Tears for J + Sending a Little Love.

Today I had my annual mammogram.

As I was looking over the paperwork and making changes (I had gained 15 pounds last year, then another 10 this year... that's a lovely reminder), I came across the "family history" section. I crossed out the auto-filled answer from last year of "none," and added "sister," "breast," and "38." And then, right there in the waiting room, I started to cry. I tried to pull myself together before sitting down with the gal to check-in and review insurance information. Afterwards I was immediately taken to the dressing room where a few more tears fell. It seems so unreal that last year at this time Jana was fine (at least as far as we knew). She wouldn't be diagnosed for another 2 1/2 months. Even after the diagnoses, we all thought "she's young," "she has such a great attitude," "she's going to make it." Cancer pulled the carpet out from under us in October. Anyway, here's a reminder for all my girls out there. 40+ keep current on those mammograms, < 40 = self breast examinations every month. If you find anything suspicious, GET IT CHECKED OUT. If the doctor can't get you in for a week or two, THROW A FIT. START TO CRY ON THE PHONE. Do whatever it takes to be seen immediately. Cancer kills.

Yesterday I worked on a little project for Lolo.

Yes, it's a bit late to be sending a Valentines package.

No, she won't get it in time.

That's why I included a little St. Patrick's Day AND Easter along with it.

I made this super cute paper bag book (as seen on Pinterest). Link here.

I just happened to have red and white paper bags in my stash. Who knows how long I've had them, but I certainly deserve a big pat on the back for thinking ahead haha.

There are fun little pockets to hide things in. I printed off this I spy game (with two answer sheets - one for Shi, one for her comp... a little friendly competition to see who can get the most right) here.

It was fun to add a few serious things... a few silly things...

...a few study things...

...and a few love notes.

In the middle of my mad dash to git 'er done (with a goal to MAIL ASAP), I was reminded that I have a granddaughter that needs a little love, too. So I whipped out another paper bag book, made it Wonderful-Sweet-Scarlett-appropriate (I hope!), grabbed a few Valentine's Day items at the store, packaged and shipped them both. Just as the USPS office was closing yesterday at 6pm. WHEW. Mission accomplished.

Scarlett's book MAY have been a tiny bit cuter, only because it wasn't my first attempt. I had every intention of snapping pics, but in my hustle to get it shipped, forgot. Oh well.

Spread some love. And get a mammogram. 

That's all.

Hope.

Confession time:

I still have a heart wreath on my front door from February.

I still have the letters for "Happy Father's Day" on my magnet board.

(I'll admit I mixed them up just a few days ago due to embarrassment)

I have not walked {for exercise} once this week.

I ate an entire bag of tropical Hi-Chews yesterday on my way from work to the post office to home, even though it was chock full of my least favorite flavor, banana. In my defense, it was 4pm and I hadn't eaten since 6:30am.

Things continue to go non-stop. I suppose that is how life is (which, funny enough, I am constantly reminding my lone child at home that life is work so get used to it...).

I am hopeful, however, about many things:

I've been on a brief organizing binge, getting some junk together that has needed it for a long, long time. There is hope that on some distant day, everything will be in its place.

(And I like to think it counts towards exercise, since I've sweated my booty off doing it, haha)

I'm getting good at countdowns... keeping up with Lolo's days on the mish (the weeks do seem to fly), counting down the days of a child in braces (FOUR), the days until General Conference (NINE), and counting down to my trip to UT to chill with Wonderful Sweet Scarlett (THIRTEEN). I am hopeful that my beloved granddaughter will quickly be endeared to her doting grandma Gigi (so I can hold her, hug her, kiss her), and that I'll have the chance to visit with lots of family while I'm there.

My sister Jana continues to battle cancer. She found out this week that it has spread, but sent a hopeful text of treatment information after meeting with her doctor. Her hope gives me hope. She has maintained an amazing attitude throughout and keeps a smile on her face and a positive outlook. I so admire her.

I love this quote by Elder Scott:

I'm going to miss him.

Here are a few quick, fun pics NOT from Big Mac's defunct iPhoto library:

This is the photo I used for my conference luncheon evites. Sometimes I just crack myself up. We've been gone the past TWO conferences, so I am glad to be able to resume this fun Syddall Family tradition.

