Hawaiian Fever :)

This is Kenny and Melissa Hardy. Kenny is the sophomore coach and Melissa was my saving grace this trip! She shared EVERYTHING with me!!! We had a blast together. They are so much fun!
This is the famous (in my book) Jeff and Alisa Collinsworth. They have adopted us and save my bacon all of the time. They are 2 of the most amazing people I know. This trip they spent a lot of time helping Melissa and I babysit our girls! We tried to keep them away from the boys as much as possible, so we went to the Collinsworth's AMAZING pool almost every day.

Well, we had a GREAT trip. We did a lot of just vegging by the beach or the pool. The girls and guys were pretty good, typical teenagers! They were actually really fun to be around for the most part. We had a couple of pretty memorable experiences, and I definitely want to go back. Especially after coming home to so much snow! I missed the kids, which was good!!! It is so much different to worry about someone else's kids! What a great experience. I feel so blessed to have been able to go.

I didn't get my luggage until Saturday night, so that was funny! I used EVERYTHING from Melissa, Kaylee and the girls, so that was nice! Then, I had one pair of underwear that I left on the bed one day after changing into my suit. Well,low and behold the cleaning ladies came and changed the sheets... and you guessed it!!! All I could say was bye, bye undies! The whole thing ended up being so comical! I really had too much fun to care!

Our 2 "STAR" players Kyle and Brandon. Brandon signed with BYU and Kyle is only a junior but being very heavily recruited by just about every major University.
We even made sure to have basketball on our minds while we were on the beach! We HAD to make sure we had the plays down in the sand!
One of my other favorite guys, Scottie. So much fun to chill with. It is fun to hear how 18 year old boys see life. Scott gave me good insight! I got to have some good conversations with some of the more mature guys. They are actually quite fun! Scott was always good for a great conversation mixed with a little comedy to make everyone smile! So great to be around.
Reality check... this is where we live! I think that Dorothy was wrong. Hawaii is as good as home to me!!!
This one is for Trey. We found this place and decided to take a Kung Fu picture for the obsessed boy! He asked me if I would put it in a frame for him!
We ate a lot! They guys (and girls) couldn't seem to get enough to eat! So, you know we HAD to eat with them! Between how much I ate and not packing my kids around, they wanted to charge me an extra $15 to get myself onto the plane!!! j/k
The funny basketball guys. They did win the tourney!!! They averaged winning by 30 points!
Oh so cute!!!
The new daughter Jim and I decided to adopt! One of the greatest girls EVER, Taylor.

Wanna know how many guys hit on us? NONE, I wonder why?
Everything was so pretty. We spent a lot of time on the beach which was soooo relaxing. It NEVER rained on us the entire time and it was only windy part of one afternoon. We saw whales and I snorkeled with a turtle almost the same size as I am! What can I say? Hawaii LOVES me!!!
The INSANE bunch of BOY CRAZY, NIGHT-SNEAKIN', BEGGING TO GO SKINNY DIPPIN', BASKETBALL-BOY KISSIN', 2 HOURS GETTIN' READY TO GO BEACH-GOIN', SOMETIMES MORE SPICE THAN SUGAR, FULL OF JUSTIFICATION, GIRLS WE LOVE!!! FUN FUN FUN! All minus Melissa and I, of course! I can say I am not sure what will happen when Lainey is this age!!! I'm already SCARED!

This is all lava rock from the volcano. I covers the everything you can see from the top of the mountain to the ocean.
I'm telling you these girls are trouble! They sure kept us busy, but we had a blast with them.
Kaylee Collinsworth and ME!
The guys (varsity players and coaches) bbq'd one night for me! HA HA Well, I can look at it that way cause I was the only girl! How lucky. Then because the kids knew that all of the adults were there, they ALL snuck to the beach with no chaperones! Turkeys! This is Coach Drury who posed this way for the picture! He tried to roast himself at the beach earlier that day!!!I think it's great to take self portraits for some reason. Aren't we so funny?

