Still Here.....

So I haven't blogged in a while. I am not sure if it is because there hasn't been anything new to blog or I am just tired lately. My brain hasn't wanted to think! I am looking forward to this weekend, we are gonna stay in a hotel to pretend we are on vacation! Sitting out by the pool and enjoying the weather is good enough for me! I just need some sort of relaxation!!
The boys are doing good. We are just trying to think of creative ways to fill up our summer. So far they have gone to the movies, went swimming at their friend Dara's house, and bickered! the last one is the biggest time consumer!!! LOL
Ok gotta go get ready, gonna meet some friends up at the mall for some lunch and fun......

All It's Cracked UpTo be?

Let me quote my husband's blog 1st!.....
"Jen went to circuit city this morning and was the first person in line to buy Wii Fit. According to section 4 paragraph 2 in the Cool Person manual...”standing in line for first release video games is an automatic deduction of 700 points from your coolness account”"
.... OUCH! I see people on the news doing it all the time so I thought it was the thing to do! My response is~ at least I am trying to be in shape no matter the cost right?!?!
Ok so after 30 minutes of playing it I am a little sore, have learned that I have no balance, found out that Trevor is better at the soccer game than me, and that I can't ski. It is so fun but it doesn't do much for your self esteem!!! it says my Wii Fit age is 38! better work on improving that!!!!!

Kindergarten is almost OVER! :(

Last night was Taylor's end of the year celebration. It was so cute! They sang songs and then showed a slide show of all the kindergarten kids. He thought it was so cool cause most of the family came to see it. He loves being the center of attention... and there he is, front row and in the center. He was even dancing here and there. LOL he didn't get those genes from us!
Can't believe, tomorrow at 12:10 he will officially no longer be a kindergartener! 1st grade here we come!! YIKES!!!!
It was so cute, his friend Dara gave him a note last night. I think that was when it hit....... They are old enough to read and write letters. she gave it to him and he actually sat there reading what she wrote!!!! just like it was natural!!
I need to stop blinking because my boys are growing up too fast!!!

Family Time

Today I have not had an agenda!!! I slept in till 7:30! We have just been catching up on everything we haven't had time to do in the past week and a half. Tonight was fun, we took the kids up to the park so they could play in the water. I can't believe it is already hot enough for it! Summer is here!! Can't wait Tay only has 2 1/2 days left of school this year!! Yikes then I will have a 1st grader and a preschooler!!! I am not getting any older though!! Ok gotta go watch a movie with my guys......

Time To Heal

Today on the way to the airport, we went out to visit the cemetery. I just still can't believe it's true. I just stared at the headstone in disbelief. My Grandpa and Grandma are both there. so weird.
Now starts the healing process. I don't have funeral arrangements to keep me busy. I have to go about my normal routine without Grandma. I need to try to get some sleep and ease my heartburn. My body doesn't handle stress very well! At this point it is hard to imagine things getting back to normal. I know that they will over time though. Please keep my family in your prayers as I think the post funeral is a more stressful time than the funeral planning.
Love you Grandma....

Very Hard Day

How can a day be so hard, exhausting, and beautiful all in the same day? and at the same event? My Grandma's funeral was today and I have to say it was the most beautiful funeral I had ever been to. I know for sure that it would have been the way she would have had it. It was so hard to see her just laying there lifeless but she was so beautiful. She just had the look of peace. The flowers were all so wonderful and her casket looked more like a Cadillac than a casket. Austin led the singing and she would have just bragged on and on about the wonderful job he did! Mike spoke about her so nicely. you can tell she was a very loved woman! Thanks to my husband for preparing a nice service for her. She always loved hearing his preaching so I just know that would have brought her great joy also. I was able to read my letter to Grandma. what an accomplishment for me. Didn't think I would ever be able to do it but the strength came! thanks to everyone that took time out of their busy schedules to come to the funeral, serve us meals, write us cards, and just pray for our family's comfort. We appreciate it all!
the pictures are from tonight. many of the family members have to go back tomorrow so after a nap this afternoon, we went out to WestGate. The second picture is of my mom's 3 grandsons! the last one is of my cousin Keri's daughter, my cousin Dawn's daughter, and my boys. they had so much fun together. cute ages!
can't believe tomorrow will be a week with out Grandma............................ well gotta get to bed, long day of work tomorrow. just need to get through it and then I can have 2 very needed days off! whew what a week............

What Is Important In Life!

