Chihuly

While we were in Phoenix there happened to be a Chahuly show at the Desert Botanical garden near my parents house. We met up with a friend from my high school years. It was nice to see Barbara again.

The glass mixed in with the cacti was amazing to see.


This was my favorite piece of artwork. It was much more stunning in person.

The garden also had a butterfly tent that we were able to experience.

When we weren't swimming

The boys were working in the alley. My dad is putting in a wall of dirt to catch water from the irrigation to water the orange tree hedge.

My dad rented this tractor to move dirt.

Here is dad hard at work!

While the boys were working the girls were getting their nails done. Well, I did not go, but Kira, Kate, Olivia, Val, Barbie and Mimi went.


The Wilsons hike Camelback Mountain a few times. I wanted to go, but it is still hard to get away from my babies.

Spring Break

We spent Spring Break in Phoenix. The Wilsons were there to enjoy the sun with us!

We had to go swimming every day. The kids had SO much fun. They feel very comfortable in the water. When we go back in the summer I am going to sign the kids up for swim lessons.



I am so grateful to Kate for helping me with my kids. She spent many hours in the pool with Chloë.

The hammock was also a big hit. After exhausting themselves in the pool, the kids would relax in the hammock.

Thirty Something

Daniel and Tom (Mandy's husband, Miles' dad) both turned 31 and 32. On the 16th.
We decided to have a trampoline party.


Everyone had a great time!

I am grateful for all the fun friends we have!

Daniel and Andrea's birthday dinner

It is that time of year. Birthdays are beginning.
Andrea and Daniel had their birthdays last week.

Here is Chloë with the birthday girl!

Happy birthday Daniel. Lula still has her big eyes, but she is growing into them.

Here is Uncle David. He will be staying with us until he has some money saved up to take care of himself in Oregon.

On Daniel's birthday we had doughnuts! YUMMY!

Well, we really did it this time!!

We drove two cars to church and came home at different times(not a big deal,right). As I pulled into the driveway a friend called me. She said she saw Chloë walking up and down the hall by the primary room(big deal, right). So I turned around and went back to church to pick up my girl.

Hopefully, she will not remember this! We love you Chloë.

What we do on Saturday

I made one of Sam's friend a tutu for her birthday.
Chloë was trying it on for me.


While I was sewing the kids helped clean up the house.

sleep my little babies

You would think that at 10:30pm Sam would be asleep in his bed. . . wrong.
For a split second I felt the panic. Then I looked in the bathroom. I have found him sleeping in the bathroom a few times. But he was not there. I looked at Daniel looked. He just smiled. So I looked in the crib...

He was sleeping in with Lula! Cute babies!!

Mandy

About 2 weeks ago we found out one of my friends, Mandy, might have some sort of cancer. After several appointments and 2 weeks of waiting, the good news is in. She has Hodgkins Lymphoma. That is a type of cancer, but it is the most treatable type of cancer. She should be fully recovered in 4-6 months. We are all thankful that our prayers have been answered.

I was talking to Mandy this morning about all the "BAD" things that happen or will happen to each of us. I believe our attitude towards these trials determines whether we feel like these trials are devastating (or not). I am grateful for a perspective on life that does not just include the time between birth and death.

This is why we love Phoenix

work, work, work

Before we could play we had to pick 2 grapefruit trees.

My dad has a pretty good system. After 30 + years of handing the fruit down like this. . . he realized their was a better way.

He would stand on the ladder and toss the grapefruit onto this sponge pad and the kids would pick up the fruit off the ground. This way the fruit would not break open and it was faster to put in the boxes.


Even Chloë was a good little helper.

Butch, uh I mean Uncle Jon

This is Dad's older brother, Jon. Dad always called him Butch, until his wife said, "His name is Jon." Well, that was the end to that tradition. Dad and his brother were always very close growing up. (Jon just told me that he and Dad never went to the same school) It sounded like they had a lot of adventures. One time Dad was climbing a tree and it was time to go. So Jon said, "Jump down." Dad did. Then he threw up on the neighbor boy's shoes because it was a far jump and it hurt so bad when Dad landed. But then they ran off and continued to play.

Dad's dad (and his dad)were civil engineers and so was Jon. My dad is an electrical engineer. He always wanted one of his girls to be an engineer, but he is still proud of us. Maybe Sam will carry on the tradition.

Grandma Mimi

Mimi got this new chair for Christmas. I think it is nice because now she can sit up more to talk with people. Before she would lay on the couch all day.

Mimi and my mother have scoliosis. This causes all sorts of pain from nerves being pinched to the rib cage being compressed and on and on. My mom had surgery when she was a young girl to fuse her lower vertebra together.

This is Auntie Pat, Mimi's sister. When my mom was growing up many people thought Aunt Pat was my mom's mom.

We are on vacation

I am usually pretty strict about putting my kids to bed early, but I am easing up! Thank goodness. We had to pick Kira's mom up at the train station at 8:30pm. So we decided to go to Sea Port Village and ride the merry-go-round.