It's Been a Long Time...let the Christmas Season Begin!

I hope to be better at posting more often!

Family

Pat's Aunt Eve came to visit! She lives in Moab, Utah...a great place to visit!

The girls love being with cousins. Especially when there's slip'n slide!

Arianna would take anyone who would go with her into the field next to us and catch grasshoppers. I just so happened to get a picture of Brynn and Ari's big catch!

Grandma Jaramillo's swing is the place to be. It's even more fun when you're with cousins...Josie!

Deer

We see deer in our yard about every day. This is a doe with her two fawns. There are two fawns in the picture, but you can't really see the second one on the right.

Just another picture of deer. 3 of them. I am excited to take some pictures with the snow!

Field Trip to the Pet Store

Alayna's preschool went to the pet store for their field trip. I decided it would be fun to drive some of the kids so Kayla also got to go. "It's a tweet!" That's what Kayla calls "birds"...tweets!

The kids got to crawl in a dog kennel. You can see Alayna in the back...she loves her friends!

Hermit Crabs are pretty cool. Arianna and Alayna are begging to get one...I don't think so!

All the kids got to take home a dog bone from the pet store. I told Alayna to give it to her teacher's dog since we don't have a dog...I found it in her school bag when we got home!

My Yard!

Back in April, we decided to purchase some gold fish to eat the mosquitoes in the yard. They have been eating a lot of them because there are some big gold fish in the pond.

I have been trying to figure out how to use my camera more. I went around my yard and took pictures of flowers.

I have been weeding, pruning trees, and more weeding. This is the pretty rock pathway that leads into my back yard. It took me three days to thin out the bushes and cut down the plants. It was hard work...and still more to do!

This is the view from my front window! I took this picture from my front yard...just figuring out my camera!

And another pretty flower in among the many in my yard!

My Kids...

I was taking pictures of flowers in my yard and found Arianna reading on the sidewalk...interesting!

Kayla is my climber. She frequently climbs this little tree on the side of the house. She will even jump up and down on the branch...dangerous!

Alayna hardly ever looks at the camera for me to take a picture. She isn't doing much, but just being her cute self!

October 1st

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! I am excited about decorating my house with spooky things. I decided a big black spider would look great on my outside wall hanger!

Since we were decorating the outside with a spider, I thought it would be fun for the girls to make spiders. Arianna thought the spiders would look best hung from the light fixture in the entry way...I think she was right!

More spooky things to come...

Before Pat got Really Sick...

July 4th was a fun day...we decided to take the girls up the canyon and do a little fishing. Well, Pat did some fishing and I took pictures. At this time, Pat had been sick, but this was about a week break of non-sickness so we took advantage of it.

Arianna has her own pole and she does well catching fish.

Alayna is starting to get into fishing...especially after this fishing day with dad. She keeps asking Pat, "When can you just take me fishing?" I think Pat has found him a Fishing buddy for life!

I LOVE Utah scenery! I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of the mountains, trees, and river.

Raspberries & Stitches!!

We did a lot of raspberry picking this summer...we're still picking them actually! We did a lot of eating too!

This is about half the amount we would get each time we picked raspberries! The girls, specifically Kayla, would eat handfuls while I picked handfuls!

One day as I was driving up to the U to see Pat in Rehab, I got a call from my sister in law telling me there was an accident...Kayla fell into their fireplace and hit her head above her eye. Not too serious...I'm surprised Kayla hasn't been to the ER before since she is a dare devil. Anyway, I turned around and drove back home. Kayla ended up with 3 stitches! And a shiner!

Kayla cried every time a nurse walked into Pat's room after the stitches incident. It was interesting to visit Pat since a nurse/doctor was coming in every hour or so to give him meds or help him with something. Kayla is traumatized now I guess!

Alayna is being a good helper and picking raspberries with me!

I'm Baaaack!

First of all, you must forgive my blurry photos! I took these with my phone so they aren't the best. Secondly, these pictures aren't in order so forgive me on that.
Here is Pat's first meal once he was able to get his swallow back! It wasn't that bad either. The past few months have been a whirl wind and I have definitely seen miracles happen.

The girls, my mom, and I decided to take a Sunday afternoon and go to the Salt Lake Temple and walk the visitors center. It has been a long time since I've been up there. It was so pretty and peaceful. It was nice to get out of the hospital for a few hours...too bad we couldn't take Pat with us.

Aren't these flowers beautiful? They stayed this way for about the entire summer, then they dried up and looked like weeds. So I pulled them out! Better to have dirt rather than dried up flowers that look brown and ugly!

This is Pat and Ari. Once Pat was transferred from the Critical Care Unit, he was placed in the Acute Care Center. The girls were able to come visit. He still didn't have his swallow at this time and he lost 50 lbs! He literally weighed 10 lbs more than me...yikes! We are so glad he is doing better.

Here is Alayna ready for preschoole. She was so excited to go. I honestly didn't think she would go without me. She hates nursery at church and hasn't gone in months so why would she go to preschool right?!?! Nope, she kissed me goodbye with no tears...wow!

I am so grateful for life, miracles, family, and friends. I have definitely felt peace and calmness during the last month especially. I know a lot of friends and family thought of the Jaramillo Clan often and I am grateful for it!

More posts to come...I promise!

Arianna really misses her school friends in California. I'm glad we got a few pictures before we left!

These boys were talked about often in our home...let keep the boys away for a long time shall we!

Another friend Arianna misses.

Ms. Ma was Arianna's 3rd grade teacher. We miss California, but are enjoying Utah. Nothing beats having family around!

Ups and Downs!

Utah life has been great! It's so fun to be around family again, nice to meet new people, and the weather has been quite nice...not too hot! We had a great 4th of July. BBQs, parades, fireworks...and the newest tradition added to the Jaramillo family, The Culdasac of Fire! Our neighbors across the street block off the road, is a DJ, and people from all around come to socialize, dance and watch fireworks...it was pretty awesome!

