Valentine's

I'll admit, I have never been much of a Valentine's Day fan. To me, you shouldn't need a designated day or "Holiday" to buy somebody flowers or candy and tell them you love them. Shouldn't you be doing that anyway? And what about those who don't have somebody special in their lives, I think it's just kind of rubbing in the fact that they are alone. It just makes me kind of sad.

However, I do enjoy the fun things about it like doorbell ditching Valentine's treats to friends and neighbors. Giving my kids cute Valentine's and having them give me cute ones in return.

Chet and I never really do much for each other because we have our Anniversary a few days later, which is much more important and fun to celebrate anyway! :) But he did send me some beautiful roses (in the middle).


Kylee also got some beautiful roses and Valentine's from her friends and a "secret admirer."

Talon also got a very special Valentine from a very cute girl in his class. It turns out that they both have a crush on each other. I know her mom really well and I think it's kind of cute. I'm sure it will be short lived, but he was feeling pretty special all the same.

Fun stuff!

Birthdays!

As many of you know, the week of February 13th to the 19th is a very busy, busy week. We have four birthdays in all, including extended family, Valentine's Day and our Anniversary! *whew* can you say TIRED? (and expensive!)

This post is going to focus on two of my favorite guys ever! Talon turned 11 on the 13th of Feb. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. He is getting taller and and has the funniest sense of humor. He loves sports and music and is incredibly smart when it comes to remembering facts about bands, music and sports. He is a lot like his dad that way!

He loves playing the guitar and is doing really well with it. This year for his birthday he got an upgrade. We had him open his first present which was a guitar case. We told him that his teacher thought he could use a better case etc, etc. Talon had guitar lessons really soon after that so Chet had his guitar stuff upstairs and ready to go. We told Talon to see how his guitar would fit in the new case, so over he walks to his old guitar case and opened it up only to find that it had a new electric guitar inside. He was SOOO excited and tackled Chet with a big hug immediately. It really brought tears to my eyes. I love seeing my kids so happy!

He wanted a Dallas Cowboys "Star" cake and that is just what he got!


He wanted eggs in a basket for his breakfast, we went to Winger's for lunch and chicken enchiladas for dinner. YUM!!! We celebrated his birthday with his Grandma the night before (Sunday) with the Fullmer's and when Grandma Viv got home from the Philippines we celebrated both Talon's and Cash's birthdays at her house.

Now for my little Cashy! I can't believe that my baby boy is now 3 years old. He is doing great with the potty training and talks up a storm. His favorite things to do is play with his video games, trains, cars... pretty much all little boy things.

He is always playing with his siblings DS or Gameboy video games so we decided to get him his own video game "type" console. Only, with these games he is actually learning something. It is one of those Leapfrog Explorers 2. He calls it a "DS" and loves playing with it...that's almost all that he does. So cute!

He loves trains, SO... I made him a train cake. I wish I had more time to spend on it and make it look a little better but we had church, dinner right after and only a couple of hours before his party at Grandma Fullmer's house.

He is showing everybody that he is now "3" :)


Oh, how I love my boys! I hate that time seems to go bye faster and faster with each year, but I am grateful to be able to watch them grow. They make my heart smile!

Sweethearts

Kylee went to the Sweetheart's dance at Bingham on Feb. 11th. She asked a cute boy that Chet used to coach in football about 2 years ago. We lucked out again and found a great steal on her dress. $25 on clearance!!! I am so proud of myself.... this momma does NOT sew. Yet, her dress was strapless and we needed to make it more modest. I had originally planned on having someone else sew some straps on, but I was feeling brave and decided to give it a try myself. It actually turned out really well and very cute! I felt very accomplished! My favorite thing about the way she looked, how perfectly my shoes went with her dress!!!

Our Hero & Champion

On January 28th 2012, the Fullmer family and community lost a really great man. Chet's uncle, Don Fullmer, died peacefully in his home surrounded by his family.

He had been ill for a few months due to a form leukemia that he had for 15 years. The doctors said he would most likely not make it to Thanksgiving, but true to his nature he fought to be here until the end of January.

What a wonderful man he was! Always smiling and giving out hugs and kisses. Always a "hi honey, how are you doing?" when I would see him. Chet and I were so fortunate to buy a home just down the street from his parents and Aunt and Uncle, (Don and Nedra) which put us in the same ward, as well as all of the boxing events that we got to go to and spend time with him. He was an incredible man and left behind and even more incredible legacy.

Don, along with is brothers, Gene & Jay, were professional boxers and through their careers put the city of West Jordan on the map in the state of Utah.


When their careers were over they continued to live the boxing life through training other young boxers out of their gym, Fullmer Brother's Boxing Club, now located in South Jordan. I am so thankful for all of the memories and time we shared with him at so many bouts over the years and even trips to the National Golden Gloves tournament and Boxing Hall of Fame. I am really going to miss sitting next to him at all of the fights both local and away.

When Cash was born we were debating on his middle name and who to name him after out of Chet's uncles, Don & Gene. Chet really wanted to go with Don because of how close he is to him as well as the great personable personality he had. So, Cash Don it became. I am so glad now that we decided to name him after Uncle Don. A couple of days before Uncle Don passed, we took Cash up there to see him and have his picture taken with his namesake. To our surprise, Uncle Don was sitting up in his chair, alert, talking, smiling... ( the night before, we visited and he was not looking good at all. We thought he would go that night.) Uncle Don was even giving Cashy "knuckles" and telling him to punch his fist. We were able to get some great pictures of the two of them!

It was a very tough loss to take. Not only because we lost a great man, but because it also became an end of an era. A legacy of three brothers still living, still signing miniature boxing gloves, shirts and pictures. Now, it is only two. How very different every boxing match, every trip to Nationals, every golf tournament will be now.

As expected the line for the viewing was 3 hours long. People lined up forever to pay their respects. The flowers that were sent were numerous in number and very creative and beautiful. Some in the shape of a boxing glove or having boxing gloves in them.



The funeral service was a wonderful tribute to him. All of his sons spoke and their was laughter among tears and the Stake Center looked as if it was Stake Conference. It was packed all the way to the back. The graveside service was very touching. Uncle Don was a fireman and at both viewings there were officers standing guard by the casket. Every 30 minutes they would switch off with a really cool ceremony where they would pass the ax to each other. At the graveside service they folded the flag from the casket and presented it to Aunt Nedra.



Chet was given the honor of presenting the last 10 count for Uncle Don. Boy, was that tough!!!



After the 10 count, family members placed red roses on his casket.



We love you Uncle Don. Words cannot describe how much you will be missed! Thank you for your example, your love and the legacy you left behind. We will wear the Fullmer name with pride. You are our hero and forever our Champion!