bitters

2011-12-29T21:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Mom!
Mom celebrating her Birthday the first of January and Lisa had the siblings and families over for a really nice seat down dinner! It was a Great Night with my family and all for our "Reigning Queen"... We love you Mom:) xo

Little America Brunch!

2011-12-29T20:54:00.000-08:00

The First of January we met up with Bitters at Little America for Brunch! We haden't exchanged Christmas Gifts with them and thought it would be great to see them! They had made several trips down to the hospital but this time it was alot more enjoyable and relaxing:)

Happy New Year 2011

2011-12-29T20:20:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year we got Austin home!
But with bringing him home came stess of me being a NURSE! Troy told them I could do the drainage that he had in his right cheek of his bottom, anyone that knows me I'm totally opposite of Troy and I don't handle blood, needles and want to pass out with the look of it! Troy just looked at me and said you can do it, we don't need a nurse coming with me and you there! So we were draining Austins drain a few times a day and I can honestly say I got use to it, even though I hated doing it because it was painful for him! And I hated hurting him!! It was worth me being a Nurse to bring my Boy home for the New Year! New Years we headed out to Steve and Lisa's for the New Years Eve Party! Our first holiday party we could attend, and it was so FUN to get out and enjoy it! Austin didn't join us and we let him go hang at a good friends house since he needed the out too:) 2010 had alot of blessings in it, we love the season of life we are in watching our children grow and be active! But we are glad to bring on a New Year!

And this Guy is the BEST of them all! He would work long hours at work and doing surgeries and then he would come straight to the hospital and stay with Austin all night so I could get sleep and be there for the dayshift as he called it! Austin especially loved his Dad by his side:)

2011-12-29T20:13:00.000-08:00

I had to post this picture of Austin sitting by the window on Christmas Day! We were opening gifts and I looked over to him and grabbed my camera, there was like a glow about him, and if you could of seen him 24 hours before this shot of him when he was so ill! My heart was beating so fast and tears came just knowing I had him back and he had been able to fight that double abcess infection:) lots of prayers answered! We are so Grateful as a family for the Love and Support of our FAMILIES and FRIENDS! We truly feel blessed going into 2011....

Catching Up.....

2011-12-29T19:50:00.000-08:00

Its been over a year now since I have blogged, I went into it for the first time tonight and found that draft I had saved and never posted... WOW.... what a year we have had in the Bitters Home. It seems like yesterday we were there! But it was a Christmas I will never forget and will forever be in my heart~ I'm GRATEFUL for the Medical knowledge we have and that we have our Austin back and healthy after this long year! I will be catching us up in the next few weeks and hopefully getting myself back on track with our family journal:) xo

2011-05-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6

This was a Christmas the Bitters Family will never forget! When your going through hard times and trials you lean more on the Gospel and the Savior.. We truly had this in our hearts this Christmas Season... At the first of November Troy had mentioned that it would be our first year without "Pinkie" that was our tradition every Christmas Eve and we lost our pinkie in August. Troy really wanted to focus more on Christ with Christmas Eve this year and we talked several times in November/December what we could do to find the perfect lesson for our kids, with going through the Ruptured Appendix and then the infection we were fighting over Christmas we got lost in just the worry of Austin and Christmas seemed to not matter as much to me! I remember the 23rd of December feeling so Down and Discouraged we had watched Austin in so much pain and it was hititng me we wouldn't be home for Christmas! I thought oh I need to get my shopping done but the desire to leave Austin and do it was another story! Once I left all I wanted to do was get back to the Hospital and be there for him! On Christmas Eve I spent the whole day with him, while Troy ran and did all the shopping we had not done! It was quiet and peaceful and Austin was pretty medicated and was in and out! I thought of the month and how before Troy had this desire to have this special 24th of December and here it was that evening. I can't even tell you the warmth I felt at that moment as I knew there were angels (pinkie) surrounding me and letting me know that the special lesson that Troy wanted for our kids was right there in front of us! It was us relying on the Savior and making him the most important part of Christmas, it had come through FAITH that month, PRIESTHOOD BLESSINGS, PRAYERS, FAMILIES, and CHRIST THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES! I wept my heart out and thought will never beat this Christmas again where we had our Heavenly Father right there with us and carrying us through this trial we were facing! My heart was full of GRATITUDE for him and for helping me through the last month! I know without a doubt that he lives and he is there for us, I truly witnessed it over and over the month of December! I'm so Grateful I was raised with this in my life and that my parents taught me correct principles that I have taken on with me and trying to teach my children! Next Year I'm sure Troy will be trying to figure out his new tradition on the 24th of December, but when it comes every year I will always remember the Christmas Eve I sat in the Hospital room 251 and felt the room full of his presence teaching me that priceless lesson:) xo

Merry Christmas from Room 251

2010-12-27T22:23:00.001-08:00

Christmas 2010 at American Fork Hospital the kids were troopers! We had to be down there early since they were doing a CT on Austin, my good parents came at 5 am and sat with Austin while Troy ran home for us to get the kids up and be able to give them what Santa couldn't take to the Hospital~ We had a big surprise for McKay of a LIZARD how I agreed to this one I will never know, I'm thinking I must of been receiving some of those drugs to agree to it~But what a happy boy when he got his lizard "Doby"~ We then packed up all of our gifts and headed down to the hospital and worked on Austin getting his contrast down him for the CT~ I couldn't believe how well he looked. They had drained alot of infection on the 24th morning and I was seeing they had success by the way Austin looked:) We had a great Christmas! We were the only patients on the floor so at the end of the hall we had our own Christmas Tree and we gathered around and opened the gifts from Santa and Family~

He got his Harry Potter Wand

A Early Christmas Hug for Grumpy:)

Dad's new Christmas Gift~

Presents for Austin~

Happy with his Wand and her with a Cell Phone!

Heading down to CT to see if they were getting to the INFECTION

Good News it was working the bigger drain~We can go home if he will EAT!

MELT DOWN he has no desire to EAT!

Barrel of Monkeys (Thanks to Ned Chidester) for his decorations!

Wheelchairs to take Christmas down to our car:)

Matt came to cheer up Austin on Christmas!

Our Nurse wanted to take a Picture of our family on Christmas Night, so even though we are tired and we had a hard week, we had our Austin coming back from the infection and we were looking forward to bringing our boy home that was the best gift of the whole day:)

NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.....:(

2010-12-27T21:16:00.001-08:00

Well we got home from the Hospital and we started the Recovery... but something didn't seem right...Austin was struggling and I could see it right in front of my face... He was dropping weight, he was running to the bathroom alot and had NO APPETITE...I think he got scared to eat that he would be making more trips to the Bathroom....

I made a few calls into the Dr. office and they thought I should try more fiber and give it some time... watch for a fever but alot of it is normal after he had been through a ordeal of a ruptured appendix!! I thought oh... there probley right and so I started to think of more FIBER....By a few days I was getting more concerned and it was to where he had no energy and it would kill him to walk up the stairs, or even into the kitchen for that matter... I noticed his coloring was going really pale! By Sunday we couldn't even hardly get him to do anything and I mentioned to Troy now he just wants to sleep...(mind you NO FEVER YET....) So after he slept for 15 hours, by the next morning Troy had placed 3 calls into me to see if he was okay?? I was like he won't wake up he is tired... Troy placed a call into the Dr. office and called me right back that they would be running some BLOOD... and another CT... ughhhhhhhhhhh been there done this one....

Austins FAVORITE drink... NOT... he hated the CONTRAST he had to DRINK...

From there it all went fast, his blood came back at 20 WBC's (Normal is 7-10) and when we left the Hospital he was down to 14... They sent us over to CT and we drank the fun Contrast, as he layed on the couch in the Radiology... My emotions were so close to the surface as I sat there by myself feeling HELPLESS... How do Parents do this with little kids and CANCER?? I thought of Mary, and watching her son suffer for all of our sins, and this time of year... so much to do and now what did I have ahead of us?? My mind was going in every directions.. and really none of it mattered but AUSTIN at that MOMENT... The CT came back that he had a abcess from the Ruptured Appendix and that we needed to go in and drain it ASAP...I'm thinking okay were good and thought we'd be out of there soon...

They decided to admit Austin, they had to put a drain in him to get the infection out... We got up to our room, and he was in alot of PAIN... Troy arrived THANK GOSH... He is our COMFORTER when it comes to MEDICAL... I loved watching him at Austins side trying to comfort him and show his love to his son....:) one of those TENDER MERCIES that you want to FREEZE.... Dr. Peugh came up and told us it was alot worse then we thought there were 2 abcess on his Pelvis from the Appendix and he had lost 22 pds... he was a SICK BOY and would be in the Hospital for a week or so until they could get rid of the infection... I'm numb and Troy shows how WORRIED he is in this picture... Troy hugged me and said Mel, one day at a time... Christmas is going to work out but right now its about AUSTIN...and from there on out it was our focus... Lots of PAIN in his leg/butt area, the drain had to be place in the right cheek of his butt, since the abcess was right there... WE had great nurses and got to form a friendship

more on this 2nd trip to the Hospital... Austin was in and out on Morphine and it was just alot of hours waiting and PRAYING... On Thursday they went in for another CT... This was our worst day for the pain, and just trying to get Austin to drink the contrast for the test... we got it down him and within a few minutes it all came back up... tears were there for him and me with frustration of how we were going to get him to do this test... They decided that since it was in such a sensitive place and it was so painful for them to do this, they would wait the 6 hours from the contrast that he drank and totally knock him out.. I was hoping at this point that they would just take him into surgery... but Dr. Peugh said the RISK of surgery was not good, due to the infection spreading! So later that afternoon we headed back down to the Radiology and they were able to knock Austin out to where he wouldn't feel it and they drained a good amount of infection out of it, and felt like they reached the second abcess that it would communicate to the first one and drain out.. they also placed a bigger tube in him so it would drain the infection better... We were grateful and hopeful that this would help him to relieve some of this pain he was suffering...

We had success on that bigger drain being placed in, we started to see infection coming out of him and the nurses were happy when they had to flush it out and we were collecting alot more.. his blood count was looking great and we were feeling hopeful... but now Austin was struggling with EATING... He had NO APPETITE... he had a metal taste in his mouth from all the meds! They had to pic line him when we got there on Monday and they had starting a feeding tube to get his nutrients in him, but we knew there was no way to get him home for christmas with no eating... Dr. Peugh came and said it was a good thing we did the bigger tube and how happy he was to see the drain working and getting that infection out of there.. but the KEY now was the EATING.... he looked at me and told me to go get a tree and some decorations and we would be making the best of this CHRISTMAS in room 251.... I had a LUMP in my throat and when I saw Austin staring out the window with TEARS running down his face, I couldn't hold it in any longer.. I had tried for days to be STRONG... I was so WORRIED and so CONSUMED with everything happening.... I had NO SHOPPING DONE... I haden't seen MISSY and MCKAY for days and I was feeling OVERWHELMED... and now Austin with DEPRESSION on ruining all of our CHRISTMAS! Chelsey and Mitch came and sat with them that night so I could get a break and Me and Troy could TALK and decide what would be BEST for Christmas... I didn't want to do it... I wanted it to just disappear and do it another week... But how could we do it with our kids at home?? Troy the Positive was so good with me and just said hey will work it out will make it work, and it will be a CHRISTMAS we won't forget:)

This is Mother and Son and our Bracelets that we BELONG TOGETHER:)

Troy always by his side

Miserable Day....

He loved Chelsey and Mitch being there.... Distracting him with 24~and of course

Chelsey and her drawing on the board of Hangman, tic tac toe, and Pictionary...

