The Deaf Community

I have a special blessing with my job as a sign language interpreter; I am blessed to be an adopted member of the Deaf Community. The Deaf have a culture all their own and are a very tight-knit group. It's hard to explain how much a part of my life this group of people are but they are so, so dear to my heart. I am so sad to be leaving St. George because it means leaving these incredible people.

       I am always amazed at how accepting and loving and serving everyone involved in the Deaf Community are. They are another family to me. Last week they threw a going away party for Jackie and Jimmy Harris, Danny and Tycee Radford and my family because all three of our families are moving this next month. Oh my goodness how loved I felt. I have made some incredible friends related to signing and my passion for it. This is a plaque they gave me with the pics of my friends from the Community. I love it!

         This next pic is of Jackie, myself, and Andrea. Oh i could write for days about these two ladies. Jackie was my very first person who started helping work towards being an interpreter. She worked with me interpreting in a class a full semester when I was just figuring out what an interpreter really even does. Her family has been so dear to me. She believed in me when I needed someone to believe in me.

       And sweet Andrea, she was my mentor during the ICAN program. I would say by far that I improved the most from this program. For ten months Andrea, Robin, and myself would drive to Salt Lake once a month for either a one day workshop or a four day workshop. We became so close. I owe so much to Andrea as well.  

This last picture is a funny story. A few of my friends decided to go down to Mesquite and go dancing... Wow, that was an experience. It was a ton of fun. We laughed a lot, danced a lot,  had some interesting experiences with some interesting people, and talked a lot. I have to give a little background as to why there is alcohol at our table. We asked one of the waiters to take our picture and he ran and grabbed another person and they thought it would be hilarious if a group of crazy, noisy women had huge things of Vodka on the table with their pic. Thus the big (untouched, completely full) bottles on the table :)

Me, Meadow, Meredith, Melissa, Mari, and Andrea

River Time

We have only been in this house about seven months but I have made some very dear friends in my neighborhood. This past week Eliza and Michelle and their sweet girls took me and my kids down to the river for a one last hurrah before we move. Our house is literally right next to the river, don't know why we didn't go down more often but the kids had a blast.

 Elise, Skylee, and Arianna

 Jaston, Skylee, Elise, and Arianna

 I saw this beautiful patch of flowers and felt the urge to take a picture so enjoy :)

This is a pic of Skylee and her sweet friend Arienne. Arie has been such a sweet friend to Skylee and they were so excited to go to Kindergarten together this next year. They were both very sad to find out we are moving. Arie told me in primary (she is in mine and Jeff's class) that she told her mom she was going to move to Arizona with us. Sweet girl. Can you believe the size difference though. They both will be going to kindergarten this fall... Arie will probably be one of the tallest and Skylee probably the smallest- just proves size doesn't matter in friendship. We will miss you Arie!

Birthday Time for Skylee

Because Skylee's birthday is on a holiday we did her birthday party a few days early. She isn't officially 5 til Tuesday (can't believe that!) but we celebrated with some sweet friends this past Friday. We did it in my parents back yard because it is perfect. My parents have put so much work into their gorgeous yard and have added lots of fun touches for the kids- a sand box, trampoline, slide, swing set etc... Anyhow, we were so blessed to have so many sweet friends show up to support Skylee. Here are a few pics of the event in very random order.

Skylee and Karden while Sky was opening presents.

Jaston and Skylee filling the Pinata

                                                 Kaesha's sweet JT smiling at my Dad isn't he a stud? I'm gonna miss that sweet face!

Just a candid shot of some of our guests, Amanda, Peggy, Coy, Eve, Brecken,  Nana, Cassie, Emmett, Tatum, and Ryker

Some more of our fun guests- Andrea, Robin, Hunter, Cassie, Emmett, Skylee, Karden, Brady and Jordan.

Can't have a party without candy... The pic was too bright so I tried to tone it down in Light room not super successful. oh well you get the gist. Kids like candy :)

Hunter LOVED the water. Pure joy.

Sky thought it was hilarious to get mom with the water ballooons

Sky and Eve with the cupcakes

My sweet best friend since fourth grade and her baby boy JT. So grateful for her  in my life and now in my kids' lifes as well.

Skylee's perspective

Today Jaston and Skylee were arguing abt what a grown up was.


Skylee: You are not a grown up
Jaston: Yes huh I'm big!
S: No! Look at you, you are little
J: (pouty face) Mom, I'm big!
S: You aren't even healthy! You shouldn't sit in that big chair. look at mom she's big.


She is so funny she thinks she is all knowing unfortunately most of the time she is right but her and Jaston argue and argue over things that just don't matter like when we are driving down the road and Jaston sees cows and calls them " our" cows. If they aren't the cows right by our house Skylee will flip out and argue and argue insisting they aren't our cows or our church or our temple.... Siblings!
I did want to document a few cute things Jaston does right now cuz I know he is going to stop and I don't want to forget. If he hurts me- like if I'm laying on the ground he runs and jumps in my stomach- happens often! He says the sweetest little , "sorry mom!" he is obsessed with chocolate milk which he calls " got milk and milk".
Also when people leave or we leave somewhere he tells everyone that he loves them and attempts to sign it it he can't quite get his little thumb out so its extra cute. And his wave is hilarious not sure how to explain but his hand is parallel to the floor and he wiggles his fingers it's hilarious. He loves nursery and when we ask him what he did in nursery he usually says " played cars, had snacks, played with bubbles an said a blessing." I just love that little munchkin!

Happy Independence Day!

We had a fun independence day. The little man wasn't feeling too great so we didn't end up going hiking like we had planned, but we decided the parade might distract him from his misery so we took the kids to the parade. Jaston was hilarious he got this little pencil flag and he waved it the entire time. If he set it down for two seconds he was panicked because he needed to wave it constantly. Skylee just loved waving it was cute. We took it pretty easy during the day and then went out to do fireworks last night. Jaston made it til after the first firework and he crashed and slept through them. Skylee loved them. We had to have our traditional chocolate milk and powdered donuts :)

One more side note Skylee walked into my room this morning and told me she wanted her training wheels off. My sis in law told me its easier to take the pedals off and let them figure out the balance thing and then put the pedals on. Worked brilliantly! A few hours without the pedals, then we put them on and she took off. It was awesome. She's still a little wobbly but she's riding on her own and getting better each time. It was way easier than I thought it would be. :) my little girl is growing up. Sorry pics are all in random order.

 Waiting for fireworks to start

 Yummy donuts!

I loved this pic, Skylee was handing back snaps to 

Jaston for him to throw. She always has to "control" 

everything and take care of her little bto

 Jaston, Daddy, Papa, Skylee and Nana watching fireworks

Don't need these anymore... well til Jaston takes over her bike.

I love this pic cuz it shows his little attitude. He didn't want to smile for the camera so he was NOT going to smile.

Poor little guy just couldn't stay awake to watch the fireworks. That shows me that he was sick. This boy can't sleep if there is ANYTHING going on normally. He is too easily distracted.

Notice the flag he waved the entire time!

Grandma's house

We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's house for our Sunday dinner and Grandma started building little play dough snow men. They turned out super cute and we just had to take pics :)