Monday, January 28, 2008

Tennis ball haircut

Toby got his hair cut short - his head feels like a tennis ball - take a feel next time u see him!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Monday, January 21, 2008

Susan's new mini . . .















Just kidding - although I think that two minis would be awesome: more room in the garage, go places with two cars and divide up the kids, bein' more 'green' when doing errands, and just plain lookin cool. These pics are from Susan's 30th Birthday (awhile ago) when I rented the car, but made her think I had bought it.

In reality - this post is about Susan's new mini . . . van license plate (and frame - she's a HUGE Kevin Harvick fan!)



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Monday, January 14, 2008

heather's birthday dinner at mcd's

We offered her Cheesecake Factory 4 dinner tonight, but she chose McD's - 6 years ago on a Mon night I drove to downtown Phx at 95 mph just in time 4 Heather 2 b born! She's the best! She sang 'We are a Happy Family' all the way 2 school this morning:)

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Fall finally came . . . it'll be over soon

Grandpa called and requested the kids come over and play in his newly raked front yard - yes, to mess up the leaf pile by playing in it! We made it just in time, because the rains came just as the kids finished the "mess up" job. We then had some pumpkin pie with Grandpa for his birthday and the kids made a mad dash for all of the grandparent toys they are accustomed to playing with and TJ and Heather raided the pantry. TJ made a unique find in the pantry - a box of chocolate protein bars. He asked permission to eat some and got it and downed three of them! TJ then came home and ate all of the leftover pizza - guess he is in another growth spurt (or is just a picky eater who stores up whenever the unique foods he'll actually consume are available). We're glad Grandpa enjoys spoiling the kids for HIS birthday! :)


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Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Brittany wanted 2 b on my blog 2

she also just completed a semester - but at byu. she and Lisa are my cousins and are looking 2 b the first ones married in their families (beating 2 older siblings in both cases).

better pic of Lisa & what she is looking 4 in EC

Lisa just finished her 1st semester at ASU and has surprised everyone by not having a serious guy friend . . . Yet - so if u know someone 4 her, let us/her know!

Cousin Time

Lisa claims she reads my blog - we'll see

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Before . . . and After


The "Merry" results of Christmas :)













And this was AFTER 2 cleanups!
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Saturday, December 22, 2007

Happy 23rd Birthday to My Best Friend!

. . . or is it the 32nd? ahhh, it doesn't matter - age is just a temporary part of life here in mortality :) Susan is smarter, more patient, funnier, more beautiful, happier, more charitable (and lots more things) with every passing year! I'm just happy she's patient enough to wait for me to catch up - I'll always be 6 months behind her! I love you!

Sunday, December 16, 2007

3 Boys and a Truck

I can remember two trips as a kid up Four Peaks Northeast of Mesa. One was in the 1980 Buick Century station wagon and the other in the 1970 VW bug. The memorable part of BOTH was HOW we made the trip - once on the dirt road we "flew" like superman by holding onto the luggage rack of the station wagon or we stood on the running boards of the VW while holding onto the car through the sunroof. I offered to TJ that he could stand on the nerf bars of the truck and hold onto the truck through the window, but he didn't want to (he also kept his seat belt securely fastened, his eyes on the road ahead, and let me know that he was focusing on his breathing). So, I decided to treat more like the Baja 1000 and drove the trail faster than either the station wagon or bug would've been able to go without bottoming out or skidding off the road. We also didn't bring a .22 like I got to do with my dad and brothers (and sister? I don't remember) - but I think it would be a good idea for next time we go! One of my first intentions when buying the 4x4 truck was to go up the 4 peaks road - but this was the first time, more than 6 1/2 years later, that I've gone up the trail. It was a blast and we even kept up with the Rangers, Arctic Cats, quads, and dirt bikes going up the mountain. One of them commented once we got to the top, in the snow, that it looked like we were alot warmer than they were on the trip up. I think the main reason for going all out with quads and stuff is so that more people can drive - because when driving you don't get motion sickness, but I remember (and TJ and Toby reminded me with their green faces) as a passenger feeling pretty woozy after the trip. Just let me know if anyone wants to go with next time!


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Cold Hands




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Icy Roads and Treats

We only skidded once - TJ thought it was cool, I was scared but didn't show it. There were some cactus in the snow and TJ and I only TALKED about making yellow snow.


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4 Peaks Trip to the Snow

This is a view of 4 Peaks on the way home - we (TJ, Toby and I) drove all the way to the trailhead at the edge of the left peak. It took about 2 hours to get there and an hour and 15 min to get back. TJ says it was worth it to see and play in the snow. I thought it was worth it just to 'tear it up' in the truck on the way up and down the mountain. Toby just quietly sat in the backseat and commented on the many bumps that we took. TJ and Toby had agreed to make this a tradition each year while Susan and Heather go to Nutcracker (their tradition), but they changed their minds as their stomachs got queazy on the way down. I told them the ride was just toughening them up and they'll do better next time (Toby lost it twice, but TJ not at all - of course I didn't feed them ANYTHING).


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Sunday, December 09, 2007

Dangerous Spa Crew




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Then one foggy Christmas Eve . . .

Heather knows all the words to Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, so . . . to give us a break while we were all in the spa (except for mommy, on the phone with her sis in Guam again) from her singing it over and over again, I offered her a dollar to swim across the pool. She did a great job and even got back in for me when I told her I missed taking a picture! The spa was MUCH warmer than the pool and made LOTS of steam. It's pretty magical in the backyard with all of the Christmas lights and the tree lighting it up and the spa is the perfect way to sit comfortably and enjoy it (unless Toby is kicking and splashing water in your face).


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