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.

Sweet and Sassy

When I was browsing through Megan's notebook of doodles, this is what I found. Most of the notebook drawings were super sweet and loving, BUT she does have a bit of a sassy side to her.

Isn't being a parent so rewarding sometimes???

Megan Misses Gracie

Megan and her friend Brooklynn at a Primary party

Megan has been crying about, thinking about, talking about and drawing about Gracie Gledhill who passed away March 2, 2009. She says she misses her friend Gracie.

Even our Hangman games shows she was thinking about Gracie.

Grandpa and Grandma McKell

My Grandpa McKell saves his change and gives it to my kids - always with a cute note!

I wanted to get this picture on my post...It's one of my favorite of my Grandma and Grandpa McKell.

The many crazy outfits created by Megan

There was a time when Megan loved to wear Derek's underwear on her head.
This outfit is classic Megan

I think she's wearing 3 hats with this outfit

Megan has always loved hats of any kind

There's Derek's underwear again...and Derek's boots.

Mid March Updates

Meg enjoying Jake's swim practice! (It's a little freaky how Megan sleeps with her eyes partially open, even when I try to close them over and over again) Jake participating in Crazy Hair Day at school

This used to be Derek's very special door hanger - a souvenir from ESPN Sportscenter store in Las Vegas. As you can see, a graffiti artist who shall remain nameless changed "Sportscenter" to "Disney Channel."

Derek working hard at Scouts

Cowgirl Megan at Derek's Blue and Gold Banquet

Meg and her very handsome nail technician

Gracie's Funeral

After Gracie's funeral on March 7, it has taken a while to feel normal again. (Megan still cries every day for her "friend" Gracie) It was an amazing funeral I will always remember. White and pink balloons were let off at Gracie's grave - one for every day she lived. It was beautiful to watch. At the grave site, it was freezing cold with a bitter wind - but once the balloons were let go, the wind stopped and the sun came out for about 5 minutes. The entire day was incredible - just like Miss Gracie!

Gracie - you will be missed

but you will ALWAYS be remembered!

Angel Gracie

Gracie Jean Gledhill

March 20, 2008 - March 2, 2009

Sweet Gracie passed away yesterday. We are so heartbroken for her family. She was loved by so many. Michele and Tom valued every minute they had with her - it showed in their actions, in their words, in their faith, and in their absolute devotion to her.

I will always remember Gracie like she was in these pictures. She loved to listen to us talk at our lunches with the ladies. She loved to watch her mom. Everywhere Michele went, Gracie followed her with those big beautiful eyes of hers.

Gracie fought hard to be here as long as she could. Eleven months does not seem long enough, but look what she did with those eleven months! When I was on Gracie's blog Monday night, it was frozen for a while because of the many Gracie fans who were sharing their love for Gracie and her family. (thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com)

Gracie Girl - you will always have a part of me.

Gracie Girl

This is Gracie post transplant. I hate this picture but it is reality. Sometimes life stinks! Sweet Gracie received a heart transplant on February 22nd, and she is not doing well. The doctors don't know what went wrong. She is now on an ECMO (full life support) machine...She can stay on this anywhere from 2-4 weeks while she waits for a second heart. We are still praying for Miss Gracie that she will receive a second heart!!! Gracie's mom and dad have been strengthed by everyone's love and prayers...Keep them coming!!!

Gracie's new heart!!!!!

Gracie's family got the call last night that there is a heart available for her. I just read her blog and saw that the doctors started her transplant surgery about noon today! What a miracle this is!!!! The faith of her family has been tested and tested. Faith always precedes the miracle. Gracie will still need a lot of prayers as she recovers from this surgery. My heart breaks for the donor family, and I am in awe of the love they have shown through their sadness and their loss. If they had any idea what happiness they have brought to Gracie's family and friends............

Vegas and Valentine's Day

Family picture at the top of the Stratosphere - 109 stories high

The kids at a Globetrotters Game
Alan and Meg
Derek and Hunter after a big game - Their basketball team went undefeated and are now getting ready to compete in a tournament. Yippee...more games! Now there will literally be no break between basketball and baseball.
I found this note in an envelope addressed to "Melanie Powel" in our mailbox without a stamp or an address. Megan told me she put it there so Melanie could have it for Valentine's Day. I took a picture of it before we gave it to Melanie.

Meg and her favorite person in the world...Mel

Meg's Valentine's Day party at school - She was excited to have dad there!

Just a cute picture of Meg

Jake and his dream car

Jake, Meg and Derek at the top of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas - not a great picture, but that was some view!!! Nat and Alan - celebrating Valentine's Day in style Derek in his own personal heaven, the ESPN Zone store in Vegas (as soon as the camera came out, Megan ran up the stairs as fast as she could in order to get in the picture)