I was in charge of hannah's school party, so I did the theme "The Grinch meets the polar express" I made up a poem based on the orginal Grinch Poem, the kids sat in a "Train" of chairs and listened to my brother in laws voice on Cd has he read it. Then another group played "Pin the heart on the grinch" the other group of rotation tied blankets and collected hats for the less fortunate & cancer patients. I had a picture of the little poor boy on The Polar Express in this group. We had a hot chocloate bar, frosted cookies, and played pass the bucket around to the "polar express " Soundtrack and when it stopped you got to keep a present. All in all, I think the kids had fun!

Here is the poem if anyone wants to use it:


The Grinch Meets the Polar Express
Every Who Down in Whoville Liked helping The Polar Express a lot…
But the Grinch, Who lived just north of Whoville, Did NOT!
The Grinch hated Beleiving in helping others for the whole Christmas season!
Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all,
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.
Whatever the reason, His heart or his shoes,
He stood there on Christmas Eve, hating the Whos,
Staring down from his cave with a sour, Grinchy frown,
At the warm lighted Train below, coming into town.
For he knew every Who down in Whoville below,
Was busy now, waiting for the train whistle to blow.
“And they’re Helping others!” he snarled with a sneer,
“Tomorrow is Christmas! It’s practically here!”
Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming,
“I MUST find some way to stop The Polar Express from coming!”
For Tomorrow, he knew, all the Who children that believe in helping others,
would bring smiles to all they helped , from Parents, to Sisters & Brothers!
And then! O’ The noise of the train steaming around
going in circles round and round.
That’s one thing he hated! The NOISE!
NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!
Then the Whos would get their hot chocolate ready to drink.
And they’d ring their bells close to hear them tink!
And the more the Grinch thought of this whole helping out,
He wanted to pull his hair out and Shout!
“Why, for Many years I’ve put up with it now!”
“I MUST stop this Helping Train from coming! But HOW?”
Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!
“I know just what to do!” The Grinch laughed in his throat.
And he made a quick conductor hat and a coat.
And he chuckled, and clucked, “What a great Grinchy trick!”
“Now, I just need a ticket punch that can entered town.
Whos were all waiting, he thought with a frown.
He hopped onto to the train as the breaks hissed,
And he opened the doors with his hole punch in his fist.

“ALL ABOARD” he said for a moment or two.
Then he stuck his tongue out as the children came through.
He saw the children holding giving blankets & hats in a row.
“These Blankets & hats,” he grinned, “are the first things to go!”
Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most unpleasant,
He sat the children on the train as they handed him their giving presents!
He grabbed the hats that were to help others feel happy
And as he took the warm blankets, He thought “O This is so sappy!”
And he stuffed them in bags in the back of the caboose,
“And NOW, I will hide them back at my home” He said with a boost!
And the Grinch grabbed the bags, and he started to shove,
When he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove.
He turned around fast, and he saw a small Who!
A Little Who Boy, that was older than two.
The Grinch had been caught by this tiny Who Child,
So he preteneded to be the conductor and smiled.
The boy stared at the Grinch and said, “O conductor, why,”
“Why are you taking our Helping Bags? WHY?”
But, you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick,
He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick!
“Why, my sweet little tot,” the fake conductor lied,
“I found some blankets that weren’t done being tied.”
“So I’m taking the bags to the back of the train my dear.”
“I’ll fix the blankets down there. Then I’ll bring it back here.”
And his fib fooled the child. Then he patted his head,
He got him a drink & told him to sit in the seat that was red.
And when the boy went to the seat holding his cup,
The Grinch grabbed the bag and lifted it up!
Then the last thing he took was all the hot chocolate!
Then he jumped off the train as fast as a rocket.
He ran Up the side of Mt. Crumpit,
He carried the load to the tiptop to dump it!
“PoohWooh to the Whos!” he was grinchishly humming.
“They’re finding out now that no helping others is coming!”
“They’re just Figuring it out, their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
Then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry BooHoo!”
“That’s a noise,” grinned the Grinch, “That I simply MUST hear!”
So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow.
But the sound wasn’t sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn’t be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Were ringing their believing bells! Without any presents at all!
He HADN’T stopped Beleiving in helping others from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?”
“It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!”
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
And what happened then? Well…in Whoville they say,
That the Grinch’s small heart Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute his heart didn’t feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light,
And he brought back the Helping blankets and hats!
He said he was sorry & started to help real fast
So now you see, we have a lot to do
So let’s start believing in helping other whos
For Some go without and some are freezing cold
And others just need loving hands to just hold
So here is a bell to ring when the time is just right
To remember all those you can give a helping hand in tonight
...

