Sad News

We are home from vacation and I have lots of fun things to post and I'll do that in the next day or two.

Unfortunately, while we were gone Alli got a calls from her friends saying that several of her friends had been in a car accident in the HS parking lot after football practice.  The next day we found out that Brandon had been taken off life support and died Wednesday afternoon.

It has been super hard for Alli and she really wanted to get home and be with her friends and now that we have been home she has been able to do that all day.  I know that makes her feel better -- to share feelings with her friends who are going through the same thing.

My deepest sympathy goes to the Curtis family as well as to the families of the other boys that were in the car -- especially the driver.  The whole town has really rallied around these families and that is always nice to see.  There is a lot of healing to be done but it's nice to live in such a close knit community and one where both emotional and spiritual support can be given so abundantly.

Photos from the Daily Herald

Vacation!!

California here we come!!

Cole is 12!

Cole turned 12 this week ( I can hardly believe it).  He had some friends over for a soiree.  

Cord took them to the Nickel-Cade where they played video games forever then they came back here for cupcakes and ice cream followed by night games.

We also had a family party -- here he is opening presents from his grandparents. I love this picture because you can see Lily our movie star in the background looking on in her shades.

Earlier Cole & I went shopping for some clothes -- now that he will be passing the sacrament at church he needed some new duds and he was just so excited to pick out new Sunday clothes (not).  We also got him a few things he was more happy about.

On Sunday Cole was ordained a deacon in our church and we had lunch at our house after.  We were lucky enough to have a lot of family here.  The kids played and jumped and has a great time.  Cord whipped up some Thai lettuce wraps and we ate ourselves silly.  Nina had to be put in the car sobbing asking if she could come back next Sunday.

Camie & Tommy were here from Boston and Camie was our photographer for the day.  She grabbed my camera and got a lot of great pictures.  Here are some...

Tommy & Jude

Satchel

Barry, Nina, Will & Satchel

Now I have to set up the next two photos.  

The adults were all in the kitchen when somehow Napoleon Dynamite came up.  We were all quoting our favorite lines.

Well, do you see that drink in Lindy's hand?

She took a big ol' swig of it just as someone made her laugh.

This is what Cord & I looked like after she sprayed her drink all over us.

Good times!!

Aki thought it was pretty funny!

Matt caught a nap with Jude.

Cord as usual kissed on the babies --- this is Brig & Shayla's sweet Avie

Camie & Tommy with their dod "g".

Jude

Tevi loving the cake and ice cream -- what says childhood better than this picture?!   You should have seen the bath water after he was done!

We had a great time!  Thanks to all of you who made it.  

Happy Birthday Coley Bear!  We love you so much and are so proud of the young man you have become.  You are such a great help and make our home a great place to be.

We love your guts!!

Love Notes

What could be better?

I can't think of much.

Barry came running up to me yesterday and handed me this envelope.  I wanted to cry.   I love his sweet handwriting and I especially love that he drew a heart!

It makes up for all the otter pop wrappers he left on the lawn yesterday.

Lily Cate is 9!!

Lily's had a birthday!  She is the big 9 years old -- quickly cruising to double digits.

She is such a cornball and a ball of sunshine.  She lights up our home and makes me happy.  She is such a hard worker and really tries to do what is right.  Lily loves to read and can be found with a book through out the day. We are lucky to have her in our family.

Lily chose to have a key lime ice cream cake for her cake this year and mmm mmm was it good!

She also went shopping with me and we got some great deals -- then instead of a party she had a lunch date with her BFF Gabi.  They went to Brick Oven for lunch and then to see Despicable Me.  They had a great time.

I also made Lily a dress -- now that my hands are moving.  Here are some pictures from her fashion shoot...

(dang she is a cute kid)

This pattern was super easy to make and I made in just a couple hours.  It's McCall's MP339 if you want to whip one up too.  It would be perfect for a beginner.

Lily is such a star she even got two pairs of sunglasses for her birthday!

Can you say SASSY!  Happy Birthday Lily Lugnut -- We love your guts!!

The 4th

This 4th of July was kind of a quiet one for us.  We usually are enjoying the company of family on the 4th but this year we chilled by our lone.  It was a nice weekend.  Saturday we took the kids to see Toy Story 3 which we all loved and yes, I cried.  Then we barbecued and headed up to BYU for the fireworks.

