Quick Update

So, Myles will be turning 1 on the 23rd - can you believe it, cause I can't! He is getting so big. He has really been trying to walk the past 2 weeks. He took 6 steps for me the other night. I was picking him up from the babysitter and I made him walk to me at the door - you could tell he didn't want me to leave. It was very cute. He has also been sick the past week. I got him into the doctor yesterday and he gave me some medication. I just LOVE the kids' doctor. I was in and out in 15 minutes - great!
Bree is doing great too. She is loving her preschool class - I think she is very smart, but I am only her mother. She is such a mini-me it's scary! I see so much of myself in her when I was her age - I feel bad for my mother! She is excited for Christmas. She wrote her ONE Christmas card last night to a boy in her class named Brooks - I wonder if she has a crush...
Jack is still adjusting to life here in the new place. I worry about him a lot and just want him to be happy. Last week he started playing with one of the neighbor boys, and I was so happy! Finally he is starting to make some friends. He still struggles at school but I think he's getting better. I think a lot of it has to do with whether or not he is in the mood to learn. Sometimes he gets 100% on his spelling tests, and sometimes he gets 2 right... I think he just wasn't in the mood to take that test :).
Dusty and I are doing well too, I guess. I braved the lines and went shopping on black Friday with my best friend. We didn't go all crazy - in fact, we didn't leave until 6am. But, we had fun just going and spending time together. I think we should make this an annual event - what do you think Kristina??
I have also taken the week off work - and boy did I need it! I do have to go to rehearsal tomorrow night, but it's been worth it to have a small break.
Hope you all are doing well.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Here are a few things I am thankful for this year:
1. my husband
2. my children
3. a loving Heavenly Father
4. my mom and dad
5. my in-laws
6. having my dad here with us
7. siblings (my own and by marriage)
8. friends
9. a best friend
10. having so much to be thankful for

Happy Birthday Bree!!

Today my princess turned 5 years old - WE LOVE YOU BREE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

What a whirlwind the past few weeks have been for me! Two weeks ago, my group competed in the BOA Western regionals and won everything! It was amazing. We got home on Sunday and by Monday we were told we would be going to Indianapolis for Grand Nationals - which we had not planned on going. So, it was a bit crazy!! I had a few days to plan, and then we were off.
We had a great trip and the kids did SO good. I was so proud of them. It has certainly been an emotional season and it was a great way to end the season on that field!
The band came in 15th (out of 90 bands in the nation - not too bad!). I had a great time but I'm so glad to be home. Now, on to winter guard...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

We had a pretty busy Halloween season this year. Thursday night, we went to my dad's nursing home to trick or treat. It was super cute - most of the residents had candy and they had games set up for all the kids.
Friday we went to Dusty's work. They let the kids come every year to trick or treat, and I love it. It's warm and safe - that's the best I think.
On Saturday, Dusty took the kids trick or treating in his mom's neighborhood. I had a show that day in Logan. I wasn't going to go, but Dusty told me he thought I needed to - so that helped my decision. I think the kids had a blast with their dad!
I hope you all had a great Halloween!

Bree, Jack, Myles and Alivia (our good friends little girl). How'd they all end up wearing black...

Apples (and such...)

About 3 weeks ago, we noticed our neighbors were picking their apples, so we thought we should too (this is all new to us - we don't know when the best time to pick is). So, we picked all the apples from our two apple trees. There was A TON! We ended up with about 8 box fulls - of course some weren't good, but that's pretty good. Well, my mother-in-law came over last weekend and we bottled applesauce and apples slices. It was fun, but took a long time! But hey, it's great food storage I guess...
(Oh, and I thought I'd take a picture of our HUGE pumpkin... it probably weighed about 150 lbs)

Memories of Heather

So, I have really felt the need to write down my thoughts and feelings of the past week - as well as my many memories of my friend Heather. So, this could be a long post... It's kindof sad when this blog has turned into my journal :).

Anyways, this past week has been pretty emotional for me and my family. I guess this whole year has been emotional. I have lost 2 friends, 2 uncles and an aunt. Hopefully this year will be better - not sure how much more we can take...

