Nate and Football

Nathan gave football a try this year, and we were so proud of him for trying something new and it wasn't easy either!! Nathan was pretty taken back on the first tackling practice but stuck with it. He really learned a lot and made some fun friends. It was really cute to watch him at the games get into the excitement of the game.

His team lost one game during regular season and then they lost their first game in single elimination to last years champions. The game was great, the boys fought so hard and played such an amazing game. Nathan didn't get to play at all but was so fun to watch and hear his commentary from the sidelines. The weather was absolutely foul. It was rainy and windy and very cold. I couldn't even imagine playing in that weather it was horrible enough just sitting in it. We had to call the game at one point for lightening and then resumed a few minutes later.

Here are some fun pictures from the season:

Seattle

Mike and I were able to attend the wedding of Brad and Jen Mc Nett (that is right, you read that right). We have a new sister-in-law, Jen Slawson Mc Nett. She is absolutely amazing, and will be a great addition to the family. I love how she loves everybody for who they are and just is so accepting and caring. We first met her at Laura's wedding and instantly fell in love with her, I don't know who wouldn't. In fact, we told Brad that if something happens we are keeping her in family pictures and taking him out-lol!!

It was an adult only wedding, so Mike and I left a couple of days early to spend some time together before seeing the family for the big weekend. We treated this was a destination wedding (which means Jeni got to do some fun shopping) and we had a great time even the 12 hour dive was fun and driving into Seattle we saw Mount Rainier, sitting majestically over the city. It was so fun to be back on our old stomping grounds. We ate at the Seattle Pier on our first night and took a walk along the water front, very nice!! We walked around downtown Seattle and Pike Place Market. We took a amazing run along the Puget Sound. We met up with Robin, Julie, Laura and Joe on Friday eve for dinner and then met up with Brad, Jen and the rest of the family later on. We were so happy that Grandpa Waters came for the weekend. He is 87 now, and I know that this is really out of his comfort zone, but it meant alot to Brad and I am I grateful to him for making the trip. The story from Uncle Larry and Aunt Leslie is that he was the first one ready to go at 9a on Friday morning. He has always been there for us in our lives placing himself always behind us in importance. He is a great example of giving and caring. Brad and I had to make a pact that we wouldn't talk too much about Grandpa during the weekend, that we would both end of crying.

The wedding was simply elegant, I loved it. The winery was a beautiful back drop to a beautiful day. Brad and Jen were so happy and it was so great to see family and spend time making great memories.

The next day we got to to see and have breakfast at Robin's house, it was great!! My little sister owns her own house, I am so proud of you!! How fun!! We also got to see Grandma Kelly and Grandpa Kelly one more time on the way out.

The weekend was a great time and we are so glad that we got to go and thankful to our amazing babysitters, Rachel and Casey, wow they are truly amazing and will be amazing parents very soon:)

August 2010

After grandpa's funeral we decided we needed to do something fun, so we headed to the Ocean. We had a great time playing in the sand in CA, at the Santa Cruz beach and had fun just being together.

We came back and got ready for the RUSH triathlon. Mike, Kayla and Nathan all particpate this year and all did an amazing job!! Kayla placed third in her age group and Mike took first overall in the sprint division and even broke his record time from last year.

Mike and Nathan were able to go hiking with the MC Nett clan in Yellowstone. They had so much fun, Nathan felt so good about his accomplishment and had such a great time with dad and the other kids/uncles. The pictures were beautiful.

The start of 10th, 6th and 2nd grade. The kids started school, I can't believe that we have a high schooler!! The kids are getting so big!!

Grandpa Paul Whitesides

On the morning of July 27th, Grandpa died. We are so sad to loose him but we know that he is MUCH happier with Grandma Whitesides in heaven. We will miss him, the kids really loved grandpa and have many memories of their time together. We are so glad that we got to live close to him and make so many memories with him, even in the hard times. Mike, I and the kids were the primary care givers to Grandpa for two years here in Rexburg. At times it seemed like alot, but we would never change any part of it even when Jeni was sick. we are so grateful for his patience with us and hope we were able to help. We are so grateful to the care givers at Homestead Assisted living center and also Rexburg Rehab nurses, they were so senstive and caring as we went through this tough time.
The last night he was conscious, Sunday, we went to visit him and he just looked at me(Jeni) with those eyes that said help me... I just kissed his head and told him he had done good and to relax, it was okay. We each said our goodbyes and then left, the next morning we got the call that he was close to going.

Dad and I got very close, I really felt like I got to know an amazing person. We had a special connection, I could understand what he was saying and feeling without much spoken words. I will miss our conversations and lauging together. His family meant everything to him, especially his grandkids-sorry sons and daughter-in-laws.

