Hutchison Happenings

Daddy's Girl

2012-01-27T20:45:00.001-08:00

Here are some random pictures of Eddie and Sophie. When Sophie was born Eddie wasn't sure if he would know what to do with a girl, but that soon changed. She has him wrapped around her little finger and he doesn't even mind. I love watching her interact with her dad and seeing her face light up when he comes home.

I have posted the father and daughter pictures now here are some father and son pictures. One of Carson's favorite things is story time at night. He usually asks a lot of questions while we are reading and tries to prolong the event as much as possible.

We Heart Dad!

2012-01-18T21:56:00.001-08:00

We celebrated the anniversary of my Father's heart surgery by having a cook out up High Creek Canyon. I am so impressed by how well he has taken care of himself this past year. I cannot believe the difference in him this year compared to last year after the surgery. His fun personality is back and he is doing great with his treatment.

Whenever I think of his surgery I cannot help but feel so blessed that he is even with us still. I think of when the doctor told my Mother and I that a heart attack would have finished him immediately and I want to hug him. He is such a wonderful Father and I am happy that my children will get to know their Papa.
We brought some amazing food and had a great time sitting around the fire. For dessert we had cupcakes with chocolate hearts on top. The kids (especially Carson) really enjoyed them.

At one time Papa took the boys down to the river and they got a little close. Carson's pants were soaked, but he didn't care. He loves being outside just like the rest of us. My aunt Susan was also in town which was really fun.

Roasting marshmellows is definately a favorite thing to do for all the boys. I don't know if Carson got close enough to melt his, but we helped him out. Sophie was also at he cookout. She was really good, but got a little cold at the end.

Blessed

2012-01-15T21:30:00.000-08:00

We blessed Sophie in August and had dinner with our families at Lynette's. It was really nice to see everyone and have such wonderful support. It was a popular day to be blessed in our ward and we were joined by two other families blessing their babies also.
Sophie was an angel during the blessing and she barely uttered a peep. She is such a good baby and we are so lucky to have her in our family. Eddie also did a wonderful job blessing her. Carson also was an amazing kid. He sat through sacrament and the blessing very well.

We are so blessed to have Sophie in our family. One of my favorite things to do is to watch her and Carson interact. My days are filled with diapers, feedings and naps, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Our friends the Hillstrom's also came down for the blessing. It was really nice to see them. I can't say enough how lucky we are to have such amazing people in our lives. My children have so many good examples to look up to and I feel so blessed for that.

Ice Cream Truck!! (Well actually Van)

2011-12-17T09:36:00.000-08:00

Who knew Logan had an ice cream truck van. I was watching the boys and I heard the music playing. I ran to find money and raced the boys outside (Carson has never gotten icecream from the truck before). They were a little confused and then excited when they realized what was going on. All three of them picked a Spiderman popsicle and loved it. They are such good boys and they love playing together, well most of the time they do.

Random pictures of the Soph

2011-12-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

I am trying to take a lot of pictures with Sophie like I did for Carson. It is a little more challenging when I have Carson to look after too, but so far so good. I love the picture of her wrapped in her cocoon. I love the Velcro wraps they save me when my babies are little! She continues to get bigger and bigger and her hair is finally starting to come in. She was completely bauld in the back, but that is starting to recover.

Sorry to any followers I am catching up!

2011-12-11T21:35:00.000-08:00

Happy 4th

2011-12-11T20:44:00.001-08:00

This year for the 4th of July we headed to Lewiston again. There is something about a hometown parade that I love and now that Carson is a little older he is getting into the candy and festivities. He loved seeing all of the floats and partaking of the bounty that was to be had.
Sophie is still a little young to get into the fun. Nanna and Pappa were kind enough to take her throughout the parade so I could help Carson get candy. My Grandma Meriel also came and had a good time. She was even singled out by the old folks home for some treats. Carson was trying to get them to hand him the treats, but they walked right past him and straight to grandma. We got a kick out of how they singled her out.

It sprinkled a little during the parade, but not enough to get soaked. It was a lot cooler then I thought it would be in the morning, but by the afternoon it was perfect. After the parade we headed into the park to the booths and carnival. Carson wanted to ride all the rides and jump in all the bounce houses. He had a great time at the park and then headed to my parents for more fun.

This year Sonya and Rod also joined us for the fun. We decided to put water balloons on the tramp and jump with them. Of course this led to a water fight. My sister Ashley and her husband Brad were also there with their kids. Brad is way competitive and started the fight. Naturally Ashley and I couldn't let him win and even when he ran into the house we followed him with buckets of water.
My favorite part was when Eddie was sneaking out onto the roof to throw water on us outside. I followed him until he was out on the roof and when he turned to grab his water I soaked him. It was so funny. I hardly ever surprise him and I got him good! I was a lot of fun and Sonya was right there helping Ashley and I.
Finally, I was soaked and Brad was barely wet. I decided it was not over until he was soaked too. He was jumping on the tramp with Ryker and I attacked with the hose. He kept trying to hold Ryker in front of him as a shield, but I still sprayed. Luckily, Ryker forgave me. Although I think it may have scarred him a little.
It was a really fun water fight for everyone involved. Before we knew it the fireworks were about to begin uptown. Eddie and I tried to dry our clothes in the dryer before we had to head to the fireworks.

As you can see I love the fourth of July. It always seems like we have a great albeit tiring day. I hope my kids will have as many wonderful memories of that day as I do.

Saint George in July

2011-12-10T07:24:00.000-08:00

In July we went to Saint George with some of our great friends. The Hillstroms' and the Defays'. These are our traveling buddies and it is always a good time when we are together. This is our third long distance adventure with all three families. We keep multiplying so it gets a little harder to fit into one place, but we make it work.
The Hillstrom family has a condo in Saint George which they let us stay at. The kids have a great time together. Carson, Treydon and Noah play together well and it is fun to see what mishchief three year olds can get into together. The other kids (Sophie, Tessa and Beckham) will play together when they are older I am sure.

The guys decided to go golfing and got onto a course as early as they could to avoid the heat. They played for dirt cheap and had a great time even if it was really early in the morning. We then went to breakfast at the Bear Paw Restaurant. The food was amazing, but I was being really ornery.
The power kept going out which meant that the air conditioning kept going out. I was worried Sophie was getting too hot thus I was freaking out. They kept resetting the generator and insisted that they would be able to cook our food (our orders were already in when th power went out the first time). The chef's in the back ended up cooking our meals with the lights from their cell phones. Luckily, the food was amazing and I can definitely see myself going back even with the power problems.
When we finally got back into our cars he thermometer read 112. Seriously!?! The Defay's car was even hotter at 119. Poor Tessa was sweating like crazy when we got back to the condo.
Kristina and Ariel thought it might be too hot to go shopping, but I convinced them otherwise and the girls headed out for a little retail therapy. It was fun to spend time with the three of us (it always is) and I wish I could live closer to these wonderful women.
We ended up driving home on July 3rd in order to make it home for the 4th. We had a great time and wished it could have lasted a few more days. Carson and Eddie also swam in the pool with everyone, which they enjoyed.

More of the Soph

2011-12-10T07:15:00.001-08:00

The newborn stage is such a tireing stage. As I look at these pictures I cannot believe how quickly they grow up. I am so grateful that I get to experience the joys of Motherhood and that I have a husband who is wonderful and helps me raise our beautiful children.

Happy Birthday...Again!

2011-12-10T06:51:00.000-08:00

SInce we were at my family party on Carson's birthday we decided to have another party for him at Lynette's house. Andy and Mallory were kind enough to let us use their blow up slide. This was the first year that Carson loved sliding down the slide and it was great to see him have so much fun in the water. Lynette has a hot water tap so the temperature was just right. We had lunch, cake and then a pinata.

Sometimes I forget how little Carson still is and now that Sophie has come along I think it has gotten worse. The pinata was definately too old for his three year old party. The kids had a really hard time trying to break it and finally Eddie and Andy had to do it. Carson still had a great time and so did we!

My New Little Helper

2011-11-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

Carson has been really great with Sophie. One of my biggest worries about having another child was wondering how he would react. Luckily, he ignored her at first so I didn't have to worry. Now he wants her to play with him which can be a little rough sometimes, but Sophie usually loves it. Whenever Carson is in the room she gets so excited and tries to get his attention. I love watching them play together and it keeps them entertained so I don't have to.

Just Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming

2011-11-30T20:28:00.001-08:00

Carson started swimming lessons this year. My little fish hated them in the begining and I even contemplated taking him out. I went to pick him up the first two times and he was crying so hard he was hickuping. The first thing he would say to me is, "Mom, I did not have fun."
His teacher told me to keep bringing him and eventually he began to love it. He took twice this year the first time he didn't like it at first, but the second time he loved it!!
We have some really funny footage of him during parents day (the last day of lessons is the only day parents are allowed to stay and watch). He reminded us a lot of his uncle Andy when he took lessons at Carson's age (I hope this is not a sign of what is to come).
At the end of lessons he could jump of the diving board, hold his head under water, float on his back and a lot of other things. We are thrilled that he is a little more comfortable in the water. Now we don't have to worry about him as much when we take him swimming.

Yipee Carson is Three

2011-11-30T19:57:00.000-08:00

My little man turned three!!! Wow my cute little boy is no longer a toddler. I cannot believe how much he seems to have grown in the past year. He helps me so much and keeps me on my toes. Anyone who knows Carson knows that he is a very energetic child and I love him for it.
We decided a bicycle would be a good way for him to get some of the pent up energy out. Eddie went to the store and picked out the perfect one and... Carson hated it. He wouldn't even try and ride it and got scared every time we tried to set him on it. Luckily, this year we had a family reunion at Dawnata Hot Springs on his birthday so not all was lost.

I was supposed to bring dessert for the reunion so I made cupcakes with Phineas and Ferb (Carson's favorite show or should I say my favorite show). Carson has a hard time waiting to blow out the candles and I had a hard time lighting them with the wind but finally we lit at least one to blow out.
Later everyone headed to the pool to swim in the nice warm water (everyone except Sophie and I we decided she was a bit too young still). They also have water slides at the pool. Eddie took Carson on the big water slide and after they walked all the way to the top the lifeguard told them that Eddie couldn't hold Carson on the way down. Not wanting to walk all the way down Eddie sent Carson on his way by himself (with Stephen at the bottom to catch him). He came out terrified and wouldn't even go on a small slide into the pool. Eddie felt really bad and we had a talk about age appropriate activities for three year old chldren.

Even with the traumatic experience we had a good time with the fam. Carson was exhausted at the end and fell asleep shortly after we got into the truck. Dawnata was nice and we will definitely have to go again.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

2011-11-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

They grow up way too fast!

There is Only One Galoon!

2011-11-30T18:48:00.000-08:00

This year we decided to brave the crowd with a newborn and go to Lagoon (Galoon as Carson would say it). I was a little apprehensive with Sophie being so little, but it turned out to be a great time. Carson and Eddie had fun on the new roller coaster for kids and adults (or should I say Eddie had fun and Carson was terrified).
We went with my parents and sister's family. My sister lives in Farmington, so it was nice to leave for a few hours to refuel and come back. Carson was a champ for the most part and only got scared on the Tidal Wave and the above mentioned roller coaster.

