Totally AWESOME Giveaway!!!

http://www.melaniericephoto.com/2011/09/fall-2011-mini-sessions-and-giveaway.html?showComment=1315941357630#c4229267373939603915

Hey all,

So, Melanie Rice is an Amazing Photographer and is giving away an awesome giveaway!! She took the picture of our family above and we just love her work!! Check out her blog, but don't enter cause I really want to win!! Just kidding ;-p

We had an absolute blast at the 1st Annual Head Family Reunion in Star Valley!! We had all sorts of games and activities planned which the entire family was able to join and be involved in! My youngest brother was incredibly outgoing and not only was the first to volunteer for "Minute to Win It," but insisted that I post this to the blog when we got home! We have so many more videos to post but I had to upload this one as soon as I could! I'll edit this and add more videos later, but this video HAD to be shared! Love you Mike!

Here are some more videos of myself, Angela, and my Mother! We kinda need permission from everyone else! :-) When I'm eating the cookie, the camera was upside down, but you can still see me win it! ;-) Be sure to scroll down and pause the music player to enjoy the audio from these videos!

Shake what your Momma gave ya!! HAHA LOL!! What great sports everyone was!! We sure had a blast! Can't wait for next year! We'll be practicing!

Everyday Miracles

I have never in my life seen more beautiful children then these that my wife has given me. How can anyone, ANYONE, look into the face of a newborn baby and not feel a sense of overwhelming truth of a higher and supreme power that is over creation. When I have held each of my children for the first time, I knew it was a gift straight from heaven to have this little life entrusted to my care. Each of their individual failures and successes will be a direct result of my choices regarding my reactions and behavior...it's almost too much to bear. I look at my children, and I see the face of God; and I know that I have so much to be grateful for. Anyone can be a "Father" but only few will ever hear the angelic voice call them "Daddy." My children are my future; I better not waste the time I have. :-)

When You Turn a Page, it's Not the End of the Story...

The children are huddled together under the covers, their eyes intent held by their mothers expressive face. In the soft light of the bedside lamp, their mother becomes so much more than a parent...she is an adventure, a journey, a giant tree beside a beautiful garden; and then she says the worst thing ever imaginable, "And that's all for tonight." Amidst gasps, groans, pouting faces and sweet begging, the story has reached that point of cessation. However, that is where we as children learn to expect that there is more to come. It was as children we learned that "happily ever after," was not the end of the whole story, just a point where "we stop for now." Then we lay awake all night and ponder, "What color was the horse as it rode off into the sunset?" "How many children did Cinderella have?" "How long does the prince have to wear those weird tights, until he's a king?"
As adults, we know that the turning of a page brings the end of a chapter; not necessarily the end of the story. A chapter in the life of Ryan Hess ended 5/17/10, but I know that the his story continues to be written. His legacy is being carried on in the lives of his wife and children, the innumerable impressions left behind in countless associations with classmates, strangers, friends, employers, peers, and patients. There is an eternal nature to "the soul," and I know my friend continues forward; we miss you dearly Ryan.
A wise sentiment shared by Dory goes, "Just keep swimming, swimming, etc." I can't imagine existing until the next breath, forcing myself to open my eyes the next morning, summoning the strength to roll over and throw off the covers, and try not to look at that empty space in the bed where someone should never have left...and then getting up because there are two kids that need their one-remaining parent to tell them that everything is going to be alright today...because that's what Daddy would want. I know I have a terrible attitude right now, but I recognize that I do not yet have the strength required to be alright inside myself to reassure someone else if I had suffered as greatly and deeply. It is in sincere admiration that I look at Margie recognize her strength, love, passion, endurance, and incredible attitude. I could only imagine what she must be feeling...and yet the way that Ryan and Margie fought, loved, acted, and lived in the last several months is amazing. Thank you for your strength and love of each other.
Ryan's death has inspired me and taught me the way in which I should live out the rest of mine. I pray to not see my "horizon" in the distance...but I know what I want to accomplish and impress upon the lives of my children every day I have them as a part of my life. I want them to know I love them. I want to hold them as gently as I can for a moment longer than before. I want my son to understand how proud of him I am, and wonderful it is to be his father. I want my daughter to kiss me one more time, to hear those sweet words spoken by a toddler, "Wuv you Dadty." I want there to be less screaming, and more laughing. Less hitting, and more hugging. More together and less separate or individual time. I want my kids to watch me shave or brush my teeth and really act like me brushing my teeth is the most incredible thing they are seeing at that moment. I want one more moment with my wonderful wife. One more chance. One more dinner. One more night. One more kiss. One more embrace. I want that extra kiss as I leave for work. I want that foot to touch my foot as I drift into another dream. I want to hear those respirations from her body as she stretches just before she relaxes and cuddles with me in the mornings. I want that one extra smile as she looks back at me as she drives the van away. I will always want one more before I it's over.
Life is full of experiences. Some you cherish. Some you hold on to. Some you move past. Other's you regret and learn from. As we experience life; day in and day out, hopefully I continue to learn what really matters, and what doesn't. Will I hand my boy the crayon and tell him to draw on the wall? Certainly not. I will; however, pause and make a memory, a moment if you will, that a Father and Son will remember forever as the beginning of an idea that maybe an art class should be considered in the future. :-) I love my family, and I hope that every single day, my wife and kids feel that my love was expressed a little more than the day before.
Thanks again Ryan.
http://teamryanhess.blogspot.com/

