THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH (if it wasn't so dang hot)

The last couple days of our trip we spent in Disneyland. The rest of Alan's family went home but we decided to stay and do all Cali had to offer while we were there. Ali was so excited to see the Princess's until we actually saw one of the Disney characters (Cruella De Ville) and then she decided she didn't want to see any more after that. I tried to get her to go meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pooh, Tigger and a few others but she did not want anything to do with them. Ali was able to ride every ride at Disneyland except for Indiana Jones, which I didn't mind cuz I don't really love that ride. She loved Pirates of the Caribbean and so did Kade. When we would go down the big hill both Kade and Ali had their hands in the air. It was quite funny. We also decided to check out California Adventures while we were there. We liked it but it wasn't as kid friendly as Disneyland. I ended up taking Ali on the Hollywood Tower of Terror. That was a big mistake. Before you get on the ride they show you a movie of people disappearing in an elevator. Then they take you to an elevator and have you get on the ride. As soon as Ali realized we were in the elevator she started tell me "Mom people got on this elevator and never got off". She kept saying it over and over again and every time she kept getting louder and louder. By that time I couldn't get off the ride so oh well. She was a good sport and survived the ride, but she told Alan she wasn't going back on that ride with him. I was dreading Disneyland with Kade because I thought he would be impossible. But he did really good. He loves sitting in the stroller and thank goodness he wasn't walking yet or that could of been a disaster. I asked Ali what her favorite ride was and she said "Splash Mountain, you know the one with the big hill." As for Alan and myself we decided that Soaring over California was the coolest ride we had ever been on. Disneyland was probably the most memorable part of our trip, also the hottest part. I don't ever remember being at Disneyland when it was so stinkin' hot. I couldn't even tell you how hot it was because we never watched the news but wow it was an inferno!!!

SEA WORLD

Yesterday we went to Sea World with Alan's Parents. We had a BLAST!!! Ali had the opportunity to go about a year ago for her first time with her grandparents, Alan and I were unable to go because I had just had Kade. So we were really excited to share in this experience with Ali. She was so excited to see Free Willey (that is what she calls Shamu). She also is a horse lover and was so excited when she say the Clydesdale's. The adults were a little disappointed with the shows. I don't know if they change the shows for the slower season, but we were all very disappointed. The dolphin show was probably the best out of all of them. Since the last time I had been there they have added an awesome playground. Ali and Alan had a lot of fun climbing up rope walls and chasing each other around in the tree house.

HAPPY 8TH ANNIVERSARY!!!

Wow I can't believe that it has been eight years since Alan and I got married. It is kind of fun being in Cali for our anniversary because this is also the place we went on our honeymoon. I am so grateful that I found Alan. We are truly soul mates. Alan and I have been talking a lot about the past lately. We have made so many wonderful memories together and can't wait to see what the next phase in our life is going to be. I also just wanted to let Alan know that you are truly my rock, my best friend, and I am so very thankful to have you in my life.

Here is a list of my eight favorite things about my spud stud (AKA Alan). (Kaysee I hope you don't mind I stole this idea from you)

1. I love, love, love his eyes

2. I love the way he makes me laugh

3. His contagious smile

4. Even when he thinks something is impossible he finds a way to make it possible

5. His determination

6. He is so forgetful, I can tell him something and a moment later he has already forgotten. It

always makes me laugh.

7. The way he always offers his opinion on everything. It used to annoy the heck out of me, but

now I don't think I could live with out his opinion.

8. The amazing father he is to our two children.

Alan I love you and our life together. Happy Anniversary!!!

We also decided we would head to the San Diego Zoo for our anniversary. None of us have ever been there before and we all loved it. Although they should tell you that you should be in tip top shape to push a stroller with two kids up some of those hills. Thank goodness they have double decker bus tours. We were able to see a baby giraffe that was only a couple weeks old and there were also two baby lion cubs. My favorite animal at the zoo would have to be the cute little koala bears. They had a cute little petting zoo there, Ali thought she was in heaven. She loves farm animals and love the interaction with them.

