I Heart Mom

Over the last couple of months, Austin's latest thing has been to make "I love you" notes for me. He will even sometimes stick them under my pillow! This particular note he gave me (in the picture) was my favorite because each page had a "I love you up to the..." (for example, "moon and back", "sun and back", "Jupiter and back", you catch the drift). He drew little planets with arrows going to and from the words "I love you". What a sweetheart!

1/3 of a Century

They say 33 is one of your "golden years". I say, "Whoa, I'm a 1/3 of a century old now!" I remember turning 30 and thinking that it seemed so old. I really hated hitting my 30's, but I have a new perspective now. I'm actually excited to age, to turn a year older, because that just means that I'M STILL HERE. 35, 40, 50, bring it on!

My birthday this year was the pits. Mostly because I spent it in the hospital doing treatment, feeling like crap. But we did have a little mini celebration in Maui w/ the family the week before to make up for it. And some of my girlfriends here also took me out to dinner when I got back. I feel so LOVED. Boy, am I lucky to have the greatest family and friends in the world.

The girls at Asiago's in downtown Boise

Trish and I in Maui, blowing out the candles of our birthday cake

Maui 2011

Maui was everything we hoped it would be and more. It was also a much needed vacation for us (especially me!) and break from reality. To sum it up...Gorgeous beaches. Snorkeling. Our awesome house. Spectacular sunsets. Whale watching. Matt's hilarious videos and commentary of our adventures. Eating dinner on the back porch each night. Surfing. Accidently stumbling upon a nude beach. Playing Rollick (reverse charades). Hula pie. Big Beach-our favorite beach. The Luau-the boys hula dancing, the kids funny remarks out loud, the MC (what a character), and scoring a free ukeleili. Boogie boarding. Shaved ice-so delicious! Our jacuzzi and outdoor shower that we used daily (esp Matt). The Marriott's amazing pool. Having to cancel our bike tour on the volcano due to severe weather and mudslides (bummer). Eating fresh pineapple everyday. Austin wearing his snorkel gear any chance he could get. Shopping in Laihana. Eric stepping on a sea urchin (ouch!). Catching geckos. Jack in the Box tacos (disgusting). "Dirty Bit", the song of the trip. And so much more...Be prepared with picture OVERLOAD (but how can you not when you go somewhere like Maui???!!)

Of course, we went to a lot of beaches-snorkeled, boogie boarded, surfed (pictures coming later), made sandcastles, and just enjoyed the sun and surf...

Did some whale watching...

Went to a luau...

Shopped a bit...

Swam at the Marriott's pool in Kanapali...

Chilled at our awesome house...

And witnessed many beautiful sights and sunsets...

Resolutions, Schmsolutions

Usually every year I make a few New Years' resolutions, or goals that I would like to accomplish that year. Last year everything kind of went out the door when I was diagnosed, so this year I'm keeping it simple. And exactly that. My only goal for 2011 is to simplify my life. This year I just want to focus getting better (and cancer free hopefully!) and taking care of our family. As much as I would like to add some things to that list, such as participate in a few races this year, I don't think that this is the year to do that. I need to just focus on ridding myself of cancer, once and for all. Simplifying my life also means slowing down, not always having to be doing something or going somewhere, and not taking on more than I can handle. This is hard for me, to not be going in 10 different directions, but I feel in my gut that this is important right now and know I will be happier if my life is more simple...

Highlights of 2010

2010 was one for the books. Our life changed forever last year. Never before did I think that the word "cancer" would be in the forefront of my mind everyday. Even though 2010 was a stressful and emotional year for us, there were lots of good memories and experiences that helped get us through the year....

We had 3 family weddings in 2010 starting with Alan and Anna's wedding in March in Logan, UT...




Then in June we headed to Lake Tahoe for Erin and Ryan's wedding...





And lastly, Dave and Melissa's wedding in Sept in Providence, UT




The kids and I spent 3 months in the spring of 2010 in CA at my parents house while I was receiving treatment and here are some highlights...

For me, riding my bike in the hills of CA was therapeutic.

Easter egg hunt in my parents yard

Going to the "big slide" park

My good friend Courtney came to visit with her kids and we had fun in SF and Monterey...






Dad came to visit over Austin's birthday weekend...






Grandpa and Austin competed in the Pinewood Derby and won!

Our dear family and friends put on 3 different benefit races to raise money to help us with medical and travel expenses. They were all amazing and something we will NEVER forget. The generosity, love, and support of so many was unbelieveable! The first was in Logan in Sept. Over 300 partipants came!

Next was one was in Kaysville, UT in Oct and another 300 came to support the event...

The last race was in Boise and was a big hit the day before Halloween!

It was also nice to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with family last year...





For me, the biggest highlight or milestone of 2010 was finishing biochemotherapy in Nov. It was a brutal treatment, and even though I'm not "done" yet, I completed the hard stuff and had major success: a 70% tumor reduction. Talk about miracles! We have felt extremely blessed this year to have witnessed so many miracles, answers to prayers, and tender mercies extended from our Father above!