Catching UP

I have spent the last week at the Ball park.. We had a week full of high school games. Then on the only day we didn't have a high school game. We had a practice t-ball game. It has been crazy. We held our annual swing for life pink game and raised over $1000 for breast cancer. Which I thought was pretty good for a couple hours of work. After last year and the experience that I had with the swing for life, and I can tell that she knew it was something that I felt passionate about. She made the cutest little baby quilt and donated it. She is the best. She still is one of my biggest fans and supporters in my old age. We then hosted a tournament with 25 teams. It was crazy but fun. We had girls from Fillmore to Ogden in Payson and the town was cray with school buses. But this week I have thought about my dad a lot. At the swing for life game a man that knew my dad from the day he moved to Payson came up and asked how he was doing. I told him that he had passed on. It made me cry. The guy said that it was a great loss to the world to lose such a great man like that. I know that, but I sure miss him. But the best part of the week was we needed help. We had three different booths to run girls to play games, and scores to be kept. Many people stepped up and helped out. But we needed snack shack help and I new just who to call. I sent out a text and with in 15 minutes my mother was there and her and Deb had it whipped into shape and business was taken care of. Jake was even the best salesman that the we had at the tshirt and hoodie shop. I thought a lot about family this weekend and the support that the girls had this weekend from their family. There is nothing better then family. Even though when we all went through out teen age years and they were so not cool. They are the best aren't they. No matter what you do wrong or right they will be there to carry you. I love my family and could not ask for more. But once again like I said at dads funeral and all the time. Make sure you take time to stop and thank them for all that they do.. You just never know when you won't have them to thank anymore... :-)

Beckation

So we ventured out for spring break, along with the entire state of Utah and California and headed to San Diego. But I was determined we were going to go and have fun with or without him. But he came.. We left early and made a pit stop to see M&M world and had a 3 hour walk from the MGM to the Mirage to see the white tigers. Only to find out that they didn't have white tigers anymore and the lions were at the MGM. But things turned up and then we hit California and a little traffic.. NEED I SAY MORE.
But upon arriving at the Condo and a great hook up. It was beautiful. Not many people, a baby pool, hot tub, and regular size pool, ping pong table and fire place. It was perfect. We then had a hook up at the Zoo and Wild Animal Park. Which in the long run was my favorite place. If you have never gone to the Wild animal park it is a must.
The entire trip Jake Porter and Dreyton battled over slug bugs. I didn't play because I knew I would win and wanted to give Jake a chance to beat the boys. They are slug bug finding magnets. There were 2 of these and Porter got both of the whale slug bugs.
We ventured out to the beach for a couple of days. Jake loved burring the boys. Keller just ran around and threw dirt in every ones hair, and face. He was a stinker at the beach. But such a trooper with a massive wipe out and huge goose egg black eye was his best souvenir.
LEGOLAND was horrible. There were so many people that the strollers cause traffic jams. Waiting in lines for 45 minutes for rides, and no fast passes this day. Probably won't ever go again. So if anybody wants to take porter let me know.. But we survived and loved it.. We had a great time and came home with a tan..

Life as I know it..

Yesterday I was driving home from getting the boys haircut, and I said "Porter do you know what starts Monday?" He said "No What!" I said "Softball" His reply was "Now we can't play tennis everyday anymore and it is going to be hard, but we get to go on our trip to stay at the Hotemple." The trip to St George he loves but he is a coaches kid and has learned I guess. Lets just hope that the weather warms up so they can play at the ball field in warm and not freeze.. I love softball but this year it is going to be tough. Lots going on with the kids, and working. I hope I can pull it off. I am ready for warm weather that is for sure. So now life as we know it is now changing and it revolves around softball. I always think that life will slow down. But it never does. It just seems to get busier and busier and busier.

Has it really been a year (sappy post a head)

I have reflected these last couple of days of the events of a year ago.

I have been an emotional wreck, and have thought to myself many times did this really happen? That was a very emotional spiritual time for my sibling , grandmother, mother and I. I am so thankful we were all there to share in my fathers last moments on earth.

