My dear friend, I will miss you!

My dear friend Janeece, passed away on Wednesday, the 25th of August. She would have been turning 28 in October. Janeece was seriously the strongest person I have ever met. This was her second time with a rare cancer (after beating it in high school) they found it again when she was pregnant with her second child. It has been almost four years of doing so many different chemo's, radiation and experimental treatments. She was such a fighter! She never would complain, but always would listen to you complain. She was such a great friend to so many! I remember when we first met. We worked together at Lowe's in Orem and she was engaged and I had just got married.  We would talk to each other about our husband and fiancee and realized that they were so much alike. We decided to go on a double date to Red Robin and from there we all became really good friends. I have had a hard time realizing that she is gone because I just hoped that she would beat this cancer (it was hard to not be positive about it because she was so positive). I learned so much from her and she was a great example to me.

The other day Savannah asked me to see the "Cinderella Janeece". A couple of years ago Janeece started dressing up as Cinderella and going to parties for little girls. She really made the girls feel special and feel like they were truly a princess. Savannah just loved every time she came over in her Cinderella costume. I tried to explain that Janeece is now in Heaven but she understood it as well as any three year old would. She said something about maybe tomorrow then. We have been praying for Janeece for so long now that in Savannah's prayers she still asks for Janeece to get better. I still pray for her family because I have absolutely no idea how they must feel.

I was talking with her and she asked me if I was going to do a Halloween party (she loves to dress up) I told her I probably wasn't because the baby is due on October 9th. A few days later I thought she would really like to come to a Halloween party so I told her that I would do one for her. She isn't going to make it in person to the party but I know she will still be there in spirit and I plan on having a party in her honor because I know how much she loved getting dressed up for Halloween.

Janeece, you were such an amazing girl!  I seriously looked up to you so much! When I have my bad days as a mom I always say to myself, Come on Amy if Janeece can do it with cancer you can do it! I feel so blessed to have know you and to be your friend. I will always think of you and your family. Your kids are awesome and I know they will grow up to be such great examples like you were to everyone around you. I love you and thank you for everything you ever did for me and my family. I know we will meet again (well if I make it to Heaven - maybe you could sneak me in). You will be truly missed by so many!

P.S. I hope you got to meet Breckin before he comes down to our family!

JANEECE'S OBITUARY

http://aurora-22371.tributes.com/show/Janeece-Bean-89226959

$100 for $25!!!

I love when everyone lets me know about deals on photo books, so I thought I would return the favor. If you go to www.groupon.com and select Dayton as the city you can by a $100 gift card for $25 for picaboo. It doesn't expire until next year but I think there is only about four hours left to purchase, so hurry!

PaYsOn PoOl

Today we went to the Payson pool. Savannah had been so excited to go so she had a blast! They have a lazy river, kids area and slides. Before we went Savannah said she wanted to go on the slides and then we got there and she decided it was not a good idea. Good thing because she wasn't tall enough. It was really windy when we got there so she had to keep taking breaks out of the pool wrapped in her towel then after a few minutes of doing that she kept wanting back in. She loves the water, but she did take a few minutes out of her time to lay out with me and eat an apple and of course we had to get a slushie too.

In the lazy river about to get a bucket of water dropped on them.

And there it is.

Taking a rest.

She wanted to go down the kiddie slide but needed Dad's help.

My pregnant self and Savannah getting some sun.

Dinosaur Museum

I made a list of things that I wanted to do as a family this summer and realized that it is almost over and we have not done any of them! One of the things I had was to take Savannah to the dinosaur museum. So since they were having the two buck Tuesday's I decided we would fight the crowds to save some money and to at least get one thing checked off my list.
Savannah had a blast! Before we went I asked her what her favorite dinosaur was and she told me a tiger.  I told her that was not a dinosaur and asked her again and she told me her favorite dinosaur was an elephant. I figured this girl could really use some educating on dinosaurs so it was a good thing we were going to the museum.  She got really into it, she went around pretending to be able to read all the plaque things that described each exhibit. I thought it was so cute.  She enjoyed playing in the sand at the end of the tour and discovering dinosaur bones. Well the other kids were discovering bones while she went behind them and covered them back up with sand. I just love her, she always does her own thing.  I think it is more to bug people than really doing her own thing but whatever.

Savannah making an impression.

 Shhh....we let her touch one.

Didn't get her looking.

I think she was scared to turn around!

Three little chickens

They went to the grocery store and got these paper chicken hats and walked around making chicken noises. I always love free entertainment!

Pirate Island

While Grandma and Grandpa were in town we took the kids to Pirate Island for lunch and to play some games. Savannah loves to play air hockey and she is actually pretty good. I was amazed at her air hockey talent. While we were eating pizza the guy that makes animal balloons came around to our table. Savannah had him make a puppy for her. But I think Gavin had the coolest one, it was a dragon with fire coming out of his mouth.

Savannah making her puppy ruff.

This picture turned out blurry so it doesn't do the dragon justice.

And anyone who knows Makayla knows that she wanted a puppy.

Cowgirl Lacie

Savannah, Jeremy and Nick racing the cars.

Ava maneuvering her and Savannah through town on a motorcycle.

Savannah playing air hockey.

I guess our family really likes this game. This is where I found everyone.

She means business.

First dance class

Savannah went to her first dance class today.  She was so excited as you can tell by her silly smile in the picture above. She did so good minus a few moments like when she should have been dancing but she followed her teacher around trying to show her an ouchie on her finger. I didn't get any photos of her dancing but I did get some video. Her class was so cute doing their own little thing most of the time but I was actually surprised at how well they all did. It is a 45 minute class and they do ballet for half and tap for the other half. Savannah loved watching herself in the mirrors. I was very proud of her and I think she did great. When we left she said "I want to see my two friends" I asked her did you make friends in your class and she said "yes,  want to see my two friends". I think she means the girls that stood on each side of her. I am so excited to watch her grow and learn more but right now I love watching her have a blast.

(This is her little dance outfit that "Dinana" got for her birthday)

 

Camping...well sort of

This past weekend we went camping with Jeremy's brother Matt and his family. We went up Payson Canyon and took the camper trailer. Savannah fits right at home in the outdoors. I think she might have stayed clean for five minutes total during the weekend and that was only because she wanted to be able to go to the lake (yes I bribe my daughter). We had a lot of fun sitting around the campfire visiting and going to the lake, that is  until a huge storm rolled in. Fortunately, Julie and I brought back the little kids and as we got back to the camp site it just started pouring. Jeremy and the boys had stayed at the lake so they got just a little wet. And we also had some nice, quiet cows that camped out right next to us, they decided to leave the morning we were packing up (how convenient).  I love being able to go outdoors and spend time with my family (especially since I still have a bathroom).  Savannah had a blast playing with her cousins and getting dirty and Jeremy and I had a good time hanging out with everyone.

Savannah and her cousin, Mackenzie

Savannah wearing my sun glasses since I forgot hers.

Savannah and Jeremy going kayaking.

Matt and Mackenzie

Caleb and Cameron

Owen chewing on some beef jerky.