Our Open Book

Thursday, November 4, 2010

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My talk at Mom’s funeral

I am in the middle of packing up my house ( which isn’t something I want to go into right now) and I came up on my talk that I wrote for my Mom’s funeral. This is something personal to me but I am actually posting this so that if I do accidentally lose the notebook, I have it here.

“ My words just won’t do justice to explain the beautiful person my Mother was. Like a magnificent butterfly fluttering from one flower to another, touching each one in different places, she did that to each of our lives. Like icing on a cupcake, double scoop on an ice cream cone, the warm sun shining on a breezy day or your favorite meal cooked after a long drive home- she made things that much better.

A little bit about her: Ma was kind of shy if she didn’t know you, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have anything to say. She would buy little gifts to surprise her friends, but didn’t want to get anything for herself. She was FIERCELY loyal to the ones she loved. If you crossed her family, she wouldn’t have it! Having her in your corner was a blessing! :) She was a sweet one with a feisty side to her! My Ma always wanted to be that kind of person that people love, think is so sweet and make someone’s day- but she was that person and didn’t even know it!

My Ma gave so much to this life. She was a free spirit, for sure. She loved simple things and was easy to please. I can almost smell her kitchen. Her and John always were cooking up a storm and trying different recipes. My heart is just broken. I feel like it is a great disservice to have taken her from this world. If we had more people like her, there would be a lot more smiles, no doubt.

She always made me feel so important, always checked up on things I had talked about in previous conversations. Always made me feel like she REALLY cared, worried and loved me. She was a best friend. And, I know Mother Daughter relationships are a little bit more special, but you know, the more I talk to people that were in her life, the more I realize that she did that for everyone. She made all her friends feel important and loved by her. She just has amazed me with her ability to make so many people feel like they really do matter.

The last time I talked with her she was planning a trip to visit me and she asked how long she should plan to stay. 7 or 10 days? I said a month or just move here!! And now, in some aspects, she got what she wanted, to be with everyone she loved all at the same time. You better believe she is still with us; not just for the fact that she loves us but b/c she is too nosy not to! ;)

Remember her with me:

Remember the love she had for her grandkids and Preston!

Her cute Dakota accent

her secret love for reality shows like Survivor and Big Brother

Remember her enjoying reading a good book on the couch

the way she loved to sleep in on her days off from work and take naps (arms up just like both my boys)

her appreciation for good music (old and new)

remember her telling you she loved you or giving you a good hug

her cute little legs walking into a room

Remember her laugh after she snuck up behind you and scared the living daylights out of you

the way she told a good story

how she listened like a loyal best friend would

the hard work she put into each of us

Her precious little feet

Her love for animals

the love she had for YOU

And, Remember the way she was, REMEMBER TO REMEMBER HER.”

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Christmas 09

Christmas was good this year…a pretty quiet holiday. My Dad and Alli were in Belize for 2 weeks during this time so we just really hung out with Bryce’s family which was always relaxing and fun.

Christmas morning, we had to wake up Elias! Does that ever happen? lol. Bryce and I have really started to feel like Christmas should be about family and the kids. Elias had been asking this whole last year if he could get a Power Wheels for Christmas and we kept saying, “Maybe, if you make good decisions.” Well, I found a blue jeep and it was the right price (ok, it was a bit expensive, but TOTALLY worth it) so I bought it. Christmas morning we opened the other presents (which weren’t much b/c of the jeep) and it was so cute because we had the jeep over at Bryce’s parents so he didn’t see that yet. I thought he was going to be a total brat and be upset b/c he didn’t get his jeep but he was the complete opposite. (This kid never ceases to surprise me) I asked him on our way to Bryce’s parents:

“So, Elias, did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?”

E: “Yup! I did!”

Me: Sorry we couldn’t get your truck/jeep power wheels this year. Mom and Dad just couldn’t do it….

E: “Thats ok. Maybe for my birthday or something.

Awwwwww!!!

Then when we got to Grandma and Grandpa’s, we surprised him and he was sooooo happy. It was so cute to see his face light up. That day, we exchanged gifts with the rest of the family and ate a yummy dinner. Bryce’s family’s tradition is to wear these paper “crowns” and drink sparkling cider. They also usually do a light show about the birth of Jesus Christ….they pin up a big white blanket and have to big lights so all you see is the outline of the figurines….and they tell the story of J.C. and get the kids involved.

It was a great Christmas but what really stands out now to me more than ever as I look back is that we didn’t spend a ton on expensive gifts (except that jeep that burned a hole in my pocket. :) just kidding. ahem. kind of.) but that we had our little family. Our beautiful boys that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with. What stands out is the MEMORIES that were made. The laughter, the love and the Gospel. I feel a lot of gratitude to be a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has changed my life and I am eternally grateful.

Here some other pics from that day:

What a ham!!! Uncle Craig The beloved Jeep.

Elias Tball

So…Elias did his 2nd season in Tball and he really is super athletic. It is pretty apparent. He hits the ball so well, so hard and runs so fast. It amazes me. We took a break b/c it was a tad cold outside but will hopefully resume again in a couple of months. Bryce has always been good at “hitting balls” and playing baseball with him. My heart warms when I see them do this together.

Pribyl Reunion 09

I have a lot of posts to catch up on! Whoa. The day after Xmas (which I will catch up on next) we had a Pribyl family reunion at one of Bryce’s cousins home in Gilbert. It was really nice to get together with Steve’s side of the family because I haven’t really had the chance to get to know them all before. They are very kind people. Bryce’s cousin, Jeremy, held the reunion at his house and it was beautiful. They had a jumpy thing in the back and all of the offspring (:)) played and jumped and got rowdy. It was such a sight to see that many 2nd cousins/kids together…all family in some way. My father and mother’s side of the family have never been that way. I love that the LDS church really encourages that kind of relationship with family.

