Melissa's Birthday

I can't believe I HAVE AN 18 YEAR OLD! Really? Where did the time go? She made me a mom. She was my first everything. First child to care for, bath, feed, potty train, send to kindergarten, become a big sister, cry over a boy, play in a sport, get in BiG trouble, drive a car, go on a date, and finish high school. The list goes on and on and on. She has been a wonderful daughter for 18 years and has given me everything that any mother would dream of but I must say that I am having anxiety over her flying the coop. I'm not real sure how this whole college thing will go and in a way I want her to stay right here next to me. I know it can't be THAT hard, I mean it happens everyday. Then why does it feel so traumatic at the same time. I really want her to experience all the wonderful things in life that being an adult has. The freedom she will experience and the loneliness without her family too. I just hope that she will be in a good place with good people to fill the void and like Brian wrote in her birthday card, something about flying the coop but remaining a pigeon for now, returning often, to become an eagle later. (It was cute) We took her to The Cottage Place restaurant which is a place only reserved for special occasions since it is pretty pricey. She had just been sick with strep throat for 24 hours before that so we weren't even sure if she was up for it. We are planning a party here with some of her friends hopefully soon. Her cheer squad made it to nationals so they are busy fund raising for a trip and she just had finals which she completed the semester with straight A's again. I am so extremely proud of her and know that wherever life takes her she will make the best of it and be a success. Happy 18th birthday Melissa we all love you so much!

Trenton's birthday 2011

blowing out the candles

Natalie took some great pictures at the party.

I call these "spongebob" teeth

Zane ready to go up trusting me with the ropes

this is over 45 ft up...crazy!

look at all these cute boys!

the guys there said Trenton has some "natural" talent

the "bellayers" is that a word??

Claire getting in on the action

Where did the TIME go? We just celebrated Trenton's 9th birthday party and it was a blast. I told him he could only invite a few friends since it was pretty pricey at Vertical Relief in Flagstaff. I thought I was going to be sitting there watching all these little guys climb up and down but boy was I wrong! I was wearing heels too and was told I would need to learn to" ballay" I was like, "uh, what?" thinking "hey I am paying for all these kids to do this and you are making me work?" so at first I had a crappy attitude but then I was thrilled that I learned and accomplished a new skill. I really enjoyed being the person at the bottom hold threading and "bellaying" ha ha! We had a great time and would love to go back as a family now that Melissa and Brian know how to do it too. Happy Birthday Trenton. We all LOVE you so much!

Christmas 2010

Natalie and Trenton.....so cute!

Alex and Melissa

Claire being comforted by Grandpa

Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus and a donkey....ha ha

Claire showing Zane some LOVE

Zane helping to decorate the tree

This Christmas we spent at home. We haven't done this in our entire married life. One year we did have Christmas morning here and left for the valley right after but this year we stayed home for Christmas eve and Christmas day and even a few days after! It was really nice to experience a regular Christmas letting the kids enjoy their morning and play with the things they received. I did miss some of the holiday traditions that we are so used to participating in with Brian's family. Every year they have a Christmas eve get together where many talents from members of the family are shared like playing the piano to singing a song, etc. Luke 2 is always read with the kids dressed up as people out of the bible that were present the night of Christ's birth. We did this too this year and it was just as special. Claire had a baby Jesus tied to her and I had to chuckle when someone asked her "where is baby Jesus?" and she looked up to the ceiling and all around. My parents came up from Gilbert and stayed the night with us which is a big thing for them as the altitude up here bothers my dad and the stairs are pretty steep for a couple of senior citizens to climb. They helped get a turkey and all the fixings ready for dinner that night. My mom helped with all the tables and the decorations. There were a total of 19 people eating and it was great. Melissa invited her boyfriend Alex and his family over and we had a family from church join us too. It was a great Christmas and New years which we spent at The Checks annual Casino Party. One word...WOW! it was amazing!!

Best Friend cruise 2010

Our first port "Progresso" (pretty windy) also had the

most annoying peddlers EVER!

Our door decorated with pictures...awww.

A day at sea..so relaxing by the pool with awesome Carribbean band

Love this picture of my BFF!

Some of the food and beverages in Cozumel.

Who looks this good at 40? Tiffanee does!

I think I have a "tan" or is that a sunburn?

writing fun stuff in the sand

nothing feels better than this!

yeah thats my fat behind running down the beach

I have definitely been a "blog slacker" since my last post. I wanted to write about my trip with my best childhood friend. We met when my family and hers lived on Bell Circle in Huntington Beach California when I was only 4 years old. We were best friends doing everything from making forts to me teaching her to ride a bike to "big wheels" in the rain and playing "Charlie's Angels" and so many many more great memories. When I was 9 my family moved to Canyon Lake and we remained friends thanks to great parents who kept us in touch with each other and would meet half way to get us together. Soon enough we were adults and we continued to remain best friends. Even though we had our own struggles and differences throughout our friendship we have put those aside and remembered what friendship is really about. I tell my children all the time that as you grow up many different friends will come and go but if you keep 1 good friend from it throughout your life you are truly blessed. I can say that I have 3 really good friends that I have kept in contact with and I think friendship is one of God's great gifts. I am thankful for each and everyone of them and the bond that we share.

So a few months ago my best friend Tiffanee and I decided to plan a cruise together. (Dec. 11-16) We found one out of Galveston since she is chicken to "fly" and we got the cheapest one available...literally the bottom, very back right next to the "wave breaker" which made noise ALL night long! WE could have been in the broom closet and would have had a great time anyways! We went to Progresso which wasn't the best port but Cozumel was absolutely beautiful and we had a great day at the beach...that is another post all on it's own! (what a story!) I had so much fun and can't wait to plan our next adventure! I love her so much and am so thankful that she has been my bestest friend in the whole world for over 36 years!