Tough Guy!

My brother Cody is a super tough, cool guy who is on the SWAT team down in the Phoenix/Mesa area.  Tonight he sent me this picture.  He was participating in a PR event.  He said some people thought he was clenching his teeth because it was going to hurt, but others realized he was growling and snarling/taunting the dog to encourage a good bite.  He ended up doing about 30 bites over several hours! I would have been absolutely terrified!

BEARIZONA

 For Preschool, Jen Strand and I went to Bearizona just about 30 miles away in Williams.  We drove through and saw wolves, long horn sheep, bison, etc.  The next section of the park we drove through was all bears.  This one pictured above was sound asleep in the middle of the road - we had to carefully drive around it.

 This is a little 2 1/2 month old baby bear that they rescued.  It's name is Itty Bitty.  It only weighs 2 1/2 lbs. 

 We enjoyed a picnic lunch!

 Hallie & Claire Strand

 We came back at feeding time to watch Itty Bitty be fed with its bottle.

Super cute! The kids had a great time.  I think the only thing that could have made this day better for Hallie, would have been to bring Itty Bitty home with us!

Grandpa Shumway

We were fortunate to live in Grandpa Shumway's home and help care for him in Cheyenne.  He was extremely self sufficient and always amazed us how he never allowed his sight to slow him down.  He would tell us that we were the ones who were handicapped because we needed our eyes so much! He taught Brooklyn how to walk.  He would hold her hands and walk her back and forth in the living room.  When I was in the kitchen fixing dinner, he would hold the babies (I had 3 under the age of 3 while we lived there) and play his harmonica for them.  He taught my 7 year old and 5 year old to sing a round with him.  He would also take them with him to his magic shows to be his little assistant.  He loved it when I would play hymns on the piano and he would join in with either his harmonica or violin.  He loved music and participated in several bands and played often in nursing homes.  He introduced me and the kids to the snoot flute! We had a lot of fun with that one.  Last month my 10 year old son Taige played me a song with his recorder using his nose instead of mouth to blow the air needed to make the music.  It was a nice clear sound and I immediately thought of Grandpa Shumway and his snoot flutes!
He swam approximately 4 x's a week and always went out with the missionaries.  In fact the missionaries is why he owned a car! He was always available for them to go and teach.  He would run errands with me so I wouldn't have to take the kids out of the car when I would go to the Post Office, etc.  He even went Trick-or-Treating with Jodi Wilson and I one year.  Talk about the blind leading the blind! We were trying to find a specific nursing home to Trick-or-Treat at, and we were completely lost.  He was sure of the direction we should go.......  He's without sight and Jodi and I can get completely turned around in a shopping mall! We were quite the trio.  I think it took us an hour before we finally found our destination.  We were all laughing so hard by the time we actually figured out where we were and where we were going!

He had such a strong testimony and was such a wonderful example to us in so many ways.  I remember going to church (Mark was in the Bishopric at the time & already there), and walking in with Grandpa Shumway along with 2 little ones that couldn't yet walk, a toddler and my preschooler and 1st grader.  It was sometimes quite the act with grandpa on one arm, holding onto the hand of the toddler (Chase) and me trying to hold Brooklyn and then Taige in the carrier.  Because of his hearing, we always sat in the 4th row from the front.  I never liked to be late - I always felt like we made quite an entrance! One time Chase was on the other side of Grandpa (age 2 or 3), we had a couple of my children in between us and I was at the end of the bench.  During the Sacrament I passed the tray of bread to Grandpa and he continued to pass it down the row to Chase who after he took a piece, took another and then another as Grandpa patiently held the tray waiting for someone to take it.  I was out of arm's reach, so Jodi Wilson who was sitting right behind us quickly reached over the bench and helped out before Chase had completely gotten his fill!
He was always so complimentary and would tell me how nice I looked even when I was in my robe with mascara under my eyes.  He would compliment me on the house and make me feel like a gourmet cook no matter what I served.  I was proud of the fact that we were able to get his cholesterol level way down!
I remember cheering him on as he carried the torch during the time of the Olympics.  He never stopped learning or achieving spiritually as well as academically.  He faithfully attended the Temple.  When he moved to St. Louis, my Uncle Ray and Aunt Linda were Temple workers and enjoyed seeing him there weekly.  Grandpa Shumway was from the same place my Uncle Ray's father was from in WY, and was able to share stories with my Uncle about his dad that he had never heard.  He was a blessing to all who knew him.

 Grandpa Shumway
November 27, 1921– March 26, 2011

Down the Slopes!

