First Day of School: August 21, 2012

Today is the girls first day of school! McKenna is a JUNIOR in high school!!!!!

 And Courtney is in 6th grade!!!!

 It was weird when Kenna drove herself to school this morning! Here is a cute picture of Courtney with her friends Camilla and Abby! So cute!!!!

Here's to structure... a schedule... and learning! Good luck girls!

Dad's Funeral: Saturday, August 18, 2012

After returning from our trip to Grandma and Grandpa's cabin in Wyoming, we received a call on Monday night asking if we could come over and have Dan give Dad a blessing. That he was in a ton of pain... and that he really needed to stop fighting so hard. 

The blessing was powerful... and in it Dan told him to him it was okay to "let go". After giving him the blessing the feeling in the room changed. It was tangible. We all sat on the bed and didn't want to leave.  We all got to have a moment with him, and he told each of us different things. He told McKenna that the next step was to tie her own fly and catch a fish with it. He told her she could have his fly-tying supplies... and she immediately ran down and had Dan help her tie one. He told Courtney that he wished so much he could come watch her in her next meet... and that she needed to win her next race for him. She promised she would. He kissed me and told me how much he loves me. It was spiritual and such a tender moment for all of us. We are eternally grateful we have those memories.

The next day while running errands preparing for our first camping trip in 2 years... Dan called and told  me that the hospice nurse was at his moms and that she said Dad only had about 24-48 hours left. Obviously, we cancelled our camping trip on the spot and decided we would go see him that night again. Within a couple hours we got a call saying he only had a couple of hours left. We headed over as soon as Dan walked in the door... and got "the call" while on our way. He had passed.

The next few days were a blur. Wednesday, Dan spent the day with his mom and brother making the funeral arrangements. The girls and I stayed at her house and took calls, talked to neighbors, and were there for the medical supply people when they came to pick up his bed and supplies.

Friday night was the viewing. I took this picture of the flowers that Dan's company had made, using the picture of the fly-fishing trip. I didn't take any other pictures, but it was a night of severe ups and downs. One minute we were crying, the next we were laughing at a story or memory of Dad.  

 Saturday morning, the funeral was held at their stake center. The girls posing by the table we set up in the hall with some things that reminded us of Fred.

 The "double cousins"... Austin, McKenna, Logan, and Courtney...

 The funeral was really beautiful... and then we headed to the cemetery in Salt Lake. Dan's uncle got his  "biker group" to escort the hearse. They also took care of flags at all of the locations...

 The pallbearers carrying Dad... I didn't know he was a veteran... but it was really neat to have the military participate in his funeral....

 Folding the flag....

 Presenting it to Dan's mom...

 Dan putting his flower on the casket...

 Dan's completely adorable Grandma Brown... Grandma's just don't get any cuter than her!

 Some of the grand kids...

We sure miss him... and it is going to be really hard not having him around... but we are so glad he isn't hurting anymore. We love you Papa Fred!

Fly Fishing With Grandpa

On Friday, August 10, 2012 Dan, McKenna, and Papa Fred headed for the river to do some fly fishing. Like I mentioned previously, this was one of Dad's final wishes... to see McKenna catch her first fish on a fly rod. In this picture you can see McKenna in the foreground and Fred in the background. It was her first fish... and his last. We didn't know that at the time...

 Kenna wearing the hat grandma gave her...

 And this is our favorite picture. He just didn't have the energy to stand... but he could lie down on the grass and fish from the bank. In this shot, he told Dan as he raised his arm in the air...
                                                      "Fish On"....

What a wonderful memory Kenna will have of her grandpa... we love and miss you!

Grandma and Grandpa's Cabin

On Thursday, August 9th we headed to Wyoming to spend a couple of days with grandma and grandpa Pola at their at their cabin. Now just less than 2 weeks later, we can look back at this decision as one of the best we have made in a very long time. Fred (Dan's step-"dad") has been fighting pancreatic cancer for about a year and a half. We knew he didn't have a lot of time left... but we had no idea that he would pass away the following Tuesday, August 14th.

McKenna and Courtney... notice the new hair extensions Kenna got the day before!

 I think it actually makes her look more her age... she looked beautiful with shorter hair... but I think she looks 16 again! I wasn't sure she would go through with getting them... she had talked about it for awhile... but she did it just in time for school!

 We roasted brats and then made smores... what a great evening we had together!

 A view of the cabin. It doesn't look as big from the outside as it is on the inside. There is a kitchen, dining room, family room, bathroom, 2 bedrooms, and 2 loft areas with beds... and Dad built it all by himself!!!!!! (Travis helped frame it, but he did everything else!)

