James and Fran's visit

This past weekend we had the pleasure of having James and Fran here and as much as I would like to say it was because they missed us too much, our company was just a bonus to their visit :) The main reason for their visit was also just as exciting for the Whitchurch family. It was the signing of their new home they purchased in Draper Utah!

Jazz vs. Timberwolves

Last minute our cousins, Geoff and Emily invited us to another Jazz game along with Aaron, Annie, Sydney's husband Tom and Tom's younger brother. It was super fun for several reasons. Not only the crowd we came with but half way into the game, they released some Taco Bell packages having one float to our section right into Aaron's hands! Lucky Aaron, he now has a Taco Bell shirt lol. Last but not least, the Jazz also won 119-104!....also meaning we all got to go to McDonald's the next day to receive our FREE Big Mac when you turn your ticket in. :) I am not much for McDonald's but the boys appreciated it. Chris and I love hanging out with family and doing activities like these. It always nice to pull away from the usual day after day evening activities if you know what I mean.

Milo & Avery Guernsey :)

After 5 months of these two playing and becoming the best of buds, I finally took some pictures of them together! While Dorothy and I worked out early Saturday morning, Dorothy shared with me that she had their Kitchen window open for the first time since last Fall due to the weather looking so beautiful and not long after, she discovered that her little Avery climbed up on the counter to yell out the window calling out, "Alana, bring Milo over to play" repeatedly! We thought it was so cute that she thought we would hear her calling :) Well, after Chris and I worked out cleaned up and me taking Milo on a walk to help him get over us both leaving him :) I told Dorothy that they could come over to play. Not surprisingly I missed her call, only this time it was do to me already being on the other line with my momma. About 15 minutes later I called Dorothy back just in time for me to hear Avery in the background asking her mom if it was "me" she was talking to. Right after her mother told her it was, I heard Avery scream of excitement and found out that she started running around the house to get her shoes on etc. It's so funny because they probably see each other a couple times a week over the last 2 months that I have been home but she can't seem to get enough of our Milo. The beautiful weather is getting me super excited for the summer! I love the beautiful Spring weather that is allowing Milo and I to go on a couple walks/runs each day! :) After Justin, Dorothy, Wes and Avery left, it was around 4pm, so Chris and I decided to go to Chili's for some lunch/dinner before finishing the night off at the Guernsey's after Wes and Avery went to bed to play some more Texas Holdem and Monopoly Deal.

Birthdays!

Last Wednesday, my dad turned 53! He was a bit jealous when my mom was only turning 49 yesterday... she said that she was going to hold out and stay in her 40's for one more year! As if she had a choice ;) Tyrel and Jessi worked hard on throwing a surprise birthday party for mom! She thought she was going to share with Tyrel again who is 28 today! With their birthdays being a day a part, mom has always held off on her celebration to have the birthday festivities with Tyrel. She enjoys it of course but the kids couldn't fathom the idea that they would miss out on my mom's favorite... carrot cake. So Jessi and Tyrel gave my dad some birthday money to eat out for a birthday lunch and shop at Nordstroms Rack. Dad purchased his first pair of size 34 in. pants! Yep, my dad lost 30+ pounds and doesn't fit into anything. What a wonderful way to start a new year by feeling younger a lighter while getting older! Mom found a sweater, she never was much of a shopper so I am happy to hear that she made a purchase :)

Something I want to share about my older brother is an experience he had this past week that explains how sweet he is and why he is so easy to love. Anyone who knows my family and Tyrel, also knows their love for sports! Tyrel is a season pass purchaser for football and basketball. He resales them to make a little extra cash and to share/build fun memories with his family. The Portland Trail Blazers will put you in a drawing if you renew your season tickets early for some prizes. Tyrel ended up being number 2! The prizes were to be announced during one of their home games that happened to be on the 1st of the month. Tyrel was SO excited that he bought tickets for the whole family so they could be their when they put Tyrel on the big screen to announce his prize! It was during the week so my dad couldn't make it but my uncle Ira wanted to go. He was the uncle that would take us to Hockey and the Blazer games growing up along with my dad :) He was going to send me the pictures and video that my family took but didn't because he was so bummed about the prize. It was the one prize that he didn't care to have. All other prizes had a value such as free food during each game etc. but this just offered a unique experience in which he didn't care for. Talking with my mom, it broke everyone's heart because their is nothing sadder then seeing my older brother upset :( He is the most sweetest, kindest, and thoughtful person one could ever have for a big brother.