Sophie even had her share of adventure when we took her on the Ferris wheel. My nephew Ryker about gave my sister a heart attack when he kept trying to climb out of his seat at the top of the ride.
We ran into some of my cousins from Vernal which was also a fun surprise while we were there. One of my favorite parts was when the boys all went into the bumper cars. Carson had no idea how to steer and just ended up going in circles. Cooper and Ryker got into the same car an proceeded to fight over who who was steering. Ryker started pinching Cooper and there was nothing Ashley (my sis) could do but threaten from the sidelines. We all had a good laugh and eventually when the ride started they decided they would take turns steering.

You've got to love the boat ride. This thing has been around for a long time. I have pictures of when I was little on a lot of the rides. It is fun to see my kids enjoying the same rides that I did when I was their age.
We decided to end the night with the classic log ride. During the day the line was huge, but at night there was no line and we walked on. We had a lot of fun and managed not to get too soaked. Cooper on the other hand hit his head and had a traumatic experience. Hopefully he will forget by next year.

After the log ride Eddie tried to get Carson to go on the new coaster one more time. They managed to make it to the front of the line before Carson threw a fit and decided it was too scary to go on again (poor little guy). We had a great time and Sophie was even a champ. I am lucky to have two great kids!

Our Little Princess

2011-11-26T19:43:00.000-08:00

I am about to tell my labor and delivery story with Sophie so beware! Sophie, like Carson was almost full term. I had a doctors appointment the day before she was born and he didn't see a lot of progress from the week before, but I was already dilated to a four and almost totally effaced. Dr. Fowers then asked me if I wanted to have a baby and I almost screamed yes.
He then told me I could be induced on Saturday the 21st. I was excited and a little apprehensive realizing that the baby in my belly would soon need a lot more of my attention.
Dr. Fowers handed me a card that said I needed to call the hospital the next morning to see if they had room for me. The card instructed me to call at 6:00 A. M. I didn't sleep at all the night before the induction. I was in a lot of pain, but didn't think the pain was due to contractions.
Finally, it was time to call the hospital.
Eddie and I packed everything we thought we would need and headed to the hospital. I was admitted and in my bed by 8:00. They checked me and I was already at a 5-6. Meaning I must have been in labor the whole previous night. They hooked me up the the monitors and sure enough I was already in labor with mild contractions every few minutes. It was then the nurse put me on pitocen to help me speed things along. Can I just say OUCH! My body responded really strongly to the hormone and I had one continuous contraction.
Luckily, the nurse came in and decreased the amount of hormone I was getting and my contractions spread apart. She also called for the anesthesiologist who was at home (due to the fact that labor and delivery was really slow). He lived in North Logan so I prayed he would hurry and the epidural wouldn't come to late.
I waited for about 45 minutes and then he was there. By that time my contractions were getting intense. I was dilated to a 6-7 when the doctor arrived and put the epidural in.
My experience with the epidural was totally different this time than last time. I was sitting up the first time and barely felt anything but the initial pinch when the needle was inserted. This time I felt the pinch then the zing up and down my back. There was also a pop that was weird as well. I didn't love getting it in, but it felt like heaven once it was in.
They then broke my water and beautiful Sophie Anne was on her way. It took about anther hour before I was fully dilated and ready to push. Dr. Fowers came back and it was time to push.
The epidural was working so wonderfully I didn't feel the contractions so I had to be told when to push. Luckily, the pushing process took much less time and energy with Sophie than with Carson. Three or four good pushes and she was out.
They took her away to clean her off and I cried as I watched Eddie take pictures of her on the scale. My beautiful daughter was finally here! She cried her little baby cry and they placed her in my arms to take us to another hospital room.
She was and is such a wonderful baby I am so happy to be her Mom!

At The Car Wash

2011-11-26T19:35:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I wonder if taking your child to the car wash is abuse. Carson gets a little nervous when the loud jets are hitting the window, but it makes for some great pictures!

Health Days Parade

2011-11-09T21:17:00.001-08:00

We decided to go to Health Days in Smithfield again this year. Carson loves going to parades and seeing his cousins. It is also a great excuse to get out of the house. Although when I see those prego pictures I wonder how I dare venture out when I am really pregnant.
The parade was fun to go to and afterward we headed to the park for the festivities. Carson and Ali slid down the slide and poor Carson burned his arm on the side of it. Needless to say he only wanted to slide once. They also rode on the train and went through a blow up maze.

Time Flies!

2011-11-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

The first time we took Carson miniature golfing he was barely two or three weeks old. Needless to say this time I think he enjoyed it a little more. Last time we were in Ohio with my parents and this time we are back in Cache Valley. We had a great time together and Carson did a great job. He seems to like golfing almost as much as his daddy.

Having another baby has made me realize how fast time flies. I am trying to be better at finding joy in each stage of my children's life because the stages fly by so quickly. I find myself feeling guilty regularly for expecting too much of Carson. I constantly have to remind myself that he is only three years old and I need to treat him as such. Now that he is the older brother he is such a big help with Sophie. I am so blessed to have the family that I do!

So Proud!

2011-10-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

My cute little brother graduated this year from USU. He graduated with a degree in Ag Business. I am so proud of him. We went to a park and had lunch with everyone before heading up to the university for the ceremony.
They do graduation differently now than they did when I graduated. All the students meet in the spectrum for a speaker then they split up in their individual colleges to walk.I am not sure which way I prefer, but I know that when I graduated it was really boring waiting to walk and as soon as I walked I left (as was the way with many others).

Please ignore the prego picture of me. I was not going to put it in, but decided to include it for posterity. I am sometimes shocked at how big I get while pregnant and usually avoid pictures and mirrors.

Easter

2011-09-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

For Easter (yes Easter I know how behind I am)we went to Lewiston to participate in the egg hunt. Unfortunately Eddie had to go to work so we missed him there. Carson still had a great time though. I was worried that he may not get anything, so I may have followed him to make sure he didn't come up empty handed.
His cousin Ryker was right by him and when they said go my sister encouraged him to go a little too hard and he fell, tripping Carson on his way down. Luckily, they both made it back on their feet and into the chase. Carson wasted no time opening his eggs and enjoying the candy inside. I used to love this event when I was a child and it is fun to see my own son enjoy it as well.

On some of the eggs they hand write the letter P. If you find an egg with a P you can turn it in for a prize. Well Ryker found a P, but Carson and Cooper were not so lucky. Carson didn't seem to care much (he was to into his treats) but Cooper was MAD. I love this pict because you can see just how happy Cooper was to be there.

Afterwards we went to Nanna and Pappa's for another egg hunt. The kids went first and had a great time finding their eggs (with their parents encouragement). Nanna and Pappa also gave the kids Easter books and toys which they loved. Then it was time for the adult egg hunt. My Mom and Dad hid eggs with money in them for us to find. It was a lot of fun running around trying to get eggs before anyone else. My brother Stephen always manages to find a way to come out on top with the most money...grrr!

Our Easter fun continued at Lynette's where all most of the grand kids had another hunt. Each child picked a basket and found eggs that coordinated with their color of basket. Carson had a hard time not picking up every egg he saw, but in the end he got the hang of it.

Afterward we launched a rocket Eddie received from Andy for Christmas. The kids loved watching it, but I think the men loved it the most. There was a tense moment when we thought the rocket might hit the neighbors house, but luckily it missed.

Ever since we watched Tangled Carson has been an expert at doing what we call "the smoulder". I love it and frequently make him take pictures doing it. Here is a little taste of what the smoulder looks like.

The Good, the Bad and the Just plain Nasty!

2011-08-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

Forever ago Carson, Eddie and I went to Baby Animal Days at the American West Heritage Center. Last year I went with my Mom, but this year Eddie was able to make it. We had a great time an Carson loved being able to see all of the animals. He loved the horses, but his favorite part was the train of course. This year was the first year I have seen the turtles. They were so cute and slippery. I accidently dropped one on it's back (hope the little guy was ok).

This year they also had a theatrical gun fight. It was really fun to watch but as you can see from the pictures Carson was a little terrified.

After the heritage center we went to Riverdale Resort with my sister and her family, BIG MISTAKE! The resort has gone down hill majorly! I almost fell on the slippery stairs trying to get into the pool. The ramp that went down into the pool was just as trecherous.
By the time we finished swimming my white shorts were a pleasant shade of putrid green. Algae was also found inside my swimming suit even after I had showered (sorry TMI I know). We still had fun with the Rich family, but we will never be going back again. I think the ditch we used to swim in as children was cleaner.

Hospital Picts

2011-08-12T20:56:00.001-07:00

Now that Sophie is almost three months old I feel like I am able to have a little more free time at night so hopefully I can get things caught up. I wish I would have gotten pictures with everyone that came to visit us at the hospital, but I did not. Please forgive. Hopefully I got one of you later if I missed. Anyway here are some pictures of Sophie's first few days in the hospital. It seems like a distant memory in some ways.
I for one don't mind being at the hospital. It is really nice to have someone there to check on you and your baby. I definitely took advantage of the nursery while we were there and loved that option. My recovery this time was a lot better! I only had one lortab and the rest of the pain medication was much milder. Though I was feeling ok I opted to stay the full 48 hours.

Sophie is so sweet and small. It is hard to believe that babies can come out so little. I am trying to cherish every day because I know how quickly she will grow.
Carson was really cute and the hospital he just kept giving Sophie kisses. Then about five minutes into the visit she was old news. He mostly just ignored her for the first two weeks which was fine by me!

A Single Tear

2011-08-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

As many of you know a year ago today my Father underwent a quadruple bypass surgery on his heart. Through a series of tests here in Logan and in Ogden we found out that small arteries and a love of butter and bacon (yes it runs in the family)don't mix.
I cannot help but feel how lucky I am to still have my Father here. I watch him with my children and feel blessed for the precious moments we have. The reason I wanted to post about this anniversary is due to something my Mother told me last night.
Last year my sister and brother couldn't be there the night before the surgery. So it was just my Mom and I. Right before we said goodbye to my Dad for the night we shared a moment I will never forget. Standing in the ICU next to his bed, trying not to cry in front of my him I watched as a single tear ran down his cheek.
At that moment I thought the tear was due to the fact that he was to undergo a major surgery in the morning. He would have a lot of recovery and his life would be changed forever. It would certainly make sense to shed a few tears when going through such a traumatic event, however that is not my Dad.
Last night my Mother mentioned to him how she still remembers the single tear running down his cheek before the surgery. To which he replied,"I was laying there thinking about how much I was hurting my Wife and Daughter."
Even in one of his most vulnerable moments of life my Dad's thoughts were on us. He is one of the most unselfish people I know. We are blessed that he was wise enough to get his heart checked out when he did. He is now healthier than he has been in a long time and I am proud of how well he has listened to the doctors. I have an amazing Father and I am so happy that he is in my life. Happy one year anniversary Dad! Here's to the next 50.

Sophie Anne

2011-07-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

On May 21st we welcomed our beautiful baby girl into the world. She is so much fun and I am happy that she is such a great baby. I feel like I have not had a second to update, but now that she is a little older hopefully it will not take me so long to post. Here are some pictures I had taken of her when she was a week and a half.

