Introducing Clifford and Julie Holmes

My mothers oldest sibling and sister got married this past August in the Mount Timpanogos temple. My aunt has been to all of our celebrations, weddings and festivities throughout the years and it was fun to all come together and celebreat with her.

The Happy Couple
My mother and her dad, step mother and siblings, minus the two angels in Heaven who's spirit and presence were felt all day long.

My Father and I

The Parentas

My good friend Jana who I got to spend a little bit of time with this weekend. Love that Lady!!!

CTS during Pregnancy

It’s interesting the things you take for granted when you have full use of them. I am about 37 weeks pregnant and a week a half ago I started having pain in my arms and hands; at times it becomes unbearable and I have to fight back the tears and its nice when your along and can just let it out. I have not been able to sleep more then a few hours a night I researched online and my signs and symptoms go right along with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is something that can occur in the final months of pregnancy and most of the time will subside after the baby is born.

There are times where I cannot use my hands at all, I cannot brush my hair or put a hair tie in, I cannot hold a pen, and there is severe pain in my hand joints that progresses to a shooting pain or numbness all the way up my arm…whenever I lie down to rest/sleep my entire hands/arms to the shoulder burn and go numb. I try and sleep at night but its nearly impossible most of the time.

A sweet lady I know gave me some splints/wrist braces that have helped some but even at the loosest setting my hands are still numb and painful all the time. The only relief is water; if my hands could be submersed in hot or cold water 24/7 I would be in good shape. I am not one to complain but I am just not sure what to do; my doctors said that there is nothing they can do to help either; Tylenol does not work like my good old ibuprofen and even though my hands are super swollen and legs and feet are the size of elephants they say its normal pregnancy edema and I am just going to have to make due until this little guy arrives. Which I hope will be sooner then later, I am not sure how much more I can take with only a few hours of sleep at night and being in pain all day long.

Ok, now I am off my soap box. I know this is nothing compared to what some people out there face. I live in modern times with technology and medical advances. I wonder what the people in the pioneer days did. They must have been programmed to be stronger then me. I thought I had a high tolerance of pain but maybe I was wrong; or maybe the hands and arms are just so sensitive. Whatever the case; I can do anything for three weeks even being uncomfortable and in pain. And I am grateful for the uncomplicated pregnancy I have had

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome during Pregnancy Articles Pregnancy Today

Happy Birthday

We headed out to the Ranch for my Birthday this year. The Jacobsens were nice enough to host our family. We had a nice meal and they made my favorite dessert a Texas Sheet Cake; it was DEEVINE...What fun company and what a great way to spend a birthday

LOVE THEM JAZZIES

I got these bracelets from my little munchkin friend Joy Forte.

The day after my birthday we headed to Kelly Park and this year it was super nice. One year ago we went up there and the weather was horrible and rainy. It was fun to spend a day of relaxing

California Trip

I wish it was under happier circumstances that we were able to head to San Diego but we had to attend the funeral of my Grandpa Clark. Within a week of hearing that he was having a hard time he had passed on to the other side and I know that he is in a better place. Death still stings but it was nice to be able to go and attend the memorial service and praise the man that he was. My grandfather was a genuine man, he was loved by so many and his legacy will live on. Someone told me that mourning is the greatest sign or token of love so it was great to be able to be with family and friends who cherished my Grandfather as much as I didAshlee and I on the plane...FINALLY...on the way to the airport we got a call from Delta that told us that our place was having mechanical problems and it was delayed for 5 hours. We tried to inform them that we were heading to a funeral and needed to get there but they said there was nothing they could do. Lindsay was flying from Charlotte to Atlanta and then we were all suppose to be on the same flight to San Deigo, with this we were going to miss our connection. The airline did give us some meal vouchers and we got to have a nice breakfast. We did get on an earlier flight then we thought but did not make it to Atlanta for the connection. Thats ok, we got lunch in Atlant with out meal vouchers and then finally made it to San Deigo a few hours later then we should have, but we made it. My parents flight had been delayed as well so we came in close to each other and my Aunt picked up my sister so it all worked out.

