THE TWINS TEETH!

 Tyson was so stressed the night before that he would show up to the orthodontist appointment and they wouldn't take his braces off - lucky for him - they did! So we took the obligatory "I got my braces off" picture. He is so handsome and mature looking now - ha ha. Look at his pretty face - but ignore his hair - who knows what is going on with that! 

Tyler wasn't so lucky as Tyson - he still doesn't have his braces on because he has so many baby teeth still waiting to come out. He had 6 left. One fell out on its own a couple of weeks ago and then this morning we woke Tyler up at 6am and headed to Blake's office in Casa Grande to get his teeth pulled. Tyler has been fighting a head cold so his nose is so stuffy that the nitrous wasn't getting in so he didn't have the benefit of that. He kept quiet the whole time, but eventually he let Blake know he was in some pain - even with all the numbing shots he gave him. We finally left but only with 4 teeth pulled. We will have to go back for the very last one that is really stuck in there but because he can feel so much Blake couldn't bring himself to pull it out and inflict that much pain on him. He was a brace kid and got $20 from the tooth fairy - his brothers were quite jealous. And he drank smoothies all day long. He told me, "mom I can't eat" and I told him that I knew and that I was sorry but that tomorrow would be a much better day and he said, "no, it's not that - I have no teeth!"

EMMA'S SOPHOMORE YEAR!

 Sophomore year was off to a good start! Her and Maddie moved into the brand new apartment complex on campus on "The Green". They got the Honors Housing Scholarship so they only have to pay $350 for everything which is more than half price! Emma was named Co-Captain of the very first UVU Hip Hop team, Espirit and Kati Hall sent her congratulations flowers! She was also named Employee of the Week at TRIO, it's the place where she tutors students on campus. Over the summer Emma and Keely went to Perry and lead some workouts with the cheer girls...Emma did deep stretching with them! Aunt Jenn fixed her hair color job as well and she is no longer yellow and she is actually blonde again - ha ha! 

NOAH JON WORTHEN!

 Sunday night we went to Varvels house to say goodbye to Nathan and when we got there that's when we heard the tragic news that Noah had been in an accident and didn't make it. I couldn't just sit there. But I wasn't sure what to do. I grabbed Eli and Jared and we left and took Eli home and then I told Jared what happened and cried and then we went over to Cardon's house so I could help watch the kids and get them ready for bed. By the time we had gotten there, Sara, Doug, Kyle and Melissa had just gotten there and told the kids. Jac met us at the door and we sobbed into each other's arms and you could hear the belly sobs from inside. I left there and headed over to the Melissa's knowing there would be people there and I could figure out something to do. I called Kati and she came and joined me and people were tying ribbons, gathering, etc and a few of us went inside and tidied it up. I will skip a lot of the hard details. Afterwards, I grabbed some diapers and a blanket for the kids, Noah's blanket for Melissa and headed back to Cardon's to give it to them and then I sat outside alone and then with one of their sisters until the crew arrived and we tied up more ribbons there and put out the luminaries. When we were all done, Jac came out and saw it, then Sara came out and saw it and then she went and got Melissa and Kyle. We all stayed outside talking till midnight and crying. I was able to talk to Jake and Mikey and check in on them and make sure they were ok. Jake didn't talk. Mikey cried and nodded his head. Towards the end of the night, Jared went up to Mikey to tell him how sorry the boys were about Noah and to let him know if he needed anything we were here for him...Mikey started crying and pulling on Jared's shirt so hard. He was so sad and so lost. Emma spent Sunday night painting a painting for the Worthens - Melissa even took the time to mention it to me and thank me for it a week later when we gave it to her. The next day the ladies brought balloons for each of the kids with notes for each of them tied to the strings from all the primary kids around. That night we held a candle light vigil for them and even all the first responders came, people of all different religions came and we all sang "Nearer My God to Thee" - even the twins sang - they never sing. The spirit was so strong and comforting there. Eli and Braxten were able to find a bouquet of flowers that "had" to go over to the Cardons that night so we drove the boys over there knowing they just needed to check on Mikey and Jake. It was good for their souls - all of them. They hung out for about 30-45 minutes and it was good to see smiles on their faces. I called ALA and excused all the kids from school that week and even got a call from the director/principal that evening to find out what was going on and what they could do. Tuesday night we took our boys, the Cardon boys and Braxten and Jackson to go play pickleball and get some ice cream - the boys all needed to be together and it was good to get the Cardon's out for a bit. Thursday morning I was able to drop off the bracelets that Tanya ordered to ALA so Jaycee's teachers and basketball team could wear them in support of her. Saturday morning was the funeral. Kyle gave the best talk which was a letter to Noah talking about his relationship with each of his siblings. After the funeral I hurried over to the other church to help serve the luncheon. Megan, Michelle and Addie did an amazing job with everything. It was beautiful right down to every last detail. These girls have come together and brought the village up to support these 2 families. Monday night Kati and I dropped off dinners to both of them and then Tuesday we took all the kids after school to run to Circle K and get drinks and candy and then go watch Jaycee in her basketball game so she knew she had people supporting her and loving her. Our hearts ache so much for both these families. There has been some good to come from this tragedy that never should have happened, Heavenly Father saved the perfect plot in the cemetery next to Luke for Noah and he was buried right next to him and his parents are able to join him. Also - the Worthen's neighborhood and has rallied around them and are asking questions about the church. We love these families and our hearts hurt for them so much. We pray for them and we pray that we will know how to serve them and comfort them during this horrible time. 