Anyways, here is what took place last week:

Saturday we went up to Idaho with the AF band for the Pocatello competition. I rode on the bus there, but decided to come home with Dusty and my in-laws. Well, we got a call about 7:15 from Jermie (assistant band director) that one of our buses had rolled. We were only about 10 miles behind them - so, my father-in-law sped the whole way there (I think he was going close to 100). I cannot even begin to tell you the nerves I had at that moment - not knowing what was going on. Well, when we got there I couldn't believe my eyes. The bus was on it's side and students were getting out. I think most of them were in shock. Jermie ran up to John to talk to him in private - I knew something was wrong. I went to the front of the bus to make sure all the kids were out. There was one girl on her back complaining that her back hurt - so we told her not to move. 2 more kids were trapped in the bus - the seats had their legs pinned. I went back to the front of the bus and that's when I saw my friend Heather. I knew at that moment she was gone. I just couldn't believe it. I was so glad Dusty was there because I lost it at that moment! I somehow pulled it together and started running around again making sure the kids were okay! I kept checking on my girls (who were on bus 4) to make sure they were okay as well. They were able to get the 2 students off the bus and get them to the hospital. John had decided he better tell the kids about Heather because some of them were starting to guess. So, I told him that we better call her family first. I had to call Melodie (her best friend and roomate) to get Heather's moms number. It was the worst phone call I have ever had to make. Melodie is a good friend of mine - in fact, I hired Heather and Melodie to run my independent guard called Wasatch Academy. Anyways, Melodie got in touch with Heather's sister and Heather's mom was able to call John. We then went on the buses to tell the students. It was so heartbreaking! They all loved her so much.

Eventually we were able to send the other buses home, but the students who were on bus 2 had to go to the hospital. So, John and Dusty and I (and Pam and my 2 kids) went to the hospital with the students. All of them were ok (a few stitches, scrapes, bruises, broken fingers, etc.) - but considering the accident, it was a blessing no one was hurt worse! I sat in with one of the girls as she talked to the police officer. She was about 2 seats behind Heather and saw the whole thing. Heather is a hero! As soon as the bus driver passed out, Heather leaped over the chair to grab the stearing wheel. That action probably saved the lives of ALL of the kids on the bus. If that bus had gone more off the road, it would have landed in Lava Rocks that was about 100 feet from the road. So scary!

Since that night, we have been able to pay tribute to Heather many ways. Sunday night we met at the high school with the students and parents (and Heather's family). Then we moved to the gym where hundreds were there to support Heather! It was amazing.

Monday we had rehearsal. The kids just wanted to play their instruments and spin. There were news crews there, but the kids did great. Tuesday night was BYU. The kids wanted to compete but also pay special tribute to Heather. John called me that morning to work on something "special" for the end of the show, and we pulled it off. It was an amazing night. Saturday was Heather's funeral. What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful life! It was pretty tough to get through for me, but I did.

And, here I am, one week later, still trying to figure out why this happened. I know Heather is so happy right now! She loved life so much and I am sure she is loving Heaven even more.

I first met Heather in 1993. I was a new member of the marching band (I was a junior and had moved to American Fork) and didn't know anyone! Heather befriended me, and from then on we have been friends. She was the drum major and I was in the color guard. When we were at band practice, we would mess around - WAY TOO MUCH! But, it was fun. We would make out hand signals to the song "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" and would do them while at rehearsal. I think I got in more trouble than Heather because Mr. Miller couldn't see her from where he stood...

After Heather graduated, she went to the U of U (where she was drum major too) and majored in music. She was the first band teacher at Riverton High School. She asked me to come down and do clinics for her color guard - which I did and loved because she was such an amazing teacher. After a few years, she decided to move to Spanish Fork and run the music program at a new charter school, American Leadership Academy. She also started a winter guard program there (and they took 1st in their division last year). She wore so many hats - and was good at everything.

While Heather was at the U of U, I begin very ill. Heather stuck by me through years and years of my illness. She came to see me at my house all the time. I also lived in Salt Lake for a brief time, and we hung out quite a bit. I remember going to her apartment with Sarah and Kim to watch old movies (me and Heather are fans of the old movies!).

Well, Heather came to work at AF about 4 years ago (full time last year). Last year I hired her and Melodie to run my independent group, Wasatch Academy. It was for kids between the ages of 9-14. The all ADORED Heather and she was great at it! I have many, many memories of Heather and I at band camp. She was always trying to get me to read new books - one year, it was Twilight. I asked her what it was about and she told me vampires. Are you kidding me? Well, years later I read it and now am reading it again for the 2nd time... She knew I'd like it!!

Heather was ALWAYS happy. I think I've seen her cry twice - once with me during a hard time in my life, and once last year when she was going through a hard time. She was such an inspiration to me. I just can't believe she's gone. It's hard because the last memory I have of Heather is seeing her that Saturday night, just laying there. But, I know she had gone on to a better place!

I love you Heather! I am hoping the Sun with come out tomorrow - I know for you it has!