Abelhouzen Family- A two some that grew some.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-05T19:49:00.002-07:00

At the rate I am going I will probably not post for another 2 months that seems to be my track record. It seems that face book has taken over. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had Tim's parents and his older brother Troy and his wife and kids over for dinner,after dinner we played Bingo for prizes we had so much fun,it was a very nice day.Christmas is just around the corner. The boys are getting excited. We have alot to be thankful for one that we have a job although it is really sloooooooooow right now, new changes coming this year with that. We have a beautiful warm home to come to each night and we have each other and our kids. We just returned home from a 7 day cruise in the Mexican Riviera, where we celebrated 13 years of marriage. Our kids are healthy and happy. What more could a girl want. We have good parents and siblings, some are close others miles away but we all seem to be doing well as well as can be this day in age. We feel blessed with the things we have.I hope all our friends and family are doing well. I know times are so tough and it seems there is no hope in sight but our prayer is that you all have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year, that you are surrounded by the ones you love. I hope we can all remember what the true meaning of Christmas is and that is our older brother Jesus Christ and the best gift ever given the gift of eternal life. The gift of hope, peace and love. May we all remember the reason for the season and keep Christ in Christmas.

Happy 8th Birthday Logan

2010-10-07T19:59:00.004-07:00

Wow what a bad mom I am and better yet a horrible blogger I really need to be better do people even blog anymore now that we have face book? Allot has happened since I last posted. Logan turned 8 and is being baptized by Tim on Saturday. We are so proud of him he is such a helper and a good friend to everyone he is our little missionary he befriends all the less or in actives in our neighborhood and then invites them to church. Tim and I just celebrated our 13 year Anniversary by taking a cruise to The Mexican Riviera. The best 8 days of our marriage. We had a blast! We never got a honey moon so we decided to take one this year and it was well worth every penny we scraped and saved & spent in fact we can't wait to book the next one but take the boys with us this time they will love it. Fall is slowly moving in Hooray out with the hot days of summer and in with the cool nights and mild days of Autumn. I love this time of year it is my favorite. The Holidays are fast approaching, the smell of leaves, pumpkins, candy, Carmel apples, cider, Thanksgiving. Maybe because it gives me the opportunity to really take notice of all the things I have and am thankful for the blessing that are poured down upon me and my family each day. We are so very blessed. See my facebook Desiree Bradford Abelhouzen for pictures of Mexico.I hope you are all doing well. Des

Happy 10th Birthday!

2010-08-02T23:23:00.002-07:00

Today Andrew turns 10 (wow do I feel old). Andrew is my sweet and shy child, very tender and angelic. I am so proud to be his mom. Andrew enjoys school, reading, x box, wii,& spending time with his dad. Happy Birthday buddy we are so proud of the young man you are becoming. Hope you have a wonderful Birthday. Mom, Dad & Logan.

Dreams

2010-02-01T18:04:00.006-07:00

My friend does this she posts the funny things her kids say so I thought I would do the same seems how I never have any time anymore to myself to sit and actually blog! Andrew & Logan are in the tub the other morning and I overhear this: Andrew: I had the weirdest dream last night Logan: ahhh no fair I did'nt get any dreams! I thought it was so dang cute! I am a slacker so I'll do a quick update. We had a great Christmas Santa brought us 4 wheelers and we have tried to use them as much as the weather will permit mostly riding around uncle Todd's Farm for now but we cannot wait until camping season. Tim's mom retired at the end of December so Tim is officially on his own this is bitter sweet for us. Great News! No I am not pregnant hee hee. It is our 13 year Anniversary this Septembert and we are stepping our of our comfort zone and going on our first cruise to the Mexican Riviera September I know this is 7 months away but we are way excited for a week vacation. My cousin is getting married and I would not miss that for the world the only scary thing it is on a crusie ship yikes :{ I am looking forward to spending a week with Tim alone though. We have coaxed well more like begged, pleaded and borrowed some friends of ours to join us and think it may be a go so we'll see. That about sums up our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-24T20:31:00.010-07:00

I know this is a couple days early but the boys are in bed and I don't know the next time I will have a few moments of Quiet to sit down and collect my thoughts before Thanksgiving. I wanted to write a few things I am thankful for. 1. My Family- I am thankful for my eternal companion and the love and friendship we share. I am thankful we can laugh, cry and be mad with each other but still love each other to the moon and back. I am thankful for my kids I am not the most patient mom and I get impatient with them but I love them very much and I am thankful to be their mother. I am thankful for Jonah and for him picking me to be his mom. I only hope I am worthy of him someday. I am thankful for my siblings and parents we are about the most dysfunctional family you will meet but I love them dearly. I am thankful for my In law family I could not ask for better in laws I am thankful for the relationship and friendship I have with both of them I love hanging out with my mother in law our little shopping adventures and the time we get to spend together. I love my Father in Law dearly and I know we were kindred spirits in the Pre- existence.. 2. Friends- I am thankful for the friends I have and the friendships I am building. I am who I am today because of you. I love our girls night out, late movies and dinner, chats on the phone, you name it, I love spending time with you. 3. I am thankful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am thankful for the peace the gospel brings. I am Thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who I know lives, knows each of us our wants our desires, and loves us despite our faults and weaknesses, further more I know he indeed does carry us through our times of trial. I have personally felt him. I am thankful for my Eternal Family and that Tim and I chose a Temple marriage so that some day we will be with Jonah again. 3. I am thankful for my calling in the Relief Society and the love I have for my sisters. 4. I am thankful for trials I know you think I am crazy! I am the person I am today for the trials and tribulations I have personally been through. I have grown in leaps and bounds spiritually through Logan's car accident and losing Jonah. It has strengthened my testimony and taught me of the strengths I never thought I had. It has also helped me to lean on my Heavenly Father more.When I have given all I can and can give no more I can then draw from him for the strength I lack. I am glad he never turns me down either he is always there to lift me up when I fall down. I love that! 5. I am thankful to live in this beautiful city and to be able to raise my children with good values and morals. And that their friends come from great families who beleive as we do. These are just a few of the things I am thankful for I could go on for hours.I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and take the time in the next couple of days to reflect upon some of the things that our Heavenly Father has blessed you with and that you share some of the things you are thankful for with others. Love, Des

I've Been Tagged!!!!

2009-11-20T17:15:00.002-07:00

This is me meeting Jonah in the NICU for the first time. Such a tender moment. I was so scared and he was hooked to so many tubes and wires I didn't know where to touch him. I wanted so badly to pick him up and hold him but all I could do was stroke his perfect little face the only part of him not attached to something. Your Turn- Here are the rules: *Open your first photo folder. *Scroll down to the 10th picture. (if you dont have 10 in that one, then go to the next folder that does). *Post that photo and the story behind that photo on your blog. *Tag 5 friends to do the same. Brandy Christi Michelle Lex Tina

New Business Launch!!!

