Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sundogs!!

This past weekend when we were in Prescott Valley, Stephanie managed to get some free tickets to the Sundogs game, an amateur hockey league team.  Having never been to a hockey game, I had no idea what to expect!  We all LOVED it!  The girls were very into watching the game.  We had seats right on the ice so we got to see a lot of action!  The girls also loved seeing the mascot Bernie up close and personal!  Hopefully we can go to many more hockey games because it was a really great time.

Lexi's delicious snowcone 

Avery's tasty cotton candy







Trista, Lex and Avery with Bernie



And the best part was that they won at the last minute!  :)

Toothless

Little Lexi Lou who happens to be a tad behind on losing teeth, finally lost a top tooth.  She lost it on January 9th.  Cody and I are finding it very hard to keep a straight face when talking to her because she looks so silly with her top tooth missing!  We have now resorted to calling her Billy Bob.  She loves having a missing tooth and shows everbody she can!  Can't wait till she loses the other top one and has a huge gap in the front!  :)






Wednesday, January 4, 2012

4 Years

Time flies when you're having fun.  So I started this blog 3 years ago to celebrate my being cancer free for 1 year.  Yippee!  Since then so much has happened and I am so grateful for this blog that I miraculously have been able to keep mostly updated since then even if it means blogging about 3 months at once!  I wanted to keep this blog as somewhat of a scrapbook since I obviously don't do that anymore!  I was looking back at the first year of my blog and was pretty amazed at all that has gone on since then.  My girls are getting so old and really growing into fine little ladies.  We have done so many fun and amazing things since then and I love, love,love looking at all the pictures even though some people refer to me as "Fuji".  I read my first post about being cancer free and how positive and happy I sounded.  Who knew I would have cancer again a couple of years later.  I didn't even remember my cancer anniversary until it was over.  In the past it has been a big deal for me with dinner, presents and celebration.  This year has been a really hard year for me.  I haven't felt especially well for most of the year due first to my inner ear problem (although I am learning to deal with the almost constant motion sickness and headaches), and second to having a second cancer.  I guess I am super blessed and am definitely grateful for having 2 cancers that are relatively easy to cure and am considered cured from both.  But now I find myself wondering, what's next? The year after my thyroid cancer I decided to become very active, eat right, work out all the time and take a lot of time for me.  I think that I have spent much of this year feeling a little sorry for myself and constantly wondering what could possible happen next.  At the turn of this new year and another year "cancer free", I am finding myself wanting to get back to where I was the year right after my thyroid cancer diagnosis.  I am done feeling bad and thinking on the negative side of things.  I am feeling very optimistic about the year to come and am hoping that a little mind over matter will do me some good! So what if I pass out in the grocery store!  I really have to think of all the amazing things I am blessed with everyday.  I AM cancer free. I have an amazing husband who works hard and loves hard.  Two perfect little girls who love their parents more than life itself.  Friends that would do anything and everything for us if we ever needed it, and tons of extended family who would do the same.  I have a beautiful house that we love, a great job working with great people, my husband's business is successful, we have food on the table, water and electricity.  I just really want to make the most of every single day from here on out.  I think 16 months is long enough to feel crappy.  Here's to a new year and a new start.  A rebirth of sorts.  Back to basics. Wish me luck.  Happy 2012!!!

Back to Basics...



Christmas #2, 3, and 4

Christmas Day was spent at our house as we do every year.  There are only so many years when your children are small and Christmas means so much to them.  I really make it a point to spend Christmas Day at home if at all possible! This year we had my parents, GG and Joe, and Marmmett and Toni.  They arrived in shifts so the girls got to enjoy opening presents 3 times that day!  Just what they needed, more stuff!  :)  We had a really great time with great people and great food.  I may even be starting to actually enjoy Christmas a little...don't tell a soul!!

Santa!

Christmas morning

Ariel loved her presents



Alexis and her laptop

Avery and her DSi

Ariel eating Santa!

Cody ready to race

Me and some of my loot

The aftermath!

Presents from Marmmett's dad and his fiance

Presents from Marm and Toni

The zebra cape!




Books from Grandma Cheryl and Papa Bob



Fat Ariel in her Christmas jersey

Christmas was obviously a huge success once again!

Christmas Eve Festivities

Cody and the girls went to Prescott Valley for the day on Christmas Eve since I had to work.  After I got home from work, they got home and we let our family traditions begin!  New jammies and slippers under the tree from Santa, cookies and milk for Santa, apples for the reindeer, and Christmas stories galore.  It was so fun this year because Alexis read the stories to us and did awesome!  I actually love that my littles are getting bigger because it makes for some really wonderful traditions and memories.  :)












Baking Extravaganza 2011

Not too many pics of baking extravaganza this year, but rest assured, we did it good!  We made more fudge between Marmmett and I to feed all of America, buckeyes, breads, cookies and cookies and more cookies, gingerbread men and women and many other delicious treats.  The kids love baking at Marmmett's house because she lets them make a huge mess!  As always a huge success.