Lizzy and Amelia

After Amelia's long trip to her cousin's house, she came to play with Lizzy for an hour. They had such a fun time playing Candyland and dress up. The better part for me is that they were quiet and so nice to each other.

At the Park with Dallin

Lizzy, Mason, Dallin, and McKay got to go to the park to play today, and it was so much fun! it was also very, very, messy as well. Yes, if anyone knows how Lizzy plays, it is only with sand buckets. Not only that the sprinklers went off and Mason loved heading towards those. Although he was smart enough to not go in them. It was such a neat day! And I always love talking to a friend in the middle of it all.

Lizzy's last day of school for the year

It is sad that the kids won't be back in school for over two weeks considering the boredom they might be having, except when we see Santa Claus and Christmas Day, of course! I will be happy that Lizzy is at home at least, she is always a fun one to be around. This is what Lizzy brought home from school yesterday. Isn't she cute!

Uncle Joe's Passing

Well, it is so unfortunate, but my Uncle Joe passed away on Saturday December 8th. We just couldn't believe it! We found out just on the 1st that he had melanoma cancer, maybe in his collin and that he had 1 year to live, and all of a sudden he passes away 1 week later!! It just goes to show you cannot take life for granted ever! His service was on the 14th, but I guess the thing that really stuck to me, was when my cousins went up to talk and they talked about all the great things we all used to do together, that we don't anymore since we have had families of our own. It made me sad that we didn't spend more time together during those times. I hope I can make more time for my cousins and their wives. I will always miss my uncle Joe.

Last day of school for 2007

A fun and exciting month

I must say that I litterally feel guilty for not updating my blog, but when do I have the time. Sorry to those who faithfully tried seeing it for a while. It must have gotten disappointing seeing all that brown. It has been such an adventure. We did lots of great things like, we went to the zoo with my sisters and mom. Practically the first rainy day of the winter season. Boy, did we get drenched!



We also had fun memorable days when Lizzy's friends came over to play. From Tehya & Evienne to Dallin, Gage, and Amelia. We also had a great time at Janell's when she had her playgroup thing. That was so much fun! (I just had to add mason with the Barbie phone!!!)

Putting up the rest of the Christmas stuff

Well as everyone could see we had our outside lights up, but the inside wasn't done at all, so all of us as an entire family decorated it together, the kids really had a great time helping us and that made our load lighter.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was so much fun. There weren't a ton of people at my mom's so it wasn't at all too crowded or busy, so it means alot less cleanup and alot more leftovers! My family usually eats at 1:00 and I usually like that time so you can walk off your food. My kids afterward settled for Polar Express while my mom and I took a ride on the tandum(lots of fun, especially when you eat a bunch) then our clan went to settle at home, when we decided at last minute to go to the movies to see Enchanted. To be honest, it was a great flick for all little girls around 4 and up, but there was a towel scene that I was not to happy about to say the least. But besides that scene, that made my husband feel "violated", it was a great flick!

The baking day

Well today was a very busy day. I went and decided to do overload work for myself for the big holiday as usual. I made: Pumpkin pie(extras for us!!), apple pie, dill bread, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. Lots huh! Luckily with the help of Devin, we were able to get lots done! We even finished putting the lights up on the roof. And of course I had to set up for my mom's quilt we made for my Aunt Uni. Wwwwwheeewwww!

Groceries

I don't know if any of you decided to do your last minute grocery shopping today, but all I know is it was a zoo! The traffec, the lines , EVERYTHING! I will NEVER grocery shop on this day again. I had to do a double take that this wasn't the day after Thanksgiving either.

Lizzy's Art

Isn't she a doll! She made it at school today!

Clint's Birthday

We had such a good time making Clint's Birthday the biggest surprise of his life. Clint, Devin's brother, is turning 40 on Sunday. We hope that he enjoyed it very much. We even got a theme of black and 40's going all over the place! It was so much fun to prepare and the kids loved decorating along with us older kids at heart. We really had a BLAST! Thankyou Aaron for the idea!

Family Pictures

Yes, the time has arrived! The day that we've all been stressing over. Pictures! Yes, we took some, and no, I will not show you them till they are delivered to your address, so you'll just have to wait.

Craft Day

Today my mom's ward had a craft day and they had some neat Ideas for the Christmas Season. I water painted this portrait of the temple and added a little texture to it. The moment I saw it I knew I needed to make it for my home. It took a grand total of 3 hours, but was very worth it.