2009-09-19T15:51:00.003-07:00

Hey fellow bloggers- Tim has started a part time job selling emergency preparedenss and food storage for a company called Prepare Then Share. If you know anyone who is looking to purchase food storage would you send them our way. There are some really great deals that are very affordable going on right now. I would greatly appreciate it. I am trying to get the word out there to help Tim launch his business. Visit the link in my blog buddies for more information. Love ya all. Des

It's a Happy Day!

2009-08-28T06:12:00.003-07:00

Jonah- A day unlike all others; a sacred time had come- a dawning for One Perfect Child; to some a setting sun. Yet, with our understanding of eternity- true faith in Christ, this day is not and ending, but a step towards Eternal Life. As angels gathered round him to complete our Father's plan his tiny reach rose upward to the hollow of our Father's hand. His test was o'er, his mission done; through tears of joy they lullabied Sweet Jonah from his earthly home. And then a loving Father turned to ease our mortal pain, encircling those arms and hearts where Jonah still remained. And through His love He comforted, while whispering, " Tis not the end; We're here preparing ---faithfully return.... Until we meet again." By: Merrillyn Bradford Butterfield This poem was written by my aunt as Jonah left this earthly life. I want to thank you Aunt Merrillyn for your talent and for sharing it with us. For being truly inspired to write this there are hidden things in it that no one knows but Tim and I that she would not have known if she was not inspired to write this. The powers of Heaven are greater than we know. This poem is proof and has brought us much tears and happiness as we read it often. So thank you Aunt Merrillyn. It has very special meaning to us and I wanted to post it on this special day. It marks 3 years since Jonah came into our lives for such a short time. As I sit here and reflect on this day and miss him like crazy, wonder what he is doing, is he proud of us his family (not always I am sure) but what a blessing he was and is to our little family. I know that we will one day be with him again. That Tim and I will raise him as if here on earth only better he will be free of scoliosis, free of the clubbed hand and feet, no tubes, no wires, no machines giving him life, just Jonah! I look forward to that day I get to hold his perfect little body in my arms and kiss his cute face. Happy Birthday my angel boy. Give Nana & Papa big big hugs and let them know I miss them greatly. I thought of Pops yesterday on his Birthday and wondered what you all are doing to celebrate together. Hope you know we love you more than words can say. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you, your brothers love you so much too. Keep watch over us, help us return to you. Look for the balloons today they'll be coming you way hope you catch them. You have earned your crown my angel boy. Until We meet again, you are forever in our thoughts and our prayers. Love Mom, Dad, Drew & Logan. in Loving Memory Jonah Robert Abelhouzen 08/28/06-01/04/07

Passover Dinner

2009-04-10T20:26:00.005-07:00

We have been doing a Christ Centered Easter. We started Sunday. And have gone through the last week of Christ's Life leading up to Easter Sunday. Tonight was Passover. We talked about the night Jesus shared the Sacrament with his disciples and had the last supper with them, how he served them by washing their feet, how he went into the Garden of Gethsemane and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Tonight I made a Jewish Feast. We had Pot Roast (because we don't eat little sheep) Parsley dipped in salt water (the bitter herb) given Jesus. Boiled Eggs (the tomb) Grape Juice in Wine Goblets ( his blood shed for us) Flat bread (His Body), all food symbolic of Easter and it was so wonderful to sit around the table and talk with our boys about the real meaning of Easter and what our Savior has done for each of us. They really enjoyed it and it was so peaceful and calm. I am thankful to my Savior and older brother for taking upon himself my sins and weaknesses and thankful that I can repent of my sins and be washed clean, I am thankful for him completing all that our Father asked of him so that we may return and live with him again and with that we are promised Eternal Life. That we may once again be with Jonah and be an Eternal Family. I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Peace and Happiness it brings in my life. I am thankful for my struggles and trials for they have mad me the daughter of God I am today. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and have time to reflect this Easter Season on what we are really celebrating. Love Des.

My First 5K!

2009-03-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

I walked/Ran my first ever 5 k today and it was so much fun. It was a bit chilly this morning at 7:30am when we got there but it soon warmed up. I did the ALS 5 K with my two best girls. Our other best girl Christi was in charge of the whole thing and I am so glad I went and could support her cause. She lost her Grandpa to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and they did a fundraiser 5 k to raise money. Thanks Christi for inviting us. I even won a prize at the raffle drawing a runners ID Bracelet Gift Certificate. So cool! I never win. Andi and I finished 48:42:49 yeah for us. I am just glad I went and finished! Sara did 36 minutes she ran most of it though. Good job girls love ya. Thanks for the memories. I have to blog about our dinner last night as well I wish I had photos dang it. Sara and I kidnapped our visiting teachers and took them to Don Pedro's a Mexican restaurant for their Birthdays. Julie's was yesterday and Kasey's today. I had such a good time we talked and laughed so much it was a great night. Happy Birthday Girls. We love you! Hope you have a great day. I am off to tackle the garage before Logan's Soccer Game at 3:00 pm. Hope you all have a wonderful day, it is beautiful outside the sun is shining and I am going out to enjoy it. Love Des

When Daddy is away the family will play!!!!

2009-03-17T16:35:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Andrew wanted to sale his toys to make some money so he went through all of his toys he no longer plays with and made a poster everything was $.10. After he had sold all his toys he wanted to sale punch and cookies so I made homemade chocolate chip cookies and kool aid. His best Friend and his little brother came down as well and sold some of their toys. Andrew gave his friend $1.25 just to be nice. He is such a sweet boy. I had the whole neighborhood literally) at my house 8 little neighbor kids so I had to get them anxiously engaged or they would all be in my house! I got them playing yard games not a one had ever heard of the Easter Egg Game. What up? We played freeze tag, and Pump again did not know what this game was. These must be White City Games. We had a blast. Than when I had had enough I sent all the little kiddos home and took my boys and Miah to see Race to Witch Mountain it is a great Family show! Tim has been in Vegas at a Convention since Sunday and should be home tonight. I am also babysitting my niece for 10 days while Tim's sister and her husband are in Washington D.C. He is trying to get into John Hopkins Medical School and they went to check out the campus and local area. They are also visiting all the historical sights. They had lunch at the Pentagon yesterday how cool is that? They are staying with a friend from the military who lives in Washington D.C. It has been so fun having Miah here she is so cute and such an easy child. I was a little worried of how she would sleep but she does good for naps and bedtime. It has also been fun having a baby around that is Jonahs age(Miah and Jonah are only 30 days apart). To see how Andrew & Logan would have been as big brother. They are so cute with her. Logan gets her up every morning and changes her diaper and gets her dressed. Sunday morning she comes walking into our bedroom and if you have ever seen When a Man loves a Woman and she has all these clips and hair pretties in her hairs and says my hair hurts. That was Miah. Logan had taken every clip, barrette and hair thing she had in her bag and put it in her hair. Miah was saying owiee! He just dotes on her and is always asking her what she wants it is so heart warming and a tender mercy. I wish Jonah was here and could be a part of our earthly lives. But I know we will get to one day be with him and it will be better than anything we ever could of imagined here. So after the movie we came home and Logan and I both came down with the stomach flu after dinner. And let me tell you how hard that was. I can't stomach that stuff at all bodily fluids! Tim is so much better at the clean up than I. But with him being gone it is all me. So there is Logan sick and me right there next to him. He says to me "wow mom you throwed up alot more than me that time" I had to laugh it was so cute. We have had so much sickness since January I lysoled the whole house today. Every door knob, every room, I changed all the air filters and washed all our sheets in hot water. Hopefully now we will be OK. I'll post pictures when I feel better and can download them.

