Memorial Day Weekend

For Memorial Day we took the trailer up to our favorite spot by Wycolo, WY on the Colorado/Wyoming border. It is always fun spending time with good friends up in the mountains doing what we love; four wheeling and playing. The twins rode their own four wheelers around the camper about 100 times. They are still too little to reach the brake very well but had fun just around camp.

Olivia is still doing pretty well and enjoying every minute of being the driver.

Jon taught me, well more like showed me once, how to use the chain saw. According to Courtnee, "That thing owned me." I have to admit...kinda scary when Jon says, "Now make sure you don't do this, because you will cut your hand off." Oh, ok, is that all. Let's get the party started, I'm ready to get my learn on. Ha! Once was enough, thanks. Just in case I am ever out in the wilderness without my husband but toting along a chain saw. Then I will be set since I had my lesson. :-)

Of course Seth and Courtnee joined us. (we don't leave home without 'em) They are our camping peeps!

My friend Dave and his son Austin came up and rode their mini bikes with us for part of the weekend.

And we talked Sherri, Joe and her kids to come over and visit us from the sand dunes near Walden.

It was Daisy's first camping trip. I think she was chilly the whole weekend but we did our best to keep her warm.

We had a great weekend "at camping" as the kids would say. I wish we could go much more often! We are planning another trip over my birthday weekend of the 28th so we have fun times to look forward to again in a few weekends.

Olivia's Dance Recital

Olivia has been taking a tap class all year and they did their recital in May. She was so cute. We weren't allowed to take videos so I don't have any to post on the blog but here are some pictures from afterwards. I especially love all that lipstick and blue eye shadow. Priceless!

Playing Catch up

Since my computer has been out of commission since right after the last time I posted I haven't had pictures to update the blog. First though, buddy check 9 day day was missed so don't forget to do that self breast exam!

The twins went on a field trip to the farm in May with their preschool group and had a great time. Personally I thought it was pretty lame as far as farms go but they enjoyed it so I suppose that's what counts. :-) There is a really cool place called Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point in Utah by my sister that we have been to a few times that really puts the one here to shame so check it out next time you are around Salt Lake.

They also did their preschool graduation party. Cody was peeved at me because we made him where his church clothes so he only participated in half the festivites after I finally convinced him he was "totally missing out".

Here they are with their graduation certificates and their preschool teacher Mrs. Karen. Yeah they made it through the year!

We also went to help Grandma and Grandpa Mondy plant their garden. The kids LOVE doing this. Jon, the kids, and I all helped plant and it was a fun afternoon. Hopefully we will get to enjoy the delicious fruits of our labor in a few months.

My brother even found a snake that the kids were all excited about and they all took turns holding. Snakes, yuck!

Relay for Life efforts

This will be my 3rd year participating in relay for life. This year instead of sending out the usual email from American Cancer Socity I wanted to remind all my family and friends why I choose to participate in the this event every year. To do that I wrote a poem and then put music and pictures to it. Here is the poem:

I relay for life. For my life, for your life and every life touched by cancer.

I relay for those first diagnosed,
Who know not what’s ahead, but are ready to fight.

I relay for the survivor learning of recurrence,
Who already knows what awaits, but is still ready to fight.

I relay for the mother watching her child suffer through chemo
And the child enduring the suffering.

I relay for the husband afraid to lose his wife
And the wife afraid of being taken from her family.

I relay to fight the cancer that tried, but failed, to take my life,
And to bring hope to those who are fighting.

I relay to celebrate being a survivor
And to honor those who have not survived.

I relay for those who have the determination and the will to fight,
But surrender because they could not succeed.

I relay because I do not know why I won my battle and others lost,
But I believe that what I am doing will help more people win.

I relay for the friends I met through treatment,
To honor fights won and fights lost.

I relay to help calm my fears,
Because at times I am still afraid.

I relay for life. For my life, for your life and every life touched by cancer.

Here is my creation:






I know times are tough right now, but even the minimum donation of $5 would be truly appreciated and you are even able to write it off on your taxes as a charitable contribution.


http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=3673300&pg=personal&fr_id=17835

Also if you would like them to light a luminaria at Relay for Life in honor or remembrance of someone you know that has battled with cancer you can follow this link to have them set one up for you. The luminarias are an amazing site to see lit up around the track during the night.

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?sid=1014&type=fr_informational&pg=informational&fr_id=17835


Thank you so much to all of you for your continued support for the fight against cancer.

With Love,
Eliza

Visit to Utah

Over last weekend I was able to travel out to Utah to attend my cousin, Camille's wedding. I drove out with my Mom, Dad, and sister Heather. My other sister Amy also met us out there and then we all stayed at Toni's house. Wow, all of us girls and NO kids. It was divine.

We had a great time hanging out, shopping and going to the wedding. Here are some pictures of the weekend.

Here is all of us the day before "the big day".

This is my sister and her cutie patootie son, Jack.
Camille and Jared after the wedding.

My sister's and I outside the temple.

My grandpa, Aunt Holly and my mom.

My hysterical cousin Eric and my grandpa.

My Aunt Holly and cousin LindseyBoy that was a fun weekend. Always good to get a little sista time!

My niece...

