Pomp and Circumstance

16 grueling weeks

9 lbs lost, 2 3/4 inches lost

5:30 AM alarm Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Roughly 30 peanut butter and raspberry jam sandwiches for lunch

Hours and hours of intense physical training occasionally resulting in projectile vomiting

All completely worth it

Best graduation I've ever been to. Short, concise, genuinely enjoyable! And I only got teary eyed a few times, which is a huge accomplishment for me these days, yay me!

So much of our family attended Tadd's graduation, and we are so grateful for their love and support!

Check out my hot husband!

Tadd with his company "Team Money". Silly, silly men.

Standing with some of his class. Class 55 started out with 26 students, and dwindled down to 19 as students either quit or were kicked out. This program is no cinch; not for wimps!

Instructor Dennison. He was their physical training instructor, whom Tadd described as the energizer bunny.

Receiving his graduation certificate!

Posing around the new podium made by his class

Madi, Mazie, Elllie and Andrew made Tadd candy leis!

Nieces Kyra, Adrie and Bree

Each class leaves the academy with a class plaque, which Tadd and these other recruits made in his dad's woodshop. Best plaque the academy has ever received (in my opinion, anyway)!

We got all the nephews these shirts to match Uncle Tadd's!

Tadd is the new family hero in Jack's eyes!

Shaley and Roman

Lo, Dad, Mal, Nick, Whitney, Haley and Addie

Griffin and Crew, who could not have been more excited to wear their "fire shirts" and see the yellow firetruck!

The proud parents!

Breezy, Kris and Kecia

Almost all the nieces and nephews (Ava, Lyla and Addie were a bit camera shy)

Addison so admires her fireman uncle!

Such a handsome firefighter!

Tadd with his maternal grandparents. They were so sweet to come!

After graduation we headed to Rick and Lacey's for a graduation BBQ!

I surprised Tadd with a firefighter-themed cake, which my friend, *Kristin, made. I love having talented friends!

Could this have been any more perfect!? I was thrilled with the outcome, and it was delicious to boot!

My mom has a thing for spray paint. So, she appropriately gifted Tadd with a gold spray painted fire extinguisher!

Chris and Tysen & Co. gave Tadd a "Mt. on Fire"!

He's legit!

An adorable gift we received from Kecia!
Just like daddy!

We are so excited about this incredible accomplishment of Tadd's, and look forward to what this brings to our future! Wish us luck job hunting!

*interested in hiring Kristin for an event? well, you should! visit pieceofcakery.blogspot.com

Introducing...

UFRA Recruit Cox!

Tonight my awesome husband graduated from the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. He is now a certified firefighter! I am absolutely beaming with pride, and it'll take a lot to bring me down from cloud nine!

Even better, I see a huge boost in Tadd's self-esteem, and there is nothing better than that! He has worked SO hard to obtain this, and should absolutely be proud of himself. I am just so pleased with him...so proud! So very proud! Am I sounding redundant yet?

Me and my fireman!

*more on graduation and the post-grad festivities later*

Some Stupid Things Bug Me

And not just when I'm pregnant. Want to know some of the things that seriously irk me beyond belief, but are pretty stupid?

Placing a "?" before a "!" when pairing them together

Fingernails scratching on a suit coat in church

Saying "Nordstroms" instead of "Nordstrom"

When Tadd naps on Sundays, but it's ok if I do

Also, is it just me or did my stomach seeeeriously expand in a matter of 3 days?

4/16

4/19
32 weeks

YIKES!

Pancakes @ 1 o'clock

Today is Mall-Roy's birthday. I've always felt we have the best birthdays. Both the 13th, and both in a month beginning with "A". So happy best birth-day to you, deary!

The Utah residing girls were able to gather for lunch. Lunch? I mean breakfast for me. I can't resist when a restaurant serves breakfast all day.


Glad to spend some girltime with most of my sisters and ma.

For Mark

Taken at 27 weeks, but this girl is currently 29 weeks

I can't quite figure out my face, specifically my crossed eyes

Also, you'll be pleased to know that I just drank my weight in Strawberry Lemonade from Del Taco. Ever had the stuff? Deeevine. Then I felt like I needed to eat half a bagel to, ya know, absorb some of that liquid. Makes sense, right? Well, it does to me.

Happy Tuesday!

Grandpa Coxes 89th Birthday Bash

Grandpa Cox turned the big 8-9 this year which called for a party! Relatives traveled from Orangeville and SLC to celebrate the occasion.

Blowing out his candles. I'd say we skimped on the candles!

Grandpa with all of his 12 great grandchildren

What do the women do at a party? Chat and hang out in the kitchen!

What do the men do? Watch sports, of course!

It was a great party, and we look forward to his 90th next year!

Betty Lou

A few weeks back I drove to California with my dad, sister and her baby girl to visit my sweet grandma who is recuperating. She sure is a fighter! And through everything she's kept up her great sense of humor, and really knows how to make light of her situation.

I so enjoyed visiting her, and my fabulous aunts, Marcy and Robin, who have taken fantastic care of my lil' grammy.

It's so sweet to see my dad around his mom, it's so obvious how much he loves and misses her, and she, him. California is too far away!

Grams is sporting a seriously cool fauxhawk, and I'm sporting a super puffy face.

A 10 hour drive on Saturday and then again on Monday ended up taking it's toll on poor little Addison, but really only near the end. She was such a trooper! I think the above picture perfectly depicts how she felt near the end. "Get me the hell out of this carseat"

How did I entertain her for the last hour? Licorice (which she LOVED) and about a million new verses to "The Wheels on the Bus", most of which were very inappropriate. She doesn't understand, right?

Wacko Turns FIVE

March 10th was the day.

Jack Rockwell was the one we honored.

Kick @ss buttermilk cake and chocolate ice cream was the treat we devoured.

And these pictures are too cute for words.

Tadd and I will be taking him to FIVE Guys Burgers and Fries, and to the Dollar Store to pick out FIVE things very soon to continue the celebration!

Welcome Baby Lyla!

Grandchild #11 was born today to Chris and Tysen (Tadd's sister), and she is such a doll! 6 lbs. 14 oz. and just as sweet as can be. You've never seen a rounder face with such delicate features, I could just stare at her all day!

Warning: picture overload, I just couldn't resist!

Lyla Mae DeMartini

Tysen, please don't be mad that I posted a picture of you, you look beautiful!

I just LOVE this picture!

Our family is overcome with this blessing of having not one very special Down Syndrome child, but now two! Our three year old niece, Bree (daughter to Tadd's brother and his wife, Kris and Kecia), is also Down Syndrome, and has been a constant joy who has taught us so much!

Although this is a very difficult and overwhelming responsibility for Chris and Tysen, we've seen what a great reward and joy it can be. And luckily, as Chris said, "we do Down Syndrome really well in our family".

We are very much there to support the DeMartini's during this time, and can't wait to see this darling angel grow and develop, especially alongside her cousin, Bree!

Welcome to the family Lyla Mae!