Many Blessings in Our Family! New Baby, A Wedding, Sister's Night Out

Wow! It has been a big month for our family! My brother Jeff and his wife Rhiannon just welcomed Zari into their lives! She is so cute. Dar has to send the pics to me from his blackberry. We had a big family bar-b-que at their new home in the Avenues, Jeff can really cook. We brought a Pie from Marie Calendar's, Yum, can life get any better?

My Sister Laura and Paul got married yesterday on Catalina Island. I am so happy for her! I knew he was it from the minute I met him. We had a girl's night before she left a Bucca Di Beppo with our other sisters. Laur wore a tiara-veil I made her and Kel arrived in her new Lexis red hard top convertible with the license plate fast-pas. That is so Kel she loves Disney like me. I brought party favors. It was national sister day so I made them books and found Wicked flip flops for us all. Kel bought us tickets for April in Salt Lake. It will be fun to see it again.

Girls Night Out

We will now be having a monthly girl's night out and I didn't even have to bring it up. Kel is hosting first.

Our Vinyl Fence is finished! It only took us a dozen years in our home. Wow, I cannot believe it.

We sold the trooper, that is how I got sick today. At nine the guy showed up and I climbed in it one more time. The dust hit my lungs and it has been a rough day. I will be more careful. KSL.COM is AWESOME!

Fair Time, oh ya, bring it on Davis Scrappers!

Jade and I entered our scrapbooks and jewelry in the fair again. We did not enter our sewing projects, because I am sick today and Dar had to carry everything so I thought I would give the guy a break. I entered a pop-up Disney scrapbook. Jade came home so excited that they liked it so much (the ladies that take the entries) she thought I was nuts at first and hid the pop up photo album I planned to convert, oh brother. She said in shock, "Mom, they thought it was sooo cute, it really is Mom, I am glad you didn't listen to me." Jade's Scrapbook is titled "My Wonderful Childhood" I was glad she still thinks that, it isn't very easy having a sick Mom. The bracelet she entered was remade by the bead shop and is on display at Treasure Beads. It is pretty cute. Dar was sooo nice to take everything and put up with the mess I made in my new studio and go without home made dinners all week while we finished up! Thanks, Honey!

My Day Tripper Post didn't work, Dang ! Quick Update

Quick Update, really! Ok I have to redo the Daytripper post but we have been to Park City, Bear Lake, Eagle Mountain City, Provo-Sundance, Antelope Island, Tracy Aviary, Utah's Ghost Towns. Tons of fun, gas was worth it! Jade went to Day Camp and loved it. We leave with my parents for the Grand Canyon next Wednesday!

Jade's First Fish!

Jade Colleen Marchant whose ancestors were mighty fisherman in the streams and rivers surrounding peoa finally caught her first fish no where near there as we were hiking and testing the waters at Mirror Lake, in "The Uinta's" our favorite summer outdoor place to be! Her mom of course was finally exhausted, collapsed in the car and was no where near the scene for the only time since Jade learned to hold the rod and that is the time mother nature picked to knight Jade with her first fish! Dad was on hand to see the spectacle, capture the moment and capture the glory on film! No Fair! The first thing she shouted though was "Mom" and I heard her so all was not lost. The fish had been released, contrary to my specific instructions to keep it long enough for me to see it so I did what I always do in these situations I started to tear up. I quickly realized though, I was ruining the moment, so I wiped my eyes and congratulated the little sprite! Way to go Jade! It's about time!!! In other, less important news yet it also made us very happy, Jude hiked the 2.5 miles around Mirror Lake earlier that day in good time. Dar and Jade plan to award Jude with the "Mom made it around Mirror Lake Medal or MMAMLM!

We had a great fourth the days before with old fashioned games of badmitten a puzzle a flag cake a trip to get snow cones hot dogs grilled for lunch and a traditional movie during the hottest part of the day! We went to see Hancock, Jade and I love Will Smith and it was a pretty cute show over all albeit a little strange. We then had italian for dinner at Fizoli's "I ask, what is more American" and took Boo to the fireworks. It was great to see Jade happily playing with Boo instead of missing her cousins or watching other siblings and wishing she had some.

