Girls Evening!

So last night, I went and hung out with Becky and Courtney for a well needed girls evening. We went and ate at Olive Garden (endless pasta bowl is on!! yum yum). It was delicious and nice to catch up with them. Courtney just got engaged!! YAYA and Bec is also preggers YAYA so we have so much going on in our lives that we needed to catch up on! It was a lot of fun.

Then we walked over to the mall and looked at the maternity store. I got my bra size measured and I am at a 34 D!!!! YAHOO. hahaha. I think it is one of the best parts of being pregnant. haha. I am excited about it! I also got 2 new pair of pants, a skirt and 3 shirts, oh and a bra. Can I just say...I love shopping.

Publish Post

My Birthday Party!

So, even though I didn't have the greatest bday this year, I decided to have a family bday party at my house. It is the first time we have had a lot of people over at our house, so it was fun! We had a ton of people show up (I think around 25 people)! I loved visiting with everyone! Thanks for coming!

Here are some cute pics...and by the way, It did take me 3 blows to get all the candles out. I suck. I'm getting too old. haha.

Grandma's Obituary

Twila G. Mattsson
Twila G. Mattsson 1929 ~ 2008 Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and best friend died on September 13, 2008 at St. Mark's Hospital due to complications from a sudden illness.Twila Gifford Mattsson was born on January 9, 1929 to Dewey and Pernellie Gifford in Salina, Utah at her grandmother's house. Twila grew up in Fruita, Utah on a pioneering homestead in what is now Capital Reef National Park. Her childhood home is known as the Historic Gifford Homestead, which just celebrated its 100-year centennial where she was featured and honored as one of the children who grew up in the home. She climbed the red rock hills, picked fruit, played in the Fremont River, rode horses and went to grade school in the little one-room schoolhouse in Fruita. She lived with her grandmother in Salina while she attended high school. She graduated from North Sevier High School in 1946 and worked as a waitress at Mom's Café in Salina. She married her soul mate and best friend, Duane J. Mattsson, on November 13, 1949. They resided in Salina until 1959, when they moved to Kearns, Utah, where they raised their family. In 1977 Twila and Duane built a cabin in Torrey, Utah. Their home was an award-winning showpiece with hundreds of flowers and a large garden and orchard. They opened their cabin to their family and friends and spent many happy years at the cabin with their children and grandchildren. Twila and Duane loved to travel and would spend a few months each year in Kauai with their daughter Katrina. They traveled to Europe, Alaska, Russia, Scandinavia and Mexico. Twila was an accomplished seamstress and created beautiful embroidery and needlework. She was always cooking delicious meals for her family and had many signature dishes that were the cornerstone of all family get-togethers. Twila was warm, loving, smart, funny, and was the heart of our family. She was generous with her time, love and wisdom. She was devoted to and loved being surrounded by her family. Her beautiful heart touched everyone she met. We cannot imagine our lives without her. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Duane Mattsson; daughters Linda (Ed) Blake, Katrina "Christy" Raphaell, Kelly (Rick) Valleley, and son, Lane Mattsson. She is also survived by her loving and devoted grandchildren Kincade (Janelle) Bauer, Simran Raphaell, Shanda (Jeramie) Wootton, Payton Valleley and Dahlia Valleley and her brothers Fay (Dessma) Gifford and Dale (Carolyn) Gifford, sister-in-law and dear friend Jean Gifford; numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents, brother Lloyd Gifford and grandson Gentry Bauer. Services will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 1 p.m. at Garner Funeral Home, 1001 East 11th Avenue, Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held from 11:30 to 1 before the services.

In dedication to my grandma

Last night, my grandmother died. And she wasn't just my grandmother...she was one of my close friends, like a mother to me. I talked to her about anything and everything and I could always turn to her for advise when I was having a rough time in life. She was the kindest person who ever walked the face of this earth and someone with such a great spirit who helped anyone and everyone in anyway possible.

Everyone who met her loved her. All my friends who knew her admired her and always told me how lucky I was to have a grandmother like her. And lucky I was. I am so lucky that I had her in my life. I am truely blessed that I had her in my life for as long as I did! When I was 17 and was having problems at home, I moved in with her and my grandfather and they told me they would help me and they did! I lived there for 4 1/2 years. They gave me a loan to get a new car, she cooked me dinner often, took me to the doctor when I was sick, helped me get through college, let me life an adult life but also gave me rules and helped me choose a good path in life. She was such a great role model for me and if I am half the woman she was then I will consider myself a fantastic person and a mom when the time comes.

She taught me so much about the value of family. She was the center of our family and the center of our lives. I saw her or talked to her at least once a week and loved every second of it. I would often go to their house just to visit and hear grandpa's stories. I loved being with them and am going to miss her so much. I am going to be a mess without her. I am especially sad that she won't be here to meet my baby. She was so so so excited to be a great-grandmother. Everytime I saw her that is all we talked about and she kept telling me how excited she is...now that wont happen. I always considered her a great grandmother, but now my children won't meet her and I am truely saddened that they wont have her in their lives.