And so it begins!!!

Porter is obsessed with the bulldog this year. When I was trying to take his picture all he would do was give me his best imitation! Here you go minus the growling!

Well, it begins. The kids not going to bed on time, sometimes 6 hours a day at the gym, driving all over Utah Valley mostly, occasionally to Tooele! Lots of late-nighters and fast food! A mom who needs more patience, kids who know which buttons to push. Mom can me and my friends have a dollar for a treat? 30 "big brothers" for my kids. Lainey who hates them because they tease her like big brothers. Don't worry, they tease me too! Lots of friends, cheering for great plays and SLAM-DUNKS, hugging sweaty boys, talking-a lot! Kids throwing things they shouldn't on to the court, begging other people for treats cause mom's are never as good! Oh shoot, there goes Porter onto the court during the middle of the game! Making new friends. Mom can I have a dollar for a treat? Porter yelling "DADDY, DADDY, I NEESHOU (need you)" at the top of his lungs while Jim is coaching. He won't stop until Jim ackoledges him, yes during the game. How much money do you have mom? Mom can I have a dollar for a treat? Grayson smiling thinking it is all so funny, clapping when ever he hears other people doing it. This is the stuff my kids live for!

CLASSIC FAMILY MEMORIES!!!

Grayson is ALWAYS this happy! Thank goodness the Collinsworths help me so much during the games. I wouldn't make it otherwise!

The cutest litte cheerleader in her new cheer outfit. I finally gave in this year and ordered her one. She had one years ago and has never stopped begging for a new one once she outgrew it. She is so cute. Most of the time you will find her cheering right next to the PHS cheerleaders!
Oh, yes um he must be calling a full timeout because boys don't cheer right? Trey want's to be just like Lainey. He loves pink and frilly! Now when they play pretend, his name has changed from "Sparkles" to "Lipstick"! I have given up on trying to change it. Lainey says "ok, that can be your name, but I will call you Dad"! He's ok with that, so more power to her!!! What a sweet guy Trey is.

P.S- as a side-note The Bulldogs are 4-0! They have played mostly 5A teams and have done very well. They are ranked #1 in the state for 4A, so we'll see what happens. One of their victories was against Lone Peak, the reigning 5A champs! GO BULLDOGS, we LOVE these
guys!!!

P.P.S.- Only 3 days to Hawaii with this group of CRAZIES! I am so excited!!!

What a day!!!

So my little sister, Kandyse came and spent last night because she had an interview at a school for Dental Hygiene here in Provo. She came last night so that she would be sure to be on time and not have traffic or such issues to hold her up. She also wanted me to take her because she is not familiar with our turf. Well, leave it to me to ruin her plans!!!

We leave my house with all of the boys and plenty of time to spare. We get half way to where we need to be... when my car starts chugging. What the heck? Oh crap, the gas light came on yesterday. Are we really out of gas? NO NO NO. We get about 2 more blocks coasting before there is no more juice. I called Jim and was almost in tears because I know how stressed my poor sister is, and what a STUPID thing to do, run out of gas!! (I haven't done that since high school) Kandyse was a super good sport, but to make things better we hear from the back seat... "We have da fastest cah in histawy"!!! My sister and I look at each other and start laughing so hard. I look back at Trey to find he is totally serious and probably has no idea what just happened. I explain to him I let the car run out of gas and dad has to come get us. When Jim gets there to rescue us we are getting all of the kids in his car and Trey says, just as serious as the first time "Guess we don't have da fastest cah in histwy. You might wanna fink about getting a new one, mom"! All I can do is laugh and kiss him. I was so glad that he lightened the mood and helped me to not be grumpy about the situation. What a kid!

To make things better the dental hygiene school accepted Kandyse on her first interview! CONGRATULATIONS KANDY!!! Guess they didn't hold those 5 minutes against her!

