Happy Birthday Meg! (I'm a bad mom)

Ok, so, big events happened before we left that I totally forgot to blog about!!!!

How could I forget to blog about MEGAN'S birthday?!!?!?!?

Yes, her birthday was back in May - I am giving no excuses, other than, we were so busy making her day awesome, that I didn't post anything (does that make it sound better???)

So, here is her post - a post about my Megan - for her birthday!

Meg is one of the most beautiful, tender, smart, responsible young ladies I know - and I say that because she is growing into such an awesome young lady!! She is 11 now, and I sometimes forget that she is "still just" 11. She really is so responsible and she acts the way she believes. She has always been a happy person. She is so full of life, and loves to have good friends, and really tries to be a good example.

She is willing to help those in need, and makes you feel better when you are sad. She tries to include everyone, and always tries to make sure that everyone has a friend.

She is super smart, loves school, and is a great student.

Megan always knows what she wants. She has her own style, her own way of doing things, and always tries to do the right thing.

She loves to be involved. She is good at the clarinet, and loves to be in the cheer group at school. But, she loves volleyball and soccer even more!

she loves the camera!

Happy Birthday Megan, we are so grateful you are in our family. Our family would not be the same without you. We couldn't ask for a better daughter. We hope you stay close to the gospel, as you are trying to do, we are so proud of you. We love you and....

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY!!!!

My Favorite Memory of Ben...

I have been trying to decide how to go about posting all our summer activities and adventures. I have been downloading all the pictures (tons of them) and trying to organize everything. I realized that I should just start at the beginning.

My first post - and the hardest - is that of the sudden and tragic death of our 15 year old nephew, Ben, in a car accident that happened the first day we got to Utah. I have been debating on whether or not to post, since it has been a really difficult thing for our family, but I decided that I wanted to take time to remember him in a way that I felt I needed.

Their family lives in Arizona, and they were on their way up to Utah to spend a couple of days with the family. They picked up a screw along the freeway, which caused them to blow a tire, flip and roll off the side of the freeway. Ben sustained head injuries which caused his death.

I remember when they used to live in Pennsylvania we had gone to their home for Thanksgiving - in 2002 - and I was helping Annette with different things to get ready for dinner, and Ben just wanted to help with everything. If he saw me doing something new, he would ask if he could help. No matter if it was cutting tomatoes, doing the dishes, or feeding Cameron (which he did, and since Cameron was such a messy eater they both ended up getting super messy - it was really cute to watch that one!) I remember that so well because I remember thinking "wow, what a great kid" - he loved just sitting and chatting with me while we worked, and he was super responsible - as were all their kids.

One thing that gave everyone - especially their family - huge measure of peace, was that they were able to do Ben's temple work within a few weeks of his death. (for more info on our Temples go to:(http://www.lds.org/temples/purpose/why/0,11581,1953-1,00.html) Awesome!

I am just super grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who gave us a way to return to live with him - with our families - forever, and for the knowledge that there is a life after death - that this life isn't the end. Having the gospel in my life has been such a blessing, and has helped me deal with so many different trials - I am forever grateful.

Ben will always be missed, but we know that we will see him again, and that even though his time here on earth was short, it made an impact on many lives - and now he is where he is needed the most. LOVE YOU BEN!!

We are finally back!!!

We are finally back from our summer vacation!! What a trip...I will be posting A LOT over the next while, but I just wanted to tell all my NY friends how much I missed you - and everyone in Utah how much I already miss them!!

BUT...

You know you have been gone too long when you pass your exit on your way home.

You know you have been gone too long when your house looks unfamiliar.

You know you have been gone too long when you forgot your own phone number when you called a friend.

You know you have been gone too long when you couldn't even remember where you kept the vacuum.

You know you have been gone too long when you forgot you even had a blog until someone reminded you!!

You know you have been gone too long when your normal life seems completely foreign in every way!

But, hopefully we will get back into the swing of life here really quick!!