We have officially planted our first ever tomatoes in the garden...we did this about 3 weeks ago, and it looks like we are gonna get fresh garden tomatoes! I can't wait! It also looks like we will be pulling up potatoes in the future as well. Must have been from last years crop that decided to grow this year! Yeah for us!

I don't like to end on a low note, but Pat has not been having good health. A few weeks ago he had a terrible flu that put him in bed for about a week. Then he caught a virus in his eye muscles that made him see double vision. And currently, I am typing this post while sitting in the hospital while Pat gets treated for viral meningitis! He gets to come home tomorrow, but his head hurts terribly. I know everything will be fine, but it's not fun and I feel terrible that Pat hasn't had the best of luck lately.

Anyway, I miss you California friends something terribly! Life in Utah has been great, but I know it would that much better with you all here with me. Please look me up if you're ever in my neck of the woods!

(by the way, I'd post more, but my computer is still in the box it came to Utah in from moving. Soon it will be up and pictures will be posted)

Adjusting...Sort of!

So we have been in Utah for 2 weeks! It's been different, exciting, tiresome, and enjoyable. Because BYU is out for summer, there seems to be no traffic and it feels like I am living in a very small town. I grew up near Provo and I do not remember it being to quiet. Maybe it's because I am now a mom and don't go out looking for "fun" like I did when I was a teen!

The house is coming along. I would have loved to have painted a few walls before the furniture arrived, but the furniture arrived when we did so I will have to paint later. The landscaping is...overwhelming. The previous owners of our home loved wild flowers. I'm gonna be honest, I didn't know what was a weed and what was a plant/flower. A neighbor down the street came over and educated me on most of the plants in my yard. I even planted a few tomato plants (pat and I). I can't wait till I can eat those!

The girls are adjusting nicely. Arianna has found a friend who lives a few houses away. Most of the neighborhood is older. That's fine with me, but doesn't help my kids with playmates much.

Anyone is welcome to visit! I have missed my California friends terribly. Life goes on, I know, but I sure grew to love that state...still do!

Shoes...

Kayla loves SHOES! She loves to put SHOES on.
The above picture is Kayla wearing Alayna's shoes.

Arianna's boots look fantastic!

Flip Flops look comfy!

Here are the tennis shoes Kayla will be wearing in about 4-6 months.

Another pair of Arianna's shoes...these make Kayla look like a clown!

Kayla sure makes us laugh!

Painted Walls...

Like I mentioned in my last post, the walls aren't a stand out color or anything, but I am sure glad I don't see smudges or hand prints!

Clean!

Remember When I Said...

Do you remember when I said I wanted to paint my walls at the end of the year last year? Well...I finally did it. We painted! Not every wall in our house, but the walls that got touched more frequently by the little hands here.

It looks nice. Same color, but our place looks almost brand new...other than furniture in its place.

Arianna's Talk at a Baptism!

Arianna was asked to give a talk on the Holy Ghost at the baptism of the two girls on the right. They are twins...it was a good baptism. Arianna did a great job. The only help I provided was finding a few scriptures on a some topics Arianna wanted to mention in her talk. I also helped her organize her talk, but it all came from her.

I think I have mentioned this before, I have loved living in California because I get to attend a lot of convert baptisms. I love attending the baptisms of 8 year old's, but there is something about a convert baptism that just really helps me become a stronger member. Maybe it's because I get asked to participate in the baptisms a lot...I don't know.

I am also going miss to Kaija, Arianna's primary teacher (in the middle). Not only is she a great example to Arianna and my kids, she is a good friend and great example to me.

In The Month of May...

This post is a HAPPY post and a SAD post.

WHY?

This was the month of 2 births and 1 death that influenced my life (directly and indirectly). My Uncle Dennis was born May 16th. Dennis was born with Muscular Dystrophy which eventually took his life. I was really young when my Uncle Dennis passed away, but I feel I know him well because of my dad. My dad and Uncle Dennis were/are best friends. Where my Uncle couldn't walk, my dad was his legs. They did everything together. Because of Uncle Dennis and his disease, my dad is the man he is today.

Joel Dean was also born on May 16th. Joel is my cousin and came to live with my family when I was in Jr. High School. I grew to love Joel as my brother. I don't have brothers and there are two male cousins in my life who I consider to be like brothers to me...Joel being one of them. Joel has been gone for about 9 years. I sure miss him.

Jayden was born on November 12th. She is my baby niece. Jayden passed away in 1999. I wonder what she would look like these many years later? What would her interests be? I understand I will never know the answers in this life, but it doesn't hurt to wonder! May 17th 1999 was a horrible day. Jayden passed away and I will, unfortunately, never forget how it happened, what I was doing, or how if affected my sister. As much as this day has been a sad day for me, the memories of Jayden are happy. I am thankful to have spent 6 short months with Jayden.

So Long...

Smallville...

I'm gonna miss you every Friday night!

I am a big fan of this show...I can't believe it is coming to an end...oh well, one less show to watch!

May's Goal

May's Goal is...are you ready for this...it's a big one...to me anyway...


LESS SUGAR...MORE VEGGIES!


This may seem silly to some of you, but if you know me, you know I LOVE sugar. I am not saying goodbye to sugar, just easing my way to LIKING sugar not LOVING sugar.

As for April's goal...I sort of didn't do it...I came up with what I wanted to do, but then realized we will be moving to I will have to put that goal on hold...I wanted to plant my own garden this year...for sure next year.

Our new house has a bunch of raspberry bushes so when it comes time to pick them, my new goal (to replace my April's goal) will be to learn everything I can on how to use raspberries!

More Pictures