Saying goodbye is never easy.

Its been a rough couple weeks, My cousin Danny last week committed suicide, its such a hard thing to wrap your mind around, i know he was struggling but it always makes you feel so bad knowing somebody you loved was hurting so much. His funeral was really tough, it was so emotionally draining, he left behind his 12 year old son, every time i looked over at him it just made me sick to think what he must be going through. 

Then just as we were getting over the rough weekend my sweet grandpa passed away on Monday in his sleep. I know ever since my grandma passed away my grandpa was so heartbroken, it makes me happy to know they are together again, but it also is going to be hard to not have him here anymore. He had such a kind heart and was always helping so many people. He is going to be sorely missed, we love you grandpa! 

This picture was taken right after my grandpa flipped everybody the bird. That was so grandpa!!! This was also the last time i saw him, i'm glad my kids got to see him as well.

"Loved by All"
Delbert Earl Townsend passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 13, 2013. He was born July 29, 1927 in Murray, Utah to Delbert H. and Theata Hughes Townsend. He was a life-long resident of Murray where he shared many fond memories alongside his friends. He played a "mean" trumpet and was called upon to lead the pep band at many high school functions. He served as the student body president of Murray High School in 1945.
He joined the Navy in 1945 and was primarily stationed in San Francisco and San Diego, CA. He served as a missionary in the Texas/Louisiana Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 1948 to 1950. He married Marguerite Bean Townsend in the Salt Lake Temple on June 20, 1951 and they were blessed with six children. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1953 with a degree in Business.
In 1957, his dream came true when he was able to purchase a men's clothing store in downtown Murray. He promptly remodeled and renamed the store, Mr. Debb's Clothes for Men, which he operated until 1973 when he reluctantly closed the doors for the last time. Many of his customers followed him as he became manager of Arthur Frank in the Cottonwood Mall.
He was a faithful and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in several different Bishoprics over a 15-year period and was then called as Bishop of the Murray 3rd Ward, where he served faithfully for seven years. He served in the high council under two separate stake presidents and then served as Stake Mission Leader for four years. He and Marge were called as LDS Employment missionaries and then served an 18-month mission to the Utah State Prison and Half-Way House. He served as an ordinance worker in the Jordan River Temple for over five years. He also served on the Murray School Board.
He is survived by his children, Terrie Butler, Rob (Manuela), Cindy (Phil) Talbot, Steve (Cindy) and Ted; 15 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marge; his parents; siblings; one son, Chris; and one grandson, Eric.

Paxton's follow up appointment

Pax had his follow up appointment with Dr. Cowley yesterday. That's his cardiologist that diagnosed him with coarctation of the aorta. I was a little nervous to see how his aorta was healing, there is a slight possibility that when the aorta heals it could close off a little and he would need to go in with a balloon and open his aorta up. When we first got there Dr. Cowley wanted pax to get a chest x-ray to make sure his chest was clear, and also if we looked really closely you could very lightly see a little bit of his aorta where the repair was done. Pax did amazing during his chest x-ray, which i wasn't nervous about just because hes had them done before and it doesn't hurt or bother him in any way. Then the nurse checked his blood pressure which was really good, She made a comment that when you look back in his chart they didn't even put a number down for his blood pressure because they couldn't get one. (the first time he went to the cardiologist) and then when you looked at it while he was hospitalized for his surgery it was a little on the high side. So it was a relief to see a good number for his blood pressure. Then after Dr. Cowley came in and showed us Paxton's chest x-ray he said it looked really good, and that his aorta was healing very well, he was pleased to see how nice the aorta looked, he had one patient that was about paxtons age that got a really bad repair done on his aorta and that meant they had to go back in and fix it, he said the surgeon did a fabulous repair and is pretty confident that he wont have any problems. He was happy to see a really good pulse in his leg and that his feet weren't all sweaty and cold any more. Overall pax is doing wonderful!!!!

 He said the surgeon was so shocked by how small of an opening pax had in his aorta he sent Dr. Cowley a text message of the picture he showed us after his surgery was done, it was pretty shocking to see it. It just makes me so much more grateful for all the Doctors in paxtons life that have saved him. We have another follow up in 6 months and they will do a EKG and a full work up, and if everything looks good from there then he will just have a yearly check up with Dr. Cowley.

I still cant believe what my baby went through, it doesn't feel real to me. I still have flash backs of pax in the hospital with all the tubes and wires and every time i cry when i think about it. He is such a strong boy and amazes me everyday with how well he has handled everything. Im so extremely grateful for doctors they are amazing people!!!

He was so good for Dr. Cowley and even played with him.

 Big Sis listening to paxton's heart.

Paisleys Dance Pictures

Im in love with paisleys spring dance pictures, i have to admit though she looks really old so it kinda makes me sad lol This girl LOVES dance, i have a feeling it will be a big part in her/our lives. Bring on the dance mom!!!!

summer happenings

Summer is upon us. Which means lots of pools, parties, vacations, Etc. And as usual i like to document things by taking pictures, so you will get the usual overload of pictures with descriptions. ENJOY!

We will start off with pictures of the kiddos, this is one of paisley in her favorite dress, she calls it her flower dress.

 Pax was having a fun time playing with some sunglasses, he would crack up when he would put them on.

 He figured out how to go down the stairs.

 Doing the actions to if your happy and you know it.