I love love love getting snaps from my kids, and I'm getting better at screen-shotting (Big Mac says that is NOT a word - if he knows so much, why can't he open iPhoto?) to save for later.

 Scarlett opening a package from Gigi and Little Billy... decorated in her fave, Daniel Tiger. Britt sent us a video of her playing in the box that was sooooo adorable - totally worth the time to print those out!

Britt and Austin are moving! They are in the exciting process of building a house, and because they sold their townhome in ONE DAY, they will be spending the next 6 months or so living with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson (I'm soooooo jealous).

Yep, this fun little daily update on that sweet girl makes me so so happy.


We've convinced Tay to play along and it's been so great to get some of his fun snaps!

And Lex keeps us updated on her and Jason's furniture additions and dinners.

And even though Mar is around, I love getting snaps from her too:

(from a recent field trip to an authentic Chinese restaurant for her Ancient Civ class - the homework the previous week was to eat at Panda Express for comparison purposes... why didn't I ever have a class like that??)

They all make me smile and can make any day exponentially brighter. Thanks, guys!


Last night I went to a Relief Society activity... I took pics for the Ward History.
I'm so grateful to be among these great sisters.

Those two cute sister missionaries in the front-and-center moved in with us on Tuesday night (part of the reason for my organization + reorganization projects). I hope our service to them will be returned in kind for Lolo in London... the missionaries don't live with members there (Shi said it would be really difficult because everything is sooooooo small), but I know there are wonderful members who go out of their way to serve her and her fellow missionaries. I am so grateful for them!

The Day Before.

I know I promised the wedding post would be the next up, but as I looked over my pictures, I felt a need to first post about the day before.

But very first I must mention that on Monday of this week, my little sis Jana told us that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is much in my thoughts and prayers the past few days.

Please keep her in your prayers as well. She is soon to start chemo and is gearing up for all the nasty-but-oh-so-beneficial stuff that comes along with it. Love you, Jana Sue!

The Friday before Lex's wedding Lolo went through the temple. It was such a blessing that all my children could be there (minus Mar, who stayed home to babysit Wonderful Sweet Scarlett, and Austin, out of town on business). I am once again filled with gratitude at the sacrifices and efforts that were made by dear family members to share this special experience with Shi.

After lunch in the temple cafeteria, we all headed back to Grandma and Grandpa G's to
work on wedding projects,

practice,

entertain Scarlett + some mommy-zoning,

prepare necessary meals (the wedge salad has been the rage since improvising them while at the Barn over Spring Break),

label jars, assist with homework,

chillax and eat,

and flower arrange.

Yes, we are a full service organization.

A huge thank you to my sister Jill, who made the long drive from CA by herself to support and help (I owe you!), and to my amazing family members who pitched in to make Lex and Jason's big day wonderful for them. You are the best.

Wedding post up next, I promise.

Prayers for J. J.

Carry On.

Today you hit the motherlode.

I'm jamming it in. The whole past week +.

I'll just rip it all off at once, like an old bandaid.

A week ago Sunday, Lolo and I headed off to the wild blue Yonder. "Where all parents are strong and wise and capable and all children are happy and beloved. I don't know. Maybe it was Utah."

But not before a few tears were shed and pictures taken.

 Bill had just given Shi a father's blessing, which didn't make things any easier.

Good-bye...

 Daddy-O,

 Ava,

Jack, 

 sister from another mister,

 and MarMar.

Hello...

 sweet Scarlett

 and all the UT family... and friend (technically our friend is from ID).

Taylor and Lynnea kindly provided a yummy taco dinner as we all caught up and talked about the week ahead. Scarlett found satisfaction and enjoyment in a ChocoTaco wrapper.

Monday was move-in day for Lolo.

Taylor came along to help, although most people thought he was a freshman moving in, too. 

Shi found that especially funny.

Lex and Jason were there, too. Moving in is so much easier with great help like this!

I'll admit, I was super excited to see Lolo's bedroom window view. Could it get any better? This was also probably the first time I burst out in song.

