Vacation Day 1 - On the Road

We actually went on vacation back at the end of August so I am really behind but I wanted to post a little here and then eventually I will do a slideshow with all our pictures.

Brad and I stayed up late packing and getting things ready for our long trip and then got about 3 hours of sleep before getting back up to load up the car and head out. We were able to transfer the boys from their beds to the car without too much trouble but once Tyler realized what we were doing he was wide awake with excitement. We left SLC about 3:00 a.m.

Brad did the driving while I tried to rest but my car anxiety reared it's ugly head and I was unable to sleep or even close my eyes really. We drove straight to Las Vegas and stopped at Circus Circus for the breakfast buffet. That was a lot of fun and we gorged ourselves on food.

We changed the boys from their PJ's in to clothes in the parking garage at Circus Circus. It was sweltering hot and humid even at 8 a.m. Before we went in I told the boys "stay close to Mom & Dad, this place will be unlike anything you've ever seen before" and it was. Of course they have never seen a casino! After eating we went upstairs to check out the amusement rides area. Tyler really wanted to ride the rollercoasters and other rides but I wasn't about to pay $7 a ride when we would be riding out guts out for the weeks. We just walked around and saw what was there. It was also here that we discovered that Trevor had never been on an escalator before. His eyes were wide in amazement at that moving staircase!

After eating we went upstairs to the amusement park area. Tyler really wanted to ride the rollercoaster but I wasn't about to pay $7 for one ride when we would be riding rides all week. We just walked around and saw what was there and then got back on the road.

Below is the mountain with the rollercoaster inside Circus Circus

Once on the road again we had a long. boring drive. I took a turn driving though Nevada and Arizona but turned it back over to Brad once we entered California traffic. Driving in to San Diego was a welcomed relief. We were all tired of being in the car and were hungry again (we never stopped for lunch after the huge breakfast). We went to the hotel and got settled in and then found a dine-in Pizza Hut and got some dinner. After that the boys went swimming in the hotel pool while I iced my sore, swollen feet. Apparently my body doesn't like sitting in a car for 13 hours and they were as swollen as the day I delivered Trevor! By 8 p.m. we were ready to crash and crash we did. We all slept really well during the whole trip because we were so exhausted by the end of the day.

School's back in session!

School started again for Tyler on August 24th. He started first grade in a brand new school! He's liking his teacher and it seems like this will be a great year!

Trevor started preschool this year too. He's in the 3-year-old class so he gets 2 years of preschool. He loves Tuesday & Thursdays because those are school days!
I tried really hard all summer to get Tyler into the Dual Immersion program at his school but as of today he is still #2 on the waiting list. I really wanted him in the program because I feel that he is smart enough to learn in two languages. It makes me angry that kids from outside the school boundaries get in before kids who live in boundaries but at this point there is nothing else I can do.

Ledgemere

Back in July when Mike & Ashley were visiting from Texas we went up Big Cottonwood Canyon for a dinner at Ledgemere. It's just a little picnic place about 2 miles up the canyon and it was so fun. There is a little stream and a cave to explore. But first we roasted hot dogs and cooked foil dinners.

Brad and Tyler roasting hot dog over a smokey fire. Grandpa Newman is in the background. He was the designated fire builder and tender.
Baby Chandler being his usual cute self.

Brad, Trevor, Taylor, Gavin, Lincoln, Tyler and Kaylee climbing the rocks. It made me nervous. On a side note: Trevor, Taylor, Gavin and Lincoln were all born within a year of eachother. Lots of boys!!

Jeff, Jamie, Taylor, Gavin, Kaylee in the cave (Trevor is hiding in there too)

Tyler & Trevor in the cave

Unfortunately the cave was full of graffitti, which is a testament to what this world has come to. We could only go about 50 feet in to the cave before it got too full of water.

Family Pictures

In July we did family pictures at Wheeler Farm. They were done by my sister-in-law Rachel's sister-in-law Angie. I want to have her do more of my kids. If you're ever in need of a good photographer I highly recommend her. Here's her blog: http://www.angiestevensphoto.com/

Here's the whole Newman clan:

Bankhead Reunion

Back in July we went up to Eden, UT for the long anticipated family reunion. After my grandpa died I really didn't feel like going but I knew it was important to him that we all be there so I went. It was blazing hot so we....

spent time lounging at the pool (isn't Trevor hilarious in his floatation suit and goggles?)....
lounged in the shade (this is Tyler and my niece Lilly)...

and played lots of games to keep busy! (Tyler and Jonas on stilts)

Janeen with Hailey, Kyla (her niece that came with us) & Lucy and Jeanette with Avery

Fun was had by all. Brad participated and did really well in an arm wrestling contest and also did a basketball free-throw contest and a golf game. I mostly wrangled kids, made balloons for kids and sat in the shade complaining of the heat. On the last day when we were trying to do a group picture with all 240+ people I felt really awful and it showed. By the time we got home to Salt Lake I was sick with the flu in a way I've never been sick before. Not a fun way to end an otherwise great weekend.