A smile on his face on Friday when Nana and Grumpy brought him something to DO....:)

A long MONTH in December of Austin fighting this infection... But will take this trial and deal with it... you sit there in the Hospital and it gives you alot of time to THINK... I have decided that when your kids hurt you hurt DOUBLE... I'm GRATEFUL for our trial and that Austin will be okay it might take time but he can fight this... those that struggling daily with Cancer I don't know how they do it... We are doing his EAGLE PROJECT and focusing on those little ones that have a long road ahead of them...

Appendix.....

2010-12-27T20:59:00.000-08:00

So the First of December didn't start off to well in our Family... Our Austin has been struggling alot the last several weeks with being sick with a Flu.... I feel like every week he was calling and wanting me to check him out of school with stomach issues... honestly I can think back to October with this complaint.... Missy had the flu and we had a scare with her of passing out and so when Austin came up at midnight while me and troy were trying to finish up the decorations and was complaining of Stomach Ache's we both were like well your probley getting the flu your Sister just got over... I didn't think much of it, but made a comment to Troy of my gosh, he is sick alot this year.... Well we stayed up all night thinking he had the flu, and mom being paranoid he would pass out like Missy I could not sleep... the next morning he was to himself and very QUIET... (especially for Austin) I was busy doing my sub for santa and just trying to get things organized, I came up the stairs and noticed he was not looking good at all and told him I would jump in the shower and need to run some errands... As I was getting myself ready he came into the bathroom to warn me he had gotten worse and that he thought he was in trouble??? I was like Trouble?? and he said its MOVED... and I was like MOVED?? and he said the pain and he showed me how it was dropping into the right side.. I immediately think my heart was pounding through my chest knowing we were dealing with APPENDIX... I was shaking and thought what do I do without Troy??? I even said give me a minute to throw my make up on?? Its now the joke...I tried my hardest to get to Utah Valley to where Troy was in Surgery but was not able to make it, by the time I hit the American Fork Temple, he was like Mom, down the hill is where we are going... Sure enough we were right and after a exam, blood and CT it was confirmed he had to go into surgery:( By now my BOY was SICK... High Fever and high on Morphine... We were lucky to have Mitch there to support MOM... and we had Aunt Lisa, Grumpy and Nana all there with emotional support... I was GRATEFUL for a Priesthood Blessing that his Grandpa and Mitch were able to give him before going into surgery! Things didn't go as smooth as we had hoped, he had to stay a few days due to a possible leakage/ruptured appendix, they wanted to run a drain to get some infection out of Austin... We stayed with him around the clock, Mom taking the day shift and Dad doing the night!! And soon we'd be taking our boy home:)

Christmas Cards....

2010-12-27T20:47:00.000-08:00

Our Family Christmas Card for 2010.... We had fun with this one this year we decided to go with the Theme of " OUR TEAM to YOURS...." Since we are so involved in Football, Soccer, Lacrosse but its a great SEASON of LIFE....

Our Joy.....

Missy 11 years...

McKay 10 years...

Austin 16 years....

Working Hard Pays Off.....

2010-12-27T20:37:00.000-08:00

School Projects the month of November was well worth it the day they presented... Missy entered in the Reflections at the school with her 3~D Steele Strong that together we can make it through anything... There are friends from our Orem Ward that Rachel is fighting Leukemia, Missy took her Steele Strong Bracelet and did a AWESOME job... So Awesome that she WON the 3~D at her School... Missy we are PROUD of you~ xo

McKay did his County Report on Carbon County and he did so well, we were really proud how hard he worked on getting the information on it... he has no memory of living out there when he was little... He made the Hard Hat into a mining hat and we even added the light to make it look REAL... He did a awesome job on his Oral Report and we loved seeing him in his Parade... HIGH FIVE MAC you did AWESOME....xo

Gobble Gobble.....

2010-12-27T19:52:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving was a little different for our family, we usually would of been with the

Bitters but Troy ended up on Call and so we decided to stay close to HOME and do our own little Thanksgving Dinner! This is a new thing since I haven't done it since Troy was in School back in OHIO....But no stress we can pull it off.....

Troy Carving the Turkey

Pulled out the CHINA that we got for our WEDDING... never been used:)
Tried a new recipe on the ROLLS....
and don't forget the PIES.... yum yum
We went to the MOVIE.... Loved TANGLED
What were THANKFUL for OUR KIDS....

Troy with Miss and McKay

We were SAD we missed out on going to Logan... But no worry Grandpa sent the Craft

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving at the end of the day Grandpa and Nana stopped in from there Thanksgiving Day... So we snapped a photo... We are GRATEFUL for so much today, the TOPS at the Table were GOSPEL~FAMILY~JOB~FRIENDS~

2010-12-27T17:03:00.000-08:00

HALLOWEEN NIGHT....

Hanging with Chelsey and Mitch...

The GIRLS....
Mom and her Girls.....

Pirate and Football Player going out in the RAIN....:)

Cardinals.....

McKay looking SHARP...

Our Pirate Mascarade
Missy looking BEAUTIFUL....

The Highlight of the Halloween Season is my Parents Halloween Party! We start planning in June/Julyfor the Perfect Costumes... This year we decided to do the "Alice in Wonderland" theme... it turned out really GREAT! I saw the Mad Hatter Costume and had to make it work! I was really proud of TROY who did his Rabbit all by himself.. HIGH FIVE HONEY you did AWESOME:)

The Kids with Mitch and Chelsey the Cave People....

Austin the Chester Cat

Alice In Wonderland 2010

Mad Hatter...love the makeup:)

McKay and Missy

Alice with the Mad Hatter

School Halloween Parade...

Jake and McKay both the sports....

Scout Halloween Party

Cardinal Football Player "MAX HALL"....

October

2010-12-27T16:26:00.001-08:00

October has been a busy month but one of our FAVORITES.....

Miss Grandpa and Grandma living closer but this was left for the Birthday Boy made out of Hostess its McKay the little Soccer Player:)

Making Wishes.....(my guess is a LIZARD)

Mom and Dad with the Birthday Boy! Oh how we LOVE this BOY!!

Grumpy and Nana celebrating with McKay

Hero "Max Hall" Jersey....

THE BOYS....

THEY GOT SOAKED....and dumb us to send the sweatshirts with them:(

Mom and Mckay....

Waiting for WICKED....

Halloween Witches with the Birthday Boy!

The Morning of McKays Birthday we surprised him with a confetti bed and singing Happy Birthday to him! We then said hurry and lets get going we have plans for the day....

We took him and his buddies to Lagoon for the Day! We had a great time:)

Bitters Family Fall 2010

General Conference Weekend the Boys took off to Priesthood so the Girls went to have our own FUN... We did a light dinner at Magelbys and then we took Mom up to Gardner Village to see the WITCHES... It was a great time and we love this time of year and the Halloween Spirit!!

LOVE this SHOT of my MOTHER....:)

The Witches

Girls Night Out

Austin went to Homecoming at the High School... He looked so SHARP! Where did the time go that he is old enough to do this??? Mom, will never be ready for the boy to date!!

Conference Weekend

2010-12-14T21:26:00.000-08:00

So I have always had the great thought that when it was Conference Weekend that was time to change out our 72 hour kits... Well this October I was like Oh, Troy we need to do that.....

Troy: Mel, How long as it been since we did this??

Mel: Oh like a year or so......

Missy is thinking LONGER then a year with the MOLD in her food....

Melanie: Oh maybe its been more then a year??? Lets try 3-4 years???

McKay says MOM, these our size 4...hello duh i'm a 10 now.....

Guess will try and do better at General Conference to change the 72 hour kits....:)

Taylor and Amanda

2010-12-14T21:18:00.000-08:00

Austin, Chelsey and Mitch

Happy Couple:)

Me and Mom....

Love to see the Temple, and especially when we are celebrating a special day! Congrats to Taylor and Amanda~we are so Happy for you! Thanks for letting us be part of your day~we Love ya and wish you much HAPPINESS....

2010-12-14T21:02:00.000-08:00

Love living in UTAH and being by the MOUNTAINS....

Me and the Boys....

Dad and his Girls

Boys shot and Girls shot....

The Bitters

our pride and joy.....

The Leaves are GORGEOUS up the American Fork Canyon! I love this time of year it is for sure my favorite... Not a day goes by that I'm not GRATEFUL for my FAMILY:)

McKay HATES Shopping.....

2010-12-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

This time of year I am on the SEARCH for the BEST HALLOWEEN COSTUMES... So that means alot of trips to Halloween Shops and Mall Shopping, McKay was so MAD at me that I was making him go out shopping but I promised I would be fast! Oh was he HAPPY when we got in the mall and his HERO'S were right there in front of him.....See McKay mom knows BEST:)

Now on the way home I had to talk him out of being one of these guys.... ha ha ha

SURPRISE.......HAPPY 16th

2010-12-14T20:19:00.000-08:00

This year I decided to do a BIG SURPRISE PARTY for Austin since we have moved alot in his growing up years and I have felt like he got cheated on Birthday Parties... We got him so GOOD:) He had no idea it was in the works... He had tickets to the BYU game and went to the game with Troy, his good friend Luke texed him in the game and said lets Hang Out after the game, so that got Luke with us, and then Troy had to stop at the " NOAH'S" to look at the place for a Work Christmas Party, wasent he SURPRISED when he was checking out one of the rooms for Troy and a room full of FRIENDS and FAMILY

Grandpa and Nana wouldn't miss the SURPRISE:)

Chelsey and Austin

Playing Racquetball was the hit of the Party

Austin with 2 of his GREAT FRIENDS Tanner and Luke

Happy Birthday Sparklers.....

SWEET 16 and how we LOVE this BOY

The Girls

Ward Friends

Football Buddies

2010-11-15T22:15:00.000-08:00

Well Speaking of NEW SEASON'S of people's lives... Here is something I'm a PROUD Mom! Chelsey has taken off in Photography and we are really PROUD:) This girl is very artistic and very creative and you see it in her photography... I think your doing AWESOME.... xoxo

Sophomore 2010-2011

2010-11-15T21:53:00.001-08:00

Not sure if I'm ready for this one:( Time is going by way to fast and the thought of him in High School is just CRAZY....But hey ready or not here it comes... Austin we are PROUD of you and wish you the BEST in this new season of life your HIGH SCHOOL YEARS...:)

Go KNIGHTS...

Back to School 2010

2010-11-15T21:36:00.001-08:00

A New School Year 2010-2011

Marisa and McKay were so excited for the New Year of Schoool, we were thrilled with the Teachers we got this year... Missy is going into 6th Grade with Mrs. Neilsen and got with her Best Friend Ashlyn this year:) McKay is going into 4th Grade and got Mrs. Humphries he got lucky and got with his Best Bud Samuel:)

GOOD LUCK...

2010-11-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

Today we Celebrated Pinkie's Life...It was a funeral full of LOVE, LAUGH, TEARS and MEMORIES... I'm so Grateful for my Testimony and that I will be with Pinkie Again..

To quote my Brother Matt...

"Heaven is a little Pinker now."

I LOVE YOU THE MOST:) xo

2010-11-15T21:01:00.000-08:00

Edna Clyde

1914 ~ 2010

Edna Thornock Clyde, devoted mother and grandmother, died August 20, 2010 at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born November 25, 1914, in Bloomington, Idaho to Matthew William Thornock and Rachel Elvira Hulme. She married Wilford Cornell Clyde, April 20, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, December 13, 1951.

Edna spent her early years in Bloomington, Idaho and attended public schools there as well as in Paris, Idaho until the age of 16. After her mother's passing in 1930 she moved to Logan, Utah to live with her Aunt Edna Hulme Linford. She graduated from Logan High School and attended the Utah Agriculture College where she met her future husband. Together they made their permanent home inSpringville, Utah where they raised their two children, nurtured their grandchildren, served in the LDS Church, traveled the world including spending winters in Hawaii and devoted endless service to the Clyde Companies and to the Association of General Contractors of America. Cornell passed away in March 1997.

