12 Years Old Equals Surprise Limo Ride

It is so fun to be twelve, were Kayla's thoughts. She loved her party and loved getting all dressed up in her 50's outfit. All the girls looked great. There probably aren't very many more years where they will want to dress up. So it turned out really cute. The girls really got into it!

Kayla's Birthday Party Bash...

Kayla's was so surprised! Sean completely surprised her with a limo at the last minute. The limo driver said the reaction we got about the limo from the girls was the best he has ever had. The driver even pulled out his camera, so he could remember the really heart felt reaction of all the girls.

One by one the girls ran out of the house screaming and jumping like they had just hit the jack pot! It was so worth it to see the kids squeal and be so happy. Plus it was the easiest party ever. We drove down to San Diego and the kids just danced and had the best time.

It was a sixteen seat Hummer limo and there was SO much room to mess around in there. The girls put on a fashion show and walked the isle, they danced and sang, while Sean and I could lay back and relax! It was awesome.

We had the limo for four hours. It took us to a Pizza Parlor to eat dinner and then it took us to grab some yummy dessert at Corvette Diner. We tried to eat dinner there, but it was a two in a half hour wait for dinner. It worked out great though and we enjoyed the pizza.

New Family Photos

Coolest Costume Ever - Halloween 2009

Kayla Parry as Mary Poppins

We were luckily enough to see the Broadway play of Mary Poppins for Mackynzie's 16th birthday. From that point on, Kayla decided she wanted to be Mary Poppin's for Halloween. She had purchased the Mary Poppin's umbrella at the show and she figured all we had to do was plan out the rest of the costume, no biggie right? I called Jan Strickland in my ward and asked if she was up to the task of sewing a costume. She agreed and I was off to pick out all of the needed supplies.

I had not sown anything for years, so I was a bit nervous about grabbing everything I would need. In the store I met a wonderful lady that assisted me with all the needed details of the costume. Jan did a beautiful job on the costume and I have to say, I did a great job picking out the material and colors. Kayla looked darling.

Mack's Homecoming Answer!!

HOMECOMING 2009 - YES!!!
Chris Wong asked Mackynzie in class with a balloon filled with confetti and a poem inside. Her teacher had her stand up and read the poem in front of the class. Chris is an excellent writer and had worked hard on this one just for her. He is getting some of his poems published, so she felt pretty special that one was just for her.

CHRIS WONG'S POEM:
I would fill up balloons until they blocked out the sun
If I could just see you smile from having some fun
I would bring you bouquets and bouquets of fresh flowers
If I could just be with you for a couple of hours
I would sing to you songs until I ran out of air
If I could just hear you laugh without a worry or care
I'm sorry I don't have a billion balloons
Or flowers or the talent to carry some tunes
What I do have for you is a question, you see...
Mackynzie Parry will you go to homecoming with me?

Sean and I were in Berlin when she answered him. She was going to just tell him yes, but we told her she needed to think of a fun way to answer him. She made him ask her in a fun way - it is only fair to return the favor. She was trying to get to his house to decorate his room, but the easier solution was decorating the car. It turned out great. She decorated it while he was at football. He was excited to see it after practice one day. They should have a lot of fun together.

Mack and her friends Zack and Trevin blowing up balloons....

The finished product!

We will miss the Good Moments with Our Friend...

Sunday, October 11, 2009

I know that my Heavenly Father is loving because of the sweet gifts he has given me in my life. I know that life continues on and that the ones we love will be around us supporting us in our lifetime. Sometimes it feels like they are really far away, but if we just remember the good moments in time we had with them, that brings them close to us again. Another one of my favorite people passed away today. I know what I learned today will leave a missing part in my heart until I get to meet my loving Aunt again in Heaven.

I received a call this evening from Doug that Aunt Vera died today. It is amazing how the spirit can whisper to you an action that should be taken. It almost can become something you don’t recognize anymore you just act. That is what occurred today with Vera. Sean wanted to see her and had made plans in his head about going. I had it in my mind that I would take the girls after church today. During Relief Society Sean texted me and mentioned that he was going to drop by the stake center for a quick meeting and then head to Vera’s. I texted back saying the girls and I would meet him there. It was not out of the ordinary to visit her on Sunday. We visited her a lot on Sundays and we loved it. Time with Vera was time well spent.

