The conclusion of my love list

I have gone a whole month long listing some things that I love and my list would be not be complete without stating that
I LOVE my boys!
I could go on and on why I love them so but that would be a huge post and I will save my words to tell them personally what they mean to me.
They are my greatest love(s) of all.

Taken exactly one year ago today after Jack and I returned from a month long trip to Florida. When Jason decided to grow a beard and then shaved it into this.

Being a Member.

I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I had the privilege of being born and grew up as a member of this church. I learned at an early age from my parents and through primary teachers and songs that Jesus loves me.
That has made all the difference to me.
Over the years I have learned much more and my testimony of the truthfulness of this Gospel and Faith has grown .
I AM WHO I AM and WHERE I AM today because I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I love Disney Days.

The Brenchley family and trips to Disney go hand in hand.

When we were growing up my dad had conferences every April in Southern Utah so we would take the break with him. Spend time time in St. George and then travel to California to Disneyland. We would do this every year. Sometimes we hit Disneyland twice in one year if we were lucky or like the one time when we got REALLY lucky and mom won us a trip to Disneyland, hotel and airfare included!

It is what our family did growing up.

Now that we are older and especially because my parents and now our little family lives close to Disney world we still do it. We find ourselves there often. If anyone comes into town we have to go. I love to go because even though we have gone many times it is something we share and still get excited about. It has been fun sharing the experiences with Jack, Grace and even new things to Jason.
As a group it is so carefree we are up to do anything or go to any show or ride. We know what rides to hit first where the good places to eat are. Where the prime spots for parades and fireworks. I get so excited when I know a Disney day is coming up.

Yesterday was a Disney day. It was a beautiful day, the best day of the whole month. It was warm and not windy and in the 70's.

We played at the park in the morning and hit the rides before the crowds.

In the afternoon Kate had to leave for work so Jason left with her to get in a few hours of studying . We took a break from the park and headed over to the Grand Floridian Hotel to play on the beach and to relax. Some of us (dad) took a nap in the sun while others played and watched Jack in the sand

Then it was back to the park to meet up with Jason and Kate for dinner and one of Jack's favorite the FIRE WORKS! Jack wanted out of his stroller and on Jake's lap to watch.

Mom and dad were kind and watched Jack while the big kids hit our favorite Big Thunder Mtn,

Then to end the day mom found a bubble gun that she wanted to use for school. Every time we go she is on the look out of these guns and yesterday was her lucky day.

Jack was the tester outer. As we were walking out we just followed the bubbles that were surrounding Jack.

Disney Days with my family are truly the best. I love them.

Uncle Jake

Is in town!
We picked Jake up at the airport yesterday afternoon. The rest of the day was spent chip eating, laughing, tickling ,show and tell, Pei Wei dining and even a trip for frozen yogurt .
Jack had to sit by Uncle Jake at the restaurant and in the car and was sad when he headed home with Nana and Pepi.

Jake is here for some much needed R&R. I hope he gets a lot of it today at mom and dad's because tomorrow we are ALL (Jason included!) headed to the Magic Kingdom.
Where I am sure Jack will not leave his side.

We LOVE having visitors!

My Mini Vacation in Three Parts.

I got to have a mini vacation this last week and weekend. On Wednesday Jack and I caught a ride with Kate to mom and dad's house. Griffin, Kate's fiance was coming into town and there was to be a party and other fun things happening that we didn't want to miss.

It was nice to get away for a couple of days and to be with family. Sweet Nana took Jack to build a bear for a valentines gift. Out of all the animals Jack chose a Panda bear. He is real into the sneezing panda videos on youtube and loves the movie Kung Fu Panda. So it was exciting for him. He was so cute with his new bear.

Walking away a very happy boy.

Friday night my parents took me to WICKED! I have been wanting to go for the longest time. I had read the book listened to the wicked cd many times. However none of that compared to actually seeing it performed. I had goosebumps the second the music started. It was so wonderful and I LOVED it.

I had listened to the music while I was sick a lot and to be there healthy was unreal.

