Aquarium

So yesterday we decided to take Kelcy to the aquarium to see Nemo, unfortunately for us we got there ten minutes before they closed but since we have year passes we just ran into see Nemo and told her we'd come back today for some more. So we went to the Park and let her play for about an hour. she made friends with a little girl and ran around introducing herself to everyone. But she wouldnt learn their names. She'd just shout "GIRL!!!" when she wanted anyone to come play with her. I think she had SOO much fun. she didnt want to leave but her face was getting soooo red that I decided she'd better go get rehydrated and take a break. After that we went to my Grandmas grave. My aunt had put some happy birthday balloons there and Kelcy had fun running around as much as we'd let her.
Anyways so today we went back to the aquarium and I must say 3 pm on a Tuesday is a good time to go! All of the fish were SO active! We had a stingray slide up out of the water several times like he was trying to jump out! I tried to catch it on camera but he was pretty fast. We only got one HALF shot of him doing it. It was crazy! I thought he was going to fly right out of the water and land in the stroller with Madison!

Kelcy being a cheeseball.

Kelcy with some fish... trout I think

More fish.. these ones were some kind of sucker fish

Me and Madison in the Utah waters section

Eels and spotted grouper fish that was actually moving for a change.

Can you see the sea horse?

Tracy petting a stingray that then tried to come home with us

Kelcy and Dory

The stingray jumping out of the water,... this is him going back in. He got more than half of his body out!

Dory, Kelcys favorite

Madison and Dory

Puffer fish!

Other fish in the dory tank

Hard week=Long post

This past week and a half has been very very hard on me. I miss my Grandma so much it just aches sometimes and I'll just burst into tears. Knowing that I'll never see her again in this life is just so hard for me to understand. I'll wake up and think "Oh I should go see her today" and then it hits me and I struggle to adapt the the new normal. We went up and visited her grave yesterday, it would have been her 79th birthday. I just sat there. Didnt really say to much. It felt weird talking to a pile of flowers. Do you think that if you visit someones grave they can hear what you are saying? I actually stole some of her flowers. Some daisies and some purple carnations and pink rose that I found that was still alive and not wilted from the sun. I told her I felt bad that I went to visit her and I was stealing flowers but I could hear her saying well what do I need them for. It was so peaceful there. I have a feeling that during the summer I'll just go up there and sit for hours. Her plot is right next to a fountain and it is beautiful. My cousin and her husband bought plots close by because she always wanted to be buried by Grandma and Grandpa. I told Tracy that its something we should think about seeing as we have kids and all but I think we'll wait a few more years... Maybe. I dont know. I'd really love to know that I'd be buried by her should anything happen. The cemetary/mortuary offers a really good pre planning deal too. It'd only be 115 a month for two plots and the 36inch headstone with two vases... granted for 60 months but still. To have your funeral all planned and paid for so your kids dont have to do that? Something to think about.
I got to go through all of her fabric and take what I wanted. I think I'm going to take up quilting as a hobby. She literally had scraps of fabric from clothes and pajamas she made me 15 years ago. It made me laugh. You could totally tell she grew up in the depression because she saved EVERYTHING. It makes me happy to think that all of the stuff she saved I can turn into a beautiful quilt to have memories of her by.
I have this one blanket. I call it my fuzzy blanket. She made it for me when I was about Kelcys age. between 3 and 4. I carried that blanket with me EVERYWHERE until I was 12. All sleepovers and camping trips. Not to school or anything like that, just any time I was leaving home for a trip. The day of her funeral I found it in my bedroom pile of clothes and just started crying. held onto it and cried. My aunt told me to come over and go through my grandmas clothes and see if I wanted anything to remember her by. I guess my cousin Dayna took a nightgown that she finds really comforting so I think maybe I'll do that. Just take a jacket or something I could wear around the house sometimes... Ok and I'm crying again so I'm done talking about my fabulous Grandma for the moment. So here are some pictures of her!