I have also thought a lot about my mother and grandmother at this time. What must it feel like. To lose your spouse of 30 some odd years. To lose a child. If I ever lost a child I do not know what I would do. Those last few days of loved ones family and friends coming into to say there good byes, He knew. He knew what was coming and as each of these dear family and friends gathered around him and held his hand. They recalled special times with him and he held to them tightly. I remember the night of moms birthday I was leaving to go feed the baby, and remember him not wanting to let go of my hand. So I stayed, I stayed and held my dads hands. What I would give to have his tire stained black hands hugging me, or watching me play ball. He worked with his hands and worked so hard. I miss him so. But I am glad he is able to move and be healthy.
Our family has had a roller coaster of a year dealing with the new life we have. We have gone from mom taking care of almost his every need to free time that we don't know what to do with. I don't think we all realized what a task John was. But we wouldn't change it for a minute. The opportunity that we have to say we helped in taking care of our dad. that the tables were turned and we were able to give a little bit back after all that he had given to us in life. Porter is the one who really still is interested and likes to talk about Johns death. He is always asking me questions about it, and what he looked like. He makes little comments all the time. He almost daily tells me that he misses John. He also told me the other day that after wrestling I said that was really nice of your grandpa J.Dee to watch you wrestle. He then told me that his grandpa John watches him wrestle from heaven. I think that is so true. I also think that if my dad is watching over all these little grand kids. I think that they will be all right. Sorry about the long sappy post but wanted to let out some anger, sadness, happiness and all these millions of emotions that come with dealing with death. I do love and miss my dad so much.

My First Christmas

This will be my first Christmas with out my dad. I will admit the Holidays this year have been hard and a little on the disappointing depressing side. I have thought a lot about what the holidays were like with my dad. His twinkling blue eyes and smile. He smiled and grinned on Christmas each year , and I think it was because he was so happy and proud of my mom. She always does and has amazing Christmas gifts. Christmas eves consisted on laying on the couch and watching Christmas Vacation and eating soup. He used to tease us when we didn't get along during the season that he was going to shoot one of the reindeers. One year he even went as far as sitting a gun out in the kitchen. We stopped fighting right then. BUt I do miss him. I recieved a gift from a friend about him spending Christmas with Jesus. But to be honest I am a little jeolous of him. Getting to see my dad in his healthy ways. Laughing and teasing and smiling. But I guess that is how life goes. But I do miss him and am thankful for the family and legacy that he left and instilled in me.

But enough of the sob story the happy stuff. This christmas season like the rest of you has been busy filled with family parties and eating. Porter has seen Santa 3 times this year and each time asked for a skateboard. I think Santa will be able to handle it. Keller could care less about Santa but that is fine also. With Christmas comes the annual McBride family party. This year my cousin Brooke decided to have a dodgeball party. It was a blast. Yes we dominated. We are the biggest family. We had Jeremy's boys who are as competitive as they come so that helped. Jeremy showed up in a pair of daisey dukes and headbands, Jarret displayed the classic MULLET. He walked on the floor and Jeremy yelled where is Jarret, and he was like I am here. Jeremy said. Oh I thought you were Billy Ray Cyrus for a minute. But we had a blast. My cousin brooke and her family dressed up. Her husband charlie who is here in the front. Modeled a great pair of Spandex and tube socks. It was a classic. We had a blast we were all a little sore the next couple of days. My cousin dustin hit a few of us and left marks to show it.
Last but not least. With the passing of dad jami has stepped up and take his place as the buyer of gifts that you would never buy for your kids. She bought keller a PINK STROLLER and baby. He has not stopped bushing it around since she gave it to him. He loves it. I do not. But I told her PAY BACKS..
But in the end I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

P.S. Make sure you take time to tell the ones you love how you fell. Because some day they won't be here to tell, and it is something you do not want to regret.

Fall fun

Like I have stated many times all ready. This year started out pretty rough. Going through the hardest thing I have ever had to face. The year has not and just seems to not be getting better. So I have wished 2010 would start PDQ. But as I really think about it. I have wished this year away and not really taken anytime to cherish or enjoy it. Over conference weekend we made a quick long trip to bear world. We spent a ton of time in the car, but just enjoyed spending time together. This was a little stick your head through it fun thing. So today we took the Halloween pictures. It was one of the only days Jami doesn't have a million things planned. So we headed out.

I loved this one of keller he sure loves to force every one arms go out and leg up.
But this is my favorite he was forcing and as he was falling over I snapped a picture. The good news is jami was there. So there will be good pictures. I take my camera, same one she has. Mine look blurry and terrible, and hers look good. But here is our fall fun..

Thinking lately

Just been thinking a lot about my dad and how much he loved the fall. It brought hunting , and one ugly pheasant hunting hat. He loved to watch the boys play football, and Jami and I play volleyball. He loved his pine nuts, and of course this is where my love of NFL football came. I loved to watch with him. We would sit in the basement with the fire going and flip from game to game. It was always so much fun when our teams played each other. Jarret always claimed he had so many favorites so that at least one of his teams won each week.
The past few weekends I have been able to spend time with each of my siblings and their kids. I couldn't help but think how much my dad would have loved each one of them. How he would have treated each one with their unique personalities. One thing i have been OK about is having kids and getting birthday presents we never faced the wrath of John and gifts. His siblings and their kids got the best of that. I am sure we would all have many animals and drums and the most annoying toys you could imagine.
The family has really had some ups and downs. We have rallied together for each other. But we know that one key ingredient is missing. But like the seasons there is always change. Whether it is for better or for worse change happens and we deal with it.