Never Too Late for Greatness

"Carpe the diem! Seize the...carp!!" It's a line from one of my favorite shows, "Out Cold." The humor is sometimes a little raunchy, but the enjoyment factor of sometimes letting a movie wash over me and NOT need any mental energy to process anything is sometimes a much needed reprieve. This is when I love playing with my kids, no strategy, no "plan;" just them and me on the floor and going all out.

What I love the most about being a Dad, is that my kids love me. Sometimes I'm a little hot-tempered, and I hear Angela reminding me to "cool it" a little bit...but it's never very long afterwards that "hugs and kisses" abound and we're ready for something else fun to do.

Last night as I was getting ready to leave for work, my kids knelt in prayer with Angela and I, and then we kissed each other good-nights, and then all went silent as we helped them into their beds. It's a slice of heaven when they both go to bed peacefully, happily, willingly, and so sweet. I'm so proud to be their Father, and honored beyond description to be their Dad.

I may not be great at some things, but I vow today to be a great Dad tomorrow, the next day, and every day after that until it actually happens!!! :-)

The Me that I am not Anymore

Not to sound completely and totally crazy, but it's funny how a simple question can really make you think. "...I am not who I was and that person has gone away. That ever happen to you?" When you sit and honestly think about that statement/question, what comes to mind is actually quite interesting.

I am Kitchener; have been for almost 31 years now. That hasn't changed a whole lot. :-) However, yesterday I was a son. Today I am a Dad. Tomorrow I will be a grandfather. Yesterday I was a brother-in-law, today I'm an uncle.

It's funny how my life has "Chapters." Each grade in elementary school was a chapter, Jr. High was a chapter, for some reason High school seems like a collection of short stories all brought together in a collection of sorts, then the mission, and everything else until I got married (college, dating, heartache, pain, no sleep, depression, endurance)...AND THEN MARRIAGE!!!!!!!!! That story has been much more exciting!! Pregnancy, child birth, first apartment, second, third, fourth, etc. :-) A MORTGAGE!!!!!

My mission mom once shared a thought, "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery (waiting to be revealed and explored), Today is a gift." Yesterday I was thinner, today...not so much. But I am so happy! I wouldn't go back to being single or back in college for ANYTHING!! There are moments that I recall from yesterday that make my heart break. There are moments I would like to experience again. I am so grateful for memories and the feelings that I am able to take with me; sometimes there is something tangible that brings them back suddenly...almost as if I was there again.

I may not play the role I had yesterday, but I am still the "star" in my own performance. I have an innumerable cast of co-stars that add an entire spectrum of spice, drama, and pizazz to my life, but I'm still Me.