Her and my Grandpa at a Family Reunion about 5 years ago.

Me and my grandma on one of our many camping trips.

My grandma holding Kelcy in the hospital when she was born. She always thanked me for letting her do that.

This is my favorite picture of her. She's in the background but she just has the biggest smile!

again in the hospital

4 generations.

Thelma Crittenden Miller "Precious Wife" After 2 months of struggling with the complications due to surgery, our courageous wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and dear friend passed away peacefully on April 19, 2008, in Sandy Utah. Born in Coalville Utah, April 28, 1929 to Metta and Leo Crittenden. She attended North Summit High School and went on to attend college at Utah State University, where she met her best friend and soul mate, Calvin Gene Miller. They were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on Sept. 7, 1949. Together they made their home in Sandy Utah, raised six kids, and spent 58 wonderful years together. Thelma worked at various places including Granite Mental Health and the Federal Reserve Bank. She enjoyed so many things in life, but her true love was the outdoors and traveling. She spent many camping trips in her all time favorite place, the Uintahs. She also enjoyed sports and was a huge Jazz fan. Thelma and Calvin loved watching the Jazz at the Delta Center, but they had just as much fun watching them from home, while having their own tailgate party. But her all time favorite sport was soccer. She spent many years attending the grandkids soccer games and never missed a game when Calvin was coaching. She was the ultimate Soccer Grandma. She also enjoyed yard work and took pride in everything she did. She was a beautiful seamstress and would take hours to make sure everything was perfect, even if it meant unpicking it several times. She was a gifted poet and writer as well. She loved family get togethers and would spend days on the planning right down to the little details. Her main goal was to make sure everyone had a good time. As active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thelma and Calvin served an LDS Mission working in the LDS Church Employment office. Thelma is survived by her husband, Calvin (Gene); sons, Merlin (Cheryl), John (Marie), Ernie; daughters Anne, Joy and Kae (Richard) Larsen; 20 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Wed. Apr. 23, 2008, 11 a.m. at the Sandy 1st Ward, 8680 S 220 E. Friends may call Tues. evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 East 10600 South and from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment: Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.

God be with you til we meet again...

I feel like my heart is breaking. My Grandma was the most amazing person I've ever known. So giving and caring even when certain people would throw it back in her face. She adopted 5 kids, almost 6- My aunt Kay was a foster daughter that never got adopted but is part of the family- and even though she knew that some of those kids would never love her she took them in anyways. I know she's never regretted her choices because it gave her family. Everyone always asks how I turned out so normal with my mom being so messed up. Well I know. It was because of her. She was always such an amazing example to me. Loved me when I made mistakes and never judged anyone. I hope I can be a tenth of the person she was. When my aunt called me yesterday to tell me it wasn't looking good I went to the hospital almost immediately. I got to have some time alone with her before she left. I told her I loved her and what an inspiration she was to me. I started crying and said she still had so much to teach me. And she looked at me and said "Just follow the instructions and keep trying. and keep thinking how would Grandma do it and you'll get it." And I knew she wasn't just talking about sewing or cooking. Then she told me she was in so much pain and so uncomfortable and she just needed to wait for Dayna to get there. My cousin flew in from Florida and made it with just a few hours to spare. I'm glad she got to say goodbye. The hardest thing was watching my Grandpa say goodbye to her before the mortuary people took her away. He just started crying and said "Someone smack me up side the head because this all has to be a bad dream." Gave her a kiss and said he loved her and he'd miss her so much. I'm so thankful for the gospel right now. I know that she is with her mom and dad and sister who she missed so much. I know that my grandpa will be with her again one day.
there was of course Drama with my mother. I want to beat her and my sister. They are so inappropriate and rude. I'm not looking forward to the funeral for the obvious reasons but they are definitely in the back of my mind wondering what kind of scene they are going to cause.

