Farewell Uncle Bill

Last Sunday a wonderful thing happened to our sweet, funny and beloved, Uncle Bill. After much pain and suffering, Uncle Bill passed away peacefully and was rejoined with his sweet wife, Aunt Verlene.

Today was Uncle Bill's funeral. It was a very nice service and was a great tribute to him and his life. Many people came to pay their respects. Uncle Bill was the fire chief of Sandy City for 32 years. Uncle Bill's body was taken to the cemetery on a fire truck. It was so neat to see the Sandy City Fire Department dressed in their best uniforms and with the leaders carrying shiny axes. The fire truck was draped with a black sash in the front and back of the engine.

At the cemetery, Bill Jr. gave the dedicatory prayer and the military honor guard did the flag ceremony (a flag was draped on the casket) and gave it to Uncle Bill's only daughter, Debbie. After that the military gave the gun salute and Uncle Bill's grandson, Tommy, played "Taps." The fire department gave one last call over their walkie talkies saying, "Last call for William Earl "Bill" Clough, retired Fire Chief of Sandy City." It was very moving and neat to see the fire department and military honors for this great man.

Uncle Bill was a great man and loved by many. He will be greatly missed, but we all know he is with his sweetheart again and that gives us great joy. He always was making me laugh and was so fun to be around. He even got me a job at Aspen Ridge, the first time he was there. He told me I could live with him and Aunt Verlene. Uncle Bill always looked out for everybody and wanted us all to be happy.

I love you Uncle Bill and look forward to when we will meet again.

Naps and unpacking

I thought these pictures of Ian were so cute, I had to share them. The first two were from tonight. Ian was in the high chair having chicken ravioli and liking it very much. I gave him a bite and then I took one. I went to give him another bite and when I looked, his little head was turned to the side and his eyes were closed. The little sweetie was so tuckered out, he fell right asleep during dinner! This is about the 5th time this has happened. So, I got him out and we took a nap together.

The next couple are of Ian helping up to unpack after our trip. He is such a good little helper!!

Trick or Treat!!!

Ian's first Halloween 2007

Last year was Ian's first Halloween. He wore a little onesie with winnie the pooh on it. He slept most of the time. This year he picked out his costume. He was Tigger. We held up winnie the pooh, tigger and a monkey and he grabbed tigger. We put the costume on and he loved it. He walked all over Babies R Us. It was adorable. This year we went to Grandma Greenhalgh's house and went trick or treating with grandma, Uncle Jon, and cousins Taylor and Kori. We went all around the neighborhood and got tons of candy. Then we went to my parents house and went to a few houses with Grandpa Johnsen while grandma stayed home to pass out candy. It was actually fairly descent weather and the rain held off unitl we were almost done. It was a fun night and fun to celebrate Ian's "first", second Halloween.

The Land of Cotton

Watching Thomas Getting Custard Rest stop!!!

Ian and I at the temple


Ian stretching his legs in Beaver

Playing in Fillmore

cotton plants

A couple weeks ago Ben, Ian and I went to St. George for Ben's work. We decided to make a little family vacation out of it. We went down on a Thursday and came back the following Monday. Thursday we left early and spent some time in Orem at Harmons where Ben had to do a demo for work. Ian and I walked around for a couple hours, then went driving. Ian slept the whole way to Orem and then a little while when we were waiting for Ben. Finally that night (after a couple stops for Beanie -and him screaming the last 8 miles) at 7pm we rolled in to St. George. We checked into the hotel and went to dinner at Famous Daves.

The next morning after a long sleepless night (thanks to a 2 foot little boy), Ben headed out to the Dixie Harmons while Ian and I watched Thomas, played with toys and took a nap. Later that night we went to dinner and just hung out. The next day we went shopping at the outlet malls and went to Nielsens Frozen Custard. (Ben went to that place on his mission and loved it!)

Sunday we went swimming. Ian wasn't to sure of the little floater we brought. He liked to be held and stand on the steps. We then went to the St. George Temple and Visitors Center. We also decided to go see Brigham Young's winter home. Ian screamed and cried the entire time. He wanted to run around the house and go up and down the steep stairs. He fell and hit is head on the door frame and got a huge bump on his little forhead. We got in the car and he fell asleep right away.

Ian loved the hotel. It had a seperate bedroom and a kitchen. He pushed his toys all over the place. He loved watching Thomas and Friends and getting under the sink and shutting the doors and hidding. While he hides he starts to laugh while we "look for him." It is so funny. He is the cuttest little boy around!!! Most of the time he slept in between mommy and daddy. He was more comfortable there then in the porta crib.

All in all we had a great time. There were a few bumps and bruises, but, it was great to get away as a family and spend some time away from work and to have some fun.

morning walk to get breakfast

Ian playin hide 'n seek

Slice 'N Dice

On the 16th of October I had surgery to remove a softball size mass from my left shoulder. I noticed in June I had some spidery web looking marks and I thought, "that's weird!" I showed Ben, but since it didn't hurt I didn't worry. In September, I went to the doctor for a physical and I showed my Dr. She was very worried about it and referred me to a surgeon. Having worked on the surgical floor at McKay Dee Hospital, I knew the surgeons well. I decided to go with Dr. Richard Alder. (he took Ben's gallbladder out).

I had an appointment two weeks later with Dr. Alder. He said it was a lipoma and that I would have to have it taken out in the main OR with general anesthesia. I wasn't as scared as I thought I would be, but, it was still scary because I have never had surgery. So, my surgery was scheduled for two weeks later.

At the hospital the anesthesiologist had to start my IV. He gave me O2 and sleepy meds. Next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. Well, trying to wake up. Never having had general anesthesia, my body was wiped out for days. It was weird trying to get back to normal. Day three was the worst with the pain. Luckily it didn't get to horribly bad.

Thanks to Mom and Dad for taking Ian over the weekend, Kami for dinner, Aunt Carolyn for flowers, work for the halloween decoration, and Sharon and Stan for the diet coke!

PS. Everything was okay and the mass was benign.

Witches, Skeletons, Tiggers, Princesses, and Chicks!

Hello again. Sorry its been awhile since I've blogged. A few weeks ago we celebrated Ian's birthday with Ben's family. We combined it with Ben's mom's halloween party. All the little kiddies dressed up and we took pictures, ate chilli, opened presents, played games and of course ate cake, rice crispies, cupcakes, and ice cream. Ian had a little winnie the pooh cake this time. He made almost as big a mess. Our friends Chris and Nanette and their son Logan also joined us. Thanks to all the family for Ian's gifts. We appreciate you all.