The best pictures EVER!

Okay, I just got to see our latest family pictures and I am soooo excited!!! They turned out a lot better than I thought that they would considering how much mayhem was going on with all of us crazies! I wanted to let you all see them if you want. They will only be on the web through Friday, so if you want-look fast!!! Here is how to get there

http://www.photographybykam.com/index2.php

click on portrait preview on the right-hand side. (it is small)

the password is mcevoy all lowercase. Hope you enjoy, I sure did!

Thanks Kam, for your amazing work. You rock!

BITE ME!!!

Edward, much hotter than I thought he would be! I was rather impressed. I never thought he would work for me, but he did!
I didn't think Jacob was so hot in the movie, but check out this hottie! (for a 16 year old kid, of course!)
Charlie was one of my favorite movie characters! He was great.
The Cullens were a bit of a let-down for me. They didn't quite live up to the "BEAUTIFUL" part. I think Dr. Cullen looks like Noah Wiley with blond hair.

Bella is exactly like I pictured her. She was good. The one character I liked better in the movie than the book. She was too whiny, needy, clingy, bratty in the book. The movie just a little bit awkward and backwards. Much more likable character in the movie to me.

Yes, I am a Twilight junkie. I have already seen the movie three times! Lots of friends who want to go! I had a blast all three times. So much cheering and screaming. There were also the men who never should have come because all they did was complain the entire time! My advise, read the book before you go if you haven't. The movie makes a lot more sense. We waited in line 2 hours before the Sat. morning showing! I got a sweet t-shirt from my cousin, Kacee! I love it. Girls dates are so much fun! Thanks to all of my fun friends for great times!

Good guy, great friend, NEW MEMBER!

Paul and Sarah. Paul was baptized by his OPA. His maternal Grandfather who is very religious and so thrilled that Paul was baptized before he couldn't witness the event.
The Bertoch CLAN! Scott, Alyssa, Paul, Shantel, Sarah, Kaitlyn, and Kayden. The whole family is finally members!
My 2 handsome little men! They ARE friends, sometimes!!!
This room was so full. This picture was taken before a lot of people were there. I bet there were close to 100 people. AMAZING!

Before we left on a little trip last weekend, we got to see a pretty cool thing. Paul, the triplet's dad was baptized! We were all pretty excited. This is something that we have all been praying would happen for a long time. When I first met Paul 12 years ago, Paul did not even believe in a God. Paul was raised in an anti-mormon environment, so it has taken him a long time to be able to believe the teachings of the gospel. Sarah has been so loving and not pushy at all. She waited for Paul to take all of the steps himself. He asked for the missionaries to come about a year and a half ago. This summer he started to read the scriptures with his family every night. He chose to go to church and do the right things ALL ON HIS OWN! Such a cool thing.

The kids are all over 12, so this was a pretty big deal to them. They understand everything. Scott, the oldest, gave a talk on baptism at the actual event. It was the sweetest thing ever. He bore his testimony at the end and told his dad how much he looked up to him. He was crying and the spirit was so strong. Most everyone was crying. It was very sweet. The room was jam-packed with everyone from neighbors to non-member family to friends from Hyrum and also their new ward. We think this is so amazing. We love this family and are so glad they live close to us so we get to see them so much!

It has been so long since I have had time to post! Life is crazy as ever. Jim is in full swing Basketball, Go BULLDOGS. Our first game is on Wednesday. The game is against Orem at Utah Valley University! Nuts! By the way, I am extatic to be able to tell you, I am going to HAWAII with the team in December! I have never been on a trip with the team before, and Coach Drury might have a coronary letting us go, but we are sooo excited. One of the other coaches wives and I are going and spending the majority of the time on a "GIRLS' TRIP" We can't wait!!

We are still house hunting. I am a spoiled girl who is having a hard time deciding what I want. Surprise! Between houses, dance, doctor appts, therapy for 2 kids, nightly exercise with 2 boys (who hate it!), and trying to maintain the house mostly as a single parent, I seem to keep quite busy.