As to the birth story. Her labor was so much different that Carson's I had a hard time knowing if I was in labor or just in pain. I went to see Dr. Fowers on a Friday and told him I was ready to have a baby I had been dilated to a four for a whole week. He looked up the schedule and said they could probably start me the next day.
I was excited, but nervous. I knew I wanted to have the baby but dreaded the recovery afterward. I went home and Eddie and I decided we should probably pick a name. We were deciding between Olivia and Sophie and finally picked Sophie.
That night I didn't sleep at all. I was feeling pain in my legs, back and in my abdomen. The pain was not consistent and didn't feel like contractions. Finally, it was time to call the hospital and see if they could take me. I called at six and they said to come in at 7:30 A.M..
Packed and ready we waited until 7:30 and then headed in. We arrived and were taken into a labor and delivery room shortly after. I felt like I was having contractions and sure enough I was. They decided to start me on pitocin to speed up the process.
My body reacted strongly to the pitocin and it seemed like I would have one continuous contraction. They lessened my dose and decided to check me. I was already at a 6-7!! It was probably about 9:30 A.M. then and the nurse told me the anesthesiologist was at home. She also said if I had to use the restroom that I should not push.
I was getting a little nervous because I had to wait for my epidural, but the doctor arrived and everything was fine. My first epidural was definitely a lot easier than my second. I feel like I only felt the needle going in with the first. With the second I felt a lot more. I had a hard time not flinching when I felt the zing part of it.
Once the pain meds numbed my lower half it was definitely worth the discomfort. I kept pushing my button as often as I could to release more medicine. It took a while but, finally I was good and numb. I could still feel and move my legs which was different from last time.
Finally, around 11ish I was informed that it was time to push. Last time I pushed for a long time and they ended up having to use the vacuum. This time I only had to push for about fifteen minutes. I still could not feel anything which I was not complaining about!
I felt a lot of emotion once she was born and couldn't help but cry. It is amazing and terrifying to think of being a Mom to two children, but I am excited to try. We are so blessed to have little Sophie in our lives and though it is challenging it is absolutely worth it!

My honey is 30!!

2011-05-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

This year Eddie turned 30! I cannot believe how quickly the past few years have gone by. I am so blessed to be married to such a great man! He has accomplished so much in his 30 years and I love being his wife.
To celebrate this momentous occasion I planned a surprise trip. He knew he was getting off work to go somewhere, but I kept the location a secret until we were at the airport. We both knew we wanted to go somewhere warmer so we headed off to Monterey, CA. It is such a beautiful place and there was a golf tournament going on at Pebble Beach that I thought Eddie would enjoy.
The first day we drove to Carmel, CA. This was my favorite experience. The cliffs right by the ocean and the huge redwood trees were so beautiful. We went on a small hike and were amazed by the trees. Some of them were totally burned out on the bottom and hollow, yet they still stood. I wouldn't want to go on that hike in a windstorm.

Nearby there was another shorter hike that was absolutely beautiful! There was a waterfall coming out of one of the cliffs onto the beach below. I know my description does not do it justice, but I absolutely loved seeing it. We wanted to go down on the beach where the waterfall fell, but there was no public access.

There was also an amazing bridge on the way home. It made me nervous to go over it because it spanned a deep crevice, but it was a beautiful structure.
We passed an area where we saw a group of people looking out over the ocean. I looked in the direction they were faced and saw a whale spout. We pulled over and looked for a while and saw a few more spouts.

The next day we headed to San Francisco. Neither of us have been there before, so it was fun to see Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and other sites. The only problem was that I left my camera battery charging in the hotel back in Monterey. I was so mad. We bought a disposable camera so I have no pictures to post from that day.
While in San Francisco we took a double decker bus tour. It was fun to hear about the history of the city and the people in it. We also drove over the Golden Gate Bridge (it was a $6 toll just to drive it). We also found Lombard Street and Eddie braved the drive down it. I couldn't believe how steep and narrow it actually was. The houses there were amazing and I wish we would have had more time to explore everything.
The next day was the celebrity golf tournament aka The AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. We found our way to parking and then were bussed to the golf course. The bus driver got lost along the way so we had a lovely tour of all the huge houses and the tree that adorns the Pebble Beach Logo.

Finally, we arrived at the course. I was impressed with how beautiful it was. One of the first golfers we saw was Phil Mickelson. I couldn't believe how close you get to the golfers. We followed Phil for a few holes and then moved on to find other celebrities and pro golfers.
While there we saw Ray Romono, Kevin Costner (who was not very nice), George Lopez, Anthony Anderson (who we actually talked to), Bill Murray, Bill Belichick, Andy Garcia and a few others. Eddie knew the pro golf players, but I didn't recognize many of them.
The tournament was really fun. I was surprised how much I enjoyed myself watching the players. It was fun to see the celebrities up close. Some interacted with the crowd the whole time while others really focused on their golf game. My feet were really swollen that night from all the walking around, but it was worth it.
For me, the trip was a success. The coast was beautiful, San Francisco was neat and the golf tournament was enjoyable. I think Eddie had a good time as well. It was nice to just have the time for the two of us. Thanks to everyone who helped with Carson while we were away.

I am getting old!

2011-05-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

This year for my 27th birthday my wonderful husband and son bought me a Nikon camera. I was completely surprised and so happy. My old camera had to be taped at the bottom so that the battery wouldn't fall out. My new camera is an amazing camera and I love it!! Now I just need to learn how to use the features on it.

Thanks to Lynette for making me the yummy cake you see in the picture. Also here are some of the guests at the party. I think they make any birthday great!!

Random

2011-05-19T10:56:00.001-07:00

I am not sure why we were at Grandma's house in these pictures, but I thought they were cute. Carson loves cookies and anything sweet. Here I am being a very responsible Mom by letting him have a cookie right before bedtime. O'well maybe I can be the fun parent (not likely).

Christmas Day 2010

2011-05-19T10:40:00.001-07:00

Christmas morning was spent in Lewiston. We first played with gifts from Santa at home and then made the trek to Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was fun to see everyone open their presents and the little kids get so excited. We also had a great brunch and then headed off to play with our new toys.

Carson was in heaven with all of the toys and friends to play with. This year I finally took pictures of each of us with our presents. As you can see Santa thought Carson was a really good boy.

Chrismas Eve 2010

2011-05-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

Can I just say that my Mother-In-Law is amazing! Every time we spend Christmas Eve. at her house she puts manages to wow us with a huge feast. Last years feast included lobster, shrimp and prime rib along with many other great dishes. Who could ask for more? Certainly not me...the meat eater.

On top of the amazing meal she also sewed costumes for the grand kids to wear and act out the Christmas story. Some of the kids were late so Andy and I filled in where we could.
Carson was obviously a shepherd and for the most part he did a great job. There were a few tense moments when his staff got a little close to his cousins head, but there are no major injuries to report.

We always have a great time with Eddie's family on Christmas Eve and always get spoiled. Carson received a playschool track with cars. Eddie and I received a some emergency preparedness materials and gift certificates (which we loved). Thanks again Lynette for all your hard work in our behalf.

Christmas with friends

2011-05-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

Last year some of my best friends from high school got togethter for the day. We usually spend the night in Salt Lake, but we couldn't make schedules work. We spent the day shopping, eating and catching up. No matter how much time has gone by without seeing each other we always manage to pick up where we have left off. I only wish that all of the group could have made it. If you were not there you were missed!! I look forward to this event every year and my friends laugh when I call them in September to plan it.

Second Annual Dental School Christmas Party

2011-04-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Hillstrom's were kind enough to host another Chirstmas party last year. It is a lot of fun getting together with this group. I wish we could find time to do it more often. We went out to dinner at a chinease restaurant in Bountiful to start the night off (I think it was called the Mandarin or something). Anyway, the food was really great and then we headed back to the Hillstrom's beautiful house.
There we had dessert and exchanged white elefant gifts. The guys get pretty creative in their gifting and it is always fun to see what they come up with.
The fist picture is Dave, Ariel, Angie and Aaron. The second one has Kristina with Tonya, and Brad. The third picture has Kristina and James and the last you should know although we both look a little goofy.

The gifts didn't dissapoint this year and I will let Eddie tell you what he came up with. It was a great night and I hope that it is a tradition we can continue (thanks to the Hillstrom's).

Yes, I am still blogging

2011-04-16T21:32:00.001-07:00

I know it is almost Easter, but I am going to get caught up with my blog if it kills me. So just go back a few months with me to Christmastime and reminisce. This year the Hutchison Family Party was held at Lynette's home. As always the food was great and the children were wild.
This year Grandma and Grandpa Hutchison decided to hire a magician to come. I think his name was Dexter and he came from Saint George to perform (he used to live in Cache Valley). In the Hutchison family they used to have a magician come every year for the Christmas party. It has been quite a while since they have had one, but now that the great grand kids are getting bigger he came.
It was fun to see the performance and the kids seemed to enjoy it. Well, all but one at least. Carson seemed to think it was more fun to run around everywhere instead. I was a little disappointed that he didn't watch, but I need to realize that he is only two. I still cannot figure out the magicians tricks, but that's what makes it fun.

The grand kids have a hard time sitting still for pictures, so this was as good as I got. At least Carson was having one of his rare sit still moments.
After the magician the kids made gingerbread houses. Lynette had them prebuilt so they could just decorate them with candy. It was fun to see them enjoy themselves in this activity.
I think Carson was just amazed that we would set bowls of candy in front of him and he was allowed to touch it. His gingerbread house was definitely stickier than any of the other kids, but it was beautiful to me! I just feel bad for the candy that was licked and then placed back in the bowls, sorry guys!

Next, onto the adult gift exchange. We each bring a nice gift that we think others would want to have. This year movies, gift cards and Nerf guns seemed to be the most popular. I made off with a gift card to Chilis and I am cannot quite remember what Eddie received.

Here is our attempt at getting a family picture during the event. As you can see we adopted a new member... Thanks Kade!

The Tale of the Christmas Tree

2011-02-27T18:08:00.000-08:00

For the past several years we have cut down our own Christmas tree. It is a tradition that I have for the most part enjoyed. This time it was a little more challenging. We decided to head up to Idaho to cut down the tree in the canyon on the way to Paris, ID (I forget the name). Since my Father had just undergone open heart surgery they decided it would be wise to rent a snowmobile.
We got up to the canyon and found out everyone else with a snowmobile was doing the same thing. We couldn't find parking anywhere and when we finally did it was about a half a mile from where everyone else found parking.
We parked and then trekked it up the road to meet up with the rest of our posse. Unfortunately, my brother Stephen managed to get the snowmobile stuck in the middle of nowhere and we couldn't find him for about two hours. He was trying to dig it out the whole time and we were trying to decide whether to go after him or not.
Finally, Eddie and I decided to try and get a tree without one. We started walking through the snow (you cannot cut them right off the side of the road you have to be a certain distance from it). I have never been through such deep snow in my life. There had just been a snowstorm and fresh powder was on the ground. Each step would result in sinking up to the hip or further. We didn't make it too far before we were dead tired.
Deciding that maybe Stephen made it back by then we went back to the groomed trail. I wish I could say I was patient and kind during this time, but I was not. When my brother finally showed up he was exhausted and ready to be off the snowmobile.
Eddie and I jumped on and went up a trail. It was so beautiful! The freshly fallen snow covered the pine trees and everything else. We got up high enough to see Bear Lake and enjoyed the view for a minute. We then pulled the snowmobile over and found what we thought would be a perfectly adequate tree (anything green would do by that point).
My Mom and Dad were able to ride for a little while as well. On the way home we almost hit a deer, but were very lucky. We learned a lot from this experience and it seems like each time we go we do so. By the time our kids are graduated from high school we might just have the cutting the tree thing down.

First Feeble Snowman Attempt

2011-02-27T17:58:00.001-08:00

During one of the first snowfalls of this season Carson and Eddie attempted to make a snowman. It turned out to be more of a snowman mud ball, but they still had fun. I love it when they're both outside playing together. Carson loves the snow and is constantly trying to eat it no matter where it falls.