After that night he tried thinking of someone who would really appreciate this offer to help brighten the situation. The prize he won was the attendance for the press conference after the game in which the coach speaks to the public. This was for the Saturday night game last week. Since my dad usually can't go to the games, he went with Tyrel to help him with their friend Wayne from church who is blind. Wayne used to go to the Blazer games and was still a huge fan! So 2 minutes before the game ended, the three of them made their way to the meeting spot before heading to the press conference. After it was over, the head coach approached Tyrel, my dad and Wayne to say hi etc. When the coach saw who Tyrel chose to bring, he was touched and he was touched by the passion and time Wayne took to attend the basketball games when he couldn't even see the game. The coach than decided to do a little more for them by bringing them to the locker room with the Blazers still their. The first player that came up was Rudy Fernandez which happens to be a family fav! He introduces them in Spanish since he is from Spain and the goes on in English but much to Tyrel and Dads surprise, Wayne new Spanish. So the two went on in Spanish! They one by one came up to them and chatted for a bit and took pictures! It was a dream come true for Wayne. And another when my dad got to meet the assistant coach who was on old Trail Blazer back when my dad took us! Before they left, each player signed a basketball for Wayne and another took his tennis shoes he wore during the game, signed them and also gave them to Wayne! So what turned out to be a disappointing situation, Tyrel turned it into a very rewarding won! On Sunday, my family sat behind Wayne's family and overheard Wayne still talking about it! This is what my brother lives for and this is what my parents taught us. Service is one of the biggest keys to my families happiness.

Trail Blazers Roster

2010-11 Roster NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB FROM YRS 12 LaMarcus Aldridge - C F 6-11 240 07/19/1985 Texas 4 11 Luke Babbitt F 6-9 225 06/20/1989 Nevada-Reno R 88 Nicolas Batum F 6-8 200 12/14/1988 Lisieux, France 2 23 Marcus Camby C 6-11 235 03/22/1974 Massachusetts 14 31 Jarron Collins C 6-11 249 12/02/1978 Stanford 9 5 Rudy Fernandez G 6-6 185 04/04/1985 Palma de Mallorca, Spain 2 1 Armon Johnson G 6-3 195 02/23/1989 Nevada-Reno R 2 Wesley Matthews G 6-5 220 10/14/1986 Marquette 1 24 Andre Miller G 6-2 200 03/19/1976 Utah 11 8 Patrick Mills G 6-0 185 08/11/1988 St. Mary's (CA) 1 52 Greg Oden C 7-0 285 01/22/1988 Ohio State 2 7 Brandon Roy - C G 6-6 211 07/23/1984 Washington 4 3 Gerald Wallace F 6-7 220 07/23/1982 Alabama 9 9 Elliot Williams G 6-5 180 06/20/1989 Memphis R

HIT closed shop...

Just 7 months before and I just 2 months before leaving HIT when they went under today... all was lost was not getting paid $63 from my last check. I am so grateful Chris followed his heart by going a different direction. We have been so so blessed! Our hearts go out to the friends we had that stayed who is now facing this difficult time.

Provo Web design firm shuts down unexpectedly

By brooke adams

The Salt Lake Tribune

Heritage Internet Technologies of Provo, lauded as one of Utah’s fastest-growing companies in recent years, shut down suddenly Tuesday, leaving employees and customers reeling.

Heritage provided website design and hosting services for small to medium-sized businesses. According to its website, it had more than 15,000 customers.

On Wednesday, a recorded message referred Heritage’s customers to Fibernet, a separate Internet company. Fibernet, based in Orem, provided hosting services to Heritage, which in turn resold that service to its customers.

Repeated telephone calls to David Aitken, chief executive officer of Heritage, were not returned.

Fibernet CEO Lane Livingston said he had no warning of the closure and initially was unaware Heritage was referring calls to his company. As of noon, Fibernet had received more than 500 calls.

"We’re in emergency mode over here," Livingston said. "We’re just trying to get to everybody as quickly as we can."

Livingston said Heritage officials met with employees Tuesday to inform them it was shutting down immediately. The company at one time employed more than 300 people full time and an equal number of contract employees, but its staff had dwindled to under 200 or so.

"We’ve heard from lots of employees," Livingston said. "One unfortunate misconception is that we bought them, and they are asking for their paychecks. We didn’t acquire or buy them or anything of that sort."

Livingston said his company has received no customer account information from Heritage but is still trying to do everything it can to answer questions and provide service.

