Hogle Zoo

Before the weather got too cold here I wanted to take Kason to the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. It was the perfect little zoo, not too big and all the animals were really close. Like, REALLY close – the giraffe house was the coolest – there was hardly 3 feet between the railing and the fencing for the giraffes! It was really neat. Another cool thing was there was TONS of babies! It was so cute! There was a baby monkey, elephant, giraffe, and a few more. They were so cute. Kason LOVES the zoo and he had so much fun so, we bought a membership! I am excited to be able to take Kason whenever we want!

I love my little Kason - he is so much fun and we have been having so much fun going out and doing things together - just the two of us! He's such a great sport to tag along with me and let's face it - he's such a cutie! I am lucky to have a special little boy to keep me company everyday!

Bountiful Temple

The second Sunday of November we drove up to Layton to my aunt and uncles house in Layton for a Davies Family Home Evening. It was fun being here to get together with all of the family! On our way up we dropped my mom off at the airport. She had been here helping us get things unpacked and put away. So, we dropped her off at the airport and then headed north. We had some extra time so we stopped at the Bountiful Temple and walked around the grounds. The view from that temple is AMAZING! It was gorgeous. Kason kept asking to go see the Christ statue, like the one at the Mesa Temple. He loves listening to the statue talk.

I love these pictures of Kason – his facial expressions are priceless and adorable! I love my little man and he LOVES temples –that makes me happy. I can’t wait for him to get older so he can really understand the blessings that we get from temples and the reason that temples mean so much to me.

Halloween & Movin' in

Halloween this year was kind of rushed and not very organized! That morning Kason and I drove to Phoenix to pick up my dad from the airport and as soon as we got back we loaded up our moving truck and finished packing everything up. When the truck was loaded my brothers left for Utah. By then, it was pretty much time to get ready for Halloween. I think we didn’t take time for dinner and we barely made time for a bath for Kason. It was just crazy! So Kason was tired because he had only slept for about 45 minutes and he didn’t eat dinner so – he wasn’t the happiest little trick-or-treater, but we survived.

We just went to the trunk or treat at the stake building in Payson. We played games and did the trunk or treat and by the time we got through those things – Kason was pretty much done so, we left!

Kason was Wall-e for Halloween! Kara and Ammon Matsuda made this costume last year for their son and when they found out Kason loved Wall-e, Ammon brought us the costume when he came over for the funeral. Kason LOVES the costume, granted he didn’t like to keep it on for very long periods of times, but he sure was cute when he was wearing it! Thanks for the costume Ammon and Kara – it was perfect!!

With Grandpa Jeff:

This was totally how he was by the end of the night … a grumpy little Wall-e!

Hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween! (of course, by the time you read this we will already been planning for Christmas but, whatever). It was all in all a good day for us, it was my first major holiday with Kameron and we survived but, I think we were too busy to really think about any of that stuff too much. I did think about not having Kameron around and thinking about how much fun he would have had with his little Wall-e but, it was nice to have my dad there to kind of fill in that role.

So … right after the trunk or treat me, my dad and Kason loaded up the car and headed off to Utah! Holy cow, we must have been crazy for driving all night but, we made it! We saw TONS of elk and deer on our trip and almost ran into a few. But, other than that – it was a pretty uneventful trip. Kason slept the entire time which was really nice. We got to Utah about 5 am so we came straight to our house and fell back asleep and slept for a few hours. When we woke up we started thinking about unloading the truck. I think we were all too tired to really do anything about it.

Finally about 8:30 or 9 we really got started. About 9:15 or so, a truck pulled up and a couple guys hopped out and asked us if we needed any help! They introduced themselves as members of the Elders Quorum Presidency from our new ward! It was awesome! The EQ President said he would text a few members of the Elders Quorum and have them come help. Within five minutes there were 4 or 5 other guys there to help us move! These guys were all in their church shirts and dress slacks – they had all left their church meetings to come help us move in! It was awesome and made me so excited for our new ward. We really had the truck completed unloaded by 10am! It was awesome. That same day the High Priest leader and the Bishop and his wife stopped by.

My dad and brothers were here until Monday and then they all had to fly out – it was just me and Kason in our home. It was a weird feeling – that’s for sure! But, it was exciting to finally have our own space and finally be our new little family! Hopefully soon I can get a post together about living up here in Utah.

Thatcher Trip (October)

Right after the State Fair we headed to Thatcher. Our two days in Thatcher were CRAZY busy! We wanted to see everyone that we could before moving so, the Thursday that we were there was non-stop visiting with people. It was seriously crazy BUT I am so glad that we were able to see everyone that we did.