Getting Organized -March

2009-02-27T01:29:00.000-07:00

So I have a sick little boy and while he soaks in a hot bath what better to do at 1:30 am than blog so here is March's Organization and Food Storage checklist. " The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to the prophet and stored at least 1 year supply of survival food.- President Benson Basic Storage: Grains(corn meal, oats, rice etc.) Beyond Basic: Canned Fruit, dried fruit, Juice, Cereal Non Food: axe, hatchet, hoe, fire & smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguisher. Provident Living: Learn how to grind wheat and make bread, check all fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors. FHE Idea: Fire & Emergency Drill. How to use your fire extinguisher. GETTING ORGANIZED: 1. organize menus, recipe cards & cookbooks. 2.Revise master menu 3.vacuum drapes/curtains/blinds 4.vacuum all heater and intake vents 5.scrub entry and laundry floors 6.wash bedroom windows 7.clean laundry cupboards/shelves 8.clean out bedroom drawers 9.vacuum bedroom closet floors 10.clean piano keys 11.change furnace filters Good Luck!!

Tagged Again!

2009-02-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

RULES: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. Comment - Continue Reading Write a comment... 1. I am the mother of 3 boys (1 whom is deceased) 2. I am the best damn wife in the world! 3. I enjoy scrapbooking 4. I enjoy finding my ancestors 5. I love to read 6. I enjoy camping 7. My favorite color is purple 8. My favorite food is pizza 9. My favorite movie is: When a man loves a woman 10. I like to play games all kinds(card, board, wii etc.) 11. I love spending time with family mine or Tim's 12. My 3 top favorite tv shows are Jon & Kate plus 8, Dog the Bounty Hunter, & Dr. Phil 13. My favorite child hood memory is camping in the Uintahs with Grandma & Grandpa every summer. 14. I have been married for 11 years (12 this Sept) 15. I was a nanny for 7 years 16. I was a Nanny for Ewan Mcgregor (Obi one Kanobi) 17. I am an emotional person (my Relief Society class will attest to this) 18. I am religious 19. I experimented with drugs & alchohol in the 60's ( ok I was not alive in the 60's) in the 90's. 20. I am easy to please, it does not take much. 21. My favorite snack is kraft singles with mustard YUMMY!!!! 22. I love to color in coloring books 23. I love to soak in hot bathes 24. My next goal is to go to Hawaii with Tim 25. I am a face book addict. I tag everyone who reads this and wants to participate.

Pay it Forward

2009-02-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

Rules: 1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!. 2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway! 3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count! 4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! SO, REMEMBER... it is good... :) Pass it forward. GOOD LUCK!

Tagged:

2009-02-06T14:42:00.001-07:00

Instructions: Go to your picture file, go to the 6th folder and post the 6th picture and explain. Funny story, Dumb Picture. My sister is at herr nail ladies house last night and says do you still have your nails done the way you had them for our family portraits I say yeah why? She wanted to match them so she says text me a picture. I do and it never comes, so she says email it to my naily lady, her nail lady texts me some outrageous email so I go ahead and send it she never gets it so I text again. Needless to say she did not get her nails done to match mine because apparantly I am electronically challenged and could never to get it go through. So here you go sis! Love ya.

I DID IT!!!!

2009-01-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

I got all my kitchen cupboards and drawers vacuumed out, washed and everything put back and organized and it looks great. Now if we can only keep them neat and organized my guess not but it still felt good to cross one more thing off my list Yeah to me! Tomorrow I tackle the food pantry ugh, not looking forward to that one. I'll let you know how it goes.

Getting Organized-January

2009-01-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

Tim's mom gave me this huge Binder full of ideas to get organized and get caught up on your food storage so I thought I would share them with all of you. I realize January is almost over but for those of you who can do this in the next 3 days good Luck! I have included February's also. January "I am suggesting that the time has come to get your houses in order" Pres Gordon B.Hinckley 1. prepare yearly calendar 2. organize birthday cards 3. organize special occasion cards 4. check fire extinguishers 5.clean kitchen cupboards 6. clean out kitchen drawers 7.clean kitchen and laundry appliances 8.scrub kitchen counter's 9. clean wastebaskets 10. organize kids toys Food storage Provident Living:Take inventory of food storage, decide amount needed per each family member. FHE Idea:Preparedness, how it leads to self reliance freedom and spirituality. Basic Storage: 1/2 wheat Beyond Basic Storage: multi vitamins baking soda baking powder yeast spices Non Food: wheat grinder wheat containers February 1. vacuum smoke detectors 2.move furniture & vacuum 3.clean out hall closets 4.clean wall fixtures and plugs 5.polish wooden furniture 6.clean & oil bikes 7.Clean shower doors and curtains 8.check vehicle batteries/oil/air filters etc. Food storage "Eat it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything. Some people are able to get by because if the absence of expense they have their shoes resoled, they patch, they mend, they sew ad they save money. They avoid installments, buying and making purchases only after enough to pay cash thus avoiding interest charges." Pres. James E Faust Basic Storage: 1/2 wheat Beyond Basic Storage: canned vegetables dried vegetables condiments Non Food: Bedding pick and shovel can opener Provident Living: Get a food storage rotation sytem ready and working obtain additional rx, eye glasses or contacts FHE Idea: eat one whole day only from your food storage I will do the Month of March and April at the end of February, Good Luck! I hope we can get our homes in order, heaven knows I need to.

Great Ward Conference!

