Still laughing about it

So, you might not find this too funny, but even months later, I'm still laughing about it. It's probably one of those moments where you just had to be there. I think it was a combination of the casualness in Lily's voice, and the look on Tyler's face.

On our way to Colorado back in August. On I-70. Right in the middle of NOWHERE. Lily says;
"Please pass the scissors please."

I can't even remember why she needed scissors, but she was shocked that I didn't have any to pass back to her. I was actually kind of surprised I didn't have any either. She pretty much freaked out and cried about it when I told her I didn't have any scissors to pass back to her.

Luckily I remembered to pack the scissors when we went to St. George last month. I was prepared when she asked me to pass the scissors (and she did ask.)

Happy Halloween

Lily: Let's pretend it's Halloween.
Me: We don't have to pretend, because today really is Halloween.
Lily: I know, but I'd rather just pretend it's Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

West Elm Part 2

All this publicity seems to be good for business.

We were featured on 3 T.V. spots, 1 magazine, and countless Blogs, Twitter,

Instagrams, and Facebook updates.  Very exciting! If you want to see the video above without it being cut off, you can click on this link to view it instead: STUDIO 5.

West Elm

Tyler and I were excited when West Elm contacted us about selling some of our products in their new Salt Lake City store in City Creek. We were even more excited when they asked us to do an installation for their grand opening this week!

Reed Thatcher

Here's an article from KSL about our awesome neighbor who participated in the Race.

They got a few fact wrong, but I still love it.

SOUTH JORDAN — One day Reed Thatcher was living an active, generous life. The next day he was fighting just to survive.
"He woke up really late one night (four years ago) and told my mom he had a really bad headache," said his daughter Becky Nielsen. "He was sweaty and clammy, and he got up to use the bathroom and collapsed."
The 79-year-old suffered two kinds of strokes and spent seven weeks at the University of Utah Medical Center. Doctors weren't sure he'd live through the night, so they advised the family to take his recovery day by day.
He battled back, but the body he once used to help his family with projects and physical tasks was now as much a burden as it was a blessing.
"Before the stroke, he did 100 push-ups a day, worked on the loading dock at Kohl's," said Nielsen, one of Thatcher's three children. "He was so active right up until the day before his stroke, he was helping his son-in-law put new floor boards in a condo."
The stroke severely hampered his ability to do some of life simplest tasks.

"He hasn't been able to drive," Nielsen said. "He can walk with a walker, and it didn't affect his mind. But physically, he's pretty limited."

The stroke may have changed Thatcher's physical abilities, but it didn't change his attitude.
"My dad had never complained, ever," said Nielsen. "Even now when he struggles to get up, and then once he does, he's shaky, if you ask him how he is, he always says, 'I'm good, just good.'"
Thatcher and his wife of 57 years, Gloria, moved to a smaller home in South Jordan last year so she could more easily maintain their yard.
That's when they became neighbors with a woman named Trisha Thurber. The former programmer at Hill Air Force Base has been battling brain and skin cancer since April 2011. The disease made it impossible for her to work full-time and she had to sell the home she bought in South Jordan — as well as drain her savings account — in order to pay her mounting medical bills. On Saturday, Sept. 29, her friends and family hosted a 5K fun run to help with her medical expenses.

He never gave up. And he always told us, 'You don't quit.'

–- Becky Nielsen, daughter

So Reed and Gloria Thatcher pinned race bibs neatly on their shirts and walked 5 kilometers for Trish.

It was the farthest he's walked since his stroke.
"He walks about a mile every morning to stay active," said Nielsen. "Doctors told him it would help. He's still just determined to get better. He always says, 'When I get rid of this walker and can do things on my own, I'm buying another truck.'"
His family is inspired by his attitude and efforts on behalf of others every day. This time neighbors, friends and strangers witnessed it. It moved Thurber so much that later Saturday night, she and her mother visited Thatcher in his home.
"They brought my dad a gold medal for walking for Trish," said Nielsen. "They were so touched that he showed up bright and early to show his love and support for Trish even though it is so difficult for him."
Thatcher downplayed his participation. Nielsen reported him saying, 'She's such a nice little gal, I'd do anything to help her.' She continued, "He's just so patient, always really optimistic."
Nielsen said both of her parents inspire her because "it would be so easy to give up." But from the time she was young, they've been preaching a different sermon.
"He never gave up," she said. "And he always told us, 'You don't quit.'"
Nielsen said her father guided the family through losing her older brother and her own son, the deaths within nine weeks of each other.
"They just never quit," she said. "They help us all through all of it."

More Trot for Trisha Photos

I'm so lucky to know so many generous photographers. Here are some more photos from M. Hanson Photographer. I love these photos so much! Check out her website again later this week for even more fantastic photos.

