Some more updating

Madisons orchestra concert. Shes getting really good.

Madison went to Lake Pleasant for her main 6th Grade field trip she had a blast. She said there was ton of wild life and it taught her a lot about Arizona.

Finally Updating!!!!!

Liams birhtday party was all the way in october. It was pumpkin themed we played some pumpkin games, painted some pumpkins it was really fun.

Got rocky the best dog but the smallest. We got rocky the day after Christmas. We got him from Jeannie and Jared. They got Rocky for there Daughter for Christmas . But we ended up getting him after all. He was a good dog and everything exept he was way to small and couldnt go outside. So now he is sadly gone.

Summer Swim Lessons

Every summer I sign the kids up for swim lessons at Taylor Jr. High. This year Madison did diving and Liam continued in swim lessons. They both really enjoyed it and we are hoping that they are able to do it again next summer. For those of you don't know they want to close the pool at Taylor and so we might not be able to walk down to lessons next summer. Anyhow, it was a great way to stay cool in our extreme heat!




Madison improved on her diving and is learning how to do harder dives now.

Liam has decided that he loves swimming for exercise. We go to the pool all the time in the afternoons just to get cool and he tries to swim laps so that he can get stronger. I hope that he develops a desire to be a healthy and active kid, I try to set a good example. It is funny because he will try to flex his muscles and he is convinced that he is quite buff:).

Madison's 11th Birthday

Madison has officially turned 11!!! I can't believe that she is 11 and going into 6th grade. It seems that it is at this age that you really start to make memories. I can remember a lot from that age on, but not so much before that. Madison is such a confident, beautiful young girl. She had a great birthday and this year she asked for donuts instead of a cake. She has decided that she doesn't like cake anymore. So here she is blowing out her 11 candles on her birthday donut.


Having a summer birthday usually means that some of your friends are out of town. That is what has happened in the past years, but not this year. Madison had a grand total of 15 friends over for her birthday. I don't think I had half that many friends when I was her age. It is funny to see her and her friends grow up.


Happy Birthday Madison!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

This past Memorial Day Weekend my brother invited us up to his wife's family cabin. It was so nice. It was rainy and cool and I had to wear a jacket all the time. Of course, anybody that knows me knows that I get cold easily. I forgot to pack a jacket and so I had to borrow one. Thankfully I remembered to pack warm clothes for the kids.

Ella really loved the hammock. The kids liked to push each other in it.

I think that Ella looks older in this picture. I don't know what it is, but she just looks different.

Here I am with the kids roasting marshmallows. I have great memories of camping with my family and roasting marshmallows. I was suppose to be on a diet that weekend but I did a lot of cheating.

In Showlow there is this really nice park that has a lake in the middle of it and there is a paved path that goes all the way around. We all walked around the lake and the kids got to see some birds and even a snake.

Ella's 2nd Birthday

Ella is going to be a great mother some day. She doesn't give her baby bottles, she likes to nurse them:) Jamie finally remembered to take a picture of her doing it at her little birthday party.


We got a quick family photo. We got a new fancy camera that Jamie has been trying to figure out. So now we are getting lots of pictures of the kids.



I was really busy at the end of April so we wound up celebrating Ella's birthday late. I figured she didn't know the difference. Here she is with her very own cupcake. I can't believe it has been two years already. WOW, how time flies.

The Pianist

Madison has been taking piano for the last several years. She has really started to improve and still enjoys doing it. Her Aunt Kristen is her piano teacher and knows how to motivate Madison. She had her recital in May.


Madison is such a poser!! The child loves to have her picture taken.

Madison got to play a duet with Kristen. I was really proud of her.

My Baseball Player!

I am finally getting around to posting the pictures of Liam playing baseball. He had a rough start, but as the season went on he got much better at batting (now we just need to work on catching and paying attention). He really liked it and wants to play again next year. It was really great because he had two of his friends on his team and we were able to carpool.



I thought I did a good job catching this action shot.

He is getting so big. Liam is going into first grade, I can't believe it!!!

Spring time!

I am doing a new post aren't you proud of me. Now that it is spring time the kids are all busy with sports and Ella got invited to a spring party at her friend Ethan's house.


Madison up to bat at her fast pitch softball game. This is her first year playing softball and she seems to be enjoying it. She hasn't hit the ball at a game yet, she keeps getting walked. It is fun for me to see her enjoy sports. Liam is playing coach pitch baseball too, but I haven't remembered to bring the camera to his game yet. When I do I'll post pictures of him.


Here is Ella at her friend Ethan's spring party. They had a petting zoo and Ella took awhile to warm up to the animals. There were baby chicks and baby ducks. The animals were so cute.



