GRADUATION ~The tassel's worth the hassle! ~

This is to all my loved ones graduating this year... I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, YOU DID IT!

"I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known."

May in a Nutshell... (well, at least half of it)

MAY
"Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark-spattered wheels and a hoarse roar of power or terror."

May started off a little slow and somber, lets just skip the first week and a ½!

We got our back yard in order ie. Weeds pulled, flowers planted, garden planted, lawn mowed and swimming pool opened!

Mother's day was great! The boys were not home in the morning so Gary and I went shopping. We went to Shopko, Costco and Khols. We had so much fun, (he is like having a best girlfriend sometimes!) Jaden made me the cutest bracelet, a magnet and card at school. Jack colored me a picture and gave me a Marigold in a cup. Gary bought me some new Harley attire (preparing me for our big bike trip in July) then we had my Dad and Grandma over for a nice dinner and the Jazz game.

I started my new shift on the 6th, 7 – 3:00 with Sunday/Monday's off. I love it! Jaden and Jack are doing much better with me working 8 hours vs the 12's I was before.
Gary started his new run on the 12th. He is now driving to Wamsutter, Wyoming leaving at 3:45 am and getting home around 2. It is so nice to have him home with us in the evenings. To gain the 6 to 7 hours of sleep he can function on, he tries to be in bed, asleep by 7:30. He hates turning in so early but I love and usually, I get the kids in by 8:30 and I am asleep by 9!

Jack was sick, puking his little guts out for over a week, it started May 15th. After 3 days of no eating/drinking, and a developed fever we were off to the instacare. The Doctor was amazing. She tested him for EVERYTHING. While we were waiting for the numerous test results he received a large bag of fluids to re hydrate him. The results came back normal but because he did not "perk up" with the fluids the decision was made to send us to Primary Children's for observation. Gary and I arrived at the hospital ER around 10:30 and didn't get seen until around 1:00. During our wonderful stay in the waiting room Jack slept in our arms, no puking and no whining. When we finally saw a Doctor we said "they sent us here from the instacare for observation, we have observed him for hours and we want to go home." The Doctor agreed and home we headed! The next morning, while Jack rested, I had to deal with work. They were so great to me, helping me out by covering my shifts for 8 of the days I was scheduled. The puking continues for several days and all they could come up with was "viral infection" (go figure)! By the 22nd he was finally coming around, his appetite was back and in full force!
We decided that because I was off for the rest of the weekend (Memorial) we would head to the desert and get some fresh air!
We left Friday and returned Monday. We spent our time with Jaden & Jack, our good friends, Greg and Jen, their 2 kids and both their friends. We had a blast 4 wheelin', playin' games, trap shooting, cooking and just visiting.
Tuesday was a bit rough… both Gary and I were getting back into the routine of work which meant early dinners, early showers, and early bed times! The boys on the other hand, they did just great!
During the last few days of May and the first few in June we will be wrapping up baseball, attending "both" our boys graduations (Jaden ~ Kindergarten and Kyle ~ High school) and preparing for summer. Well I guess that brings us up to date, I am going to give it my BEST effort to get in the hang of this… I PROMISE!

P.S. I will add pictures in a little bit!

Love,

Jadie & Co

I love you Candace!

It will be the little things that you will remember, the quiet moments,the smiles, the laughter. And although it may seem hard right now, it will be the memories of these little things that help to push away the pain and bring the smiles back again.

For those of you who have been following my blog and wondering,
Candace's husband Cory passed away today; he fought an amazing fight to the end!

Be free and fly with the angels Cory!

This is for Candace...

Today while I was supposed to be working... I came across this poem. I knew when I began reading it I knew exactly what I was to do, so here it is:

You're never alone, I'm always near,
When your troubled, down or blue.
All you have to do is call me, I'm always here for you.
It doesn't matter where I'm at, It doesn't matter when.
When you need someone to talk to, I'm here to be your friend.
If you need someone to hold your hand, or a hug to say I care.
If you need a shoulder to cry on, for you I will be there.
So never think you are a burden, when the weight gets to be to much.
You might find if you look hard enough,a good friend could be the right touch.
You're never alone, I'm always here, through the good times and the bad.
I'm always here to be your friend, I don't like to see you sad.

This post is for 1 of my many Best Friends Candace, she is an amazing person. Candace is currently taking care of the love of her life, her husband Cory who is battling Cancer for the 2 nd time. I have known Candace for more than 20 years, what a blast it has been being her friend! Each day I talk to her or see her I think 'who would have thought... 20 years ago all we cared about was who was going to finish lunch and get out to the swings first.' Candace every day I am more and more impressed with the person you are. Your strength and courage is such an inspiration to me, I am so proud to be a part of your life. Cory is so lucky to have such a loving, caring wife.

"When it hurts to look back and your scared to look ahead you can look beside you and your best friend will be there."

I love you girl!
Jadie

Hope is passion for what is possible.

Candace, Cory and Hayes Alldredge
(We don't believe in miracles, we rely on them!)

PLEASE JOIN US FOR ONE OR BOTH OF TWO BENEFIT LUNCHES TO BE HELD ON APRIL 25th & 26th AT MAIN STREET STUDIO ON 1802 SO MAIN STREET SALT LAKE CITY. Times are 11:00am to 2:00pm both days. We are asking for a donation of $8.00 for lunch and there will be raffle drawings and of course great food. PLEASE JOIN US IN HELPING THIS FAMILY! You can call 484-4247 with any questions you have. We HOPE to see you there!