Edna's entire life was dedicated to caring for her children and spoiling her grandchildren. Her travels to Hawaii brought a deep love for the Polynesian culture and people. Her signature trademark was the color pink, except when it came to BYU sports when she wore true blue. She rarely missed a BYU football game and was a loyal member of the BYU Cougar Club. Edna held positions in the local PTA and in the Young Women's organization for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She also served in the women's auxiliary of Riverside Country Club. She was an avid gardener and gave special care to hundreds of roses cultivated and grown by her and Cornell for over 50 years.

She is survived by her two children Carma and her husband, Kenneth Russell, Salt Lake City; Richard and his wife, Patricia Taylor, Orem; 11 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Matthew William and Rachel Thornock; sisters Ione Thornock Hymas and PhoebeThornock; five brothers, William, Ralph, Ross, Leon and Louis Thornock.

Funeral services will be held Sat., August 28, 2010, at 11 a.m. in the Springville Stake Center, 245 South 600 East, Springville, Utah. The family will receive friends Fri., August 27, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South, Springville, and Sat. at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place at the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.

The family expresses gratitude to the staff and physical therapists at Brighton Gardens especially Augustine, George and Kelly, whom Mother referred to as her boys. To Marilyn, for her friendship and keeping Mother's hair well groomed. To Bruce and Phil at Haven Health Care, for their kind and compassionate care. And to Jenny, an Angel who came into our home and kept Mother singing until the end. Special thanks to the nurses and CNA's in ICU and on the 8th floor of LDS Hospital. Their dedicated service helped Mother get through those last few weeks. Mandy, who Mother had a special bond with, for the extra special time she spent with her. Also deep gratitude to Dr. James Pearl for his compassionate care and being there to help us through this difficult time. Our family will be forever grateful.

Missionary work was always important to Edna and Cornell. They were especially proud of their 12 missionaries and the many others they helped support. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the LDS General Missionary Fund.

Summer 2010

2010-11-15T20:09:00.000-08:00

This Summer of 2010 was the BEST:) I had decided to take some time off of work and have my goal be more time with my Kids... I have a Great Boss that I'm truly GRATEFUL for who saw the importance of it and had a strong feeling that is where I should be, so I spent the summer home with my kids:) It included lots of Donut Runs, Hiking, Late Night Games, Zoo, Movies, Boondocks, Seven Peaks, Out Door Movies, Canyon, Swimming, Sleeping in, Logan, Fireworks, Parades, Shopping, late night chatting, late night walks around the block

Our Favorite Donuts.....

Roasting up the Canyon

Lunches...

A few Girl Luncheons... This was one of the highlights for me, my friend Christy came in town from NY... we haven't seen each other in 15 years... and Lisa always great to catch up with you:) love my friends....xo

Sophomore Football Starts:) proud of my #19

McKay playing Baseball... love it in the Summer:)

Boondock Fun!

Toy Story 3 LOVED IT....

Activity Day Hike with Daddy and Daughter... Mom joined since I'm the Leader:)

2010-11-15T16:09:00.000-08:00

Windrivers was one of the highlights of the Summer... Troy grew up doing this a few times with his Dad and Brothers and of course Grandpa Melvin... Its been a GOAL of Grandpa Bitters to do this with his Sons and Grandsons before he got much older so Summer

2010 they were able to accomplish this tradition... They had a great time:) and even Troy ate FISH....

Heading out to the Wyoming Mountains... Poor Mckay headed up in the Ortho ER with a wire in his gum and we were worried about sending him off with the BOYS:) But he was a trooper and out did all of them in the END:)

WOW look who is 45??

2010-07-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Troy this weekend... the BIG 45~ WOW! WE love Troy's Birthday because there is always something going on between families, BBQ, Parades, and to top it off fireworks..He says he LOVES it this time of year... WE look forward to a great weekend and we want to THANK you for being such a great Hubby/Father! You are always putting us first and working hard to make us a nice life! WE hope you have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! xoxo

BRACES....

2010-06-30T20:29:00.001-07:00

McKay got Braces on today!! He was so good and he even did them for the 4th of July in Blue and Red... Anyone who knows McKay knows his favorite color is GREEN he really wanted the green but went with Mom's idea of the 4th colors since he has several months to go with the color GREEN... you look GREAT McKay! Can't wait to see the change when they come off....

Summer BBQ

2010-06-30T20:09:00.001-07:00

I love Summer in my parents backyard... they work hard the two of them and it pays off because its one of my favorite things of summer is sitting on there back patio and especially when we are all together as a FAMILY... We have all been crazy so far and we decided since Mom and Dad have been out of town both Mother's and Father's Day we needed to celebrate and also the happy news of Taylor finding his new love Amanda and there great news of Sept. 17th... We think Amanda is DARLING and we are excited for this new season in Taylors Life... And then of course it was also Laurie's Birthday so alot to celebrate and be together as a FAMILY:)

We Love BRETT.....:)

Cupcakes I made for BBQ

Tyler and Nicole

Taylor and Amanda...

Dad, Happy Fathers Day! Thanks for everything you do for my family... We think your the BEST and we appreciate you more then words could ever say:)

More Soccer

2010-06-30T16:08:00.000-07:00

We decided to paint the windows of the car with our team name and show team spirit... Troy was not 100% with me on this idea, but once again he went along with the kids excitment... BAD IDEA on MOMS part.... after our first game we went to grab a bite to eat and Missy decide's to shake it up alittle and she is talking and then proceeds to take off the cap of the pen! Well you see what it did to her HANDS and now you can imagine the car... plus all over McKay who is sitting next to her~ THANK GOODNESS its Waterbase so it came right out... Missy is mad that I was getting my camera out but i figure will look back on it and LAUGH... (just not in front of TROY)... Jacob Lewis glad missy could entertain you for the day.....oh well this to shall pass and we showed TEAM SPIRIT!! GO WARRIORS:)

Last Weekend Mckay played in his first 3v3 tournament, it was a great experience for him and he did GREAT! The Team did well for there first tournament and now they will know what to expect in the future tournaments... This shot I had to show because it show's the LOVE that my

husband has for these BOYS... He thinks there AWESOME SOCCER PLAYERS!:)

The Warriors!

Mac Playing Hard

He Loves SOCCER....

McKay and Jacob GREAT FRIENDS...

This to shall pass

2010-06-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

GRRRR....... I heard this alot in my life from my MOM it was always her saying when things got tough... today is one of those days of WHAT DO I DO?? so I sit here in my mind and think THIS TO SHALL PASS.....xo

WE LOVE THE CANYON....

2010-06-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

Fathers Day we decided to head up the Canyon for the day~ we love the convenience of it from our home, we did a great steak dinner for Troy and then we did our first dutch oven dessert and it was very yummy~ The kids had a great time playing board games and just making smore's and doing starburst in the fire... WE are GRATEFUL to our DAD/HUSBAND for all the sacrifices he makes for our family~we love you Troy! xoxo

Happy Fathers Day~ We Love our TROY...

McKay loved Smore's

Austin, Missy and McKay

Austin so PROUD he is taller then Dad, but then Mitch will HUMBLE him~

One HUGE marshmallow

Chelsey thinks STARBURST all the way, showing Austin how yummy~

2010-06-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

This has been a crazy few weeks for Austin, he is one busy BOY and I wonder how I would ever work this summer with just his schedule! I wouldn't trade it for anything he is a GREAT KID and makes us PROUD... This is his BEST FRIEND TOMMY! Who moved a few weeks ago to California... Hard on both of them to make this move, they have played with each other in Football for the past 3 years and are quite a pair on the field.. he will miss that this year! BEST OF LUCK TOMMY....Will look forward to the two of you hooking up and being roommates in College!

Had to post the picture of Tommy and Austin, since Austin had his BRACES on and in this picture we have them OFF~ He looks FANTASTIC and it makes him look older! And just more HANDSOME:)

FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL... That is Austin's Life, he has had a great summer playing in a few tournaments with the High School Team... We look forward to FALL and FOOTBALL !

Memories of Grandpa Melvin and Grandma Joyce Picnic...

2010-06-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

We all headed up for the Bitters Picnic in memory of Melvin and Joyce..

Family with Grandpa and Grandma..

Cosmo healing well went for the TRIP...

WE love and MISS ya!!!

Austin loves his MOM....ha ha

The Boys playing Ball...

Chelsey Bug!!!

Grandpa and Grandma Bitters

Love the SWING!!

Mitch and Chelsey hanging at the Picnic!

Hanging with Holli....

Grandma Bonnie

Austin

Chelsey@the Graves...

Pinwheel with our messages to Grandpa and Grandma

Kids at the Graves with Wes and Bonnie

The Bitters Family

Austin with Grandpa (yes your taller)

A Day at the ZOO with Friends...

2010-06-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

Woke up and decided it was a good day to head to the ZOO! Told the kids to grab a friend and pack lunches and lets head out! Buying the ZOO pass was the best thing we did, nice to just go walk and look at the animals and not feel quilty if we don't make it all over because we can always catch it next time.. We love the new ELEPHANT ZURI she is very entertaining and you need to go see her before she gets to big.. she was only 700 pds at birth and the day we went she was over a THOUSAND!! But splashing and splashing the kids thought she was the BEST!!

Zuri playing in the Water!

Mac, Jeff, and Samuel

Missy acting like a Penguin...

A&M chillin with there Sunglasses!

Reminder of Joelle and Chelsey...

Best of Friends even with Friends!

The Gang...

Beautiful Colors in this Girafee

Our Favorite TREAT...

Our Favorite Photogapher!

Ash and Missy

Who will get Sprayed???

Zoo Workers?

GREAT DAY@ZOO

ZURI is worn out by the END...

Monkeys were next on our list of FAVORITES

3BEST OF FRIENDS....THANKS FOR A GREAT DAY AT THE ZOO:)

JUNE means SOCCER

2010-06-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

Summer Games: We sent you down this year with the Wadleys and we joined you on Saturday, your team did really well up until the last game that we joined you for... Sad to loose to a team you have one over and over, but its one of those learning experiences of going in confident! You on the other hand made us very proud... Missy don't ever loose your DETERMINATION and AGGRESSIVNESS that you have been blessed with, you make it so fun to watch you as parents we are nothing but PROUD win or loose:)

5 hours in the Pool...

Best of Friends...

Mitch and Chelsey came down to support!

Love our M&Ms

Coach Kim and Nancy...

Tigers Team 2010

Supportive Team mates...

Missy Lynn...

Fighting to the END!! xo

Missy loves the 3 v 3 Tournament its one of her FAVORITES!

Missy with her Medal...:)

THE TIGERS...

Go Missy!

1,2,3,

Shoot.... GOAL!

Our #24

Lacrosse Buddies coming to Support!

Flower that Alisa made all the players!

Dance Festival

2010-06-25T15:29:00.000-07:00

Already that time of year where we grab the lawn chairs and head over to the school to watch the kids in the Dance Festival... so SAD that it never works for Troy to attend this tradition at the School... So THANK GOODNESS I have my parents who are always supportive and come and join me in the fun! The kids were so cute this year and its amazing how fast the time is going! This tradition will be gone before we know it, so will enjoy Hannah and Kung Fu Panda and the great dance moves that it brings out! GOOD JOB M& M you always make us PROUD:)

Grumpy and Nana always Supporting!!

Hug for Nana!!!

Big Smiles from Mac...

Bye Bye Bye was his FAVORITE...

Hannah Montana Hoe Down...

Smiles from MISSY....

SPORTS

2010-06-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

Lacrosse is absolutely Missy's SPORT... She is loving every minute of it, we still love SOCCER and its hard to JUGGLE both sports but at this age I guess will justify her doing both...

Three Girls... Ashlyn, Missy and Danielle

AGGRESSIVE MISSY...