Grandma

I wish I had my favorite picture of my Grandma on this computer but sadly its on the desktop that isn't hooked up right now. My Grandma is pretty much the cutest old lady you will ever meet! She's always been there for me and would do anything to help me. She hasn't been doing very well lately and is currently in the ICU with congestive heart failure. My Grandpa called me tonight and told me that they are very worried about her. I just dont know what to do! I want to go see her but I'm sooo sick! I'm still getting over bronchitis and the LAST thing she needs is to get that on top of everything else! I just want her to be better and to come home. If you guys could just keep her in your thoughts I'd really appreciate it.


PS... A ton of the blogs that I read on a regular basis are going private!! Whats up with that! :) I understand that you have to do what you feel is necessary to protect your readers but you should totally invite anyone tha comments to be invited!! Geez! HAHA

New hair!

Ok people! (people being the approximately 3 readers I have) I have decided what I'm doing with my hair! I'm donating it! thats right! Locks of Love or Pantene are my top two choices. I just have to decide how much I want to chop off! I'm hoping it will come out looking something like this:

I know its a DRASTIC change and I've never really had short hair because I think I look funny with short hair so hopefully it comes out ok! If not my hair grows fast and I did something good right?? :)

This is just for fun!!


I freaking love FRIENDS!

FOR SALE!!

We are going through all of our stuff trying to prepare to move for the army soon. Since we downsized from a house to an apartment we have a ton of stuff!! Right now I have listed on KSL.com a dishwasher that we bought from RC Willey and used for a year and a Bistro table and 2 chairs that we used for maybe 2 weeks before having to move. We also have a lawn mower that we used for about 2 months, yard tools like a rake and a shovel, a leaf blower, a wood desk with 7 drawers and lots of baby girl clothes. If anybody is interested in any thing or knows of anyone who needs anything I'd really appreciate the publicity!! :) Thanks everyone!!

YAY I got tagged!!!

This is a "get to know you through pictures" tag. So thanks for tagging me Jules!

Favorite Color:
Definitely pink, its just so pretty!


Favorite Animal:
Kitties!! They've been my favorite forever! I'm not much of a dog person and this cute kitty looks just like my spooky cat when he was little, except for the blue eyes. Spooky had green eyes.


Bad Habit:
I totally pick my split ends!! I know its bad but I'll shred them or cut them off with tiny scissors... If its a slow day at work and my hair is down there is usually a small pile of split ends in the garbage can. SICK I KNOW!!

Favorite Food:
I had to ask Tracy on this one because I have A LOT of favorite foods. I love food. So he said fries!


Favorite Hobby:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE to read! I'm addicted to it! I read all the time and I usually average about a book a day. I'd rather read than sleep which is part of the problem.


Favorite Song:
Pink-U and UR Hand... I crank this in my car all the time! it makes me dance and sing really loud even if it is a bit of a naughty song!! So awesome!

Favorite Author:
This might be a bit of a shock to some people but I love crime stories! I totally get sucked in Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series are my favorites!


My Job:
Technically I'm a Client Services Coordinator and not a receptionist but its close enough.

Favorite Dessert:
mmm Ice cream. I freaking love ice cream. I could eat it all day

Pic of Me:
Kelcy took this pic of me. I think its a pretty decent one

I am tagging:
um... Well lets see who reads my blog. Tracy and Carly M, Lindsay... I think thats all!

Big Girl!

My little Madison can sit up now! She's been doing it for about two weeks but she usually would fall over after a second but today she can do it for as long as she wants. She's also super close to crawling. she can get her legs under her but cant quite figure out how to move yet. I bet in another week or so she'll have that down too. she is getting so big!! Even her hair is starting to come in although she is still my little fuzz head. Thats the good news. The bad news is she has developed her very first case of diaper rash! It seriously came on over night. I dont even know how it happened. One second it was fine and then next she was a red bum. Poor girl. Oh well!! I'm sure she'll clear up in no time. The other bad news? Kelcy and I have bronchitis! Its so miserable! I had to take yesterday off work and today they were trying to get rid of me because I have no voice! Its horrible! Dont anyone get it ok!