2009-01-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

I just have to blog the feelings I am having so I don't forget how I felt today. Today was ward conference and what little I got to hear of Bishop Cooper's talk in Sacrament because of unruly children, gave me a renewed sense of hope. When he said we can find peace even as we sin and than to go into the Atonement and what the Savior has done for us. A light bulb went off and I had one of those a ha moments. What the Savior really did for me personally and the spirit testified to me that when I sin and do not use the atonement and ask for forgiveness it is a big slap in Jesus' face.He died for me and took on all my sins and feelings of discouragement at not being a more patient mom and anger when Tim is down and can't function and I am left to be a single parent, when I fall short of what I know I should do and do just what the Bishop said and do it my way instead of his. All these thoughts were going through my head and I felt a great burden lifted off of me that I don't have to feel this way I can give it to the Lord he has already taken all of this on for me. I know I am a little slow most of you have already figured this out. Than in Releif Society the Stake did a lesson from Elder Wirthlin's talk and I bawled all the way through it. It was on overcoming our hardships and the blessing that come from them. I thought about what a blessing the loss of Jonah has been in my life and my families lives. I am just thankful for the Gospel in my life and for the "peace" it has brought me as I have struggled with the loss of Jonah and other obstacles I am facing now. At the time they are hard but how much Heavenly Father blesses me. In the lesson today she read the scripture D&C 121:7-8 and that started the flood gates, Section 121 is when Joseph Smith was feeling forsaken and asks God where art thou? I remember one of the last times in Salt Lake we extubated Jonah if not the last time. And how he went so long on his own like 30 something hours with out the machines breathing for him the longest he had ever gone, and I though this is it this is when he is going to show us all the miracle we have been praying for. And than all of a sudden his lung collapsed and he went lifeless and that horrible gray color and I thought ok this is it I am going to lose him right here and now. I felt our Father literally put his arms around me and I felt so calm and at peace. They brought Jonah back and he looked at me with his big brown eyes and pleaded with me, enough I am done heer and ready to go home Mom. I will never forget that day and how thin the veil was. I went back to the motor home sobbing that night and I called Tim in St George and told him enough it was time to turn Jonah back we have done all we can do for him. I knelt in prayer and prayed like I never have before. I pleaded with Heavenly Father to take him home and make him whole again. After I got up from my prayer these scriptures came to me D&C 121:7-8 "My daughter, peace be unto thy soul: thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high: thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." I knew at that moment Jonah was to perfect for this place and I asked for a blessing from my homeward Bishop in Sandy and in the blessing he told me Jonah had earned himself a place in the Celestial Kingdom. He would amaze us and live 2 more months. So to days lesson hit very close to home. And now 2 years later I look back and think man at the time we were going through that, I thought I will never survive this losing him, and it was but a small moment and how blessed we are to have him as part of our family and he truly is my hero, to accept his broken body to come fulfill his Fathers Plan he is a spiritual giant in my eyes and I can't wait to gather him in my arms again. I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with my 3 boys and I am grateful for the chance to be a mother even though I am so undeserving of it. I love my Savior and am thankful to him. I am thankful for my eternal companion and love him with all my heart. I'll close with a quote I have on my desk "When God takes something from your grasp, he's not punishng you but merely opening your hands to receive something better." Happy Sunday to you all.

Husband Tag

2009-01-24T14:59:00.001-07:00

1.Where did you meet your husband?He is my brothers friend one of the "fab five" 2. How long did you date?He proposed on our 1 year Anniversary of Dating (April 17Th) and we were married Sept 27Th. 3. How long have you been married?12 years in Sept 4. What does he do that surprises you?He is a rock. He made it through the death of our son and fights everyday with health issues and still manages to take care of us. 5. What is your favorite feature of his?He still makes me laugh and we are still very much in love after all this time. 6.What is his best quality?He is a very hard worker. He provides a wonderful life for me and the boys. 7.Does he have a nickname for you?Des 8.What is his favorite food?Mexican 9.What is his favorite sport?Loves to watch football and play basketball 10.When & Where was your first kiss?On our first date (we wasted no time) in my brothers bedroom. (we were friends 5 years before dating so we knew each other well!) 11.What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?go out alone no kids 12.Do you have children?3 boys Andrew 8, Logan 6 and Jonah who would have been 2. 13. Does he have hidden talents?he is good at everything he does. He is a perfectionist. He is very handy and can fix everything. 14.How old is he? 37 15.Who said I love you first?probably him he knew on our first date I was the one he was going to marry. 16.His favorite kind of music?a Little of everything he mostly listens to the BYU channel and sports radio 17.What do you admire about him?He is the best husband and father in the world 18.What is his favorite color?Red (not silver and black) 19.Will he read this?no he thinks blogging is "gay" 20.Who do you tag? everyone who reads my blog!

Face Book Addict

2009-01-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

So Tuesday Night I get an invite to join face book from a good friend. This is not the first invite but one of many,I have ignored all others. Being Internet challenged (I just got comfortable with my blog spot) I am like OK what is this face book stuff I hear everyone talking about it and go to see what all the hoopla is I can't access anything without creating a Face Book account of course, so I do so and I must confess I am now a Face Book addict and it has become a full time job, My cell phone is going off constantly. This friend wants to add me, this friend posted to my wall etc etc. So this morning I had to change the amount of texts I am getting and now maybe I will not be so obsessed. Although it has been wonderful talking to friends I have not talked to since graduation 17 years ago. Yes I feel old!It has been fun adding more and more people to my list of friends I feel loved AHHH! So to all you FB addicts meetings will begin Wednesday Nights at my house 7:00 pm. J/K. Have a great Saturday and to all you St Georgians enjoy the rain!

I Lost the Camera!

2009-01-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

I have been beside myself. Fortunately for me all Jonah's Pictures are in my computer so I could blog his Graduation day tribute so I found it yahoo. I f I could just be more organized New Year's Resolution !!!!! I have the pictures from our Couples Christmas Party so enjoy. Thanks to all who could make it and hopefully next year we will have those that missed out we had a blast!!!! Here are some of the gift exchange loot. Some of the great gifts were * The Butt Face Towel * Homemade Maxi Slippers * A Beautiful Picture of Brett and Sara from their Tarzan & Jane Days * A lovely record album of love songs from the 60's and * an over sized shell that will make a great centerpiece on my next dinner party table sure to be the talk of the party. Thanks again it was a lot of fun. We look forward to next years party.

2009-01-04T13:43:00.001-07:00

2009-01-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Graduation Day Jonah!!!!

Today marks 2 years since our angel earned his wings. I just want to express my gratitude to all our friends and family who have supported us your thoughts and prayers have been felt. I want to thank my Heavenly Father for blessing our family with this little miracle and thank him for allowing us the time we had with him to be able to make memories to cherish until we are with you both again. Thank you for sending the comforter to heal our hearts,the hope to move on, for the gospel and the knowledge we have gained of eternal families. To my angel boy: I love you. You are my hero! I miss you I will do my best to live worthy of you so that someday soon I can hold you in my arms again and look into your big brown eyes and behold your cute little fat face again. I dream of the day. I know until than you are on the Lord's errand, touching lives as you did here in your earthly life. Give hugs to nanna and pappa, I know you are with them. Ps Thank you for the pennies!

Long Time!!!

