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Christmas in New York

We had such a great time in New York! I can't believe how much we saw and how much we did in 3 days. We went to 3 Broadway shows, ate amazing meals, shopped, and walked and walked and walked. There was a lot of sightseeing. We saw Rockefeller Center, the Today show, Times Square, Penn Station, Madison Square Garden, China Town, World Trade Center Sight, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Museum of Natural History, Juliard, The Lincoln Center, LDS Temple, and many famous buildings and stores. It was a little cold and a little crowded, but that all added to the experience. We had great company too, we couldn't have asked for better traveling companions than Trevor and Jodi!At the airport, excited to start our trip.

Times Square in the pouring rain, luckily Jon brought the umbrellas! We saw Al Roaker at the TODAY Show. (And we saw Jaden's Kindergarden teachr from Colorado).
We rode the subway.

Ferry out to Liberty Island. I Love seeing the Statue of Liberty, it is quite breath taking.

Ellis Island Museum.

The view of Manhattan skyline from Liberty Island.

Site of World Trade Center in the Financial District.

Our covert operations in China Town. That's me holding some questionable loot.

The men even picked up some bling in China Town.

WICKED!!! So much fun!

Where we saw some REAL Tiffany jewelry.

Handsome cab ride through Central Park - How romantic!

We went through Penn station and Madison Square garden on the night of a game.

We LOVED the food, and Bubba Gumps was me and Jodi's favorite.

Lion King was fun too,(Not as good as Wicked though). We also saw Young Frankenstien, very funny!

Jon Pondering in Central Park.


Central Park and the Manhattan Skyline. LDS Temple in the Heart of Manhattan.

The boys at Times Square.

It was fun to see the Christmas lights, decorations, and windows.

One YEAR mark and all is well!

It was a year ago today when Jon had his Pancreatic attack and ended up in the hospital the first time. It doesn't seem like a year has past, but then again, life was pretty much a blur for about 6 months. I remember being in the thick of his illness and the doctor saying it would probably be about a year before Jon would feel himself again. What a blessing that his recooperation was much quicker than that. I couldn't imagine if he was just starting to feel back to himself again at this year mark. Although there were some very dark times during those six months, we were greatly blessed as a family. There were some amazing things that happened, and I know we have grown because of them. There was a huge void felt in our home during that time. Jon was just a shell of himself and we missed the father and husband we loved so much. It was hard to see him like that, sickly and uninvolved, so unlike him. We were so glad to see him regain his strength and sparkle in his eyes, he brings our home to life!



We were so greatful for such wonderful friends and family who showed us so much love and support during that time. We love you and are blessed to have you all in our lives!

Jon's first hospital stay

Jon got to come home from the hospital the day before Thanksgiving. That is one we will always remember, we had a lot to be thankful for!

After his second stay in the hospial - the battle wounds.

He ate on the couch

He slept on the couch, he pretty much lived on the couch for months.

This was in May, he said he needed to go on a trip to visit some clients and get back to work. I went with him because I thought he was to sick to go alone. Looking back and seeing this picture, he was probably to sick to go at all. He was just trying to take care of his family.

I knew we were on the road to recovery when he wanted to visit with friends. Eating dutch oven peach cobbler with Jeff always brings a smile to Jon's face.

Our next trip out to Nashville, he looks much better!

Jon and Brandon running the 10k (or 8k if you take Jon's short cut) at South Weber Days, what an accomplishment!

Enjoying football games with friends - Go WILDCATS!

Working in the yard, 4 months prior couldn't even walk up the stairs.

Playing in the snow with dad is great, we missed it last year.

Glad to see his appetite is back to normal.

I am sure gald to have him back!!!

LEAVES ALL AROUND

I never realized how much I love FALL. I guess I never recognized all the beauty in the colors, which is heightened by the crisp air. I am surrounded by mayestic views in every direction. The hillsides and mountains around me are in a constant change, ranging from the golden yellow to the firey red and every color in between. While driving down this street 2 weeks ago, I think I startled my children when I started yelling, "No really, do you know how beautiful this is?" I wanted them to enjoy it as much as I was. I'm sure they probably didn't, it's taken me years to really sit back and enjoy it all. I figured I would at least document the beauty of nature with my beautiful children in it so they can remember it later in life, and so I will never forget it.

We Got Tagged!

7 Weird things about me. (Debbie)

1. Most people wear seatbelts, but I am obsessed with them. Everyone has to wear them in my car. My motto is "ARIVE ALIVE", and I have been know to yell it out the window when I see kids bouncing around the back seat in neighboring cars.

2. I HATE things around my neck. I cannot wear turtlenecks for sure, and I've only been able to wear necklaces in the last few years.

3. I think I could seriously die by being tickled. I stop breathing and almost pass out. I think it goes along with the neck thing, because that is where Jon tickles me (well, used to, he knows better now!)

4. I don't know what it is but I play with the zippers on my jackets. I don't notice it in the summer because I never wear jackets, but when it cools down I find myself fidgiting with them all the time. They get worn out from it. Weird, I know!

5. I drink so much water when I go out to restaurants. I usually end up having to visit the ladies room multiple times, then end up running from the car to the bathroom when I get home. I think its because someone is bringing it to me and I don't have to go get it myself.

6. I can get car sick so easily. I can't turn around in the car to talk to my kids or get them anything. When we go on girls night out I always have to ask for the front seat, or at least the middle so I can see out. It is so embarrassing.

7. I play bass guitar in our family band, that is a little weird isn't it?



7 Wierd things about me (Jon)

1. President of mens book club (ie read the movie review and then go watch it).

2. Loves to cook while my wife is out changing the oil on the car.

3. Punishes kids by making them play in my band.

4. I have a "Wall of Fame" so I can show off my friends and family.

5. I glue all of my puzzles together.

6. I've been in more musicals than my wife.

7. I onced shaved Debbie's initials in my chest. It came out backwards because I was looking in the mirror.

Our Own Sandy Beach

We just finished a big project in our backyard. We were'nt planning such an extensive project, but you know how projects go. They tend to grow and get bigger then you had planned, take longer, cost more, but in the end you were glad you did it. It started out with getting some curbing for around our garden box, then grew to getting about 150 feet of curbing all over the yard. We needed to know how big to make the sandpile before we could do that curbing so we ended up getting a swingset. Our good neighbor Steve helped us remove grass and dirt with his tracktor, and also helped with the 3 truckloads of sand that was delivered! Come to find out, you don't need a nice planned out sand pile, you just need a pile of sand!













This was the first load of sand.






I'm glad we didn't have to wheelbarrow all the sand.


The second load of sand.

Steve hard at work, thank goodness for that.

There is never a shortage of kids playing in the backyard.

Our new swingset. Everyone does love playing on it. Jon and I even took turns on the slide. I never want to put one of these things together AGAIN!