Christmas Lights

Anyone that drives by our house at Christmas time knows that we are very festive. This Saturday we tipped off the holiday tradition 5 days early! So anyone that drives by can see. We are not done yet, and don't worry even if we get done before thanksgiving we are definately not lighting them till the day after, even though the temple is already lighting theirs up as we speak. (Maybe they were checking them, but when Dev and I came out of the temple last week they were on and very well lit.)

Spencer's Wedding

Today Devin's best friend Spencer Christensen got married. It was such a nice day! A little hot maybe, but comparing to my wedding no comparison at all. It was nice to see old friends from the family and everything. It was also so nice to be able to see the wedding being performed. You can really tell the two of them are so much in love. We are very happy for them and wish them the greatest.

Our day at the Zoo

Today was lots of fun, we got to go to the Phoenix Zoo! It made it even better that Devin was able to join us on his day off as well. The weather wasn't too bad, it got warm at times, but overall it was fun for the kids. We also saw other friends over there, which made it even more fun! Although I must admit that it was a zoo to even park at the zoo. They wanted us to park in a parking lot a mile from the zoo, but ended up finding a spot at the zoo anyway. Overall today ended up being a nice Veteren's day.

New PJ's

Devin and I were at costco on Friday and they had the cutest PJ's for the kids. Lizzy and Mason proudly picked them out. Lizzy says that she is Jessie when she wears them, Mason just loves the fire truck!

The Experimenter

Okay, while the kids were in the house all day Friday.(Lizzy still has a slight fever from yesterday) I decided to cook and puree a pumpkin. Boy is it lots of work! But now I can say that I've cooked and pureed pumkin all from scratch. Again, that is just me, the experimenter, what will I try next?

Quilting

My Mom and I also were helping tie quilts for her stake. That was lots of fun! I love helping others. Not only that, but helping others gave me great ideas to help make it a less painful process. Remember, I may have done a couple quilts, but that doesn't make me a pro. I guess at Joann's they have little rubber discs that you can buy that will help make the tying less painful. So instead of the needle poking into your finger like it often does you can put the disc there and it won't even hurt. Or they used another method to replace the disc. An old fashioned balloon! That can solve your tying and binding woes as well.

Bow Making

On Monday my sister and I enjoyed a nice afternoon making bows for the upcoming fall season! We were also trying to make our black bows for our pictures coming up in a week or so for Christmas cards as well! What can I say, we are busy! That how I like it though, sometimes!

Devin's and my Mom's Birthday

Yes, my mother and husband have the same Birthday, which is nice to have two special celebrations in one. My sister and I went out to find my Mom a birthday gift, after a couple of days to think about it and searching we finally got her a great gift, with also the help of my Sister-in-law as well. Anyway, we were so excited that day, because we were going to go to this play that my mom's stake was putting on, but Elizabeth came home from school with a fever! So needless to say I dropped her present off, but had to go home to my sick family instead. What a bummer.

They're sick!

Mason started to get sick around Saturday, Sunday with cold symptoms( Coughing, Bad runny nose) In fact, our family only went to sacrament meeting, got called to our new calling(CTR 6 teachers), and went home, because we were all sick with the cold. Devin had a fever on Monday and stayed home from work. Tis the season to be sick, what can I say!

Mason gets dressed

On Monday...I don't know who dressed him whether it was Lizzy or himself we may never know. But, what I do know is this is so funny putting his shorts on backwards!

A long Busy week

Hey guys!
I'm sure it has been too long since I've posted a blog, but this week was so busy! It starts out last Sunday....
During the month of October, I decided to rent the Wizard of Oz for Lizzy. Lizzy LOVED it! In fact, after taking down all my Halloween decorations and trying to fit all the new costumes in boxes, Lizzy came across my old witches hat, Lizzy put it on and got a broom and said "look Mommy I'm a Witch!"