"What we’re trying to do is communicate with everyone who calls in," he said. "We’re just taking down the information from these customers and what their concerns and needs are, and promising to get back as soon as we have information."

Fibernet has created a form on its website at www.fiber.net that Heritage customers can use to ask questions or request help.

Heritage CEO David Aitken started the company in 2001 with a $1,000 investment. Other principals in the business were Brad Stone, Mark Strong and Leah Young. Attempts to reach Aitken Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Inc. 500 listed Heritage in 2007 and 2008 as one of the country’s fastest-growing privately owned businesses.

Utah Valley Business magazine cited Heritage, also known as HIT Web Design, among the valley’s top businesses. In 2008, the magazine ranked Heritage No. 14 out of 50 top businesses, noting it experienced 175 percent growth in the previous three years, and had revenue of $11.5 million in 2007. In 2008, the company said it was on pace to pass the $20 million revenue mark.

But the company also logged numerous complaints from customers, according to the Better Business Bureau. The BBB processed 882 complaints involving Heritage in the past three years, half of those within the past year; 95 percent were successfully resolved.

In 2009, Heritage set up HIT Humanitarian, a nonprofit organization, and matched employee contributions to support charitable efforts in such countries as Nepal and Haiti. The nonprofit’s projects included sponsorship of the Hope for Little Angels orphanage in Haiti, from which Aitken and his wife adopted three children last year.

First timers...

Yesterday was a pretty sad day for me when we woke up to Milo throwing up... It was the saddest thing when he would suddenly look at me and then try running off to the next room while his body would pulse in preparation of throwing up which appeared to be stomach acid. He wouldn't eat and I couldn't make him drink any water. After the 7th time in a row, I called Chris at work to let him know what was happening. After having to put my hands under his mouth to avoid the carpets if I could quickly get him to the hard floors, I decided to leash him to our bathroom tub so that I could spend the day sitting by him. About 2:30 in the afternoon Milo had thrown up 16x :( I felt helpless as I tried giving him comfort. As I cleaned up the last "spill" Dorothy called to see if Avery could come over. Avery is Milo's friend in our neighborhood (she was the first to meet him last October the day Chris brought Milo home and carved pumpkins together) and it had been a couple days since we had last stopped by to play. I honestly didn't think Milo would have any energy and I told them that he is sick and we would be in the bathroom but the moment that they came, Milo was as good as new. He loves Avery and I couldn't contain him. So I thought I would let them play a little. It was a beautiful day so we all went on a short walk around the neighborhood and Milo did great. I let Avery hold Milo's leash when Chris called for an update. While I was on the phone, I didn't realized that Avery was picking up speed to keep up with Milo's desire to go faster. When Dorothy told Avery to slow down, Avery who is 3, yelled back saying, "I can't, Milo is making me run!" We both laughed before I ran up to grab the leash. Dorothy was pushing Wes in the stroller. Avery did great once we told her that she could pull back on Milo's leash to slow him down. :) For the rest of the day, Milo didn't throw up so we decided not to take him to the vet but keep a close eye on him to see if it continues at all.

So today, we decided to go on with our plans to ski up at the Canyons in Park City. This was my first time skiing and Chris' first in 7 years or so. We woke up a little later than planned but made it to the resort around 10am, purchased rental gear and ski's before spending the day up on the mountain. Chris was a great and very patient teacher! I hate going into things without having a clue on what it is I am doing. My experience with snowboarding wasn't all that fun so I was hesitant with skiing. I did okay on my first trip down the bunny slope but I still hated the fact that I did not have any control over my speed or stopping. I would just fall down to stop lol. So the second time down was when I decided to make myself figure the whole thing out. That was a little frustrating and I am sure it was for Chris too but it must have worked because after the second run down, it all clicked and I had no more falls till I went down the blue square trail! I fell 3x going down the mountain and it was all do to me panicking. I new the bunny slope route but I had no idea what was around the corner etc. on the blue square trail. We skied till about 3pm when we decided to eat at their cabin. Once we sat down with our food, we realized how exhausted we were and quickly decided that we had enough fun. Chris and I had so much fun and I would love to ski! We are trying to find new things that we can do together so thank you Ancestry for the FREE ski passes and to Thanksgiving Meadows for the gift card that paid for our food and rental gear!

We finished the day off with Dorothy and Justin. They share a love for poker along with Chris so I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn and share another experience with Chris. Another way to let him know I love him. I ended up learning it and having a great time playing Texas Holdem, yay!