Thanksgiving

2011-02-27T17:46:00.000-08:00

For the first time last year I was able to see what a Hutchison Family Thanksgiving is all about. Eddie and I have been married for six years and it was the first time we were together with the Hutchison's for Thanksgiving.
Lynette was the host and as usual she did a great job. She even made adorable turkeys for everyone out of oreos and candy corn. You can see a glimpse of one of them in the picture. The dinner was great and I ate too much as is customary.
My pictures leave a lot to be desired, but hopefully you can see how much fun the kids were having painting after lunch. Carson loves being around all of his cousins and we enjoyed ourselves as well.

No Cavities!

2011-01-08T15:49:00.000-08:00

I was reminded I am in serious need of updating the blog (thanks Grandma Audrey), so I am going to try an accomplish that the next few days. I don't know how I missed these pictures. In October we took Carson for his first dental appointment. I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but Carson was amazing. I think he was excited to see his Dad in action. He hopped right up in the chair and opened his mouth each time he was asked.

I cannot believe how big he is growing, it makes me happy that I get to be his Mom and share in these moments. He came out clean without any cavities and we are hoping he follows his Mom in the cavity department(zero so far). I am happy that I have such a wonderful child and a great husband. They make my life so full and enjoyable we have our difficulties, but I try to remember in those times just how lucky we are.

Nanna and Pappa's First Annual Halloween Party!

2010-11-14T21:37:00.000-08:00

This year my parents decided to host a Halloween party for the family. It was a lot of fun for Carson, Cooper and Ryker and we loved seeing them in their cute costumes. First, we had an amazing dinner of fall stew in pumpkin bread bowls we then put on the children's costumes and had a parade. Lastly, we went on a ghost hunt (white balloons hidden outside), afterward we played pumpkin bowling.

The adults then played the mouse game and made caramel apples. The apples tasted great and the treat bags we were given were fun too! Afterward we had a bonfire and finally made our way home. Carson loved being with his cousins and putting on his tiger costume.

One of the things I really loved was the wax mouths on everyone. I was even able to get Carson to leave his on long enough to take a picture. Thanks Mom and Dad for hosting such a fun event!

Farmer's Market

2010-11-14T21:23:00.001-08:00

This year my Father grew an amazing array of pumpkins and squash. We decided it would be a great time to go to the farmer's market. For four weeks we set up our little display and sold produce. These pictures are from the last week (so our produce was picked over).

This was the view from our booth. There were a lot of great booths surrounding us and so many nice people. I had a lot of great conversations and some interesting experiences.

Pumpkins

2010-11-02T16:33:00.000-07:00

On the Monday before Halloween for Family Home Evening we invited Grandma "Nette" (Lynette) over to carve pumpkins. Carson was excited to see Grandma Lynette and just as excited about the doughnuts. I handed him one and he hurried and took a bite, grabbed another one and tried to eat them both at the same time. He got a few bites in before I got the second doughnut away.

Eddie always chooses a harder design, so I finished my pumpkin with Carson about an hour before he did. I choose to use a pattern that I could place on the pumpkin and trace the lines. Carson helped, but kept saying, "this is yucky". He only cleaned out a few scoops before he was done.

Eddie traced out his pattern from a picture online and then busted out the dremmel (spelling?) to etch the design into the pumpkin before cutting. He worked hard into the night before the masterpiece was finished. His tribute to Ohio State lasted only one night(then it shrunk into itself), but was worth it. We were able to get some great pictures before it bit the dust.

Thus pumpkin carving was successful this year. We all had a lot of fun and the pumpkins turned out great. In fact they are still sitting on my porch unsmashed. I guess that is how proud of them I am.

Office Visit

2010-11-02T16:29:00.001-07:00

Carson and I decided to head over to Eddie's office for a visit and lunch. It happened to be the day that all of the ladies in the office were dressing up. They looked so good Carson couldn't resist dressing up along with them.

Baking With Dad

2010-10-31T14:25:00.000-07:00

Here we are experimenting on how to bake cookies with a two year old. He loved helping with everything! We are just lucky any cookies made it to the table.

I was so excited to make fall cookies, but when I went to pull out my cookie cutters it wasn't to be. My pumpkin cookie cutters have vanished into thin air. I decided to let Carson pick the cutters instead and this is what we came up with.
Eddie came in and took over while I was on Carson duty.

It seems like doing anything with Carson is an adventure at this age, but we love it. He wants to do everything for himself and this leads to a lot of spills. Our little chef has a bright future in pastry.

Green Canyon Corn Maze

2010-10-24T16:12:00.001-07:00

This year we decided to try the Green Canyon corn maze out. We both have been there before, but thought it would be a good year to go again. We met up with the Ballard family and headed out to North Logan. The kids couldn't wait to get started and we had to call them back a few times, so we wouldn't lose them.

Here are the cute Ballards' on top of the stand in the middle of the maze. We also tried to have the kids sit for a quick picture. As you can see it is always an adventure to ask this many kids to sit. From our vantage point we could see we were headed in the right direction. A little further down the path we found a concession stand that where we sugared up the children so we could keep going. They were champs and hardly ever complained. Finally we made it to the end, it was dark and definitely time to be done. We had a great time though and want to make this adventure an annual thing.

Labor Day

2010-10-24T15:48:00.000-07:00

This year for Labor Day we headed towards Bear Lake to take on a little hike. We packed up lunch and invited my parents along. The trail was one that we used to hike on the way to YW camp. It is scenic, short and perfect for an easy stroll.

My Dad did great on the hike. He is still recovering from his surgery, but he had no problem getting back into the mountain air.

Carson got a little tired, so we put him in Eddie's backpack. It is not supposed to have children inside, but he fit just fine. At the first of the hike Carson was running and we had to keep telling him to come back. By the end we were all taking turns carrying him.

After the hike we headed to Bear Lake and had raspberry shakes. The Rich family was there staying at their cabin so we were able to see them as well. It was a great way to spend a day!

I missed the 4th of July

2010-10-14T20:56:00.001-07:00

I was looking through my pictures and I found these from the 4th of July. We had such a good time with our family and friends. First, we went to the parade where Carson loved seeing the policemen and getting candy. He did loose interest quickly though and decided to try and run around.

After the parade we went around the booths and Eddie slid down the blow up slide with Carson. We had snow cones, rode horses and ate a lot of good food. That night we headed back into town to watch some more fireworks and light sparklers. Carson kept running away from us and my Mother suggested I see how far he goes before he comes back. I watched and waited and he made it all the way to the end of the park and would have kept going if I hadn't ran after him. Once the lights were turned out and the fireworks started he held still a little better. He loved fireworks and seeing what would come next.

So Tired!

2010-10-14T20:34:00.001-07:00

I don't know why, but I love taking pictures of Carson sleeping. He looks so cute in everything he does, but sleeping always makes me smile. He fell asleep on our bed in the middle of eating a sucker and I couldn't resist. So enjoy, I will have to get some of the odd positions I find him in. He has fallen off the bed twice since we took off the side of the crib and I have had to move him several times to avoid it.

Nifty Nifty Look Who's Fifty!

2010-09-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

My Mom!

This wonderful woman is my Mother. I am so lucky to have her for a Mom. She has put up with me for so many years and still loves me. I was never one to say "I hope I don't turn out like my Mom" I hope I turn out just like her. She is strong, smart, loving, spiritual, fun, and so many other things. I love how much she loves to be Carson's Nana. He loves her so much as well.
We went easy on her and kept the old jokes to a minimum (other than the old bag comments) considering what both parents were going through at the time of her birthday (it was right after my Dad's surgery). My Brother gave her a certificate to ifly in Ogden and we plan on all going as a family for her birthday.

My sister was really excited for her as well! Here is a picture of her taken the morning of my Mom's birthday.

It is probably because later in the day Ashley and I took her out for pedicures and lunch at the Elements. It was so fun to spend some time with both of them. It is rare that we are all together without any children or obligations for a few hours. We decided to make it an annual event.

We Love Grandpa Jude and Puppies

2010-09-21T07:53:00.001-07:00

In August we headed to Vernal to celebrate my Grandpa's 80th birthday. We went to Diamond Mountain where my cousins built a cabin on Grandpa's land. It was supposed to be a small family event until my aunt Susan decided to put an announcement in the paper and invited everyone to come up to the mountain for dinner.
Many of my Grandpa's friends told stories about him and it gave me a greater insight into the man he is. My grandpa is a really hard worker, he still tries to go to work every day. He has given much of his life to his work and takes great pride in it.
We had a great time and Carson LOVED my cousin Josh's dogs. Josh raises and trains hounds to hunt with and sell. I counted over twenty dogs at the cabin. There were quite a few puppies and Carson constantly tried to pick them up and pet them. By the end of our stay they tried to run from him. At one point they all grabbed onto his clothes and pulled him down. He was a little nervous for a second, but went back to chasing them afterward.
We had our annual cousin's soccer game and my team lost. I played poorly and will have to redeem myself next year. The other team recruited a player from South America to play which I am not sure was legal, but o'well, there is always next year.

One of the days we went to a fish hatchery. It was fun to see all the fish and the kids were amazed by how many there were. While at the hatchery we saw the biggest buck that I have ever seen in the wild. It ran right through the hatchery and by our car.

These next two pictures are of the birthday dinner for my Grandpa. He is sitting in the middle of the picture with the cowboy hat. My cousin J.D. is the one standing and telling a story about him. My Dad also cooked dutch oven which is always a hit and there was so much food we ate it for the next week. We always have a great time when we are with our Vernal relatives. They are always planning something fun or crazy and we love it!

Here are a few random misc. pictures.

Catching Up.

2010-09-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

For the 24th of July we decided to get together with some family and watch a parade. It took place in North Logan and Carson loved it! I was so happy he sat still for most of the parade and tried to open every piece of candy he could. There was plenty of candy to go around and all the kids had their fill. By the end of the parade we had to force them to pick up the candy that was being thrown.
Afterward we went to the park and Carson ran through the fire hose. It was so cute to watch him laughing and screaming every time the water came close. At first he was really timid about getting in the water, but by the end he was soaked.

Goodbye To You.... YAY!

2010-09-05T21:00:00.001-07:00

Some farewells are fonder than others. This one was definitely a happy goodbye. This car was my first car I owned and it lasted 8 years without needing any replacements other than some lights and a fix it job on the handle (by Eddie).
While we were in Ohio Eddie mostly drove it to school and I drove our other car. Since we have been back in Utah we decided I could drive it for a while. I didn't miss it to say the least. Eddie broke the air conditioner so it only blew out on defrost and Carson and I died in the heat (until Eddie felt bad and switched us cars back). There were only a few things wrong such as, the air conditioning control, the driver handle, the bumper, the hood, the check engine light, and the ignition would not turn very easy, but other than that it was great!
My favorite memory was in the winter when the car would get too cold the door wouldn't close. One cold day in Columbus, Eddie had to drive to school holding the door shut and driving with one hand down the freeway... Good times. Anyway I am happy to see the Geo leave us while it is still running and we could trade it in for This...

Our truck is actually blue and has a lift on it. Yes, this is going to be Eddie's truck. He deserves it after spending so many years in the ghetto car. We went to Preston, ID to go golfing on our anniversary and saw it in a lot there. We didn't know we were getting a vehicle so soon, but we test drove it and liked the feel. I hope it will last us as long as old reliable.