2008-12-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

Yes I am a slacker!! Where does the time go? It has been in forever since I last blogged. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My mom and sister and her husband and two kids cam. We had Tim's oldest brother , his girlfriend and her two kids and Tim's parents over as well it was a great day. Here are a few things I am thankful for. My boys, my family and friends my membership in the church and a great husband who is soooo patient with me and at 32 to still have a sense of humor and a fun side. Thanks for the fun weekend sis~! For an explanation on this you will have to ask Tim or my sister about our night out to Iggy's and our Beaver Pelts. Enough Said!!!! We are anticipating Christmas and I am so excited we are trying something new this year and I am actually surprised at how well the kids have taken it and run with it. We have decided to do just 3 gifts ( because that is how many Jesus got) and 1 big family gift. And this year instead of exchanging cousin gifts we are opting out and using the money we would have spent to help someone else less fortunate than us. I am way excited and so are the kids we have had fun shopping for another family. Andrew and Tim were driving in the car the other day and Andrew said I really want a certain toy I can't remember what it was he said and Tim said well maybe Santa will bring it to you and Andrew said maybe next year I already wrote Santa my letter and told him my three gifts I wanted and Tim said 3 gifts and Andrew says yeah my three gifts like Jesus got. As Tim is relaying the story to me my heart melted. He is such a sweet boy. I did another tree this year for the Jubilee and it was a lot of fun but I glad to be done with it. Tim's mom did a lot of the design on this one I told her what iIhad in mind and she drew up the design she is awsome.It turned out well and it sold!!!!! The Bumbleberry Cafe bought it so we had a beautiful drive to Zion to deliver the tree just Tim and I and Tim's Mom & Dad . I am back to work part time in the office not working from home anymore. Tim and I rotate shifts so one of us is home with Logan we can't quite afford daycare. I work 7 am to 11 am and he works 11-7 and so far it is working out ok. Logan is loving having daddy home all morning to hang with it is like a dream come true for him, they lounge around in their Jammies til 10:30 and play play station. I don't know who has more fun Tim or Logan. Here are a few pictures of the boys dressed in their Thanksgiving attire.

Logan's Kindergarten class had a Thanksgiving feast and learned about the first Thanksgiving and Andrew's 2nd grade class learned about Colonies and had to dress in Colonial times. Good times.

Andrew's Baptism

2008-09-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

My Cup Runneth Over. We have had the most amazing and spiritual few weeks. It has been so wonderful talking to Andrew and preparing him to enter into the waters of baptism. I am so proud of him and what a young man he is growing up to be. August 28th we celebrated Jonah's 2nd birthday we took balloons out to his grave and we came back and had dinner and had cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to him. I planned to go to the Temple and spend the morning at the closest place I could be to him but that of course did not work out and the day did not go at all how I planned it but we still celebrated and he was in our thoughts all day. I love you my angel boy and what better than to spend your day with the Savior. We love you and miss you greatly. Than our neighbors behind us had a house fire and lost everything we lost our back fence and our bushes and trees in the back got a little scorched but nothing major. Tim and I went out the next day to survey the damage because the fire started around 10:00 pm so it was dark. We are so blessed the heat melted the chairs and my porch blinds and scorched the trees but it could have been much worse. We pray for the Patterson Family and that they can rebuild soon. Please keep their family in your prayers as the start over and try to get their life back this has been so devastating to their family they have 5 children. Every time I look out my back windows and see what is left of what used to be there home my heart just aches for them. They are wonderful neighbors and the neatest kindest family we are blessed to have them as our neighbors we love them!

Then onto Andrew's baptism. I cannot believe my little boy is 8. I got to speak at his Baptism about the Holy Ghost and what a hard thing that was for me yet rewarding and an opportunity I will treasure. Tim was able to baptize him. He was so proud you should of seen Andrew sitting there with his daddy on the front row with all the other kids being baptized grinning from ear to ear. My family was not able to make the trip from Salt Lake but my best friend Kristin and her cute family came. Love ya Friend!!! That meant so much to me to have her there.

We feel so blessed and fortunate to be members of this Church. We are proud of Andrew and what a good big brother he is and what a good example he is to us we love him. The morning after the fire Andrew went outside and said "Mom I am glad we believe in Jesus, I asked him why? he said Jesus blessed our house." Sunday after church he was in the kitchen putting all these cookies on a plate I said who are those for and he said the Patterson's, they don't have anything I want to share my cookies with him. I have to admit I shed a tear at how sweet and innocent that was. We did not even tell him to do it. He is such a sweet and kind boy. He brings so much to our family we love him . So thus ends our busy life until next time.

1st day of School

2008-08-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

We have almost made it through the first week of school. Andrew is in the 2nd grade and Logan a big Kindergartner. I cannot even believe it. I have been looking forward to this,Logasn being in school and now I have 3 hours to my self and I find myself really truly missing him. For 2 years now we have been best buddies. They are both excited and like their teachers. Andrew has Miss Hicken and Logan has Mrs. Jones. I put Logan in afternoon Kindergarten because he is not a morning person at all! I am lucky to get him out of bed before 9:00 am. but oh no this whole week up at 7:00 and dressed mind you with the alarm. I may have him up at 9:00 but dressed now that is like 10-11 when he feels like it. So now from 7:00 am to 12:30 when I drop him off I hear is it time for school yet, when do I go to school mom. He's killing me. I love that he is in afternoons. We eat lunch together and hang out all morning just him and I. It is so nice. We have some good talks over breakfast. He is growing up so fast no more baby left in him he's all grown up. Andrew started scouts last week and absolutely loves it. He gets to perform his first flag ceremony this week at pack meeting. I don't know if it is my hormones kicking in finally from the hysterectomy or what but I have been a mess this week too much happening too fast. My little boys are growing up too young me and I am not ready for that. Can't they stay little forever? It has been a good week for us. Tim is off on another hunting expedition with his brother so I am flying solo this weekend I am sure they will come back with some pretty cool photos I will share when they return. I don't know if there are any of you that are avid sportsman but Todd (Tim's brother) wrote an article in the Sportsman's Voice about their Alaska trip. You should check it out.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

2008-08-11T21:18:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe it Andrew turned eight last Sunday the 3rd! Thursday was a hard day for me. Andrew got to go to his first cub scout meeting and I will admit i shed a tear after I dropped him off. That night was back to school night and Logan is starting Kindergarten my baby is all grown up going to school. I thought I would throw a party but I am actually kind of sad to see him go. No more baby things or little boy things they are growing up so fast. I t feels like yesterday when they layed Andrew on my belly and I was so overwhelmed and over joyed to finally be a mom and two year later Logan what a blessing they have been in my life and how proud I am of them. Andrew is growing up so fast. We did not have a Birthday Party because when he is baptized in a few weeks we are having a big party then so I took him and his best buddy Tanner Davis to Jump n Jax. They had fun but after an hour they were bored so we left and went to McDonald's for lunch. He got the whole Indiana Jones of the Crystal Skull with a little help from all Grandmas and of course Dad. I think Tim buys these so he can live vicariously through his boys he can have an excuse to play with them at 37. We came home and Andrew and Tanner played with Legos all afternoon. It was a great day. Sunday we had Grandma & Grandpa Abelhouzen over for cake and ice cream and I decorated my first birthday cake ever and I thought it turned it great. I wanted a "8" cake so I made one and it was so plain so I made it a race track. Will post tomorrow the first day of school photos!