On the way up to my cousins home we stopped by our old neighborhood and I wanted to get a picture in front of my childhood home. I do not remember much about San Diego but while I was there I was able to recall some things.My beautiful sisters and I. Everyone was wearing black the day of the funeral and I was wearing bright colors, my mother and I really stuck out

It was so nice to see my Grandmother

The graveside service was very sweet. My uncle and cousins are in the navy and air force and they were at the front of the pallbearers carrying the casket, they looked sharp. My father dedicated the grave and my uncle Brian sang a song. All who attended were able to take a blue carnation and throw it into the ground to be buried with my grandfather. It was very nice

All of us that were able to attend.This is a memory shadow box that I made for the funeral. I am not that creative but this turned out pretty nice. I do like the final creation

This is a picture collage that my sister Lindsay made, I think that I posted this before in a previous entry.

It would not be a trip to California without stopping at a donught shop. We woke up the day after the funeral and decided as a family to go to a waterpark for a fun day. I did not bring a swimming suit so we headed to Target so try and find one. On the way home we saw this little donut shop and just had to stop. I remember now that this was something that our family did alot while growing up. They have the best donuts in California, espically the maple bars. I ate way too many but it was so worth it. The weather was AMAZING...it was over 100 degrees but no humid. Here we are in the lazy river
This is the swimming suit that I got, it is perfect. Here I am at 28 weeks

Here is the whole gang at Raging Waters

We could not leave the airport without getting a Jamba Juice...Razmatazz all the way!!!

Overall this was a very nice trip. My mother brought up something that is very special. Her mother passed away when she was a few weeks away from giving birth to my sister and she alway felt that her mom was up there guiding her way to earth. I feel that same way about my grandfather; he is up in heaven with out little guy and he is going to be up there guiding his way down to earth.

You will be missed Grandpa

30-32 Weeks

30 Weeks

32 Weeks

Growing

I guess its time to post some pictures of the growing belly!!! I wish I had some other pictures of me then the ones I have of the self portrait with the phone but alas, that is all I have. Please do not pay attention to my bedroom in the background. I think I am going to have someone else take some other pictures sometime

Week 30 to come soon!!!

Rest in Peach Grandpa C

My sister created a collage of pictures of my grandpa's life to send to him while he was in the hospital. It made it to his room the day before he passed away. I am glad that he had sometime to see this wonderful piece of art!!!

First Comes...

LOVE...

Then comes MARRIAGE...

Then Comes a BABY in the baby carriage...

Little Boy Phillips: Expected Arrival September 25th

Pictures of the self to come in the near future...It took me long enough to post that we were expecting...

Cruise

For Christmas my boss gave my husband and I a cruise... He told us that is was a late wedding present and two Christmas presents... We were very happy. We decided to port out of Miami and head to Key West and Cozumel. This was my 4th cruise and my husbands 2nd... The Christmas before last we went as a family on a short 2 night cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean and I had cruised on Norwegian and Carnival. This time around we decided on Celebrity and let me tell you what, it was AWESOME. The embark and disembark were so smooth and the service was WONDERFUL... My husband has told me that he does not want to travel any other cruise lines now that he has done this one... Maybe someday we will hit up the Disney Cruise but for now this was great. The first pictures are of the first day, leaving from my parents home, mom wanted to get a picture before we left. We had to drive to Miami and it was not that bad but we took my husbands car, that has no air and it was kinda miserable but we were excited o get down there. We wanted to get there in plenty of time to get on and we were so surprised at how fast we got through the security and onto the ship, the royal Caribbean took twice as long and we were very happy this time around. We got to our room and were met by our stateroom attendant who introduced himself, we could not stop smiling the whole entire cruise because his name was Shetty but in his accent he pronounced it as Shitty, sorry for anyone reading this but it was hilarious. He was absolutely wonderful and evertime we walked out of our room he would just be there to tell us what way to go... It was fun the first little while to just explore the ship... My husband was in heaven because the ship has Sports Center, something that we do not have in our home right now. He could have been content just being in the room relaxing... I guess you could sum up our trip in 3 L words...