After getting back from the zoo we went out to dinner with our little family and decided to head back to our hotel. Once we were back at the hotel we set out on a little walk to the pier. Our little walk turned into a 5 mile walk but we enjoyed every minute of it, well at least I did. As soon as we started walking out to the end of the pier Alan started to get a little antsy. I asked him what the problem was and he said "I really don't like being out here, do you realize there is only a little bit of wood and a whole lot of water underneath our feet?" I thought that was hilarious, I love the ocean and walking out the pier has to be my favorite thing about going to the ocean. It was such a great day. It was also our first anniversary that we have taken our children on our Anniversary date. I loved that fact that we all got to spend the day together, although I don't think we will make it a tradition.

We made it!!!

We arrived in Oceanside today around 3:00 PM and got settled in our hotel. We Decided to head to the beach, which is walking distance from our room, and spent a couple of hours there. Kade doesn't like the water at all, but on the flip side he loves the sand. He was sitting playing in the sand when a wave got him wet which made him super mad. It took him about 10 minutes to let me put him back down on the sand.

He is such a funny kid. He loves to play with his older sister although Ali thinks he is trying to torment her every move. Ali decided she was going to build a sandcastle and Kade thought it was fun to knock it down. Here is a picture of Ali finally getting fed up with him ruining everything she had made so she decided to throw herself on top of her castle to protect it from Kaders.

Alan loved playing in the ocean with his brother, mother and father. I was really shocked to see his mom and dad in the water, I don't think my parents would ever play in the ocean. I tried to take a picture of them from the shore but it didn't turn out the best, OH WELL.

After the beach we went back to the hotel and got a bite to eat from Angelo's, it's definitely not my favorite place to eat. Although I was so hungry I didn't really care how the food tasted as long as my tummy got some food. The weather is perfect here if only it could be this way in Utah year round.

Are you kidding me?

This morning we decided to leave for Las Vegas at 4:00 AM. Sounded like a great idea at first because we would wake up, put the kids in the van (still sleeping of course) and they would sleep at least half way to our destination. Thursday night we had very little packing left to do and crawled into bed around 10:30 PM. We were on track for our "perfect little plan" to workout with great success...or maybe not. At 11:30, 12:30, 2:00 and 3:00 Ali woke up screaming, we still don't really know why but it was almost as if she was screaming in her sleep. Each time we went into her room to calm her down it took us at least a 1/2 an hour to get her to stop screaming and she kept saying "I want my mom" even though I was right there. When our alarm went off this morning at 4:00 AM I told Alan we were going to need a little more sleep before we took our Journey. Ten minutes later Ali was screaming again, so we decided we might as well get up and drive down to Las Vegas because the likely hood of actually getting more sleep was not looking so promising. Our plan did work out the kids slept for the first half of the trip but Alan and I are walking around like zombie's today. Hopefully we get better sleep tonight to make the rest of the trek to San Diego.

DANCE DANCE DANCE

Yesterday night was Ali's first dance class. To tell you the truth I think I was way more excited about it then she was. When we walked into the dance studio Ali wanted to look at everything. She was so very curious about it all. Her dance teacher is Miss Tiffany and she seems really nice. I was allowed to stay and watch and I loved every minute of it. I was a little nervous that Ali would be too timid to want to do anything, but she seemed to be just fine. Ali loved the fact that her cute little friend Claire is in her class. Claire moved a few months ago and Ali has missed her so much. I asked Ali what her favorite thing was about dance and she said "Pointing and flexing my toes of course". She is very excited to go back and learn more. I can't wait to see what fun things she gets to learn, and all the great friends she will get to know.

Life is good!!!

For some strange reason lately life has been going really well. Don't get me wrong life has always been good but everything seems to be going exactly right. I AM LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!!

