A Trip to the Zoo

Jordan-you crack me up.

Turtles at the entrance

My sweet girls

Pops and the girls

a monkey

My little man Brian

a bird

A pretty parrot

A pretty bird

The big turtles

That be a tiger in that cage

It was so much work for Brian to go to the zoo that he passed out as we were on our way out

 

We made it to the Phoenix Zoo with my parents. We went around 2:30 pm and didn't realize that it closed down at 4:00 pm. El really wanted to see the giraffe but he wasn't in his cage b/c they were closing. We only made it through half the zoo when they asked us to leave-so rude! Lessons learned for next year. Instead of driving into the Phoenix Zoo, we'll drive down the street to the Wildlife Zoo-it's a better Zoo experience I think.

Chrsitmas Week

We had a great time with loved ones this Christmas and hope you did too.

Pops and Mum with Brrr

Steve getting ready to open his Birthday gifts

new pajama pants

I now own "boy" paper for scrapping

That is Pops with his new ball fetching tool-when you loose your golf ball in the water you can get it with this thingy-not that he needed to use it when I was with him-he he

I made Brrr a hat

The boys- Steve, Caleb, and Jordo were playing PS3 in the extra room-aka- the garage. Jordo we love you even if we made you sleep in the garage.

Hailey with Brrr. She is the best Auntie ever!

Jordo was a good sitter too!

El and I, early on Christmas morning

Hailey got some BYU swag. She started "BYU Wednesdays" at school. She is so lucky to be in a town where there are so many members of the church her age. She is a good girl! It has been so fun watching her grow up and become a beautiful young woman-I am 15 years older than her so I can say that.

Mum with her visor and golf shirt. I love playing golf and laughing with my mom.

Ki girl and her presents

*Note to self-when you are going to make them PJ's just try to make them fit next time!

I am glad that my brother, Caleb and his wife moved here in August. Not just because I now have family in the state, but that means that my parents have to come visit for Christmas. They have been coming to the warmth for the past three years now. I love spending this time of year with them. They get to leave cold weather in Idaho and enjoy the beautiful winter here-and this year it was so warm, we all loved it.

When Pops comes that also means that we get to golf. Pops and Steve went almost everyday. They even let my mom and I join the, twice. I am not a good player, but we get to play every other shot when I go. Mom and Pops are on a team and Steve and I are on a team. We all tee off and use the best lying ball. Then we alternate who hits the ball. I like playing that way b/c I don't feel so defeated that way. There is no way I could play 18 holes on my own!

My above mentioned brother and his wife welcomed a baby boy into the world on the 26th. I am excited for Brian and Beckam to get to know each other. By the time Caleb is done with dental school in 4 years, the B boys should be great buds!

Birthday Boy

You may recall that Steve is a Christmas Baby, so he gets super excited for Christmas/Birthday morning. We usually sing and have him open Birthday presents first. He got to choose Christmas/Birthday dinner too and didn't have to help prepare it. Good thing my Pops was here to make an exceptional prime rib dinner.

 I am thankful for Steve and the fantastic father that he is. I am thankful for his daily dedication to his health and wellness and that he puts up with me everyday.

 I love you Steve!

Hope you had a great day.

Kinder Winter Wonderland

El had a speaking part in the program it was really cute!

El with Mrs. Campbell-Hernandez

It was crazy doing this with El because I feel like it wasn't that long ago we were there with Ki. I am not getting older!

HO HO HO

It was our ward Christmas party the other night. 

It was a good time. Ki didn't want to sit on Santa's lap-she said that she didn't care what she gets so she didn't need to stand in line. El was so excited to stand in line and then ever so quietly tell him that she wanted a Rapunzel doll. Then she came home and wrote Santa a letter-a keeper for sure.

Brian was already asleep and I didn't really want to wake him, but now I am wishing that I would have just to snap the photo-oh well!

A big guy, and a big mess

Hey, I am Brian and I am one big guy-even my shirts knows it.

He is in the 75th percentile for weight and head size-surprisingly. And he is in the 90th percentile for length. Steve was holding him yesterday and looked at him and said, I think one day you are going to be bigger than me.

He is just so dang cute!

 

I was lucky enough to get a picture of all three on them at the same time. His hair is getting lighter and the ped. said that his eyes will probably stay blue. I think that he is on his way to being blonde, El was a darkie when she was born too. Only time will tell.



I had to laugh the other day. My younger brother Caleb was here for a few minutes. His sweet wife is getting ready to deliver a boy. Caleb and I were chatting and Brian let one rip, and instantly I felt the poo creeping up. When I laid Brian on the table and took time to grab the camera, he had spit up too. My poor brother was so grossed out-all I could do was laugh! It won't be too long and he'll have a little mess maker in his arms too, and I can't wait to see that little man.

She made me do it

El and Ki had a dentist appointment the other day. Ki chose a slap bracelet-can you believe that they are back??? And then El chose these super cute glasses. I couldn't resist putting them on the kids.

Future Lady Killer

She sees the world through rose colored glasses

Ki has a problem that only her mother and grandmother understand-can't keep your eyes open can ya?

A Little Hike in the White Tanks

El has been asking if we could go on a little hike to the White Tanks. Sometimes we head up there for picnics, they have cute little playgrounds, Steve likes to hike there and in January it's open archery for deer, so Steve spends the weekends there. A few weeks ago we got up on a Saturday morning and headed for the Tanks. We did a three mile hike, the girls did so good! We found Grandma Lora up there and she was kind enough to take a photo:




Brian was a good sport. He actually took a few naps.
It was a good way to spend the morning with my peeps.

