Monday, October 18, 2010

Family Reunion at Lake Powell

On June 17th of this year our family had one of the best vacations ever. We had our family reunion at Lake Powell on a house boat. Now I am not a huge out doors fan, but I would do the Lake Powell thing every year. We all had an absolute blast. We were especially excited that Shaun and Becca were able to come also since we don't get to see them as often. What an awesone week we had!!

Here were are on the ramp loading up the boat to head out. With 17 people you can imagine all the stuff that had to make it on that boat. I'm surprised it could float after we got done stocking it up.


This is our vessel, "The Milky Way". My Uncle Kim and Aunt Kathy have a time share in this boat so we were able to all go.

Here is the view from the top deck in the morning. We were in this beautiful cove with cliffs, a swimming area and room to ride in the boat.
Ashlee and Morgan waiting for dinner.

Becca and Ella in the kitchen.

Mom, Shaun and Carter (Cooper) on the back deck.
Nothing like a kiddie pool in the middle of the lake. Top deck and all. Here Ella is sharing "HER" pool with Maddie and Coop. Ella is hilarious and she says everything is hers. A girl after my own heart.
Maddie and Paul going for a ride.
Shaun showing off on the cliffs. Actually the cliff jumps were a constant competition all weekend. My poor Dad, "Who refuses to lose a competition even if he is to old" was forced to go to extreme heights to keep up. He did it though.

There goes Bill. And yes his back hurt after this.
Haley and I got in on the jumping action too.
This was funny. I was holding Ella while everyone was cliff jumping. After Shaun went off the cliff she told me that she needed to do it too. So we took her up and she jumped off. She is a little dare devil that girl.
Jaci and Bill getting ready for bed time.
All the kids and grandkids.
Shaun and Ella in the morning at breakfast.
Hi Quincy!!
Heidi and I watching Shaun try to ski off the back of the boat.
Lunch time!
Movie Time!
Jaci and Grandpa fishing.
Morgan and Ashlee sitting by the water.Heidi, Paul, Quincy, Jaci, and Ashlee going for a ride.
Ashlee, Morgan, Becca and Me going for an afternoon swim.
Mom loved the shade so she volunteered for baby duty.
Ashlee and The Coop.
Haley, Ashlee, and Morgan preparing to be thrown from the tube.

There goes Jaci off the diving board.
Ella and Aunnie swimming in the cove.

Paul and Quiny showing off their muscles.
Farmer Shaun getting ready for a concert. Hey Shaun we brought those $ toys for the kids.
Bill with a catfish.
Mom and Dad on the back deck.
Becca, Ella and Maddie hangin out in the boat.
Marshmallows!
Haley and Coop.
Jaci and Bill at dinner.
Here's Dad on our trip to the cove.
Mom, Haley and Heidi on our way to the cove.

Aunnie and Ella

My Project

I have always wanted to refinish furniture. So I decied to choose an easy piece as my first project. I bought this cabinet at DI last October for $30. Bill was furious and thought I was crazy to even put this ugly piece in the house. But like I always say... "I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do." So I started sanding it, and getting it ready. I stained it and it went from this...
To This...

First Piano Recital at 15


Ashlee started taking piano lessons for the first time in January of this year. (I know... shame on me) She went through two lesson books by April and on May 19th we went to her first piano recital. She played "The Entertainer, New World Symphony and Minuet in G." She loves playing the piano and has since learned to play songs from Twilight and is working on Hymns. It is nice to listen to her sit down at the piano and play. Right now she is working on her own version of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. It is beautiful and when she plays and sings it I can't help but to realize that music is truly her gift.

My Cheerleader


I don't know who was more excited, Ashlee or Me. Ash made varsity cheerleader as a sophmore. She was so nervous for tryouts, but she did great. My favorite part of the whole tryout was the look on her face when she ran towards the car after looking at the posted list. She ran full speed with a huge smile on her face, screaming "I MADE IT" It was a happy day as a mom for me.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Bill's Graduation

On April 9th of this year Bill FINALLY GRADUATED!! We decided that we would make the commitment and move in together. :) I am so proud of him for sticking to it. It was hard living apart for that year and a half, but we did it and he did it. I even got a little teary eyed during the ceremony cuz I was so proud of him. Mike and Cheryl came up for his graduation and helped us the next day moving out of his apartment so he could come home. Thankfully he had a job waiting for him in when he arrived and he started working at Decker and Cook, CPA firm in May. He loves accounting and everyone always says "Wow, you have an outgoing personality for an accountant." I hope it takes him far.

Grandma Bradley's Funeral March 20th 2010

My Grandma Bradley past away on March 15th of this year. I was at work and I got a call from my Mom that she had a stroke on March 11th and was in the hospital. I called Bill up at college and he met Ashlee and I up in Utah. When we arrived Grandma didn't look good. She could barely talk and the stroke had paralized the side of her body and had made it so that she could not swallow anymore. We talked to the doctor and he said there was not much they could do and that she probably would only make it a few days. She was then transferred to her nursing home were she would spend her final days. It was hard on me to see her that way. I kept asking her if she was in pain and she said no, but it was still hard to watch her labor with breathing and just to get a few words out. I will be forever grateful that I was able to tell her that I love her before she left this earth. The next couple days were hard as she continued to go downhill and she looked so terrible. My Mom had the hardest part of staying with her through Monday while she prepared to pass on. Mom said that the day before was terrible. I would not usually post a picture of a casket but I did this one, because I was so happy to see my Grandma in her casket looking so peaceful, and so beautiful after having watch her suffer in the hospital and nursing home. It is comforting to get to see her this way again.


I am always especially grateful to my other Grandparents, Bob and Ellen Calderwood, who are always there for us. My Grandma Calderwood is above at the funeral with my Aunt Chris and my Grandpa Calderwood is below. He dedicated my Grandma's grave. It is comforting to have them there.


My Mom, my Sister Heidi with her two kids, Maddie and Quincy, and Ashlee and I.