Firm as the mountains around us,

Stalwart and brave we stand...

 Seriously, I was singing that song all week long.

Sweet Scarlett felt so relaxed with Grammy that she had a little bowel blow-out.

Can you spot it up her back and on my shirt?

It was the perfect initiation of Lolo's new digs.

Ahhhhh.... nice and fresh again.

Shi had a job interview right across the grass from her new residence.

Man, oh man, I prayed she would get that job. It would be so ideal, especially since she is carless.

(Because she didn't hear from them by Friday, we think it's a no-go. Boo, I say. But Lolo is determined to carry on, carry on, carry on.)

The rest of us waited outside to hear how the interview went.

 After all that moving and shaking, we decided it was time for linner (Lunch + Dinner = Linner).

Hmmmmm.... where to eat? (the dilemma of our week).

We finally settled on Smashburger.

YUM. I love their fries.

Scarlett liked it, too!

We made one of several stops at Costco for... FHE snacks? College supplies? Kitchen storage? Gelato?

 Scarlett obviously found it... unstimulating.

Or she was just plain tuckered out.

Monday night we had a fun FHE at Taylor and Lynnea's.

A rousing game of aggro, some homemade guacamole, bags of Hi-Chews and swedish fish...

Near perfection (we were missing the fam in CO).

Even Scarlett tried to chat it up with Auntie Lynnea.

Ooops. That was spit up, not chat-it-up. Haha.

After the FHE festivities and Scarlett had again drifted off, we headed back to Britt and Austin's

 where Scarlett was swaddled like a burrito and put to bed.

I can hardly stand the sweetness. So presh!

On Tuesday we had another burger.

These girls would eat a burger or pizza every day if I would let them.

Oh yeah, I'm not in control of that after this week.

Britt and I weren't complaining, though.

We stopped by Lex's apartment to check out her new UT place.

I had to snap a quick pic of the cute decorations she helped with for a bachelorette party her roommates had thrown recently.

Here's Lex's shelf of food: 

I hope that girl can survive on lemonade, mashed potatoes, pasta roni and peanut butter!

In contrast, here is another roommate's shelf of food:

Lex has always been a simple girl.

It was fun to see her and Hailey's room, and to see those girls all together again.

I totally got a kick out of Lex's closet. Organized just like her mamita would do it. By color.

That night we went back to Tay and Lynnea's to set up a shelf in their kitchen (which we found at Costco per Britt's recommendation). They needed some extra storage space so we had been scouting out options and this was by far the best.

Ta-da!

A place for cookbooks (no longer a fire hazard), a crock pot, cereal, bread, and even their ginormous Kitchenaid. With room left to spare. Organizational success.

Lex used the time to apply for a job at a call center (also per Britt's recommendation).

For those that needed dinner (I was still stuffed from lunch), we grabbed some Panda.

Lolo and Lex had some pretty awesome fortunes:

Perfect for a college girl just starting out, right??

Perfect for a girl looking for full-time work to save for school, right??

I usually get the worst fortune of everyone, but I think Lynnea may have beat me out this time with her "Saturday is a great day for catching up on chores" fortune. Yuck.

Wednesday morning we were up bright and early to attend the Ogden Temple open house.

These two beauties matched, so I snapped a pic before we headed out.

 It was awesome to have these four amazing adults (and one sweet granddaughter) with me to see this beautiful temple!

A selfie-gone-wrong (left out Lex)... but still a fun pic...

...corrected by a thoughtful passer-by's offer to help.

Scarlett had been a little fussy during the tour, and was ready for a nap by the time we were done.

After the open house, we stopped by Great Grandma and Grandpa G's for lunch.

I wanted to get some pictures of Scarlett with the Greats, but she would have nothing of it.

 No. Thing.

Not gonna happen.

Little Mamita finally got her settled down and asleep (after valiant attempts by BOTH Grammys) so we could enjoy a yummy lunch and brief visit.

Then we headed back to Provo.
(Yes, there was a darn lot o' back-and-forth.)

Cheyenne had moved in that morning, so Lolo planned to stay there from that time forth.
Her new home for a season.