This is what the kids said about grandpa:

Grandpa was a great, strong, and gentile person
• Grandpas was funny
• Wore a towel for a bib at the dinner table
• Enjoyed a good joke. Especially the one about a fly and a steak.
• Grandpa walked to our home in the cold weather without a gloves or a warm coat.
• I liked when he had the genie pig – Britt.
• I got to fly toy airplanes with him - Nathan
• Grandpa took me for rides in his yellow bug.- Kayla
• It was fun to see grandpa out riding his bicycle around town.
• It was sad to see grandpa riding his trike around town. Then, as I thought about it more, he was inspirational. Despite his inability to drive, he still got out and did stuff.
• Grandpa had fun trains that he pulled out at Christmas time.
• Brittany enjoyed making cookies for Grandpa.
• Brittany and Grandpa were Cowboys and Cowgirl together for Halloween.
• Brittany liked to hold Grandpa’s hand.
• While looking over the Rexburg valley at the rest home and really struggling, Grandpa said that the nurses were trying to kill him. Jeni and I told him that it was okay to die. He said, why would I want to do that? I responded that then he could go see Mom. He calmed down immediately and really until he died.
• Grandpa enjoyed playing tag with Cami. Then he would get me and carry me. We giggled together. It was fun.
• Grandpa and Kayla wrote notes back and forth to each other.
• Kayla was called McKurrla and Grandpa was Cookie Monster.
• Grandpa could always locate dessert with his radar senses.
• "The faster you go to sleep the faster morning comes".
• Families are the key priority.
• We support each other in our activities
• He came to our soccer games and events
• He sacrificed his own pursuits to be with us.
• Shortly after we moved to AZ, Grandpa and I crossed paths while commuting to work. Grandpa was very touched and grateful that we moved to AZ to be near them.
• He was really happy all the time - Kayla Whitesides
• I don’t remember him being sad – Kayla.
• I remember him trying to scare be (like boo!) – Kayla.
• He showed me that he cared for me by the way he greeted me – Nathan.
• I remember that he came to my baptism – he gave me a hymn book.-Kayla
• I remember him coming over for Sunday dinner in AZ and he brought the newspaper full of ads for mom.
• He wrote notes in the scriptures he got for us when we were 12 / 8. Kayla and Nathan.
• He got us all excited at Christmas and Birthdays and made us feel special.
• He dressed up like Santa Clause one year.
• He was really compassionate – he checked on Grandma Chugg frequently.
• He was an amazing listener and that he cared without judging.
• He tried to make everything fun.
• He liked to go out to eat and liked ice cream, hot cocoa.
• He always had mints and gum to share with us. He taught us to share and he felt bad when he didn’t have any, and he rode his bike in the cold to specifically get gum and mints.
• Kayla razed him when he missed Sunday dinner.
• One of his favorite parts of the scriptures was the beatitudes. He really tried to live those set of scriptures. We think that he did an amazing job and that they really are what grandpa was/is to us today.

Grandpa was buried in Rupert. We love going to Rupert and we love our family in Rupert. We love visiting with them and feeling their love and support, we have a great family we thank God for them. We got to see Jason Natalie and the twins, also Justin and Jenni made the trip to Idaho just for the funeral and to spend time with us. Bryan and Ashley came and it was great to catch up and make fun memories on the river water skiing. Kayla and Ashley played and sang at the funeral and did a very lovely job we know that Grandpa loved it.

July

We spent our first 4th of July here in Rexburg becuase we are usually in Rupert for the 4th. It was fun to see the parade and BBQ with our family.

Kayla turned 15 and Nathan turned 11. They are turning into amazing wonderful people. For Kayla's Bday we went to Sundaes ice cream restaurant. Nathan's Bday was spent at Rigby lake playing with his new boat:) We really enjoyed our visit with =Grandpa on his 66th bday. We are glad that we could be here to celebrate with him.

We were busy taking care of Grandpa Whitesides, he has really not gotten much better. We had to admit him to the hospital and he is not eating or drinking. It seems like Parkinson's is kicking in and he is forgetting how to swallow. We pray for him constantly and are hoping for the best. Jason and Natalie have came to visit again and Justin too. Grandpa is just not responding well and while they were at the hospital Dad had a pulmonary embolism and had to be put in the ICU. He got better and was moved to the Rexburg Rehab center and is trying to recover. We have an appointment with the neurologist and hopefully he will have some answers, help, and a cure for us. But it really doesn't look good and it is really hard to see Grandpa this way.

Grandpa's 66th birthday! on July 8th we went and celebrated grandpa's birthday with him. He was asking us about what was going on and telling us how he is forgetting how to talk and eat. It was nice to visit with him as we wonder if this will be his last birthday with us.

