8th Anniversary

Yes it has been 8 years. I seriously can't believe it! I wanted to post a picture from our wedding but I can't get my scanner to work, hence this picture.


I usually am all about celebrating events, like any event. I really like to have a reason to give and get gifts or go out to dinner or to get dressed up; I love it. But this year, I was not my usual celebratory self. Kevin played in the Birch Creek Club Championship all day Saturday; like from 7 to 7, 36 holes. After he got home we went out to dinner. We said 'no gifts' this year and I followed that. This year my gift to Kevin was my frugality, which is really a priceless and unique gift; I hope he appreciated it. I gave him a card and some candy. I know lame, but there is only so much you can do and keep it frugal.

Kevin however gave me gifts, really nice and thoughtful gifts. He first gave me this beautiful card and he wrote this lovely message in it. It was precious. For any guys out there, that really melts a woman's heart. Then because it has been 8 years he gave me 8 gifts.

1. Our wood floor, because he loves how I try to make our home beautiful, even if he fights me every step of the way, it turns out looking better when it's finished.
2. Almond Joys, because bring 'joy' to our home.
3. Reese's, because I love them and because of my love of exercise I will burn them off.
4. Bubbles, for the girls because he thinks I'm a good mom.
5. A bread knife, because we needed one and because he loves how I love to bake.
6. Miracle Grow, for the garden because he loves how I love to garden.
7. iTunes gift card, because he loves that I bring music into our home.
8. New sheets, for the bed. Enough said.

How sweet is he. Seriously. That is why I married this man.

He wasn't done with his gift giving. The next gift might seem kind of weird, but I'm kind of weird. We were sitting out on our patio talking and I noticed he had gray hair! I told him I was too young to be married to someone with gray hair! He's only 30 for crying out loud. So obviously I gave him some crap about it.

He told me I gave them to him. Me and my 'incident'. My incident would be the cancer. This is why I love the gift of his gray hair: all through the cancer he showed little emotion so I thought he thought it wasn't that big of a deal. He apparently was trying to be 'a rock'. I kind of thought it was a big deal so I felt a little bad. All this time he was stressing out and I had no idea. Then it came out in his hair. Sweet right? In kind of a weird way? Well I love it.

Then, that's right we aren't done, the next day I had planned with some friends to go to Bear Lake with our kids. I was really looking forward to it after the not so fun summer. On Monday we woke up to Lillian throwing up. So no Bear Lake. Kevin, knowing how bad I wanted to go, brought all his work home and told me to go. He not only worked from home and took care of Lillian, he washed our sheets, and he made Lillian's bed because I had washed her sheets.

Can I just tell you, I love this man.

Happy Anniversay Kevin. Thank you for making me so happy. I love you.

Lillian's Golf Camp

The big day came for Kevin, his daughter started golf camp. He got her some little pink clubs that came in a pink and gray bag (Thanks Uncle Todd!). They are seriously so cute, as is she.

Isabelle can't wait until she is old enough to go to golf camp; she had to shop with me instead. Isn't she just the cutest golfer?

Radioactive Iodine Bliss

Isolation, Seclusion, Quiet, Detox(that's for you Connie); I call it vacation. Well I am trying to at least.

The treatment for Thyroid Cancer is first to remove your thyroid; done and done. Then after that you take radioactive iodine to kill the remaining cancer and thyroid cells.

When we first talked to the doctor about it being cancer I asked, "What if it has spread?" He said, "Well that 's the definition of cancer; it spreads." Yes thank you, my fears are not calmed at all. That is what the radioactive iodine is for, to kill the remaining cancer cells that might have traveled somewhere else in my body.

On Wednesday we went to McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden so that I could drink the Radioactive Iodine. We went in and I went into a 'special' room where it was. It was in a glass vial in like a paint can filled with metal and the vial was in the middle. So I drank it with a straw and then she added more water to the vial and I drank that and then I left. As I was leaving the alarm went off and so I stopped and she said, oh that's just you, you're fine. That was crazy! I was like, OK so I am radioactive now, great.

I found this t-shirt that I wish I had bought before my treatment; very appropriate. Get it? Hot with a radioactive sign?

As we were leaving the hospital I had to stay away from everyone, including Kevin. I sat in the 3rd row, on a sheet, in the Pathfinder. Kevin did offer to put a foam pad in the back of the truck for me but I declined.

When I got home it was to my room and to my seclusion/isolation. Kevin has to sleep in another room and use the other bathroom since the radioactivity is passed through my body fluid. Apparently when you sleep you sweat more than you know. Also I have to stay 7 feet away from people for 3 days. In the first few days it was important to drink a lot and then the radioactivity passes out of my system.

No I do not glow, as many have asked, sorry. It makes my neck sore because that is where most of my thyroid cells are, it makes me tired, but that's about it. It has not been so bad at all. I think I am easily entertained. As far as cancer treatments go, this one is not bad.

I miss the girls but I talk to them several times a day. They are having a good time so that makes it easier to be away from them. My mom has taken them to the library, a magic show, school shopping, out to lunch, the park, and today they are having a tea party with their aunts. How fun does that sound? Mom you are the best, thank you!

Kevin has kept busy with work and golf. He has been so nice to take care of me, but I think it has been nice for him too. He gets to do basically what he wants because he can't be around me and the girls are gone; so golf it is.

