Sunday, March 27, 2011

Amber and Sean. Amber was giving Beanie his first bottle while Brady and I went out for our anniversary. She was ecstatic!


Amber (11), Amy (8) and Sean (3) Amber always had Seany on her hip. She absolutely adored him so much that mom had to lock Sean's door when he was napping so that she wouldn't go in and wake him up. She always wanted to carry him everywhere :)

More Ambie

Ambie at 12

In L.A. Ambie is 14 in this picture

Ambie is 15 and Amy is 12
Ambie 14 in L.A.


Ambie bodyboarding at 15

My Ambie


My Beautiful Ambie.
I haven't posted on my blog for the past 2.5 years because I was dreading writing this entry. I knew I couldn't post anything before I had posted about her death, but the task of talking about her death was too daunting. Now, I am as ready as I will ever be. My Ambie is one of the most beautiful people in the world and as her bipolar increased her sadness of hurting her family increased.
I had always thought that suicide was an act of selfishness. That a person would chose to take their life was because they didn't care enough about the people that they were hurting; that they cared more about themselves. I can't say why everyone dies by suicide but I do know in Amber's case it was of pure love. She always said she would do anything to protect her family, that she would die for them. Well, a few weeks before she died she said that it was like a monster had taken over her body (when she was manic) and that she had no control over herself. She said she refused to stand by and be helpless to the monster she was becoming. She saw how hard it was on everyone and couldn't stand to see herself be the cause of it. Amber did not take her own life; the monster that took over her free agency and that inhabited her body, that monster murdered her. He convinced her that if she truly loved her family she would not make them suffer.
Well, suffer we are, hurting forever, but not because of the way she died, but of how much we miss her. She is an original and one of my best friends forever. I feel her presence quite often and can hear her talking to me and giving me her classic advice, but it's not enough. I want her here with me. Right now and forever.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Torrey, Utah

This was our wonderful trip to Torrey, Utah and Capitol Reef National Park at the end of June!  We had a fabulous time!  It was a wonderfully relaxing and extremely enjoyable vacation!  We absolutely loved every minute!  We had this huge pool and hot tub completely to ourselves most of the time and the hikes were beautiful especially the last one, which was all in the water (it was quite warm outside).  In the pictures of Brady holding both kiddos, it's because Mommy thought she was going to pass out from heat exhaustion!!!  It was very hot in the front of the mountain in the middle of the day, so Brady, ever my knight in shining armor, came and rescued me!!! Thanks honey!  

Beanie's Last Day of School!

This is Beanie's Last Day of school and he had a fabulous time!  First, they got to have a fun movie time, and then they had a water day where they played on the slip and slides and then they had water fights and all kinds of water games.  Last, but not least, they had a fantastic bubble time to end it all!  It was a super fun day, but the best part for Beanie was coming home and knowing that he had three whole months off!  The best part for Mommy was knowing that I get to sleep in for those three months!!!!  Yes!!!  No alarm clocks, except on Sunday!!!  



Beanie and Lucy Sleeping

I absolutely love this picture because this was Beanie's last day of school and because it just shows how much he adores his sister.  He is so in love with her and always wanting to hold her and kiss her.  They both love each other so much.

Beanie's Great Brain Report

This is going back in time, but I had to get this in!  At the end of school, Beanie's class is required to do a "Great Brain Report".  Beanie did his on "Bearded Dragons" since he just received his a few weeks before that.  He did an awesome job!!!  We were so proud of him. He presented his report so well and he glued all the pictures on the poster and wrote everything himself!  He is doing great at school.  His grades were great and his reading and spelling have dramatically improved.  He excels at both subjects now!





Monday, July 14, 2008

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Freddie!

This is Freddie!  He is a Bearded Dragon and he is so cute and fun!  He is a wonderful little lizard and sooooooo fun. He is really mellow and so chill.  He amazingly smart.  We got him a couple of months ago after we saw "Nim's Island", a super fun, family movie!




Introducing Hero Baby!!

This is our Hero Baby!  We got him after Maka passed away and we are in love with him!  He is so cute and sweet and grown to be so big!!!  His temperament and personality is a lot like Chewy's (our first dog) and that is the greatest compliment we could ever pay a doggie!  We are absolutely in love.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Lucy's First Dance Class!


Lucy was so excited for her first dance class!  She was ecstatic!  She couldn't wait to buy her ballet shoes (or for mommy to buy them at least) and put them on, along with her tap shoes!  She grinned from ear to ear when she walked in and she wasn't scared at all!  I was assuming she would want me to come in with her since I always came in with her for her "Little Gym Gymnastics" class.  But, it was in a different room and she just walked right in!  So cute! 

New bathing suit!


01-09-08_1635.jpg, originally uploaded by heatherplong.

Lucy was trying to distract the boys from the video games with her new bathing suit. It didn't work:)

Lucy at Little Gym


01-07-08_0947.jpg, originally uploaded by heatherplong.

Lucy loves her little gym classes! She gets so excited to go to them and she loves her teachers.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Lucy the Workout Girl!


12-28-07_1148.jpg, originally uploaded by heatherplong.

Lucy loves to work out with me and is always wanting to sit on top of the treadmill while I run. I will let her sit there while I walk, but not while I run. So, she will come and lay down on the bench and do her little "Lucy workouts". She loves to show me how strong she is and all of her little exercises that she can do, ones that she likes to make up! LOL! It is a blast to watch her!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Lucy reading to Maka


01-23-08_1207.jpg, originally uploaded by heatherplong.

Lucy loved to play with Maka. She liked to hold her leash and walk around with her and Lucy would always stick up for her if Maka got in trouble. Lucy would like to sit in between Maka's front paws and play with her, read to her and dress her up. Maka was a perfect dog for a little girl, too. She was so patient and loved to give Lucy a lot of kisses and to lie by her.

Amazing Swimmer!


IMG_8642, originally uploaded by heatherplong.

Always Up for Any Adventure!


IMG_8704, originally uploaded by heatherplong.

Hot Dog-Happy Boy


IMG_8696, originally uploaded by heatherplong.

Forever with her Boy and Protecting HIm


IMG_9711, originally uploaded by heatherplong.

She Loved Being Outdoors


IMG_9691, originally uploaded by heatherplong.