July
Madison and I made our annual summer trip to Utah. This was the first year since I've lived in Canada that I've been actually in the US for the 4th of July and it was so much fun. The 4th of July has always been my favorite holiday...good food, hot weather, parades, Stadium of Fire and Fireworks. This year was also Madison's first experience with the 4th of July and she had a great time. I've always been such a proud American and I hope I will be able to instill in her true patriotism.
And you thought I was kidding about it being my favorite holiday eh?
Also on our trip to Utah we went down to Lake Powell for a few days. Again this is something I haven't done since I moved to Canada and neither has Madison. Except for the weather and running out of gas in the canyon on the way down (thanks dad!) we had a blast! This was actually the first time I've ever been to Lake Powell in July where I was cold and had to wear a sweatshirt and would've had on sweatpants too had I brought them. It was unusually cold but it didn't dampen our spirits at all. I thought Madison would be really nervous about boats, water, tubing etc. But as you can see she LOVED tubing and wanted to go faster and faster. YEAH she didn't get all my inhibitions.
Uncle Jake and Madison
Sitting on the side of the road in the canyon waiting for someone to stop!
August
Around the middle of July we put our house up for sale and August turned into the month of doing what I could to get it sold. Cleaning, boxing up rooms, open houses and more cleaning! Towards the end of August when we were getting frustrated we had a buyer who also wanted possession in a week. Yeah it sold. Boo moving in a week! NEVER AGAIN!
September
The first week of September my mom came up to help me decorate the house. It was such a big help because I stink at decorating. I don't think I hung more than 1 picture up in my last house.
We also celebrated Peter's birthday.
October
October was filled to the brim with activities. Jordyn and her family came up the middle of October for 2 1/2 weeks and we had a blast! My dad came up for a weekend and we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and Madison's birthday. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to my dad (it would've been BBQ'd chicken had he not been here.)and it actually felt like Thanksgiving for the first time in a long time.
Madison turned 5 and it was so fun to have some of her cousins up here to celebrate with her.
Scout helping Madison blow out the candles
I was also brave enough to take Madison and some friends to Chuck E Cheese. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought, but I certainly won't be doing it again anytime soon.
November
November was a tough month. Right after Veteran's day Don, my father-in-law went in one night for emergency surgery. He had ischemia of the bowel, which is basically a stroke or heart attack but in the bowel. It was very serious and the doctors weren't sure how it would turn out. Don made it thru surgery and was in ICU for a week. He was making small improvements and we were thinking everything was going to be ok. After 3 weeks of being in the hospital, Don died on December 1st. It was extremely hard on everyone. Just 3 weeks ago he was fine and then he was gone. I miss him everyday and am so blessed to have had him in my life. We love you!
My sister Jordyn and my dad came up for the funeral on Dec. 6th. That morning we woke up to atleast 2 feet of snow and it was extremely cold but it was a beauitful service for such an extraordinary man!
All the boys and Don's brother and YES they froze at the grave ceremony!
Madison was the oldest of Don's 2 grandchildren.