2008-07-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hey All-

I hope you are all enjoying your summer. We have had a very busy one so far. Tim took a trip to Alaska with his brother for Father' Day and brought back 248 pounds of fresh Alaskan Halibut and a bunch of other fish I've never heard of Yellow Eye, and Sea Bass. I am not a fish eater but I am learning to eat Halibut one bite at a time. I am also learning some yummy recipes (so Tim tells me. I'll just take his word for it) on how to cook this fish. The boys were in swimming lessons for two weeks. Andrew is quite the little swimmer. Logan just wants to splash and play and is still very much afraid of the water. It is only his 2nd year though and Andrew's 3rd. They loved it and every time we drive by St. George City Pool they ask me when do we get to take swimming lessons again. I justcelebrated my 32nd Birthday and I really do feel old that just seems so grown up to me and I am not ready to grow up! We spent the weekend at Tim's brother's cabin on Panguitch Lake. It was so beautiful up there. I thought we were escaping the heat though but it came with us. The evenings were cool but the days were hot. We took the boys fishing Saturday morning we of course did not catch anything Logan kept throwing rocks into the lake scaring the fish off and they had more fun casting it is hared for two little energetic boys to sit for hours waiting for a bit but we built some fun family memories. I am giving them the week off and next week they start summer camp. They are bored already and driving mom crazy so hopefully this will give me a break and them something fun to do that they have never done before.

200 pound

Halibut

Panguitch Lake- Taking the Ranger out for some 4 wheelin'.

Happy Birthday Baby!!!

2008-06-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

Happy 37th Birthday Lover!For Tim's Birthday we took a trip up North to Salt Lake. Friday Night we went to the Bees Game they won 7-4. They announced Tim's Birthday over the stadium and had his name and Birthday on the big screen for all to see. It was a great night. My girlfriend and my sister and their families were all there to celebrate with us. After the game they let the kids run the bases it was fun for them. Saturday morning we got up and hit Utah's Hogle Zoo it was a beautiful day 85 degrees and just perfect. Lots of people and tension was high but for the most part we had a good day. They have a white alligator on display it was really cool.Who passes up a drink out of the lion's mouth?

We went to the Bird Show. It was so cool the birds fly right over your head and swoop down inches from you. It was scary but really cool. We got some great pictures and some really good closeups. Hawk Bald Eagle

We went swimming at our hotel late in the afternoon. The views from our window were spectacular we stayed at the Marriott University Park. It is right against the mountain on the U of U Campus and it was so close to everything. We were on the 5th floor and the views of Salt Lake City at night and the Primary Children's and University Hospital and all the lights were so great. It brought back some sad memories of our little Jonah too and all the time we spent in this area, it seems like so long ago not just 22 short months ago. Saturday night we went to my girlfriends house and barbecued. It was good to spend time with family and friends and build fun family memories.

The End!

Hee hee I could not resist.

Pre School Graduation

2008-05-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

Logan's last year of pre-school. A bitter sweet day for us. We have had Mrs. Clark for 5 years she taught Andrew for 3 years and now Logan for the last two. This also means my baby is a Kindergartner. He is so ready. I am happy for him but sad. Time goes by so fast. Those of you who know my Logan he totally beats to his own drum. At Graduation they do a little program they sing songs and each child comes up and picks the song of their choice they have practiced for it all year and about oh 2-3 songs into it Logan has the cap and gown off and is done had enough. It took some coaxing but he put it all back on and finished but was so glad once again to get all the garb off. We love him!!!!!!! He always has us on our toes that is for dang sure.

We are so proud of you Logan and we love you!

2008-05-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how time flies when you are having fun. I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. Here is a real lengthy run down of what is going on in the Abelhouzen home. Andrew has had another Karate Belt Graduation he is now a Purple Belt. We are so excited and proud of Andrew for sticking with the commitment he has made to do Karate he goes 4 times a week and back to back classed so 1 hr 45 min each day. He is loving it and we are so glad. It is hard to be that dedicated he so badly wants to play with friends some days and just can't fit it in but he sticks with it and I am so proud of him for that.

My mom and sister came for a weekend visit to get out of the snow and cold and into some warmer weather we had a good time they could not believe how warm it was. We took the kids to the water park in Washington Fields. Funny thing all the kids are running through the water and having a blast and Logan is no where in sight so I scan the park for him and there he sits all by himself on a rock just taking in the sights. That is my Logan for you. He beats to his own drum that is for dang sure.

Tim and the boys went to Father and Sons Camp out and had a good time despite the wind and cold. Tim was very prepared he took extra blankets and I packed all warm clothes. You just never know what the weather will do here. I had a girls night out. I went to dinner with family and than Sara and I stayed up til the wee hours watching chic flicks. It was really fun. It beat spending the night alone in a big dark empty house by my bean self. So that is what we have been up to the last month and 1/2. I will try to be better about updating my blog. Hope you are doing well and looking forward to summer vacation. Only 4 more days of school Ugh than what do I do. I will have two crazy boys on my hands. I'd say at least they help by entertaining each other but that is not always a good thing they seem to get into trouble allot when they are together. I wish I had pictures to prove it but I was so furious . Sunday Tim had gone to Cedar City to support a friend who is a Quadriplegic do Rock Crawls (see my link to Clay Egan in the blogger buddies) he is amazing. anyway so it is just me and the boys here. I get them all ready dressed in their church clothes, hair done looking very snazzy and sitting at the bar eating lunch. I say to them I am going to jump in the shower throw on a dress and than we will leave for church it is 12:15 at this time I get out of the shower dress come out of my room at 12:45 to leave and they are not inside I find them and they have drug the hose from the front yard to the side yard have filled their hole with water and are both sitting in it covered from head to foot in mud they have been having a mud fight in their church clothes. So needless to say we missed Sacrament all together because I was trying to shower the mud and dirt from their hair and clothes and had to start from scratch. Good times there. I look back now and can laugh but is it just my children that are out of control or are there others out there? Love Des