My niece was born last week at around 26 weeks, so very premature. She has given us a few scares over the last week buy last night was bad. I was able to go down with my parents and brother-in-law to see her and her parents. Thankfully she is now stabilized!
Here is a video I made of the photos I took of her last night:

25 Random Things

I did this on Facebook awhile ago but had a good time doing it so thought I re post it on my blog. If you do this leave me a comment, because it is a fun way to get to know more about your friends. Here is my list.

1. I am a total freak about not feeling well. Always paranoid that whatever is wrong with me must be because my cancer is coming back.
2. One of my biggest fears is my husband dying. He drives excessivly for work and does tons of dangerous stuff at work so I am always paranoid about it.
3. I admire people who speak their mind. I wish I was more outspoken then I am, it would probably save me a lot of inner frusterations in aftermaths of conversations.
4. I hate it when people feel like everything is a competion needing to have the bigger bader things or did that same thing as you only 100 times cooler. "Top this"
5. I never thought that I would be interested in the health care feild until I became a full time, professional paitent. I can't wait until I have the time/money to get through nursing school.
6. I loathe confrontation. Most times I find it easier to avoid then have an all out tongue lashing with someone unless I am super pissed or hurt.
7. I have always had trouble sleeping. I sit up at night, even when i am exhausted, thinking about anything and everything. It is like I can't turn off my brain. I got the best sleep when doing cancer treatment because I was perscribed Ambien...sweet sweet ambien where are you? :-)
8. I would love to live in CA or somewhere where it is warm....ok, hot, all the time. I become a recluse in the winter time.
9. One of my "yeah right" dreams is to be a songwriter. My dad just gave me a guitar and I am really looking forward to learning how to play it.
10. I love camping with my family. Everyone has the best time....as long as I am warm.
11. Love trail riding with the four wheelers. So fun!
12. I always knew my mom loved me, but realized just how much when she rearranged her existance to revolve around me during treatment. She was with me at every appointment, treatment, follow up, surgery, blood draw, procedure, etc. She made sure I was never alone at anything which I really appriciated after seeing all the patients that face those horrible times and hours upon hours of chemo all alone. Not only did she do this but was at my house several times a week cooking, cleaning, massaging or doing anything else I asked her to do. I will never forget her selfless acts of love during those times. Best. Mom. Ever.
13. I never thought that it would have been possible to love my husband and children more with each day that passes. I love being married to my best friend.
14. I loved cheerleading. (I am a dork) It was so much fun. I was on a professional team the year after I graduated high school. Good times.
15. I am grateful for all my life experiences, good and bad. I wouldn't be the person I am today without them.
16. My faith is the foundation of my life. I don't know where I would be without my testimony of a loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.
17. I wish I was more confident in talking about my faith with others. I feel like people do that ".......oh, your mormom???" thing when they find out. Probably just my own insecurites.
18. Jon and I met at a country bar and love to country swing dance. I wish we could go more often.
19. In the last year I have recently found myself being really sad that we were done having kids. Even though we decided we were done after the twins and before I was diagnosed, something about "having" to be done because of that, really pisses me off.
20. I think I am a great listener. Most times I probably can't offer great advice but usually have a sacastic comment or provide humor to the situation.
21. Most of my favorite show are reality tv. The bachelor, survivor, amazing race...My husband thinks I am a nerd.
22. Who knew being a mom would be so hard. I pray for patience and to be a better parent every day.
23. I have never dieted or exercised regulary. I would really like to start a regular exercise routine.
24. I would love to be a better cook. Since my kids are so pickey we don't really experiment with much, just stick to the basics.
25. I cry when I laugh. I also cry about anything remotely sad on tv or in the movies or real life. Guess I am just sensitive.

Snow Day

A few weeks ago we had a big blizzard here and they ended up cancelling school. Jon was able to take the kids sledding behind the four wheeler. They had a great time!

Here are some action shots:

This is where Daisy spent her "snow day". Gotta love the heater!

Spring Break Highlights

For spring break the kids and I loaded in the car and drove to Utah to see my sister. Jon was not able to come at the last minute due to work and so my Dad drove out with us. We had a great time visiting. Jack and Cody helped grandpa fix some of Toni's chairs. I love Cody's face in this picture.

Olivia and Jack became fast friends while sharing whip cream.Toni has a Smith's grocery store pretty close to her house that became a daily activity for us due to these child size shopping carts....the greatest invention of all time! You mean I can grocery shop while my kids entertain themselves and I don't even have to push around my heavy groceries....the kids fight about who gets to do all the manual labor...love that!

Amy and her family came to Toni's house on Wednesday because Trevor had a BYU reunion to go to over the weekend. When they got there we found this cool park that the kids loved. I think it was called Discovery Park.Then Toni and I took this super terrific self portrait....those are always the coolest.

Then we turned the camera over to the 4 year old, Alex. What a photographer!

I like how this one's focus is on Toni's belly and my rack. Ha!

On Thursday we went down to Provo with Amy's family and hung out at BYU. We took the kids bowling. My kids have never been bowling and they had a great time.

On Friday we went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. The kids thought it was pretty cool and they had some interactive exhibits playing with sand and digging for fossils.

Yeah, we are about to get eaten by a shark!!

The lovely host family,talk about a change from the norm...one day it is just the three of you and the next day you have 3 extra adults and 6 extra kids. Yikes!

Thanks for having us Toni we loved being able to spend time with you guys and play. Amy, great to see you guys as always. I wish we all lived closer together.

Toni and Jack drove home with us and stayed with my parents through the next week. One day she was here we went to see my grandma who the kids call grandma great.