We stayed with Steph and her family (thanks guys!) and Kason and Laela had so much fun playing together. We got to eat R&R Pizza, do some window shopping, and just hang out and talk. I miss just sitting and talking with Steph all the time!! We miss you guys!!

Here is Laela and Kason right before we left …

Kason also got to spend LOTS of time with his uncles Matt & Daniel. It was so nice. I love watching them with Kason because they both have qualities that really remind me of Kameron so, it’s just neat to watch them interact with Kason and imagine that Kameron would be doing the exact same things. He has such great uncles!!

At the park with Matt & Daniel:

Matt & Kason



Which drink is better? …


Swinging away!





I love the smile on his face in this one!



It was a good final trip to Thatcher before the big move! Thanks for taking time to see us everyone!! We love and miss you all in Thatcher!

Thanksgiving 2009

2009 has given me a lot of things to be grateful for.

When we go through trials we become more aware of the blessings in our lives and we become more grateful for what we have.

This year I am very grateful for so many things. I have really been given many opportunities to see the things that are right in front of me that tend to be taken for granted and realize that those little things are huge blessings.

I am thankful for this man:

I am thankful for the amazing man he is. I am thankful for his testimony of the gospel. I am thankful that he was a worthy, strong, member of the church right up until the day he passed away. I am thankful for his love and compassion towards everyone he met. I am thankful for the AMAZING husband he is - for all his selfless acts of service, for his words of love and kindness, and for his unconditional love. I am thankful for what a wonderful daddy he is - for the hours and hours he spent with Kason teaching him about sports, or cooking, or the church, for the times he rocked him to sleep and read him stories. I am thankful that he was a wonderful leader of our home - for all the memories he left us with and for his continuous effort to make us happy, regardless of what it took. I am thankful for my husband, for my eternal companion and my best friend. I miss him terribly but, I am thankful that he is no longer suffering and in pain. I am thankful that he is able to serve the Lord in heaven stand beside Him. I am thankful for his hardworking attitude on earth and in heaven.

I am thankful for this day:



The day when I was sealed to Kameron for time and all eternity. What an amazing blessing that is now. I am thankful that we were both worthy to be married in the temple. I am thankful that we made the choice 5 1/2 years ago to be married there. I am thankful for the power from God that we have to be sealed together in the next life and not just 'till death'. I am thankful for the memory I have of kneeling across from Kameron in that sealing room and looking into his eyes and knowing that NO MATTER WHAT we could be together forever.

I am thankful for my little man:



I am thankful that he makes me smile everyday. I am thankful that he reminds me of his daddy. I am thankful for how sweet he is. I am thankful for his hugs and kisses. I am thankful for his spontaneous, "i love you's". I am thankful for his love of the church and temples and Jesus. I am thankful for his excitement over the little things. I am thankful that he is such a little boy and loves sports, cars, trucks, dinosaurs and dirt. I am thankful that he is now my best buddy here on earth and he is the one I get to spend everyday with. And I am especially thankful that he is part of our eternal family.

I am thankful for Jesus Christ:

I am thankful for the sacrafice that was made for us by Him. For the love that He has for each of us and the understanding and concern that He feels for each of us in our individual circumstances. I am thankful for the opportunity we will each have to walk beside the Savior again.

I am thankful for the church. For the blessings it gives to us. I am thankful for the things it teaches us. I am thankful for the type of person it teaches me to be.

I am thankful for Kason's uncles, and grandparents - for the examples they are and for the things they teach to Kason.

I am thankful for my parents for the things they have taught me and that they have always been there for me, no matter what.

I am thankful for AMAZING friends - new and old. I am thankful for their love and sacrifice. I am thankful for those who have given service to me and my family the past 2 1/2 years as we have gone through difficult trials.

I am thankful for my alone time and the peace and quiet. I am thankful for good shows that make me laugh & cry. I am thankful for chocolate. I am thankful for our new ward here. I am thankful for good food. I am thankful for fun times. I am thankful for new adventures. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head, clothes in my closet and food in my fridge.

I am a very grateful person this year. Thanksgiving was always Kameron's favorite holiday and this year I have made an effort to really focus on the things that I am thankful for instead of trying to skip over Thanksgiving and start stressing about Christmas. This year, I have learned that there are many blessings right in front of us. The Lord blesses us with many things and gives us many gifts and tender mercies - we just need to be willing to see them and realize that all things come from the Lord.