I am Kitchener. Honored son of Paul and Gale, incredibly blessed husband to Angela; lucky parent to Kitchener Jaxon and Lia Eliza-Sonja; humble sibling to Jenny, Jason, and Mike; grateful son-in-law of Mark and Jonni; brother-in-law to my best friends Andrew, Wendi, Sarah, Cameron, Aaron, Ian, Corby, Emily, and Em; proud uncle to Hayden, Ahlia, and Eliza, indebted grandson to Kitchener Edward & Sonja, Boyd and Leila and Claron, little (big) nephew to some of the most incredible Aunts and Uncles that this earth had ever known; and a cousin to some pretty amazing and incredible people that inspire, motivate and love me; I can't even begin to number the several special and dear friends that have enriched my life. I couldn't number all of my blessings. :-)

In more ways than one (metaphorically and physically) I am not the same as yesterday. I am; however, so blessed and happy to be who and where I am today. It's probably a good thing that I can't step into the same stream twice. A running stream is cool, refreshing, clean...full of opportunities and adventures; water that doesn't move and is stagnant is usually dirty. There's a reason we don't bathe in the same bath water. :-) BRING ON THE RAIN!! I can't wait to jump into that stream! I love you! Remember that. You are counted and numbered, and I value you more than you will ever know!! The ties that bind us run deep and eternal; remember that!

Christmas Card Pictures 2009

These were potential Christmas Card pixs that we were going to send out this year, we could only choose one...but here we can share them all! :-) Merry Christmas to all our Dear Loved Ones!!! May the Lord's blessings find you this year happy, healthy, and secure!

aSk anD YoU ShALl ReCieVe!!

Okay everybody; Cabella's may be one of the most amazing sportsman wear store to visit but it also has things for the kids in us too! At the store here in Utah County right off Thanksgiving Point, they have this HUGE fish aquarium where they have: catfish, large mouth bass, Muskies, and river trout! They even feed the bigger catfish little tiny goldfish!! Jaxon loves going to the aguarium, and says, "We going to see the fish???!!" *each word is rising higher and higher in octaves of excitement* He loves it there, and we get a real kick out of taking him. We even got some really good pictures of Jaxon having a "staredown" with one of the bigger Muskies. Enjoy!!!

DOes tHiS EVen stIlL wOrK!?!

It has been so long since I have even accessed this blog, I was shocked to find that I could still remember the password and login! :-) So much has happened, we both have new jobs, I'm an RN, Angela is a health coach in SLC, our kids are healthy, happy, and getting older/bigger all the time!! Our little dog Roxie (a Boston Terrier) is so freakin' hyper she is almost a bother for the first twenty minutes, but then she settles down and relaxes by us. We just bought a home, LOVE IT!!! Love our neighbors, friends, ward, and location! The snow was crazy for awhile, but it's died down a little, and now it's great! Life is good. Things are good; it's almost like we were in the fire so long, it's so relaxing to have a little break for awhile. Nursing school was really tough, but it was so worth it!! Much love to you for stopping by, and remembering that we still had a blog! Aloha!! Come on back for updates...it might be fun to update this every once in awhile! -Kitch

Our WONDERFUL Camer!!!

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT -- Cameron Campbell was critically injured Thursday afternoon in an accident on State Street in Orem.Orem police say, Cameron, a 22-year-old man was travelling north before 1 p.m. at 1150 S. State St. when a southbound van driven by a 50-year-old woman made a U-turn in front of him. Cameron struck the front right side of the van, throwing him from his motorcycle.Cameron was reportedly not wearing a helmet and was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in critical condition with head injuries. Police are still investigating the accident.

Status update: Cameron is still in a coma in the ICU. The doctor said he is in a "light" coma, which mean progression. His left elbow was found to be broken and is now in a splint. Surgery will be required. The pressure in is brain is looking better each day. Baby steps.

Cameron Campbell is one of the most patient, kind-hearted, obedient, loyal and loving people we know!!! He loves is sweet, loving wife with all of his heart and shows it in every way! Jaxon everyday says" Camers sleeping?, Camers getting better!!" I know our little 3 yr old has faith that is cool uncle will pull through this. And by listening to him and the feelings in my heart from our Heavenly Father, I KNOW he will too. We pray and fast for his recovery!! Please help us continue to pray and support our sweet brother in law, our wonderful brother, Cameron.

Our prayers are also with his sweet wife, Sarah. Sarah is 20 weeks pregnant with their first baby!! Sarah continue to be strong and be positive in the tiny miracles of each day!! YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS, and so WILL CAMERON!! We pray for you and your little miracle inside. We all are here for you and your family!!

Funny Kids and Quotes!

OUR FAVORITE OF LIA!!!

OUR SWEET BOY!!

This kid LOVES hats and bikes!

Lia, just like her brother, likes to say "oohh"

SO BIG!!!

"Daddy, my turn!"