Some Lazing, Some Loving and Some Laughter!

Our first stop and probably my favorite was Key West. Our second cruise as a family was here to Key West and it was fun... We decided to rent some bikes and just do some riding and exploring. We hit the southern most part of the continental US and made sure to stop and get some key lime pie, my FAVORITE... Overall we had a nice day. We only went out for a few hours and got back on the ship before most of the other people got back. My husband wanted to sleep, so I went up to the top deck and layed out and read. I brought the second Hunger Games book with me and just relaxed and ready. I ended up getting pretty sunburned which was so stupid but now it is a nice tan and I like it...

Our Second Stop was Cozumel, Mexico and we had an ok time. It was my husbands birthday and I wish it would have gone a little but more smooth... We decided to buy an excursion to the Mayan Ruins and had to take an hour boat/ferry ride to another island. The ride was unforgettable, we were sitting on the front row and the first 10 minutes were fine, but then it got so bumpy and crazy, I had to shut the window and close my eyes. I opened them a few minutes later to a missing husband. He spent the next 45 minutes in the bathroom puking. There were people throwing up all around and I about died with the sound and smell... By the time we got there I was so happy to be on land... my husband was wasted and lucky the next hour bus ride was air conditioned and he was able to sleep a little. We got to the ruins and had 10 minutes before the pouring rain hit. Lucky out guide had offered umbrellas to us, we almost did not take one but at the last minute did. They pass them out for those that want to keep in the shade for the sun but we used it to keep ourselves dry. There were many many people who did not have any protection and were huddled under trees and anywhere else there was shelter... Needless to say we paid alot of money and it really was not great... We then got on the bus for another 30 minute ride to a beach where at least there was a Mexican buffet meal waiting for us. We really were not starving and we knew we still had another hour ride on the ferry again but it was not that bad. We got to hang out on the beach for an hour and that was nice... The view was amazing and just nice to actually be in Mexico. The ferry ride home was better, I had to kinda coach my husband, we sat in the middle this time around and he closed his eyes the whole time. We were running late and they had to hold the boat for us but we made it. So Happy Birthday to Sam, I bet you will always remember this birthday...

The third was a day at sea and we had a nice time. It was actually Easter Sunday. We spent the day relaxing and eating.. Below are the pictures of the dining we had while cruising. We had booked a table for two but when we got there the first night, they seated us at a huge table for 10, that already had an older couple sitting there. They were drunk and very talkative and it was not exactly what we wanted. I asked my husband to go check on why they had changed our reservation. They ended up having some other people complain and they had given up our seats. We were lucky to get it back and the next three nights we were able to have our own table, with the best best waiter and assistant waiter... They made a special chocolae cake for my husbands birthday and they spelled his name Samuelle... It was so cute... The food was great, I really enjoyed the soups and most nights I had a pasta dish that was awesome. I also loved the breakfast... Most morning I would get a plate heaping full of fruit... They had the best tasting fruit and I wish I could have that every morning... it was super YUMMY!!!

Thank You Jose for such a wonderful wedding and christmas present. We also counted this as our 2nd Wedding aniversity becayse it is coming up next month...

Feb Harts Visit and Ashlee's Birthday Fun

What a fun time we had when the Harts came to visit back in March... The pictures here are from Ashlee's birthday in January but then the others are from the fun time we had celebrating her birthday in March...

We decided we wanted to go to Wicked but had a hard time finding good tickets within our price range. My mother ended up going to the box office one afternoon and getting 4 tickets but not all in the same area... We got there and ended up being able to sit by eachother and it was super awesome. I LOVE LOVE THIS SHOW...

We also had a fun time out on the lake a few days... I got to take the kiddos around on the tube for HOURS... it was such a blast...

Such a fun group of kids and families...