Trot for Trisha - The Race

We held our Trot for Trisha 5K race yesterday to raise money for my sister Trisha.

It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. Trisha had such a great time.

My cousin Justin won the race!

The lady who rents Trisha's house came in just a second after Justin.

Friends, Family, Acquaintances, and even strangers came to support Trisha.

There was music, face painting, a raffle, & a bake sale.

The kids had fun participating in the kids run.

 

I love that he participated in the race!

So many volunteers helped make this day possible! Thank you Shaun Stevenett for taking such great photos of the event! See more of his photos HERE. Digital downloads are Free, but if you purchase prints 100% of the revenue goes to Trisha!

Also, we raised $14,701.37 for Trisha this month! Amazing!

Karli's Wedding

My cousin Karli got married yesterday. It was the perfect autumn day for a wedding.

Trot For Trisha Fundraiser

My little sister Trisha was diagnosed with Brain Cancer over a year and a half ago. I'm sure you all know that, but you can read her full story by clicking HERE.

Amazingly she is still alive and can still think and function! 

My friend and I (like so many others) wanted to do something special to help her with all her medical bills & surgeries. We also wanted to earn some money so that she could go down to California to take some classes on how to make healthy foods that can help her get better. So, we decided to hold a Fundraiser.

On September 29th we will be hosting the Trot for Trisha 5K Run. You can learn about the event and register online by Clicking HERE. The event is in South Jordan. If you don't already have plans, please come support Trisha. We have a suggested donation price for the event, but if the price isn't in your budget, we still want you to come out and run with us anyhow. A neighbor friend is putting together a bake sale at the fundraiser, where all the money will go to Trisha. So come eat some treats if you aren't a runner. We are also hosting a raffle. Each ticket is $1.

My sister, Emily will also be hosting a little girls hair accessory boutique this month to raise money for Trisha. I'll post about her event when I get the information.

We are also hoping to spread the word, so let your friends and family know about this event via Facebook, email, and Twitter.

Thank you to everyone who has offered to volunteer and have done so much for the event. Who knew that hosting a Run would be so much work? Trisha really appreciates it. Our whole family can't thank you enough!

http://trotfortrisha.blogspot.com/

An Almost 24 Hours of Fun & Relaxation

 It's been a long time since Trisha or my mom have had a whole day of relaxation and fun, so for Trisha's birthday, Emily and I booked a night at the Chateaux hotel at Silver Lake in Park City.
We spent our time shopping, hot-tubing, & enjoying the scenery. Our hotel was very nice. It had 2 large bedrooms, 4 beds, 3 fireplaces, a kitchen, washer/dryer, family room, and a balcony with a view.

We bought matching striped hoodies. They were only $4.50 each, originally over $50. We wore them to dinner because it was a lot colder up in Park City than Salt Lake. We got a lot of strange looks. One man laughed hysterically at us.

 We at at this cute little restaurant with a patio on top. It actually ended up being a saloon and they had to check our ID's. We ordered our food without dressing (cause we're weird like that). After the waitress brought us our food, she pointed out the fine print on the menu that stated: "Custom orders really upset us." I'm not sure why she pointed it out after they made our food, instead of beforehand. Although the food was very yummy, and the roof-top dining was fun, I don't think I'll eat there again, since ordering a sandwich without the dressing on it upset them so much. LOL.

It was a fun, nice, relaxing getaway. It's just too bad that Trisha and my mom have the worst luck ever and had to return to reality, which for them just isn't fair. We'll do it again, but next time we'll make sure the reality they return too isn't quite so harsh :(.

Best Summer Ever!

Ella keeps saying that this is the best summer ever, and it keeps getting better. She's right. It has been the best summer ever. Yesterday we drove out to the Ghost Town in Eureka, Utah. My kids loved seeing all the old buildings & eating lunch with their cousins. Later we went swimming at Tyler's parents house. It was the first Labor Day in years that we didn't have to work. Hooray for Best Summer Ever!

 

Colorado

My dad moved to Denver, Colorado 12 years ago. Last week the girls were Off-Track, their friends were either in school or out of town. It's hard to get any work done when they are home, so we decided it was the perfect opportunity for a quick-road trip to visit my dad, since we had never been out that way.

 The scenery on I-70 was so beautiful!

My kids loved going through all the mountain tunnels.

We visited Tiny Town.

 

Ella loved eating Pizza at a Restaurant in the Mountains.

We ran into my friend Lillian at the Denver Zoo.

We also played at some parks, went shopping at Nordstrom Rack, walked around a Lake in the Mountains, & found a Baja Fresh. Although we were only there for two days, we had a great time! Lily wants to know if we will be going back to Russia anytime soon. (Russia is what Lily calls Colorado.)