Sunday, August 15, 2010

Baby Brudder - Ammon

STATS: 7lbs 4 oz, 21 inches long and cute as can be - beginning stages of male-pattern baldness and looks just like Jeff. :)
So excited to have him here - not so excited to be recovering from major surgery... a few cute moments already.

My sister Kristin has been here with her 3 girls - Aubrey (14), Elizabeth (11), Calla (9). My kids love these girls although I was really nervous for Abbey - she is a MOMMA's girl to no end. ONLY MOM can do anything for her. Turns out I can be replaced for a few days by Kristin, but not anyone else. :)

She brought the kids to the hospital the first day: Abbey "Hi mommy!, hi mom, hi mommy, hi!" 

Lucas walks right over to Ammon and pulls the little hat off and says "Does he have red hair like me?" As he was sitting on Jeff's lap with Ammon, he unwrapped to find his little toes and count them. He loves this baby more than I could have ever hoped for!

Boys night - Jeff took Lucas (since he was surrounded by girls all day and night) out on Friday night for a boys night. Trying to figure out what he might want to do, Jeff asked him:
What's your favorite thing to do Lucas?
Feed my baby brother. (Awwwwwww....... :))

The girls love Ammon too - Lea is fascinated by all the little things - "He opened his eyes all the way.....he did (insert whatever was done)......." and Abbey just keeps a close eye on him all the while not leaving my side since we walked in the door. She missed her momma and I missed them.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

First day of school - Aug 2010

Lea started 2nd grade at Vista Del Sur Traditional School. After having 2 years of wonderful teachers - Mrs. Gardner and Mrs. Noyes, we are looking forward to another great year with Mrs. Zwick. More pics to come of the first day - just a little comparison from 1st grade to 2nd. So cute!

1st day of school last year - 2009


this year - 2010

More of day one: 2nd grade!!! :)
I've officially given up on getting a decent picture. :)

Okay not bad.....

At the school, headed to class

Abbey wouldn't look at me so she got cut out of the picture.....she snuck into the corner. :)

Lea and her friend Laura Lisonbee (they sat by each other for one day.......Lea was moved back a row because there was a newer student to the class). I was quickly informed (because I told her to be careful not to get in trouble for talking) that she was moved for the new student and not because they were talking. :)

One last picture - BYE LEA!!!! :)

Monday, August 2, 2010

Oh what do you do in the Summertime?

We go to the pool!!! It's actually been a very nice summer here - not too hot. Yes temps have reached over 100, but nothing like we've seen in the past where temps have been over 115 for days on end. We have a couple monsoons and enjoyed some cooler, humid temps. We are normally not around for July so that was a switch for us too - no family vacations, Twin Lakes or any other traveling was done - except for one trip to Vegas for a few days.

I signed up Lea and Lucas for swim lessons at a local pool - El Prado. I was a little nervous, but it was a lot of fun! Abbey and I played in the zero depth part of the pool while the kids had lessons, then we stayed after to play as they were the last lessons and the pool was then open to the public. We'd eat lunch, play and go home for naps. 8 weeks! And you'd think we would have walked away with better tans......but we didn't. Instead we used about 9 bottles of sunscreen. :)

You'll notice a couple things here: one at the top right - Lucas being assisted off the board....he refused to swim the first session (the day he turned 4....), moved him up to level 2 and he suddenly became Michael Phelps and had no fear of swimming or jumping off the board. Even Jeff got in on the diving board action. There were sunny days and the very last day was Lea's birthday and it was super cloudy - the pool actually closed early because of possible monsoon weather. Abbey and her friend Sadie looking out the rod-iron fence....cute friends. We'll be back next year! Great teachers and lots of friends!

A couple videos:






Beckers Backyard:
We drove out to see our people who moved to Gilbert and enjoy their backyard pool. I stayed clear of the action and tried not to get motion sickness from all the "waves". Fun times at Frys Marketplace - so awesome! :) Jeff does a belly flop after they (Geoff and Jeff) threw a few too many kids into belly flops. Luke the shirtless wonder - he was so happy to go without his sun shirt (6 pm) and his cannon ball; Abbey actually playing with her daddy. :) They swam non-stop!


Chandler Aquatic Center: I love this place - we went a couple times last year, but had not made it this year. We went for the 24th of July with Palfreemans and Whettens.

What the pictures don't tell: Imagine an audible "girlie" gasp from the 2 crazies (Jeff and Scott) doing 'dives' off the high dive. :) Lea went off the high dive - unfortunately, I missed the in between photo of diving board to splash..... there was no convincing her to go back either, but I was very impressed she went at all.

When not at the pool - it's been really hot to just play outside, but we got the bikes out and even exercised with Dad - trying to be healthy!!!


Bob and Jillian (Biggest Loser Wii workout) - watch out - future trainers in training!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

It's always fun when daddy's home

Brought to you by the architectural stylings of Jeff: THE FORT
The beginning stages.

Party while daddy works to make it the "Coolest Place to be"

Long enough for Jeff to lie down, tall enough for Abbey to walk and room enough for all of us!
A little place to hang out and play. (Notice Lea's "teeth") :)

CHEESE!


The designer and creator himself. I think he really made the fort so he could move the couch closer to the TV - about 5 feet away. 

IN - crawling under the kitchen chairs to get in.

And OUT: This is the way the "big kids" get in/out - we don't fit well under the kitchen chairs......

Abbey and Daddy - he ROCKS!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Lea and friends

Party sponsored by Tink and Friends - Lea turns 7!!! (7/29/10)

We had Lea's birthday 'friends' party the week before her birthday since school was starting 3 days after her birthday. Planned for a water party thinking it was July and going to be HOT. Turns out we picked the only weekend of monsoons. :) But the party must go on and the girls had a great time. (so much quieter than Lucas' party.... :)) She wanted to do the same thing as Luke, but we chose a Tink theme instead, but had the same menu: homemade pizza, fruit, chips, cupcakes all around!

Thank you to Lea's friends for coming - she had a lot of fun and it's great to see all these friends we don't get to see on a regular basis. You can see it's cloudy and the girls are a little cold playing in the water, but that didn't stop them from using the slip n' slide and water balloons.


On her birthday: last day of swim lessons, meet the teacher and dinner at Panda Express. Jeff even took the day off to spend with the family - have I mentioned I really enjoy his new job and the hours and availability he has to take days off........family life is so much better!!!
Panda Express
me and mini-me :)
me and my munchkins

Our fortunes: (left side down): Lea, Lucas, Abbey
right side down: mine, Jeff
Seriously....is it so difficult to take a decent photo!?
the infamous Risenmay wrapping - layer upon layer of wrapping newspaper........
Her very own CD player/stereo!!!!

Happy birthday Sweet Lea!!! :)

Thursday, July 22, 2010

A little entertainment

The video from the campout - as promised and something to lighten the mood. :)
From left to right: Scott Bowen, Jake Findlay, Jeff, Adam Durda, Craig Allen.......shake it till all the ping pong balls fall out - you have...... "A Minute to Win it!"