Going for the GOAL...

Loving it...

McKay played baseball this year for his first time in a few years! Mom LOVED it since watching Baseball is one of my favorite sports! He did AWESOME and ended up having a positive season:) he will for sure be back next year to play...

Best Pals...

Sunflower Seeds in Dugout...

McKay Stealing Base...

Awesome Batter...

Game Ball...

Catch Up....

2010-06-25T14:53:00.001-07:00

A few shots from Temple Square on Mothers Day, considering everything we were going through with Cosmo we did enjoy the day with the Bitters... Troy went up on Saturday and stayed with his parents and siblings in the Mariott the kids had a great time swimming and catching up with cousins. The Broadcast on Mothers Day is always a special one to us! Oh how we miss her and we think of her daily but especially with the tradition of Temple Square on Mothers Day! Grandma, Thanks for this wonderful tradition you left us to carrying on and in memory of you! :)

MADE IT....yeah

2010-05-20T22:31:00.001-07:00

Congrats to Missy she had Try~Outs for her Competitive Soccer Team and she MADE IT... She is fast asleep in Bed and worn out from her try outs but mom just got the email so I will show her on the BLOG.... WE LOVE YOU MISSY and you make us PROUD:) GO TIGERS.....

NEW PET....NOT

2010-05-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

This morning I heard a beeping like my smoke alarm was out of Batteries... I went out to water the flowers and it was driving me crazy, troy came out and I said Troy, that has to be fixed before you go to work today.. he telling me he doesn't have time, I was like Troy what is it?? He is throwing out smoke alarm? the garage opener box? I'm like we have to figure this out...As I walked closer to the car it was getting louder and was constant now so i'm like its not a smoke alarm, its going faster now... I'm thinking Troy do we have a DEAD BIRD or something that is making that sound?? We all thought no it doesn't make sounds like that, Troy now is trying to figure it out, and tells Austin to grab the keys and tells me to start up the car, so I did, as I looked over at Troy his eyes were like freaking out and telling me not to move.. His telling the kids to go in the house, but of course we are all trying to figure out what the heck is this noise.. He tells me to slowly back up and then he would yell stop, and then go and stop and go and stop... finally we get out of the garage and I roll down the window for him to say huh, not sure what it is, maybe a GROUNDHOG?? I'm like WHAT?? I guess he had made a little home in the axel of the car, every time I would try and back out he would go up the tire...so Troy got the broom and he tore out of there so fast... As you can see by his teeth he looks more BEAVER? So its been a guessing game all day?? All I know is I'm GRATEFUL he is out of my GARAGE... and we are Grateful still for COSMO our pet and not this CREATURE....

WELCOME HOME~

2010-05-12T20:51:00.001-07:00

Good Day at the Bitters Home we thought we would get Cosmo home on Friday but Dr. Law called this morning and said he is doing so well we can come and get him and bring him home.. It was so fun to see his reaction when we went to get him, he had lots of kisses for his brothers.. He is still pretty weak and has a hard time walking but will take it one day at a time.. I told the Dr. thanks for saving his life, and the Dr. looked at Cosmo and said No, tell your Mom thanks for saving my life by bringing me here!!

We LOVE you COSMO....

Before Surgery....

2010-05-10T23:53:00.001-07:00

Milo was so aware something was wrong, this is a KISS for luck...

I held Cosmo for 2 hours today with a ELECTRIC BLANKET... It was HEAVEN to him...

Troy trying to find him a comfort position with his back...

Cosmo LOVES Chelsey...XO

Missy trying to love him and comfort him..

BIG TEARS... PRAY FOR MY COSMO....

2010-05-10T22:27:00.001-07:00

Today we had to make a BIG decision on this little guy~ WE had a very emotional night and met as a family to decide what would be the best for COSMO..

He slept well in the night (even though mom and dad didn't do well with the worrying on him) When I took him out this morning the fellow couldn't even walk on his back two legs and the right really buckled, I had a strong feeling to come in and call Dr. Lamb's office and get who they had referred us to last time we had the back go out. I called and was so impressed from the beginning on how the vet would call Troy and consult him over the phone, it wasen't long and Troy was on his way for him, and was headed to Salt Lake to see Dr. Law it was what we had expected and he felt strong that cosmo was loosing his back legs and that it was very necessary to do the procedure, he told Troy that he wanted to get a better look so he headed up with Cosmo to the U of U to confirm with the MRI, I drove and met up with Troy we grabbed a bite and talked, it was a emotional time for both of us if we were doing the right thing for COS..

Troy was very set on that it was only fair to Cosmo to do the surgery, we didn't want a dog we would have to push in a cart and so we went for it...I'm posting some shots of why we did this Surgery, this little guy is our LIFE... His the first thing that we see in the morning and the last thing we kiss when we go to bed... The saying a DOG is a MANS BEST FRIEND really is true, cuz this little fellow is our best friend to all of us... We finally got word around ten tonight that he was out of surgery, it went well, he had a very big herniated disc, even bigger then they expected, he had a lot of bruising in his spinal cord, with a bloody hematoma in the same spot putting alot of pressure on the spinal... no wonder the poor guy was miserable, with the way Dr. Lamb saw him in surgery he worries if will get the back right leg back, but the pre~exam he did he feels good with it, so we are not out of the woods yet... we still need prayers...they will keep him for a few days, we are anxious to hear how he does through the night... I did go see him before the surgery they had him all prep and ready to go, he was pretty drugged up from the MRI but as soon as he heard mine and troys voice he wagged the tail and knew it was familiar, he opened his eyes and got more excited we tried to calm him and let him know he was okay and we loved him... they couldn't believe he responded so much to us, they say usually with them drugged they don't respond to FAMILY, but we knew this little guy knew us well and knows we are LOVING him all the way through... it broke my heart when he had a TEAR in the eyes looking up at me... COSMO we do LOVE you and your in our HEARTS and PRAYERS... Can't wait for our WALKS.... xoxo

Pray for COSMO

2010-05-08T22:22:00.001-07:00

It seems like every year at Mother's Day Cosmo decide's to pull that Disc out in his Back, last Mothers Day we cried and cried thinking we would have to either do a 7-9 thousand dollar back surgery or put are little bud to sleep, luckily we didn't have to do either and we have done okay the last year, but tuesday this week he started to show signs and we thought we were ahead of it and doing okay with the muscle relaxers and pain meds but this afternoon he got worse and we are back watching him suffer... We are praying that the meds will kick in and we won't be back in the ER with Cosmo tomorrow for Mothers Day... I know alot out there don't have HEARTS for pets, but this little guy is our LIFE...He is part of our FAMILY and we will not be the same if we don't get him better so please pray he makes a speedy recovery... love ya cos....xo

Happy Birthday Mitch

2010-05-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Mitch... The Big 21! We had a great time celebrating Mitch's Birthday went to dinner and then to there house for Cake and Ice~Cream, he was spoiled this year by all of us but in my eye's we call it LOVED not SPOILED... Mitch we think your the BEST... WE are so grateful that you are part of our FAMILY... We hope you had a great day and we look forward to the many more ahead of us.... we love ya...xoxo

Happy Anniversary!!

2010-04-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary Chelsey and Mitch! I can't believe its been a year since we had this wonderful day!! One that will forever stay in our minds! Like Chelsey said last night it was the perfect wedding!! WE are so proud of the progress you and Mitch have made this year.. Nothing but PROUD from me and dad!! We are always here for you and want you to know we love ya!! xo Just FYI Chelsey has been going through some health issue's there testing her today for the hole in her heart.. So remember her in your prayers today!! love ya bug....xo

22 Years to my BEST FRIEND!! xo

2010-04-07T07:16:00.001-07:00

Happy Anniversary Troy! 22 Years ago today we were married at this very moment in the Salt Lake Temple.. I can't believe how fast the time flies by and its weird to think I remember my parents celebrating there 25th and mine is around the corner... THANKS for the great years and for loving me the good and bad times. You are truly my best friend and the LOVE grows more and more over the years... I love ya... xo

Priesthood Session

2010-04-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

Troy and Austin going to Priesthood Session! They had a great time, after they were done I was amazed at how fast they got home with eating afterwards.. Later I found out that they went to a Stake Center close to the restaurant they were wanting to go too, so when it was over they had parked the last stall closest to the exit and they jumped in the car and were first in line at the restaurant.. Austin loved this time with his Dad...Troy was impressed with Austin taking NOTES on his I-pod.. THANKFUL for this in our lives so it slows life down to spend time with each other... Made GOALS and will aim at those in the next 6 months.. Austin says PRIESTHOOD session is the BEST...

Easter 2010

2010-04-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

Being Bunnies...gets them quite sucking on these things....

Mac getting a new Baseball Glove

Another Webkinz??

Austin finding his Basket!

This was a great weekend! Conference and Easter falling on the same weekend... Saturday we just kinda hung out at our house listening to conference and then in the afternoon we went over to see my Brother who was in town for the Easter Weekend. Loved seeing him and his cute little family! Mom did a little Easter Hunt with those that could make it, that is always a highlight for my kids! SAD for Missy since she can't eat the candy..but she did manage to eat the top of pizza just not the crust!! She is becoming creative in her eating habits.. That night me and the girls plus MCKAY.. Headed to Salt Lake for some SHOPPING and DINNER! I must say McKay was very good and didn't complain at all about all the shopping.. Sunday we enjoyed the kids finding there Easter Baskets and ENJOY what they got in there baskets.. finding the eggs and most important watching COSMO go for his and get them open and find his doggie treat.. I need to video it and put it on the funniest home movies.. we would win!! That afternoon we had Family Pictures on the Clyde side, it will be fun to see how they turn out.. The down of it was it was very cold and so mom did another Easter Hunt this time for money! KIDS LOVED THAT.. Missy even found the GOLDEN EGG this year! That was good since it was money and not CANDY... Sorry we didn't get more time to visit with everyone with it being cold and everyone wanting to run to there cars.. loved seeing all of you and hope the pictures are GOOD....xoxo

2010-04-05T21:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Dad~Grandpa

Wanting to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Today we are SAD that you don't live in Orem anymore so we could run over and celebrate your day!! We think your AMAZING and we couldn't ask for a better Dad and especially GRANDPA... Thanks for the love and support over the years...When I ask the kids memories of you the list is endless, but here we go: #1 Fan at all of our sport activities... #2 Birthday Treats: stopping by and making sure that child knew you were aware it was there day, we love the football donuts to the butterfly you made out of hostess products.. #3 JOHN BYTHEWAY #4 Sunflower Seeds or Power Bars #5 TREATS (not the healthy stuff) #6 Packages in the Mail for every holiday! #7 B of M challenges at the first of the year your endless example of your testimony #8 Bitters Reunions (favorite Homestead and the waterfight #9 Caring for Grandma Joyce #10 3 D's and G once again your GREAT EXAMPLE... We are truly BLESSED with you in our lives... We hope you have a great day! And will celebrate soon... xoxo

Thank You Jenny! xo

2010-04-05T15:42:00.000-07:00

Missy 2 days after her surgery noticed a dozen roses on the table, she was so excited when I told her they were from her cousin JENNY... No memory the first night of you personally delivering them, but she noticed them everyday and loved them.... this shot is for you she LOVES her ROSES....xo

Missy's Reaction to the NEWS....

2010-03-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

Missy is coming along, today she actually went to the pantry a few times looking for some food.. This will be the hard part of her recovery is trying to figure out what to feed her... She was happy with the news that all came back NEGATIVE so here is your thumbs up to NO LYMPHOMA!!:)

GRATEFUL.....

