Monday, January 17, 2011

To My Soccer Girls

I got a comment on my post from yesterday from one of my soccer girls, Alli. I didn't mention them on my list of people I miss and am so grateful to. So here's to you, my soccer team... I loved every minute of coaching you girls. You made my coaching experience one I will never ever forget. I miss you tons, and I know I am going to miss coaching you this next year. You were such a strength to me during the season when Clint left. Being able to come to practice everyday helped me forget how sad I was after he left, and just being with you guys made me happy. I wish all of you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors. Especially all of you seniors. I know you will all do great things. Keep doing fitness fun and running the six flags magic vomit, just for me! I love you girls....HONESTLY!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

I Miss You Burley!

This week's blog post is dedicated to...Burley, Idaho! We moved from our lovely home in Burley in October to live with my parents while Clint is deployed. I miss my home, my friends, my ward, and everything about Burley (except for the somewhat incessant wind). We had so many wonderful memories in our home.

Eden's dinosaur birthday cake. I made the horse cake for Clint a month before to practice for Eden's cake. I know Clint's cake looks like a cake for a 2 year old, but Clint likes horses okay!

We moved to Burley in July 2008 when Clint was assigned to teach seminary at Burley High School. Our baby boy Owen was born a few months later in September. The kids loved living there and they had so many good friends. Eden and her best buddy, Bridger Duncan, were inseparable. I've never seen kids so young be so connected. The day we moved from Burley, Bridger gave Eden a teddy bear and said, "Eden, this is Bridger Bear. Whenever you get sad or miss me, just give him a hug." I couldn't help but cry, especially when Tiffanie, Bridger's mom, told me how Bridger cried all day long the day his little friend left. I miss my friend Tiffanie too. I became friends with her when I was called to be the Primary secretary while she was the President. She was always there for me, especially when Clint left for Iraq. She would always invite me over for dinner and let me be a part of her family. She is such an amazing example to me of a wonderful mother and of someone who is so willing to serve others. I miss her so much!

BRIDGER and EDEN

Eden's preschool friends

We had such an amazing ward in Burley. The day we moved in, we had a stream of non-stop visitors just coming by to bring us food and introduce themselves. Our neighbor Paul, came over and mowed our lawn and weeded the garden. Our friends Lex and Rachelle helped us get wood for the winter, among many many other things. Maryann Clayton was like a mother to me. I love and miss her so much. As well as Karla Ward, Judy Zollinger, Michelle Thornton, Krista Gammon, and so many others. I've never known so many amazing, good, incredibly awesome people in one area. Everyone in our ward was my friend. I love and miss them all.

I also miss my friends in town. We lived out in the country, but I had some amazing friends that lived in town. I first met Ashley Wray when we were both at the Health Department getting our babies their shots. Then we kept meeting each other at the park, the library, etc. (Burley isn't very big). She invited me to a girl's lunch she was having at her house, and that's how I got introduced to all the amazing girls that became my friends. So thank you Ashley! She is one of my best friends. She also watched my kids everyday during the soccer season while Clint was gone. Some of the girls that became my good friends are Alyssa, Ericka, Amie, Marci, Jess, Jenn, Adele, and of course Megi Jones.
Ericka, Ashley and Me after running a very cold 5K in May.

Megi Jones is one of my very best friends. She was my assistant coach for the soccer team this past season. She is so amazing. The girls absolutely loved her and I could never have made it through the season without her. She took over for several practices and games since Clint left right in the middle of the season. I miss her so much. She is so easy to talk to and she has been such a support to me on the soccer field and off. She was always offering to take care of my kids for me, and was just more than willing to help out anytime. She is also one of the most patriotic people I know. I love and miss her tons!
Megi and Me

So just a recap. To all my friends in Burley.... I love and miss you all. Thank you for making our 2 years in Burley a wonderful experience that we will NEVER forget! We probably won't be back in Burley since Clint will get reassigned somewhere else to teach when he gets back, but we will always remember you. There are many people that I love and miss that I didn't mention, but just know that you all on my mind and in my prayers all the time.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

A Whole Year!

Wow, it's pretty pathetic that my last post was exactly a whole year ago! One of my goals is to keep my blog updated once a week. I hope I don't let myself down. Now that I basically have no stress and nothing going on in my life right now, it shouldn't be too hard, right? I guess I'll start out by providing a recap of the last year.

1) We put our house up for sale in August. (p.s. it still hasn't sold)

2) Clint left for Camp Shelby, Mississippi on August 21st. He was there until September 17th, when he left for Iraq. He will be in Iraq for 1 year.
3) I went out to Mississippi to see Clint for a few days before he left the country. My mom and dad watched the kids for us.

4) My soccer team did AWESOME and took 3rd in our district. This was my second year coaching them, and they went from a no-win season, to winning 4 games, to taking 3rd. I was pretty proud of them.
5) Eden started preschool.
6) Owen decided he wanted to be a superhero.
7) I moved down to Provo Canyon with my parents in October so I wouldn't have to be alone while Clint was gone.

8) We went to visit my brother Tony and his family in Kansas over Thanksgiving.

All the cousins
(Sydney, Dru, Owen, Evelyn, Dante, Eden, Elena, Nic)

Tony and new baby Dru

9) Christmas was awesome, except for the fact that Clint wasn't here with us.
10) My brother Julio's family is living in the cabin by my parent's house until they leave for South Korea in February.Elena, Evelyn, and Nic celebrating Ev's 7th birthday