My Boys.

My Girls.

Thanks are Past Due

While I am on a psoting roll, I have to share-STEVE IS WORKING again. He has been seizure free for almost 2 years and although he can drive, he does not qualify for a Commercial Driver's License for 3 more years. His neurologist may sign off on it sooner?? To return to his previous job as an apprentice lineman he would have to have a CDL. We knew that him returning to work with APS in that same job was not an option. As he was an amazing stay at home dad I went back to "the bank", I have worked for US Bank in the past-it's a family thing. My father works for them and has for 32 years. My sister and a bother have also worked there. So anyway, two years ago I returned to work and Steve was on short term disability with APS. After he was cleared to return to work, he was not able to return to his old job so he had 90 days to find another position with the company.

As many of our ward memebers, family and friends were praying and fasting in our behalf, (A HUGE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!) we were blessed to find several jobs that Steve could apply for in the last week of his employeement with APS. Because he applied for these positions while still an employee, his termination just ment that the pay checks quit coming. They were able to keep him in the system, and a week after I had Brian, he was offered another 4 year appenticeship with APS as a polyphase meterman. That is a fancy way to say that he will learn to repair and install meters for residential and commerical buildings.

After a generous 8 week maturnity leave, I returned to work on Nov. 4th. I worked for a week and realized that it wasn't worth the stress or the money for me to work full-time so I gave my two weeks notice and now I get to be a stay at home mom again. Steve is a far better house keeper than I am but I have time to practice. I used the excuse of I am a working mother, for a good two years and now I am going to have to get all those things done that I have put off and procrastinated while I was working. I am so happy to be home with my baby!!!

I have seen the Lord's tender mercies in my life, and I can say that we are better people and stronger people having had to go through these trails. Steve still has to be mindful of his blood sugar, but he is doing great. We are very thankful to all of you who have loved and supproted us with prayers and kindness. I don't know who all of you are but I hope that you know that we do know this wasn't a trial that we got through on our own merit. Thank You-we love you!

Character Counts!

If you can recall, Ki has received a few character counts awards. Her little sister is following in her footsteps, only she is happy to get an award. The characteristic was Trustworthiness.




Her teacher Mrs. Campbell said:
"El is a wonderful student and friend. She not only exhibits this month's character of Trustworthiness but every character, every day. I am proud to honor her with this award!"

I was surprised to see that of the 5 kinder classes, 3 of the recipients were from our ward-we have a great influence on those around us each day.

My 6 Year Old

I wanted to make El feel special so I went to eat lunch with her for her Birthday. Ki feels jipped b/c her birthday is always during winter break. Sorry sis.

I can't really call her my baby anymore, but I can't believe that my baby is 6.

She got some pants, a dress, a turtle neck, a zooble and a Barbie toy. What else could a girl want??

 

She is such a great girl and I am glad that she's part of our family. I hope to get to spend many more birthdays with her.

I love you El!

October, Came and Went

I started making Halloween costumes a few years ago, the girls have stretched my skills, but I have gained a new BFF-felt. I love what you can do with felt. Last year Ki was a parrot, and by the time the trick or treating was over she said, she wanted to be "Paracula". Oh, you don't know what that is? It's a parrot mixed with Dracula. Only can Ki come up with such things. She has a little notebook that she colors and draws in at church. I opened it the other day to find a few pages of things that are all mixed together, like the dion, swagon, stish, puffertle, and elion. She is a cleaver girl! So to her parrot costume I added a Dracula collar and she wore plastic teeth. El said that she wanted to be a Flarrie-a fairy without wings-from a Barbie movie, I'm told. I made her a tutu, a shirt and a headband with some gems on them and called it good. Brian just wore a cute little shirt that said Baby's 1st BOO.

She didn't really want to tick-or-treat herself she wanted to pass out the candy

The teeth were uncomfortable and it was too hot for her hood

And he was content to just chill.

When I was growing up in Montana and Colorado, you had to wear layers and snow boots with your costume. Arizona is just starting to get bearable again. My sis in-law has spent the past few years in Michigan and commented on how everyone hands out candy from their lawn chairs in their drive-way. I guess it  never occurred to me that we do this because we can actually be outside and enjoy the weather instead of sweating our butts off.  The neighbors had asked if we would join them for the 2nd annual s'mores in the driveway. The girls were very excited about that. They had gone up and down a block in the hood and I asked them if they were done, Ki said "You aren't going to let us eat the candy anyway so we might as well go home." I have trained them well. So we went to pass out candy and eat s'mores. It was a great night!

Cheap Skate Mama

I will admit it any day that I am a cheap skate. I have issues with school sponsored door to door sales of really expensive cookie dough and anything else that is a "fundraiser". I'd rather just write a check to the school, but I never have done that either. I also have issues with school pictures! They are so expensive and I don't know enough people to use all 113 wallet size pictures, or 25, 8x10's to be willing to spend $157.99 on pictures. If my kids take after me, they will not even look good in those pictures. My hair was never right and my smile was off.

So, when picture day came this year-I had my girls do a mini photo shoot here at home. They were so very cute as they were posing for my mum.

Ki-my Brown eyed girl

El-my blue eyed girl

I hope that they will always get along

I am not holding my breath-I'll turn blue

Ki is a fun loving 3rd grader

El is a loving Kindergartner

I feel pretty lucky to have such great girls. They are very helpful with brother and they are both hard working students. Ki loves to read and is doing great with piano she is learning to play the hymn "Do What is Right"-and that is just what she does.

El is just loving school and comes home pretty tired. She is starting to read and it is very fun to see her making progress.