So cute!!

Our beautiful Angel!

Our handsome little MAN!

So everyone has been telling me to write down the funny things my kids say, and now that I think about it, I'd better. Lia right now is saying "momma", "dadda" and "bubba". We swear she has also said "bath" and "what?"(but we aren't sure). Jaxon has said many cute and funny things. Some of which are "momma I hold you", that is said when he wants me to hold him. He used to call me "babe" because he heard Kitch call me that. "You ok?" is one of his most recent quotes when he sees me getting upset. There are more, I can't remember them all, Kitch will post more I am sure! I just love my Kiddies so much!!

More Easter Photo's

Daddy and his Little Easter Treat!

Pretty in Pink!

The Girls

The Family!

Our Cheeky Monkey!

Easter Weekend!

This Easter weekend was a blast! On Saturday we went up to Deer Creek and had a barbecue with my parents, Andrew and Wendi, Sarah, Aaron and Ian. The weather was actually pretty nice, a little chilly, but we all dressed warm. Drew and Wendi built a fire and we all enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, salads and smores that we made around the fire. The boys fished, while Sarah and I made an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. Jaxon had a great time. Although, he was more interested in opening all the eggs as he found them for the candy. Lia just liked the plastic eggs to slobber on. Thanks to Grandma and Papa, some of the eggs had money. Jaxon walked away with $11! He thought the candy and toys were funner! Sunday we all went to my parents house for Easter dinner. It was delicious!! This was a wonderful weekend. Thank you everybody!!

Love ya Ange!

Drew and Wendi at Deer Creek



The Gang!

The family minus one

Our sleeping Angel

A cute & happy couple

The Egg hunt

" I got it momma!"

Jaxon kept loosing his eggs and candy, it was so CUTE!!

Yummy Cookie!

Jaxon's Giant Easter basket! He kept saying" I like it daddy!"

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!

Wow, so it is already half way through March! It's crazy how time flies! So much has happened the last month it has been crazy. First, our first niece was born to Jenny and Corby and Hayden. They named her Ahlia Bella Carter. At first she looked alot like Hayden, but the last time we saw her she has grown into her own little self. Looking at baby pictures of Corby, she looks alot like him. We are just so happy for them and are thrilled to have another little playmate for our Jaxon and Lia(especially Lia, they are only 8 months apart). The day Ahlia was born, Feb 18th, my dad officially became a U.S. citizen. He had lived in the states for twenty years as a legal "alien", and now he is proud to call himself a citizen of the U.S.A. We are so proud of our "papa" and we love him SO much!! We also found out my sister Sarah and her husband Cameron are having their FIRST baby!!! Sarah is 12 weeks and they will hear the heart beat this week. We love you guys and are so excited for you!

Today is my sister-in-law's, Wendi's, birthday and after church we all went to her house and had pot stickers with beef and broccoli, rice and for dessert we had raspberry rolls and cinnamon rolls YUM!! It was so good! This month is the month for birthdays! My dad and my Uncle Dean had theirs on the the 7th, Wendi the 15th, Gale the 22nd, Ian's the 28th, and Andrew's the 31st!! Whoa, alot!!

Kitch is plugging away at school and doing so well! The class still seems like it is struggling, but Kith is not one the class members in trouble. The kids are growing like weeds! Lia is now 9 months! I cannot believe it! I am still trying to loose my baby weight :( I just stopped nursing her, and three weeks later, I am still really sad about it! She doesn't seem to mind and she is just a happy and content baby. My big boy Jaxon is so smart and so sweet. Even at 2 1/2(he will be 3 in May) he is mommy's little helper. He also is so sweet and loving to his baby sister. My favorite thing in the morning is when he wakes up and we get Lia and they both hug each other for about a minute. It just makes me cry to see the love they have for one another!! We are still planning to move to Arizona this summer can't wait for the new things ahead!

Love ya
Ange

My Little Laughing Angel!!

