God Bless America

Memorial Weekend has always been a memory making weekend. Since I was little my parents have visited the cemeteries of great-grandparents, grandparents, relatives and friends cleaning up the headstones, shinning them, and leaving flowers in their memory. The have especially been dedicated since my grandpa's have passed away. They drive to Utah every year to take their mother's to the cemetery, clean the headstones, share a few laughs, a few tears, leaving flowers and flags in their memory.

Growing up I thought this was boring and a waste of a day. As I have become a mother, I realize how important it is to teach my children the importance of remembering those who have come before us. My grandpa's both served the country. They come from rich heritages. One was the candy man, the other a soft spoken man. They were both very playful and loved to tease. I realized this year that it's important to share those stories and allow my children to be a part of that. Sometimes we are the only ones that are able to visit the cemetery on this weekend, and we need to show support.

It also teaches you a sense of service. If you are there to do one, you might as well do all your relatives. Next to my Grandpa Clement's grave there is a headstone that never has flowers, only one of the person's listed has passed on, but I assume the living relative lives far away or is unable to come. My dad cleans that headstone every year...just because. When asked by the grandson's this year why he was doing it, he said because it makes it look nice. I'm thankful for my parents and their desire to serve, no matter when or how.

It was also fun this past weekend to see a wonderful old friend and his family. Randy and I went to college together in Riverton, Wyoming and have remained good friends. I have spoken with his wife as we have Blogged and been on Facebook chatting. She has become such a dear friend to me, and I told my mom I couldn't wait to finally meet her because I felt like we had known each other forever. I felt a bond to her instantly as we shared stories of the kids and what was going on in our lives. They live in Rawlins, Wyoming right now but hopefully in the next year will be closer. :) We met for dinner and were able to talk and let the kids play. Their oldest is just a year older than Brylee and their youngest is just a bit older than Jace. The girls played great together. We hope to see them again soon. We had a good time visiting, and going to dinner. Come visit again soon, we had a great time!!

The rest of the weekend was usual yard work, gardening, etc. I took the family for Slurpee's Monday afternoon and we relaxed in the back yard, soaking in the sun. It was nice to just sit in the sunshine. This weekend marks the start of the busy summer season. I'm sure it won't be long until I'm blogging about where the summer has gone. Have a great summer everyone!!

Faith, Family, Inspiration

"A Hero is no braver than an Ordinary Man, but he is brave five minutes longer." Ralph Waldo Emerson

I was able to attend the funeral of a childhood neighbor today. I have been following his story on his blog since he was diagnosed with cancer over a year ago. You can read his story if you go to teamryanhess.blogspot.com. His wife had a wonderful way of documenting their miraculous journey this past year. It has been both faith promoting and inspiring to see them maintain such a positive attitude instead of blaming and hating everything because this was happening to their little family. At the funeral, I was so impressed at how much of an example that he had been to his family, friends, community, and people that he didn't even know. His life was cut so short, yet he left a miraculous impact on so many people.

His home town did a great article on him read here: Green Valley News & Sun - Sahuarita Sun > Sahuarita Sun > Editors Blog > Ryan Hess made us a better community

On his program was another quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson "What lies behind us and what lies in front of us pales in comparison to what lies within us." Ryan truly emanated that quality.

As I have had time to reflect on some of the things that were said, and as I left the funeral, I was inspired. It made me realize how precious time is and how short in comparison life is to all of us. I hope that my life can be reflected as positive as his was portrayed.

I have recommitted to be a better person to my family, friends, colleagues, strangers, and those who may not know me. Thank you Ryan for being such an inspiration to so many people.

Going Home

There's something instilled within my soul for going home. It has been that way since I was a little girl and we would travel to visit family and then "go home". There is something magical about watching the mountains get a little closer, seeing the Canyon Inn, heading up toward the South End and dropping down into the valley that is just exciting and peaceful all at the same time. As I have gotten older and don't get to travel to see my family as much as I would like, I have noticed that the excitement grows on me like Christmas. It's like opening a present to make that final 20 minute journey toward "Home". I know that I have my own home, but there is just something about the feeling of peace that I get when I go home.