Pax and greg on the swing. (i promise pax likes it, even though his face doesn't look like it)

 every time we go to GG's house (grandma and grandpas) we bust out the kiddie pool

 A couple days last week pax was being so clingy and fussy, every time i would get in the shower he would just cry and scream the entire time i was in the shower, he did this 3 days in a row, i could not figure out what was wrong. so one day i was trying to get ready and he started up again so i put him in timeout, and the poor kid fell asleep in his time out chair mid tantrum, its so cute but so sad. Well come to find out later that day he woke up from his nap burning up and had a fever for 24 hours, i think he is teething, no other symptoms came from it, just a mild fever for a day. don't you just love the curve balls babies throw at you?!

 on the 4th of july we hung out at my parents house and got to play with leo the mastiff, he is the sweetest dog ever. He really is a gentle giant. Greg wants a mastiff SO BAD. ( he is not my parents dog)

It was SO hot, so pax had fun feeding leo ice cubes from his hand, it really is like feeding a horse lol

  Me and Leo (look at that tongue) 

Say goodbye to paisleys cute a-line haircut, she has been BEGGING me to let her grow out her hair, she wants long hair so bad, i finally have caved and i'm letting her grow it out :(

 Paisley being silly 

 We got to go boating on grandpas boat at rock port.

pax wasnt too sure of the water at first.

 He finally got brave enough to play in it.

 Paisley playing in the water. and yes this is as far as my kids would go in the water, my kids HATE deep water, if they cant touch then they just SCREAM their heads off.

 checking out the boats.

 cutest beach baby ever!

 Paisley got to help grandpa drive the boat.

Paisley playing in the sand.

 Daddy and pax throwing the football.

just a cute random picture of greg and ellie, she LOVES to cuddle.

 and my pictures got out of order, the fireworks from the 4th of july.

 we had a little family get together at the park, this is my dads family. It was good to see my grandpa and let him see my kids, we aren't sure how much longer he has, his health is deteriorating. I want to visit him more, its just really hard to see him struggle so much, it makes me super nervous the entire time.

My brother and his girlfriends baby nash, he has the most gorgeous brown eyes. 

 Paisley showing off her summer tan.

 she wishes she could long board like daddy.

 pax and cousin reese playing, they are only 4 weeks apart, they are going to be best buds.

Fathers day and Paisleys Birthday

Its always a busy week when fathers day approaches around here since paisleys birthday falls on or around fathers day. She turned 4 on Monday, i still cant believe i have a 4 yr old, it makes me feel old lol Her birthday lasted a good 3 days, i'm still trying to recover from them. It all started on fathers day we celebrated her birthday with gregs family, then her actual birthday was on Monday and we celebrated it with my family, then on Tuesday we took her to the princess festival for her birthday from mom and dad. I had to inform her on Tuesday night that her birthday was OVER, hahahahaha she wasnt too happy when i started taking down her birthday decorations Heck i wouldnt be either if my birthday had just lasted 3 days!!!! so Here is a major picture overload, since that's what i do best is taking pictures, ENJOY!!!!

To start off the weekend we took the kids to a splash park, the water was FREEZING, these picture are hilarious of there faces. they didn't last long.

                                          My dad and mom with my two kids, Love this picture.

                                                       The best DADDY in the world!!!!!

 When me and greg first started dating back in high school one of the first thing i found out about him is he has a obsession with superman.so naturally he got a superhero fathers day theme. I made the sign, and he got all superman memorabilia from us for gifts. Then i took him to see the new superman movie, he was in heaven!!!!

               Then paisley got in on the action with a ice cream Oreo cake and gifts from the cousins.

I stayed up until midnight taking down gregs fathers day and putting up paisleys birthday decorations. one of my favorite memories was waking up to birthday decorations on my birthday when i was young i know people think i overdue and its a waste of time, but its such a simple thing and makes them feel so special!!!

 Heres the Birthday princess first thing in the morning, her aunt sissy got her this adorable princess dress, she stripped down first thing to put it on!!!!

Her favorite breakfast food is donuts, so that's what she got was a pile of donuts and she was in heaven!!! and yes she changed out of her princess dress before she ate so she wouldn't get it dirty, and this girl changes 20 times a day!!!!

 And then by afternoon she changed into her birthday outfit her grandma got her, so adorable!!!!

 We went to my parents house that evening, and of course she got another princess dress from grandma and grandpa, because that is seriously all she wanted for her birthday was a million princesses dresses. NO JOKE!!!

                  Here she is again blowing out birthday candles, this time on a ice cream cupcake!!!!

To end the birthday night, she got a new bed and new princess bedding from us, she LOVES IT!!!

Now on to Tuesday, they have a princess festival at thanksgiving point, we took her last year and it was amazing, so this year we wanted to take her for her birthday, it didn't start until the day after but shes only 4 she didn't know the difference lol Here she is all dolled up ready to go. I love the kissy face one ;)

                  She got to meet a mermaid, pax did not like her, he touched her tail and ran off.

            She got to meet every princess you could think of, her favorite of course is Rapunzel!!!

Pax got in on the action and got a dragon painted on his face, he loved getting it done, he was closing his eyes loving the girl tickling his face, so funny.

         And the car ride home was nice and quiet because this was happening in the back, hahahaha!!!!
                    i guess 4 hours in the hot sun meeting princess after princess is exhausting.