Happy Halloween!

Hope you all had a fun, safe, sugar filled, Halloween!!!

Up on the roof top

One of the many things I love about Chris is the fact that he is so "handy"! It's so nice to be married to someone who can fix, or build, just about anything! There is of course a downside to this loving quality. Chris has the attitude that if there is something that he can do himself, there is no need to hire someone else to do it.(There has yet to be anything we've needed done, that he didn't think he could do!) It doesn't matter if he has never done this particular something before, he is more then willing to study up on it and figure it out.

So it should have come as no surprise to me when the insurance company paid to replace our roof after last year's huge windstorm, that HE would be the one to be up on the roof doing the replacing, and not someone else.

It is such a HUGE job, and he has basically done it by himself, by choice mind you. We get offers from people on a daily basis to come over and help, but he has yet to accept help from anyone other then his family, and that's only because they are nice enough to just come over and climb on up there. He did finally finish the second story on Saturday, and has been slowly trying to find some time to do the lower level.

My friends, I am FAR from being handy, but I decided today that I was going to face my fears, and I was getting my butt up there and helping him whether he wanted it or not. What was he gonna do? Tell me no?! I live here!

I had no idea what I was doing, and I was basically scared out of my mind the first few minutes up there, but I did manage to do a few things to help out. I even have my own hammer up there, and I have been pounding nails into tar paper. I also helped him scrape the shingles off, which was kind of a fun job actually. It was a good stress reliever. We were even able to get some ice and water shield down before it got too dark, and Keric got too fussy. Poor little guy. He's so good natured. He loves to be outside, so we just park his stroller under the tree where we can see him and he just sits there and looks around, or watches the doggies play.

I've been so happy and grateful that the weather has been so beautiful for so long, but I know it can't last forever, and we can't have a half finished roof until next May!!

So up on the roof top I go, maybe I'll run into Santa and Rudolph! I'll be giving them each a hammer if I do, whether Chris wants their help or not!

I can't believe it's been a year!

*Disclaimer* I'm NOT Pregnant again! Apparently, the old picture of my pregnancy test was not a good picture to lead with. ;)

Yesterday I went in to SLC to go see my OBGYN for my yearly checkup. As I was sitting there, I couldn't believe that a year had already gone by! Of course a year ago I was there to confirm that I was pregnant, and this year, I was just there out of "obligation", but it was sort of a surreal experience to be sitting in that same waiting room one year later, with my little bubby.

When I walked back to the exam room I saw the ultrasound machine that Dr. Holms had used on me last year to see my little peanut. Now I was carrying that little peanut in his car seat back to the same exam room.

It was kind of a hard road getting him here, but I sure am GLAD to have my little peanut with me! I love him so much, and am so grateful to be his mommy.

Coke vs. Dr. Pepper

Any of you who know me very well, know that I am a full fledged, true blue, Dr. Pepper girl! I've loved it for as long as I can remember! I have cut back considerably on my consumption, but I still think there is nothing better than an ice-cold fountain Dr. Pepper from Maverick. It's my very favorite treat!

The other day as I was making lunch, I stumbled on the 12 pack of Coke that we had bought Pampa Fraig to drink while he was working on the roof. Out of nostalgia I guess I decided to drink one. I'm not a big Coke fan, but it reminds me of him, and kind of brings a smile to my face.

I had set the can down on the coffee table and Keric was immediately fascinated with it! I guess he loved the bright red and white colors on the can. He kept starring at it, and almost grabbing for it. I decided that since it was empty, I would let him play with it.

I handed it to him, and he patted it for awhile, and looked at it, and then he picked it up with both hands, and put it right up to his mouth. It looked like he was just sitting back drinking a Coke. I couldn't believe my eyes. I took the can away and ran to get the camera on the off chance he would do it again. I gave the can to him again, and sure enough...he did it again!

He must have got a couple little drops in his mouth because he had kind of a funny look on his face when he took the can away from his mouth. All I could think was....maybe the whole joke of "I put Coke in Keric's bottle while you were gone" wasn't really a "joke" after all! Maybe Craig honestly did put Coke in his bottle when I wasn't there, because that little boy knew EXACTLY what to do with a Coke can!

A little comic relief

Life has been a little mellow around our house the past week or so, but thankfully we have Reagie around to bring us some much needed comic relief! Here are a couple of things she did this past week that really had us cracking up!