2010-03-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

Well I'm so excited I'm ready to jump out of my skin, missy has to tell me to calm down, got a call a bit ago from her Dr. and he reported that the labs came back negative, NO SIGNS OF LYMPHOMA!! We are so GRATEFUL and thrilled with this news.. its been such a long week with this hanging over us.. and now we can just be thankful to our Heavenly Father for this miracle and focus on getting Missy back to herself from the surgery!! Thanks again to our wonderful family and friends for there love and support this past week... we have learned many lessons that will be implied from here on out... Missy says THANKS to everyone who prayed for her!! xoxo

THANKS....

2010-03-24T13:54:00.001-07:00

Lortab is Missy's Friend right now to take the pain away...

Missy with her Friends

XOXO Jenny bringing her flowers

Her special friend Shelly(Just had Surgery giving her Kidney to Neighbor)

WOW~Just to Wednesday and our HEARTS are so HUGE with Gratitude to Friends, Family we are truly blessed with this in our lives.. Thank You to my great parents who came and brought me a DC while Missy was in Surgery! They know what CALMS me down:) to all the tex messages, FB messages, phone messages, we felt everyone's prayers and love... To my siblings for there love and support, to my wonderful Neice, who drove down from Draper to see if she was okay and bring her flowers, she finally came to enough to notice the flowers, i got a picture I will post later... love you jen... to my great in laws who came from Logan yesterday to spend the day with us.. loved having you with us..her sweet little friends checking in on her! To my great neighborhood, the meals have been a blessing, i really thought me and troy could handle things, but when that door knocked with Maren that first night it was truly a act of service that was much appreciated.. and we had another one come in last night. I guess I have learned that I will be a better person in tune to others that our going through trials instead of being to busy to do my part!! Shelly thanks for all you have done for Missy, she loves you with all her heart, your message you gave her sunday impacted her so much, and she told me today that she knows he was carrying her too... the picture and frame will be something special to her for the rest of her life. your example is forever in our hearts!! To my husband you are my medical comforter.. if this wouldn't of been a emergency surgery, and a planned one you would of been required to take 3-4 days off, you bring so much comfort to all of us.. thanks for your support and love and especially for the sleep you let me have last night...xo to Austin and Mckay thanks for being awesome brothers, and loving your sister! Chelsey and Mitch thanks for being there and Mitch for being here on Sunday to be part of it.. you two know she loves ya and especially to milo who as been her protector and growled if anyone touched her...Keep praying, we are still waiting, Troy even called today to say any word?? I was like ughhhhhh did you have to remind me so I guess he is feeling anxious to get it over with too... fingers and toes crossed...love ya xo

Our BRAVE Missy....

2010-03-24T13:13:00.000-07:00

Our Brave Little Marisa...

Her Oxygen was Low so they gave her a treatment that helped so much!!

Grateful she is out of Surgery...

A Kiss for LUCK!!

In Good Hands with Dads Friends...

Missy waiting for Doctor to come in and check her..

Had her WIT..she is biting her nails to show she is nervous...

Missy got through her Surgery on Monday! We are so GRATEFUL its behind us and now we will focus on getting her better.. She was so BRAVE and me and troy were so PROUD of her...I really did wonder if she would stay strong, on sunday she kept saying to me that she was going to cry and freak out on me... WE had a beautiful blessing on Sunday from her Dad, Mitch and Grumpy! And then Missy had our neighbor just go through a Kidney Transplant, she gave her kidney to another neighbor...so she knew very well how it is to go through surgery and the fear, she pulled missy aside and talked with her about her 2nd day and feeling so terrible and how the thing that gave her comfort was her Heavenly Father and then she shared a neat spiritual experience that she had, this really touched Missy and she told me all about it, I really think that it comforted Missy the morning of her surgery!! It went well, she was nervous but brave, by the time we got there and got her checked in they came and got her, she was changed and we had Dad's crew that he had arranged all coming in and they had been waiting our arrival.. I am grateful for Troy and his friendship that he has with this medical field that we had her in good hands and we trusted all of them with our special little one.. The surgery took like 45 minutes.. Dr. Hamilton came out and said it went well, he had a tough time with the right one that was abnormal and it didn't want to come out. Because of it she bled quite a bit and he had a hard time getting it stopped, so they had to catarize it and then he still had a struggle with it so they used some foam/cement to seal it... because of this it will make her recovery a little more challenging.. she will feel like she can't breath from the foam. He did take her adnoids (don't know spelling on some of this but you get the idea..right:) he didn't know how she has been breathing the last 10 years with the swelling in there. I think she will be a whole new little girl when its all over and done. He did feel better about things when he got it out, but sending it down to pathlogy to be safe!! We are still a 50/50 case but we are still praying things go well... and we really do have a peaceful feeling with it! So many thoughts are running through my mind the last few days. I guess my gut is we are okay and if it is then we have caught it early!! xo

Praying for Missy

2010-03-20T19:22:00.001-07:00

WOW....What a week this has been, Troy flew out last Sunday for his Medical Conference, I had decided to stay behind with kids, just seemed like its been crazy and I have had health issue's and then with Missy sick alot it just seemed like the right thing to do, I have had the feeling to get missy into a ENT doctor and get her tonsils out, when we had met with her teacher she had 23 absences this year so far... I heard of a good doctor and decided to get her in so we could get them out this summer I had even thought oh maybe in April over spring break...When they told me they could get me in on Tuesday i was like wow that was fast, we went and sure enough my hutch was right and missy needed them out, little did I know walking in to that office what I was facing and what I would feel when I walked out... He told me her Right Tonsil was abnormal/growth and it was double the size of her left tonsil, i was like okay, he then started shooting all these questions to me and i would say yes or no, and I thought what does this have to do with taking her tonsils out, as he talked he kept bringing up the word Lymphoma and that is when the KNOT in my throat started and in my head i am trying to understand what he is saying, i finally stopped him and said are you talking the C word?? and he then looked at me and said yes that is what I'm referring too... I don't really remember the rest of the visit, I know missy looked at me with her huge eyes trying to understand too... The nurse came into the room and said okay so Thursday? I'm going NO i'm not doing this before I get Troy home... I know its a rush to get it out, but I can't do this without TROY...So I told them we would let them know... I got half way home and me and missy didn't even say a word to each other, i think we were both just in SHOCK and speechless..When the office called cuz I had left my purse! I thought wow snap out of this Melanie!!! When we got home and missy was occupied by the TV I tried to reach Troy, I will never forget hearing his voice and feeling so grateful to be getting ahold of him, he was so good with me, since at this moment i was freaking out and saying how?he said the right things to calm me down and said he was actually in a class right now learning about it! We didn't talk long, it was just a sick feeling on both our end and stay POSITIVE for Missy was what we decided. We didn't sleep at all that night me or missy... she is having a hard time with anxiety I think with the Dr. talking in front of her.. That next morning was when it hit me and i was going through every emotion..I called the Dr. to confirm we would do this Monday and I had to ask if I really did understand what he had told me the day before, once again i put myself through hearing it and knowing it was not a dream... I wanted to get on I15 and go and just run from it... but I tried to pull myself together and go to work, that lasted a half hour and i ended home since my carbon detector was beeping all night, i had the questar gas man coming to check it... I ended up having visitors, my father in law stopped in and checked on us and also my sister in law... it was what I needed to distract me and pull myself together, i think also I was going on no sleep, Missy came home HAPPY and so glad she went to school, she told me it made her forget about it... so once I saw her happy i was able to feel peace... and that is where we are still positive and feeling peace with it all... We are saying POSITIVE~HOPE... one step at a time, first the tonsils and then we will wait for pathology to get the news... there saying its a 50/50 chance... we are praying we are the 50% NOT.....But if its the 50% that its Lymphoma we know its early and they will probley have it out.... PLEASE keep us in your prayers as we go Monday!! and as we wait this week for the NEWS.... THANKS to all our friends and family that have stopped in and called we are truly blessed by you...:)

Happy Birthday to ME....

2010-02-21T20:58:00.001-08:00

This is what I looked like this year for the Big Birthday.... Went on some meds for Strep Throat little did I know that I was HIGHLY ALLERGIC to them, especially the GENERIC form of it... had side affects the whole trip in St. George and that was why it was such a blessing to have the help of my parents... I was diagnosing myself which is normal for me, thinking it was Gall Bladder and it would pass with some tums.... I guess with a Z~Pack it builds in your system with the last dosage being the highest.. I got up got the kids off to school and popped the pill running to the shower so I wouldn't be late to work. Trying to put on makeup with swollen eyes was not happening today, they seemed to be alot worse then the day before since i had noticed me swelling in the eyes.. I got dressed and noticed the swelling was now in my tongue, so thought oh I don't have time for this, I grabbed a claritin and out the door I went.. On the way down I was struggling with shortness of breath and thought oh I'm just tired.. it will kick in and i will be fine.. Got to work and by now I can't see my computer screen and i'm shaky, so i walked myself into Leslie to say HELP... Another blessing in disguise since its 8:30am and Leslie usually doesn't arrive before 9 am... so we thought it might be i had taken 2 excedrin with the meds on a empty stomach so the sweetheart she is she drove me to McDonalds to get me some food... and back to the office we went with me convincing her i was okay... got in and the heart was pounding like crazy and so after another 20 minutes and the claritin in my system and the heart still going crazy i knew I had to face the ER... as you know me I HATE DOCTORS....( yes I'm kinda married to one but it doesn't change it... ) Chelsey got word and she was there in 10 minutes from Orem to take me... I was so GRATEFUL to see her... DAUGHTERS are a BLESSING and especially when there the oldest of your kids! They say they think its the Z~Pack and it will take some time... so 5 days now I have gone through some memory loss, burning in my skin and tongue, 2 more attacks of me having the swelling reaction, lots of TEARS... but I'm at 5 days and will see what happens now... THANKS for all the LOVE from my family and friends... I think I have began to STING with being ornery... so THANKS to TROY for his PATIENCE....xoxo

What do you do with ZHU ZHU Pets???

2010-02-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

This is Missy and McKay today when I came out from getting ready, they had set up McKays Soccer Playmobile and made it into a Zhu Zhu Soccer Stadium, so they could compete against each other.. they can even SCORE... watching this made it worth every early morning and every line to get this cute little critters for my kids... MEMORIES that is what its all about right??:)

SOCCER...

2010-02-21T18:45:00.001-08:00

Missy's Soccer Team had a tournament in St. George this past weekend, getting a hotel room in St. George was a little difficult and so we ended up staying in Cedar City.. Troy couldn't get out of his schedule so me and missy and mckay headed down ahead of them, thank goodness my parents had a great idea to join... so we hopped in there van and headed on down thursday night... that van was pretty SWEET and I think kids now days have it pretty nice with the video set up... I was great the whole way down! We had a great time with my parents... time is to busy I have decided and we just don't spend enough time with them.. this slowed it down to be able to spend some quality time with them. A memory my kids will not forget!! Missy did AWESOME in her games, I was a proud mom on the side lines yelling for her.. They WON the first two games but come saturday when Troy and Austin caught up with us they lost and became out of the tournament.. We just ate, swam, watched the olympics and just enjoyed getting away!! Thanks MOM and DAD for making the trip!

Happy Birthday Missy Lynn....

2010-02-21T18:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday MARISA....

10. FRECKLES... we love your freckles or your ANGEL KISSES as we refer to them in our home.

9. Competitive I love that you have this "spunk" in you to compete against whoever.. your attitude BRING IT ON....

8. Smile and Dimple just like McKay you smile at me and and it melts my heart...

7. Determination, you have taught me so much of not giving up.. you are such a hard worker and you don't give up!!

6. Soccer/ Lacrosse/ Singing I love watching you in all area's...

5. Love for Animals... your 100 webkinz to your love for COSMO... you have a deep love for pets!!

4. Friend: Your a pleaser and want to make everyone happy around you, so this makes you a great friend... I love watching you and your two hips that you giggle and giggle and entertain me day after day...