Jim and I were able to take the kids last weekend and go on a little trip. We stayed in a hotel, let the kids swim, shopped, saw Jim's brother Eric and his family, took fam. pics and had a lot of laughs. It was SO much FUN! The kids played marathon movies in the car, so Jim and I got to talk a lot. It was so nice.

To cook, or not to cook?

So I decided to be good and make home-made chicken noodle soup with home-made noodles. I started when the kids were asleep and at school, but they were soon my big helpers! All except Trey. He has texture issues and wouldn't touch the dough. As he sat and watched us he asked" what ah you guys doin'"? I told him just making noodles. His reply "well why ah ya doin' dat, cause ya not weally a cook." I said, "oh really? Well if I'm not the cook then who is, Dad"? He stood there for a minute and said "no not you, not Dad, not Wainey oah

Poh-tah ...Guess I'm da own-wy cook awound heah"! I laughed because he is just so matter of fact all of the time. The way he says things you know he thinks that there is no way he is wrong! Such a funny guy. We had Jim's sister and brother-in-law in town, and also took dinner to some friends.

Fast forward 2 nights. I was making cookies at about 9pm. I started throwing the ingredients into the Bosh. Jim was correcting school papers but just happened to come to the kitchen. He saw what I was doing and said "you're making cookies, right"? I said yes "he sat pondering for a minute and said "well you know that is pancake batter right"? "Are you kidding"? I chimed back "because that is what I used to make egg noodles the other night". I dumped the ingredients out and started over. I guess Trey was right. I'm really not the cook! Sorry everyone who we fed! Needless to say no one complained, and even I ate and didn't think anything was wrong! I did however permanently mark the flour container!!!

Just a friendly reminder!

This is for all of you readers (yes, including Blog Stockers and our medical family) who haven't given Grayson a birthday memory! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE write something down for us in a comment section! Like I said before, I don't remember a lot about the last year, so will you please help a (brain-dead) sister out? We love you so much for doing this for us! TIFF & GRAYSON

NEW DAFOs and SHOES

Well about once a year the time comes for sweet little Trey to get new DAFOs (Dah-foh), aka leg braces. Along with the DAFOs come new shoes because the braces are always a couple of sizes bigger than the last ones. The leg braces are made with casts of Treys legs, with which they make a mold to make the brace. One for each leg. The whole process takes at least 3 weeks and that is if there aren't any problems with insurance. The braces increase stabilization of Trey's leg and help to keep proper alignment. The difference is amazing with and without DAFOs. Trey thinks they are pretty cool. This time he chose a strap with flames and the rest black! He said that was so he could" be as fast as lightning"! To find shoes that will actually fit the braces is a joke. This time we spent 3 hours at the mall trying on shoes. We bought the first pair that fit! We are glad this is a once a year thing because these puppies run about $1,700!!!

One of my favorite stories about Trey is as follows. We were at the store one day and Trey insisted on walking. I got him out and got his sticks. He was walking allover and getting pretty tired after walking after maybe 10 minutes. I asked him if he wanted to get in the cart with the other boys to which he replied "I am NOT getting in da stinking caht. I am a big boy and I can walk just, wike, you." I was trying to be patient so I said ok. I saw a lady watching us from the corner of my eye. People "watch" Trey like crazy anywhere we go. After she followed us for a minute she looked at me and said "why can't he walk"? (a common question) to which I reply "his legs don't work quite right, so he gets 4 legs"! most people drop it at that. Trey piped right up and was talking loudly (okay, yelling) "I can too walk, see"? he said as he took the 5 steps it took to get in front of her. She replied "well, yes he CAN walk, but what's wrong with him"? I was frustrated because Trey was catching on and I didn't want him to feel bad. By then Trey was right in front of her and again said "I can too walk" as he picked up one of his sticks and hit her right in the shin!!! I had to keep from busting up. If I would have had my choice I might have done the same thing! I quickly apologized and told Trey that wasn't ok after we all but ran away. He said "well, it dwives me cwazy when she says dat. I AM a big boy now". I told him he was a big boy and we didn't need to worry about that lady because she didn't know how big he was. Then to my delight we were right next to a big display of candy. I told Trey to pick anything he wanted. Bubblegum was all it took to end the story!
Nike shocks were the lucky winner of "FAT SHOES". The ONLY pair we could find wide enough to work.
What a strapping young lad! Trey is hilarious and always has me laughing and smiling. I love you Trey! You are one special BIG BOY!!!

