2.18.99

12 years and counting

UTahhhhhh......

I know it shouldn't seem like a trip to Utah is a vacation. Especially considering the fact that it starts with a 20 hour drive, in a jam packed mini van, with four kids, one dog, and two sleep deprived, over worked, underpaid (come on, the hubbies in residency)...parents. Thank goodness we had some Taylor Swift to keep up rockin' through the rockies (of Colorado), some Enya when bedtime rolled around, and a medically trained hubby that can drive through the night as if he were on call...while I wedged myself between sleeping kids to act as a pillow and a leg rest.

Seriously, whenever we go back 'home' I find myself missing Utah more and more. The mountains especially. So I am happy to report that we got a lot of mountain time in, this time. It's also great to see the fam. :)

Oh....it's been too long

Here's a few pics from the past few weeks. It's been forever since I blogged. I guess that's life...at least my life, for right now. While I'm busy livin' it, I did manage to shoot a few fall memories. Don't hold your breath anyone...I don't know when it'll happen again. With that said, it looks like even super heroes need a day off.

How our summer got started...

So at the start of summer, I pulled the kids out of school a good three weeks early. I loaded all four of them, and our dog, in the car and drove to Utah. Jeff was in Washington D.C. at this point attending a physics course that would end up being one month long, and our plan was to make it out there to him. But first, I needed to unload at my parents house. After a short night stay in Denver, and countless bathroom breaks along the way, finally we arrived in Utah. About 48 hours later, I was kissing my two youngest kiddos and the dog goodbye, and boarding a plane headed for D.C. with my older kiddos. After a manageable 4 hour flight (I'll take that compared to the 20 hour car ride), I was hugging and kissing my hubby, and ready to start our adventure for the next two weeks in the land of D.C. What an adventure it was! D.C. is a place everyone should have the opportunity to visit. The history rocks, the place is beautiful, yummy food, and you'd never find yourself without something to do. We all plan on going back when the two younger kids are a bit older, and we can make it a family affair.
Anyway, here are some pics...in no particular order.

Here we go again....

Utah- we're on our way!

HELP FOR MY SISTER...please read

Some of you may know that my little sister, Jill, has had some serious health problems over the past year. She has had one struggle after another with her bowels, and multiple surgeries, and in the end leaving the doctors even more baffled with her ongoing condition. Recently, a great doctor took a look at her case, and decided to not give up on her, and help her get better and get on with living her life. Well, test after test, and appointment after appointment, we feel confident that this doctor has her best interest at heart. He is planning on doing major surgery on her next week, April 13th. As her sister, I'm nervous, and Jill is even more so. But we know that this has to be done to save her life. I saw her a couple weeks ago after not seeing her in months, and tears came to my eyes to witness just how sick she was. She is dying, and her doctor confirmed that that would surely be the case if she went untreated. I left Utah heartbroken, but with plans to be there for the surgery, and not really knowing how else to help. With that in mind, the surgery is why I'm posting this on my blog. The money for the surgery has to be paid up front....some $20,000. Crazy huh? Her insurance will not cover this procedure saying it is part of a pre-existing condition. That's life, but it's hard to take in. Personally, if I had the money I would hand it over in a heartbeat. I'm sure all of you would want to do the same thing for someone you love.

Over the past few weeks many people have heard about Jill's story; those that know and love her, and also those that have never met her, and people have been so gracious and understanding. Many of those people have started donating to help Jill get this surgery she so badly needs. So far Jill has come up with about $15,000 and is trying to raise $5,000 more by next week. At this point, we know every little bit helps and this is my purpose in posting today. If you can, and would like to help, I've added a link to donate for Jill by way of her blog www.thestrasburgfamily.blogspot.com. There is a PAYPAL link at the top for donations. And while you're there take a look at the great items for auction that have been donated by business's and very talented people to help Jill raise the money.

I know I'm not alone in loving Jill. If you know her, you love her...it's that simple. Thanks for taking the time to read this post. If you would like more details or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at jamienackos@gmail.com.

11 is HEaVeN!

11 years in the books.....Jeff style:

11 years ago a marriage was born. Conceived, not in a '79 Camaro, but in the back seat of a car named Love. As it passed from the warm comfortable womb of single life, through the pelvis of commitment, it squinted in the blinding light of matrimony. It was tough at first, because it didn't know how to walk or talk and it lacked bowel and bladder coordination, often soiling itself, but it persevered. It has matured over the last 11 years. Now in its preteen years, it is wonderful. Sure, it's a little awkward at times. Its voice is changing and it is getting hair where before there was none, but it is awesome. Jamie, thank you for the joy, the tears, the laughs, and especially the love that have followed the birth and after birth of our marriage. Happy Anniversary!