White Pine Lake

2010-08-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

This summer Eddie, my parents and I decided to hike to White Pine Lake. We have always wanted to hike from Tony's Grove Lake to High Creek and we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to do so. It was such a beautiful hike up to the lake and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Luckily, my parents had some wonderful people in their ward who were going up at the same time on horses. They agreed to take some of our stuff with them to the lake so we didn't have to carry it. We also were able to eat a lot better than many hikers can. We got to the lake and set up camp. Since it was 24th of July weekend we thought it would be crowded and decided to go on Thursday to Friday. We set up camp and explored around the lake until it was time to go to bed. The next day the actual adventure began.

The day before we bought a book on Cache Trails that made it seem like their was a trail that went from White Pine Lake over Mount Naomi to High Creek Trail. It said it was for experienced hikers, but we thought we could handle it. Part of the trail we were on our hands and knees trying to get up the mountain without falling.

Anyone who has been to White Pine Lake knows that it is surrounded by cliffs on one side and steep hill on another. We decided to tackle the hill and try to make our way to High Creek. It was a hard hike at first and it didn't get any easier until we were on the top of the first mountain.

From there we hiked up and up until we were on the back side of High Creek Lake. We debated whether to attempt to hike down from there, but it was too steep. Looking towards Mt. Naomi we thought we could see a trail. So we hiked across the mountain. It ended up being steeper than we thought and with lots of sliding rocks.

My Mom lost her footing at one point and by the time her slide was over her leg was covered in purple bruises. We finally made it almost to the top of Mt. Naomi and it was then we finally decided to turn back. We could have made it over but the mountain was really steep and we didn't know what we would find out on the other side. There was still time to make it back to Tony's Grove so we decided to finally throw in the towel.

We were high up enough to slide down snow in some parts at the top. It was beautiful to be able to see the valley from the mountain and the backside of Cherry Creek Peak as well. The beautiful views were almost worth the torture we took on our bodies.

The defeated hike back to Tony Grove Lake was not as enjoyable as when we started out, but we were happy they would not be sending out search and rescue for us. We made it back to the lake where we filled our water bottles in a spring (with a filter)and made our way back.

This was the hike that we did a week and a half before my Dad went in for quintuple bypass surgery. I am happy that we were able to hike it with him without any serious consequences. He felt chest pressure several times on the hike and I am so grateful that is all that happened.

I know next summer when he has recovered from the surgery we will take on more trails. My Dad and Mom have always loved hiking and being in the outdoors which he has shared and passed down to his children. I am grateful that we will be able to share more times together.

Painful Blessings

2010-08-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

This past week has been one of the hardest of my life. It all started Saturday before last when my Dad decided it was time to go to the hospital for some pressure in his chest. My Mother called me to let me know they would be at the emergency room. I was semi worried, but decided that it was just a precaution and my Dad would be fine.

The doctors strongly suggested that he admit himself into the hospital until Monday when they would perform an angiogram to determine if the tightening was his heart. Again I worried, but the unknown is always a worry thus I thought my Dad would be fine. I should have known when they admitted him into the ICU that something serious could be taking place.

Monday rolled around and the angiogram was performed in Logan. We found out that he had a 90% blockage in a major artery that is sometimes referred to as "The Widowmaker". Again, the worry came, but at least now we knew what the problem was (or so I thought). Logan is not equipped to treat him (place stints) so they sent him to Ogden Regional Hospital.

My sister is on a cruise in Alaska and both of her kidos are staying with my parents. Thus I was at my parents' home watching children when my Mother called and explained what was taking place. Luckily, we was able to find babysitters for all the kids (thanks to Lynette, Chelsey, Sharee, Sonya and Rod, Amy and everyone else that helped).

The drive down to the hospital seemed to take forever as we went through the center of Ogden (I do not recommend this route). We were told in Logan that he would probably need a stint to open up an artery. I was nervous, but my Mom has seen the operation done on my Grandmother, so she knew exactly what to expect.

Finally, we arrived at the hospital to meet Dr. Deihl. There we were told he had another blockage that was about 70% on the opposite side of the heart(I am not sure why they didn't catch it in Logan). He explained to us that the angiogram he received from Logan was not very clear and he wanted to do another one along with an ultrasound of the heart.

I could be more?!? We were alarmed to say the least, but still it would be good to know exactly what is going on inside the heart. Dr. Deihl performed the angiogram while we waited with my aunt Sonya and uncle Rod. A nurse came to get us after about an hour and told us to follow her into the operating room where the angiogram along with an ultrasound took place.

There Dr. Deihl was waiting for us. I noticed his gloves were covered in blood and couldn't help but think that was my Dad's blood. They took us into a small room overlooking the operating area. My Dad was still on the table and I cried when I saw the bloody gauze on the table by him.

The results of the angiogram scared us to say the least. They showed us the heart and there were little blockages throughout and larger ones on some of the main arteries. Not knowing the extent of the blockage beforehand I felt like a bomb was being dropped. I tried to control my emotions as I heard things like, "Would have died on the spot if a heart attack had taken place". Or, "No other option but open heart surgery" and my favorite, "Extensive heart disease, the plaque is all over."

What!?! My Dad is 53 and very active. He looks nothing like I would think when heart disease comes to mind. The doctor also mentioned that it was most likely hereditary.

We made our way back to the waiting room where we allowed ourselves to cry with our new reality. Unfortunately, Ashley (my sister)called for an update just as we found out. I was very emotional on the phone which I am sure scared her to death. She was still on her cruise and depended on us for the news.

That night we checked into a hotel and waited for the next morning when my Dad would go into surgery for a 4-5 hours. We said our goodbyes and waited and waited and waited. Finally, after two hours the update was good and the surgery was a success thus far. After about 4 1/2 hours we found that everything had went as planned. They took two arteries out of his chest and one vein out of his leg.

It was hard seeing Dad after surgery because he was mostly out of it and had a breathing tube as well as four large tubes coming out of his chest. He winced when he woke up slightly and I cried. It is hard seeing such a strong man dependant upon machines for life. The day of surgery was the hardest to say the least. We kept in contact with my Sister by text and phone calls. I felt so bad for her that she was away and having to get updates from us.

Each day my Dad continues to do better and I cannot help but feel how blessed we are to have him with us still. He had been feeling the chest pressure for over a month and a half before he told us. We even went on a hike to White Pine Lake and tried to make it up the north side to go to High Creek. Part of the hike we were on our hands and knees climbing. He felt the pressure then and I cringe to think what would have happened if he would have had a heart attack at that point.

We are all trying to look at the positives in this situation. He is better off than he was two weeks ago. He still has time to spend with us and his grandchildren. As well as many other happy realities.

Everyone who knows me well knows that I love frosting, butter, steak and all of the artery clogging foods, but no longer! I have learned my lesson and had my wake up call. My Great-Grandfather died of a heart attack in his 60's as well so I will have to be extra careful for myself and my family.

I want to thank everyone for your calls, support and prayers. I know that we are loved as a family and I felt it very much this week. I know that my Dad has more to accomplish in this life or he would not be with us any longer. I am grateful for TIME and that I have more of it with my Dad and family. Please give your Father's a hug and appreciate them every day because you have no idea what day will be that last.

Hyrum Dam

2010-08-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

On the second of July Brad and Ashley asked us if we wanted to go boating. We decided it would be fun to get Carson a lifejacket and see how it went. Carson loved the lifejacket. He wanted to keep it on all the time and kept saying, "I go boat".
When we got to Hyrum Dam he couldn't wait to go in the water. He went on the tube with Daddy and then wanted to go with Ashley and Brad. He then went with Nanna and Pappa as well. We had a lot of fun and cannot wait to go again.

While at the dam we saw a lifeguard standing on the top of Big Toe. We wondered what he was doing and how he could get down quickly enough to save anyone. It wasn't until we read the paper the next day that we found out he was fake. Apparently someone stole him from his post and the owners wanted him back. We were definitely fooled by him.

One Year of Dentistry

2010-07-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Eddie has been practicing dentistry for over a year now. He began working as an official dentist on July 7, 2009. It has been quite a year for him and the transition from student to dentist was a interesting one. I am so proud of all his hard work this past year and I am so happy that it is over. He is constantly surprising me with his knowledge and skills. He is such a hard worker and I am so happy that I am his wife. These are pictures from this year and last year. The one where Eddie is in the green shirt is last year and the cream shirt is this year. Carson is very enthusiastic in both pictures.

You have to be half crazy

2010-07-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

This year I ran the Wasatch Back with one of my really good friends Tara Alder. When she asked me I was assured that it was all for fun and my 9-10 minute mile would be fine. Well in reality it was fine but way under what the rest of my team was capable of. Some were training for marathons and others work out a lot. I was definitely the weakling which felt a little intimidating.

For those of you who don't know about the race it is a relay that runs from Logan to Park City. You have a team that consists of twelve people and two vans. The first team starts at Icon and the second team starts at Liberty, UT (near Eden).
This year we had a later start time (10:30 A.M.) so the second van that I was in didn't begin until about 5:30 P.M.. Here are some pictures of the girls in my van in order from left to right,Tara, Amy, Kasey, Mesha,Me and Shandra.

I ran the first leg for my team and boy was it hot!! Some members of the community sat in their front yards and sprayed us with hoses as we ran by (and it felt so good!). Finally, I completed my first leg and I had quite a bit of time to kill before the second.
My team was full of some great athletes. Most of them ran eight minute miles even up the hills (which there were a lot of). After everyone ran their leg we switched off with the next van at Snowbasin and attempted to get some sleep. Tara and I found some grass in front of our van and laid out our sleeping bags. I got about an hour and a half of sleep (and it was the longest stretch I slept in 24 hours).
My favorite part of the run was definitely my night run. Maybe that was because it was the coolest of all three runs. I felt a little stupid with the reflector vest, head lamp and LED butt flasher on, but the run was mostly enjoyable. I am sad to admit it is the only run I walked a little on. It was my moderate run and I didn't train very well for the hills that were in it.
It seemed like a long time before we were able start our last runs. My third run was hot again and some of the other teams had members that were almost throwing up as they finished their runs. Again I was grateful for the kids that sprayed us with hoses at the side of the run. Here is a picture of the last run and don't worry I know I look so pretty.

I felt so bad for the girls that had to run the Ragnar hill. It is a steep incline from Midway to Heber. They say running it is the equivalent of running on a treadmill at an 8 incline. Combined with the heat and fatigue of already running made it a daunting task. Our team then ran through Deer Valley and down into Park City, finally ending at the Canyon's Resort.
All in all I really enjoyed the experience, but told myself that you have to be half mad to do it. It is like running three times in 24 hours without any sleep. I loved how everyone painted their vans and dressed up in team shirts. Some teams were a little more extreme. For example; one team ran holding onto outdoor equipment such as backpacks, skis, and surf boards (to promote their website). Some ran in tu tu's and another man ran in a Halloween nurses uniform. Our team was called Victorious Secret and we had the shirts to prove it. If I ever do it again I will train better and know what to expect. The girls I ran with were great and I am happy I got to participate in such a great event. Here are some pictures of our complete team and some random ones form the race.

This is Your Birthday Song it Won't Take Very Long

2010-06-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe we have a two year old in our household!! I love this little guy so much. We celebrated for three days because the Wasatch Back started on his birthday (and selfish Mom was gone). To begin the day Carson opened one gift from us. My parents came to Logan and we headed to Angie's for breakfast. Carson loved blowing out his candle and my Mother has footage of the spit to prove it. Needless to say Carson was the only one eating off his plate. His Nana and Papa gave him a huge dump truck which he loves!

We then had cake and ice cream for him that Sunday in Lewiston. There he opened the rest of his presents and was spoiled just like a birthday boy should be. My disclaimer on the cake is that I only had one hour to put it together so don't judge too harshly. Carson loved blowing out his candles again and we decided due to projectile spit that the opposite side of the cake looked uncontaminated and good enough to eat.