 Courtney, Dan, and Fred...

 On Friday morning, Dan and Kenna took Dad to go fishing. I need to put some of those pictures on here too. He wanted so badly to see McKenna catch her first fish on a fly rod... and that dream came true. He caught 3 while laying on the bank of the river... Dan caught 2... and Kenna caught 1. They had so much fun. When they returned we had some root beer floats and then he took a nap before we headed for home. This was such an amazing time with them and I will be forever grateful that we MADE time for this getaway. I will post some pictures and details about the funeral later.

We love and miss you Dad.

Jenny Phillip photo shoot: August 7th

This morning McKenna got to participate in another Jenny Phillips Photo shoot and video footage. She looked beautiful... and once again it was a spiritual experience for everyone involved. 

After shooting at the temple we headed over to American Heritage school to do some footage there. McKenna had to play the "bad girl"... and looked totally goth! It was not easy for her to do this, but she played the part as well as she could so Jenny could get across the point she was trying to make. She didn't even want me to put the picture on here... it was hard to see her like that! Thank goodness she is my beautiful, pure, virtuous McKenna!

Frenzy Swim Banquet

Tonight after our hike we attended Courtney's first USA swim team awards banquet. We weren't sure what to expect... or we would have invited grandparents... but we met at the Lehi outdoor pool. First we had a picnic dinner and then they handed out a few awards. We certainly didn't expect Courtney to get an award...but she did! Here she is with some of the kids on White team....

 She received the award for the most improved... and they talked about how she had only been swimming about 7 weeks and had already moved from one team to the next higher team!

 We then got to go swimming with all of the other kids and families on the USA team. Dan participated in a relay... he gained a whole new respect for what Courtney can do in the pool!

It was so fun and we really look forward to the many years ahead and for what Courtney will accomplish! Nice work little fish!

Stewart Falls Hike: August 6th

This afternoon Brent and Karen called to see if the girls and I would like to go on a hike with them. Of course we said YES! We got our water bottles filled and hiking shoes on and headed for Sundance to meet them at Stewart Falls. We hiked here once as a family... but came from the other direction so we didn't know quite what to expect. My little brother Brent, McKenna, Courtney, Tyler, and Matthew. (Alex must be way ahead of us!)

 The falls... beautiful... and on a hot day the kids loved getting their feet wet!

 On the hike back we stumbled upon this moose. So glad she was willing to ignore us... wow she was huge!

 A look back at the falls...

 After 3 1/2 miles Courtney was ready to be done! She told me several times while hiking that she was a "fish on land"... and HATES hiking. Next time leave her at the pool!

We had a great time with Brent, Karen, and the boys... and were especially excited to spend some time with Alex before he leaves next week on his mission.

Relay For Life

On July 27th and 28th our family participated in an event that I am certain has become a part of our life. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life. It was held at Lehi High School. They started with a "survivor lap"... and our team had both Taylor Davis and Dan's mom Denice Pola.

 There were lots of fun activities... including a VERY talented face painter...

 It started at around 6 pm and went all night until about 10 am. We walked in pairs... and this is what you got to look at as you walked for an hour at a time during the night. Luminaries for those we have lost, those who are fighting, and those who have survived.

 Grandpa Pola... He is currently losing his courageous fight against pancreatic cancer. It is painful to watch someone you love facing such a horrible disease. He has been a part of our life for over 15 years. He is a wonderful grandpa to our girls.

 This is Dan's grandpa Deon Brown. (Dan's mothers dad) He is one of the greatest men I have ever known. We lost him when Kenna was 6 months old. I wish my girls could have grown up with him.

 My own grandfather Grant Bitter. We lost him when I was about 5 months pregnant with Courtney. We miss him terribly! He was the only grandfather I ever had/knew on my side of the family. (My Dad lost both of his parents when he was young) He was such a good man...

 Taylor Davis... our courageous 17 year old friend and neighbor. It was great to celebrate his life and his valiant "win"! Watching what he went through was so difficult... and this event brought back so many memories. But it was wonderful to have someone on our team that had survived!

 Our team... The Pola, Floyd, King, Ure, Olive, and Davis group.... "Team Grandpa's"...

 Dan's family... Angie, Dan, Denice, Aimee, and Travis...

Everyone should be a part of this! Who hasn't been touched by cancer?! Our slip-n-slide fundraiser helped us raise more than $500 for our team! Thanks to everyone who helped support that! (And the Laffy Taffy at Walmart!)