Tuesday, December 30, 2008

So much to say, so little time!

I am going to make this as short as possible. So, to make a long story short, if I am even capable of that, is that it has been a crazy, hectic, wonderful holiday season.

Starting with Thanksgiving. We all got to go to Salt Lake and spend it with my family. I loved it all. And I seriously loved meeting my two new nephews. They really are so cute you can't stand it. Just being home and spending time with my family made the start to the season fantastic. We were able to do some really fun things. Here are some highlights:

-Temple Square with Joce and Ben and our kids
-yummy Mexican food
-HEAVENLY Thanksgiving. My mom is seriously one of the greatest cooks alive!!
-going to Burger Supreme and Puddin' on the Rice with Jocelyn. Don't ask me why it was so fun. It just was. Maybe because we laughed so much at dinner about old nerdy boyfriends. Or maybe it was because we went to Puddin' on the Rice first because there were supposed to be crepes there, but there weren't. So we sampled EVERY flavor of rice pudding they had and then left, promising to come back. Which we did. :)
-Shopping with Jill, Jocelyn, and my mom.
-Going to the craft fair that Jill told me about. I got the best new diaper bag that I am seriously in love with.
-making toffee with Jill, minus the one that we undercooked. Amazing that it still got eaten. HAHA!!
-watching Uncle Ben play so much with my boys.
-Jackson getting his first be-be gun. I think it is called soft pellets or something. Thanks Uncle Kevin. :)
-The list could go on!!!!

Jason had to leave a few days earlier than me so after I flew back home with the kids, it was a quick couple of weeks before we headed to Oregon to spend Christmas with his family. But in that 2 week span was the Ward Christmas Party. It all turned out great and I am SO glad it is over. I really do have a pretty awesome committee. Thanks to all of you that helped put it together. And YA HOO it's over. :)

I also had to plan and create Jackson's class Christmas party. I totally forgot about it and the teachers reminded me that it was on the 18th, the same day I was leaving for Oregon. So lucky me. . . I got to lose my mind and go have a party right before we headed to the airport. But the kids were darling and it was very fun.

Now for Christmas. We got into Portland on the 18th, to FREEZING cold weather. Driving home through the Columbia Gorge was stress full for everyone, but mostly for Larry (father in law). Chains were required and it was slick! What should have taken us 3 hours ended up taking us 6. Here are some highlights from Boardman:

-watching the boys snow mobile with their daddy and Grandpa Smythe. I even got to go out with Jason on the snow mobile. But he drove. Last time I went my friend Amber and I totaled her dad's snow mobile. :)
-Going to Leavenworth, WA and watching the boys go sledding. They LOVED it. -Christmas morning. That says it all. The magic that is so real for my kids makes all the stress and craziness of Christmas worth it.
-Eating at Taco Time. Crisp bean burrito!!! (Can anyone see that I love Mexican food? Cheap or not).
-visiting with Jason's family.
-an ice machine that CRUNCHES your ice. Oh yeah, that craving is back and it was so good to have so many bite sized pieces of ice.
-This is by far one of the funniest Noah moments ever!! While in Utah he became ADDICTED to Home Alone. Not my number one choice for a 3 year old, but what can you do? (Thanks Aunt Jocey). So, he continued his passion for it while we were in Boardman and our last night there we stayed in a hotel in Portland. He was all fired up about having to take a bath that night and giving us all sorts of heck. After the bath was over and Jackson was out and Noah was still in the tub we all left the bathroom. Noah begins like this.
"When I grow up and get married, IF I get married, me and my family are living alone!! I'm living alone!! I'm living alone!! You hear me? I'm living alone. I'm sick of all these kids running around!" And if you have ever heard little Noah talking, he has the CUTEST little lisp you have ever hear. So re read this and add the lisp. :) I was practically peeing my pants on the hotel bed. It was impressive how similar he sounded to Mccauley. My child has a gift! And while it was very sassy and naughty of him to be yelling like that, we had to laugh.
-pure realization!!

But I do have one thing that is not a highlight for me on that trip. On Christmas morning my mom called and told me that my dad was in the hospital and had a heart attack. It ended up that he needed open heart surgery. (5 bypass). So, I spent many hours consumed in thinking about him and what he must be going through. I was worried about him so I can only imagine how my mom and dad must have been feeling.

He had the bypass surgery yesterday and finally got his breathing tube out today. He is awake, it took him awhile to fully open his eyes and keep them open, but he did. And he his all drugged up. Now he is just going to have to recover and regain much of his strength. Yesterday was emotional for me just imagining my dad there having had such a major surgery. Jason started explaining what they would do and I had to make him stop. It was just too much to take in. Noah made a creation on his plate today with lifesavers of me crying about Grandpa. :) I got a little laugh out of it.