It was also a fun night out with my parents. I was sorry that Jason could not be there but I will just have to go again to take him.

Part 2

Saturday we headed down to Sarasota to the beach to take engagement pictures with Griffin and Kate. There is this spot that everytime we go to the beach I think how great it would be to have pictures there. I wanted to do family pictures but it never happened. It was the perfect place for the engagement pictures. Here are some of the behind the scene shots I took while they were having their pictures professionally taken!

This little guy loved running around and playing in the sand.

It was windy and cold so this is how they warmed up in between shots.

mom and I were sitting in the car watching and I had to get out and take a picture of this scene.

It was fun to watch Nina their photographer work her magic. We cannot wait to see the pictures. After the beach we met up with Grandma and Granddad for lunch so they could meet Griffin.

Jack never left Kate and Griffin's side. He really has become quite attached to Griffin. I have been calling him their third wheel all weekend.

This is not a suprise though because anything that has to do with Kate, Jack will love.

Part 3

The big engagement open house was last night. Honoring these two love birds.

The house was all decked out with all things love. Roses, candles, hearts and most importantly wonderful desserts.

Those roses in the center were sent to me by my valentine! Even though he was not there he was represented. I sure do LOVE my valentine.

This cake was wonderful I ate three big pieces throughout the night.

Mom and I made a good pair. Planning and executing the desserts. We had fun making the truffles and dipping the strawberries togther and glazing the sugar cookies. I had fun being in the kitchen with my mama. Dad also did a great job of adding great ambience to the house. With his decorating of the table. He got the fountain working in the front and added some beautful pink hydranga bushes. It was quite the welcoming sight.

It was fun watching Kate and Griffin throughout the night. He brings out the best in her. You can tell they are so happy and in love. This weekend with having Griffin here and seeing them together and the engagement pictures and party really made it all real.

Our little Kate is getting married. We couldn't be more excited for Kate and Griffin to begin their lives together.

I love that I can vacation where I live!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

My Valentine and I love peanut butter treats. So yesterday I whipped up a batch of these awesome cookies. They have become our favorite peanut butter cookie. Not only is it a great cookie but you put a Reese's peanut butter cup in the middle to make it even better!

They are super easy and what I love is that you put then in muffin tins. So when you press the Reese's cup into them they look like little tarts.

This recipe is from allrecipes.com if you haven't visited that site it is wonderful for all your cooking and baking needs.
If you heart peanut butter like we do you will love these!
Happy Baking!

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
3. Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.
4. Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Sams

I love a good trip to Sam's Club.

As sad as it is. Sams is usually the place that Jason and I go for time together. I was filled with excitement when Jason told me last night that he needed a break and wanted to go to Sams after school today.

We left Jack with Kate and headed out for a little break. We like to look at the tvs and the furniture and dream of life after school when we can purchase these things. We check out the books and today came away with the second of the Hunger Games books. Jason started Hunger Games Friday night and finished it early Saturday morning, He had had a hard week and said he needed a good story. I am leaving this week for my parents from Wed to Mon so it is here for him for a break when he needs it.

We then get the cleaning supplies that we need and make clever comments about how the cleaning wipes that we favor are better and CHEAPER than other ones. Then off to the food section and we finish at produce. Our favorite. We come away with three types of berries and assorted vegetables for snaking. I am trying to get Jason to snack on other foods besides candy. He and Kate are coming around. Kate even commenting how snacking on vegetables make you feel better!

Then we load up the car and our trip home is filled with easy banter and inside jokes. Who knew a trip to Sam's club could be so exciting...and a whole post about it too...exciting I tell you!

I do love a good trip to Sams.
Especially if I get to do it alone with this man.As you can see Jack likes it when we go too. Just look at that face!

At the Playground.

I love BEING ABLE TO TAKE JACK TO THE PLAYGROUND. Not only taking him there but being able to go down slides and actually "play" with Jack.

