Happy 8th Birthday Andrew!!

August 11, 2010

I can't believe its Andrew's birthday already. This year has been flying by. I also can't believe he is 8 years old. They just grow up to fast.

I made a cake for him. I made this up off the top of my head so lets pretend its perfect. Andrew loved it so that's all that matters.

Cake Yum!!

Luke has no idea what is going on. Just hanging out in his chair, waiting for us to get on with it.

The cake was delicious.

Andrew and Marissa are so cute.

Oliver LOVED the cake. He was in such a goofy mood. He was clowning around the whole night.

We followed cake with root beer floats. Just to top off the sugar rush. Apparently we didn't take any pictures of his presents but there were plenty of those. I love nights like these. We just hung out as a family enjoyed each other. Celebrated Andrew's birthday and just had fun together.

Happy Birthday Andrew. We LOVE you!!

Aug 1-8, 2010

Cute kid pictures of the week.

Luke fell asleep snuggling with his Mom. Look at how cute he is.

Happy Luke.

Oliver takes the goofiest pictures. I should be thankful he has stopped turning away from the camera or covering his face.

Now he pinches his cheek or points at his eye.

He has also decided he is to big for naps. So he won't go down for one. Instead he will randomly collapse into a sleep coma. This time on my bed.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Luke. Look at those big blue eyes. I can't believe how big he is getting. Standing up already. He's only 9 months old.

Marissa, hanging out in her swimsuit, eating pizza backwards in her chair. My legs are tingling just thinking about the circulation being cutoff. She's always changing it up.

August 2nd, I took the kids to the bus and without warning just as the bus pulls up Marissa starts sobbing. Through her incoherent sobs I gather she has decided she doesn't want to go to school. She was fine all morning so I told her that I would pick her up half day and she agreed that that would be okay and went off to school.

I rushed around getting all my shopping done so I could pick her up before lunch. Dragged both boys into the school to sign her out with groceries melting in the hot sun in the car. Tried as best as I could to keep the boys from being to loud while I waited for her to come out. She finally rounds the corner sobbing. We sit down while I try to find out what is wrong. Only to be told that she has changed her mind and really REALLY doesn't want to go home early. Uhhhhh, girls. I told her it was too late and made her come home. Maybe once she realizes that she isn't missing anything at home she will choose to stay in school from now on.

July 29, 2010 The TRUE meaning of Monsoon Season

July 29, 2010

When I saw on the news that Monsoon season was starting in Arizona I wasn't sure what that even meant. Then came Thursday.

The weather outside this whole day had been great. Cloudy was a great change from the heat. Then the wind started to pick up, then the pouring rain, followed by a micorburst.

I had a great video which wouldn't load. So I took a snap shot of the video so you can see what it looked like.

The grand finale is my neighbors tree falling right

next to the house.

This is the same tree, different angle.

The best part is the aftermath. Playing in the water. The street was a river of water an hour before this. I wish I had a picture of that. In the time it took the bus to get here and the kids home most of it drained away.

They had a great after school workout and then they wanted hot chocolate. Which I couldn't find. I know I have seen it but have no idea where I put it. Uhhhh... not that they needed hot chocolate it was hot and humid outside and the water was warm.

They did all get a warm bath. Which I have discovered this time of year you can't really get cold water, its all warm. I worked outside in the heat and tried to take a cold shower to cool off and the water wouldn't get cold. ODD and annoying. Although I will take it any day over Girls Camp showers that were always iceberg cold when you wanted warm.

There were trees down all over the neighborhood. It was garbage day so there were cans all over in the road when it was over. I now know what they are talking about when they mention monsoon's. I am still waiting on the dust storms I have heard about and something about a frog apocalypse. I'll have to keep you posted on that.

July 26, 2010 First Day of School

First Day of School

July 26, 2010

School started a month early for us this year. We discovered this 2 weeks before their start date. I spent one of those weeks shoveling out the office which wasn't unpacked. I had to find

their birth certificates and immunization records.

I discovered Marissa's birth certificate had been misplaced in the move. Giving me the opportunity to go through every piece of paper we own trying to find it. I did finally, in the LAST place I looked. Turned the whole office upside down and I wasn't planning on unpacking until we painted. Grrrrr......

Two advantages to our move. The kids get to ride the bus and as of now they think that is AWESOME!! The other is that it's within walking distance from the house. However as we discovered this day, you d

rive in the summer. It's already in the 90's outside and the humidity is high. See all the cars parked on the street, those are the parents who know better.

To drive this point home for me, I walked at pick up time as well. Telling myself that it's lazy and ridiculous to drive when the pick up is so close. I decided after this day that there is no shame in driving. I was sweating waiting for the bus and the poor kids were already exhausted and had to walk home from the bus.

Look at how happy they are. Make a note: The kids have to take water bottles to school, which we freeze the night before so they will stay cold longer. The drinking fountains can't keep the water cold in this heat. Crazy!!

Look how happy they are!!

BUT EXHAUSTED!!

All day kindergarden is rough.

Good thing Marissa's teacher sent her home with a small bag of hershey's kisses that melted 3 seconds after walking out of the classroom. The effort of licking the chocolate off the ziplock bag woke her up.

First day was a success!! She then spent the next two hours talking my ear off detailing out her day. I was exhausted by the time she was done.

July 18, 2010 Monday Snack

Graham Crackers and Milk. YUM!!!

This is an Iba snack introduced by my husband Paul. I don't recall graham crackers and milk qualifying as a snack when I was a kid. The kids love it.

Look they are all getting along. QUICK, take a picture! SNAP!!

Now I have proof.

Now there is a smile and a laugh that is contagious.

July 14, 2010 1 month into unpacking.

Unpacking Marathon week 4

I have a couple of large boxes of winter clothes and gear that have been sitting in the front room. I can't decide what to do with it all. Our house doesn't come with any obvious storage and lets be honest, these items are not going to be needed for a long time, if ever. So as they sit there homeless, the kids keep getting the stuff out and playing in it. Now I don't know about you, but I would think that when it is 107+ outside it's not the time to run around the house in snowsuits and snowboard boots but maybe I am missing the point. They thought

they were really cool so we just went with it.

This went on for an hour on several different occasions.

Oliver had a little difficulty getting around in the Snowboard boots but he gets an A+ for effort.

Strike a pose there's nothing to it. If your Marissa. She is a natural.

Eagle Mountain Utah

Last week in Utah. Played at Aunt Ali's in Eagle Mountain.

Marissa played with one of her favorite cousins and got a little crazy with the dressups.

June 6, 2010

The kids played really hard. Lots of running. Poor Andrew looked worn out. It was a great.

We sat out on the front lawn and visited. It was so nice. Luke enjoyed hanging out on his blanket on the lawn.

June 10, 2010

We hit the road. Instead of dropping down through St. George we cut through the mountains. Mom (Grandma Tabor) came with us to help us get through the drive. We had all sick kids and drove till early morning.

We slept in Flagstaff and then headed to Phoenix.

This is a picture at a rest stop just out of Phoenix.

I love Oliver's face. I have no idea what he did to make this face.

It's definitely one of my favorite photos. This is the last photo I took with my camera for a month. I couldn't find my charger. I was convinced that it was somewhere in the van that was full of moving crap. A month later I figured out we had left it at Aunt Ali's. Thanks Ali for mailing it to me =0).