A Tribute

I thought that since this would be my 100th post its only fitting that I pay my respect to my Grandpa Harry Startup born October 24, 1918-September 25, 2008

As we were driving home from Utah Thursday September 25 when my cell phone once again was working I got word that my grandpa had passed away. It was so surreal we had just spent the night to assist him saw him sitting there laughing at Jason's crazy jokes, and telling me that he loved me. How I will miss him! I know that I will see him again though what peace and comfort that brings me.

Sometimes being away from Utah and my family is very difficult. I miss out on all those fun family get togethers, holidays, and miss spending time with my grandparents. My grandparents have always been very involved in my life and have supported me in whatever crazy thing I decided to try. They watched countless basketball and volleyball games, grandpa gave me a priesthood blessing when I had that terrible eye infection, were instrumental in helping me stay after my parents left for California for 2 weeks, took me to Joe's to get a cheeseburger, 4th of July fireworks parade and Stadium of Fire, Sacrament meeting talks, letting me work at the candy factory in high school, Seminary and High School graduation, visiting me in Nauvoo, seeing me off to make a crazy move to California (although made me late to pick Jason up at the airport and helped me get my 1st and only speeding ticket!), my temple marriage, and to 2 of my children's blessings, and many many other things. As I have been reflecting my thoughts and memories of my grandpa I can't imagine my life without him in it.

The main reason for me to travel to Utah at the beginning of the month was to see my grandpa as he had been hospitalized. They had found a abcess on his liver and were treating it, but in the process discovered that he had cancer. The next few weeks were difficult as we needed to help grandpa and grandma, but I found them rewarding as I was able to serve them for once. One night Jason and I were able to stay with grandpa and help get him in and out of bed and try to make him comfortable. As we were moving him from his bed to his favorite recliner he said hup 2,3,4 hup 2,3,4....with a big smile on his face. I will always treasure the time that I had with grandpa before his death. What a great example of love, kindness, generosity, and enduring to the end....I will miss you grandpa!

Canning

The one thing that I always dreaded every fall...helping my mom with the pears and peaches. I have always loved eating the finished product (my mom used to remind me of the little red hen) but this year due to my grandpa being sick, have had the opportunity to help my mom and do the canning for her. I have been quite successful even watching 8 kids 6 and under. Someone in the family has had to stay with my grandpa round the clock so needless to say we have been watching lots of kids and helping out in lots of different ways. I have been lucky to work on the canning and so far the pears are looking great only 1 mishap and I am on to 3 more boxes either tomorrow or Friday and then its on to peaches.

Scorpions, Snakes, Lizards, and......

We had our neighbors over for dinner tonight and when they arrived they showed us that we had a bat on our front porch right above the door. So after dinner the bat was still there and so Jason being the inquisitive guy he is caught it and brought it inside (in a jar of course!). Sorry mom I will buy you a new jar. My crazy husband thought that it looked cute and soft and wanted to pet it. He is so weird!

After we watched the bat for a while we let it go in the back yard. We were all inside of course except for Jason who had to let it go. Hopefully it won't come back anytime soon!

Labor Day

Our Labor Day weekend started great. Jason went to Flagstaff with his friend Brian and they went mountain biking. They had a great time and even found some jumps to go off. Needless to say Jason went off one too many!!

He said it was the last jump and he landed wrong and he fell. I was really worried because he told me he heard a pop in his shoulder. He couldn't move it much but said that if if wasn't better by Tuesday he would go to the doctor. He had a great time and loves his new hobby of biking. The rest of the weekend we just watched dad ice his shoulder and we hung out at home. It's no fun when dad can't do anything fun with us!!

Tanner's first day of preschool was today and he could not have been more excited. He woke up got dressed and asked me for an hour and a half if it was time to go yet. We took some pictures and then got in the car and headed to Ms. Laura's house. He jumped out of the car and barely waited for me to take him inside and didn't even care that I left. I was so happy that he was so ready to go. Kylie on the other hand was super sad that Tanner was gone and that she was going to have to spend some time with her mom.

While he was gone we had some fun putting together puzzles, she is getting so good! Her favorite one is a 100 piece Disney Pixie puzzle and she mainly wants to just do it herself. If I put a piece together and she wanted to do it she will take it apart and say mom don't help me. And then she helped me around the house. Then we got to go pick up Tanner and what a silly kid he came out without his shoes on (because he had to wear the new ones that grandma got him and he can't tie by himself yet!) I asked him what he did and I got the answer "I don't know".

We are off to a great start!!

Kylie's 1st day of Dance

We enrolled Kylie in a dance class and her first time was last Saturday. She was 2 weeks late starting and a was a little nervous at first but in by the end did so well. She loves it and asks all week if it is time for dance again. It was so fun watching her participate I hope that she has a great time. And by the way we did buy her a pink leotard, so she wasn't the only one in a black one!

Grandma and Grandpa Visit

We had such a good time visiting with my parents. I loved that they took time to come and see us here in hot Arizona. Dad said that they need to make it in the winter...much better weather then! And we love to have visitors anytime!!

Sunday was fun the kids were so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa, Kylie peeked into the bedroom a few times before they got up and was dying to let Max out of his kennel. (I was lazy and didn't want to have to take him outside!) We had breakfast and then mom and I got making the baked beans for dinner. Then it was off to church....we had to sit in the hard seats the first time since the ward split. The kids were crazy in Sacrament meeting and once Kylie was playing with moms wedding ring and dropped it and we couldn't find it. She was really on one I have to keep her busy doing something to keep her quiet. Then we went home and had hamburgers and baked beans. We spent the rest of the day relaxing, and visiting, and then went for a walk with the kids. Mom also helped me start my dinners for my freezer meal exchange. We made chicken caccitorie. I would have been up forever if she didn't help me thanks mom!!

Monday started early when I was able to go on my morning run. It always feels so good to exercise. My cute dad helped Tanner fix his bike and had so many "helpers" I am amazed at how calm he stayed sometimes I don't have that much patience.

After that we headed to look for some shoes for Tanner....when we came back we all had a pair except for my mom and Jason who wasn't with us at the time, oh and Paige she didn't get any either. And we made a stop at Sonic for a slush we love sonic slush's!! Then we headed to the pool for some swimming. Even Jason was able to join us for a little bit before we got some gusty wind. We topped off the night with some sequence....Jason and I needed to avenge ourselves from a prior loss which I won't even mention how bad it was.

Today started off slow I was tired and all the kids slept in until at least 7:30. We got going and went to Lowe's I was trying to figure out a project. We had fun looking around the new store and then we headed to In-n-Out for lunch. After lunch we went to Dillard's for a "quick" look around the store. Well they are having a shoe clearance and it didn't end up being quick. My dad was so great and watched the kids while mom and I ran in. I know he hates shopping but I am so impressed with his being so patient with us. After our shopping I ended up with 3 new pairs of shoes as an early birthday present we headed home so they could pack up the care to head back to Utah. Tanner helped dad with the car and I was so scared he would have a hard time with them leaving. He has been looking forward to their visit for so long. But in the end it was Kylie she wanted to go home with them and was so sad. Hopefully it won't be long before we can visit!