Ali's first stitches

Well family night did not go as planned tonight. Ali was playing with my paper cutter (which I have let her play with in the past as long as I am right next to her) and she cut her thumb on her right hand. We ended up taking her to the After Hours Medical Center in So. Jordan and they told us she needed stitches. By the way I am definitely going to this little clinic from now on instead of the ER. We were in and out in less then an hour. Anyway back to the story. Ali was very brave until they numbed her finger and then she was just plain mad. It took four stitches and three of us to hold her down while the doctor stitched her up. The whole time she was getting stitched up she kept screaming "I don't want to be here, I want to go home". Although she thought it was pretty cool that she got a pink cast (it's actually just pink medical tape but we will let her think it is a cast). Hopefully it isn't too sore when she wakes up in the morning. We have to return to the clinic in 48 hours for the doctor to make sure it isn't infected and in ten days the stitches can be removed. This has to be the most eventful family night we have ever had so far.

Grandpa and his Purple Heart

Yesterday we had the honor of attending a ceremony at the state capitol for my Grandfather. He as waited almost 65 years for the day he would receive his Purple Heart for being injured during WWII, and if finally happened. It was a very special moment for my Grandpa and we were so thankful to be part of it. As we were waiting for the ceremony to start we were greeted by Governor Jon Huntsman Jr and Senator Orrin Hatch. The Governer was great, he walked around and shook everyone's hand and also talked to every child asking them how old they were, if they were in school yet and how school was going for them. He is really a nice man. Grandpa was so excited to receive his Purple Heart, he kept saying "this is the best day I have had in a long time". The ceremony was great, US Senator Orrin Hatch, Governor Jon Huntsman, Terry Schow, and Rob Bishop all spoke, honoring my Grandfather. My sister Pam had written a letter about six years ago trying to get my Grandpa's Purple Heart so she also got to say a few words, along with my Aunt Jo. The only thing that could of made that day anymore special was if my Grandma was there, although she probably was in spirit. Congratulations Grandpa, we love you and are so glad we got to share in this day with you.

**I have copied the articles that were wrote by the Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News, and KSL about my grandfather receiving his Purple Heart.

For 86-year-old WWII soldier, a long-overdue honor
By Matthew D. LaPlante The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 08/22/2008 08:57:31 AM MDT
Whether it was the emotion of the moment or simply the years in his step, Clinton Sagers shook as he stood before a crowd of dignitaries at the Utah Capitol on Thursday. There was the governor. And to his right, two members of Congress. And across the room an Army general. All around, cameras flashed and popped. The crowd stood and applauded. A few old men - grizzled war veterans, no less - couldn't hold back their tears. They had come to thank him. To honor him. And the 86-year-old Rush Valley man was overwhelmed. "I've never seen a crowd like this come to see an old farmer," Sagers gushed as he stood, chest puffed forward with a bright purple medal pinned to his dark suit. It was the Purple Heart - an award he had earned when he was wounded in the Battle of The Bulge, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, fought over two winter months in 1944 and 1945. Sagers says he first sought the medal after being freed from a prisoner of war camp in Mulberg after the Nazi surrender. But when it didn't come, he didn't complain. He was simply happy to be returning home alive. A demand for proof: Nearly 60 years had passed before Sagers gave the medal any more thought. Wanting one to pass down to his children, and to their children, the aging farmer wrote to the Army seeking a correction in his records. Playing strictly by the rules, Army officials asked to see documentation of his wounds. They said records from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which had long acknowledged the shrapnel in Sagers' leg, wouldn't do. They wanted to see the records from the doctor who first treated his wounds - a Russian medic who was being held at the same German prison camp. But in the unlikely event that any medical records had been kept in the camp, such documents had long since disappeared. Undeterred, Sagers suggested there would be a record in his own Army file of his original request for the award. But if that record ever existed, according to the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, it likely was destroyed in a 1973 fire that claimed millions of pages of documents. Finally, Army officials suggested that Sagers produce a witness - someone from his unit who was there when he was wounded. Nearly 20,000 Americans were killed in the battle. Even more had been captured or were missing. Sagers had fallen behind the rest of his unit when he was injured - and, he says, he never saw a single one of his comrades again. A six-year quest: Terry Schow first heard Sagers' story in 2002. At the time, the director of the Utah Division of Veterans Affairs believed a little push from his office would be enough to break through the red tape preventing the award. He was wrong. It took six years - and more than 40 letters from state and federal officials - before word came that the old infantryman would be granted the medal. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said that Schow, in particular, had been "relentless" in his pursuit of Sagers' award. "Every time the president would come to town," Huntsman laughed, "Terry would say, 'Would you please bring up Clinton Sagers?' " Schow said his zealousness was rooted in a deep fear that Sagers might die before the bureaucracy could be peeled back. It was not an irrational worry: The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that more than 1,000 World War II veterans die every day. Choking back tears on Thursday, Schow said he was content that "at the end of the day, right certainly did triumph." For his part, Sagers was simply humbled by the devotion that Schow and so many others had given to his case. "I'm just as happy as can be," Sagers said, the long-sought medal gleaming on his chest. "I love you all." mlaplante@sltrib.com