T’s cousin with Grandma Pribyl

Over the last couple months, Lorraine has watched Tyce a lot for Bryce and I while we go to appointments or date nights….he has really warmed up to her!!! He loves Grandma!

Amber and Derrick-Newlyweds…it was nice to have them here visiting!

The Geigles and Pribyl’s.

Steve and his sister Dana. And below, the twins and I.

That night, the family went around telling stories and memories of Ray and Mary and celebrating the family they made. It was a nice reunion.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Crafts by Elias

I had to stick this one in of Tyce and Elias taken this morning. They just love eachother and I know they will be buddies always. I wanted to post these pics of Elias cute crafts he is bringing home from preschool. He really loves his "school" and his teacher Ms. Neva. Before this yr, he wasn't into glue, coloring or painting but now he is diving right in! I love the cute things he is bringing home. Bryce has a whole wall in his office dedicated to Elias' art work and school stuff. Elias gets very excited when Dad puts the stuff up.

We have had a lot going on the last month- Halloween, Thanksgiving, Pribyl Reunion and birthday parties! More pictures and posts to come soon. Love-K

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Tyce Steven

This was Bryce and I minutes before going back to have Tyce. I don’t look it here, but I was dreading the big freakin needle they were about to put into my spine and the large cut into my abdomen after that. Good news is and was that we got baby Tyce Steven. He was born 05.12.09 at 6:37 pm. He weighed in at 8 lbs 1 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. He definitely made sure we all knew how ticked he was to be pulled out of my warm belly…that is for sure! He was such a brut! So big and burly!

So, about the whole birth…things didn’t really go as planned. That’s why they say, “ Don’t even make a birthing plan”. After I had Elias via C Section I looked back over the years and really felt robbed that I couldn’t give birth normally. I really felt like if I was more educated about the birthing process back then, I would have NEVER said ok to being induced. That, I believe, led me to my c section. Anyways, so when I learned I was pregnant with Tyce, I went to the same doc as I did with Elias. I had asked him if he would be willing to do VBAC (vaginal birth after c section) and he said “Its too dangerous”. So, naive old me believed him and went on my way, planning to have a repeat c section. I didn’t want this. I am terrified of surgery. I wanted to experience a vaginal birth. I wanted to try “all natural”. My mind was all there. But, I was told it was too dangerous. Well, about 6 wks before I was due, I kept getting nervous about c section. I scheduled my surgery for the week I was due. I felt like the Spirit was tapping my shoulder to try for vbac. I started looking online and reading and researching vbac statistics and talked to some fellow vbac supporters I knew. Bryce was nervous b/c he believed our current doctor before reading anything. He just wanted me and baby to be safe. I told Bryce that I really wanted to try for vbac. The more I read and talked to others who knew about it, the more I felt like it was the right thing to do. Long story short, I changed doctors 3 weeks before my due date. Call me crazy, its my middle name! :) I changed to a practice that delivers vbac often; more often than my previous doctor. My new doc, Dr. Phillips, was kind, quiet and open to my concerns. He didn’t rush me out of his office. He gave me answers that I felt were the truth. He told me he would support my efforts to try to deliver vbac. About a week before my due date, I had been stressed to get to a doctors appt on time. I was rushing and sweating; no bueno. I got to the Doc’s office and they checked my blood pressure. It was high. Went over to Triage and was still high…so over the next week, nurse and Doc said I couldn’t drive and to basically be on bed rest. I was so upset and totally in denial that I was having a hard time and on verge of being toxemic. After some stress testing days later I had another follow up appt. My blood pressure was still high and my Doc told me that it won’t get any better (BP) until I have the baby. I wasn’t dilated at all nor effaced. He said my cervix was still pretty hard and I was just 2 days shy of my due date. I was sooooo swollen and now he did consider me toxemic. Bryce and his parents were really concerned. Dr. Phillips explained that when this happens, he would normally induce. But, since I have had prior c section, it wasn’t very safe. I just said, “lets just do the C-section” I was really upset and sobbing at this point. That was at 10 am. He told me to go home and come back around 2 pm to get ready for surgery. I wanted to spend my last hours doing something fun with Elias. So, we took him to Pump It Up and I watched Bryce and him play and jump. I think the hardest thing about knowing when I was going to have Tyce was spending my last hours with my first born. I was excited to have Tyce but sad that just Elias and Mommy chapter would turn a page.

We went home and got ready and went back and that evening,

Tyce was born!!!! Elias, since day 1, has been in awe of his baby brother. I think the sweetest thing is the two of them interacting. Tyce LOVES his big brother. And, Elias feels the same about Tyce. There has only been one time that Elias has really complained about Tyce. Elias has been such a big helper with Tyce…very over protective. Elias makes funny faces and Tyce’s eyes light up whenever he sees big brother. Tyce has been so sweet….he has always been a good eater; he's all business when it comes to eating. Elias use to eat for a good hour and take his sweet time. Well, Tyce is exact opposite. He is a little chunker and already weighing in at 19.5 lbs at 4 months. Yowza!!! He likes to sleep too! He smiles often and loves to be held facing outward. I also love that everyone seems to think Tyce looks a lot like me and my side of the fam. Its nice to hear b/c Elias is a clone of Bryce! Handsome boys…all 3 of them. ;) We feel so blessed for our baby Tyce and our big boy Elias. They both bring happiness to our home! Here are the latest shots of Tyce. He is 4 months in these last two pictures. With Love, Keri