Grandma Lynette joined us in Lewiston and Carson loved the tractor and swimming suit that he received from her. The Richs' gave him a bubble machine and a great book Grandma and Grandpa Hutchison gave him a tractor and a 4 wheeler which he takes with him to bed. Aunt Sonya and Uncle Rod gave him a shirt, book, and some toys. Mom and Dad gave him a train set, Ikea play mat, hammer set and the movie Cars. Thank you for the gifts and the well wishes. We are so lucky to call him our child. He is always happy and smiling. I love the cute things he says that are constantly making me laugh. I never could have guessed how much love I could feel for one little human being. I am so happy that he is ours to celebrate! Happy Birthday my wonderful little child!

Only One Lagoon

2010-06-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

This year Carson and I ventured out to Lagoon with some of my fam. Eddie had to work =( so we had to go without him. Starting out was a little cold, but Carson and Cooper could not wait to get into the water. We decided to hold them off by putting them on the merry go round.

From there we headed out to the ferris wheel. Carson loved being up high and was not scared even when the wheel stopped at the top. He almost lost Grandma's glasses off the side of the ride, but luckily they were saved.

At one point it began to rain and hail. We were on a ride when it started and I felt something hit my head. I was mad and started looking around to see who threw something at me when the heavens opened with hail. We had to finish the ride, so Ashley and I sheltered out children while we were pelted with dime sized hail. Luckily, we decided to tough the rain out and had a great time on the rest of the rides.

Carson and I got soaked on the Log Ride these candid shots were taken right after the harrowing experience.

Thanks to Dad and Mom for the discounted tickets and everyone for such a great time! We will have to make it an annual event!

Future Michelangelo

2010-06-13T20:11:00.001-07:00

One of the hardest things lately about having a toddler is keeping him entertained. He is constantly on the move getting into cupboards, climbing on everything and getting hurt. I have been trying to find activities for him to put some of that energy into. Chocolate pudding finger painting kept him busy for a while until he decided that eating the pudding was more fun than painting. I think by the time he had finished his art his energy doubled due to the sugar intake. I didn't care though because he had so much fun. We have some video I will have to put up later. For now enjoy some edible (or mostly edible) art.

Another Injury

2010-06-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

These pictures don't do justice to how bad my little guy's ear actually looked. He fell down I think and hit his head on the corner of the table. It took a while for his ear to swell as big as it did and I felt so bad when I saw how awful it looked. I am lucky he is always so happy even when he is hurting.

San Diego Part 3

2010-05-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

The next part of the trip was Sea World. Carson loved seeing the fish in the aquarium and the children's area. I think his favorite part was the rogue seagulls that we were not supposed to feed (but did anyway). He thought it was so funny that you could chase the pigeons and the seagulls. We should have just ran around the parking lot for him to be entertained.
I was a little disappointed that they changed the Shamu show. The trainers were not allowed to get into the water at all. It is understandable, but a let down compared to when we went to Sea World in Florida. The Believe show that Eddie and I saw was definitely amazing.

Lastly, we spent some more time at the beach. Seeing the beauty of the ocean almost made me want to move there. If there were not so many people around all the time it would be perfect. Here Ryker is standing up in the sand. He was learning to walk while we were there. I loved seeing Carson's little footprints in the sand it makes me love being a mother. Nothing can ever prepare you for the happiness and challenge that comes with the title, but it is all worth it.
We also went to an Arabian horse show (the Del Mar race track was across from our hotel). The horses were beautiful and I loved watching them. There was also a roller derby that we peeked in at. It would have been fun to go in, but we had Carson and it was getting late.

San Diego Part 2

2010-05-13T20:43:00.001-07:00

Here is the last beach picture from the earthquake with Carson, Eddie and Grandpa. We also had a little easter egg hunt near the swimming pool. Carson, Cooper and Ryker found a lot of eggs and had a great time.

Next off to Legoland. Carson was still a little to young for most of the rides, but we still managed to get him on a few. It was really neat to see the different things made out of legos. His favorite part was a fountain that you made play by jumping on buttons. It was really cute to watch him run from button to button while dancing.
It rained for a little while and we had to take shelter but other than that it was nice most of the day. Definitely not swimming weather, but jacket weather at least.

The next day Eddie had to head home so we decided to go to Mission Bay and Coronado. We went on a trolley ride and learned all about San Diego. I loved the beautiful beaches at Coronado and would like to go back some day. It was a long day for the kids, but they handled it well.

Rockin Good Time in San Diego... Literally (Part 1)

2010-04-28T19:50:00.001-07:00

We went to San Diego for a week right around Easter. We enjoyed a lot of sun and many sights while there. The first adventure we had was going to La Jolla beach. There were a lot of seals and beautiful cliff views. Part of me wanted to move to California when I saw how beautiful it was.
Here we are all enjoying the beautiful sun and waves. It was much too cold to get in, but perfect to wade in. Apart from the fact that I stepped in something that stuck to my foot. Yuk! It was black and felt like tar. I hope that it was tar or oil and not something more disgusting.

Sunday we decided to relax and listen (or try to listen with three kids) to General Conference. It proved to be difficult because the Internet was not working very well and the sound was not very loud. Luckily, we took turns and were able to catch some of it.
My Parents also helped the Easter Bunny to find our hotel. Here they are digging into their toys and candy.

That same day we headed to the beach again. There was a place near our hotel with a little beach at the base of a cliff. We arrived and began to set our stuff out onto the beach when I felt the ground begin to shake. I stood still to figure out why I felt so funny when I saw that everyone else was doing the same thing. Finally, someone came over the loudspeaker and told us to stand away from the cliffs to avoid falling rocks. We stayed at the beach regardless and enjoyed ourselves. Later that night Eddie and my Father felt another aftershock as well. The pictures I took at the beach didn't turn out great. My Sister took the one where we are not facing the camera and I love how it turned out!

Baby Animal Days

2010-04-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Carson, Grandma Buttars and I headed to baby animal days. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, it takes place at American West Heritage Center near Logan. They bring out all sorts of animals for the children to hold. They also have old equipment and homes from pioneer times.
Carson's favorite part was definitely the train. We rode it twice and he loved the choo choo noise it made. The ducks and chicks were also adorable. It was a great Saturday morning to spend outside in the beautiful weather.

Happy Late Easter

2010-04-12T18:38:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Easter a little early this year because we were in San Diego. Carson didn't know what to make of the plastic eggs at first but when he discovered there was candy inside we couldn't keep him away. These pictures are the resulted from my trying to get Carson to hold still with candy all around him....sigh. Happy Easter anyway!

Ryan's Place Park

2010-04-12T18:31:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago my Mother and I decided to take Carson outside to enjoy some of the nice weather between the snowstorms. We headed up to Ryan's Place Park in River Heights. It is such a great park and I highly recommend it to anyone who has children. It was built by the community to honor a little boy who passed away.
We enjoyed playing although the toddler area seemed to beat up Carson a bit. He fell a lot and hit his head several times. All in all I cannot wait for spring so we can enjoy the outdoors.

Birthday Surprizes

2010-04-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

It was Eddie's BiRtHdaY on the 26th of March and to celebrate we (I mean I) decided to try snowshoeing. I asked/made Eddie come along with me and we set out up Logan Canyon to find a trail. My Dad suggested the Temple Fork area so we made our way up there. Unfortunately the snowshoes were not needed. The snow was hard enough that you could easily walk on it. We put them on anyway to get a feel for them.
We followed a hiking trail up the mountain and found the biggest beaver dams I have ever seen. There were several along the way that we admired. I could not believe the size of the trees that the little guys were cutting down.
Along the way we ditched our snowshoes and some gear that we didn't need. Unfortunately we began to get into deeper snow and had to turn around before reaching our final destination. It was a good experience (you might hear differently if you ask Eddie) and I want to go back to the trail in the summer.

Of course I had to make a cake for Eddie I was throwing around different ideas, but ended up with This....

I figured that I couldn't go wrong with an Ohio State birthday cake. So HaPPy BiRtHdaY to my honey. You are so loved!

The Cutest Cupid I've Ever Seen

2010-03-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

Last year for VaLeNTInEs DaY my brother in law Brad dressed up my nephew Cooper. This year we decided to spread some holiday cheer of our own. Of course I left my camera home, but we were able to take some shots of Carson with Grandma Hutchison's camera. We went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Hutchison as well as Grandma and Grandpa Buttars as well. Carson was a good sport even though we made him dress up in a diaper in the freezing weather.

Georgia On My Mind

2010-03-14T20:25:00.001-07:00

Last week Eddie and I went to Augusta, GA while he participated in some continuing education. We are lucky enough to have some great friends that are there doing a residency for dentistry. We had so much fun with them(the Baileys') and with the Hillstroms'. The boys had their work cut out for them and they were gone every day for ten to twelve hours. They enjoyed the Georgian cuisine and learned a lot as well. The women on the other hand had a great time relaxing and enjoying the scenery around Augusta. On the first day Kristina and I decided we would try a local flea market and see what it had to offer. Well let's just say it was a very cultural experience and we didn't stay very long.

Later we headed to Aiken, SC to visit an old plantation. Along the way we passed the Masters golf course. The whole course is surrounded by a huge hedge that doesn't allow you to see anything beyond. I also found out that the course is very exclusive with no women allowed, BOO! Here is a picture of the course. It is behind the sign and the hedge. Here is a picture of the medical school where Eddie and his friends participated in CE.

The next stop was Aiken, SC where we toured a beautiful plantation called Redcliffe. It was really awesome to see that piece of our history. They still had some of the original slave houses and stables as well as the original house. I had a strong urge to watch Gone With the Wind after we toured.

The original owner of the house was a man named James Henry Hammond. He is famous for declaring, "Cotton is King" in a speech before the Senate and for stating that women are only good for bring money into a marriage and bearing children. He also kept several mistresses and had a lot of affairs both with slaves and young relatives. Needless to say I am not a big fan of him. He also became the 60th gouvenor of South Carolina. Where he fought for states rights and to keep slavery alive. Here is picture of him when he was younger. At the peak of his slave ownership he had over 300 slaves.

We didn't let the first owners character ruin the beauty of the house for us though. I loved walking in the front doors and seeing the huge 14ft ceilings. The first room that you enter was a huge ballroom. Here is where the parties and dances took place. The main house was four stories high and contained large ceilings and beautiful woodwork. Here are some pictures of the home and the antique piano inside.

Jessica, Kristina and I were able to take a lot of pictures and enjoy thinking about what life would have been like back then. Jessica also said that they recieved snow for the first time in nine years. Thus a lot of the flowers that should have been blooming were not. We were able to find a few blooms that survived and it made me long for spring here in UT. Here are some remaining pictures from the plantation.

The next day Kristina and I headed down to Savannah, GA to tour there. It was a really beautiful city and we enjoyed walking through it. We started out our journey at Back in the Day Bakery. It was really good and I loved the autmosphere there. Here are a couple of picts of the vintage bakery. We enjoyed bannana nut muffins and banana pudding.

Later that afternoon we ate at Lady and Sons (Paula Deans restaurant in Savannah)for some authentic southern cooking. The food was amazing and you could taste the butter in every bite. The autmosphere was a little bit 80's but the food made up for it. Here is the front of the restaurant and some fried green tomatoes we ate.

In Savannah there are a lot of squares or parks throughout the town. They are beautiful and each one is unique. The houses and buildings face into the square which were historically for military purposes. Here are some pictures of the parks and Forsyth fountain.

