Good Times On The Green

Taylor loves to golf and has recently started to go golfing quite a bit with Nolan. These are some pictures of the golf course that they went to when we were down in Mesquite. It was called Wolf Creek and Taylor said that it was one of the nicest courses that he has ever golfed on, even beating out the course in Maui!

Opening Game Loss? Did This Really Happen?

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Football! We were sooo excited for the season to get started only to have the night end not as well as we would have liked. The Colts lost the opening game of the season. They haven't lost and opening game in years. Nobody was expecting this loss. You can always make excuses that some players were hurt and so on but the bottom line was that the Bears just came out and beat the Colts. They played better and they deserved their win. Sadly it made for a very grouchy mood in the Riley house last night. Let's hope they do better this week.

Good Times With Old Friends

Last night Taylor and I were able to spend some time with our good friends, the McCleery family. We became friends with the McCleery's when we were in high school. Arrion McCleery was dating Taylor's friend Colby in high school and the four of us did tons of stuff together. Though Arrion didn't end up marrying Colby she did marry a really great guy named Jay and through the years we have kept in touch with her and her family. Last night we went to her parents and had a BBQ. It totally made me appreciate what a special family they are to Taylor and myself. Dale and Anita would do anything for us, just like we were one of their kids, and all of their kids are super sweet to us. Its funny how as you get older your friends parents can become your friends. We love the McCleery's and had so much fun hanging out and catching up with them last night.

Taking A Break

Anyone who knows me, knows that music is a huge part of my life. I truly believe that your life has a soundtrack and there is a perfect song for every day. I don't play an instrument but I love to listen to so many kinds of music. Of course I have my favorites. From MEST and GC to 311 and the Beatles. Recently I have added a new favorite to my list. I LOVE The Starting Line. I have had CDs of theirs for a long time but it has been just in the last year or so that I have really come to love their music. I have some of their music posted on my blog but I would highly recommend giving them a listen. I've seen their shows and I own all their CDs. I just love them. Sadly I found out that they are taking a break and will not be touring or releasing anything new until 2011! I'm totally bummed. What am I going to do for the next 2 1/2 years?

In Loving Memory (Grandpa's Obituary)

Harvey DeVere Fowler 3/31/1937 ~ 8/28/2008 Harvey DeVere Fowler passed away August 28, 2008 at home with his wife by his side.Born March 31, 1937 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Blaine F. Fowler and Margaret Young Burnett. Married Colleen Anderson on July 1, 1955 in Salt Lake City. Harvey worked for Utah Sand & Gravel for many years and was also a roofing contractor. He loved camping trips with his family to Lake Powell and Bear Lake, walking on the beach at Coronodo Island and trips to Yuma, Arizona in the winters. He also enjoyed sports, working on cars, and he kept his yard and home perfect. Most of all he loved his kids and grandkids, and the many family barbecues and birthday parties. He was a man's man who could fix anything and was willing to help anyone in need. We will miss you very much, and will never forget your wisdom and guidance. (By the way, don't talk to any girls). He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Colleen; three daughters, Pam Holmes (Tim), Cindy Lewis, Marty Bingham; son Scott Fowler (Kelly); mother, Margaret Burnett; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and beloved dog, Sissy. Preceded in death by his father, Blaine Fowler; step-father Hugh Burnett; grandparents; and many aunts, uncles and in-laws. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, where friends and family may visit Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to services on Tuesday. Entombment in Larkin Sunset Lawn Mausoleum. Online condolences at www.larkinmortuary.com.

Finally At Peace

This morning my grandpa woke up and had my grandma help him to the restroom, just like she always did. When he was done she told him that he should take a shower. He said "ok " and walked over to the shower. When he got there he told my grandma that he was too tired and wanted to go back to bed. She told him to take her shoulder and she would walk him back over to the bed. About 5 steps later my grandpa collapsed and passed away. Even though you know it's coming, nothing can really prepare you for this kind of a loss. My heart aches at the thought of my dad losing his best friend, and my grandma holding my grandpa as he collapsed and died. And having to see my great grandmother weep into her hands and say "I can't believe my only son is gone. He was such a good boy." It has been a very trying and emotional day. Though we know that my grandpa is at peace at last, it's so hard to think that we will never see him again. I know that he is happy and that the cancer is no longer hurting him. Thank you again to all who have kept and continue to keep my family in your thoughts and prayers. It means more than you will ever know.

