Fun after the Funeral

My Uncle David's funeral was in Kanab, Utah - the most beautiful place in the world. While we were there, it rained like crazy (except for the half hour we were at the cemetery). Our hotel parking lot flooded, which of course the kids thought was so cool. While we were in Kanab, we also got to decorate my Grandma and Grandpa Frost's graves.

On our way home, we stayed at Brian Head. Beautiful! The ride up to Brian Head was amazing. We stopped at Navajo Lake to skip rocks and sit on branches. Then we did some sightseeing at the windy Cedar Breaks Monument. A tourist offered to take our family picture. When we got back to the car, we laughed for about 10 minutes straight over my "Medusa" hair. Classic! I couldn't reproduce that hairdo if I wanted to. That is one family picture that won't be framed and put on the wall!

Uncle David

My Uncle David Frost passed away last week from pancreatic cancer. He died at home with his family around him in the city and home he loved. We went down to Kanab for his funeral over Memorial Day weekend. All 5 of his daughters spoke at his funeral...and their tributes to their Dad were so loving and kind. He was so loved by his family, friends and coworkers. He was a great man! Uncle David was a truck driver and wanted to be driven to the cemetery on his "Big Red" truck. It was so cool to watch this big semi lead the procession to the cemetery. The flower arrangment on his casket had a red truck on top of it. So perfect!

"Big Red"

Rainy Swim Meet

Jake not happy but cooperating with me...I just wanted one picture.

Jake's latest swim meet was an outdoor meet and it rained most of the time. No lightning though...only the coolest rainbow you've ever seen! And I finally remembered to take pictures at this one. Mel took a picture of Jake's rained-out fans. We all look like we have had enough (especially Alan and Meg).

The Baseball Kids

This was one of the days they had a game at the same time. I love watching Megan trying to be like her brother with her big ball bag on her shoulders walking fast to keep up with him.

11-hour Swim Meet...Are you kidding?

Here are some of the kids from Jake's new swim team. I forgot to take pics at the swim meet but I snapped them eating at KFC at 10:00pm after the first day of the swim meet. Last month Jake joined a comp team that is more challenging for him and also requires a lot more practice time. We can see that this new team will help his time and technique, but the first meet we attended was spread over 2 days and was 11 hours long. And yes we had to stay the entire time because he swam in 5 different events spread out over 11 hours. He seems to enjoy the team and his times are already better. Next meet I will have a lot more reading materials and will NOT have Megan with me.

Jake and the Orchestra teacher Mrs. Flygare after his violin concert at the school.

Our Littlest Ball Player

This is Megan's first year of baseball. She is having a blast! She is always so excited to wear her baseball "costume". It is so fun to watch her play because she knows all of the positions and rules of baseball. She is quite the hustler and is starting to become a good little hitter too.

Poor Derek, Part 2

Derek has seriously had a rough couple of weeks. We think he is finally better (I am knocking on wood as I type). Last Friday, he started developing a rash...We thought it was from too much Vicks. We let him play his ball game and then took him to the Dr. AGAIN to see what was going on. While there, we found out Derek now had pneumonia. So more drugs were added to his pile. By Saturday afternoon, he was COVERED in giant hives all over his body. We ended up at Primary Children's for the night and for Mother's Day. We are just grateful he seems to finally be better!!!!!

Poor Derek!!!

Young Derek has been super sick going on 7 days now. This nasty illness first appeared during his field trip to the Planetarium/Gateway (pictured above). He seemed fine until he starting puking at the Gateway Food Court (sadly in front of his entire class). Luckily? I was there with him at the Field Trip to console him and annoy him at the same time. We took him to the Doctor the next day after high fevers, coughing and achiness (Sound like swine flu to you?) No swine flu, but he did have a massive ear infection and strep throat along with a ridiculous virus that makes him cough all day and night. Derek will finally be returning to school after a 5 day absence! I am knocking on wood that we have seen the last of this!

As soon as he walked in the door to the the pediatrician's office, he was asked to put on this mask, and we were quickly escorted to a "special" room in the back.

COUSINS

Night out with Alan's sister Teri and her hubby Russ, and Alan's cousins Tod, Terri and Melissa. I think we laughed for 3 hours straight.

Piano Recital

The boys had their Spring Piano Recital and they both did a great job. This was Derek's farewell performance. He is retiring from piano. Almost just in time for Megan to take his place. She is so excited to start learning how to play the piano. Only one more year Meg!

BYU Graduation

Our niece Cassie Randall graduated from BYU last week.

We are so proud of her!!!

It has now been 17 years since Alan and I graduated from this fine institution. We were talking about what we remembered about that day 17 years ago...hmmm, neither one of us remembers ANYTHING! So Cassie, I hope you remember this day. You looked so happy and so beautiful!

Lion of the Quarter

Way to go Jake! He received the "Lion of The Quarter" at West Jordan Middle School today. The school made him a book of letters from each of his teachers. The one from his English teacher Mrs. Jones was my favorite because she is someone who he admires and respects a lot. (I hope Mrs. Jones doesn't care that I downloaded her picture from the WJMS website) You can tell from her letter that she has really taken the time to get to know him. He is lucky enough to be her teacher's aide next year. This amazing teacher is also battling cancer. We wish her the very best and appreciate the influence she is on Jake.
Here's a picture of the trophy
Group picture of all of the Lions of the Quarter (Jake is in front middle)

7th graders lining up to hear good stuff about themselves and get their awards.

Enjoying the brunch and award presentation.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU JAKE!!!!

Busy Week

We started the week off with a phone call that my dad was in the hospital again. His heart rate was all over the place and ended up stuck at 150 beats/minute for 24 hours straight. So on Sunday he got a little shock to his heart (after the doctors tried many, many medications to bring the heart rate down). Since the shock didn't work, he ended up having an ablation surgery on Monday. This seems to have solved the problem, and he was discharged Wednesday. Yay Dad!!!

(I didn't take any pictures of Derek's first game - it was too cold!!!)

Wednesday night was Derek's first baseball game of the season, and he hit his first HOME RUN ever! He CRUSHED the ball, and it stopped just short of the fence. He ran so fast that I could tell he was not going to stop for anything...I think he was determined to make it all the way home. A home run was the goal that he set for himself this season. So Derek, does that mean we can forget the rest of the season???

(Picture of Michele, Tom and Gledhill kids with Paul Cardall (blue shirt), Peter Breinholt (red shirt) and David Tolk (black shirt)

Monday night we attended a benefit concert for Paul Cardall. Paul is a talented musician who is waiting for a heart transplant. (www.mytricuspidatresia.blogspot.com) The concert was incredible!!! Peter Breinholt performed a song while they showed a slideshow of Gracie. So touching! And the last song of the night was Paul Cardall playing the piano. He played a song he wrote for Gracie..."Gracie's Theme." Michele has the video of Paul and Peter's performances on Gracie's blog (www.thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com) It was so amazing - something none of us who were there will ever forget.