I have to say that today was a special gift to be with her. Vera passed away about five minutes after we left her today. She had withered down to nothing these past few months. As we were visiting with Vera today, I especially wondered why some people stay on earth in this state for so long when others leave so suddenly and when they are young. During our visit today, I remember looking over at Vera’s roommate as she was sleeping. I had to look at her twice, because she looked so lifeless. As I looked back again at the roommate I thought she looked so worn out and done. It really got me thinking about Vera. I looked at Vera and wanted her to be home to enjoy her life. I wondered how long she would be like this. I felt like she should be able to return home. However, I did not think this would be the last time I saw Vera alive. I kept telling her how we would be back to see her. It was not in my thoughts that she would leave us today.

Vera’s eyes were open and her skin coloring was good. Vera has not been able to communicate for a long time now and we miss hearing her happy voice. She has been on an oxygen machine for a while now and she was very frail. It was hard to hug her in fear that you would hurt her, but the girls loved on her nonstop today. Maybe they knew the end was near.

I remember back almost a 1 ½ years ago when we thought she was going to die. Her family moved her into a nursing home and we just cried our eyes out at the thought of losing her. We saw her the day before she was heading to the home for only a few minutes. It really felt like the end. It was just so surprising to see her in such bad condition. After she was placed in the nursing home she started to get better. She recovered and was so healthy and fun. Vera was very aware and enjoyable for a full year in the nursing home. It has only been the last 6 months that she really has not been herself.

We felt blessed to have that year with her in the nursing home. My family and I got to experience something completely different with Vera there. We played games with her in the home and the girls either sang or played the piano for her. We always loved to visit with her. I have never met anyone so positive and full of gratitude for life as I have with Vera. We missed taking her out to restaurants or taking her shopping. But to have her around that extra year was a beautiful gift.

Vera touched our lives ten times more than we touched hers, but I believe she did enjoy our company and loved us like we belonged to her. Before she moved into the nursing home she would call our home on a regular basis. It was the best to get a message from Vera. She would talk and talk saying the nicest things about us. We loved to listen to her rambling on and on about life and how grateful she was to have us. Sometimes she would call and her hearing aid wouldn’t be working and she would just talk without being able to hear us back. Those moments were wonderful and will always be treasured in my memory.

I can honestly say, I love Vera and the love she gave to my family and to me was the most precious kind of love. I loved going together with my family to spend time with her. But I also loved going to see her by myself. I remember when I first started taking her places I was worried I would not have anything to talk with her about. But her stories of life and love of the gospel were so inspiring to me. I never once didn’t just love my time spent with her. She was always so happy to get out of the house for a while. I would drive up and find her waiting for me on her driveway. I would always tell her to wait inside, but she never did.

Over the last six months I have missed the Vera I knew and loved. I wanted her to be the person I could call and visit with. She was my friend! I know now she is free from the pain and suffering of her body. She is rejoicing with all her relatives and I am positive she is meeting some special people I know up in heaven.

I am not sure my life would have been as full without her in it. Over the past 6 years my family adopted Vera as our own. I am grateful for who Vera Leeper was and what she stood for. If I could only learn to love and be as grateful as she was in her life, I would be doing great.

There are so many memories that the kids, Sean and I have of her. We spent so much time with her. I will deeply miss her presence on this earth. I am just glad I took the time to get to really know her and love her. To see the connection my children had with her is priceless. They felt loved by her and will always remember her as a big part of their lives.

WE LOVE YOU VERA. Enjoy being home where you belong.

FIRST PLACE - YES!!

This has been a great season. Orange Crush landed in FIRST PLACE as of today. The team we played today was great and we still managed to win the game. Kayla's coach, Janet Parise is incredible! She is so motivating and cheerful all at the same time. Kayla has loved playing for her and to think Kayla almost didn't play soccer this year. Kayla is definitely a soccer star.

The Pumpkin Patch

We have such a busy October planned we decided this was the only Saturday to head to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins. We have Sara's wedding coming up next weekend and then Sean and I head out of town.

We had a great time today picking out the perfect pumpkin. I suppose we will have to carve them on the 31st of Oct when Sean and I get back into town. Sean and the girls love to get really detailed with their pumpkin faces. I prefer the good old smilie face! I can't wait to see what faces appear this year. We found some huge pumpkins. We bought a ton of them because we will have some visitors in town. My parents will still be here and Shannelle is coming for Halloween. So we had to get everyone a pumpkin to design.

After THE PUMPKIN PATCH we dropped Mack off to hang with some friends at the Haunted Trail in San Diego. Then we took Brisa and Kayla for some yummy pizza.