Christmas 2009

The 3 grandkids: Mason n' Mamma:

Cheese:

Santa's Helper:

The in laws:

Mason n' Mamma:Come on and smile:

Mikey and me:

Our family of 3:

Wow, I can’t believe that Christmas has come and gone!! We had a wonderful holiday!! This year wasn’t much different from our Christmas’s in the past however it was a little different. It seems that this year we are closer as a family than we have ever been. This year has had its fair share of up’s and down’s. There were so many times that I just wanted to give up, but I didn’t. I just kept trucking along and trying to do the next right thing!! And we made it through all the up’s and down’s which has brought our little family of 3 closer together! I am so grateful for my family and really looking forward to a fresh new year!!

So on Christmas Eve we went to Mike’s aunts and uncle’s just like we do every year. It was the first year we didn’t stay until 1 in the morning. I guess we’re getting old because we had to retire early this year plus Mason is much of a night owl so we wanted to get him home and in bed so that Santa could come visit our house. Which indeed he did and Mason was spoiled. He was so excited to wake up to all his presents!! He was really excited opening about the first 2 and after that he was already tired of unwrapping things. He’d open one present and want the toy out of the box immediately instead of wanting to open another gift!! After we opened presents at our house we went to Mike’s mom’s where Mason was spoiled again. After Mike’s mom’s and some yummy breakfast we headed down to my mom’s. Again, Mason was spoiled. It was so nice to see my family! We only live 45 minutes away from each other, yet we barely get down there to see them anymore. After my mom’s it’s been a tradition to go to my brother’s for dinner, but this year we skipped his house and went to my adopted parents as I call them. By the time we got there, Mason didn’t even want to open his present from them! What child gets tired of opening presents?

Now it's off to the new year! YIPPEE!!

Christmas Parade

So we watched the Ogden Christmas Parade! It was nothing too exciting and it was absolutely freezing, so you can see that I was trying to dress like an eskimo!! Mason enjoyed about the first 5 minutes of it, then he has pretty much had enough, but it was fun to spend time as a family celebrating the Christmas season!!

Summit Lodge Christmas

Lori, Me and MY WONDERFUL SPONSOR:

So this isn’t something that I go around announcing however at this point in my life I am very proud of my accomplishment…so as some of you know I went into rehab on June 24, 2008 for alcohol. Yes, Brittany became an alcoholic. What a surprise?? However this last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the rehab I went through called Summit Lodge in Fairview, UT. We had our alumni Christmas Party that I had to plan, which was a total disaster to plan however it turned out rather nice! It was bitter sweet to visit Summit again. I was extremely nervous going up there because I was worried about the memories that it might bring back to me. Going into rehab was the hardest decision in my life up to this point however it was the best decision I have ever made in my life. Summit truly saved my life!! We got to sit with the residents and share our stories about our own recovery. It was also so sad to see the residents there, knowing what they are going to go through when they leave Summit. While you are there you are so safe and as soon as you leave you are back into reality without anyone to babysit you to keep you sober. After you leave, it’s up to you to keep yourself sober. I never thought I had the strength and courage to get sober and here I am 17 months down the road and still going strong! Recovery has made me a whole new person. I finally appreciate the small things in life. I have learned to not worry about the future and to try and just live the present moment. I have gained amazing relationships with people that I never had before, including my relationship with God and my inner self. I finally know who I am and what I want in life. I have learned not to settle for anything less than the best!! I have had a wonderful sponsor who has walked through the last 17 months holding my hand each step of the way teaching me how to live a sober life. I consider her a gift from God!! If only I had known years ago the rewards I would be given when I got sober. But I just wasn’t ready and you have to want sobriety for yourself and nobody else. If you do it for someone else then eventually you will fail and go right back to your old routine. I am so thankful for my life in sobriety, for my family and friends who have supported 100% of the way. And most of all, I am thankful for God and for the greatest gift God has ever given me which is my little man Mason. I am so glad I got sober while he was young so that he can grow up with a good mother in his life, which is exactly what he will have! He will have all of me for the rest of his life!! He deserves more than even I could ever give him, but as long as I’m sober I can give him everything that he needs! Life is wonderful, thank you for all my blessings!

Halloween 2009

My little SKELETON!!

Kiara's 6th B-Day

Mason trying to get the pinata:
Just sweet Mason:

Baby Sydnee:

Baby Miley:

Baby Kenlee:

Birthday Girl Kiara:

Mike's cousins little girl celebrated her 6th birthday!! Happy Birthday Kiara. They had a cute magic show and Mason was the spotlight of the party. He kept interrupting the magician!! ha ha, welcome to being 3. He didn't even care to see the bird's that the magician had!! What is wrong with my 3 year old? I think he has a little OCD and doesn't like touching dirty animals!!