For thanksgiving, we went down to St. George to stay with Trent's Dad. We went a little bit earlier than the rest of the family. It was good to talk to bill, and have family down there. It's amazing how much family can help the mourning process and bring strength and warmth. I love ALL of his brothers and sisters & their spouses. I know at times I have been shy or flat off the deep end... but deep down I am SO grateful that I married into the Coe's. I will spare all the details, but needless to say it was still comforting to feel Martha's love and memory all around. I know without a doubt she is watching over us and my testimony of the gospel has expanded with it. I decided to play with my kids like Martha did, and all I can say is that woman had a lot of patience~! I tried keeping the kids busy with little pictures to color and making cookies & a try at pie. My lovely sister in law took these pictures at Thanksgiving dinner. Thank you!

For Christmas Party at the Coes, we met at Kim's house and exchanged kid gifts. Then the siblings handed out little handouts they made if they had any. (I love the simplicity of it) This year we went to temple square to hand out notes that said something along the lines of " Just to let you know someone is thinking of you today" We got the service idea out of the book that has become a help to us, and something that martha read before she passed, "The Message" Austin gave some out, including to a skater kid standing by himself. I think this one touched me the most. While we walked away he just stood there looking at the note. Then Austin gave one to a bunch of teenage girls who thought it was the cutest thing ever. Then he gave one to an old man with a funny hat, and he chuckled as did his wife. Hannah gave one to a "grandma" . I loved the idea and hope to continue the tradition.

Halloween

Halloween this year came fast. I think my life stopped off october 14th and I just have gone through the motions. I feel like October 15th hasn't come yet, because that was when coe's where coming home and then we were going to have a family halloween party and so on.... But plans changed and getting used to that is hard. HAlloween came and went, and that night I broke down. I kept thinking "Just be excited for Halloween.. it's coming soon" and then it came and went. I was ready for it to be over. I am clinging to christmas music this year *which is funny because normally I want it AFTER thanksgiving." My kids dressed up as Jessie from Toy Story, Tangled, and MArio. We had a Halloween party but I think I am burned out with throwing my own friend parties. Next year though Lyndee & mom , Cindy said I can bring whoever I want to her Pump House. We will do that instead I am hannah's room mom so we had rotations of " Cake WAlk" with the Monster Mash music, make a skeleton out of q tips, pin the teeth on dracula, pumpkin bowling, Trick Or Treat Game, candy corn toss, owl making cookies, and then we finished it off with donuts and rootbeer. They got "Witches Wands" that were pencils to take home. It was fun, If we are going to have a party... It better be one were we go all the way!! That night I took the kids and my nephew Mason Trick or Treating. Gina and her family were all sick!! Bummer.