My spinal surgery and having numb legs really messed me up. I still am not very good at lifting Jack but thankful he is at an age where he can do most things himself. My legs and arms were atrophied from lack of use after all that time in the hospital so it was hard to bend then. But today I am better at least with my legs. I can kneel but no crouching. Also no Indian style sitting for me. But I can go down slides and I am loving that I can take Jack out to do these things.

I still need help in most things. Like lifting Jack into the car and I usually don't go alone to park where I have to do everything myself. My sweet sister Kate did all of the hard stuff which helps me focus on what doing what I can. It is so nice to have that help.

Jack wanted to be our photographer and take our picture. He got most of us.

Oh la la like a model in the wind.

It may sound like a simple thing but I haven't been able to just grab Jack and head to a park or playground, Even when he was so restless and there was one just across our complex last year. I wasn't physically there so I love that I can finally do this.
(and being able to do this in February is not too bad either.)

For the love of a good story.

I really love a good STORY.

These are some of the really good stories that have stuck with me. The kind that when I get done reading them I think about them and feel at a loss that the story had to come to an end. Luckily for me I have gotten chemo brain from all the chemicals that were filtered through my body and have read many of these books for a second or third time. Remembering only that I enjoyed the story but forgetting the details so I get the advantage of falling in love with the story yet once again. Most of the time I hate the decline in my memory, but it really comes in handy with books and movies.

Here are the books that are photographed.

Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand
The Posionwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (I have read everything she has written from her short stories to her novels and she is a wonderful story teller. All of them are great stories.)
Anthem by Ayn Rand I also love the Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The power of one by Bryce Courtenay
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Harry Potter of course. I love these stories because my mom. She got us into them before they were popular. I think of my mom and the excitement we have always shared for stories especially ones where magic is involved.
all the books in The Enders series by Orson Scott Card.
The Secret life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
To Kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee This book was one of the first non young adult book I read and I feel in love with the story and the characters.
The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Man oh Man this book stayed with me. I listened to this one again a week or so ago and liked it even better the second time.
To be completely honest the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer as well. I read them also before they were popular and it was fun sharing them with people who hadn't heard of them. Mainly because I gave them to people who didn't think it was possible to get wrapped up and consumed in a story.

Our awesome library does home delivery and The Hunger Games finally arrived today. I have been on hold for it for forever. I just started it and think I am on my way to loving it as well.

Easy Nights.

I love easy nights!
Those nights where there is no stalling and thing flow easily from tub, brushing teeth to prayer to story to bed. Where when I close the door I hear no sound.

Unlike tonight.This is what I caught Jack doing an hour after he was put in bed.

Easy nights are rare around here.
It is like a mini vacation from the norm for me.

That is probably why I love them so.

My Love List

It is February! A month that is for some reason or another a month all about love. This month I am going to do a love list. Things that I love. Kinda like what we all do at Thanksgiving our thankful list. With a new start of 2010 it is another year...a start of another year away from the bad. There is so much to love these days and I want to remember.

Today on my love list

Having Hair!
It may sound odd or superficial but I love having hair! Longer hair to be specific. For me it is a symbol of the progress I have made. I haven't had to shave my head in two years! Crazy! I didn't realize how much hair can define a woman till I had none. I like how today no one would know that I had gone through any kind of cancer treatment. Short short hair kinda gives it away and people were always asking if I was just daring to have such a short haircut or I had it for some "medical reasons." I love having hair that blends into the crowd.
Here is a look back of my progress of my hair these last four years. In between the bald of course
2006 before it all began again.

2007 after the first transplant. My hair took forever to grow back. This picture was in August and I had my treatments in March.

that hair grew into this. This curly Afro stage. This picture was taken about a week before I started losing it again. I was in treatment getting ready for my second transplant.

2008 started like this. After my second transplant. Just after I got to move back home to Logan. In yet another apartment and ward. Which luckily grew into this a couple months later.2009 brought the need for my first haircut in a couple of years

and the landmark year where I was able to start to wear it up again.

Then to the beginning of 2010.A lot of transformation but definitely something to love these days.