3. HALLOWEEN... We love Halloween together and I can always count on you to jump in and get excited about it with me...

2. CTR~This is something that is very important to you and you always set the example to us of how important it is in our life... Stay close always and do what is right and all your hard work will be rewarded...

1. Just YOU we love that your our unique little MISSY... you are a JOY in our lives.. the peacemaker of our home... Thanks for being so fun to raise... Happy Birthday we love ya xo

GIRLS TRIP...yeah:)

2010-02-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

Our last night and Chelsey got this GORGEOUS SUNSET on her Camera...

The laugh on the road coming into Kanab you'll think its a Policeman, but we flipped and saw the truth... we laughed and laughed... I had to have a PICTURE....

LOVE my GIRLS... this was a GREAT TRIP!!

Matt and Becky with there cute little FAMILY...Mia's Blessing Day....

Missy LOVED holding Mia...

The GIRLS scored at H&M...Chel's loves this store in NY and so when Matt mentioned it was there Chelsey was THRILLED...Missy was THRILLED when it said KIDS....

Grandpa and Nana and the GIRLS...

Missy's Favorite People...

MIA is so CUTE...

COUSINS....

Mia is not the only new addition to Matt's Family this is DEXTER... sweet DOG...

We decided to head out and do a GIRLS TRIP.... Matt and Becky were having Mia's Blessing and we thought we'd love to share it with them and support them... Matt has always been so supportive to me and my family, I wanted to do something back.... We left on Thursday afternoon, and no lie we got in the car and the time flew, we made it so quick to page, stayed that night and then we went the next day and made it to Matt's in great timing, I don't know why its a MISERABLE drive, we LOVED it... We arrived and had lunch with Mom and Dad and Zoe, and Alex... Matt and Becky had meetings and little Mia stayed with the Nanny... That night we had a Birthday Party for Mom and there friend, she made a yummy Chicken dinner and we enjoyed there friends, and Allreds arrived a little bit later.. Saturday Morning we had Mia's Blessing and Matt did a AWESOME Job... She is a DARLING baby and just so GOOD... WE then headed out to go shopping, poor Matt took the girls all over, and especially there favorite place H&M I'm sure will be going back... That night we just hung out and talked and then off to Bed... We loved seeing all of them and especially the kids... Missy loved every minute of playing with Zoe and Alex... WE had some SAD news along the way, Mark and Laurie were also down there to Sharolyn's daughters wedding and Don had gotten really sick and ended up in the hospital and it just didn't turn out the best and Don passed away Saturday Morning, it was really a sad thing when your married you all become family and that is exactly how we felt about Don... WE love you and we are grateful for your great example in our lives... We are happy for the reunion you are having on the other side with Georgia...Besides this sad news, we had a GREAT trip and will be doing more of these GIRL TRIPS in the future... Thanks Matt for all you did for us while we visited... we love ya xo

Happy Birthday MOM!

2010-02-07T20:16:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday to MOM/NANA... We hope you have a great day!! We love ya and we especially had a special one this year with being in Arizona with you and sharing your special day!! Thanks for all your love and support... words don't even express the appreciation I have for you... you are truly the BEST MOM in the WORLD... But more then that thanks for being a SPECIAL FRIEND to me, a day doesn't go by that I'm not grateful for your friendship... love ya xoxo

2010-02-07T19:37:00.000-08:00

HERE IS BITTERS TOP 10 of 2009.... WE HAD A GREAT YEAR!

10. PINE WOOD DERBY: McKay had his first pine wood, him and troy spent time making his car and he wanted it to be "REAL SOCCER"! He didn't place 1st but he did in our eye's!

9. BIRTHDAYS: Birthday's are always SPECIAL at our house... And this year was fun with cut outs of there HERO... with Balloons... Dad continue's to make the cakes and it makes it even more special...

8. SUMMER GAMES: Missy participated with her Soccer Team in the summer games, we all went down and had a great time with her and getting to know the other families... it will be a highlight in 2010 too....

7. SCHOOLING: Our kids all completed another school year, we are proud of each of them and there hard work that they give in the school year!

6. SPORTS: Austin loved watching you in your freshman year of football, you make us PROUD to be in the stand yelling your name, you did AWESOME as QB and proved your position... M&M both did great with Soccer this year! Mckay was even lucky to have his Dad be his coach... Thanks for making us PROUD...

5. JOBS: We are Thankful to be working with the economy the way it is and we feel truly BLESSED...

4. GRANDMA PINKIE: Wow this was a tough year with her STROKE but we are very GRATEFUL we got to celebrate her 95th Birthday in November... We have had some wonderful years and some great memories... Oh how we love you a BUSHEL and a PECK.... xoxo

3. PARENTS: Support and LOVE we couldn't do it without our parents and there love throughout the year... we love ya xoxo

2. WEDDINGS: We were lucky to have 2 other wedddings in the family this year, we are grateful we were able to be part of them, we love ya Kevin & Page and Jason & Becca..

1. OUR CHELSEY'S WEDDING: WOW! This for sure takes #1 this year, nothing can express the feeling of seeing your daughter in the temple, marrying her eternal companion! We are PROUD of both of them! And we are thrilled to have MITCH part of our family..

New Years Eve

2010-02-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

We had a great New Year, it was a little crazy but when we finally arrived it was very ENJOYED... Troy spent the day taking the kids skiing/snowboarding, the M&M loved it... Missy is skiing and Mac is snowboarding... Austin had chosen to go snowboarding with his friends... and is getting great use out of his ski pass that he got for Christmas... He had picked a very busy day to go and the ski resort was PACKED... he had taken Taylor my nephew up and was going to enjoy his time with him and really hitting the mountains while the kids were in there lessons... I think they all enjoyed but it made a late night of getting home, we were anxious to get going since we had 2 parties to attend and try and jungle both... When there both FAMILY now how do you say NO to one??? so just as we are walking out the door to Searle's the phone rings and Austin is still STUCK up at Sundance with no ride... how parents feel right about standing up there kids and rely on others to take care of there kids is beyond me... so troy had to hurry and make a trip up Provo Canyon, so needless to say we were LATE.... We finally made it and enjoyed the company of the Smiths too. I understand now why Chelsey and Mitch think so much of them... We had yummy scones that Diana made and we visited and played games... the blowers, hats and especially the 2010 glasses were a hit... Before we turned around it was time to ring in the new year and we had missed our family party... we toasted in the New Year and even got some fun shots of all of us... Thanks for a great evening... WE are grateful to have you part of our family, the wedding this year was the highlight of 2009!! To our FAMILY sorry we missed your traditional new years eve party... next year will try and jungle better. But we LOVE YA....Happy New Year!!

FAVORITE

2010-02-07T18:34:00.001-08:00

Lots of Gifts and Treats come in over the Holidays from Troys Work, everynight the kids are anxious as to what will be coming through the door with Troy... Well tonight MISSY was in HEAVEN when the FRUIT BASKET came in with DAD...... I think MISSY had almost the whole thing... she loves FRUIT.....

Pinkie 95th

2010-02-07T18:26:00.000-08:00

Pinkie Celebrated her 95th Birthday we did a Princess Party at Lion House on the evening of her Birthday! Wow so much as happened in a year, if you asked me a year ago if I would have pinkie forever I would of said yes, she will easy make it to a 100 but in February our pinkie had a stroke and she has gone down hill very fast, Oh I miss my Pinkie and those trips to see her in Springville, you take it so for granite when it was here and now that its gone I ache for it to be back... She is a SWEETHEART even with the stroke that as affected her so much.... She loves seeing the kids and sometimes she knows us and other times she is not quite there to know who we are... but its a good lesson for my kids to LOVE and enjoy it everyday of life... WE LOVE YOU PINKIE.......

Catch Up....

2010-02-07T17:57:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas this year. The kids were so excited this year and seemed to love everything we did old tradition or a new one.. It was fun to have Mitch and Chelsey with us on Christmas Morning and start some new traditions... We were a little sad this year with change on Christmas Eve with Pinkie having her Stroke we didn't do our traditional eve party, we had one the week before at Steve and Lisa's and just had Santa come and Pinkie gave her gifts, we all enjoyed seeing each other and spending some time with Pinkie, life stops during these special visits, we just don't know how much longer will be blessed with her here on this earth... So by the time Christmas Eve came around there was a emptiness not going to our traditional Pinkie Party.... Clyde's decided we needed to do something so we were all busy and not feeling SAD... especially for my younger kids M&M haven't had that tradition as long as some of the older siblings and cousins... We went to Sizzler and had a nice lunch with all the family, it was so fun to visit and just have it be relaxing. After we went to the movie blindside and LOVED it and then we all split told each other MERRY CHRISTMAS and came home to just be a FAMILY.. I did love this and we did the tradition of opening up the pajama's and just hanging out. Christmas we just also hang out here and enjoyed each other, playing all the new WII stuff and eating... Later in the afternoon we went over to Dad and Moms and had a dinner with some of the family and opened gifts from Grandpa and Nana. We are always GRATEFUL for all they do for us and the kids. We Love ya!!

Happy Birthday CHELSEY.....xo

2009-11-11T22:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my special daughter today on her big 20!!! Thanks for 20 fabulous years...You are truly a JOY in our lives and we have enjoyed every minute of raising you... Thanks for being especially my Best Friend!! I don't have a day that goes by that I'm not grateful for our Mother/Daughter FRIENDSHIP.....Have the BEST day and I hope you LOVE your surprise....xoxo love mom

SWINE FLU????

2009-11-08T18:36:00.000-08:00

I should be all excited to have some time hanging here at the house and focus on some FALL CLEANING.... Missy is SICK again... yes you heard me right...Not sure what to think this time, all the symptons, but alot more stomach pains with this time around... My heart breaks for her she looks so terrible in the eyes and the fever is so HIGH all she wants to do his lay on the couch which she has done since FRIDAY... Troy's little Sis Tasha is also sick in NY with the SWINE... So I guess pray MOM, TASHA and MISSY.....xoxo

Thinking Of You.....xoxo MOM

2009-11-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

Just for those reading my blog today remember Mom/Nana in your prayers tomorrow morning...She is going in for a little eye surgery but PRAYER is always a COMFORT.... WE are thinking and praying for you today....love ya xoxo

LOVE IT......TRICK OR TREAT.....xo

2009-11-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

Witches BREW....Mckay was so excited for the Homemade Rootbeer.....

HARRY POTTER....love the HAT.....xo

Missy my FAIRY....love the eyes in this picture....pretty blue

Mom off to work and kids off to school Halloween fun....

Happy Halloween!! I love that it was on a weekend this year...I loved that it was not on friday and that we had 2 days of it, and that we were able to enjoy Saturday with all the school activities on friday... I thought the kids turned out great this year... Love HARRY and I was so glad he decided to PLEASE his mother and be Harry instead of STAR WARS... You made a AWESOME Harry McKay....He went out with his friend and enjoyed going as fast as they could to fill up there bags.... Missy was DARLING and we got a ton of compliments on her fairy costume... Missy was sad because her best friend doing it with her got the yucky flu so she was not the fairy with her on Halloween... THANKS to Chelsey for filling in and helping me with her make-up it turned out GREAT.... Mitch and Chelsey came and were part of the evening with us... We had the pizza, witches brew afterwards and of course the piles of candy on the floor to trade out what we didn't like.... Austin was not around much, but he was clever with the BOYS on creating superhero's and doing his own costume... LOVED the tights...xo

2009-11-08T17:47:00.000-08:00

We love to go to Gardner Village and see all the witches during the month of October...This year we had not made it up there with all the craziness going on in the Bitters Home, I love this month and WITCHES are my FAVORITE.... So Troy being the good sport he is we headed up to grab some peeks and of course some pictures... Julie had told me of a Witch store there so I was able to pick up a few things to go along with my WITCH costume for Halloween...It was a great night and we loved that Mitch and Chelsey joined in...xo

Thank Goodness CAMERA is back....