I guess I better write all this down before I forget. That and I don't like coming on my blog and seeing the pictures on there. My mother in law was the nicest person I have ever met. Not a soul disliked her. Everyone from all walks of life loved and cherished Martha. She was a second mother to me and the best mother in law a girl could ask for. I call my mom many times a day, and Martha was no exception. I called her at least once a day while she was off her mission and as much as I could when she was on. I loved chatting with her, she had a peaceful way of just listening. I loved that she would ask for my advice on occasions. She worried constantly about her grandchildren and children and wanted what was best for them. On Friday October 14th I had called her to see if she wanted to come over. Bill and Martha had just finished their mission and were helping my sister in law paint her new house. She just moved in the next neighborhood from me. I would call Martha and ask her "When are you going home?" "Are you excited?" and she would say " I am SO excited" "It may be sooner, but for sure I am coming home October 15th. That is the last day." so on Friday October 14th I asked her at 10:30 in the morning "Hey why don't you and the kids *gina's kids* come over so you don't feel like you are in the way of painting?" She said that she wanted to and they were getting a late start as is. The night before she stopped for a second to drop off Austin who went with her to Kim(other sister in laws) house. She came in for about two minutes and I tried to get her to stay longer but she had to put kids to bed. I remember hannah bringing her in and showing her the new bunk beds, and Faith was so excited "NANA!!" .... Trent and Igave her a hug and she asked if she could see us for FHE on monday. We were going to be gone so I asked if we could on sunday instead. If I had known that was my last hug, I would've held on tighter and longer. Fast forward to 12:30 Friday. Trent said he wanted to take me out.. my friend Lyndee watched Faith and I told him to call his mom first. He said he doubted she was coming because there was a lot to be done. I ended up calling her and she said a lot was having to be done, so I told her I would see her sunday. She was about to go lay the baby down for a nap. I turn my phone down so I never hear it.. I get too many calls from other places that don't stop calling so I have learned to live with it off. After we ate I got out my phone and noticed I missed calls and texts from Gina. It said that mom was unconscious. I called Gina, and she told me that martha had passed out and they thought it was paint fumes, but soon realized that it was more serious. She had a brain aneurysm rupture. We ran and got on the motorcycle and I kept thinking "How could this be? I just talked to her an hour or two ago!" I was trying to pray on the way in my head that all would be ok, but the words wouldn't come. I prayed that she would last until all her kids could see her. I called my brother once I got to the hospital, he is an intern at a hospital in Indiana. I told him what I knew and he told me in return that "I hate to be the barrer of bad news, but it sounds bleak Jamie." He was on his way to the E.R for his little girl who was having a difficult time breathing. About an hour later the nurse came out and told us all "It looked bleak." To make a long story short Martha passed away on October 15th at 3:00 a.m My eyes burned from the wind on the bike and crying so hard. I was amazed at the love people showed me, many who I least expected. I know now what to do when someone I love has someone die, it is SO helpful to have dinners brought in, it is so wonderful to have flowers at the service from someone thinking of you, it is thoughtful for people to show up at the viewing and the funeral, and to think of you after the fact.. for that is when the hard time will hit. That sunday I got up to bare my testimony, that I have had special feelings of acceptance of this. The holidays will be hard. Many wonderful experiences of being with family that week planning the funeral, helping dress her, making the video,is a tender mercy that the Lord has for us that first week. The funeral was wonderful, and now we live in her memory. Here are some journal entry's I filled out... but mostly I find this something that I like to keep to myself, the feelings, the experiences.. they are things that are not easy to explain.

I feel like I am in a dream and when reality hits, I want to wake up. I see pictures of her, I can't wait for thanksgiving to be with her, and I want to call her... and then I remember she isn't here. My world just will never be the same. In her death, I hope to learn how to live, by living by her example. At the funeral austin said to me "Mom , why are you crying? She is watching over us. YOU KNOW THAT. It isn't sad. We will see her again" We were putting the granchildren's colored pictures in the casket. I told him, " I know , but it's still sad." What a spiritual giant, He was listening and he was a comfort to me.

Oct 31:
I hate going about my day, and then sitting and getting the thought that she is gone. If I dwell on it, i feel like I've been punched in the gut and I won't see her in this life again, is overwhelming. I know spiritually she is where she needs to be, the viel is thin and I KNOW without a DOUBT she is good. However, the natural man of me is wanting her back, I miss her phone calls, everything, Tonight on Halloween... reality is hitting once more. i want to curl up in a ball and just weep.
Nov 9th- Faith asked me "Is Nana awake?"

Most times I feel her near, and can imagine what she is thinking.. or her smiling.. listening to her talk. I know without a doubt she is watching over us more now than ever. They were reading a book called "The Message" before she passed, it's what got them talking about "if they die" and I am normally weary of near death experiences from people, but I read this, and many things I believe strongly were in this book. I felt comfort and believe it to be true. Until I see you again Martha, I miss and love you more than I would say you would ever know... however, I am sure you know it.

This post doesn't do justice of how she was, always smiling, cheerful, ready to help... she helped me wash my hair and rub my back after my surgery, she would listen to me, love my children. love me as if I was her own. I always tell people if they needed a place to stay, she would've taken them in and been an exellent host. She became an instant friend to all. She always invited me over for dinner when I was dating Trent.. I loved that. I loved visiting with her and talking to her. There were some fun times, funny times and memoriable times. I am glad she was able to speak at Hannah's baptism just this last June on comfort and the Holy Ghost. I think the only thing that was wrong... is there wasn't enough of her to go around.. so many people loved her and wanted to see her. I can't continue writing this because it just is hard... but I am thankful to know I am not alone and that she is "Watching over me from up above."

Because I have been given much....