It wasn't her time. She was absolutely fine on Wednesday. A strong woman who was in great shape. She got sick on Thursday and went to the emergency room. She spent Thursday night to Saturday night in the hospital. They went in to do surgery in her abdomen after numerous tests to see what they could do. There was nothing they could do. All but 3 feet of her intestines were dead. She couldn't live like that and even if she did make it through the surgery, she would have a miserable life. We didn't want this for her and we know she wouldn't want it either.

The hardest part of the whole thing was seeing my grandpa with her. He is not in as good of health as she was and he was so sad. I dont think he can make it without her. I dont think he wants to and I cant bare to think of losing both of them right now.

I just can't help but think it wasn't her time. She was fine on Wednesday and was such a strong lady! Even at 79 she was going to lunch and shopping and doing everything other people do. She was so healthy and so happy. She wasn't ready to leave and we weren't ready to have her leave!!!

Grandma - I love you so much and always will. I promise you that my kids will know you and will know what a great great-grandmother you would have been. They will know what a great person you ALWAYS were and how you were so willing to help anyone in anyway possible. I will miss you so much and I am truely not ready to lose you. It was such a surprise and our family can't take losing any more of us. Two in two years is too much! We will take good care of grandpa for you and look down over us and keep guiding us. I want you to visit often and I want to feel you around. This is the toughest time I have ever had and the strong person I always know I can turn to isn't there. Thank you for everything and thank you for making me a better person. I LOVE YOU!! You tell whoever is in charge up there that our family has had enough and to let us be happy and not loose anyone else!

What a Horrible FUCKING Weekend!!!

When things start to go bad it seems EVERYTHING goes bad. I have officially had the worst weekend of my entire life!

This weekend my grandmother died. I feel like I have lost a piece of myself. I will write a dedication to her when I finish here.


Although that was by far the worst part of my weekend, my nephew also was in the hospital with complications on his tonsil removal.


Jeramie's dad is in the hospital and has liver damage and we dont know what is going on with him and his health right now. He is in pretty bad shape and I seriously think he is losing his mind. I dont know if it is the medication he is on or what, but he is not himself right now.

They say things happen in threes and maybe my 3 was having 3 loved ones in the hospital yesterday but there was also a 4th horrible thing...but I'm not comfortable sharing it. It was not the worst thing but definitiely just threw me through another hoop this weekend.

Why does life fall apart all at once???

Getting a Belly!

So, I think I am officially getting a belly! I am starting to get some stares and people looking at my belly...some who know I'm preg and some who don't. I often can't do up the button on my pants! I think it is funny and so cute!! I love it!! I want to be a little bigger though so people know I'm actually pregnant and I don't just have a beer belly. : ) I wore a skirt today and a pretty tight shirt and I thought it was cute seeing my belly so I had Jer take a picture and thought I would share it! I can't wait to be a mom and love that I can see that my baby is growing in me! What a wonderful feeling!! My next appointment is in 9 days!!

Labor Day!!

For Labor Day this year, we went on a fun camping trip with Linda & Ed, Chris & Jenny with cute Bailey, Adam & Erin and us. It was so much fun! We had to sleep in a tent and nights were really windy and cold, but it was a lot of fun. The weather was nice besides the nights (I didn't get any sleep this weekend). I didn't take any pictures but I stole all of Lindas (and her captions - thanks Linda!!). It is amazing how much fun we have together!! I love my family!!

Jer & me...what a great view behind us!!

Bailey with her parents

Bailey with her gramps and grandmaWhy do we like her so much?
Girls around the campfire Cade and Chris - brothers in love!
Cade and Shanda
All of us at the Goosenecks
Shanda and Jeramie...I don't know why he wanted us to do this pose??? Weird Jeramie. haha
Jenny, Chris and Bailey - look at Bailey's hair!
Boys around the campfire.
This is a huge fire that the boys built - Of course...no surprise.
This is our camp spot. Ed & Jeramie put up a little roof so we wouldn't get wet! I don't even know what to say about this.
Jeramie riding his hog
Bailey sitting on the steps of the Fruita house (in Capital Reef).
Checking out the view
I think these guys are partied out Cade & Janelle's dogs in their turtlenecks
Adam putting out the fire
Hahahahaha! This picture is so funny! He is putting his head through the doggie doorJanelle and Linda at the Fruita house.
Bailey and Gramps in their hats Shanda, Jenny and Bailey - next year there will be another baby in the photo!
Boys standing in the rain
Once again, what do I say?
Erin and Shanda
Shanda and Cade at the Fruita house This is the Gifford house in Fruita where my great grandparents lived and my grandma grew up
Cade and Nell taking a photo of themselves. They didn't want anyone else to do it!
Shanda and Linda
How many boys does it take to light a barbeque? All of them!
Bailey with her chair Cade and Vixen in his new hammock
Ed made himself this sandwich! Um...HUNGRY??
Jeramie chillin' in the hammock
Nell had to empty the tanks. Hahahaha! She showed that poop who's boss!