2009-10-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

Yes he survived going to the DR. looks like a piece of Chelsey's memory card got down in my camera... A little more complicated then they thought...Amazing a tiny little piece of it that messed it up... So be careful slipping those cards in and out...you'll save money if you do....

Poor TROY

2009-10-28T21:40:00.001-07:00

This does not even show it good, but POOR Troy is allergic to the soap in surgery... after 10 cases tonight he came home absolutely miserable...there cut up and bleeding and it hurts me to even look at them, he is broke out in a rash all over and there swelling... On top of it he has developed arthritis in his fingers... I think he is on his way back to the dermo dr. for another shot...not much they can do for him... SORRY HONEY... Thanks for all you do to support and love us... your hands for sure show it...xoxo

Ward Halloween Party....

2009-10-28T21:28:00.001-07:00

Tonight we had our Ward Halloween Party.... The kids were so EXCITED to say the least...And we have 3 more days of this excitment before HALLOWEEN.... McKay turned out SO CUTE.... LOVE HIM as HARRY POTTER... He survived going with the Jedi Jeff and Jedi Samuel and I think he was fine not to be STAR WARS .... Missy went as a Fairy and they turned out darling... Joelle THANKS there costumes turned out so cute, and I appreciate all your work on making them look so AMAZING....I wish I had taken a picture of the before and after.... High Five to our Primary Presidency that did a great job!! Had to throw a picture of them in to since I love these friends of mine...xo

2009-10-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

I'm lost without my camera the last week, it had to go see the Dr. and so they still have it and it must really be sick that they did not call me and tell me he was ready when they knew I had my child's BIRTHDAY... Please hurry and GET BETTER SOON... and I hope the Dr. knows HALLOWEEN is around the corner and I will DIE if I don't have you back....xo

2009-10-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

McKays Big Day...Happy Birthday we Love ya...xo

This year was a little different with the BUG going around still we kinda just had a hang out at the house day... It was a great Birthday for the fact that FALL BREAK from school was on the week of your birthday so NO SCHOOl... Grandpa Wes made a stop and brought you a gift and some football donuts that we all ENJOYED... and then later when Dad, Chelsey and Mitch got off work we met up with Grandpa and Nana Clyde before they were leaving for Arizona and went to Chili's... you were very appreciative of your BYU jersey, and made sure I knew you were going to now throw away the UTE one you got for Nana's Halloween Party... And he loves the Star Wars Wii game... Mom he stayed up until one am doing it that night... good thing it was FALL BREAK.... When he came home we had a storm trooper who had invaded our home and decided he wanted to make his new home in McKays room, he was thrilled with it since he is a STAR WARS freak... We opened gifts and he loved all the new Star Wars stuff he received... Him and Dad stayed up late playing and I think his dad finally crashed about one in the morning and Mac was still going for it on the Wii.... McKay thanks for being so appreciative of all you received... I love when you show you love it... we love ya and think your the best JEDI around... xoxo

2009-10-19T20:29:00.001-07:00

"WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE".... MCKAY'S 9TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Saturday we did a Birthday Party of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.... Wow I thought oh good timing the movie is coming out and what a fun BOYS Party... NOT... nothing for the movie was out, no cakes, no party favors , no ideas at all... Then the movie review came out and it was saying NO KIDS... I was like WHAT?? Its a kids book... Me and Troy have different ideas on this subject when it comes to movies... me being a PLEASER I did not want to ruffle any feathers with my neighbors....So it ended up that we took a run to the movie the day before and we decided it was okay and that 9 year olds would be just fine with it... Like Troy said no more scary then Star Wars or Harry Potter... and Mckay LOVED IT...So we had pizza and opened some gifts and off we went to see the movie, they all enjoyed it and we came back home for cupcakes and ice-cream... I think Mckay was a very happy boy with how it all turned out....This is the cake that Troy made for Mckay on Sunday, glad he is the CREATIVE one in the family, I could not just whip out a cake with out a pattern to follow... good job TROY....

2009-10-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

For those that know the CLYDE family they are HUGE Cougar FANS..... So "part" of our family this year decided to go has the UTE fans... WE decked out in RED AND WHITE.. I had gotten other costumes for McKay and Missy but when they got word what we were thinking they wanted to be apart of it... Mac especially was counting down the hours to get a reaction out of the COUSINS... He had gone shopping with me and my mom for his Birthday and he was like so many days?? And then he would say to my mom THINK RED? and you would hear giggles... I would be like MCKAY she is going to figure it out.. But thank goodness my mom never did... It was sad when we were all sick with the guck... and so I didn't feel good about attending the party this year... I was so SAD and McKay was still going to go with Troy since they are the ones HEALTHY... about 8:00 pm. Chelsey called and said NANA wants you to still come and let her see your costumes and get pictures so we threw ourselves together the best we could, so atleast we got a few shots... I was SAD that Missy is just not feeling good... There costumes this year were so CREATIVE... I was pretty impressed... Dad and Mom were in the 50 gear and I think they always pull it off great.. My dad took about 10 years off of his age with his black hair and mom doesn't look to shaby as a blonde... THANKS mom and dad for the BEST party... I LOVE IT and look forward to it every year.... Kinda funny Austin would not be part of the UTE thing but instead went as OBAMA and my neice was MICHELLE... hmmm which one is worse????

Happy Birthday MCKAY......

2009-10-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE LITTLE MAN.. TOP TEN OF WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT YOU....XO

1. Your smile and those cute DIMPLES....that melt my heart...
2. Your giggle and especially if Austin gets you going....
3. Playing Soccer, we love watching you and you make us proud....
4. Playing Football, love your spin out and running for a touchdown...you rock....
5. Best to help me in the housework... I so APPRECIATE you always helping me, and especially I never have to ask you to make your bed you do it everyday... THANKS....xo
6. That you love STAR WARS and you might never outgrow it...
7. That your a good friend to everyone, your book you got at school yesterday had so many saying of how you are a friend to everyone and that makes me very proud of you...
8. That you and Missy are BEST FRIENDS...
9. That you CHOOSE THE RIGHT and you pray everynight at your bed, I love seeing you as I walk down the hall, he is the best friend you will ever have...xo
10. That you are the BEST SON a mom and dad could ask for... WE LOVE YA and we want you to know we think your the BEST... Happy Birthday little Man, and may the force be with you....(see I do know star wars) ha ha

SICK...SICK...SICK...

2009-10-11T22:17:00.001-07:00

Well not alot to post here at this house we have been fighting the Flu, Pneumonia, and
now TONSILITIS the last few weeks... Started with me and Troy and then from there it
stayed with me, and then Austin came down with it and was really sick for 4-5 days, meanwhile I kept getting worse and finally after some chestpains and a stab in my back I went ahead and got checked and sure enough Pneumonia, so I have been home for a week trying to get over it, I have never had it before, and I can't believe how it WIPES every bit of energy out of you, for those that know me well I'm pretty CLEAN I'm one that never goes to work without the beds made and the dishes done before I go to bed... But the last week, there are days I didn't make the bed cuz it took to much energy out of me... I'm starting to feel a little of energy back and I was hoping to get back to work tomorrow, well I guess it doesn't always work that way, since Missy started in this morning with the HIGH FEVER we have been giving her Motrin/Tylenol and having a hard time with the fever, achy body and a tremendous Neck Pain.... I hate to see the kids sick!! So Troy is pretty sure we have Tonsilitis now at the house, will for sure rule it out in the morning... Hope C21 Rockies will stay patient with me...But its always the FAMILYL first and then the JOB!!! But on the SAD note Mom and Dad are having there HALLOWEEN PARTY tomorrow night and it doesn't look like will be attending... McKay was so excited for us to go and has been counting down the days... The costumes this year were pretty good and he couldn't wait to see the REACTION out of FAMILY.... guess will just hold on to them for next year....xo

THANK YOU!!!

2009-09-30T18:20:00.001-07:00

This is my Dad and Mom and I just had to make a post today since its been a CRAZY week with LIFE...I have been under so much STRESS with work and just being a mom and working is not sometimes easy, today I went out to go to work and my car is DEAD!!! Thanks to my good friend Jan I was able to hitch a ride, work was crazy and stressful, I had talked with mom for a brief moment that I might need to borrow a car if Troy was late with Surgery and keeping up with TAXI duties with the kids, I got busy and didn't think much of it, and soon I hear I have someone who is at the front of the office for me, I look out and there is my cute MOM with keys to the car... Dad is lost and she didn't know what happened to him, not only are they borrowing me a car for the night but he stopped to put GAS in it for me!! I didn't think much of it until after they left and I choked up with GRATEFULNESS for these two in my life... You see I have a agent in my office who is watching her Dad pass away today and I thought wow and I am so lucky to have mine... So THANK YOU mom and dad for always being there for me... I do appreciate you always going the extra mile for me and my family.... I forgot to give you a HUG for this great act of love you did for me today....I love ya with all my HEART....xoxo

Football Season....Soccer Season.....

2009-09-24T18:39:00.001-07:00

I have to say a few things about SPORTS... You know I didn't grow
up with alot of SPORTS in my life, but I guess my kids got this "gene"
from there FATHER.... I am finding myself learning alot of patience
when it comes to my HOUSE and letting go of it to be at the FIELDS
supporting my kids... This past week has been one of those weeks of
feeling very overwhelmed with work, troy gone 14 hour days in Surgery,
and me running TAXI for the kids sports... But I have also had the REWARDS
of watching this kids play in there games this week and I will say I am
there biggest FAN!! Thanks for this season in my life, Austin WOW you
were amazing last night as QB and SAFETY... That touch down was AWESOME
and you make me proud to yell your name, even if Mckay is telling me to be QUIET
cuz I'm embarrasing him... Missy way to play hard and be so AGGRESSIVE, you
are doing GREAT in Soccer!! Mckay well his comment this week to Austin when
he was happy with his touch down was " So??? I did that last night what is the big
deal?? He is doing awesome in Flag Football and Soccer same as missy you make your
goals and play aggressive... HIGH FIVE you three you make us proud....xo

Texas RoadHouse

2009-09-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

For his Birthday Dinner he wanted to do Texas Roadhouse little did he know we would really make him get on the saddle and pose for the camera!! I think maybe next year he might not pick somewhere we make him pose and be a COWBOY..... Also I forgot to mention one of his favorite gifts from Missy his first BARBIE, yes Celina Gomez!! And I think he was thrilled with this gift, hopefully it can distract him for the next year from the GIRLS out there yelling his name in the games.....ONE YEAR and wow the 16 will be here, DRIVING LEARNER permit at 15??? WHAT?? mom is not ready for that one, boys are a little harder on that one then girls.... and one year and DATING... Oh its going way to fast, please slow it down and let me ENJOY him a little more.....xo

Happy Birthday AUSTIN

2009-09-24T18:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Austin!! Life is busy with this BOY!! And so we were able to throw together a party for him on Sunday, it was a last minute thing when we realized the day of his birthday he would be on the FOOTBALL field for the night and we also had 2 other soccer games to attend... So Dad was able to get a cake made and we had Mitch and Chelsey join with us, he was thrilled with his new IPOD TOUCH a little extra then we do for Birthdays but Austin had done alot of babysitting to help mom out this summer at work so it paid off... THANKS for being a AWESOME SON me and dad are so PROUD of you and we are excited for the journey ahead.... xoxo

CREATIVE PLAYDOUGH

2009-09-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Its never a dull moment with MISSY around the house, we had gone to Church and come home and were trying to get things going for Austins Birthday Party! We have been really trying to train MILO like we have COSMO... He is doing GREAT but sometimes gets to busy playing with COSMO that he does OOPS! Well Missy had this one planned pretty good us thinking he had done it while we were at Church, of course MITCH is dying that he has had this accident in the house and runs to get the cleaner and missy is laughing, well come to find out she was just tricking and she had become CREATIVE in her PLAYDOUGH... Oh Mitch hope you can adjust to all of there JOKES.... Milo is wondering if it was so funny cuz DADDY got mad at him....