Last Saturday, we decided to run to McDonalds and grab some lunch. We had had a busy day, and I hadn't had a chance to go grocery shopping with everything else that was going on. We went through the drive-thru, and decided to just order a few things off the dollar menu. When we got up to the window, they handed us one big bag full of our food. Reagan's response was "Awwwwww, we just got one big happy meal!?"

Chris and the kids have a little game that they play every morning on the way to school. The Spanish word for bus is "Boose" pronounced like moose with a b. Whenever they see a bus on the way to school they chant "The boose, the boose, the boose is on the loose." They LOVE doing this! Not only do we say this chant every time we see a boose, it's a competition to see who can see the boose first, and start the chant. The other day we were on our way home from Mama Anne's house. It was late, and dark outside. We were driving down the road and Chris spotted a bus. He started to chant "The boose, the boose, the boose is on the loose". We all started to join in, and then we heard Reagie in the back ground..."The boose, the boose,... what's a boose doing in the night!?!" We laughed about that the rest of the way home.

Husband Tag

Weren't we so cute when we got married!!? :)




Time for a happier post! :) I was catching up on blogs the other night and noticed that Christel had tagged me. I'd never done a husband tag before, and it was nice to think about all those things that made me fall in love with my "Fer". Thanks Christel, for taking my mind off things for awhile! :)

1. Where did you meet your husband? This answer completly depends on who you ask! Chris and I were in the same ward for about a year. I was aware of him, and apparently he was aware of me, but thought that I was committed to someone else. Several ward members had tried to set us up, but we were both a little stubborn I guess. As a "dare" I had signed up for an LDS dating service on line. I didn't plan on taking it very seriously, just more of an "I told you so" to those who wanted me to try it. I didn't know why I had taken thr stupid dare until now. Chris found my profile online and that was what let him know I was available. We started talking, and the rest is history! :)

2. How long did you date before you got married? 5 months. Our first date was January 18, 2006 and we were married June 16, 2006. Didn't take us long! :)

3. How long have you been married? Almost 2 and a half years.

4. What does he do that surprises you? Brings me flowers for no reason, plans "surprise" get a way dates, does the laundry, and changes poopie diapers on occasion.

5. What is your favorite feature of his? His beautiful blue eyes.

6. What is his best quality? He is very kind, and loving. He is the most honest person I know! He loves his family, and he has a wonderful sense of humor!

7. Does he have a nickname for you? He has tons! Nati, Pantsi, Natsi Pantsi, Twinkie, the list goes on.

8. What is his favorite food? Chocolate!

9. What is his favorite sport? He isn't much of a sports junkie, but I guess Soccer would be his favorite.

10. When and where did you first kiss? It was our 3rd date. Chris had the kids for the weekend, so I came over to the house to watch a movie and we had our first kiss on the couch.

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? I think it would be going to movies, or out to eat by ourselves. I just love being with him. We always laugh and have such a fun time together, no matter what it is we are doing.

12. Do you have any children? Yes. Cameron and Reagan from his first marriage, and we have Keric together.

13. Does he have any hidden talents? He can do anything he sets his mind to! Even if he has never done something before, he sits and thinks about it for awhile, and ta da...it's done, and it's done like a professional! :) He is amazing with computers, and very artistic.

14. How old is he? 33

15. Who said 'I love you first'? I did.

16. What is his favorite music? He likes pretty much anything.

17. What do you admire most about him? His honesty, kindness, and his devtion to me and his kids.

18. What is his favorite color? blue.

19. Will he read this? Yes, eventually, unless I tell him it's here.

20. Who do you tag? Danna, Bethany, Megan, Melissa & Trisha

Memories of Grandpa Craig

Grandpa Craig

The flower arrangement the grandkids sent. Big University of Utah "U" with Reeses peanunt butter cups, mini chocolate candy bars, and coke cans.


Yesterday was Grandpa Craig's funeral. The funeral was beautiful, but it was a hard day for all of us. The weather was PERFECT! It was about 65 degrees outside, with a little tiny breeze, and the sky was completely blue and cloudless. It was exactly Grandpa's favorite type of day! There were tons of people there, my Mom and Dad even made the long trek to Tooele to come to the funeral. It was one of the "happiest" funerals I have ever been to. It was nice to laugh in between all the tears. They had over 30 police officers in attendance, and they stood at attention along the church sidewalk as Craig's casket was carried out. It was very moving to see them all in uniform saluting such a wonderful man! Then he had a police escort to the cemetery. It was amazing to see how many lives he touched in the community!