Sunday was a great day at church where I thought a lot about how blessed I am to live in such a wonderful country. It was wonderful to stand and sing the national anthem. Then Alli and I packed for camp.

Monday Alli & I left for girls camp (post to come soon) and Cord took the kids to Provo to watch the big parade with our friends the Woods (thanks Britney!)  That night Cord & the kids went to our friends the Vests for dinner (thanks Joanna!).  The kids had a ton of fun hanging out with so many friends.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend...

The sunset before the fireworks began

Here we are settling in for a night of mocking the people in front of us.

I needed a tripod so the pictures are a little blurry - but hey they're not too bad.

Back at the homestead...

It's too bad I don't have a picture of the hot wheels and army men Cole blew up.  He was taping fireworks to everything until we finally said enough is enough.  I have a feeling some good times are coming with him as a teenager.

A good time was had by all!  We hope your holiday was superb!

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

If I weren't so vain I would post a picture of my hands.  But alas -- I am so vain (feel free to sing "You're So Vain by Carley Simon here).

The last several months have been pretty difficult for me.  My joints have been so swollen and painful that I haven't been able to move.  I could hardly stand most days or get dressed for that matter and walking was pretty funny looking.  Cord being the amazing husband that he is has had to take over all of the housework with the help of the kids.  He has even had to do my hair which is quite the feat!  I know that for most people when they think of arthritis they think of old people and osteoarthritis, but what I have is an R.A. -- an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflamation of the joints.  Basically I will have it for the rest of my life.

I have had such a tough time asking for help or letting people (other than close friends & family) know just how bad things have been.  It's a sad day after all when I have to ask Will to get the milk out of the refrigerator because I can't lift it myself!  There were days I felt pretty sorry for myself.  I worried that I would not be able to sew again or blog because both of these things were now too painful.  I also worried that Will & Barry's only memories of me would be of me as an "old lady" mom who couldn't run & play like other mom's.  Then there are my "man hands".   My hands are so big & ugly (I told you I am vain :) ha)

But then I had to kick myself and look at all my blessings.  Yes, I have some physical trials that I am going to have to cope with -- so what.  I have been blessed more than I deserve.  I have a husband who is my best friend and he's pretty cute to boot.  I have the laughter (and yes even the occasional  scream) of children filling my house and I have wonderful friends.  I also have the gospel of Jesus Christ which has strengthened me.

My brother Chris has R.A. too and I look to him as my great example.  He was diagnosed when he was at BYU and has dealt with it wonderfully.  He rarely complains and is still able to do so many things with his kids.  He plays baseball & soccer with them and like I said I know he is in pain but keeps a smile on his face.  I keep telling myself that I can do this -- I can be like Chris.

I have been on medication for 3 weeks now and I can't tell you the difference I feel.  I can walk up & down stairs, lift, and even do my own hair! :)  I feel blessed to have the availability of such good medical care.  And I am filled with hope for the future.

So that it why I haven't been blogging much and that is also why I am now fat -- because what else was I supposed to do but read & eat peanut butter m&m's the last few months?  And I guess I will continue on with the weight gain as a side effect of the meds -- that's me fat & happy! But hopefully I'll loose the man hands. ha!   Thanks for all your kind words over the last while -- I consider myself lucky!

Udall Reunion

Last month we had the great time at the Udall Family Reunion.  Cord's parents arranged for all of us to stay in Midway for 3 days where we laughed played and ate some good food.

Almost all of Cord's siblings were there. We missed Camie & Tommy who are on the east coast and Jefferson (on a mission) and Mitchell (football camp). This picture is also missing Travis who had to leave early to deal with a superintendent stuff -- an airplane crashed into their high school of all things!

Here are some of the 1000 pictures I took...

Will and his bud Darton

The boys having dinner -- what a bunch of punks.

Alli wrote our names on cups as only Alli can -- cute as can be!

I love this picture of Aki!!

Cousins

We didn't let the rain spoil our olympics!

Cords dad & brother Brig.

Rub-a-dub-dub cousins in a big tub!

The kids all did reports on an ancestor.  Here Alli & Hector are doing theirs on Ida Hunt Udall

I am so lucky to be part of such a great family!  I love spending time with them and so do my kids.  The Udall's rock!

Now I ask you...what the heck is up with Lily?  

Whose child is she anyway?