Dear Baby,

Tomorrow we find out who you are.  A boy or a girl.  A little me, or a little Jase.  Tomorrow changes everything.  Even though you're already you inside my tummy.  We just don't know very much about you yet and we can't wait.  We try and picture you in our family and in our future, and soon we will have another piece of the puzzle.  Tomorrow we will know how our family starts out, a big brother to protect his siblings or a big sister to take care of them.  Either way we don't care, it just kinda feels like a big deal.  Baby, we are so excited to get to know you a little bit better tomorrow.  I really do hope you are not too modest and let us get a good peak. :)

Did you know...

We have a Maxima.



And there is a reason we picked this car out...

The Walk

Yesterday Jason and I were able to participate in the CureSearch Walk at Liberty Park.  It was such an amazing walk and I couldn't believe the turn out!  This was the first time that CureSearch has come to Salt Lake and so far it had the largest turn out of all the walks this year.  As a whole the walk raised over $70,000 for Childhood Cancer Research.  Team Skyler was in the top 5 for the groups who raised the most money too.  Crystal and her Mom put a lot into this event and it was incredible running into so many people we had never met all wearing Team Skyler shirts.  

There was a special feeling at the park, everyone was there for the same reason, we were all connected in someway.  Some had fought, some had lost, some are still fighting, and some where just their because they love.  It was an emotional event seeing so many Cancer Fighting Cuties running around with their little bald heads and fighting spirits.  I read a lot of Skyler's Buddies Blogs and it was like I was seeing celebrities all over the place.  I wanted to run up and hug so many of these little kids and thank them for their courage and example and tell their mothers that I pray for them and have spent many nights crying as I read about their heroic journeys.  

I was in charge of taking pictures for our team and loved every minute of the event!  I ended up running the cameras battery out there was so much going on and so many moments to capture.  To read more and see a few more pictures visit Skyler's Blog.  Can't wait for next year!

"Team Skyler

For the Fighters, Survivors, and Angels"

Meet Marci

I met Marci about 4 years ago at one of those awkward  Singles Ward Activities.  They were going to the Jazz game and I got talked into going.  Probably one of the only activities we both ever went to.  So I think it was fate.   I didn't know anyone and she was new.  

A few months later we were bonding big time in the beautiful Cayman Islands.  Creating enough inside jokes to last a life time.

By the end of the Summer we were roomies livin the life in Sugar House.  Loved these days.  Laughing all night long on the couch.  Talking about real life.  Swapping music and dancing at all the shows.  Watching a million episodes of The OC and Arrested Development.  And of course hanging out with the best neighbor ever, Jason. 

Jason and I officially adopted her in February. 

And then we moved and I cried and cried because I missed her so much.  But then we moved home and I was so excited to have my friend back.  We may not have been able to hang out as much as we used too.   But our monthly dinners were my favorite.  

One day Marci decided to go on a Mission.  That is what I love about her.  She is so brave and strong and has such a huge testimony.  Having the opportunity to be there with her when she went through the temple was amazing.  I cried.  We got to go to St. George for her farewell and meet up with some other good friends.

We were all roommates (and tan) at one point in time, even if it was only for a few days.  

Marci,  I want you to know how much I love you and how proud of you I am!  You are going to be an incredible missionary and I am so excited to hear all of your stories and see the amazing difference you are going to make in this world.  Thank you for the example you have set for all of us.  

Love, Pop-Pop and Gangy 

CureSearch

From Skyler's Blog:
"There have been too many nights when I sat holding my sons limp hand and listening to a mother down the hall sobbing at the loss of her child, or walked by parents with tears streaming down their faces.  I still cant get the images of my son laying in a hospital bed covered head to toe with tubes that were the only things keeping him alive out of my head.  Along with the pain, suffering and heartache though I have also seen miracles.  I have seen Skyler start breathing on his own when everyone thought he never would again.  I have seen him take his first drink after months of not being able to, and I have seen him take his first steps again.  I have also received many blessings. The support we have been shown has been incredibly humbling for me.  My eyes have been opened to how much good there is in this world.  There have been so many people who have picked me up when I didnt think I could go on.  Alot of those people were people I have never met before.  This last year has changed me for the better and I want to give back.  I want to help raise money for a cure.  I am proud to be able to take part in this CureSearch walk and am so happy that they have come to Utah for the first time this year."

All of the kids in the video are from Utah, some are survivors, others are still battling, and others are angels helping fight from behind the scenes.

July 9th, come walk with us!

Join Skyler's Team. Or any team for that matter.  They deserve a cure.

http://www.curesearchwalk.org/saltlakecity/teamskyler

Utah County

Sometimes I think that God will place and replace obstacles in your life until you are strong enough to overcome them.

When my family first moved to Utah, we rented a place in Alpine.  It was probably the hardest time (in my opinion) in my family's life.  My brother and I called it "Hell-pine".  I think a lot of it stems from the bitterness and immaturity I had about moving from, all my friends, my high school, my life, and my, my, my Arizona (I was a very self centered teenager).  Then coming to this richy "my daddy makes more money then yours does"(I'm not kidding, I heard arguments over this all the time at school), small town where everyone grew up together and wasn't very fond of letting outsiders in, which is what we were, outsiders.  In any case Alpine was a hard time for me and when we moved after 7 months of trying to make it work, I swore that I would never NEVER come back.  I wanted nothing to do with anything south of point of the mountain.  In the next 8 years I could count on two hands the amount of times that I ever stepped into Utah County again.

Then we moved back from Michigan and I had to find a new job, and the one I wanted was in Highland, which is right next to Alpine.  As lame as it sounds I almost thought about not taking the job for the sole fact that it was "Hell-pine" territory.  Now after almost 10 years, Jason and I have moved back, to guess where... Alpine.  I never thought I'd see the day.  Jason thought it was really weird that I couldn't remember where my old house was or how to get to certain places.  I seriously blocked that time of my life from my memory for a long time.  Now we even attend church at the same old ward building, and the other sunday on our way to church we drove past where I used to live, by accident.  It did kind of make me queasy inside having flashbacks to those countless nights crying in my room and all those days wandering the halls during lunch because I didn't have friends to eat with.

Again, I think God knows what he is doing, and as lame as it sounds I need to face my 15 year old in secure self and realize that home is where you make it.  Who knows how long we will really be here for, but being bitter didn't get me anywhere last time, so here's to our new home, and new adventure, and new friends that I am looking forward to meeting!

Our Life in Boxes

Once Again.

We're moving.  Its tradition at this point. 

I will miss our apartment so much.  Loved the fireplace, the balcony, the vaulted ceilings, the pool, oh and the walk-in closet. *sigh* Love the mountains.  The deer and foxes in our "backyard". Love the shopping and restaurants. Love the people. Love the views. 

So long SoJo... We'll be back. (I hope)