All in all we had a great time and the men managed to have a good time even though they were basically working the whole time. Here is a picture of all the guys in their scrubs in order from the left; Eddie, James, Gavin and Ryan. They claimed it felt just like being back in dental school all over again.

All in all we had a great time and the Baliey's are wonderful hostesses. I am happy to have such great friends all over the United States. Thank you to all of the people that kept Carson while we were gone. We are lucky to have such great relatives that are always willing to help us.

Happy Birthday to YOU!

2010-03-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

The day we were leaving for Georgia was my Dad's birthday. So we decided to have a birthday dinner the night before we left. Anyone who knows my Dad knows that he has a green thumb and enjoys gardening. Naturally when I found these cute cupcakes online I knew that they would be perfect for him.
We also gave him some money and a gift certificate to get the seeds for his garden this year. I love the garden he plants and now that I have a family of my own we eat and preserve a lot of his vegetables. Thank you Dad for all of your hard work! We love you!

Welcome Home Elder Buttars!

2010-03-14T20:05:00.001-07:00

My cute cousin Dallin returned from a mission in Oakland, CA. He has grown up so much! When he left on his mission Carson was not even born yet and it is crazy to think that two years can go by so quickly and slowly at the same time. We are so happy to have him home. Carson had a great time riding the escalator up and down over and over. He also enjoyed playing with Jace and eating at Litza's Pizza.
After we went to the airport it was on to get Cooper and Ryker for a few days. I went to my Sister's house and watched her children while she went to Arizona. They are wonderful kids, but let's just say it was great birth control. Ryker had a double ear infection (which we found out later) and Carson had a single ear infection. Needless to say sleeping was not something I did much of. They were so cute though and I would definately do it again.

Happy Birthday

2010-03-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

Twice a year we gather at Kim's (Eddie's Father) grave to remember him. Once on his birthday and once on the anniversary of his death. We send balloons off to heaven and remember the great man that he was and is. It is our way of letting him know that he is still in our hearts. Though it has been a while since he passed away, we feel his influence daily in our lives. We love you Kim!

Feeling Very Grateful

2010-02-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

The Herald Journal
Hospital executive injured in car crash
By Matthew K. Jensen
Published:
Saturday, February 20, 2010 2:26 AM CST
NORTH LOGAN — A Providence man was transported to a Salt Lake County hospital after suffering serious injuries in a car crash on 1700 N. 400 East on Friday morning.

John Worley, 45, CEO of the Cache Valley Specialty Hospital in North Logan, was airlifted to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Police said he was in stable condition on Friday afternoon, and one of Worley’s co-workers said he is expected to make a full recovery.

North Park Police Sgt. John Italasano said that at 11:08 a.m., Worley was traveling southbound on 400 East in a Nissan Altima when a northbound Chevrolet Extended Cab pickup truck crossed the center line and collided with Worley’s vehicle.

Police say the pickup crossed center to avoid rear-ending a car that was preparing to turn left into the post office parking lot on 400 East.

“A mail delivery truck was stopped right across from the post office delivering mail to a residence,” said Italasano. “And another car was also northbound that was waiting to turn left in the parking lot.”

Italasano says the pickup swerved to miss the slowed traffic and hit Worley’s sedan head on. The parked mail truck prevented the driver of the pickup truck from veering right to avoid the slowed traffic, police said.

“The northbound truck does not realize the car is stopped, waiting to turn so he takes evasive action into the southbound lane of traffic and hits the southbound Nissan Altima head-on.”

Worley was transported by ambulance to Logan Regional Hospital and later taken by Life Flight to Murray.

The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 22-year-old David Durocher, did not suffer any injuries and was issued a citation for driving left of center. Police say Durocher was traveling between 40 and 45 miles per hour at the time of the incident.

Trisha Northcutt, an official at the Cache Valley Specialty Hospital, said Friday evening that Worley suffered no significant neurological damage and is expected to make a full recovery.

“He was awake and alert going into surgery to repair his hip,” she said. “He’s doing well.”

Northcutt said her staff has Worley and his family in their thoughts.

You may wonder why I choose to post a Herald Journal article in my blog. The answer is that this crash came very close to hurting two members of my family. The car that was stopped and turning left was my brother Stephen and his wife Chelsey. The truck that hit the Altima swerved to avoid rearending my Brother and his wife.
The truck was large and would have possibly ran over the top of the soft top convertable that they were in. The driver was going fast enough that they surely would have been injured.
Though I am sorry that anyone was hurt in the accident, I am grateful that my family was spared. Moments like these make you realize how quickly life can change and how fragile it is.

Knock Off Wood

2010-02-15T15:29:00.000-08:00

My Sister told me about a blog that she found called Knock Off Wood knockoffwood.blogspot.com and I instantly fell in love with it. One of the projects that I just loved was the Land Of Nod storage chair. I went to my Mother in Law and she (being the wonderful woman she is) offered to help. In truth she actually ended up doing most of the work while I got in the way. I love the results of our effort though. Carson likes to sit in his chair and he looks so cute while he is doing it. There are so many projects that I want to try from Knock Off Wood what a great site

Playdough Family Night

2010-02-15T15:25:00.000-08:00

Last Monday for Family Home Evening we played with playdough for the activity. Carson and Eddie were having so much fun I had a hard time getting them both to look at the camera. I made sugar cookies while they played. It was really fun to watch them interact and Carson stayed entertained for almost a half an hour. For those of you that know him that is a definate accomplishment.

Father, Son Snowman

2010-02-15T15:19:00.001-08:00

This was the second attempt at making a snowman with Carson this year. They all seem to end up on their side after a few hours. We must have a slope in our back yard. Carson absolutely loves the snow and we have a hard time getting him to come back inside. He loves to eat it, throw it, lay in it and whatever else you can do in snow.

Hardware Ranch

2010-02-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we decided that it was time to do something different on a Saturday. I suggested that we visit Hardware Ranch. It has been a long time since I have been up there and I thought it might be something Carson would enjoy. We headed up with my Father and Mother and went for the sleigh ride touring the elk refuge. It was a warm, sunny day and the perfect time to get out of the fog that was in the valley.

Carson had a little bit of a hard time staying still in the wagon, but enjoyed seeing the elk which he refered to as horses. While we were there we saw a celebrity! The old farmer that shoots a cow in Napolean Dynamite was in line behind us. I wanted to get a picture with him, but chickened out.

On the way home we passed a spot that my Dad used to camp at as a scout. He showed us a great sledding hill that we just had to try out. Unfortunately, on the first run down Eddie popped the tube with Carson on his lap. It was only then that I read there was a 120 pound weight maximum. We didn't let it ruin our fun though and the snow was packed hard enough that we slid down on the popped remains. On the way there we had to cross a river by walking over a log. It made me nervous to see Eddie carrying Carson over the trecherous terrain, but they both made it across without any problems.

5 Minutes of Freedom... Maybe Less

2010-01-17T15:21:00.001-08:00

Isn't it amazing what your child can do with a little free time. I have realized that for the next millennium I will be constantly checking on my children every five minutes to avoid catastrophe. This is what happened late Friday night, I was slacking in my Motherly duties and allowed Carson more than a minute alone. My cute little toddler decided to open Mommy and Daddies room and get into some lotion. From that point he decided it would look good on his hair, face, in his mouth, on the walls, carpet, curtains and bedspread. At first I was a little horrified, but then I laughed. What else can you do in that case. We immediately put him in the tub and I began cleaning up the mess. A day in the life of the Hutchison's (sigh) at least it was not another pin.

Christmas Day

2010-01-17T15:09:00.001-08:00

Our day started with a trip to Smithfield where Grandma Hutchison's house is located. We had fun opening presents there and eating a yummy breakfast. There are a few cousins that are around Carson's age which always makes it fun.

Next it was back to Lewiston for a prime rib lunch and more presents. Grandma and Grandpa Petersen came down from Alpine to spend the day with us which is always fun. Carson was spoiled by Santa, his parents, grandparents and everyone else. Eddie and I were laughing because he saw his presents from Santa and then went and played with the pots and pans in the kitchen. It was nice to see all of my siblings there along with my nephews Cooper and Ryker and my aunt Sharee. I didn't get the best pictures because we were to busy opening gifts.

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle All The Way

2010-01-17T14:41:00.001-08:00

On Christmas Eve. we headed to Lewiston where our adventure started with a horse drawn sleigh ride. The Johnsons' are our cousins and they graciously offered to take us on a ride. It was so much fun to be pulled by such beautiful animals and spend time with such fun people. The horses were gigantic and very strong. This team was not his biggest and I cannot imagine what those animals must look. We enjoyed hot chocolate and some beautiful scenery along the way.

After the sleigh ride we went to the other Buttarss' house. My aunt Robyn and uncle Kent live next to my parents and it is a tradition to go to their house on Christmas Eve. It is so much fun and there is always plenty of food and fun. We also have a tradition of taking a photo of everyone at the party. Every year we get some complaints, but I think everyone knows that they are fruitless we are going to take the picture anyway. This is Eddie's favorite picture because he is the tallest, the Buttars were not blessed with the tall gene.

For some reason a few of the men decided to sport some beards. Here are the mountain men themselves Brad, Paul and Nick.

Dental School Christmas Party

2009-12-27T18:15:00.000-08:00

This year the Hillstroms' hosted the Dental School Christmas party. We ate at Olive Garden in Layton and then went back to the Hillstroms' beautiful new house for hot chocolate, brownies and white elephant gifts. Eddie decided to bring a scandelous gift from us and that was for the most part a hit.
Here are the couples that attended the party, starting with the Hillstroms'who live in Farmington:

The Defays' who currently live in Iowa

The Olsens'who currently live in Arizona

And Us

We had a great time with our friends and we miss them a lot! We were lucky to have such great people to keep us company in Ohio. Hopefully this party can become a yearly occurance.
Here is a picture of the girls in the group.

Here I struggled taking the group picture

Thank you Hillstroms' for hosting such a successful event. You are definately great party planners!

Hutchison Family Party

2009-12-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

This year for the Hutchison family party we headed to Ned and Sherri's house in Hyde Park. It was fun to see everyone this year and the food was great. Ned and Sherri have a basketball court in their house which was really nice for all the kids. We exchanged white elephant gifts and Grandma and Grandpa Hutchison gave the grandkids presents. Afterward Lynette had dolls for us to stuff and send to Primary Childrens' Medical Center. It was neat to be able to know that the dolls will help kids there.

Girls Night

2009-12-27T17:03:00.001-08:00

On the 18th of December I met up with some friends from high school for a girls night in Salt Lake. It was really fun getting together again this year for the second time. We stayed at the Hilton in Salt Lake. At first we took some time to catch up with each other and then we went to dinner at Benihana. It was really fun to sit together and enjoy the meal and show. We felt bad for our chef who broke a dish onto the skillet and had to make it all over.
After dinner we headed for Temple Square to see the lights. It was late so some of them were turned off, but it was still beautiful. I love spending time there during the holiday season.
The next morning we headed to my friend Julie's house. There she had breakfast for us even though she just had a baby! He was so cute! His name is Austin and despite spending 12 days in the NICU he is doing great!
All in all it was was a great weekend. I always have such a great time anytime I get together with this group!

