My Joy in Life!

As you can tell I am still learning how to use my fancy camera. What ever happened to keeping things simple! The camera is great except I haven't quite figured out how to take action shots.

Thank-you for all your thoughts!

This year has been a wild ride. Last January Chad's grandma died, in February Chad's mom got diagnosed with breast cancer, around the end of August she got an infection while on chemo and gave us quite a scare, this January Chad's grandpa died, and a week later my little sister was found dead. I know you never get more than you can handle but I am putting my foot down I can't handle anymore bad news! The only thing that keeps me from going crazy is my kids. For them, the world still goes on and so I keep moving along with them. I have never been happier for part-time work, basketball practices, indoor games, gymnastics, and homework. I am just keeping busy which, for me is the best thing. I just wanted to say thank-you to everyone that has left messages, sent cards, emails, or just listened to me talk. I think when someone dies so unexpectantly you start thinking crazy things- what could you have done different, said different, etc. and it can all make you a little crazy! Planning her funeral was a surreal experience for Me and my sisters- who knew the decisions that had to be made. But the funeral turned out really nice and it did help us with a little bit of closier.

Angela Leila Varela Hightower

My baby sister died this weekend and I am sitting here trying to put all her pictures to DVD and choose music to go with her pictures. It is the worst feeling to know that you will never see someone again! As sisters you have your arguements and you have your good times but you never think you won't see them again. She was 23 years old and her life was much too short!So I wanted to share some of the pictures.

Prom!

On Saturday, me and my friend Chandra went to work a Junior Prom dance at the state capitol (with the photography company we work with.) Boy was it a trip! It was for Grantsville High School and the kids were ballroom dancing! I mean not just the waltz but they would hold their hands out to be taken on the dance floor and everything. It was like we were in a time warp. I certainly don't remember kids dancing like that when I was in highschool. Oh, to be young again!

Austin had a great week!

So quite a bit has happened to our little Austin lately. First we got a call from the reflections council and were invited to the awards ceremony for Austin's painting. (His friend Keegan also got an achievement award in the 3D art.) Only the top 2 go on to county and they were both junior high kids but he got an achievement award which was exciting. Then today we found out that before his painting went on to the council level he took 3rd in visual arts at the junior high reflections contest. This was pretty cool because they were competing with 7th and 8th graders (he's in 6th).

I blogged a little while ago about the science fair project he had to do- well today he had to meet with the judges. He wasn't feeling good so he came home after the science fair. About 4:30 we started getting phone calls congratulating him. He won first place and gets to go on to the county science fair! He definitly didn't get his brains from me! Anyway he is pretty excited!

Fun in the Snow!

Even though we haven't had very much snow we found time a week ago to go sledding. They had jumps built in the snow that the boys kept taking air on. London carries her own sled now- that's great!

My last late night blog- I promise!

My mom painted all of us girls pictures for Christmas and I think they are awesome so I thought I would share. The painting she did for me is from a black and white photo I took of my three kids about 2 years ago. The one with the Dad and little boy fishing is from a picture of my brother in law and nephew. The one of the beach is for Robyn- if you knew her you would understand. She wanted a painting of a carribean day on the beach. I'll have to post other painting she has done another day- for now I must say goodnight before I fall asleep in my chair.