Red Cross shelter

 So fires are consuming our state right now. One of the worst ones is the Wood Hollow fire, about 20 miles from our home in Ephraim. I got a phone call on Monday to see if I was available to help in the Red Cross shelter at North Sanpete High School, where people evacuated from their homes in Indianola and Fairview were staying. I joined the Utah MRC (Medical Reserve Corps) about three years ago and never really thought I'd actually get called out in an emergency, but I was excited to do it!

 I signed up for a 12 hour shift, and was just delighted when I got there to see where I'd be spending my 12 hours. lol.

 Most of the evacuees were gone by the time my shift started, but we did have two families still there when I arrived.

 Even so, the only medical care I gave in my entire 12-hour shift was to give a bandaid to one of the other volunteers.

 It was a great experience to see how the shelter works, though.

 I think I'll be making cash donations to the Red Cross now. They need it.

 A few hours into my shift, Judy from Orem came back to the medical area and invited me to come up front and visit with the rest of the staff. I had already watched two DVD's on my laptop and was ready to get out of that room!

 Sheila, Heather, Cathy and Mike hard at work.

 Once Commander Cathy arrived (retired Navy commander), the work of the shelter was winding down, and Cathy and I dismantled the health center.

Here are the medical supplies, diapers and feminine hygiene products I had custody of during my time at the shelter. It was a great experience, and made me question my decision to NOT recertify as an EMT next year when my certification lapses. I may just stick with it after all.

Me, The Man and The Motorcycle

 So my husband has a big black motorcycle. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with him. The picture on the right is on our first date... last August 16, he took me on a ride and we took this photo at Devil's Kitchen. On the left is us in the same spot last week, on Father's Day and my 44th birthday. We've both changed in a million ways since our first date, but one thing remains the same.. we love to ride the bike together:)

 Here is the Guardian Bell I bought him on our honeymoon. The bell protects the bike and the rider if it is given to you by someone else, so it was my gift to Ken:) Helmets offer a degree of protection too, so that was his gift to me:)

 I call these my biker babe earrings. I only wear them when we ride, and I think they are ADORABLE:)

 Today happens to be the worst wildfire in the history of Sanpete County, and I got this cool picture of the helicopter scooping water from a little pond SO close to the fire. Pretty cool, huh?

 I also got to cross a VERY important item off my bucket list today. I wanted to be kissed in front of this very waterfall, one of my favorite places on earth.

 Yay! He kissed me twice:)  The first one was nice. The second one was perfect:)

So, here's the thing. I love him. I love our life together. We are not like anyone else I know, and I wouldn't change a thing about us. I love us. A lot of my divorced friends are still single. But for some reason, God sent Ken to me. I am SO blessed:) And I'm going to try really hard not to tickle his feet as he is sprawled out in the recliner right next to the couch where I am sitting. Happy Sunday everyone. Oh, P.S. New ink for us next Saturday. Yay!!!

Here's the preliminary drawing. Malissa will work her magic and give us matching designs along these lines.

Ashli's Birthday

 Mack planned a surprise party for Ashli's 22nd birthday. He took her to Wal-Mart while everyone showed up at the house and she didn't know anything was up until they got home. Yay!

 Russ and Franki sat by us, made us laugh, and we had a great time.

 And of course.. this guy:) This night was not easy for me, hanging out with Kurt and Tracy socially, but it was important to Ashli and so we did it. And it was fine. It will be easier next time and by the time we get to the birth of the baby and Zack's wedding, it will be the new normal for all of us.

So. happy birthday, Ashli! We love you more than you can even imagine:)

The 15th anniversary of my 29th Birthday & Ken's 32nd Father's Day

 My birthday fell on Fathers Day this year. Which was actually pretty cool:) It's our first year together and I'm glad Ken and I got to share the day. We planned a barbecue and invited all the local kids to join us. Here's Haiden helping me cut the cake. My first ever ice cream cake. Yummy:)

 Andrea and Jason planned to go 4-wheeling with Jason's family that afternoon, so they came over that morning and gave Ken the cutest EVER candy bar sign for Fathers Day. So fun:)

 Rylee is getting SO big. Even if it's only been a couple days since we saw her, she changes so much!

 Awe:) I love being in their lives. Zaney sits down right by me on the couch and Andrea hands me the  baby when she comes to visit. I love this family:)

 Jen is amazing. She just had Oaklee six days ago and here she is, sweet and kind, and looking adorable with her two babies.