Camping Sept. 09

Roasting his first marshmellow ever!! Trailer park child in a diaper!! ha ha...sorry he wanted his clothes off:

Sure needs a haircut, but still a doll:

My beautiful boy:

Mason n' Mamma:

Okay so we only got ONE camping trip in this summer! And we only got to stay one night. Mason loved seeing the water at East Canyon but he's definitely not a camper...yet!! The first night he begged to go home. He claimed he was hungry as if we didn't have enough food there to feed him. Ha ha. Needless to say he got his food the first night along with his favorite movie, so he was good to go!! But on Saturday Mike got pretty sick and couldn't breathe very good so about 5 o'clock Saturday evening we packed up and left. We didn't want his asthma to kick up any harder and end up in the ER!! I was sad we didn't get to stay but Mason had a good time Friday night and Saturday day. All I can say is that at least we got one night in camping all summer!! I had wanted a s'more for the last 2 years and finally I got it!!

Gina's 30th B-Day Dinner

A long over due get together with the girl's for Gina's 30th B-day!! It was yummy food and good chatting. I have missed my girl's so much!! I love you all tons and tons. Thanks for a good night!!

Sister I never had...

I just had to write this out...Biologically I have a half sister. When people would ask me while growing up how many brothers and sisters I had, I would always say I have 3 brothers. I never really spoke of my sister unless I got technical. We have a huge age gap, she's 47 and I'm 29. We never had a relationship. She excluded herself from our family. She'd act like she cared about us when anything "bad" would happen in the family and then she'd fade away again. Part of me has always been a little resentful of her. I didn't like the way she treated my dad and I never understood why she wanted nothing to do with us. I probably never will understand but today I don't need to understand anymore! I have someone in my life who is the sister I never had. I met her when I was 12 and instantly we bonded. We have been inseparable ever since! She hadn't been to Utah in 7 years until this last year...she's made 3 trips and it's been fabulous! I've actually been lucky enough to make it to Arizona to see her a few times over the last few years and hope to make another trip soon! In any case, I just wanted to say how much I love you Tiffiney. You are the sister that I never had and I cherish our friendship!

Mamma n' Mason

Passed out on our drive up the canyon:

Kenlee's 2nd B-Day

After the party - silly Mason: Takes pictures like mom and dad = eyes closed:

Beautiful blue eyes:

Forgot the swim suit!!

Picking his teeth already?:

Mike's cousin Tony & Jilaun's baby girl Kenlee turned 2 this summer! Wow time flies! She is such a shy sweet little girl. I wish she'd let me just squeeze her to death but she is way too shy to even let me hold her! Mason loves Kiara and Kenlee. For now these are the only cousins he has on Mike's side...sweetest little girls!

Random outings!!

Here is me and my old groupies! Erika, Ruthanne and Kelli…I sure miss working with these girls! We always made work a blast. I used to be able to go to work and vent to each and every one of them. They were my vaults!! I love you girls!! Don’t I look like I could be one of their kids? Ha ha!! Cute little Luke is Ruthanne’s true blessing! Such a beautiful little man. Good job RAZ!

First you get to see that my friend Tiffiney came in town from Arizona and got to meet Mason for the first time ever!! She has been my best friend since I was 12 years old. She is like a sister to me! The only sister I have ever had because my real one doesn't count!! Eat that Angie...

4th of July

On the 4th of July we got up early and headed out to the parade. Needless to say, Mason was CRANKY! He’s not a morning person or a very pleasant person when he wakes up. We got to the parade and he liked for about 5 minutes. He loved trying to get the candy however all the “STINGY” big kids kept getting in his way so Mommy took over and started stealing the candy. I mean, what is wrong with parents now days and their kids having no manners? Irritating! After the parade we headed to breakfast at IHOP where cranky pants Mason continued to be cranky!! I tried CREPES for the FIRST time in my life. Can you believe that?? And they were yummy!!

Later that night we lit off a box of EXPENSIVE and non-exciting fireworks but Mason sure liked them!! It was so nice to be home for the 4th of July as we all know I was on lock down last year over the 4th of July so I had to miss out on spending the day with Mason and the family. So I was so grateful just to be with my family on the holiday!! But let me also say how grateful that I was where I was over the 4th of July last year, it truly saved my life!! GO SUMMIT!