The Little Pin That Could

2009-12-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

I lost three years of my life on Monday. It turns out that I am not very calm when something is happening to my child. The adventure started at about 9:30 A.M. I went up the stairs and left Carson alone for one minute, literally. When I came out of the bathroom I heard Carson gagging. I ran into the office and found him holding my pincushion and still choking. I put my finger in his mouth trying to dislodge whatever could be causing his gag.
He then threw up in my hand and went about his day. I was shaken and called the doctor telling her that I thought he may have swallowed a pin. She informed me that I should come in and get an x-ray. I was told the appointment was at 10:10 A. M., but when I arrived they informed me that it was at 10:30 (whatever). I tried to entertain Carson until 10:40, when they finally called us in.
The doctor ordered an X-ray and my nightmare began. They ushered me back into a room alone where I glimpsed the X-ray. Sure enough there was a pin in the middle of my babies stomach. I immediately started crying (I am an emotional girl) and began thinking of the worst case scenarios.
The doctor came to look at the image and informed me that indeed a pin was there. She called a surgeon down for a second opinion and I waited. Finally, after he called someone else to see if the hospital had a small enough scope for Carson they decided to send us down to Primary Children's Hospital.
The doctor called Eddie (yes, I was still a mess and had a hard time talking) and informed him of the situation. He was able to get off work and away we went.
When we arrived in Salt Lake they had a bed waiting for us and Carson was sent to get an X-ray after about an hour. The needle had moved lower into the small intestine, but was still retrievable.
We were told that we would be taken up for the scope at five. Around that time they sent some nurses in to give Carson an I.V. We waited again for an hour and a half before they finally called us to come up at around 6:30 P.M. (try and keep a 1 1/2 year old from playing with an I.V. it is not fun).
Carson was a champ the whole time. He was without food or water from 10:30 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. that day with minimal whining. We said goodbye and off Carson went to be anesthetized. Barely ten minutes later the doctor came to inform us that he scoped the stomach and small intestine to no avail. The needle was too far gone to retrieve.
Inside I was thinking,"If you would have scoped it when we arrived you would have found it!" However, I am not one for confrontation so I just listened. He informed us that it may pass and we should watch for bloody stool and a stomach ache. If either of these occurred then we were to bring him to the emergency room (how is that for reassurance). The other pleasant thing was that I was given the task of sifting through my babies waste to find a pin (ah the joys of Motherhood).
The doctor also told us that he has pulled thousands of things out of children and only about once every three years does the object perforate the bowel. He further assured that he has seen razor's come out without damaging anything. This made me feel a little better at least my baby swallowed a pin and not a razor (that has to be better, right?). Maybe it does make me less of a bad Mom.
So we went home feeling like we had just wasted our time and money. I was still a mess thinking about the negative outcomes. Finally, we arrived home at around 11:30 P.M. I popped some sleeping pills (NyQuil to be exact) and tried to get some sleep.
The next morning our first adventure with a diaper yielded great results. Somehow that large sewing pin made it through all of my babies little twists and turns without sticking in. How does that happen? I attribute it to the many people that were praying for us.
My Dad was discussing it with me and he observed, "I was thinking how strange the things we pray for are sometimes." and I agree. So thank you for everyone who prayed he would pass the pin.
Carson will be given the pin as a gift sometime in his life. After all a $5000 gift is a good one no matter what it is. I am thankful that he is OK even if it means we have to go without for the next ten years of our lives.
Here is a picture of the amazing pin (I know what you are thinking and yes, it has been sanitized).

Tree Hunting

2009-12-03T10:39:00.000-08:00

For a while now my Dad and Mom have cut fresh trees for Christmas. This year we were fortunate enough to participate. We headed up to Bear Lake and met up with my sister Ashley and her family Brad, Cooper and Ryker. We turned up by Fish Haven and drove into the national forest there. We spent qutie a while searching for the perfect tree until finally, we had them all picked. It was a very beautiful experience with the snow covered trees and teh sun shinning.

We then spent the next night up at Brad's families cabbin in Bear Lake. Cooper's birthday was the day before and so we celebrated. He opened up his gift from my Mom and Dad, Brother and us. It was a fun scooter which he allowed Carson to ride on with him.

I love a man with a purse!

2009-12-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

A while ago I left my purse at Walmart in a shopping cart. It was there from about six o'clock to eleven. Eddie had to work late that night and I didn't realize it was gone until about eleven. Panicking I started searching both cars and around the house to see if I could find it. Then I realized it was at Walmart. Eddie offered to go to Walmart and see if anyone turned it in. I kept calling until someone finally answered and told me my husband had just picked it up.
I am so grateful for honest people who do the right thing. I had all my credit cards, social security card (stupid I know), money, licence and basically my whole life. I am so grateful for the person who turned it in and I wish I could tell them. I am also thankful for a husband who loves me enough to carry a purse out of Walmart, Thanks Honey.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2009-12-03T10:24:00.001-08:00

This year for Thanksgiving we headed to Alpine, Utah to see my Grandparents. We left early on Thursday and came home that same night due to the fact that Eddie wanted to participate in the Turkey Bowl (a football game with friends and family)the night before. Alpine is always beautiful and it is great to see family. Carson also had a great time on the rocking horse.

For entertainment Mel brought out his beautiful collection of 22's and we took turns on targets. We all had a great time trying to hit the targets and Eddie won overall. There were some beautiful guns in Mel's collection and it was neat to hear about them and try them.

Move Over Ace of Cakes

2009-11-01T19:28:00.001-08:00

My Brother wanted to have a fountain on his wedding cake. We explained that this was a little bit 80's and we recommended forcefully that he drop his dream. My Mother and I then brainstormed that a grooms cake would be a great alternative. Luckily, I have a VERY talented Mother in Law who makes wedding cakes and possesses the skills to do just about everything in the world of cake. She showed me how to make gum paste and with that I made figurines.

I tried to incorporate things that made me think of Stephen. Thus came the idea to make a park with a long boarder. Inside the park was a man with a lacrosse stick and ball and some other elements. In the end the cake became dessert at the wedding luncheon. When I asked Lynette to help she thought I meant a small cake but when all was said and done the cake was big enough to feed 125 people with some leftover. I had such a great time making it. I would love to do it again. Is any ones birthday coming up??

Two years missing you

2009-11-01T19:22:00.001-08:00

October 29th marks two years since Kim has been gone out of our lives. Eddie's Dad was always a wonderful influence in our lives and still is. I worked with him at Gilt Edge and always admired his professionalism and tact. He was always good to me and Eddie. His ability to be serious one second and cracking jokes the next always kept me on my toes.

Lynette bought some balloons which the grandkids let go. This picture shows them looking at the balloons traveling in the sky. I could not help but wonder if Kim was looking down at that moment to see his grandkids remembering him.

One Stinky Halloween

2009-11-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

Carson was a skunk this year for Halloween. The first time I put on his costume he just laughed and laughed at himself in the mirror. He looked so stinkin cute (no pun intended). It was so much fun to take him around to all of our relatives for tricks or treats.

We also were able to get together with a few other scary and cute animals during Halloween. My parents came with us to a few houses in Lewiston. It was great to see Carson finally get the hang of things. He was bouncing off the walls by the end of the night (too much candy definitely contributed).

Eddie, having the competitive nature he does, had to beat me at pumpkin carving. This year we were able to show off our skills twice. Once at Lynette's house and once at my parents house. My first exhibit was a pumpkin eating another pumpkin. I didn't get a good picture, but take my word for it, it was pretty awesome. Eddie's was awsomer though. For the second pumpkins I decided to do a word with some bats. Eddie carved a pirate ship. Here they are for you to judge who looks the coolest (the quality of the pictures is not very good).

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T17:41:00.000-08:00

The pumpkin walk in North Logan is always something that we look forward to every year. We have missed it the last few years, but it is a fun tradition for everyone. This year we went with my sister's family, Ashley, Brad, and their boys Cooper and Ryker. Here is a picture of their cute boys and Carson(sorry it is a little blurry).

We took the opportunity to take the kids pictures. Brad just could not resist the impulse to show his more feminine side in the Snow White getup.
We had a great time seeing everything that the pumpkin walk had to offer. There were some amazing painted gourds that I loved at the end. We will definitely have to make this a yearly occurrence.

Brother!

2009-11-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

My cute little brother was married on October 24th. It was so much fun to see him so happy. They had the reception the night before and the wedding the next day. The morning of the wedding it was raining but afterward it turned out to be a great day.
His new bride looked so gorgeous. She will be a great addition to the Buttars clan. Luckily, they did not have to look to far to find one another. Chelsey grew up across the field from our house and in the same ward.
A family friend was also able to preform the whole ceremony. He did a great job and the only mishap was when someones cell phone rang in the sealing room (after they told us to shut them off four times). Afterward we went to the Coppermill for the wedding luncheon. There were a lot of friends and family there which was really fun. I am so happy for you my little Brother. No matter how old you get remember that I will always be your older and wiser sister!

Eden Still Exists

2009-10-18T16:21:00.001-07:00

Who knew? There is a small valley just to the south of Cache Valley where paradise still exists. We were able to spend a week there. Well maybe not paradise, but it was beautiful.
My Dad and Mom gave Eddie a time share for his birthday and we decided it was about time to use it. I should have taken more scenery pictures because it was truly beautiful. Our timeshare was located by the main lodge for Powder Mountain. It was on the top of the mountain overlooking Ogden and Cache Valley.
For the first night James and Kristina came up. It was fun to see them and to spend time there. They left after the first night and it is probably lucky they did because during the night it snowed and it kept snowing until there were at least six inches on the ground. They only had a car and the last mile of the road was dirt and very steep.
We came back Sunday because Eddie had to work and my Grandma's viewing and funeral took place. Then on Monday Carson and I headed back up with Ashley, Cooper and Ryker. The condo had three bedrooms so we were able to keep the kids happy in the three different rooms.
We went up late on Monday and when we were about a half mile away the truck started slipping back on some ice. The snow had melted slightly during the day making it very slick. There were a few tense moments until I finally got the four wheel drive in. We made it up to the top with three sleeping kids around eleven o'clock.
The rest of the week Ashley and I passed the time by doing crafts and exploring. Cooper even made a snowman and we swam in the pools. Brad and my parents came up the last night and we enjoyed the pool and a little nintendo wii. I would highly recommend such a beautiful spot to everyone.

Goodbye Grandma

2009-10-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

We can’t fully appreciate joyful reunions later without tearful separations now. The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.

Russel M. Nelson

Last week we lost my Grandma. It was quick and relatively painless which was all we could ask for. I was sad, but mostly for myself. My Grandma survived on this earth for over 36 years without her husband. Recently, she started loosing her hearing and eyesight. It was pneumonia that finally took her life but I swear she had nine. She survived cancer, a stroke, nearly choking on a pear, a grand father clock falling on her twice, and many other ailments.

Some of my favorite memories of her were when she would come out to visit when I was feeding the calves. She had a little bit of trouble speaking, but she still made an effort to visit with us. She always had a supply of skittles for the grand kids and spearmint or big red gum. The Utah Jazz were also something that she loved. I don't know if she missed many game the past few years.

I know that she is in a better place, but I am going to miss her here on earth. I hope she had a great reunion with her siblings, parents, and especially my grandpa Wendell. I am grateful that I can call her my Grandma. She endured to the end through all the trials that life offered. I take comfort in knowing that she no longer has trouble speaking or expressing herself. I am truly grateful that I will see her again. We love you Grandma!!

My Little Buddy

2009-09-09T14:05:00.000-07:00

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt
My baby is growing up!! I cannot believe that my child is a toddler. He is constantly on the move and always HaPPy. I love him so much. He is walking and starting with new words. I am constantly surprized at what he understands. Here are a few random pictures of my little pride and joy!