Happy Birthday Mom!

Anybody who knows my mom knows that she is the most caring, selfless, and entirely most awesome person to ever live.  I am thankful that she is my mom.  I would have never had the guts to try the things I've done in my life were it not for my mom and dad instilling the confidence in me to know that I can do whatever I put my mind to.  My mom is fighting cancer and still taking care of my sister Tam.  I have met a lot of people who think they are tough, but I have yet to be impressed since my mom is the toughest I've met by far.  I am so glad that we live close enough so that I get to see her almost every single day.  I feel very blessed for that.  Thanks for who you are Mom and I love you so much and hope you had an awesome birthday!

Happy 66th Dad!!

Today my awesome Dad turns 66!  I have learned many things from you Dad and I thank you for being there for me any time I need you.  I know I can go to you with anything and I appreciate all you do for me and for the rest of the family too!  You are very loved and looked up to!  Can't wait to go see Merle Haggard with you!  I like this picture of Dad.  He is hugging Juliet while at the same time eating a banana.  He always was multi-talented.

Guitar Hangers

I've been wanting to get some guitar hangers for the wall in my studio since the beginning of time, and Derrinda bought me some using her sweet Amazon discount!  Check out my studio now.

New Camera

Thanks to Mom and Dad for letting us have their old canon digital camera. As you can see, I've already started to put it to good use. Today was a fun day, I wish I would have taken some pictures of my outing to Seattle with Dad and Brandon to pick up a commercial soft serve ice cream machine for my sister Tammy. But I did get a few pictures. Dallas and I went swimming this morning at 6:30, and Dad even joined us today. That was fun. I taught Dallas a new chord on the guitar tonight. He now knows the E, A, and D major chords. He also knows a little bit of lead guitar from Nirvana unplugged "Lake of Fire". We all still miss Willie a lot and the kids and I watched his slideshow about 5 or 6 times tonight while Derrinda was working. What surprised me was that towards the end of the slideshow, Brandon started crying as he was sitting on my lap watching the video. I said "What's wrong Brandon?" And he said, "I miss Willie." Anyway, we are going on with life. Dakota even played ball with me today. It is the first time she actually wanted to play fetch since Willie died. She has been uninterested when I've tried to throw her the ball before, but I guess she is starting to feel a little better. Her and Willie were within feet of each other for every minute of the last 10 years so I can't blame her for having a hard time with it. Anyway, enjoy the photos! (Sorry for ripping Cody off, he was already down in bed when I took these, being the responsible young man that he is.)

Willie's Slideshow

I have been working on getting all these photos collected since Willie died almost 3 weeks ago. I am still having a hard time accepting him being gone. He was such a big part of the family. Every time I go outside to do anything, it just doesn't seem right without him there. I put a lot of time into the slideshow and I wanted to post it on my blog so I can see it whenever I feel like it. I am thankful for Derrinda because she took most of the photos.

For Willie -- My Faithful Friend to the End

The carefree way we’d run and play,

Oh how I long for yesterday!

A stronger love could never grow,

A truer friend I’ll never know.

Your youthful body time did steal,

But not your playfulness or zeal.

I wish that I could find a way,

Go back in time to yesterday.

I’d wrap you in my arms to stay,

Oh how I long for yesterday!

I never thought you’d go away,

Oh, how I long for yesterday!

If one-thousand years I live,

A stronger love could no one give.

Than the love you’ve shown to me,

A love I’ll feel eternally.

And if my tears could wash away

Today and bring back yesterday

I’d wrap you in my arms to stay

Oh, how I long for yesterday!

Happy Birthday Tam!

Today we celebrate my big sister Tammy's birthday. My sister has always been an inspiration to me. I have always looked up to her example of strength and her rock solid faith. She is definitely one of a kind. I am very proud to be her brother. We used to not get along very well when I was younger, but when she moved away to college, and then went on her mission, we grew closer upon her return. I was grown up and not as annoying anymore. I cherish the times I would visit her on campus at Utah State University and she would let me (and Jason) go to class with her. She would take us to play tennis at the University's courts, and then spoil us with her delicious homemade enchiladas and we would stay up late singing karaoke. Much has changed in both of our lives since those days, but whenever we get together, I still cherish each moment spent with her; whether she is helping me with math, or we are making yogurt, or she is patiently trying to speak me through setting up a sewing machine for her, we always laugh and have a good time. I am thankful for my big sister Tammy, and want her to know how important she is to me on her birthday. We are going over today to make homemade pizza! Happy birthday Tam! I hope your day is filled with sunshine and happiness.