I guess thinking about someone you love so much be so still and bandaged puts a lot of things into perspective for you. Life is so precious. And my life has been so greatly blessed with amazing parents. My dad has been one of my best and truest friends since I can remember. There are many secrets we have shared, promising not to tell mom. I can't begin to imagine what things would be like with out him around. Luckily for us, he will be. I am grateful for the surgeons that took such good care of him. And mostly for the incredible power or prayer and priesthood blessings.

So, I guess I didn't keep it too short, but I tried. Just think of everything I could have written, but didn't. Because trust me, there is TONS! :)

20 comments:

Amberly said...

my dad called and told me about your dad and I couldn't even fathom what had happened. I'm sorry, but glad he's ok and it sounds like your holidays were much like ours... crazy and wonderful! good luck getting back into the groove!

Kimberly said...

I'm glad you had a great Christmas! And crisp meat burrito's are Rhetts favorite, I am in love with the crisp bean burrito's. YUM!

Ok, so when I read about your dad(I'm so happy he is ok)I started crying. It made me think about my parents and dangit here come the waterworks again. It's a very sensitive issue with me I can't imagine my life without them. I hope your dad has a full recovery.

I wish you and your sweet family a Happy New Years!!

Arah Debra said...

Wow, you have been busy! I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. He will be in our prayers. Keep us updated. I'm so glad you had such a great Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now relax for a while and enjoy the new year.

emily said...

I hope your dad has a speedy recovery. I agree, these things have a way of putting things in perspective. Sending your family lots of prayers!

On a lighter note, I had to chuckle when I read your comment about crisp bean burritos. Those are the only thing I ever order from there. And I dip them in a hot sauce/ranch combination. We definitely share a similar palate :-)

McKelle said...

Let's just reminisce a little bit...
"Do you know what time it is?" Just picture your dads face (all scrunched up, one eye closed) and his stance (one arm on the door frame supporting him), and us laughing in his face. You know I love your dad (good old BK). Let him know I'm thinking of him and your mama. I'm happy he's recovering and doing better.

Linda said...

I'm glad you had a fun Holiday season! And I love Mexican food too, it's the best part of living in AZ.

I'm also glad that your dad's bypass and recovery is going well. My father-in-law went through a bypass three years ago, and it was a pretty scary yet comforting time. I hope that he has a quick recovery too.

The Karrens said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. But I am glad to here he is okay. Our prayers are with you. Life really is so precious. We just lost my grandfather on Christmas. We went over to see him Christmas day and he passed away that night.

And I have to say, I love Noah. He seems a little naughty just like my Allie. You gotta love it. You could come on down to Cali and defrost. Just a suggestion:)

Libby said...

jana i am so sorry about your dad! i had no idea. i feel so badly that i called yesterday about the airport and had no idea what you have been going through. i hope everything is going well. we miss you lots...especially noah after hearing that absolutely hilarious story! we will see you soon.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. I'm sure that was (and still is) very scary and overwhelming. I hope his recovery is going well.

Michele said...

So sorry to hear about your dad's heart attack. I am glad he came through OK. You have a great outlook Jana...sending you positive thoughts and hugs.

Lisa said...

'm so sorry to hear about your dad but so glad everything went well. I would have been a wreck! I love your Noah story, that kids has personality galore!

jared & amber said...

I hope your dad is doing well. Aren't you having your baby soon? How are you feeling?

Rachel said...

I am sorry to hear about your dad. Glad everything is okay and he is getting better. that must have been very hard not to be there with your family during all that. I am glad you had a great holiday season in spite of all that. Next year can we see you in UT??? please?

athompson said...

Jana.. Hi, its Amy, (Hillary's sister) I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for your dad. I hope so much he'll be ok,and I'm sorry you're having to go through all this stress(esp while being pregnant). You have such a cute little family. Blogging is such a fun way to keep in touch. Good Luck and Take Care.

Jennifer said...

Thanks to many single uncles my kids are also experts on the HOme alone jargon as well as the JIm Carey version of the "grinch". I think that was their favorite movie of the holiday season. Madison saw the cartoon version of the grinch at school and told me it wasn't even close to as good as the "real" one. YIKES! I glad to hear your dad is doing well, that would have been AWEFUL to deal with. Our prayers are with your family. Thank goodness you updated, I was going through withdrawals! Now just add some pics!

Krissy Lowe said...

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I am so glad that he is going to be ok. I couldn't think of anything more scary. Tell your parents hi for me and that I am thinking of them.

wackywilsons said...

You did a great job of summarizing your life:)

Cute new blog background....can't wait to see more of you!

Richins Family said...

your blogs always make me laugh! i'm glad you guys had such a great time :) i'm sorry about your dad though..hey also can i get that flat iron back from you sometime soon? thanks so much :)

Kari said...

How sad about your dad! Oh I'm so relieved he's ok.

Radene said...

Jana, sorry to hear about your dad, not what you expected to hear on CHristmas morning, i'm sure. Glad he is ok though.

I am jealous you got to go to Oregon! I miss it there. But like you we were in the northwest. We were in tacoma, wa. And Leavenworth, how fun, I have been there with Justin's family.