In still other news The Marchant Girls now have a studio! I went on to my friend Megan's site to see what was up and I noticed under her "currently stalking" that she had a link for crafty storage. This blog was all I needed to get motivated to finally transform our spare room into a studio. It was pretty difficult because I was determined to do it that day and everyone who could help was gone. Dar could not believe the amounts of stuff I bagged and tagged for storage and donation. In design remix they use mainly what they can grab from other places. I did this and was able to build a full wall of storage with one new Ikea cute "wall thing" one white shelf, two telephone tables with a shelf each a white wicker chest of drawers , a four drawer wicker and wood smallish storage chest my sister gave us one year and ten open square storage cubes I picked up Monday at the dollar store. On the other side is my nice desk that the shelf unit holds three fabric lined wicker baskets I took from my bedroom and on the closet door announces the name "J and J Studio" in colorful wall words I also found at the dollar store. We placed colored pencils, markers, and all our scissors in classy matching office supply metal mesh cups on top of the shelf and bought a two dollar big white J which sits above the shelf. Then on Thursday when we were in Salt Lake I picked up a five dollar funky pink desk lamp at IKEA (love that place!) for the desk. We then began to gather "our stuff" from the areas in our home we used to work and organized everything we had just sitting in boxes so bonus, the rest of the house is basically free of most clutter. There is still more to do but I am very excited about this, between the hike and being able to tackel this room signals we will be able to do what we set our minds to as a family, I am ready to ride Wicked at Lagoon, Bring it on! pics of studio up soon!

Tagged- Thanks Heid.

Before I begin I will echo my friend Megan's sentiments when I say sometimes we are not permitted to know why. Today I was at Barnes & Noble picking up a book I had ordered and trying to be patient because my little family was home on our sectional, cuddled up together watching t.v. our trip to the Uinta's postponed til tomorrow, when, I got terrible news. A young Mom in our ward has been diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer. My heart aches for her and the battle she has ahead. I know what some of her thoughts are, I've been there. My lung fibrosis is rare and aggressive. I lost 70% of my lung capacity in just a few months. I am currently taking a powerful chemotherapy six pills a day to stave it off. But it's working, I have lung transplant to fall back on and I know that my prayer's and that of my family, friends and even Doctor's have a lot to do with it. So, please pray for her, she has three little kids, a young husband and a lot to do still.

Ten Years Ago- 1998
Jade was six months old. She said WoW as her first word, she was doing stuff 18 month olds were doing. We had these cards of animals. We would line them up three at a time and she would point out the cow the bird, she loved mary poppins and said mommy when she saw Lara Croft on the computer. She could do puzzles. Heid and I took our kids to the park in strollers together. I discovered scrapbooking, Dar still worked for AT&T. I still drove my mx6, I was planning a trip to Canada the next month, one of our homes away from home.

Five Years Ago- One of the sweetest times of my life. Jade was five. About to start kindergarten. We went to Lagoon every Wednesday we could with our passes. I worked part time at David's Bridal. We went to Mesa Verde on Vacation, we had a great time.

Five Months Ago- We were about to go to Disneyworld. I was still in grief that had finally come over the change my lungs had brought to our lives. Dar and Jade went Skiing and Snowboarding without me, a very tough time. Disneyworld was great for the most part. I turned 39. Things were about to get much better. I came home and prayed I could go without o2 like I had in Florida. My prayer was answered. Miracles do happen.

Five Bad Habits- I need to think before I talk. I resist change. I can be impulsive. I procrastinate. I am sometimes too optimistic.

Five Places I have lived -

Salt Lake East Bench
Denver, Colorado
Phoeniz, Arizona
Central California
Salt Lake West Side

Five things People don't know about Me-

I was nominated five different times for homecoming queen
I am considering getting my master's degree
Last July I was very near death, I live on chemotherapy, miracles do happen
I really, really love my family too much, did I jinx myself?
I can sew, I just made a handbag while my daughter sewed a dress.

OH MY!

What a whirlwind of a first week out of school. Ya, and I managed to be sick with some kind of virus that knocked me flat (in between keeping all of our plans) no wonder I could not move this weekend, my body was done! Here is a quick list of what we did and a real post with pics will follow.