Because of my shocking news I got on Saturday at the graduation, I never finished posting about my trip. guess it was because my trip was only 24 hours long. I was so torn. I was having a great time with all my family. Didn't have a chance to tell you that Rob surprised us all and came to the graduation too! I was thinking at lunch on Saturday, it was awesome that my whole family was together and it wasn't a wedding or funeral. I love that about my family. even though we are all so spread out, we try to make it a point to make it to those other important events! But little did I know we would all be getting together the next weekend over a funeral. :(
well the pictures above are of us at peter piper on Friday and waiting for the graduation to start on Saturday. I wanna tell Lisa congrats on all of her hard work! she is a college grad! wow! way smarter than I will ever be!!! I am totally bummed I didn't get to see her walk across the stage. so did she really graduate? hmmmm nah just kidding they tell me she did!
Even though my trip was cut short, I got to spend the little amount of time with the ones that I love! And once again my life was put back in perspective! enjoy the time you have with the ones you love cause it may be the last time you say goodbye.

Gonna Miss This Gal

Here is Grandma's Obituary that was in today's paper: Juanita Fern Burgess
Juanita Fern Burgess, 81 of Phoenix, AZ passed from this earth on May 10, 2008. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, & friend. Remaining until we meet again are her 2 sons and daughter, Ronald, Richard, & Janice; 6 grandchildren, Robert, Dawn, Keri, Tracy, Jennifer, & James; 10 great grandchildren, Austin, Landon, Mason, Kinley, Alexis, Taylor, Maddison, Trevor, Kamdyn & Siera. 3 sisters and a brother, Frances, Lois, Ester, & Doyle. Visitation Friday May 16th at 9am followed by Funeral Service at 11am. Both will be held at Northgate Church Of Christ 16612 N. 21st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85023. Interment to follow at East Resthaven Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Hansen Arrowhead Funeral Center.

Got A Lot Done.

Today I got a lot of things accomplished! We finalized the funeral arrangements, picked out her flowers, finalized everything at the cemetery, and just some little things here and there. Thank goodness I was actually able to settle down for an hour nap after all that! Sleep is hard right now. my mind goes 100 miles per hour. I think just the thought of having a lot of that stuff out of the way is a peace of mind though. I was able to keep my business face on for the most part. A couple things were hard to talk about but for the most part, I think I did what needed to be done! Sometimes I surprise myself.

ok well now it is night time. My family is back home with me! I have to say that tonight was a good night. We sat around the table remembering the good times with Grandma. I am gonna miss them! even the ones that frustrated me the most. I loved her so much!

well I need to get some thoughts together. I am gonna try and share a letter to my Grandma at the funeral. I hope I will be able to get through it. Let's just hope it will make more sense than my blogs have. She has been such a big part of my life and I feel I need to share it.

Please keep me in your prayers this week and for a while as I try to move on with everything. A lot of times are gonna be hard with out her being there or just calling me just to see how my day is going. ok better try and get some sleep. gonna try and hike in the morning. I need it.

Happy Mother's Day Mommy!

This is a picture Tay sent me tonight! the 2nd tooth came out! now I know I am emotional right now anyways but I am so bummed that the tooth fairy is gonna be in Dallas tonight and I'm not. p.s. for all of u wondering, the tooth fairy is leaving a $5 under the pillow. this kid won't ever have to find a real job. Can't wait to see this grin in person tomorrow!!!!

Still In Shock

Today I went to church in the morning. it was so hard! The lesson was such a beautiful tribute to mothers and I just couldn't get my mind off of my grandma. I have to say though it reaffirmed my strength. We can handle this. it is gonna be hard and quite an adjustment but we can be at peace knowing where she is now. Thank you Grandma for the time we had together! gonna miss you!!
Tomorrow I have to go to the funeral home to make arrangements I thought wouldn't have to be made for many more years, or should I say I hoped wouldn't have to be. It hit me tonight when I was writing her obituary and I saw a rough draft of the final product. MY GRANDMA IS GOING TO BE IN THE OBITUARIES.... it can't be true. It was her picture on the computer in the article! P.S. I am gonna go into the funeral business, $209 for an obituary!!! Some floral arrangements $300+!!!! Can they just kick us while we are down a little more?!?!?! Ah I just want her funeral to reflect her life. I always wanted the best for her. She deserved it. She always made sure everyone else was taken care of before herself. So Grandma I am gonna make sure tomorrow everything is according to the way you wanted it. whatever it takes! you are gonna have a beautiful celebration of your life! I picked out the beautiful red outfit that I walked with you for hours around the mall to find for Rob's wedding. I noticed that anytime you felt it was a special occasion that red outfit came out. You loved it! so I thought it would be perfect.
ok i am gonna end my random thoughts for the night. I know they are all over the place but that's how I feel right now. I am happy that you are at "area wide singing" 24-7! But I miss you like crazy!!
love you Grandma!