Also this july we got to spend time with Julie, Jason and Baby Zoey. We had a great time adventuring through Yellowstone and playing at the lake. We had fun catching up and watching the kids play. It was great to have them visit, it is such a long ways and we really love it when people make the trek.

Jumping June

June was a hard month. I went through my last procedure for breast reconstruction and Grandpa Whitesides started to not feel very good and required a little more attention. I also planned to do a "Kindergarten Boot Camp" for preschool. It was a hard month and I am surprised we made it through as well as we did. I just know that is was by the power of God that we got through this month. We got to visit with Jason, Natalie and the twins as they came to help and see Grandpa. We are so grateful to our family for all their love and support. One of the highlights of June was Father's Day. We love our Dad, he is really the best ever, we love playing and spending time with him. He make us smile and laugh.

Magnificent May

May began with a trip to St George, UT for Ironman. Mike worked hard for this race. He began training for this race last October and has swam, biked and ran his heart out preparing. We visited St George three times for him to get on this brutal course and be ready for his big race. We arrived in St George on Wednesday and checked the course. Thursday we checked Mike in and went to the Manti Temple grounds. Friday we took it easy and helped mike with last minute preperations. The kids participated in the Ironman kids fun run. The kids got to run on the same course as dad and got to finish at the finish line that would be crossing. The kids were so fun to watch. Britt and Cami held hands all the way through the one mile run. After a sleepless night we took Mike to buses at 4am. Mom then went back and got the kids and Grandpa and headed to the buses to go out to the swim start at Sand Hallow Resivor. We met up with Aunt Robin and Uncle Kenny. It was chilly morning. Many swimmers had on their neoprene caps and wetsuits to keep warm. The participants were all lined up and some in the water prepared to start the race of their lives. Just as the sun rose over the mountain, the start gun went off. Mike did amazing in the water getting out right at his goal time and quickly transitioned to his bike. It was so much fun to see him take off, we then got back on the bus and went to see him on the bike with Grady, Meredith and family and Bryan and Kelly and family. It was really great to have them all their to help cheer mike on and share this special day with us. We saw mike on his bike and then went to finish line to see him transition to his run. After we saw him take off on the fun we tried to find some great places to see him on the run. The night before we took a drive around the running course and got to write on the course to cheer dad on. Dad also shared with us "our mile". Mike decided that the last miles of the run would be dedicated to each of us by taking one mile and thinking of us individually as he ran "our mile". We were excited to be able to see dad a few times on the run and then we headed to the finish line anticipating his finish. As Mike crossed the finish line, we all gave him big hugs and knew this would be a day that we would never forget. We are so grateful to all those who came and all those how cheered us on from far away. We felt your prayers and you support.

Mike Whitesides you are and IRONMAN!!!

Amazing April

We had a great April filled with lots of amazing adventures. We started this April off a great easter weekend. We had fun looking for eggs and eating easter dinner with Grandpa Whitesides.

We made trip to Los Angeles to see Aunt Laura and Uncle Joe get married. We had a great time visiting with family and we loved celebrating with Laura and Joe. It was wonderful to see them so happy and ready to conquor the world together. This weekend was actually filled with many other activities that the kids were suppose to participate in, after awhile it began to be a joke and we just had to laugh. Kayla had a ballroom recital, an EFY area activity, a piano recital and piano festival. Nathan had a piano festival and recital. Brittany, Cami, and Emily all had a Gymnastic "Olympics". It was a hard weekend for them all to break away and give up some of the things they were excited to do and had worked hard at but they were all so great about giving up these activities to be with family and celebrate with Aunt Laura and Uncle Joe.

We pulled out our summer clothes from the storage room and left for LA on Wednesday. we picked up Mike who went down for one last practice before the Ironman in St George. We got into LA and stayed with one of Laura's friends, Trina, our new adopted aunt. She was amazing and we were so grateful to her and her roommates for allowing us to stay in their condo in the amazingly beautiful Rancho Del Ray, CA. We stopped off at temple and got to see Aunt Holly, Grandpa and Grandma Kelly who were staying at some apartments at the LA Temple. We then proceeded to Trina's apartment for some much needed sleep. The next day we met up with all of mom's family at the Santa Monica Pier for some fun on the beach. We had a great time playing the beach and just being together. Afterwards, the girls said goodbye and went to bachlorette party for Aunt Laura. Waking up the next day we got ready for the wedding and headed to the Temple. It was wonderful to be with family, the people the mean the most to us on such a special day. It was a beautiful day and laura and Joe looked amazing, but more importantly they were so happy that I swear they glowed and couldn't stop smiling.

At the reception we had a great dinner and then had fun celebrating and dancing with our family. Brittany caught the bridal bouquet and held it all the way home. We had so much fun in LA and being with family.