Halloween

It has been such a fun day! I went and dropped a scary movie by my parents that I saw on Friday, it was the movie 1408. That movie to me was perfect. Not too scary and not boring either. I would have to call it a perfect middle movie. Not as bad as the haunting, but not as scary as any slasher movie, if you know what I mean. My dad was kind of mad at me that I didn't give it to him sooner. It's better later than not at all.
After stopping by my parents and almost eating at their chili cook off we got ready to go out trick or treating, and as every year we always get out late (I really need to work on that one). We got out at 7 and Lizzy insisted that I wear my Snow White costume and out we went!
We got our cotton candy from the Harveys and tons of candy for the kids. Mason wouldn't wear his costume at all, which was strange, but it was fine, he got all the candy he wanted anyway.
We finally went to this house around the Spragues and it was so funny! Mason totally freaked out! It had a strobe light, spider webs and the whole bit. While walking up, Mason started running back, because he was scared so I grabbed him and carried him to the door once he got there I brought him down to get the candy and he ran into the people's house, it was so funny!You should've been there. Anyway, we really had a nice halloween and were done by 15 to nine. Lizzy was so tuckered out she started to fall asleep in my arms at our neighbors (neighbors threw a party on the carport). I am excited to see what happens next year!

Treats Day

Marie and I got together to make treats for our VT Gals. It was so nice to do something for them considering all the busy times they would be having with their new babies, so we decided to just give them treats for this month. While we were baking, Zander and Mason were just having so much fun together laughing and getting in to trouble. It was so nice to have a friend around for Mason!
After dropping the treats off I decided since I was in treat mode I might as well go and deliver some to our neighbors and friends. Besides, I had some cute holiday ribbon that I needed to use up anyway, right. So I was on a mission, and accomplished what I wanted. Some neighbors I had to visit the next day, because our home teachers came over. I have to admit, I was delivering some to Melody's and went to her house when this dog out of nowhere follows Elizabeth and I to the door. Poor Melody, once she opened the door to receive treats that dog just ran in her house. I just couldn't believe it, I was just laughing. I felt so bad of course, but it was so funny.
And those I forgot, I am very sorry, I really tried getting to all my friends, but just couldn't.

The Halloween Party

Every year my family throws a Halloween party, and it is so much fun! This year was so fun we had lots of games for the kids, dancing, with all kinds of treats of course, and of course we can't leave out the foggy cauldron, can we?! That night was also my brother's birthday so we did 2 celebrations! We celebrated David and my birthday along with my favorite holiday, what else can you ask for?? Elizabeth at first was shy at the party, but once she knew it was family it was all fun from there. On the other hand, Mason was soooo scared he stayed by Mom the whole time. Finally towards the end he really started to have fun. Halloween parties are so much fun I would even love to throw one with all my friends next year. Itwould just make the season even more fun!

Lizzy with fangs

Lizzy came home from preschool today wearing fangs and a bag of candy of course! I don't know about you, but we have received already so much candy and it isn't even Halloween yet!

Carving Pumpkins

Today was lots of fun! We Carved our pumkins today. It always takes a while, but I am glad this time that Lizzy enjoyed it a little more. She even put her hands in to get the pumkin guts out. As for Mason, we will have to probably wait till next year, because he didn't even attempt touching the stuff. Either way they both picked the design they wanted so that is all that matters.

ASU Football Game

While some of you were going to the chili cookoff. Devin and I were going to the ASU game. Oh my gosh was it fun. Although I do admit you don't want to be in the nose bleed section usually during these games, because then you don't get as riled up as much as sitting in the lower bowl seats. But either way it was fun and you still get to see your favorite college team whale on the other team. Now another thing about the game if you have an annoying man that sounds like Ned Flanders behind you, be sure to get ear plugs! I swear the whole time he was saying "Boo." Need I say more! Other than those 2 things it was such a wonderful game. I always love it when they win then you don't feel you hiked up a huge stadium for nothing, right! It was also fun to have my sister in laws there too, it made it all the better. I would definately recommend if someone hasn't been to a college football game to go, they are always fun!

Today at B's

Well today at my sister's was fun. We did the usual, we cut and colored each others hair and let the kids have fun at the park near her house. It also helped today that she had a dog at her house. That really caught the kids attention from doing bad stuff. Today I admit I did something a little daring. I colored my hair BLACK. I admit I was kind of shocked with seeing it at first, but I like it more now than I did. Devin loves it and that is all that matters anyway. Now I have virtually been every color as far as hair goes. Not the wacky ones!

The Exterminator

Okay this is soooo weird. When Melody told us the roach story the other day at the park no more than a 2 days later I look at the pot shelf and there it was, a cock roach! You see it had to happen, because Melody just lives just down the street from me and you know when you bring something like that up it almost ALWAYS happens to you. Anyways, I have got an exterminator that doesn't charge alot and isn't pushy like the other guys usually are. He came today and I HOPE that stops them for now. Whew!

