It's been a while

Life has been crazy. Last year was the hardest year ever. For everyone in my family. In so many ways. This year is just as crazy. My little sister Trisha is in the hospital. She has 2 inoperable brain tumors, pneumonia, and is on oxygen and a feeding tube. It's so hard to see her so sad. She can barely talk. Lily asked me today what Trisha's new language was because it didn't sound like Chinese or English to her. Not much else is new besides work, and trying to help family as best as I can. Thank you! Thank you! to everyone who has helped us this past year, and especially these past weeks. Just today, I emailed some family members to see if someone could help Trisha at the hospital (she can't press the nurse button very easily) so that my mom could go to a funeral. In less than 2 minutes I had several aunts and cousins fighting over who got to help her. I have the best family.

Also, Lily got her ears pierced back in Dec. and has been asking me ever since If I posted a picture to the blog. Here it is. She was very scared, but she didn't cry.

Over the River

We had Lily's birthday party yesterday afternoon.

 The theme was Lily Red Riding Hood.

We colored, read a story, cut open a Big Bad Wolf piñata

that Trisha made (thanks Trisha.) danced, and ate.

 Each girl got to take home a Little Red Riding Hood cape (thanks mom) and a basket filled with a mini loaf of home made bread, juice, and apple, and a treat.

 17 of Lily's little friends and cousins came to help her celebrate!

Lily had such a fun day!

Lily's friends mom made her these adorable puppets.

Happy Birthday Lily

Hooray! Lily is 5. We are going to celebrate tonight with her friends at a "Lily Red Riding Hood" party. We've invited her friends to come over the river and through the woods to her Grandma's house for games, crafts, and treats.

 

I got a free book printed from Blurb, so I made a little story to go along with Lily's party tonight.

I'll post more pictures of the party later.

November

 

The past few months have been busy. We've done good at squeezing fun things in-between the craziness this year. We went to the Maze at Thanksgiving point this year. The girls thought it was so much fun. Tyler had to work, so he didn't come with us. The girls wanted to go through a haunted maze. We started going through, and Lily got scared, so I left with her. Ella did the entire maze by herself. She's so brave.

 Ella moved on to the next level in Reflections. She entered the Visual Arts category.

 Lily is still creating new fashions on a daily basis.

 Tyler and I have been busy with lost of boutiques.

 We spend Thanksgiving in St. George with my family.

My mom and Trisha had their annual cookie party while we were there.

 Tyler and I went with Justin and Emily shopping for Black Friday. It's much warmer to do Black Friday in St. George. Also, there was a flash mob, which is always entertaining.

 

We went to the Lighting of the tree in South Jordan. We were sad that there was no ice to skate on, but the girls had fun dancing around the tree. We had hot chocolate, visited Santa, went on a horse drawn hey ride, and finished off the night with Frozen yogurt. Ella thought it was the best night ever! 

This weekend we went to see the windows at the Grand America. This is my favorite Christmas tradition. Afterward we found Macy's candy windows, and looked at the lights at Temple Square. Ella and Cait had a fun time giving quarters to the homeless as we walked around downtown.

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.