Yesterday I was traveling home to attend a funeral. Brylee heard I was going to Grandma and Grandpa Clement's and wanted to go. The deal was if it was okay with Aunt Tiff, she could play with Baylee and Teagan and I would go to "a meeting" (3 year olds don't know what funerals are) visit for a little bit, and then come back to Salt Lake. We called Aunt Tiff and got the okay. Next, Brylee had to go right to sleep after family prayer. If any of you know Brylee this has been a constant struggle for us. We have bribed, laid down by, spanked, done music, you name it we've tried it to get that girl to sleep in her own bed. We did a rewards system that started out working great and ended up just killing the mom... so I though this won't even happen, I am totally safe. Well, to my surprise, after prayer Brylee gave kisses, said goodnight, turned on her nighttime CD, covered up with her blanket, and I am not kidding when I say it was 10 minutes max, and that girl was sound asleep. She just makes me crazy.

As we were headed up to Star Valley we made it to Park City and Brylee asked if we were there yet. I though this was going to be the longest ride of my life. Especially when as we were headed toward Echo Reservoir and this is the conversation that ensued.

Brylee: Mom you need to pull the car over. Me: Brylee why? We need to keep going so we can get to grandma and grandpa's. Brylee: Mom, I think I am going to frow-up. Okay...dilemma..any of you that know me, know that this is way bad news for the mom. I noticed that Brylee was coloring in her Travel Aqua doodle that she got from her friend "K". Me: Brylee, you put that book away right now, sit up, and I'm going to roll down your window for a minute okay. Brylee: Okay mom. Me: Brylee please don't throw up in mommies car. I don't have time or wipes okay. Brylee: Okay mom. I don't really know about much of the rest of the drive to Evanston other than I made it in record time. Thank you...no throw-up.

I asked Brylee if she needed to stop at the Maverik and she asked if we were to Grandma's yet and I said no, so she said no. In Randolph it was how long until we get to Grandpa's. I told her 2 hours, (Time makes no sense to a 3 year old either) as I approached Cokeville I asked again if she needed to go potty and she said no. I know that for as young as she is her bladder is bigger that Uncle Kyle's and Uncle Jason's, however, I was starting to worry a little. We passed Border Junction and were headed toward the South End and it happened. I started getting butterflies and getting that excited Christmas feeling and all of the sudden I heard from the back seat as we were passing Canyon Inn....

Brylee: Mom, we are almost to grandma and grandpa's with a giggle. I almost couldn't hear her because she was saying it so quiet and excited and then she got way excited and screamed "MOM, WE'RE ALMOST TO GRANDMA AND GRANDPA'S!!" For the first time I realized the excitement I felt, Brylee was feeling too. We couldn't drive fast enough the last 15 miles to grandma and grandpa's. It made me think how grateful I was that she loves my parents so much that she knew where we were going even though we don't make it there as often as we like.

Thank you Aunt Tiff for letting Brylee play with the girls. Thanks Mom and Dad for lunch. Thanks Grandma Norton for the loves. Thanks Char, Tiff, Mom, and Dad for the visiting time even though it was only a few hours. Thanks Gwen for watching Jace while I was away. I hope I never lose the excited feeling of going home. I hope Brylee will have those same feeling of wanting to come home when she is older.

Thanks Star Valley for always being "Home". I can't think of a better place to have that feeling.

Big Sister

Brylee cracks me up. I had jumped in the shower to get ready for work yesterday and as I was rinsing my hair, the door slams open, hits the tub and this is what happens next...
Brylee: Mom you in the shower?
Me: Yes Brylee, what do you need?
Brylee: Mom Baby Jace is crying.
Me: Brylee can you go and sing to him until I can get back downstairs?
Brylee: No, I have to go potty.
I turn off the shower and then...
Brylee: Mom you done?
Me: Yes Brylee. If I make a bottle will you take it to Jace and talk to him until I am through getting ready.
Brylee: Sure.

I finished getting ready for work. As I was going downstairs I hear Brylee singing to Jace. I can hear Jace drinking his bottle. I started looking around for Brylee...I couldn't see her. We bought her a step stool at IKEA for her to see Jace and talk to him while he was in the crib, but it was on the other side of the room. I came around the corner and..

Brylee: Hi mom! I am singing to Jacer...she had done pretty much exactly what I had asked sort of. Jace was drinking his bottle, she was singing to him so he wouldn't cry, however, I never asked her to crawl into the crib with Jace. I'll have to sneak a picture next time.

Jace is starting to try and walk. He is also superman fast when it comes to crawling. He can clear a room in 2.5 seconds. Brylee doesn't like that he is so fast and tries to lay on him, block him, or hold him so that he'll play with her. That is why I love this picture. I totally sums up their relationship at this moment. He wanted to be left alone and she wants to be the big "bossy" sister. Way too cute!!

Brylee-ism for the night...

