Turkey Weekend

We had a great Thanksgiving. The kids were in heaven with the Utah cousins to play with. Thankfully our hotel wasn't too full so they would run back and forth from room to room and didn't bother anyone. Despite the cold weather, we played at the park, went swimming and attended the Live Nativity at Tuacahn Amphitheater. I didn't take many pics, but here are a few.

There was this old man resembling Santa that came and got in the hot tub to read a book with all of the kids. Tricia and I were cracking up watching all of the kids staring with mouths wide open at "Santa."

On the way home we stopped at Jacob's Lake to let the kids play in the snow. These poor deprived kids only see snow about once a year so we thought we would live it up for a minute.

So nice to be back home in our own beds with warmer (although cold for AZ!) weather.

I wanted to type up a "thankful post," but time ran out and we are headed out of town to St George, Utah for the holiday. I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving. I know we will... if we don't freeze to death when we get there! I sure don't miss living in the cold :(.

Annual Trip to Yuma

Last week we took our Annual Trip to Yuma to visit my snowbirding grandparents. Grandma Bev had driven them down from Wyoming so we needed to pick her up and bring her home. The kids prefer to go in the Spring when they can pick citrus off of the trees, but I know they still had a great time.

Kenyon was able to dig in the dirt





Maya got to strike some poses

Devin got into everything and occasionally just happily played with toys

The group shot

Kenyon called Grandpa "The Grumpy Grandpa" the whole time which cracked us all up. Grandpa can't hear too well so Kenyon thinks he is just ignoring him when really Grandpa can't hear Kenyon talking. Grandma makes up for it because as we were pulling in he asked what kind of candy Grandma would have. He knows she never lets his sweet tooth down!

See you for Christmas, Grandpa and Grandma!

Picnic Lunch

This week we had an extra kiddo staying with us. She was 4 years old and the kids had a blast with her. I, however, forgot how much different it is to be back to 4 kids (How did I do 5 kids all summer?!) so one day I announced we were having a picnic at the park and we were off. I kept them there for 2 hours. They exclaimed it was the best day ever and I think it was a good 2 hour break for Mama too.

Kenyon's Thoughts on How the Baby will Come Out...

"When are we going to open it [my belly]? Do we have to get a magician to bring his wand and "poof" it open? Then he will "poof" it closed. Mommy, the sparkle won't hurt you."

Another day:

"Is your tummy ready to crack open yet?"

Someone got his 1st haircut...

and he is still the cutest stinker around!

Sighting

Have you ever seen a scorpion? If not, check out this link. I couldn't bear to post a pic of the ugly creature that we found in our garage on this here blog.

I know scorpions exist in Arizona.

I know scorpions exist in our neighborhood.

I know that scorpions do NOT exist on my street, in my yard or in my house...

until tonight!

I was pulling in the garage and I saw it on the wall in front of me. I immediately called Jeremy (who was inside the house) and told him to come to the garage right now. He later informed me that he thought someone had died. By the time he came down, the little rascal was gone. I told him he must find it...

He found a cricket and thought for sure I had mistaken the cricket for a scorpion. I knew I had seen a scorpion all right. We go scorpion hunting in my parents' neck of the woods so I have seen plenty of them to know that I can't mistake that eery creature for a cricket.

So he kept searching and searching and finally he found it. It was hiding under a box right down from the wall I had seen him on. The box was recently put in our garage by Jeremy. He brought the box home from a job site. It is full of miscellaneous work stuff. I am 100% confident that the box also contained the scorpion. He was a transport. We are not raising scorpions here on Kiva Avenue and if I find out we are, I will be out of here faster than you can google pics of scorpions.

Enough said.

Look Who Turns 1 Today!

Today is Devin's day. I can't believe a year ago we were in Georgia meeting this little guy and spending time with his birthfamily. It seems like just yesterday.

Devin has such a calm, easy going demeanour. He has been such a good eater, sleeper and just all round good baby. He needed to be, with baby J only 10 months older and that monster big brother of his.

Things I love about Devin right now:

-The way he waves his arm out of control to say "bye-bye"

-How he holds up one finger when we ask him how hold he is

-The wet juicy kisses he gives me

-His crazy, curly hair

-When he signs "more" or "all done" at mealtime

-He sleeps 12+ hours a night

-That we call him "Diddy" because Kenyon started calling him that and when we had foster brother D, their names were too close to the same... D left, but Diddy's name remains

-How he laughs constantly, even when I just look at him with a silly face

-How he says "uh-uh" and looks right at me when he is getting into something he knows he is not supposed to

-Those dark brown eyes and never-ending lashes

-His soft cheeks that I kiss over and over

We had a small family party to celebrate. He was too busy flirting with the camera to care about his presents...

So these 3 opened/fought over the presents

Then it was time for cupcakes


We love you Devin!

Preggo Mamas

This is my sister-in-law Camille and I.

She is due in 3 weeks. I am due is 3 1/2 months. On certain days (depending on what we are wearing), people have claimed (myself included) that I am larger than her. No doubt about it... when I am at her stage with just 3 weeks left, I will be.

Can't wait to see these 2 boy cousins wrecking havoc together!

Visit from Baby J

Last weekend we were able to watch Baby J for a couple of hours. The kids were really excited to see her again and she was happy to be back.


They played and played and then she went home with her new Mommy and Daddy for naptime. It is so nice that she is still so close by and we can keep in contact. As much as we love her, it was a good reminder that she is right where she belongs in her new home. She seems so calm and content being an only child with parents that can smother her with attention at all hours of the day and night.

2 for 1

Love it when I only have to push one swing instead of two

Just For You Grandma

My grandma called last night requesting pics of me and my belly for her and the relatives to see that don't reside here in Arizona. What grandma wants, grandma gets:

23 weeks and counting! Still no name.

Winter Layer

Kenyon lost his Winter fur this weekend and it is not even Winter yet. He found some scissors Maya had left out on the counter after she was done with her craft and cut a chunk of his hair off. He HATES to get his hair cut, so naturally we chose to cut his hair. He screamed and cried and may he always remember that little boys that cut their own hair, have to get a hair cut by dad. Lesson learned? I doubt it!

I sure hope we have a mild Winter so his head doesn't get too cold :).

Good thing he looks cute with long or short hair...