut at my house too!!! He is so active that it made me soooo tired!!! If I haven't said it recently, I LOVE MY GRANDKIDS! They mean so much to me!!!

Visiting Georgia in Sept. 2011

Dave and I went to GA. in September 2010 and finally got to meet 2 grandkids. Candi hadn't told Bubba we were coming and the look on his face was priceless. He sees me, runs and gives me a hug then looks behind me looking for Grandpa!! He was so happy seeing us!! We got to meet Rolando and MaKayla! This picture is worth a million words!! Bubba had to sleep in our room and he would wake up, reach up and touch my arm just to make sure we were there. While there, we ate at 5 Guys Burgers and they had the super new Coke machine which Dave was in 7th Heaven!! Georgia is absolutely beautiful! Raul taught me how to make salsa and mexican rice! Raul and Candi treated us like gold!! It was sad to leave and many tears were shed! (esp. by me)

Raul and Candi got married

Raul and Candi got married 2/14/11 in Georgia.

MaKayla's Easter

Here is MaKayla at Easter. Her other grandma sent me this pic. She is adorable!! The first one is my favorite!

Better Late than Never

Ok, I always seem to forget the blog password and Dave has to remind me all the time!!! Well since the last post we have a new grandson, Avery James Sage born 1-13-11. We were able to go to Rexburg and see him blessed! That was awesome. Travis did a fantastic job!! My mother was there so we got a 4 generation picture which was neat!! He came into this world weighing 9 Lbs. 10 Oz!! He was 21 3/4 inches long!!! I love that his momma posts pics for me all the time!! All I can say is I love my grandkids!!! Getting ready for Desi to have a new one in June!!