2008-04-03T20:58:00.000-07:00

Hello- Well I am back among the living! I survived my Hysterectomy and am actually surprised how after only 8 days how well I am feeling. I had my first outing today since my surgery. It felt so good to get out of the house. By the end of the trip I was hurting and so longing for my soft comfortable bed.My mom is here from Salt Lake and she too wanted out. She wanted to go to Colorado City so Tim's dad was so gracious as to drive us the 45 minuted drive for the Grand tour of Hilldale/Colorado City since I am not supposed to be driving. She was surprised, it is not at all what she thought but most people who do go are surprised by the town and what it is not. We had a good time. Logan of course made the trip interesting we were driving through the town and we kept referring to the "polygamists" we stopped at this little pizza joint that everyone has raved about. Logan says" if we eat the food will be polygamist" I explained to him no, polygamists are a group of people, like we are Mormons it is there belief. So we are in the pizza place waiting for our order and in walks some town folk and he says to them "are you polygamist" I ushered him as quickly as I could out to the car where we hid in humiliation until they had left. Out of the mouths of babes. We had a great Easter. We spent the day with Tim's Family we had a very nice dinner at his parents house and then the whole family went to a new park that just opened not too far from us and we had a family volleyball game against another family. Logan of course beats to his own drum and climbed up the side of the mountain doing his own thing. It was such a beautiful day. It has been so beautiful and warm I am so excited for Spring. The trees are all blooming and smell so wonderful. My mom has enjoyed the warm weather while here and Salt Lake gets snow. She is leaving Sunday and it is going to be sad. She has helped me so much with the boys and waited on me it has been aweosme. I am sad to see her go, it has been nice to visit with her , she does not get here very often. Her and Logan have had some great talks on the front porch. We have a great ward they brought in meals and have helped with Logan and play dates. I do not know what we would do without our family and friends. Tim and the boys were able to attend Tim's nieces baptism this past weekend Andrew was so proud of her. It is hard to believe that in just a few short months he himself will enter into the waters of Baptism. Andrew got an award at school today the Hero Hunt Award for Dependability. We are so proud of him. Way to go buddy!!! He is such a good kid. We are so blessed to have our boys. They both bring so much to our family. All our love, Des

2008-03-03T22:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy few weeks, between working, being a mom, & karate there is not much time to sit down and do much. I am in bed lately by 9-9:30 it sucks. I think I am getting old or something. I finally got Andrew's belt Graduation downloaded to the computer so you can see that. He is doing so awesome!! He just got asked to move up to the next class. He gets to spar and he loves it!!! He has full sparring gear, feet and hand pads, a helmet with face shield and a mouth piece and he wears it every chance mom isn't looking. He is really enjoying karate and is working on his purple belt right now. We are proud he has stuck with it and is enjoying it. Now that Logan's toe has recovered he has asked to go back to gymnastics.In the mean time he practices his acrobatics from my bed. I have the pictures to prove he really is spiderman. I need to find the time to get him enrolled again he loves it and he is so good at it. I have been having some woman issues and had to go see a OBGYN today and was told I need a Hysterectomy so I am scheduled for surgery Wednesday March 26th. I am so excited! No more woman stuff. I am keeping my ovaries but having everything else removed. Not looking forward to surgery or the pain afterwards but so looking forward to no more menstrual cycles and cramps and all the other fun stuff we get for eating that darn apple first. Tim saw the Neurosurgeon last Friday in Salt Lake and it looks like he is not going to have to have surgery after all he was told he has a very mild of case Chiari I Malformation and the risks of surgery outweigh the pros of surgery. He is going to be watched carefully by our family doctor and if any new symptoms or the ones he has now worsen we are to go back in for an MRI and go from there. This was good news for Tim. He was not liking the idea of brain surgery and you can't blame him. We got to spend a nice night away from the boys. Tim's family watched them overnight and we spent the night at the Marriott City Center we had dinner on the roof of the Joseph Smith Building and than went on a carriage ride afterwards around Memory Grove. Kind of a late Valentine Celebration. I did the 12 days of Valentine's to Tim it was fun and he got me the most beautiful diamond necklace it is a heart set with diamonds and inside is a mother holding a baby. He got it to represent Jonah so I could always have him close to my heart. It is beautiful and something I will always treasure. He has never got me jewelry before except my wedding rings. I was kind of shocked and real diamonds wow! Other than that we spent Valentine's at home with the boys. We made homemade Sugar cookies we decorated and took around to our neighbors our annual Valentine's Day. So our getaway even though just overnight was very nice. Hope you are well. Love Des

1 Year Anniversary for Jonah's Graduation day!

2008-01-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

It has been one year since Jonah left for his mission can you believe how fast it has gone by. We had a little graveside Memorial Service for him and released balloons. It was a beautiful day. A great day to look back on this past year and be thankful for our special spirit although with us only 4 short months, unable to talk his spirit spoke volumes. He has been such an inspiration to us and I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving us the peace and comfort we have had as we have mourned his loss this year. I am more grateful for the opportunities recently he has provided for me to share Jonah's story and help others facing our same situation. He has provided for me a way to take what could have been a devastating experience and turn it around and make it a positive experience and still continue to share Jonah's sweet spirit with others even after he is passed. He has led and guided me to be a positive tool in the lives of others. I know Jonah is doing great things on the other side and his spirit is still here touching others in this life.Thanks to all of you who called or thought of us friday it was a great day. I thought it would be harder than it was but how can we be sad when Jonah has graduated and is needed so much more in heaven than we need him here. This I am sure is why Heavenly Father needed him back he was a choice spirit and is very busy. Love, Us

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

2007-12-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Christmas. Santa was good to us this year. The boys got an xbox 360 and a ton of games to go with it. I can barely pry them from the darn thing even my big boy! They got lego sets a whole town, a police station fire station and airport.We are going to have a huge lego party tonight and put it together we have invited our family over for pizza and lego assembly night it shall be fun. Tim and I got a new tv for our room. Christmas afternoon Tim's parents and I went to see the new National Treasure movie. A must see!!! While you guessed it the boys stayed home and played xbox. It was a great day. It was so relaxing not having to run from one parent to the next. The boys got to enjoy their Christmas and not be rushed from one grandparents house to the other. I think this is going to be our new tradition. Stay home and veg in our new jammies Santa brings us Christmas Eve. We even fit a visit in to Jonah although he had visited us earlier in the day. We put a beautiful Pine Tree all decorated on his grave. We hope you all have a great year and that your Christmas was a good one. I got a new digital camera too so now I can update pictures more quickly. I am still learning how to use the darn thing. I am so electronically challenged. So as soon as I figure out how to download pictures I'll post our lego assembly so you can see it in it's fullness. Love ya all. Des

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

Wow! Time flies when you are busy. Sorry it has been so long since I last updated. I finally have the photos from our trip to Oakland. I have had the busiest three months of my life. I did a tree at the Jubilee of Trees in dedication to our precious Jonah and it turned out beautiful. I got so many compliments form Jubilee goers and family and friends that went to see it. I was worried I went very simple and plain. My theme was crown without the conflict and I did prince crowns and stars. Aqua, Silver and White were the colors and they were so gorgeous together I was very pleased. I hope Jonah was too. We delivered the tree today to the buyer and he couldn't have been a nicer gentleman. I will again upload pictures when I get them from mom. Well it being Thanksgiving and all I would like to tell you what I am most thankful for. I am thankful first of all for Tim and what a rock and a support he has been to me this past year. We have grown so much and our marriage has improved in leaps and bounds. I am thankful for Andrew & Logan and for the joy and happiness they bring into my life. I am so indeed grateful for all the prayers and thoughts sent to us this year from our friends and family. We are truly blessed to have the people in our lives that we do. I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me to be a mother of such a wonderful spirit. To Jonah how proud I am to be your mom and for the decision you made to go on an Eternal Mission. I look forward to the day I get to hold you in my arms again. Until then we pray for you daily. Thanks for blessing our family with your presence even if for just a short time. I love you angel boy. I am thankful for Tim's family and what a support and blessing they are in my life and how they have treated me like one of their own. I love the friendships we have. I hope you all have many things to be thankful for this season and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. All my love Des.

