We Miss You

Well its been one year since Pop passed away. Seems like only yesterday I got to see his wonderful smile, hear his joyful laugh, and share a seat in the golf cart. It seems that we run into people all the time that say they think about Pop on almost a daily basis. He had so many wonderful friends and enjoyed life like no one else. No matter how dark and dreary one day may seem the next always started with a smile for Pop. His laugther was contagious and his smile could brighten any room. Pop had a knack for recalling funny events and was able to tell stories better than anyone I know. He made friends everywhere he went and was always the first one to buy a round. This world sure lost someone special when Russell Byrd passed away and we are all happier people having known him.

love you Pop.

Crashed!!!

I opened the door to Jake's room one morning to get him up for the day and found him sleeping like this. Don't we all wish we could sleep this good.

Sunday Afternoons in the County

This past Sunday we went out to my parent's house. Jake loves to visit. Not only to see the greandparents but there are so many places to run, lots of wildlife to see (rabbits, horses, parrie dogs, stray cats and many different kinds of insects). This time however, Jake found the perfect mud puddle. It was picked out espically for him by grandpa and Jake loved it. He has always been a fan of water and when combined with the perfect sand hole you get the....the perfect mud puddle!!!

Surprise Party

On April 19, our family set up a surprise party for my Uncle Robert and Aunt Kathy's 50th B-day at my grandparent's house in Phoenix. My grandfather had tolds us about the party a couple weeks earlier and said "we're gonna have hamburgers and hotdogs and some of the family is coming town from Vegas and Utah." You can imagine our "surprise" when we showed up at the house and found racks of baby back ribs, scones, fruit salad, french fries, hamburgers, hotdogs, steamed veggies and a cake that looked like it came right out of "Ace of Cakes." Apparently the little family get together my grandfather had eluded to was actually a well thought out social get together of over 200 people. My Uncle Bruce had brought down a cook trailer from Las Vegas that was just awesome. It had a 6 foot grill on one side, two deep fat fryers and a 3 foot griddle across the back, another 4 foot griddle on the other side, and was finished off with a couple of stock pot burners. All of this was connected to about a 250 gallon propane tank that sat at the fron of the trailer. In true King Family fashion everyone took on one of the cooking responsibilities and dinner was a snap. Me and my cousin's husband Trent took on the fryers for french fries and scones. We had more food than we knew what do with and everyone went home stuffed.

Me and Trent (in a "Pleather" apron we found)

Supervising all the action

My Aunt Kristin and her family made the cakes (and when I say made, I mean made!) There wer more than four different cakes (lemon, strawberry, chocolate-peanut butter, and carrot that I remember) she made and decorated. Oh yeah, she told me that the fondit that she bought didn't work too well so she made her own!

Me, Aunt Terry (you look amazing) and mom

The Fam

Dog Bowl Fun

Jake absolutely loves being outside. So much so he learned how to get
out the doggie door this weekend. Sunday we put him in his swimming
trunks and let him play with the hose and the dog's water bowl (safer
than a bucket, not quite a swimming pool). He had a blast. We slathered him in sunblock, but it didn't seem to matter much, he started turning pink after only a few minutes. If he hopes to be a "river rat" he'll need SPF 200.

Relay For Life

On April 12, 2008, we participated in the Relay for Life sponsored by American Cancer Society. The turnout was awesome and Jake was people watchin' like crazy. We got there just in time to participate in the "Survivor Walk" and join the many others who have battled cancer and won. There were many faces we didn't know and a few that we did (unusual for this "small" town we call Yuma). Team Jaydie was well represented as Johnna, Jake, mom and I sported our T-shirts and bracelets. Her inspiration lives on in all of us!

Applesauce - It's what's for dinner

Last night we ate dinner a little late and didn't bother to put a bib on Jake because we knew bath time was coming soon. We have been giving him a spoon during meal time to try and get him used to holding it even if he doesn't quite know what it is for. Well, last night's meal included applesauce and Jake made a great effort to learn how to use the spoon (as long as daddy helped him). As soon as we sat down to eat, Jake decided he could do better with his fingers!!! He had a blast getting it all over (except in his mouth) and believes he has found the next celebrity hair product.