IT'S A TOUGH ECONOMY

So because of this tough economy Courteney has been trying hard to find a job that just isn't out there so she has been doing odd jobs here and there...
Ask any one of my girls, they will tell you, that I always ask them to do things for me, for a dollar, well I hardly ever pay but I know Courteney needs money so to make it a little interesting, I dared her to do something for $20.00.


Yes, folks that is creamer from Angies. She down two of them for Twenty bucks and this time, I did pay...

I must say, that has to be one of the fastest ways to earn money.

THREE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS...WOMEN.

Okay so it has been awhile since I posted anything there really hasn't been much to talk about. This week has been a little rough for me, for obvious reasons. But I've been sort of under the radar with everyone and everything. So I just barely read Kirst's and Courte's blogs (that were posted a few days ago) and even though all I have done this week is cry I still had some cry in me. My girls are the best, all three of them. I have no idea what I did to deserve any of them but I got the three best girls in the world. Yeah they can be selfish and thoughtless at times but I know that they don't mean to hurt anyone. That is just part of being a teenage girl. Times like that were rare at our house and I am thankful for that. They are two of the most loving, caring women now. Really how many teenagers would spend every single weekend at the hospital with their little sister while she was getting a blood transfusion, not just that, but she was asleep a majority of the time she probably wouldn't have noticed if they were there or not, but they were always there...

I am so glad they understand the importance of family and good friends.

I have a hard time expressing how I feel about them most of the time, but a mom couldn't be proud of these three.

Kirsten, my little analytical, is always so determined, there are only a few things in this world that she wanted and didn't get. She works so hard for everything...

Courteney, my little free spirit, I used to worry about Courte but not anymore she found her way and is making such good choices. I am very proud of her and glad she is growing up...

Spenser, my little angel, she is so brave and strong and always said what was on her mind. She touched so many people in her ten years...

The last 24 years or so have been amazing and I wouldn't trade my life with anyone. I am very pleased to have been apart of each and every moment in these three lives. I love them all very much.

Todd's 44th birthday!

This is how we celebrated Todd's 44th, at work as usual, but with lots of friends.

You have to love the cake! This picture was also photo copied and put on just about every surface in the building. You gotta love the 'stache and the mullet.

Dana posing for the camera.

Pride and Joy

Birthday's

So this next week is full of birthday's..Starting tomorrow January 23th is Whitney's 16th, the 25th is Cardon's, the 26th is Spenser's and the biggest one of all is Todd's it is his FORTY-FOURTH BIRTHDAY!!!!
You should all call him and wish him a happy birthday. He really stresses over his age. So poke fun at him as much as you can.

More Pictures from Castillo Christmas Party 2008. Just for you, Nicky

James, Justin and Jeni's son.

Courte and Hunter

Taryn and Amber

Katie Carpenter

This was the Too Cool wall. Brad, Robby and Tracy

Santa and Ali


Tish and her new baby, Taylee (I think)

Kellee and Tysen's brother

Courte and Santa

Must be Santa

Santa and G'ma and Gramps

Some of the Great Grand Children

Some of the Grandchildren

Castillo Christmas Party 2008

This is how I will forever know my parents...Reaching out to everyone with a smile.

Look at them happy (for the most part) for almost 62 years! We should all be this lucky to spend your whole life with that one person.

ThanksGiving 2008

My favorite holiday is ThanksGiving... I love it, I love getting together with family and just hanging out. This year was a just a little party, only a few of the crazy's showed up. And since Victoria rarely updates her blog I thought I add some pics of her and her chubby baby. Victoria and Ali
Baby Tish just had a baby on Monday and here is a four generation picture of Great-Grandma Castillo, Grandma Clark, Tish and Taylee, aren't they just cute as buttons.

Todd always the Rock. Anytime I need him.


Here are some pictures from Temple Square. I love, love Christmas lights and what better place to see them then on Temple Square in SLC. Courte, Me and Todd went down on Friday the night after Thanksgiving. I love it. It is like FireWorks in the cold. These aren't very good pictures but I think you can understand where I am coming from.

Todd and Courte in front what looks to me like a gingerbread house. I don't know what building it is, but it is cute.

Todd and Me

Me and Courteney

Tagged...

I was tagged by Francene!