 My kids are SO great at the whole blending thing. Here they are with Ken's 11th grandbaby, miss Oaklee Joy. I think we're all going to be JUST FINE:)

 Mack works TWO full time jobs, and when he finally has a minute to relax, he is EX.HAUS.TED. I'm so proud of the way he takes care of my little girl. AND the rest of our family, too. I lived with them for six months before I met Ken, and now they're opening their home to Zack, too. Mack and Ash are so good to us.

I saved this one for last. I wish Zack could have been here, but this was a GREAT moment. It's the first time Ashli's cute little baby bump has been noticeable in pictures, and I LOVE that it was on my birthday:) I absolutely ADORE Ken's grandkids, but there's something indescribable about Ashli carrying my first grandchild. I am SO excited about this baby. Isn't her baby bump ADORABLE??? Yay! Life is awesome:)

Vegas

 We took Zane and Alec to Las Vegas last week. I stopped counting the "Are we there yet"'s about 40 minutes into the trip, which normally takes about 4 1/2 hours but ended up being 6 for us this time.

 Andrea sent money with them so they could buy swim goggles, and they chose these hilarious masks.

 Zane gave me a little monster that formerly held a blue jawbreaker. Isn't it cute?

 The purpose of the trip was to see Anthony and his family, who were in Las Vegas from their home in Germany. I had never met them, and Ken and the boys hadn't seen them for three years. So it was great to visit with them. I was SO nervous to meet them, but they were really sweet to me, and I got hugs from all of them before we came home.

 Anthony and Sandra's daughter Alena is a beautiful little girl. Her big Shamu was a hit with her cousins.

 12 year old Julian is hilarious! We took him to Circus Circus to spend the day with the boys and he was joking with Zane about this being the perfect gift for him.

 This doesn't happen near enough. Alec cried when he had to say goodbye to Julian.

 We had some zany, crazy fun on the trip.

 We tried one of the buffets, but the boys were much happier with McDonald's, so we ended up there for most of our meals. They did have milk, juice and apple slices, though, so it wasn't a completely unhealthy week.

My youngest child is 18, and Ken's is 22, so we had both forgotten just how exhausting it can be to vacation with little ones, but I was SO glad Andrea let us take the boys with us. It was great to get to know them a little bit better, and we all had a good time.

Tyler's Graduation

 My baby graduated from high school on May 23, 2012, the first in our family to wear a yellow rope:) (Which means you're like really, really smart and stuff!) He was one of the Top Scholars in his class and I am SO proud of him. P.S. Aren't he and his sister GORGEOUS people?

 My niece, Brittany Baker, graduated from Grantsville High School on the same night, at the same time, that Tyler graduated from Juab High School, over 100 miles away. So my family had a hard time deciding which graduation to attend. Tami and her family just went half-n-half. Dave and Kylie went to Brittany's, and Tami and Mav came to Ty's.

 I LOVE this picture! Ty's football coach, Mike Bowring, has been an amazing part of his life for many years, both on and off the football field, and has helped shape the man Ty is today.

 Cute little Puggy and Megan joined the Searles in supporting Ty. Thanks you guys:) 

 The boys:) These three have been so close the past couple of years. Ty and Kelton will be roommates at Snow College in the fall. Kelty is a great kid and I think the world of him. He was given the Disciple of Christ Award at seminary graduation and I cried as much as if it were my own blood son receiving it. I'm so glad he's a part of my sons' lives.

 And they are best friends.

My kids didn't really understand when Ken and I took our pictures before the ceremony and let Ty's dad have the time afterwards. But I made the best decision for me. Knowing my own strengths and weaknesses, I held it together for as long as I could and then cried on the way home alone with Ken while Ty got on the bus to go to California with the kids he's known since he was like 4 years old. I'm glad he was raised in Nephi. But I'm SO ready for him to live here in Sanpete. I can't wait til fall when he comes to Snow College, where he'll be a... gasp... cheerleader!!!! I know, right? I'm so excited!

Babie Becca Brown

I think I can finally start talking about this. I am just SO excited to become a Grandma.

My daughter, Ashli, is due on December 21 with my very first grandchild. I'm SO hoping for a girl:)

Ash is really sick, so I'm hoping that ends soon. She's lost 12 pounds, which she doesn't have to lose. But the baby is doing well, and this will be one AMAZING Christmas season for all of us:) Yay!!!!