Brylee was laying in between Bryan and I on the bed and Brylee turned onto her belly, curled up next to her dad, and said, "Um Dad, I am waiting for you to scratch my back". I was the best. She wasn't facing me but I could see the eye roll when she said it. It was a classic. Bryan and I were laughing hard and trying not to let her see. She definitely is a character.

Happy Birthday Brylee!

I can hardly believe it. Three years ago (5/19/07) Brylee was born. She was sooo cute! I might be prejudice, but she was beautiful. We had a few false alarms with Brylee, and I had been on the monitor in Labor and Delivery several times. At my last check up, Dr. Lamb said that we would wait for her to decide to make her grand entrance into the world and sent us home. I was sick of being pregnant, and for some reason here in this lovely State of Utah, May had been extremely hot. We were setting records in the 90's. We went to Wal-Mart, because that is Bryan's and my favorite place to kill time, and then we were going to grab something to eat. We got a call from Dr. Lamb's nurse Robyn, and she stated the the doctor wanted us to come in and be monitored for a few hours. I asked if I needed my bag and she said maybe, we'll just have to see. Well Bryan and I ate, and then headed to the hospital to be monitored. After sitting there for 3 hours with the monitor, they gave me a shot and said, go home, get some rest, when this wears off you will either be in labor or we'll see you in a few days. I was devastated. I so hoped that they were just going to start me...no such luck. Well, we went home and Bryan was trying to be as positive as possible..I had a bowl of ice cream and fell asleep. Carolynn came home sometime after 2:00 a.m. and when I was fully awake about 3:30 a.m. I was in full on labor...however being the stubborn "Clement" that I am, I refused to go to the hospital and be sent home again so I waited it out...I took a bath...Bryan kept asking if it was time. I kept telling him to quit asking..mind you this was my first baby and so I wasn't keeping track of how far apart the contractions were...can you say naive.. Well I finally got myself back into reality, and decided that at 10:00 a.m. it was time..Now we lived in Draper below the flight park...we had to go to St. Mark's Hospital which is about 20-30 minutes give or take traffic...well...my contractions were about 5 minutes apart now. As Bryan was putting everything in the car... I was going to the garage and I had a huge contraction at the top of our staircase, Carolynn was right there helping me (in a semi-fast fashion I might add). I told her that I didn't know if I could do this. I didn't think I was ready...she was so supportive, and she will never live this down. She looked at me and calmly stated that this was the wrong time to be thinking about that, and I should have thought of this 9 months before I was in this situation. Such reassuring words made me know that Carolynn wasn't going to deliver Brylee; so we got moving to the car. After we were settled in the hospital... I found out I was dilated to an 8 however I was sick of the pain and so I asked for the epidural. That was heaven...I won't lie. The contractions stopped. I slept for several hours. I got lucky because my mom and dad happened to be running an errand here from Wyoming, because it was a Saturday. My mom and Bryan were able to be with me when Brylee was born. We were lucky to get her here...her heart rate started dropping and you never would have known there was a problem. It took them until about 5:00 p.m. to realize that my water had already broke...probably when I was in bath before I even arrived at the hospital. Then they were worried because they thought she might have swallowed meconium and would have to have her stomach pumped. Well Dr. Lamb gave me a reassuring smile and then said we had to be careful. Everything was fast after that Dr. Lamb said something to the nurse, he said we were going to bring her into the world. All of the sudden the room was full with a NICU team standing by. The doctor remained calm and in a few minutes Brylee was born at 9:15 p.m. She was 7 lbs 1/2 oz. 19 1/2 inches tall. We did end up pumping her stomach but she ended up just fine with only a small cone head for a few weeks.

She has blossomed into a blue eyed sweetheart, that is bossy, in charge, lovable, playful, and full of life. Happy Birthday my sweet princess!!

This is Brylee with her friend S and K from daycare. They were doing dress-ups.
This is Brylee and Baylee they are almost three months apart. Brylee never had any hair. They are close but don't get to see each other as often as "they" would like.
This is Brylee with Uncle Jason at 7 weeks. Carolynn moved into her new apartment and Jason moved in with us. Jason and Brylee have the same bond as Carolynn and Jason have. Brylee has Jason wrapped around her little finger.
Brylee asking Carolynn if she is done and can have gum now.
Aunt Carolynn is lucky enough to get the true side of Brylee sometimes. She was so done with the photo thing and Carolynn got her at her best!!
These pictures were taken in November of 2008, Brylee is 18 months old. Carolynn and I went to Draper Park with Brylee on a Sunday afternoon. Needless to say it was Brylee's first real photo shoot and Aunt Carolynn did a great job. Brylee loves Aunt Carolynn...Just ask her Aunt Carolynn drives the big truck.