Hello there Everyone!! I had my daughter on my lap, and I learned that if I shouted "YoYo," it would throw my daughter into a fit of giggles!! I recorded it, and had to upload it here for everyone else to enjoy as well!!! Love you!
-Kitch

A Small Bump in the Road

So this past week has been full of ups and downs. As Kitch was taking his finals at school, he found out that he and a chunk of his classmates in his OB critical care class failed the final exam. This meant a chunk of them failed the class, forcing them to retake the class next semester! Lets just say this really made us upset. Kitch worked hard all semester and did well in all of his other classes, we knew that this was a poor reflection of his instructor and schooling and not of him. Needless to say this has put our future plans of moving to Arizona on hold for now. Just a small bump in the road for us at this time. On Friday, we did go to a pinning ceremony for Kitch and his classmates. It was wonderful to have Kitch's parents, sister and her family and most of my family come and celebrate with Kitch. Even though he did not "graduate" this semester, we are so PROUD of him and his hard work. I know there is a reason we need to stay in Utah at least for 3 1/2 months more and I know the Lord has plan for us. We are so blessed to have such wonderful support from all of our families and friends! Thank you everyone!!
I will post some pictures of the event in the near future when I get them!

Love ya
Ange

Relaxing weekend

This weekend was a GREAT one! On Friday, I was able to spend the afternoon with Kitch and my kiddies! Kitch had come home from his LAST day in school, YEAH!!! We ran errands together and then later that night while my poor hubby went to work, I went up to Salt Lake City and hung out with my mother-in-law, Gale. It was fun to chat, have the cousins(Jaxon and Hayden) run around and play. They also had fun getting into trouble together, playing in the fish tank! Later, Paul and Gale, spent the night at our house and then on saturday morning they took us to have a great breakfast!! Paul and Gale then left to go the open house for the new Draper temple with Jenny and Corby. Kitch came home and passed out in bed(he was so tired from working all night). I chilled at home with my kiddies and then went to a new grocery store called By Low with my momma. Sunday we just realxed, watched the super bowl and we are awating the week ahead. Kitch has finals this week and then he will graduate this friday! We are so proud of him and we are so excited for him to be done with school(for a while)!!

Love ya

Ange

Lia and Jaxon sleeping!! Jaxon reached out to make sure she was there. So CUTE!!

A Hard Day

Wednesday, January 28th, seemed like any other ordinary day at the hospital. The morning started out slow and calm. Half of my patients had orders to go home and I felt good about the day and looked forward to the rest of it and to going home that night. Kitch called me at lunch and as always he asked me how my day was going and as always I said it was good. I also told him it was a really easy and calm day for me. Well, I should have knocked on wood, because the day took a turn for the worst. A patient on our floor(not a patient assigned to me) went into respiratory distress. After calling a rapid response and having the doctor give him medication to help him come out of it, the patient was taken to ICU. While helping the nurses bring his stuff over from our floor, the charge nurse asked if I would help and stay as a 1:1. The nurse helped me put him in restraints, after he pulled out his IV out and started to become combative. After placing a PICC line( and giving him a sedative), the patient again started to crash. He soon was not breathing and had no pulse. The doctor started CPR, while all of the rest of the code team showed up. After the first shock, we still had no pulse. The nursing supervisor jumped up to restart CPR put in the process of getting on the bed, she slipped and fell. I was standing right beside her and after helping her up I just jumped on the bed and restarted CPR. What seemed like forever took only a few minutes and after getting a pulse again and putting him on a ventilator, the patients pulse became fainter and fainter. The doctor quickly asked the patients' parents if we should start CPR again, the parents declined. I stood there in shock! I felt like we had failed, I felt like I had failed. And even finding out the patient had a pulmonary embolism, and there was no way we could have saved him, I still feel so bad!

This experience taught me so much and I walked away from it learning and appreciating things in my life so much more. I went home that night and held my husband and my kids so close to me and thanked my Heavenly Father so much for them. I can't imagine not having them in my life! I know things in life happen and I know that they happen for a reason. I am just so grateful for my testimony of Jesus Christ and of the Gospel. I love my Heavenly Father and I am grateful for this life and for my family and friends.

Love ya
Ange

Happy 26th to ME!!

Wow! I am now 26 years old! I still feel really young and I know that 26 years old is still young. I just can't believe all the things I have done in my life and all the things that are still to come!! I still am amazed that I am a wife and I have TWO kids, Whoa! Well, time flies when you are having fun! I am so happy that I can say this so far has been a wonderful life and adventure for me. I look forward to the future and many more great birthdays to come!











Kitch took me to Goodwood(a barbeque place), my favorite, for dinner and then we had French silk pie, coconut cream pie and peach pie later with my family. A wonderful close to a wonderful day!