Lunch time

I was having a busy day getting all my grocery shopping done, taking my kids to the library and somewhere in between I felt that we would go to Taco Bell. I didn't know this, but they have a kids menu over there, and I thought these, unlike other kids menu toys , would be something the kids would like and I was right! Lizzy wanted me to take more pictures of her being goofy!

At the Dentist

We went to the dentist today and it was so much fun! Lizzy had her teeth cleaned and wasn't scared a bit, Mason wouldn't even get up on the big chair so he settled for mommy's lap. Good news! No cavities.

Park Day

Well as you know Park Day is always fun, and it is always good to see friends after a long week or two of not seeing them. Mason and Lizzy had such a fun time today, and as usual nothing is more fun to lizzy than a shovel, bucket, and sand with water of course!

Mom leaves

Today was such a sad day, mom flew back to Provo today. We will really miss her. We had such a fun time with her, especially Elizabeth. Elizabeth got to play with her alot and that was so neat that she had time to bond with the Grandma, because she doesn't see her that often. We miss you!

Walgreens and the Museum

After lunch we had to hurry and drop Lizzy off at preschool, because we missed the bus. Then we went to one of mom's favorite stores, that they don't have in Provo, Walgreens. She really enjoyed coming back to the store she used to go to in Arizona.
After going to the Walgreens we went back towards Lizzy's School where we found the Mesa Historical Museum. If any of you are natives of Mesa, or have lived in Mesa for Several years you would greatly enjoy and appreciate this Museum! It is such a joy and you have so much gratitude for the ancestors that really made Mesa what it is today. It only costs 5.00 for adults and it is neat to see all the things about Mesa that you love. It also had a room for all you Arizona kids that watched the Wallace and Ladmo show like I did. They had almost a whole room just about that. Anyways it was a nice change to see how Mesa started.

Out to Lunch

It was so much fun to go to lunch with both moms. It was neat! Lizzy really gave them a funny look and said "2 Grandmas!" excitedly. Mason on the other hand was not so happy. He was still not feeling good from yesterday. He was sick yesterday with a fever and throwing up. I'm thinking he is teething, because the past couple days on naps and from sleeping he has been just crying and screaming for no reason. Hmm! But to get back to what I was saying we all had a great time!

Dad leaves

I am very sad to say that dad left this morning around 8:30. We will really miss him.

Ken and Chyrisse leave

I am so sad that the Ballard family had to leave us. They were so much fun to be around, and not a burden in the least bit. In fact, we would have loved for them to stay a little longer! My kids had such a fun time with their kids. Looks like we need to be the ones to visit them next! See ya until then!

Dirt Biking

To tip off the rest of this great day we went and had some pizza and soon after got ready to go dirt biking. It was so much fun! The kids had a blast playing with their cousins while the first time in our lives, take on the dirt bikes. I would do it again in a heart beat! That kind of stuff is one of the many things I like to do now, I really enjoyed it, now all I have to do is coax Clint to take us out there more often! The kids had a fun time too going around in the kid quad and the Jeep. Lizzy loved the jeep ride so much she was begging to go on the rest of the evening. What can I say, she is adventurous!

Dallin's Football Game

After the BIG breakfast, we went to see Dallin's football game. It was so much fun and very exciting. During the game we talked alot and at the end of the game a big water fight, which started with Hailey and ended with Jared pouring a couple gallons of ice water all over Devin as well as other spectators watching the game. Nice huh!

Hawkins Family Day

When we woke up this morning we thought our Hawkins family breakfast was not going to happen when all of a sudden Hailey, Ann, and Emma all got sick. But we bought all this food and even if one of our families couldn't show, we felt that we should do it anyway, besides, some of the family was leaving tomorrow, so why not! We got the Park in Queen Creek about 8:00 and started making breakfast. During the middle of our camp cooking a officer comes by and tells us that someone reserved the ramada for 10:00. Luckily we were out of there by 9:30!

The Reception

Well, after that luncheon Mason and I just crashed for a while till the reception.
At the reception we had a great time, but we didn't eat before we came so after pictures and the ring ceremony I rushed and got my family some taco bell. We really didn't stay long at the reception for the mere fact that Mason fell into a huge pile of mud and got it all over his clothes, and all of us were beat. Thinking about the Hawkins Family day the next day got me to thinking that now was the time to prepare for that now. I wish the best for the new couple and their lives together. I know they will do GREAT!!

The Luncheon

The luncheon was really nice and very delicious. We went to Buca Di Beppo and it was so much fun!