While I was away

You know things were rough when Jer sent me this text:

Maya had poured Grandma's perfume on her head and so he had to take her braids out to wash out the smell. (Can you tell it was past bedtime in the picture and she was trying to keep her eyes open to finish her movie?!)

And then he sent this picture:

What a guy! He can twist AND even add beads.

As for my trip - it could have been the hardest thing I have ever done and continues to be. Elise is not well. She is back in the hospital. Her girls are coming to Phoenix to stay with our friend Kiara. I will also help her care for them. Please keep everyone involved, especially Elise, in your prayers.

A New President

I am not into politics... at all.

But it was a really special thing to tell Maya when the inauguration cut into Sesame Street this morning that a new President was being sworn in and he has brown skin like her and Kenyon.

And she just insisted that daddy is in charge, not a President. Someday she will be very grateful for today.

I loved this collage from Yahoo News!

Random Thoughts

1 - We celebrated MLK Jr Day by going to the parade in downtown Mesa and then lovin' on Chris and Auburn's new baby. Isn't she delicious?!

2 - I have been in a bloggin' rut since the holidays. Nothing much to blog about. I have not even been reading blogs faithfully. Sure hope I snap out of this soon!

3 - Speaking of other people's blogs, does it seem that everyone is going private these days?! I feel all sort of pressure to go private, but then I remember my dear sweet Grandma Huba and there is no way she could figure it all out - luv ya Grandma! :)

4 - Kenyon and I are leaving on a jet plane to California on Wednesday. My dear friend Elise has been diagnosed with cancer and we are going to help with her recovery and take care of her darling little girls. They are the same age as my kiddos. I am sure Kenyon will be extra helpful in making sure the girls learn how to hit, kick, bite, push, throw food, eat dirt and all of those other "boy things" he does! :)

All kidding aside, I can't wait to get there and serve Elise. She is constantly in my thoughts and prayers and I have felt so helpless for the last month not being there to do anything. Please join me in praying for her and her girls. She is going to beat this cancer and she can only do it with our love, support and prayers!

Future Rockstars

We met up with friends and family for Grandma Bev's birthday lunch this week. After eating, we let the kids dance on the stage there. They loved it and danced forever!


(Notice Maya is in summer clothes that are too small?! I am cleaning out closets and she found this outfit and threw it on. Good thing it ended up being in the 70s! :)

Take a bow!

Just talking about their next gig...

Kenyon

There are times during the day that this toddler makes me want to scream!!!! And then there are other times where I am amazed by how he is learning and growing.

This morning:

Kenyon: "Dadda?"
Mommy: "He is at work."
Kenyon: "Maya?"
Mommy: "She is still sleeping." (Where everyone should be at 6:30 am!!)
Kenyon: "Ho Ho?"
Mommy: "He is at the North Pole."

And then it starts over:

Kenyon: "Dadda?"
Mommy: "He is at work."
Kenyon: "Maya?"
Mommy: "She is still sleeping."
Kenyon: "Ho Ho?"
Mommy: "He is at the North Pole."

I love his curiosity. I love the repetition at this age.

Some other words/phrases he is saying that make me smile:

*Hi mommy

*Share (he comes and tells me this after he has shared so I will tell him good job)

*Here you go Aya (in a jumbled set of words! :)

*Yes please

*No thank you

*uh uh please

*Aya's car seat (when he wants to sit in her seat instead of his)

*Airplane (always pointing these out to us)

I love this kid!

The Party

Maya decorated the house with some crazy crepe paper

Daddy came in and was attacked by his kids with Happy Birthday loves

Wings were eaten (that girl LOVES wings)

Candles were blown out

And then again

A good party was had.

30 Years

Happy 30th Birthday to Jeremy! The years have treated you well. You have a little less hair, but a lot more wisdom and patience. You are an amazing daddy and an even more amazing husband. Thank you for taking care of our family and encouraging me in all I do.

He is celebrating with an afternoon massage and a dinner at home of pizza and wings followed by a shared birthday cake with Grandma Bev whose birthday is tomorrow.

Happy Birthday babe!

I'm Back

Christmas is taken down, preschool is back in session, playdates are planned - we are back in our groove. The holidays were fun, but I missed our life! Things were so chaotic that I felt like I rarely even made dinner for my family. I guess Maya noticed too because as I was putting tonight's dinner in the crockpot this morning, she asked, "Who is sick?"

"No one... why?" I responded.

"Who are you making dinner for?" She asked.

While I am flattered that she sees me serving others with meals, I was a little offended that she thinks I only cook when making dinner for others. Time to get back in the kitchen again!

And here is a picture of the cousins swimming while Riley and Tricia's family were here. We had so much fun! Grandpa and Grandma even kept all 7 grandkids one night so the adult kids could go out to dinner. They looked pretty worn out afterwards!

Happy New Year!

We rang in the New Year with some family fun at Bounce U and then some late night games and laughs with Kellen and Camille, Nana, Grandpa and Aunt Tiff. This was the first year in a while that I have still been awake at midnight. Lots of fun!

Cousins came into town yesterday so Maya was in heaven running around with Chelsey

And now there are some other boys around to play trucks with Kenyon

I think the big kids had the most fun...

And somewhere between this dive (by yours truly)


And this slide

I ended up with this nasty burn on my face. All well worth it to be a part of the undefeated couple team - Jer and I rocked Kellen and Camille several times!

Today we went to Goldfield Ghost Town for some mining town fun.

A little train ride

Some time in the slammer

A shoot out

Too noisy for Maya


Kenyon was just happy there was plenty of dirt there to play with

Goodbye 2008 - Hello 2009!