My family and friends have, as always, been amazing. They have brought me lunch and dinner, cookies and treats, movies and magazines, books and diet cokes. My Mom and Dad got together this whole care package of all my favorite junk food, magazines, movies. How nice are they? My parents neighbors that I grew up with did the same. I just feel so blessed. I know I have said it before, but I have to say it again: I live in the best neighborhood in the world and I have the best friends; they are just the best. Thank you!

I think every mom needs a little alone time, quiet time, leisure time, right? And I intend to enjoy it.

Mullen/LeFavor Family Reunion

We went to Boise, Idaho last weekend for Kevin's family reunion. I can honestly say this reunion is the funnest family reunion; and it's not even my side of the family! We always have a good time when we go and this year did not disappoint.

We stayed at a hotel and the girls were ecstatic. We stayed in a hotel when we went to Disneyland in February but you would have thought they had never even seen one. They walked in and started running around saying, "Mom there's a bathtub! Oh there are 2 telephones, they even have a fridge and a microwave!" It was pretty funny. It made me remember how fun it was to stay in a hotel as a kid.

They had gunny sack races, 3 legged races, and a bean bag toss.

I don't want to brag, but I did win all 3, 3 legged races I ran in. Cancer can't slow me down. Sorry I can get a little competitive!

They tossed the bean bags into two little cowboy hats.

Even Kevin, his brother, and Dad got in on the bean bag toss. They are forever looking for a competition.

Kevin's cousin Kari Lyn does Kindermusik and she brought her guitar and some instruments for the kids to play; along with these scarves. It all was a huge hit with the kids; they had such a ball.

Thanks to the Boise folks for the great reunion. We had such a great time.

Michael and Sarah's Reception in Bountiful

After their lovely wedding and honeymoon in New York we had a reception for them here in Utah. Don't they look cute. Sarah's bouquet had 4 dozen white roses in it. Isn't it beautiful?

We bought a new dress for Lillian for the occasion. She loved twirling around and around in it.

Lillian and Isabelle got to carry this tiny bouquets of flowers. That was such a treat; they loved them.


This is my Dad's side of the family. They all came from California for the reception. We don't get to see them super often so it was great to visit with them and have them there.

Michael and Sarah with both of our grandparents.

With my Aunt Deb. My Uncle Don (her twin) is just behind us. They both came all the way from California. If my Dad is around Deb he'll start calling me Deb and her Candace. We have a lot of fun together!

Surgery #2

I had my second surgery on July 9th. It was fun fun fun. Actually it stunk stunk stunk. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into and that was almost worst than not knowing. I went in, fell asleep, and then I woke up itching all over. Apparently I'm allergic to narcotics, and I kind of like them. They make me feel so good. After some benadryl life was good.

Kevin was there for me through it all. He even gave me a full body scratch down when I was itchy. He got me movies and ice cream. Then he went home and stayed with the kids and came back in the morning. I couldn't have done it without him. He is the best.

I couldn't have done it without my family and friends either. Melissa watched the kids while I had the surgery and they had a blast. Courtney brought me soup because it hurt to swallow. I just have the best people around me, helping me. Thank you.

The girls came and saw me in the hospital. They put me back in the pediatric wing again and I was actually in the same room as Isabelle was when she had to stay in the hospital after her surgery in November! Lillian loved climbing up and snuggling with me and watching TV. Isabelle was a little scared to touch me; I think she was worried she was going to hurt me.

The girls got a hold of the camera and had a little fun at the hospital.

After the surgery Mary came up and helped us for a few days after the surgery, which was so nice. Thank you Mary for your help! My parents came up to visit with food and the biggest bouquet of roses you have ever seen; it was gorgeous. My Dad cut them from his rose garden (which is a treat in and of itself). Thank you! Thank you to all my friends for the dinners and treats, books and magazines, everything. I really have the best family and friends, everyone took such good care of us. Thank you!

Swimming Lessons

This year the girls were able to take swimming lessons with their cousins, Madi and Parker. Lillian even got to be in the same class with Madi, which she loved. Isabelle, who loves water, hated swimming lessons. She didn't want to leave us and go with her teacher. She would just jump out of the water and come running to where we were. Thank goodness she had a good teacher who was willing to let her ride on her back!

As soon as Isabelle was done with swimming lessons and swimming in the kiddie pool on her own, she did great. I wanted to go find her teacher and show her how much she really did love the water!

It's fun to live close by cousins. The girls loved seeing them everyday at their lessons!

4th of July BBQ

The day after the 4th of July we went down to my grandparents house in Bountiful for a BBQ with my family. It was less than a week after my surgery but I was anxious to get out of the house!
How adorable is Michael sitting in that tiny wagon while Lillian pulls him; priceless.

My Uncle Daren and Aunt Carolyn came with their family from Denver. That was one of the main reasons we came, to see them. My cousin Bennett just got home from a mission and we couldn't wait to see him.
Here's my cute Grandpa cooking the burgers.

Here is my Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Randy with their family. It is so fun to get together with all my cousins. We get along so well and have lots of fun together.

Michael and Isabelle kept practicing their "trick".

Looks pretty cool huh? We were glad we made the trip. It was fun to see everyone and celebrate the 4th.