GOODBYE GRANDMA JOYCE!

 August 11, 2021 was a very sad day. Grandma Joyce passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was 97 years old, she was ready to go and she was my last grandparent alive. 

On July 11th we all went to her house to drop Emma off to stay the night with her and to visit her. I figured this would be the last time we saw her in her house as that weekend she was set to move out into an assisted living place. I am so grateful for the feeling to make sure and take a family picture with her and we did - it was my last picture with grandma. 

That weekend the boys and Jared went over and helped moved her furniture for a couple of hours. I missed seeing all the relatives helping because I was at work and so was Emma. Monday night though I brought dinner to my aunt and uncles staying at grandma's house, we did a dump run for them Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday night. Her house was now empty. On July 29th while all the boys were away up at the cabin and Emma and I spent the weekend together, we finished up shopping rather early - she found what she needed at the first store I told her let's run by grandma's new place and visit her for a few minutes and check out the new place. We were surprised to find my parents there and Aunt Carlys and Uncle Richard there eating KFC with her. We visited for a few minutes and then left to get our own lunch. 

The next week was August 5th and me, Randi, Richelle and Raelynn had a lunch date set with Grandma that day and as a bonus we got Aunt Mary Ellen who had just come into town to visit grandma. We all gave grandma a hug and one of us hugged her so tight we set off her emergency alert necklace and 2 ladies from the place came running in to check on her - oops! We all got a good little laugh out of that! We headed upstairs to order from her cute little cafe and eat lunch and then watched as grandma would wave hi to all her new found friends - she was quite popular there! We ate lunch, had a good chat and then took her back to her apartment. We visited for a few more minutes and then we could tell she was tired and we left so she could get a nap. We were set to have lunch with her again next week!

The next day Aunt Mary Ellen and grandma went to lunch out on the town and then went shopping at Home Goods! Grandma was so happy and walked with her walker through the whole store and told Aunt Mary Ellen she was like a kid in a candy store! She bought a new bed spread, 3 bags of clothes and some other things for her house including in silverware trays (which I have for my house now). They got home and grandma was putting her silverware away in her new tray when she said to Aunt Mary Ellen - I think I better sit down - that was it - she had a stroke. She spent the weekend in the hospital and then the siblings decided it was time to give grandma her wish and let her go be with her loved ones in heaven. 

Monday night they moved her into hospice. Tuesday morning Emma and I went to work and then we left early before her flight so we could go visit grandma and Emma could say her goodbyes to her. We walked in and Aunt Mary Ellen was sitting next to her and Emma and I both looked at grandma and cried. Then Aunt ME left to go grab some lunch and we stayed with grandma for about 45 minutes stroking her arms, her hands and some times her legs and feet. She couldn't open her eyes and she could let out a grunt or a moan for a second but that was it. She tried to sit up a couple of times and we would gently keep her down and stroke her until she called down and quit being agitated. At one point I said to grandma, Grandma I know your mad and want to sit up but you can't and I am sorry - then she let out a loud moan of frustration - we giggled at her. Emma sent me a text while we were sitting there and asked me if we could get grandma a blessing because she hated seeing her like this. I told her she had already received one and that it would be ok. Aunt ME came back from lunch and we needed to leave to get Emma to the airport. We hugged grandma one last time and we told her we loved her. Aunt ME said really loud, Mother, Carol Ann and Emma are leaving can you tell them goodbye....Grandma mumbled in a very clear mumbled voice "I love you" - we all broke out into tears. Grandma said "I Love you" for the very last time in her life to Emma. It was something we will cherish with us forever. 

Grandma passed away the next day at 1 something in the morning. Aunt ME called me first thing in the morning and I was hoping it wasn't the news I figured it was, but it was. She asked if I wanted to come and say goodbye to grandma before the mortuary picked her up and so I took the boys to the Worthens house and Kyle drove them to school and I went and sat with Aunt ME for a few minutes and grandma. Grandma was alone with the nurse when she passed and I told Aunt ME that's the way it had to be - grandma wouldn't have gone had her family been in the room - she needed to be alone to leave them and know it was ok. Afterwards I headed over to my parents house to check on my dad. He was doing good and we talked about the great reunion that was going on in heaven right now. 