I haven't really been in the mood to talk about this, but my dear, wonderful, compassionate, most christlike, beautiful mother in law passed away unexpectedly from brain aneurysm. I had just talked to her on the phone ten minutes before it happened. When I finally turned my phone back on I had missed calls from my sister in law. My mother in law had just finished up her fifth mission and was ready to go to st.george in a couple days. I kept asking her " WHen will you be done with your mission?" She said "October 15th. or sooner I hope." She was officially done with her life mission on October 15th at 3:09 in the morning. It was a very sad, yet now looking back, spirtual moment. She was 64 years old, and healthy as could be. It is very surreal and my heart hurts, yet at the same time I know her too well to know that she is loved in this life and the next and that I will get to see and hold her once again. I love you MARTHA. You were THE BEST mother in law a girl could ever ask for. I am so blessed to be called your daughter in law, and when I first got engaged I wondered where that sparkly little cinderella ring I wanted was, but I tell you what, I am so blessed to have my wedding ring be one of your rings. I will pass it down when I am on my death bed to my girls. No sparkly cinderella ring could ever have so much meaning to my life. I took a picture on my phone but I believe it is too personal and spiritual for it to be shown on here. However, my awesome sister in law Sheryl took pictures that were just perfect and they speak for themselves. Hope she doesn't mind me using them.

I decided to have a "Fall Bucket List" for the month of October. Here are some of the things I put down:

Get lost in a corn maze... check (At least Faith and I did with my parents.. the other two were having fun with their cousins.)
GO to a pumpkin patch... check
make halloween costumes... check (Jessie & Tangeled I made them up... no sew of course.)
watch kid scary movie... check
make sugar cookies... check
take fall photos
play in the leafs
go for a ride / picnic in the canyon
paint/carve pumpkins
tell ghost stories
Have a halloween party
Play ghost in the graveyard
Sing halloween songs







I am going to do this for Nov. and Dec. as well!!

I may not have known the individual's who lost their lives that day, or have fought for my freedoms but 9/11 has affected me more than I ever knew it could. Maybe it's from the love the coutry my dad instilled in me when he served in Desert Storm, or maybe it's what I thought every human being had- compassion. 10 years later I realize that compassion isn't something instilled in every human... it's a gift. Never Forget.

I can't believe that ten years has passed us by. Ten years ago I was dating Trent and came out of biology class when I heard the news. The older I get the faster time flies. I feel like my life left off ten years ago. I miss it sometimes, but I am glad to be where I am now. Every year I am obsessed with 9/11. I read books, hear articles to the point where my husband gets annoyed that I involve myself so deeply and feel like I can't do anything. But I can do something. This year the 10th anniversary instead of watching all the gory depressing details and being depressed I am going to do something great on each anniversary so I can not let those lives go in shame. Let's do something that can uplift someone else. Today I am writing letters to my kids to tell them how much I truly love them.

BEFORE

I have become in love with making creations. I have been antiquing a bunk bed (pictures to come) and redoing a lot of treasures I find. While I was doing the bunk bed I decided that I would redo my basement bathroom. I am going to do a zebra print. I antiqued the cupboards, Black rustic mirror and I have pictures to come. The kid's room downstairs is black & a rustic white theme. I will show you when I am done. Also, I have found many treasures that I am going to change and give to my sister for her photography business. I love her style of pictures.. I am such a rustic lovin gal, and I think her pictures capture the moments. Here are some of the treasures I have found *I don't have after pictures yet but soon.... promise.*

Coe Creations Party~

First Party "Trains, Planes, & Automobiles" I had conductor hats, passports, train tracks, pin the horn on the steering wheel, chocolate donuts as spare tires, Baggage Claim with train candy, starbursts "ChewChew". The drinks had tickets on it as well as "Chugg Chugg"

Second Party-" Fairy Garden Party" We played Pin the fairy on the gnome, put on butterfly tattoos, "I'm a little butterfly and you can't catch me...", Fairy Treasure Hunt for Pixie Dust, Grapes & star PB & J Sandwiches, Fairy Freeze, Wings, Wands & headbands for girls, Beards and red hats for gnome's for boys. The kids had a blast and loved sitting at the little tables.

Today I hosted my second party (Well I should say Hosted this time , but normally I decorate)

My friend asked me what are some ideas for her MIL 50th. I thought a Nursing Home Party would be fun! You could get fake teeth next to the food, a wheel chair, "CAUTION WET FLOOR" She suggested a tray to eat on. You could do grey and creme instead of Black and White. Then let them drink out of the "Fountain of Youth" You could hang depends or make a depend cake (Like you see the baby diaper cakes* get some denture and butt cream for decor. Good Luck on it and I can't wait to hear how her party turns out.

UPCOMING PARTIES: Rainbow Party (Can't wait I have some fun ideas) Army Polar Express Christmas Party (Again so excited.. This will be the biggest party I have thrown so far. 150 people.)
4 kids Carnival/Circus Party
12 year Old Birthday Girl Party
More To Come....