As part of the service we decided to all write some of our favorite memories down of him, and then Chris' sister Maren read them at his funeral.

Our family sat down and decided what our favorite memories of Grandpa were. Keric obviously couldn't contribute much, so I had to write one down in his behalf. :)

These were the memories our family chose to share:

Natalee and Chris, as told by Natalee:

There will always be many things that remind me of Craig, the obvious Coke cans, Reeses peanut butter cups, chili cheese frito’s, and the University of Utah. But one thing that may not remind everyone of Craig, but always makes me smile is Ambien.

When we were asked to share an actual memory of him, Chris and I immediately thought of the same Grandpa Craig memory, and since we both share that memory, it is only fitting that we share it with all of you.

In the Summer of 2007, Craig and Anne invited Chris and I to come on vacation with them to Sea Side Oregon. We would be staying in a time share Condo for a week, just the 4 of us. We would be leaving the middle of June, and I jumped at the chance to go away for my 1st anniversary! We packed up our stuff in the back of Craig’s big red truck and headed out on our adventure.

We only drove part way that first day, and stayed over night in a hotel somewhere in Washington. We decided to save some money and just get one room, with two beds. We went to a movie that night, “Ocean’s Thirteen” and when we got back, we were all dead tired and more then ready for bed.

Craig had been having some trouble sleeping, which seems to be a familiar family trait I have found out, and so Anne had brought him home something new to try…Ambien. He took one of his first Ambien’s that night, and there our memory begins.

Ambien apparently agreed quite well with Craig, because it didn’t take him long to fall asleep. After he had been asleep for a little while, he started to snore. This was not a big deal for either Chris and I, because we are both used to hearing each other snoring away if we aren’t quick enough to fall asleep before the other one. As the night progressed however, so did the snoring.

It truly was a snore like I had never heard before. At first I didn’t really know what to say, if anything. I just kind of laid there hoping to fall asleep. As I laid there it was fairly evident that Chris was also awake. I could hear him sighing. Pretty soon his sighs got deeper, and longer and louder. Then he started to yell Craig’s name. The louder Craig snored, the louder Chris yelled. It got to the point where I couldn’t stop laughing at the two of them!

I couldn’t believe that Anne was sleeping through this entire episode. Me laughing, Chris yelling, and Craig snoring!

Finally it got so bad, that Chris decided we were going to have to get another room. Of course I got nominated to go down to the front desk and ask for another room.

So down I went, in my pajama’s to ask the desk clerk for another room. They of course wanted to know what the problem was with the first room and why I needed another room, so I had to explain to them, and I wasn’t able to do that without some snickering and giggling. They gave us another room, and I went up and got Chris.

We grabbed a few things before we went to the other room and left a note on the desk for Craig and Anne. Chris told them that the snoring was so bad we couldn’t stand it, so we had moved to another room.

The next morning, poor Craig was so embarrassed, and apologetic about his snoring. Eventually we laughed and laughed about that night. That trip will always be a fond memory of mine, and I’m so glad we were able to spend the week with Craig and Anne. We still to this day laugh about that night and I for one plan to continue to do so for many many years to follow.


Cameron:

My favorite memory of Grandpa Craig was all of the times we went to the movies together. My favorite movie that I saw with Grandpa was Transformers. Grandpa always made sure we had plenty of popcorn to eat and drinks to drink.


Reagan:

My favorite memory of Grandpa Craig were the nights that Cameron and I went in the hot tub with Grandpa. We would play with fishie and sharkie and tell Grandpa all kinds of stories.


Keric:

My favorite memory of Grandpa Craig is that he gave me my very first taste of chocolate. He would always share his peanut butter cups with me at Cameron and Reagan’s soccer games. Grandpa used to tell my mommy that when she left me at Grandpa’s house, he would fill my bottle with Coke. I guess that will be a secret that Grandpa and I will share forever!

All of the Wexels Grandkids, minus Keric who was screaming for his bottle. :)

Cameron and Reagan with Grandpa
Our Family, (Pardon the sunglasses, my eyes were too red and puffy to remove them!)

Not exactly the three generation picture I hoped to have, but it was the best I could do.