Funny things

A few things have struck me as funny lately. Thought I would share...

This Chinese restaurant named 'The Great Sandwich'. You may not be surprised when I say their parking lot was empty. With a name like that who knows what kind of food they serve?!?

This little beauty was spotted in the Jordan Landing parking lot of Chick-fil-A. I suspect it is a high school prank. I wish I had thought of something like this back in the day when I sought revenge on that ex-boyfriend (you know who you are!). Tyler asked me why there was tape around this car, when I told him I didn't know how said that maybe the driver did it so that no one can steal it.

This kid works at the Little Caeser's Pizza on 5400 S at about 4800 W. Every day on my way home from work he is out there rocking his cardboard guitar advertising $5 pizzas. Thing is, he has long mangled hair and he totally rocks out to his headphones. I mean, he really gets into it. I was a little bummed that he saw me taking the picture because I wanted to show you the full effect of his, well, magnificence. What you can't see very well from this picture is the area on his guitar where the print has worn off from his repetative playing. Oh, if we could just all enjoy our jobs this much.

And finally, while shopping at Walmart I came across this thermal beer bottle holder with a BYU theme. I found it a little ironic that the U of U ones were completely sold out but it appeared as if no BYU ones had sold. Now, I'm not saying that all BYU fans are mormon, or even that they live the word of wisdom, it just really struck me as funny that day. I suppose you could put your glass bottle of IBC rootbeer in there to keep it cold!

Swimsuits

In preparation for our upcoming reunions and vacation I decided to buy new swimwear for the whole family (I mean, when Old Navy has it $5 per piece how can you pass it up?). Turns out Brad wears a size SMALL. I won't even mention what size I had to buy for me.

Oh Trevor!

Someone loves his new green Incredible Hulk crocs so much he had to wear them to bed.

Balloons Everywhere!

So, I took a community ed class. I wanted to expand my horizons, learn something new, have a little fun. So I decided on balloon art. I am no pro or anything but the boys are having fun with this new skill. I took three classes and have also rented books and DVDs from the library to learn additional things & get more practice.


Sure, I will do it at your kids birthday party; no I will not dress up like a clown.

Rain Rain Go Away!

I am so done with you. I appreciate all the water you have given to my grass & garden and the money you have saved me on my water bill but when I came home from work today to find my pretty pink petunias looking like this:

It just sent me over the edge. Please come back next year.

Respectfully,

A water-logged Utahn

High Aspirations

Tyler has a new favorite TV show. It is called WipeOut. You may have seen it on ABC. It is a show where contestants compete on a gigantic obstacle course for some large sum of money. Tyler knows nothing about the money but is mesmerized by the obstacle course and wants to do it when he is older. Recently he asked me if Brad and I will come watch him when he is on it. He is convinced that once he turned 18 he can be on the show. I have never watched the show but today a co-worker of mine told me the show is fun to watch but full of innuendo. I hope he doesn't pick up on that or his days of watching it will be over. Anyway, proud to see that my boy has such high aspirations in life!

Southern Exposure?

Today the cashier at Old Navy asked me where I was from. Apparently I have a Southern accent.

The funeral

The funeral yesterday was lovely. My grandma, mom, aunts & uncles did a wonderful job planning the service. Lindquist Mortuary was kind and compassionate the whole week and they were so sweet with my grandma yesterday. My aunt Shannon added special touches throughout the day that made everything that much better. During the service I learned things about my grandpa that I hadn't known before and my cousin Catie (I don't know her age, maybe 10?) sang "You Are My Sunshine", a song grandpa used to sing to her. They added a few verses to the song and I will tell you it was so powerful I doubt there was a dry eye in the audience. There was also a male quartet that sang "Oh My Father" which has been one of my favorite songs since it was sung at my Dad's funeral. My Grandma & Grandpa Thacker surprised us by driving from the Uintah Basin to the funeral. Seeing them was a really emotional moment too- feeling their love for us and seeing them when we know they are not in the best of health either. The viewing prior to the funeral was hard, seeing grandpa not looking like himself because he had been so sick, but I am grateful that I got the opportunity to say goodbye, tell him how much I love him and how proud I am of him for how hard he fought.