WWII vet receives his Purple Heart
By Lynn Wilde IIDeseret News
Published: Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 12:13 a.m. MDT
Clinton Sagers was taken prisoner and wounded in World War II but never got recognition.
Normally, a Purple Heart medal is awarded to soldiers who are wounded in combat. However, a fire in the '70s destroyed military records documenting his injury and his chances for the medal.
Until now.
After 64 years, a group of Utah dignitaries joined Sagers and his family and awarded him the Purple Heart in the Gold Room at the Utah state Capitol. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.; Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah; as well as Veteran Affairs director Terry Schow, spoke to honor the WWII veteran and award him his overdue Purple Heart.
After an all-night firefight, suffering from frostbite and a shrapnel wound, having had nothing to eat for days, Sagers was shipped to a German prisoner of war camp, Hatch said.
"It reminds us once again of the inordinate heroic actions of the 'greatest generation,"' the senator said, thanking Sagers for his service.
Though the medal was late, Bishop said something positive will come from it. The younger generation, he said, can see the selfless deeds Sagers performed for his country.
Bishop was also enthralled with Sagers' story."In reading his story, I have to admit, this would make a heck of a movie," he said.
Huntsman said the Purple Heart is the oldest American symbol, one that is awarded for blood spilled in service of country.
"We're here to state we revere this good man," he said.
Through tears, Schow said Sagers had the worst job in the military as an infantryman and deserved the Purple Heart.
"I knew he'd earned it," Schow said.
Sagers said he had never seen such a commotion made for an "old farmer" like him but was happy for the honor.
"This Purple Heart means a lot to me," he said.
Sagers proclaimed the event "one of the most wonderful days" of his 86 years.
Sagers' wonderful day took a while to come. After six years and 40 letters, e-mails and calls, Sagers finally received his award.
Schow said he's happy because he was afraid Sagers would die before he got it. He said he wished Sagers' wife, who has since died, could have seen Sagers' Purple Heart but said he thinks she is "here in spirit."
In a interview before the ceremony, Sagers lifted his pant-leg to show the long scar on his left knee left from the wound he suffered at the Battle of the Bulge.

Soldier receives Purple Heart 64 years after battle
August 21st, 2008 @ 5:30pm
By Jed Boal
Sixty-four years after he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, a World War II veteran from Rush Valley today received his Purple Heart.
Clinton Sagers fought for and suffered wounds for his country in World War II. His family and friends fought to get him the Purple Heart he was due.

"If it hadn't been for these leaders in the service pushing this, why it may have never happened," Sagers said.
Sagers was born and raised in Rush Valley. We met him at his farm two years ago. Drafted at age 21, the Army sent Private Sagers to Belgium for the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. In a firefight, German shrapnel tore into Sagers' leg.
"I was just happy that I was still alive," he said.
The soldiers surrendered and the Germans marched them to a prison camp.