2007-09-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

Hello again- I forgot we celebrated Logans 5th Birthday this past week, We rented a jump house and had cake and ice cream at he park ti was really fun he had a bunch of his friends over. It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect warm but a slight breeze. He is growing up so fast. TTFN

2007-09-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Hey all-

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. We have had a crazy and hectic month. Tim and I went away on a dream vacation (for Tim). This being our 1o year wedding annniversary. I took Tim to an Oakland Raiders Game and boy was it fun. It was so fun to watch him he was like a kid in a candy store. We had a blast. We spent a day in San Francisco and toured Alcatraz and Pier 39. That was the most fun for me. We drove and had 20 hours of good bonding time to reflect the past ten years. We have had a busy ten years so hopefully the next ten slow down a little. We are finally done with the kitchen renovation!!!!! I thought we would never see a light at the end of the tunnel. Today we had carpet installed in the whole upstairs and it looks like a total different house I am very pleased and Tim has worked so hard. We have made it through a year without Jonah's and all his firsts and have done ok I must say. We celebrated his 1st Birthday. We took a huge balloon out to his grave and sang Happy Birthday and had cupcakes. It was really fun. We are staying busy. Andrew has started Karate and is loving it and Logan goes to gymnastics anything to channel all his energy. We are doing good. I will post pictures as soon as I get them back of our trip and our home renovation. Love ya all Des

Happy 7th Birthday Andrew

2007-08-04T23:49:00.000-07:00

Friday was Andrew's 7th Birthday. He had a pirate birthday party at the park across from our house. It was small but alot of fun. He had a couple of his Kindergarten Buddies there. Grandma & Grandpa and some neighborhood friends. Then he and I went to dinner at Burger King. That was his choice of all the restaurants to choose from that is what he chose. Spent a quiet evening at home relaxing and playing with new toys. I can't believe what a big boy he is. I can remember like it was yesterday the day he was born. How scared I was to be a mom and yet how excited to finally have this little guy I had been carrying for 9 months. And now he is 7 where does the time go? He is so excited for school to start in 2 weeks. He is a big first grader. I can't believe it. My baby is all grown up.He is such a tender little thing. It has been so fun to watch him grow and mature into a young boy. He has been such an easy child. I hope he stays this way. We Hope you are all doing well. Love The Clan

2007-07-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hey All- We have returned from the funnest and most exhausting family vacation ever! We only went to Salt Lake but each day was filled with activity. Tuesday night we attended my cousins wedding reception. Logan decided to get the flu and threw up all night. Tim went to the store at 2:30 am looking for pepto.Wednesday we spent a fun day at Lagoon with friends. We were a little concerned about going with Logan but he woke up and said are we going to Lagoon today. He was so excited! I thought for sure he would not last but we left at 10:00pm and he rode rides and ate junk all day. Andrew rode all the big rides I was so proud of him. Our favorite was Lagoona Beach. The lazy River and the Tube rides are so fun. We even rode the speed slides and they are speedy! Thursday we spent the day in the hotel being oh so lazy we swam in the hotel pool and in the late afternoon we took the boys to "This is the Place Monument." It was fun touring all the old pioneer homes. The boys liked the train ride and going in Brigham Young's Farm House. We met family at the Myan Restaurant for dinner. The entertainment is great but the service and food uh not so much.Friday we spent the day at Thanksgiving Point they have a really neat Dinosaur Musuem and they were having their 7 year Birthday so there was extra stuff going on activities for the kids to do and we watched a movie in 3-D that was awesome. Saturday we wanted to hike Timpanogos Cave but we got up there at 8:30 am and apparantley this is the peak time and there was a 3 1/2 hour wait to even hike up to the cave. We said bag that and went to Cabela's and went shopping. We hung out with my sister and her family kind of a lazy day but nice. Sunday we got up and headed back to the cave with pre-purchased tickets and no wait this time. And let me just tell you that kicked my BUTT! A 1.5 mile hike up hill and down. The cave was awesome and well worth the hike but oh my gosh. We are definately chalking that one on our been there done that never have to do it again list. The boys did so good. They walked the whole way. The four hour ride home though was very hard. We were so tired. I though for sure the boys would sleep the whole way but not one wink out of them. It was a great family vacation. It was good to see our family and friends too.

Happy 4th of July

2007-07-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a Happy 4th. We did. The boys, and I and Tim's mom, dad and sister spent the morning at the park in town. They had a small little carnival with booths and a waterslide a dunking machine, jumphouses and a few kiddie rides. The kids had fun and I got a littel burnt in this warm 112 degree St Geroge Weather. Tim stayed home and worked on the cabinets. They are beautiful. We are almost ready for countertops yahoo! In the evening we went to Todd's house (Tim's brother) and swam in the pool and had a barbeque played games and watched the city fireworks from their balcony it was a great day. It is very warm here and so we try to stay out of the heat in the day and do things in the evening when it cools down to a bearable 100 degrees. Hope your summer is going great and you are having fun. Love The Abelhouzen Clan

2007-06-14T22:46:00.000-07:00

Hello- To all of our family and friends. A friend of mine introduced me to this blog stuff and I love going in and reading her updates on her family page. I used to update Jonah's care page daily and it was a fun way of keeping in touch with each other even under hard circumstances. So I thought I would start this as a way to let you know how our little family is getting along these days. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying your summer. We have been busy. We are in the middle of remodeling our home and that is taking up all of our free time so we have not yet started to enjoy summer. We have a couple of little camping trips and a few short trips to Salt Lake planned but other than that we are working on the house. The boys just finished a two week swimming lesson today and loved it. I am back to work for a short time. Tim's sister and I take turns watching each others kids and we split the day she works mornings I work afternoons it is a good break but my home and laundry are suffering with me being gone. Now that swimming lessons are over I will have more time in my day to get things done. You know a mother's work is never done. There just never seem to be enough hours in the day to get all the things off my to do list done. I feel like one of those hamsters on a wheel. Just running and getting absolutely no where. I fall into bed exhausted and wake up each day and do it all over again. Speaking of bed it is late so I am off. Take care. Love Des