Love you Grandma

wow. All I can say is wow. I am in disbelief. My Grandma is gone. I am on a plane right now from what was supposed to be a joyous occasion. This is the longest flight of my life! Will I ever land in Phoenix to be with my family? I have been listening to my ipod but can't get through the songs as they are all making me cry. Had to chuckle though when in the middle of all my tears "you had a bad day" from Alvin & the Chipmunks came on. Wow. Now Amazing Grace is on. Gonna get through this song though. I need it. This blog is gonna be full of ramblings but I don't care. Gotta shift gears a little from this dark plane. Ahhhh Grandma I love you so much. I hope you could tell. It is going to be so hard for a long time without you. I am so blessed that I got to have you as long as I did. I know you are in heaven now with Grandpa. You have been waiting a long time to see him! give him a hug for all of us.

Ok well it is morning now. Thank goodness, I had to put my phone away last night cause it meant we were finally landing. Too long of a flight. But my dad and I are home now. Still in disbelief. Today is Mother's day and it is not gonna be a fun one. In all of my saddness though I need to celebrate her! She was a true example of how a mother and grandmother should live. She would do anything for you. Even if it just meant sitting there for hours to keep you company. Thanks grandma for all you did for me! Gonna miss you so bad.
Well I need to get ready for church. It's going to be another long day. Please keep my family in your prayers especially my cousin Austin. she was a mom to him.
ok day here I come....

Dallas!!

Day 1:
Ok when you look at the picture of the boys on the plane remember that they had been up since 3:45am! Well Trev looks happy to be there!!

The second picture is of the rental car that Taylor wanted. "Sorry Tay the minivan holds more people." We decided to take his picture in front of it anyways!

time for bed but we are waiting for Katie to get here! :) yeah
so until then I will just watch Lisa and David try to beat Mario 3.
nite

Happy Mother's Day

Are my boys so creative or what!?!? They were so excited to make our family! They did such a great job painting them! I am a huge fan of the homemade mother's day gifts! I will buy whatever I want though out the year (like most people) so I like the idea that my kids sat there for an hour trying their hardest to be creative and make something they just know I will love! Ahh man to see the excitement on their faces when they wait to see my reaction when I open it. Geez I could cry! Thanks also to Daddy for coordinating craft time!!! you guys rock!!!!
Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there! Have a great one!!

Better Decide Quick!

Tay just came in the room to show me the other tooth on the bottom was loose and bleeding. Not completely ready to come out yet but in the next couple of days! So looks like I better settle my decision on the $worth$ of teeth! Jim maybe he will let you yank this one out!!! sick right!?!?!

Taylor's Missing Something!

Today when Tay got home from school he was all excited because his tooth seemed looser. He kept walking around the house trying to wiggle it more and more. I got out the dental floss to teach him the old tugging on the tooth trick! He would wrap it around the tooth and then tug on it a little. So one of the times, I actually made a knot and slipped it around his tooth. so when he yanked on it, it wouldn't slip off so easily! Now it was stuck so me being the mom I am just yanked on it! I MADE MY SON CRY!!! But you guessed it, the tooth came out!!! We promised him that if we got it out tonight we would take him to his dinner of choice. I am still full from Red Lobster! That kid can put the crab away! he loves it!! The 1st picture of his is him tugging on it. The 2nd on is obviously right after!! He is putting his tooth in the box he made for the tooth fairy. The 3rd one is on the way to dinner, he can't stop playing with the hole. The 4th and 5th ones are at dinner.... gotta love the straw through the new hole! Ok off to bed....... gotta get to bed so the Tooth Fairy can come!

Congrats David!

Well David has accomplished another stage in life! He is graduating with a BA in Psychology. He didn't want to walk at his graduation since he is still going on the get his masters. But I am so proud of him for how far he has come! (I know I couldn't be a awesome parent, work a full time job, and be a full time student!) Tonight the church wanted to recognize him for his accomplishments as well. What a fun night!

CONGRATS DAVID! I LOVE YOU AND I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I HAVE SUCH A DEVOTED HUSBAND! YOU MODEL DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO OUR BOYS THE WAY A MAN SHOULD LOVE GOD, HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN! THANKS! :)