"One soldier says, ‘You'd better step it up. They're shooting the guys that drop out behind,'" Sagers said.
When the Allies won the war, Sagers was free. At first, the medal didn't matter to Sagers. Later he discovered fire destroyed his military records in St.Louis.
His granddaughter wrote the first letter for action six years ago. The Executive Director of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs pushed the Army, through the Utah Congressional delegation and even the president.
Terry Schow, executive director of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, said, "When I called Clinton and said to him, ‘Sir, the Secretary of the Army has authorized a Purple Heart for you.' He says, ‘Thank you," and then, ‘I'm glad I'm still here.'"
Clinton Sagers used to worry he'd die before he got the Purple Heart he deserved. Today he got the medal with his siblings, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren watching.
"This Purple Heart means a lot to me," he said.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com

Super Powers

Ali loves sticker and she loves to stick them on everything and anybody. She decided the other day that her stickers had magical powers. Kade was none to happy when she stuck some flower stickers on his head. The look on his face said it all...As for Ali she ran around pretending she was flying and that she was making things appear and disappear. She has such a big imagination. She went to put a sticker on my face and it kept falling off (mostly because she was trying to get it to stick to the very tip of my nose), to which she replied "Mom the sticker doesn't like you and doesn't want you to have any magical powers, too bad so sad"
Ali decided that she was going to keep these stickers on forever. When it was bath time she said "no can do, it will wash away my super power stickers". We finally were able to take her stickers off that night after she had fallen to sleep. Thankfully when she woke up the next morning she had forgotten all about them.

Three little rascals

Here is a picture of the three baby boys in the family.

First on the right is Jace, he is 11 months old.

Then comes Tyson who is 10 months old

On the left is Kade who is only two days younger than Tyson.

It is so much fun to watch these three. They have totally different personalities. Jace is very aggressive and is totally the bully. He has just started to walk. Tyson is the smallest in size but can hold his own when it comes to the other two picking on him. He has just figured out how to crawl but he won't unless he has some kind of motivation. Kade is very calm and doesn't really let a lot bother him. Jace will take a toy away from him and Kade will just move on to another one. He has just learned how to stand up with out any help. They are so much fun to watch interact with each other. When they are together they don't really play with one another but they have to be right by one another. I am so happy Kade has two cousins so close in age that he will grow up with.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!!!

Happy Birthday Alan. We decided to go out for Alan's birthday last night or should I say go in for Alan's birthday. We had my sister tend the kids (THANKS SANDY AND RANDY) and we decided that we wanted to go back home and rent a movie and order take out. It was so nice, although half way through the movie we looked at each other and said "our house is way to quiet without the kids". I have to admit it was the best idea for a date night ever. Today we went to church and Alan was set apart as the new High Priest group secretary. He is a tad nervous but he will do great. After church we came home and the whole family took a much needed nap. Later in the day my sister Pam had invited us over to dinner at her house and much to Alan's surprise it was actually a surprise birthday party. Happy birthday Alan, I love you so much. You are a great husband, best friend, and father. We hope you had a very enjoyable 28th birthday.

Bear Lake 2008

Last week was our annual Bear Lake trip. We had such a great time. We spent most of our time at the beach playing in the water. We also went into Montpilliar ID and let the kids play at the local play ground. One of my little cousins was playing in the lake when he caught a little fish and when I say little I mean little. Look for the picture of the fish in my hand and then you can see how little I really mean. Ali loves spending time with her cousins and totally could not get enough of playing in the sand at the beach. Kade on the other hand didn't really love the water until the last day, but he loved playing in the dirt up at camp. We would have to watch him really closely or he would put rocks, dirt, weeds, etc. in his mouth. Alan and I had a chance to go visit the place we met at up there 11 years ago. We got a few moments to ourself and had fun talking about the first couple years of our relationship. I cannot believe that 11 years has blow by so quickly. It has been a BLAST!!! Bear Lake is one of our favorite places to visit and we can't wait til next year.