They had baby bunnies and I was able to hold one so that Ella could pet it. I use to have a bunny when I was young so it was fun for me too.

Ella goes to her first play!

For those of you who don't know I was in drama in high school. Since high school I have had very few opportunities to enjoy theater shows. So when a friend invited Ella and me to see the Velveteen Rabbit at the Tempe Arts Center I was excited but a little nervous on how Ella would do. I am glad to say that Ella made it through all but the last 15 minutes. The theater offered a room that you could take noisy children to where you could still watch the play but it was sound proof so no one could hear your child (you could still hear the play through speakers). It was a good time!



We got Ethan and Ella to hold hands. Ethan is one month younger then Ella.



If you notice in Ella's mouth there is something. I am sorry to admit that Ella has taken a liking to gum and I bribed her with some gum to stay quiet at the end of the play!

I'm Finally UPdating!

Ok so I'm not that good at the whole blogging thing. I had great intentions of posting all the time so that family and friends would know what was going on over here, but a little thing called life has been keeping me busy. I have started my own preschool and have 19 kids enrolled this year. I was truly blessed to get that many kiddo's the first year. I have also taken on three tutoring students that I help with different subjects. I also am still working on my Master's and will be done next December. Other than those things along with being a mom, wife and fullfilling church callings I have had nothing to do. I am just going to put up some random photos of the family since it has been so long since I last posted. I will try to do better and post more often.

Family Get Together

It was my dad's 65th birthday on the 13th. We had a small family reunion in Utah to celebrate. The kids and I went up and stayed with Heather and her family. William and his wife and their baby Makenzie was there too. Michael couldn't get permission to come because he had some type of military training to do, but his wife Sabrina and their baby Chloe came up. My cousin and his family live in Salt Lake so they came over for dinner on my dad's actual birthday. It was fun getting everyone together. Maybe next time we can have Michael and Christopher there too!

Trying to Enjoy the Summer

It is so bloody hot that the only way to stay cool is to find some water to play in. Madison got a slip-n-slide for her birthday and I finally set it up for them on the 4th of July!



Liam trying out the new slip-n-slide!



Madison surfin' on her feet!


It's a race!



Liam at swimming lessons. He has really improved. At the beginning of summer he had forgotten how to swim, but it didn't take long for him to remember again.

Family snapshots

Jamie's sister Camille took some snapshots of the family this week. Thought I would share them with you all.


Ella is 14 months old now! Isn't she cute!


Liam thinks that this is an Indiana Jones costume. He likes to use a belt as his whip. Indiana Jones is his new thing that he is into.


Madison is getting so grown up! She already acts like a teenager so I think I am pretty much doomed when she really is one.


I've got squinty eyes in this picture, but it was one of the better ones that she took of me so it gets the honor of being put on my blog.


Jamie loves music and he bought this organ at a garage sale.

Madison's Birthday

Madison had a Camp Rock themed birthday because the movie debuted on her actual birthday. I was surprised to find cups, plates, and a table cloth in the theme. Her friends watched the movie, did kareoke, and DDR. They seemed to have a good time.






Madison is really into Webkinz. She got four new ones for her birthday. She loves anything that has to do with animals. Unfortunately for her she might only get to take care of virtual pets since her father is not an animal person.

I love my kids!

I know everyone thinks their kids are cute, but mine really are! Madison just recently had her 10th birthday and she has grown up so much. She is all about clothes, hair, music and friends already. I think I could be in trouble with her when she becomes a teenager. Liam is much more reserved then his older sister. He is happy to play by himself and hang out at home. He will be starting kindergarten this fall and is already reading and phonetically writing. I think that school will come easy to him. Then there is little Ella. Everyone is so surprised how little she is, but don't let her size fool you. She is a wild one. She started taking steps at 8 months and was running by 9 1/2 months! She is also very sensitive and makes the cutest pucker face when she is sad and about to cry. Unfortunately she has earned the honor of being my most difficult baby. I am still struggling with getting her to sleep through the night, she simply refuses. Despite the challenges of being a mom, I love it. They keep me on my toes but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Disneyland! Whoo Hoo!

The family decided to take a trip to Disneyland this past Memorial Day weekend! We had a lot of fun and Grandma was nice enough to tag-a-long and help with Ella (That is why Ella isn't in the picture, she's waiting with Grandma). Madison's favorite rides were Indiana Jones and Space Mountain. Liam was finally tall enough to go on Indiana Jones this year, but wound up not liking the ride. He was scared by all the skeleton bones. He liked Splash Mountain the best.

Madison and Liam were picked to go up and do Jedi training at Disneyland. When they were "training" them Liam looked totally confused and was always at least three steps behind where he was suppose to be. However, they both were able to battle and defeat Darth Mal. It was a lot of fun to watch them up there.