Back to School

2009-09-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

School is back in I'm still feeling like summer went way to fast this year... I love having the kids home, this year was a little more crazy since I had to put in more hours at work, so maybe that is why I'm so SAD its over.... The kids were so ready for it on the other hand and I especially saw a excitement in Mckay and Missy this year, maybe not that same excitement in Austin but hey 9th grade year, that is always a positive thing.... GOOD LUCK guys to a new year and GOOD GRADES...

Where did summer go???

2009-08-04T23:34:00.000-07:00

I can't believe its AUGUST where did this summer go??? But I do have happy news to report I am DONE yes that is right I am DONE with School Shopping... Last year me and troy ran like crazy trying to get it all done the last few days before school started and it was a NIGHTMARE... So I can now ENJOY the next few weeks and hopefully have a little bit of
time off to ENJOY my kids and take full advantage of the end of summer...

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

2009-08-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

OQUIRRH MOUNTAIN TEMPLE

What a great end to the weekend, we had a great weekend with me and troy both having some time off work... We have had such a need of a get away and I can't think of any vacation that would of giving me what I received from this Open house at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.. I had decided to do a evening tour since I wanted to capture some shots of the kids with the temple lights... It is a stunning temple inside and out and I would say this is one of my favorites now in Utah, of course next to Salt Lake since that has special meaning of being sealed to Troy that will forever be my favorite but this is right up there with it... I loved it and felt such a strong spirit standing out there in line and looking out over the valley, we are so blessed here in Utah to be able to look out and see a Draper Temple and the Jordan River right there from where I was standing... I'm so GRATEFUL for that opportunity of the sweet spirit that touched me and was able to give me that reassurance that I need to be back more often and be taking advantage of that opportunity.. I'm so excited me and troy have decided to start a new tradition with Mitch and Chelsey of doing a different Temple each month so we get the opportunity of seeing all these different temples.. We were also excited to share this special night with my parents, THANKS Mom and Dad for coming even later in the evening to be a part of this memory with my kids, it will be a memory forever to them, they love having you be a part of us... WE LOVE YA and we are GRATEFUL for TEMPLES and that we will be a FAMILY FOREVER....xo

Grandpa and Nana at the Opuirrh Mountain Temple with Missy and McKay

Weekend Fun....

2009-08-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

We headed up to Lagoon this past weekend, Austin had planned to do it with a bunch of his buddies and I'm not a mom to just let him loose with no one there if they needed anyone so since the Olsen's had decided to make a day of it, I thought hey we should do that...so finally when Troy walked in the door from the office I was like lets head up and enjoy... The kids were like so excited I didn't think we'd make it there fast enough for them... WE had a great time, me and troy thought we'd start at the easy rides and they got BORED

very fast on those rides so Troy said well lets go try some and by eleven that night we had gone on all the big rides and Missy and Mckay had no fears of the rides... Missy questioned WICKED by the time she got up to the front of the line, I was not sure if I agreed with what Troy was doing but catching her reaction on the camera when she came back said it all that she loved it!! Mitch and Chelsey came up after work and we enjoyed the evening with them, that made it even funnier for Missy and Mckay! Austin would wonder where we were along the way, he was dying to take McKay on Wicked and was disappointed when him and Nate couldn't get at the front of the line with him and the booster seat... I think it was rated on the way home from Mckay that #1 WICKED #2 LOOP TO LOOP (collases) #3 ROLLAR COASTER (yes the great white rollar that makes Lagoon) #4 BAT #5 DAD WINNING ME THE BAT... But I think the highlight for me and troy was seeing Missy and McKay be the BEST OF FRIENDS!! Our life would be very empty without these two buddies.... LAGOON

2009-08-04T21:54:00.001-07:00

A DAY AT THE ZOO!!

In July we took off and went to the ZOO with the kids and of course Mitch and Chels! Mckay especially has been wanting to go to the Zoo and it seems like its been forever since we took the kids! I was AMAZED at what they have done with it and how nice it was.. The kids loved it. The animals were awake and moving around even with the heat of summer! We got a ton of cute pictures and ate ice cream along the way, its never a dull moment when you have Austin around and so not that it will embarass him but I will post some of the pictures of him trying to get a reaction out of his dad, mind you people are thinking we have a handicap child since he is making noices along the way, I say this since Austin had Peer Tutoring this last year and he has such a LOVE for handicap kids that he will be one most of the time since he had this class. We had one couple stare at us and stop to see what he was doing with this ice cream! Its hard to pull a straight face and to get mad when he is doing this,( chelsey seems to be the only one that can be irritated ) and the rest of us are busting at the seams... I'm grateful for these moments that he makes me LAUGH, life is short and not very often is he moody or not in a GREAT MOOD!! Thanks Austin for all your HUMOR in our life...xo

You just never know with AUSTIN!!

2009-08-04T21:43:00.001-07:00

Got a call at work and Austin announced that he was going to cut his hair, and me thinking ya right! Well a few hours later I come home and this is what I found... Yes Austin and his friends decided to buzz his hair, for you that know Austin he never has had very short hair, he always wanted to drive his mom crazy with the long look!! When I first saw it I GASPED and then was like WHAT??? I told him he had some fixing up to do since the BOYS had done it, but for 14 year old boys they did a pretty good job... And I must say I love it now, I think it makes him older looking and even more HANDSOME!!

Bowling 4th of July

2009-07-07T18:22:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th of July we thought we'd get up at the crack of dawn and head out to see the Balloons and get to the Parade and find ourselves a good sit, after getting home from getting Austin at EFY and home from the BBQ the night before we were TIRED OUT... Not the day we thought when Mel woke up at 3 am with the flu.. So Troy headed out late to get the kids from Grumpy's and Nana's sleep over they were late to the parade but they went and thought will catch the end of it! They then headed to Cafe Rio and called to see if sick mamma would like any?? No Thanks... I said to Troy don't feel quilty just go and be gone all day for all I care right now, I'm thinking I'm going to die with the HEADACHE I was dealing with... I love my parents yard but I guess ALLERGIES got the best of me and I was feeling it from head to toe with a massive sinus infection, the flu, and now what?? A pee-infection and yeast YIKES what the heck???? So they decided to carry on the tradition since we had it so many years with the Bitters side to head out bowling and start our own traditions... The kids had a great time and I guess Missy came out the WINNER!! Boy did the BOYS (especially competitive Austin) not like that....They came home and by now I could somewhat lift my head and we straightened up the house for Sunday and headed down to the Neighborhood Firework show... CHIDESTERS its not the same without you... We are GRATEFUL for our FREEDOM!!

RED, WHITE and BLUE day.....

2009-07-07T18:03:00.000-07:00

Movie and Popcorn time Cheryl is giving it a thumbs up!!

WE LOVE OUR COUSINS and especially making the funny faces...

We had a great Clyde BBQ this year. Dad got a new grill and cooked up some amazing hamburgers! And all the other food just hit the spot... We had a new thing this year of setting up the projector and watching the love bug out on the patio... I love my parents backyard its just beautiful sitting there on the porch with all there hard work they put into it.. We brought over the old fashion popcorn machine and Troy popped up some yummy popcorn for us all to enjoy!! I think Jeff, Cheryl and Dad and Mom enjoyed it the most, it was fun just watching there reaction and laugh has they watched this old movie... The little ones had a sleep over and we headed up to get Austin from EFY we missed ya but we are happy for you and the great time you had this week at EFY... Thanks Mom and Dad for the time you put into these family memories.. WE LOVE YA for it...xo

Birthday Boy's Day!!

2009-07-07T17:34:00.001-07:00

We have had all the kids gone all week!! Austin is having a great time at EFY and Missy and McKay headed up to Providence to spend sometime with Grandpa Wes... So we have had a great week of just watching movies and just talking and spending time together. Of course we still had Mitch and Chelsey popping in to make sure we were alive with out the kids... We headed up to Salt Lake and had lunch and met up with Troy's dad who brought Missy and Mac home for the 4th celebrations... We love the Texas Roadhouse and especially watching Troy get on the saddle and hear the Happy Birthday Song... Such a GOOD SPORT that hubby is of mine... Then off to Gateway he kept using the excuse that we needed to take back some shirts of Austins, but I knew what the whole purpose of Gateway was, its a store called "DICKS SPORTING GOODS" he had those golf clubs in mind for little wifey to give him, no luck there, so down to Sports Authority and we found his Birthday Clubs! He has waited along time for these and he so deserved them... Then off to Baskin Robbins for a birthday treat and then down to our Clyde Family BBQ... I know it gets crazy and you are always positive you love your Birthday but thanks for being a good sport and always sharing it with family traditions... love ya HON....xo

Happy Birthday TROY!!!

2009-07-03T06:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday TROY!! The BIG 44 today!! I thought this 40's would be alot harder but I think we are at the PRIME age!! WE have had some great memories so far in these 40's and here are to many more!! THANKS for giving me a great life and for all your love and support! You are a AWESOME hubby and father!! And we are wishing you a GREAT BIRTHDAY!! xo

Happy Father's Day.......

2009-06-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

To our Dads you are our HERO's we love ya and wish you a Happy Fathers Day! xoxo

WE got a new "Grand-Dog" MILO

2009-06-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

We are just ready to come home for Summer Games thinking we'd have a relaxing evening and we get a phone call from Chelsey! The puppy she had been wanting was back on KSL it had been 3 weeks since she saw this little one that she was sure was hers... I guess it was meant to be, he had been SOLD 3 weeks earlier when she saw him and the couple put half down and couldn't come up with the rest of the money... So we said we would head up to see him with them when we got back in town... The funny of it was that Mitchell was like we are not rushing into this and we are not bringing him home tonight, me knowing better told troy you better grab a check book just in case!! Since Mitch is always CASH.... Well that didn't last long, one look at this little one and we knew it was meant to be there little puppy! And Mitch was like speechless on saying NO to Chelsey after her batting her eyes and saying I love him and pleassssse??? So we walked out with Milo... He is a darling little pup and we have had him at our home for a week now, and I think we all could keep him, but Monday they will move into there new condo and he will just have to come and see his NANA....

SUMMER GAMES

2009-06-20T21:52:00.000-07:00

Last Week we headed down South to have Missy participate in the Summer Games with her Soccer Team! Its been a crazy few weeks, with the 3x3 tournament which they walked away with one gold in the 10 yr old division and took the silver in the 11 yr old! Missy has been playing AWESOME and we are very proud of her, she is a very aggressive "little bit" as her coach refers to her, she can out run all of them on the field... One of the funnies that she did was she was guarding quite a larger girl then her and all of a sudden we heard her yelling something at the girl well come to find out I guess she wanted to distract her so she could attack and she was yelling " Do you want some Chocolate??" her idea of distracting the player and assisting in making a goal, and YES it worked.... Her team didn't do as well in the Summer Games, we took 3rd in our pool, but it wasent good enough to move on to compete against the other pool! WE spent alot of time in the Pool, and just relaxing at the hotel... Her and Sammie became even more at the "HIPS and it will be hard to not have sammie on our team next year... I think the highlight was the opening ceremonies, when she walked with her team and we had a awesome firework show... Missy has also been playing Lacrosse this year with her same team from last year, its still something she loves to do, but I think SOCCER will still be #1! She has been moved up to the Triple A so she will have to still have that aggressive heart and do her BEST!! She went and got fitted last night for her new uniform, and when they asked her what number?? She chose 24 we were like what?? And she said I want to be like my "DAD"!! Troy came home with a BIG SMILE ....