P.S. If you can not make it to the lunch and you would like to donate you can do so at:

Wells Fargo, there is a charity account called the Cory B Alldredge fund. You can make deposits mail them to 317 w election rd, draper UT 84020.

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."

We did it...

We were married in a quiet ceremony on Friday April 11th. Besides us, there were our kids and my parent's. Candace (1 of my best friends) was there to take pictures and be a part of our day! Thanks Candy for coming! After the ceremony we went outside to take some pictures but because it was so cold we kinda rushed right thru it, then we went to PF Chang for lunch. Lunch was fun; it was good food and great company! My little Jack was a bit emotional when he realized he couldn't get a hot dog. Jaden was such a big brother; he showed Jack that lunch didn't have to be boring because we each had our own setting of chopsticks. With the "adults" being busy talking and laughing we didn't notice Jack stick 1 of the chopsticks in his ear until he started screaming! It scared me so bad but he stopped crying and went to sleep the rest of lunch (Phew!)

Gary and I decided because we have a 2-week vacation planned in July, we would just go to Park City for the night. As we were leaving lunch (starting our 4 day weekend off together) Gary looked at me with the cutest smile and said "well, since we are all the way down town, do you care if we stop and pick up my transmission. I laughed so hard thinking ~ not many people could top this (what was the 1st thing you did as husband and wife) ~ Anyway, we got to Park City, changed and went to Main Street. We had so much fun walking around in and out of the little shops; of course we stopped into Harley and bought sweatshirts!

Then we went to a local pub and had a few drinks. Later when we got back to the hotel I sprung my little surprise on him… I brought a wedding cake; it was small, sweet and something traditional. So we ate cake and watched the Miss USA pageant…how romantic! Saturday morning we were up, checked out, had breakfast and on our way home by 8:00 am. Call us crazy but we are total "early birds" but it gave us time to get the Harley out and enjoy a ride before Jaden and Jacks baseball games.

My lil' Chicago Cub, GO CUBS! My little A Rod, GO YANKEES

Saturday night we had a BBQ with some friends and Sunday we went to the Bees game. (Jack didn't go he was having Daddy time) It was so beautiful and sunny outside. I should have gotten "Mom of the Year" award cuz I forgot sunblock, can ya tell...?

Jaden and Mom Jaden and Dad

Jaden, Big bro Kyle, and Dad

Monday we started off our "real" new life together (Honeymoon was now over!) We did yard work, cleaned out the garage and brought the camp trailer home from storage!
Later that night we cooked a yummy summer dinner then decided to end the great weekend with an evening walk around the neighborhood. Jack wanted to ride his tricycle, so we let him! It was so cute, he pedaled his little legs off the whole way. We went down to the library, (Gary checks out books on tape for when he's drivin') and back; But the cutest thing was my baby boy in his Thomas the Train jammies, flip flops and jacket, parking his tricycle where the "big boy" bikes go!

Poor little guy was so worn out; when we got home he went right to sleep!

Well, I think that pretty much sums up our first week as a "family" I will get some pictures of the wedding posted soon. Love ya all, Jadie and Co.

Time flies...

Well here we are, on the down hill side to getting HITCHED! I must admit I haven't been as excited, as I should because I am feeling over whelmed. Gary and I have been on opposite shifts for the past couple of weeks; in fact, we don't have a day off together until Friday (the BIG day)

With all the craziness of combining 2 houses and 2 families into 1 it has made me loose focus on the day that is going to mean the most in our lives as Husband and Wife. To make it easy, I really want simple, simple, simple. I tried to tell my family I was going to wear dress pants and a jacket or capri's, I didn't want to hear what I SHOULD wear and SHOULD do. I didn't have the time or the desire to look for something to wear. I didn't think about colors, flowers, cake etc. BUT, my cute "husband to be" wanted to make sure it is sweet along with simple. He told me to STOP packing, forget about the moving part and focus on this 1 day. He sent me all over, here there and everywhere getting things to make our day a little"sweeter."

So Wednesday, I got a babysitter (thanks Aunt Sheila) and my Mom and I went shopping. We had so much fun trying on dresses and shoes together. Anyway, I found a dress (that's right me JADIE, is wearing a dress). It's black and white and darling; I also picked out Gary's outfit to match. To sum up Wednesday, I got so much done and FINALLY I was getting excited.

Thursday I had so many things to do: get outfits for the kids, pick up Gary's ring, call my cute Candace and have her change the (brown and green) announcements to black, white and hot pink, pick out a small flower arrangement etc. So, I made my list!

I got a babysitter AGAIN (thanks Mom) and waited for Megan to get out of school. (I wanted Bree to go too but she had work) Megan and I were on a mission, we knew it was going to be hard to find "hot" pink for my boys to wear but we were optimistic that we would find it! We started out with our normal stop at Starbucks, then off to the mall. Megan spotted the shirts for Jaden and Jack quick and they are so cute. We found them some pants to match the shoes I bought them the day before and suddenly...things were coming together. After the mall we went to pick out a small bouquet for me to hold and a boutonniere for Gary. I laughed so hard with Megan but especially when we went to pick out flowers. Suddenly this turned into "Megan's wedding" :)

We looked at some books and then they girl brought us some flowers to look at. Megan fell in love with the hot pink Gerber, ok... I did too! But, once she seen that flower, we saw no more!

Finally, we were done. No it was home to get ready for 3 days of 12-hour shifts at the prison.

Who would have thought this:

Would feel like this:

Hope all is well with everyone. Lot's of love Jadie and co.