This was at Cousin T&S's Wedding..they are amazing and we just love them. They had a fun idea, at their reception they did a photo booth. We got to take pictures with Brylee and she just thought that was the coolest thing. This is one of our favorites.

Brylee and her pigtails. Also, she loves Shrek which you can see in the background.
This was Brylee's first ever Meltdown at Gwen's. I wish I could say it was the last one as well. However, she is a girly girl some days, not as emotional as her cousin "Tuffy" but still an emotional girl!!
This is Brylee's favorite past time. She loves to talk on the phone. She loves to call Grandpa and as soon as she is asked what she is doing she asks for Grandma. It works the other way if Grandma answers the phone. She always has to talk to everyone and it's a constant switch off.
This was Brylee's first camping trip to Cottonwood Lake. She is with Grandma Clement..or Grandma Pam it depends on Brylee's mood what she gets called. We did this on Labor Day Weekend when she was 3 months old.
This is one of my favorite pictures of her the first 6 weeks of her life. She always would tuck her legs underneath her and sleep. I need to try and sneak a picture of her now that she is three...she still tucks her legs underneath her in the middle of the night when she is asleep.
Brylee and her little mischievous smirk.
This was Brylee in her Blessing Dress.
This is Brylee and Aunt Carolynn just after we got home from the hospital. Carolynn and Brylee have a close bond. Brylee has been able to get away with things none of the rest of us can.
This is a picture of wonderful Aunt Bonnie. She made Brylee's blessing dress as her gift for us when Brylee was born. We just love Aunt Bonnie and so does Brylee...She is going to be a creative lefty like her as well.
This picture we took after dropping Eric off after a Thursday visit. She loved that bear because of the silky side and she loves the silky side to all of her blankets because of her daddy.
This photo cracked me up because she was a binki baby from the womb. This binki looks huge in this picture!!
This was Brylee at 5 days old.

Princess Carolynn's

Okay, so those of you who know us, or who know Carolynn may have heard this story. I'm going to make it short. Carolynn was helping my mom plant flowers in her garden around the pond in Wyoming. Carolynn said she tripped, mom said she sprinkled heavily...whichever way it went, my mom has extra Johnny Jump-ups that she has removed for years around the flower garden. They have become known as "Princess Carolynn's". We have teased her about them for years, and it's because we love her...(I don't want you to get the wrong idea) we truly love Aunt Carolynn.

Well we have been re-doing Grandma's flower garden. It is coming along nicely, if I do say so myself. Brylee has had several of Aunt Carolynn's traits starting to manifest themselves over the last few months....let me just tell you of a few. She loves the rain, she loves dancing, standing, and singing in it. She loves a big fat mud puddle, you can honestly see Carolynn in her face as she contemplates whether or not she is going to be in trouble for jumping right in the middle of it. She loves dirt, independence, and helping anyway she can. We were in the garden for FHE on Monday night and she was helping me plant some Johnny Jump-ups....well....the first few holes went really well; then I don't know if her ADD kicked in or if I was going slow, but let's just say I told her she was just like her Aunt Carolynn. She looked at me, slyly smiled, now we are going to be the proud owners of "Princess Carolynn's" in our flower garden as well; in the exact pattern as the originals to boot. :o) I don't know where they are going to show up or if some of them even made it into the holes. However, I got a good laugh and it reminded me why I just love to have Carolynn around. She is a positive influence in my children's lives and I am so thankful for her. I will post a picture as soon as the "Princess Carolynn's" start poking through the soil.

Something New

Okay, so we are going to try this and see how it goes. Hopefully I can update more often than Char. :) ha ha. I have decided that it amazes me how time flies. I can't believe that it is almost May. Brylee will turn three this year, Eric graduates from 6th grade, turns 12, and goes into Jr. High, Bryan and I will have been married 5 years this year, and Jace will be one in August.

Jace is already trying to walk and he just turned 8 months old. Brylee is "my patience" as Jason calls her. I swear her ears are painted on most days and listening is just optional if you ask her. She is stubborn and has a mind of her own. I have no idea where she gets that from. She was helping Uncle Jason clean his truck today and she came in with a black face and black hands. She had put her hand up Jason's new tail pipe and was covered in diesel. She is miss boss.....just ask her. :)

All in all, life is good. Hopefully this will allow me to document our lives and keep you up to date on what is going on.

Here's to blogging.