It's the most_______ time of the year!!!

Where in the world is FALL? Oh, yeah in ALABAMA! We sure hope you are enjoying the eighties because here is is all out WINTER> ugh. Grandpa and Grandma in Russia, we feel your pain!!!
Well, Porter wanted to touch the snow when he saw it this morning, so out we went. He was so cute. He was scared to touch it at first, and then wouldn't come inside even when he was FREEZING COLD. I sure love the time Porter and I get to spend when the other kids are @ school. "pease don't go inside. I need see snow s'more"!

Porter thought throwing snow at me was so funny! (it actually was)

It took forever,but he did decide to taste the snow.

The pine trees are even covered!! By the time I made him come in I don't think there was a spot in the front yard he hadn't stepped on! He kept telling me "mom come ovah heah, see? it's snow" and "I yub da snow. So boo-ful" He sure is a funny little guy!

One year old?!!?

So SMALL and FRAGILE. Eyes FUSED shut. As SMALL as my hand. HIS hand as big as the TIP of my finger. WEIGHING as much as 6 STICKS of BUTTER. Lungs too PREMATURE to work. Born with an INFECTION. So fragile he could only be touched with GLOVED HANDS. Diapers SMALLER than most cell phones. Many bouts with SEPSIS, HUNDREDS of IV's, almost 6 MONTHS of his life in the HOSPITAL. 1 PERFORATED bowel, 1 illiostomy. 2 IV burns, one HUGE scar on his foot. FUNGAL BALL in the heart? We'll never really know! 3 surgeries, 3 BIG scars on his CHEST and ABDOMEN. 1 major CARDIAC ARREST.

ONE HUGE MIRACLE

Where in the world did the last year go? I can't believe that Grayson is ONE! I have to admit that sadly, I don't remember a lot of details of the last year. Between sleep deprivation and stress I think blocking things out was one of my coping mechanisms. Grayson, by medical standards shouldn't be alive. He is such a MIRACLE! As I sat and held him in the middle of the night last night I just cried. I looked through some of his NICU pictures and didn't realize how raw those wounds still are. Look at the little BOOGER now! 18lb. 8oz. 28 inches long and finally on the "normal chart"! He is still very behind developmentally, so we will keep working with him! We love you GRAYSON. We have the happiest baby ever! What would we do without you?We are going to ask you to PLEASE leave a memory of Grayson's first year (good or bad, we want them all) in the comments. I want him to be able to hear from other people how things were! THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU!!!

Thanks to all of the medical personnel who treated Grayson (and me) so well. We wouldn't be doing so well without you guys! (in no particular order) Heather, Erika, Tammy, Margaret, Keri, Vicki, Dayna, Wendee, Darrin, Joel, Aletha, Mel, Katie, Jen X3, Lacy, Jayda, Suely, Jessica, Jonna, Carly, Becky Lisa X3, Lyn, Reggie, Don, Ron, Steve, Ryan, Fino, McKade, Janalynn, Dr. Gerday, Dr. Minton, Dr. Ogden, Dr, Stoddard, Susan, Jenny, Allison, I will continue to add to the list! Sorry if your name isn't here yet! I have few brain cells and need some reminding!