Scarlett matched Chey's bedding, so OF COURSE I had to snap a pic.

I also snapped a few pics of the room, even though it wasn't quite together yet.

Scarlett found entertainment in... herself.

Remember that beautiful lush green grass in the picture I took from Lolo's window on Monday?

Gone, baby, gone.

The entire field had been dug up in a day-and-a-half.

I think they are building something.

The temple view may only be temporary.

The girls talked about how they had spent many an EFY playing on that very field.

How many years had it been there? Pert near FOR-EV-ER.

Now. NOW they decide to build something there.

Enjoy the view while it lasts, Lolo and Chey!

Cousin Rach was moving in on Wednesday, too, so we all hung around to help.
Did I think to snap a pic? NO.

That night we ate at Brick Oven (are you loving the food play-by-play?), then Jill came and hung out at Britt's with me. We talked about how we need to get together more often... but in less busy circumstances. Life has been crazy busy for both of us!


Thursday: we ran errands from Lehi to Provo, then headed back to BYU campus housing.
I helped Lolo hang a few things (ooops! forgot her picture prints at Costco), then took the girls grocery shopping. We met up with the Feils at Swig (second time there this trip). Since the cousins-of-the-cousins of some people in our ward started Swig in St. George, we had heard rumors of swarms of people lined up around the block waiting to order. We had marveled at the idea of a place that sells mixed sodas (with fruit puree!) and cookies. And we had heard tell of the best sugar cookie ever.

 I vote yes for the best sugar cookie ever.

 Sam had a Coke. Plain and simple.
I was adventurous and tried something new each time, but sipped from the cups of others.
Raspberry Dream is my favorite. I think I'm going to attempt it at home.

Friday was my dress-down day. Work out clothes + no make-up all day.
Lex had stayed with us at Britt's so we could drive her to her job interview in Lehi that morning, pep-talking the whole way. According to Lex the interview went great and she hopes to hear from them sometime this week. I'm praying for her! Later that day I cut and colored Britt's hair, then sent her and Austin off on their first "alone" date since sweet Scarlett's arrival. Lex and I babysat. Scarlett slept the whole time, so I watched a marathon of Top Chef (I've missed that show!) while Lex laughed her guts out at an app that merges two faces into one. Her faves were of Scarlett and Bill, and Scarlett and me.
Fun Knee.


On Saturday, Britt, Austin, Scarlett and I trekked back out to WVC to chill with Great Grandma and Grandpa S. for a while before driving out to Bountiful to see Great Aunt Jill and Great Grandma and Grandpa G. It was so nice to see them all, if only briefly. I told Britt she should take pics of Scarlett with the Greats every opportunity she had.

We couldn't resist some pics of these two cuties - twinners by chance.
I think Ceci was the inspiration for Scarlett, so it's sweet how these two blonde-haired-blue-eyed first-cousins-once-removed resemble each other. Sort of.

Back to Bountiful, and Scarlett sitting BY HERSELF on the Big Comfy Couch.

Scarlett was a bit happier this time, thankfully.

 Little Mamita has Scarlett-soothing down pat.
This newbie Grammy is feeling a little out of practice.


Sunday was my day to drive back to CO.
I made a final stop at Lolo's to drop off her iclicker and Lex's moccs.
I took a parting shot before I headed out.

 As I was driving away, I marveled at the concourses of young adults with early church times dressed in their Sunday best walking in all directions to attend their meetings. I felt blessed that my children live among those who share their belief and faith in the living God.

A little past Price I shed some tears. Finally I concur with Bill: our nest is emptying. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to spend a week with my UT family. I am super excited to go back in a month for Parent's Weekend. I can't wait to see some of them at Thanksgiving and ALL of them at Christmas.

On the trip back I had a lot of time to ponder and reflect.
I had hoards of beautiful sunflowers that lined the road nearly the entire way to buoy my spirits up.
I had beautiful cloudy skies, rushing rivers, and towering mountains to remind me of the vastness of the earth and miracle of the plan of salvation.
I listened to reverent, peaceful music with beautiful phrases about our Savior and his goodness.

I can move forward.
I can be firm as the mountains.
I can carry on.