PRIDE Festival 2009

Every year I go to the PRIDE Festival at the City and County Building in Salt Lake. This year I decided to take my kids (with tons of help from my bff Amanda) so that they could have the experience. Had it not been for the rain, it would have been a joyous event. We had so much fun watching the parade, Jo had her eyes wide open the entire time to all the new sights and sounds. The highlight of the day for me was the when Kippie decided that he wanted to be held by the man standing next to me (read: 50+ year old Latino man with big goatee, shaved head, great veneers, and his 20 year old boyfriend).

Amanda and I braved the storm this year, and with her help I had a great time. Next year maybe we will have sun.

Cole graduated from the University of Utah yesterday! He is so cool, and I am so proud of my baby bro! It was fun to be there and cheer for him as he crossed the stage! He was also really smart and booked it out of the Huntsman Center as soon as he walked across the stage.

As you can tell, Joe did not want to be in this picture with me.........But he sure looks cute!

I Love My Family

Whirlwind New Year

I can't believe that my last post was for Christmas, which now seems like it was years ago. The New Year came and left, Kippie turned 1, Gopa turned 53, Valentines Day (my 6th Anniversary) also came and left. And tonight I am reveling in the joy of my life. I gave my kids a bath and went through the bed-time routine, which has become a very restful time of my day. I love just being around my children, they have the most beautiful spirits. Kip has become a cuddly huggable teddy bear, who giggles constantly. Jo is the most inquisitive and slapstick kid that I have ever met, she never ceases to keep me rolling with laughter. I had an experience tonight that I don't want to repeat again in my lifetime. This afternoon I wanted to take the kids up to the zoo for a little while, it has been a relatively beautiful day, and so I got them all excited and bundled for the excursion. However, we arrived 30 minutes after the gates had closed for the day (Winter hours stink) so as I was pulling out of the parking lot I turned around to tell Jo that we would come back on Saturday. When I looked back, I saw the most awful thing I have ever seen.......She was sitting with silent tears rolling down her cheeks.....now I know that I have disappointed her before, but the fact that she didn't throw a fit and was just suffering in silence was one of the most heart-wrenching things that I have ever seen. When I asked her why she was crying, she told me she was sad the animals were sleeping already. I now know how hard it was for my parents when they had to disappoint me, for no fault of their own. So my belated goal for the new year; don't disappoint the people that I love, and who love me. I guess another lesson in this experience is not to count your eggs before they have hatched.

Christmas!

As a family we had the most amazing Christmas this year. It was so fun that Johanna finally realized what was going on, and was anticipating Santa's arrival. When she woke up Christmas morning had risen on the wrong side of the bed, but as I coaxed her down the hallway she became even more agitated, but that all ended as rapidly as it had begun when she saw the suprise of the year (the red & yellow car)!

Kippie, as you could probably imagine, was far more interested in the paper and bows than the contents of his presents.... He was quite content sitting with Gopa and playing with the beautiful paper.

Gobbie also had an amazing suprise in store for Big Joe on Christmas. She had purchased a snow-boarding outfit that Joe had been eyeing since September. He had hidden it throughout Big 5 hoping that nobody would buy it, and that he could get it on clearance. Well, with the help of his co-workers Gobbie was able to purchase the snowsuit, and have it ready for him. What was really funny was that Joe mourned the loss of the snowsuit the night Gobbie bought it, and his co-workers egged him on....little did he know.....

This picture really does say a thousand words.....another funny side note, after opening this gift he proceeded to wear the suit the rest of the night (in Gobbie's warm house)...

This is an image of Gobbie in her new onion goggles, the funny gift of the evening (thanks Brenda Bee)
I also realized that although my parents are separated and in the process of divorcing, it really doesn't mean that my life has to change all the much. It has been a year since they separated and although I am still so saddened by their relationship's demise, I know that it doesn't change their love for me, or their desire to maintain our relationship. I am so grateful to them as a pair, and also separately . I have the most wonderful, generous, and kind-hearted parents a person could ask for. I am also very grateful that I live in Utah and am able to see my parents and siblings so frequently, I know that Joe is always saddened that he isn't able to be with his family through the Holidays, but it is through his sacrifice that was are raising our children in such a stable and comfortable existence. So Thank You Family, and Most of All Thank You Joe!