Saturday- My sister in-law's Baby shower she got 12 baby swimsuits, one from us, they are doing a calendar. Rhiannon will not tell what they are going to name her, darn!

Monday- Jade's first day off, went to explore Bountiful, went beading( we made necklaces!), bought stuff to teach our selves to knit. Does anybody know? We don't get it. Made Dar's favorite sourcream enchilada's got in a fight with a DI employee over princess parking. Well not really a fight but this girl was something else, she does not understand cute moms that look perfectly healthy (me) really do need princess parking! Watched the Bachelor on VH1 with Jade, we laughed and laughed!

Tuesday- Jade's first piano recital! She did awesome! Mand, I can't wait til you teach Jade a new song! I woke up to Jade in my face with the cell phone playing the snake dance. I felt awful, I still made a cake for Jade's recital. I made musical notes with kit kat pieces and chocolate kisses! Dar's parents came by, my Parent's and Sister and her fiance came to the recital, thanks guys! Jade chose Golden Corrall (sp?) for dinner. They had to make my plate, I was done.

Wednesday- Jade and I zenning at the mall. I had really been looking forward to this, we went to the summer clearance at the bath store. They had yummy stuff for two bucks. I sat on the floor while Jade looked at earrings at clairs. We had a blast.

Thursday- Just shoot me, I feel horrible. Jade and I watched our favorite show for hours, Jon and Kate plus eight. I do not remember much else except Jade on the phone with her friends trying to make plans for the next day to see Kung Fu Panda, how am I going to do this I thought?

Friday- Kung Fu Panda started. I bought tickets on Fandango and picked up three kids and a little sister. I seriously thought I was going to faint at the movie, I cried before we had to leave. What was I thinking? The movie could have waited. I managed to somewhat enjoy it. I talked Sawyer through putting gas in my car and when we got home I collapsed on the couch and Jade ran around getting me a blanket a drink and meds.

Saturday- Jade had her first paying babysitting job for her aunt jenn my sister who lives in Bountiful so we had a date in Bountiful (we did not realize she would be engaged for seven hours) we went a great nursery, J&L, Dar took me to paradise cafe for this great mexican tomato soup, we found our outdoor furniture at target! Yay! we had been looking everywhere. Wrapped up the day at Barnes & Noble. Jade was exhausted and so proud. Poor girl, she was very concerned with safety and her two baby boy cousins ran her ragged and spoiled her with kisses. My sis gave her twenty dollars and asked for her every saturday, thanks Jenn Jenn for giving her that opportunity I feel blessed that you are so close.

Sunday- I did not move. LOL which really bites because I really really really wanted to go to church and managed to guilt trip Jade into going even though she was tired too. That girl's conscience would not let her stay home, I was soooo happy, she will be alright I think as she gets older. Dar cleaned our bedroom up a little and said he was not speaking to me, LOL was it the shoes I bought or the mess on the floor on my side of the bed, Dar you are sooo great, thanks honey. He came down and chided Jade and I for watching more Jon and Kate in our jams and not moving. It did not phase me, I had a big week. He said he was worried I was so weak. I knew I had just had enough.

Today- Dar took Jade on a Daddy Daughter Date to Lagoon since Uintas are still closed. They are still not home. Jade had this thing about me having a spa day she even called me five minutes after she left to remind me Aveda grassroots spa was just across the street. Daughter's are great, huh. I kept my appointment with Massage Envy at one. It was nice but I could not wait to get to Ikea where I planned Jade's bedroom makeover and walked out empty handed, a first for me! Must have been the massage bill. I stopped quickly at Nordstrom Rack on thirteenth and then took fifteenth to my school. I love going to the U. So many memories and it inspires me to reach my goals. Megan I swear I did not read your blog til I got home. Can you believe we both love college campuses. I went to the bookstore and bought a u of u pen for dar for his birthday and some notebooks with the u insignia and remembered picking up my cap and gown there. I am so glad I graduated. I went to the u library and sat and wrote a letter to Dar in his notebook then wrote some goals in mine and being there alone I felt twenty two again! I remembered studying with Dar the year we were at the u together. Okay now I want to go back to the college days just for a day. Wow, my family just got home, and today I finally feel like a human again. Well that was our week, I think it is going to be a great summer!