The Rules:
1. Post the Rules
2. Answer the 6 "8" Items
3. Let each person know they have been tagged

8 Favorite TV shows
1. The Biggest Loser
2. Criminal Minds
3. Two and a Half Men
4. The Office
5. Kath and Kim
6. Third Rock from the Sun
7. Dr. 90210
8. Dharma and Greg

8 Things I did yesterday
1. Overslept
2. Wished Tanner a Happy Birthday
3. Worried about Courteney
4. Worked
5. Ate with some sisters and neices, Todd and Courte
6. Didn't Lie
7. Went and saw Tish's new baby girl
8. Played internet games

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Training Table
2. Iggy's
3. Firehouse
4. Timbermine
5. Tony Roma's
6. Ruby Tuesday's
7. Sizzler
8. Fredrico's

8 Things I am Looking Forward To
1. Kirsten and Tanner coming home for Christmas
2. Charlie to come home from his mission
3. Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday)
4. My girls to have the best life ever
5. Another family vacation
6. Todd and me getting old and riding a Harley Davidson everywhere with a side car option
7. A remodeled home
8. Family Christmas parties forever

8 Things on my Wish List
1. To be as happy as I can be
2. To have my girls happy as happy they can be
3. To have my parents live forever
4. Be down to my goal weight before to long
5. To have a perfectly clean house everyday
6. For all my family to be healthy and happy and not want for anything
7. To be the greatest at whatever I want to do
8. To be with Spenser again one day (I wanted to end with the Best Wish)

8 People I Tagged
1. Todd Cole
2. Kirsten Cooley
3. Courteney Cole
4. Mandy Bell
5. Kelsie Wood
6. Susan Bryner
7. Haley Thompson
8. Jen and John

The Results are In and I am a Loser

Okay I am a loser, not the biggest, in fact only second to last place. But hey that's okay, I have been losing weight since February and this was only part of what I have lost or intend to lose.
The results are - Weight Loss 8.2 lbs. Overall % Loss 4.82 Inch Loss 9.75. Not bad for an old lady, like myself. So far this year 17 percent overall. Yea! for me!

Body Bugg Ultimate Loser Contest

Okay, this is the last week of this long contest. I must say I love watching the Biggest Loser on TV it is definately a whole other world living it. I am so bored right now I feel like giving up. But like I said 4 more days I can't give up now. I have done just what a normal person can do. 1lb per week, nothing to scoff about, I am pretty proud of myself. I really wanted to lose 10lbs in 8 weeks but 8 in 8 will do. I just need a change. Wish me luck!
Also I am starting a fund, The Replace the Boobies Fund. This weight loss has taken a lot out of the girls. So I not only have to continue to lose weight but now I have to start saving money and I am not really good at that.

Last Little While

Rose from CandleLighters

Three trees that were dying in the backyard

Todd took them down with a little help from me.

I did load the trailer all by myself!

Daddy on his 84th Birthday!!!

Isn't my Dad Dreamy...I love him so much!

Courteney and Vic's baby Ali.

HALLOWEEN 2008 AT HRI

Stephanie

Kenzie and Dana

Caresa and Susan

Linda

Dr. Edward Durrant getting his 6th patent for Chem-Dry

Todd (aka the Hot Dog) getting his third Employee of the Month within 5 years



I think Craig is Wild Thornberry?? Is that right?

Dave and Ruth


Dr. Durrant, Sgt. Pepper, Mummy, Something geekish
and my Hot Dog Todd.




Ty and Courte aren't they just so cute,
I think they should get married soon,
to bad it isn't up to me. Ty is a wuss he wouldn't give blood.



FINALLY, A KID OF MINE REACH THE MINIMUM WEIGHT
TO GIVE BLOOD




Amber giving blood! Yeah good for her.

HRI Halloween Party

So we had our Halloween Party today!!! Yea! Todd went as a weiner and I didn't dress up, I still have one more opportunity to dress up. I just don't know if I can make it. It is at a co-workers house but it doesn't start for another hour and that's past my bedtime and an old fart tonight. We'll have to see what happens.

Anyway today at our party Todd got "Employee of the Month". Pretty cool, huh. He wasn't even expecting it and I can usually guess who they are talking about but this one went right over my head. But wait, that isn't all that happened.

So we've been doing "The Biggest Loser" at work and I have been trying to slim down a bit (okay a lot). So I made Todd join Weight Watchers with me in February and of course he lost his weight rather quickly. But that little sucker is still losing weight. I tell him all the time he's done and needs to quit eating like a girl on a diet. But I think he enjoys telling people that he is still losing. We have officially become the skinny man with the fat wife. It's sad, I know. But he refuses to eat more and lift weights. Anyway back to the other good news, we've been doing this TBL contest sincs June sometime and well I came in third, so I won one hundred dollars, pretty awesome, huh. I should have been first but one girl changed birth control and lost automatically and another one is still nursing. Oh well, you win some, you come in third on others. I am way excited for both of them!
I'll post pictures from our party on Monday.

Halloween

I am usually not a big fan of Halloween but Todd has been getting into it the last couple of years, so I think we will be having a good time with the Harris party and then I'm sure a really good time at one of our co-workers' party that night. She threatened that if I didn't show up in a costume that I would have to have 5 shots to get in the place. I am a little tempted to take the shots so I don't have to dress up. I guess we'll see.