The interment was at Paradise City Cemetery. It's in Northern Utah on your way to Logan. The cemetery is a beautiful resting place. He had full military honors provided by the Hyrum Legion. During their program and as they spoke again of the wonderful man he was and the life he led I felt so proud to be his granddaughter. I had never attended a military funeral before but the flag ceremony and gun salute were very powerful.

Trevor loved the flags. I had to watch him closely so he didn't pull one down.


After the graveside service we drove back to the church for a family dinner. When we got there the air show at Hill Air force Base had just started the fighter jets. We stood in the church parking lot watching and I think the adults enjoyed it as much or more as the kids did. It was a little bit of perfect irony if you ask me that the air show was the same day as the funeral. You see, grandma and grandpa have lived in Layton for 30+ years and as a child when we would visit them if an a F-16 flew over it was a little scary to me. The noise was so loud that conversation would have to pause and the house would shake. To them it was a normal occurrence, to me it was strange and cool at the same time. The fighter jets were did amazing formations in the air show and we had a great time watching from the church parking lot as we waited for the rest of the family to arrive. The picture above is when 4 would fly together. Once they were so low I ducked (instinct, you know).

I loved this formation in the air show- they formed a heart and it was perfect for the day!

The dinner that the Relief Society put together was wonderful and a nice close to a nice day. There are some kind and generous people in that ward. But because I can't have too nice of a day, Trevor threw up during the dinner, all over himself and the gymnasium. Nice.

Obituary

Samuel Clair Bankhead 1933 ~ 2009 LAYTON - Samuel Clair Bankhead, 76, died at home on May 30, 2009 of leukemia. He faced his illness with courage, grace and good humor. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he was also a friend to all and a much-loved church leader, influencing many through his service. Clair was born February 18, 1933 to Samuel Leo and Harriet Taylor Bankhead in Logan, Utah. He was raised in Avon, Utah, and graduated from South Cache High School. He married his sweetheart, Mary Jean Bailey, on June 12, 1951 in the Logan Temple. He earned a masters degree from Utah State University and served in the Army following the Korean conflict. He resided with his wife and children in Paradise, Bountiful, and Layton, Utah. He was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving faithfully in many callings including Scout Master, High Councilman, Bishop, Stake President, and Stake Patriarch. Clair worked for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for over 30 years. As Director of the Real Estate Department he traveled extensively throughout the world seeking sites for temples and other properties, working closely with the First Presidency. He had a lifetime love for farming and ranching and maintained several acres of farmland and a herd of beef cattle. He and his wife enjoyed traveling with their children or with friends, and Clair enjoyed hunting trips with his boys. Clair is survived by his loving and supportive wife, Mary Jean, and seven children, Douglas Bankhead (Marilou), Melanie Thacker, Paul Bankhead (Connie), Gina Elder (Robert), Karen Bankhead, Dan Bankhead (Heidi), John Bankhead (Shannon), 25 grandchildren, 23 great-grand children, brothers Leo Spence Bankhead (Diane) and George Dee Bankhead (Anita), sisters Barbara Thompson (Max) and Lois Faye Leishman (Reed). He is preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law, Jim Thacker. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Layton Hills Stake Center, 2300 No. 1200 W. Friends and family may call Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Saturday from 9:30 -10:30 a.m. at the stake center. Interment, Paradise City Cemetery, Cache County, UT at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund. The family expresses appreciation to LaDee Dangerfied, Dr. Clyde Ford, Dr. Finn Bo Petersen and the wonderful staff of LDS Hospital 8 East Bone Marrow unit, Dr. Kelly Stoker, IHC Hospice nurses, and Dawn Amberson. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." ~ 2 Timothy 4:7 e-mail condolences to the family at www.lindquistmortuary.com

We'll miss you Grandpa

Samuel Clair Bankhead

Tonight I got the call the I had been dreading. My grandpa had just passed away. I can't help but feel as though I somehow let him down. You see, I work every day to save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation and yet I could not help him find a bone marrow donor. We don't do bone marrow through the company I work for but still I feel like I should have done more. I was tested to see if I could donate to him and although I had the same 'rare' antigen I was not a match with all the other antigens. I spoke to others about being tested and did a lot of investigation of other possible treatments for him. But nothing worked. He had six months or so of remission and then it came back as ugly as ever. Tonight I feel so angry (at the cancer) and just plain sad. It doesn't help that my relationship with my mom has been strained lately but it still breaks my heart to see her grieving too. Also, the thought of my grandma being without my grandpa is so heartbreaking it can bring me to my knees. I guess I will have to rely on the knowledge that the Lord is in control and that we will be reunited one day, for sometimes that is the only thing that will get me through.