 Jordynn went snow skiing a few years ago and wasn't taught well (or at a slow enough pace for her) and unfortunately has had a bad taste in her mouth toward snow skiing ever since.  Her friend Jade, to our amazement, was able to talk her into trying it out again.  But instead of starting on the Bunny Hill, they went to more of a Level 1 hill for their first run.  The initial part of the hill is the steepest.  Jordynn wiped out and rolled down a good part of this hill.  It scared her to death.  She took off her skis, planted herself under the tree and absolutely refused to ever put them on again.  There was still a long way to the bottom of the mountain.  Jordynn called me and Tracie Hagler and I tried everything we could think of to have her put her skis back on and very slowly, from one side to the other, in between us, help her to the bottom of the hill.  We had absolutely no success.  She stubbornly sat with tears running down her face (yes, she's 17).  A Ski Patrol came and talked with her and after realizing that she seriously was not going to put her skis back on, called up other members of the Ski Patrol to take her down off of the mountain.

 Buckle Up!

Taige comes snowboarding down the slope and arrives on the scene just as Jordynn is preparing to take off.  He looks at Jordynn, then looks at me and says, "You've got to be kidding!" It was hilarious coming from him!

 I hope this ride was worth $20!

SnowBowl

Kailan, Cassidy Mickelson, Hailey Hagler

Me & Kailan (I can't figure out how to rotate us!)

Me and Tracie Hagler

Tracie & her daughter Hailey drove up from Kingman to spend the day with us and go snow skiing.  We had so much fun and are so glad they came! We're really going to miss them when they move to Reno!

Chase

Chase & Taige

Mason Gilliland & Chase

I'm glad they're such great friends.  They had lots of fun Snow Boarding together!

Coming down to have our picture taken by Tracie

Chase, Me & Taige

Kailan (probably on the ground after her jump over the ramp!) & Hailey

I think my ski caught on some snow & spun me backward & then I went forward so I wouldn't continue down the mountain backwards! I'm stuck!! Glad Tracie was there with her camera! LOL

Kailan

The Gillilands were up on the slopes as well.  Here is Bishop & Jen - awesome people!

Kailan & Hailey

Go Cougars

 Tanner Mickelson and Taige went to Dallin Codner's house for a BYU Basketball game! Looks like they had a great time! Spencer feels just as big as the big boys!

Aunt Alexa

This is my dad conducting the graveside services for his younger sister (54 years old), Alexa.  She died of brain cancer last week.  The viewing was Friday evening in Queen Creek, AZ and the funeral was also in Queen Creek Saturday morning.  We then drove to Thatcher for her burial.  It was a beautiful service.  My dad also gave Alexa's life story and did a wonderful job.  Christian, her youngest of 5 children is currently serving a mission in Pennsylvania.  He made a very difficult choice to stay out on his mission instead of returning home for the funeral.  He and his mom have been able to visit through Skype on the computer these past couple of months.  Christian wrote a beautiful sermon which his dad read from the pulpit at the funeral.  It was very touching.  It was wonderful to see the chapel and into the overflow filled with family members.  I loved going home to Thatcher and being home with my family as well as many members of my extended family.  I enjoyed sitting on Grandma's back porch swing and reflecting on so many happy memories.  As was mentioned about Alexa quite a few times, concerning her family and her love for her children, there is no place like home.  I love to be home and I love to be with my family.  I greatly anticipate the next life when we are all together surrounded by so much love and never again having to worry about separation through death.  I like the quote my Uncle Stan shared that went something like, we can't control the length of our lives, but we can control the depth.  Difficult times like these cause much reflection and helps me to re-prioritize those things that are most important.  I love my Aunt Alexa and will miss her.  I know she's so happy to be with her dad again and our other family members who have left this earth life.

 A beautiful table display in the foyer of the church depicting Alexa's life.

 It's so comforting to be around so much wonderful family!

 Uncle Cory, Grandma Pearl

 The Herrings

 The Langley's

 Aunt Mel & Uncle Cory

 The Bavaro's

 Madi & Abi

 I love my grandma so much!

 Kailan, me, Grandma Pearl & Jordynn

 Alexa's family

 Alexa's daughter Lindsay, her husband Matt Johnson and their beautiful children!

Alexa lived with Lindsay during this difficult time and Lindsay was absolutely amazing.  What a wonderful blessing she was to her mom.  We all think the world of you Lindsay!

 Uncle Stan, Lucas, Whitney & Lindsay

(missing in person but not in spirit, Beau & Christian)

 All of Alexa's siblings and mother

Jan, Susan, Cory, Melanie, Camalee, Grandma Pearl, Randy (dad)

Grandpa Randy and Nikki

 Too much stress for a sister - it's been a big day

 Brooke & Monica (Cory's daughter's)

This is the outside of Grandma Pearl's home in Thatcher