LIFE CHANGES

Okay in about 10 hours it will be exactly 8 years ago that my life changed as I had come to take advantage of, one day you are there doing your thing and suddenly the carpet gets pulled out from underneath you and it changes your life and puts you on a whole new course. Eight years ago on October 17, 2000 approx. 2:30 a.m. Spenser was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia. That was the first day of life, out of control. Because of course I thought I HAD control, my first mistake.

The next year and a half were to say the least an interesting learning experience. To say the worst, a living hell. I don't mean to sound selfish, but between regular scheduled office visits to Primary Children's Hospital, emergency visits to Logan and Primary hospitals, helicopter, ambulance and driving as fast as I could in the fog to the hospital. Constant worry that any germ could make Spenser sick, constant worry about blood counts, drawing blood, becoming a pseudo nurse and still wondering if and how this is affecting the rest of the family attending football and basketball games. Parent teacher conferences, working, making sure bills were getting paid. Making sure the house was clean, the clothes were clean. Making sure Spenser was feeling as normal as she could. Hospital stays, attempts at immune suppression to restart her bone marrow, the chemo the radiation the hair falling out and her brushing it out to give as Christmas gifts. Christmas for the girls, birthdays, anniversaries, dancing, tryouts, homework, making the team, school, everyday girl stuff. The sores and worries of Spenser must have had (we were both trying to be brave for each other). The operations, the cultures, the ICU, insurance, the meds, these are just a few of the things that could really stress a person out, especially for someone who thought her life was in control.

At the same time, what an experience for my family, I mean really how many of you know a teenage girl that would spend her Saturday nights week after week with their baby sister in the hospital, because she was getting a emergency transfusion. Well I happen to know two of them, they are the most amazing girls anyone could ask for. Anyone would be lucky enough to have one but somehow I managed to get THREE wonderful and beautiful girls.

I have to say that my life isn't exactly where I thought it would be 10 years ago. But, and sometimes I feel really guilty about thinking it is good. I really don't have to many complaints, I mean really everybody has LIFE happen to them, overall my life is pretty damn good. I never expected to be happy again, I really thought my life was over when Spenser passed away I at times thought that I wouldn't be able to go on. It isn't natural to have children pass away before you do. But I still had Kirsten and Courteney, Todd and even myself to take care of, we were still trying to cope with such a loss.

I have to say that not a day goes by that I don't think of something Spenser would have said or done. She is still a big part of my life. I miss her, so much sometimes it hurts. But I now know that she isn't hurting anymore.

Who would have thought that both Todd and I would be working at Harris and not only that working right next to each other, riding together almost everyday (thanks to gas being so high). Sometimes the drive, well I am not going to lie is just to much for either of us to handle. Luckily at night we both have separate floors to be on.
So basically the moral of this long story is - even though it isn't how I thought my life would be, and I miss Spenser so much...it still is a good life and I am thankful.

CandleLighters

Okay so I left one thing out we did the last week in September, because it was just a little more special. So every year since Spenser passed away we go an event that CandleLighters hosts. Basically it is for parents and families of children who have passed away in past years from any form of childhood cancer. And well Spenser did not have cancer I am so grateful to be invited as a family to participate in honoring and remembering our children.
I think and everyone in my family agrees that the first year we went it was amazing, they spotlighted each child and had a wonderful message I think we left feeling a little better than when we came. Since that first year well things haven't been that great but we still go and every year it gets a little better. The best part is that it is at Memory Grove in SLC, it is beautiful there and every year they do it a little earlier in the year so we can enjoy the scenery. If you have the means I highly recommend you going there one day. You'll know I'm not lying.
So on October 1st Me, Todd and Courteney went down to Salt Lake, (we missed Kirsten and Tanner this year) the weather was great, it was warm and clear skies. It was nice and we had a good time, I love to think about Spenser and remember how silly she was just remember her period. Even though I think of her every single day this is just a special time for us. I hope that everyone has the opporturnity to share their greif with people who really understand the circumstances that brought them together. Even though it is hard surrounding yourself with people who really get it, it is just nice.
Anyway every year we get a button made with a picture of our child and this year it was this one. This was taking in Lucille Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford in Palo Alto, CA. The doggy on her head is from the most amazing person I will never meet. Her bone marrow donor.

S.Y.T.Y.C.D.

So You Think You Can
Dance, Dance, Dance, Dance, Dance.

So Mandy, Jen and I went down to the E Center on Tuesday night, not to try out but to watch those amazing dancers from last season. Sometimes I miss seeing my girls dance and sometimes I just don't (mostly the traveling to see my girls dance). Tuesday was one day I missed it. Seeing the joy and happiness that dance gives these people is amazing and knowing that they know they are bringing joy has got to be the best feeling in the world. I have never been one to be in the spot light unless I wanted to be, but never to perform. I had chills the whole night and my throat hurts now to from cheering. I loved it. Here are some pics from that night.

Me, Mandy and Jen

All the dancers

Twitch

Gev