I hope that each of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by the ones you love. I hope that you each take a few moments to think of all the things you're thankful for and you forget about the trials you're going through and realize that even amidst the hard times - you truly are blessed.

Arizona State Fair (October)

In October I took Kason to the State Fair. He had fun but, my opinion of the State Fair? Expensive, crowded, stinky, small and well … kinda boring. But, like I said, Kason had a blast so that is what counts! He kept getting on the rides and saying – “it’s like Disneyland” haha! One bummer is I got sick from all the little kid spinning rides so, we really didn’t get to go on very many. I think we’ll wait a few years before going to the state fair again. Why are County Fairs fun but, not the State Fair??

California Day 3

Family Time:

Wednesday night me, Kason and my mom drove up north of LA to a town called Mojave. My Aunt and Uncle have lived there for years! It’s my mom’s sister, Judy, so we drove up to visit with them and quite a bit of their family.

Thursday we went to this cool wild cat exhibit that they have there – they have all sorts of exotic cats that you can see. It was fun. There was this one cat that was either really playful or it thought Kason would taste yummy! It was so funny – Kason would run up and down the fence and the cat would chase him, almost like he was hunting him. It was really funny.

The hunter

The hunter & prey

Then that night most of Judy’s kids came to her house for dinner. It was fun to see them! These girls are Kristen’s and they’re SO cute! Kason had fun playing with them.

Then that night we drove back down to Santa Clarita so we could fly out Friday morning. It’s always sad to leave a vacation but, at the same time it’s nice to get back home and back into a routine. Kason had a blast in California and I love watching his excitement about everything! It was such a fun trip!!

California Day 2

Disneyland & California Adventure:

(on the tram that morning on the way to the park – excited for day #2!)

The second day we were in California we went to Disneyland and did just a couple rides before we headed over to California Adventure. Kason was really excited to ride the Pirates of the Caribbean but, it scared him so, now when he talks about it he’ll tell you it was really fun but … SCARY. He’s too funny. We also did Peter Pan Wednesday morning which was fun because that ride was Kameron’s favorite “kid rides” so, it was neat to watch Kason enjoy it.
Right in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle they had all these fake pumpkins with characters faces carved on them – pretty cool!

The Castle …

Kason driving Mr. Toad’s car:

California Adventure!

Mater and Lightning McQueen

His very own set of ears!

Hmm… I think this was the caterpillar train ride.

Dancing Ladybugs – Kason LOVED this ride! I wish I could have taken a picture of his face, he was laughing the entire time we were spinning around. He loved it!

Toy Story Mania … the wait for this ride was SO worth it!! This ride was SO fun! I loved it!!

With Woody – Kason was EXCITED!

At the end of the day – Kason was completely satisfied with his toys and sucker…

We had such a fun time at Disneyland and Kason loved it just as much as I had hoped he would. I can’t wait to take him back!

Even to this day, he still talks about Disneyland and if we go to something fun he’ll always say, “It’s like Disneyland, Mom!” I’m so glad we were able to do something fun and give him such a great memory!! I love that little boy!

Day 3: Family Time

California Day 1 (October)

Disneyland:

Back in October Kason and I went to Disneyland with my mom and brothers. We had been talking about going for quite awhile so Kason was SO excited about it!! Every day he would ask us if we were going to Disneyland! He couldn’t wait!

Tuesday morning we flew out and as soon as we got to California we headed straight for Disneyland!!! I was so excited to take Kason! That day we just did Disneyland and that night we got to see the super cool firework show. Disneyland was so neat in October because it was all decked out for Halloween – pumpkins everywhere and people all dressed up for Halloween. It was fun!!

The HAPPIEST place on earth!

Kason driving through Autopia

BUZZ LIGHTYEAR! Kason was so excited to see Buzz! (he’s with Uncle Jeremy in this picture!)

It’s a Small World – this was probably one of Kason’s FAVORITE rides! He STILL talks about it!!

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride … he still talks about this ride too.

In ToonTown

MICKEY MOUSE!

Kason was SO SO excited to see Mickey Mouse – it was SOOO cute! He gave him a hug and kiss and was so happy. I was glad we waited in the line to see him, it was definitely worth it!

Riding Dumbo –

(doesn’t he look thrilled? Ha ha!)

By the end of the day Kason was exhausted! He had only had a quick 30 minute nap in the car so, he was worn out.

Day 2: Disneyland & California Adventure