Mini Vacation

Taylor and I were able to take a little mini vacation last weekend. We headed down to St. George for Nolan's nephew's wedding and then on to Mesquite to do a little gambling and relaxing.

We took off Friday morning and got into Mesquite about 2:30. We decided to head down to the pool for some swimming and relaxing. Then we headed out to St. George to have dinner with Nolan's family. We went to the Gun Barrel for Nolan's dad's birthday. If you like eating things like wild game than this is the place for you. I'm not so into that. Luckily I was able to find the one pasta dish on the menu. Taylor had some wild game mixed grill. I tried a piece of his elk brat and I just about lost it. It was all I could to to swallow. After that we said good bye and headed back to Mesquite for some bowling at the Virgin River. The bowling alley had velcro shoes instead of shoes that tied. I have the fattest feet in the world and I think my mom and I both just about peed our pants laughing when I couldn't even get the velcro to close.

My fat feet in the bowling shoes

Saturday morning we drove back to St. George for the wedding. This was hands down the most beautiful ceremony that I have ever seen. Nolan's sister and brother in-law are not hurting for cash. They had the wedding at the Entrada country club. This country club is top notch. You can't even golf there unless you own property. The ceremony was outside and was just to die for. The grass was so green, the sky was so blue, and the red rocks in the back ground just completed the package. The rest of the wedding was a typical wedding. Some food, some dancing, cake cutting and then they were gone. That night Nolan's nephew Randall, his niece Robin and Randall's wife Lisa came back to Mesquite to hang out with us. It was really nice to hang out with them

Entrada Country Club

Me and Taylor at the wedding

Mom and Nolan at the wedding

Sunday the boys got up and went golfing at Wolf Creek while my mom and I went and had champagne brunch. We spent the rest of the day hanging out by the pool and just having fun. All in all we had a really nice little get away. It was much needed.



Morgan: I feel like such a jerk for not coming to see you. We really were on my mom's schedule or I would have for sure made time for you.

Thank You

I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to everyone who left loving comments about my grandpa's current situation. To be in your thoughts and prayers means so much to me and my family. It makes me so grateful to have so many loving and thoughtful friends. I am truly blessed to have all of you in my life.

Coming To An End

Some of you may know, and many others may not, that my Grandpa Fowler has been battling lung cancer for a little over a year and a half. This past week we were told that his condition is beyond helping any further. Hospice will be coming to his home to keep him comfortable until he passes away but treatment will be stopped. On the plus side, he has hung on way longer than most people with his same condition. The down side, of course, is that we are losing a huge part of our family. The diagnosis came as such a shock. Christmas of 2006 came and went. The entire Fowler family was together as usual and life was good. Shortly after that the news hit. Grandpa has lung cancer. My mom's dad had lung cancer and he passed away less than 2 months after his diagnosis. How much time would we get with my grandpa? The next year and a half was a roller coaster. In and out of the hospitals, being told that he had less than a week and then him pulling out better then ever, everything that goes along with having a terminal illness.

While I have never been as close to my grandpa as some of my other family members, this has still been so hard to take in. To think about him really being gone. There were always things that you could count on when you went to my grandparents. One was that my grandpa would be sitting in his recliner drinking his coffee. It's so hard for me to think that in a short time that will no longer be.

Definitely the hardest part for me is to see my dad go through this. No one is closer to my grandpa then my dad. He is the only son of the 4 children. My grandpa taught my dad so much and I see my dad passing those things on to his sons. In a way I guess my grandpa will live on forever. I just see how much my dad is hurting and I can't help but think "what would I do if I lost my dad?" I feel so fortunate to have my dad and the entire Fowler family in my life. My dad stepped up to the plate to take the role of my dad when I didn't have one. He is an irreplaceable person in my life. I don't know what I would do if I lost him.

Though my grandpa has not passed away yet, hospice really means that it's only a matter of time. As his life is coming to an end, I realize how blessed I am to have been a part of the life that he had. He is truly an amazing man. I just wish that he didn't have to go through everything that he did the last year or so.

Tis The Season

Bob Sanders

Joseph Addai

Peyton Manning

That's right it's officially Colts season in the Riley house! Preseason officially kicked off last week! I use to careless about sports but when you live with a sports junkie you can't help but get roped in. My options were to get angry that sports ruled our house hold or get into it. The second option seemed to cause less fights and be a lot more fun once I got into it. I've gotten so into it that even Moxley sports a Colts collar, tag and on Sundays, her very own Colts jersey.