It was a super sad day. Lots of texts and phone calls to my cousins. Jared was so sweet. He told me how he spent more of his life with my grandma than he did his own grandparents. He also knew I would need to be surrounded by all of my family and that they fill my cup. He took the time off of work he needed to and told me, you do what you need to do and I have everything at home. He really is my everything. Grandma always said what a great man I married! 

A lot happened in the next week leading up to the funeral. A lot of pushing for things I wanted which I knew grandma would want - it took some convincing at the aunts and uncles but in the end it all worked out perfect! Wednesday night all of us gathered at the mortuary for grandma's viewing. Me, Jennifer, Randi and Richelle got there early to set up her memorial tables and we had a separate room there for our "Grandma's Boutique". It was set up with table cloths from Aunt Janice's wedding and it had grandma's jewelry, scarves, little hand bags, handkerchiefs and brooches. Everyone was allowed to pick some things from there to wear to the funeral of grandma's, keep, etc. We all had so much fun picking over grandma's things. I took her stackable ring that reminded me of my wedding ring, Emma smuggled 2 rings that looked like Emma, plus a handkerchief, I got a button with her initials on it. (I also go some dishes, silver candelabras, silver trays, her 1986 reunion shirt - which everyone was jealous of! Grandma was a regular at her nail salon and when the ladies found out she has passed away they insisted on coming to the mortuary and giving her one last manicure so her nails would be perfect in her light shade of pink that she loved. Then when it was over, we packed it all up and took the boutique things to her house and took the memorial table over to the church and set it up for the funeral. 

Thursday morning was her funeral and when Jennifer and I went up to say our last goodbyes - we copied Gail and very quietly and discreetly put in a quarter in grandma's coffin in honor of all the coin tosses she did in her pool for all of us growing up. Then we headed to the cemetery and we gathered all the cousins and handed everyone a coin and we all threw it in to her hole as a tribute to her. Then we headed back to the church for a luncheon. Uncle Eric passed out $2 bills to all the great great grandkids there that grandma had saved in her house for them. 

After the luncheon we headed back to grandma's house for one last family "reunion/party". Jared and I brought in tables and chairs for everyone and we just hung out and talked, kids swam, etc. Uncle Eric and Aunt Jeanne threw in grandma's coins she had been saving plus several $10 quarter rolls. The great grandkids loved it, but then we kicked them out of the pool so the actual grandkids could do one last dive themselves. I didn't come with a swimsuit - I didn't know the cousins my age were getting in. We then all lined up by the pool to take a big picture and Paul had other ideas...he decided everyone needed to get in. I had a feeling I was going to end up in the pool so luckily I gave Jared my phone before the picture and glad I did - I ended up in the pool with Paul - fully clothed including my shoes. That created a pool throwing in frenzy and like it or not -  you were getting in the pool. It was PERFECT!! So fun! Then Jennifer and I left to go pick up $987 worth of Olive Garden for everyone. Grandma always gave all the grandkids Olive Garden gift cards each year for Christmas and we found several of them in her house, plus some cash so we placed the order and my parents paid the rest. After dinner people started leaving and there about 15 of us stayed behind to hang out and play games, tell stories, etc. 

Friday we set up a couple of different breakfasts for the grandkids. 40 years and older ended up in Scottsdale at Kneaders and the 30 somethings ended up in downtown Gilbert at Snooze. People started catching flights back home and it left me, Kristen and Jennifer to hang out - we weren't sad about it. We went and cleaned up grandma's house from the day before so Uncle Richard didn't get mad, ate dinner, talked and stayed up way to late telling stories. 

Saturday morning I had to get up early and head off to Noah's funeral and luncheon and then afterwards, Jennifer and Kristen met me at Rj's house and we headed to meet Randi for dinner at Postinos and then went to grandma's apartment to help Randi move the futon. Then we decided to go visit grandma's house one last time and we went skinny dipping together for an hour and wrote our names and birth years in her closet under the stairs. That was the best way to end our time in grandma's home which will hold a special place in our hearts for the rest of our lives. Reunions were held there, talent shows, sharks and minnows, coin dives, cousins sleeping on the giant white couch, watching Goofy's sporting movie, walking to Rent-a-flik, visiting grandma in her house with my family and listening to all her stories, taking Emma to her fancy Christmas party, Halloween parties, etc. The house is my life, my childhood, and even my kids childhood. Grandma Joyce, you were a classy lady. You loved church, you loved your family, you shared your opinions, you loved my husband and my kids,  you named Eli "Pa's boy", you had the best stories. You had 2 husbands, 9 kids, 43 grandkids, 108 great grandkids (Eli was #50) and 10 great great grandkids! We will miss you forever and hold you in our hearts forever! Until we meet again!