Traveling Friends

July 23, 20141 Comment

My friend Beth M always catogorizes friends into three groups: friends, good friends and friends you would travel with. The last group is the biggest complement because it means that you like your friend enough to spend tons of time together for days on end.

We are so lucky that we have lots of friends that fall into that last catagory. And this summer, we were lucky enough to have our friends, the D family, came to visit us in Montana. As if we couldn’t love this family more, after sharing a glass of wine in Big Sky Country really put it over the top.

One of the best parts of having them visit was that their daughter, Morgan, shacked up in Baylor and Auggie’s room each night. And they. all. slept. Like all night. So clearly we have to move in together.

We did a little of everything – rafting, hiking (well, tried to, that’s a long story), Yellowstone Park, roamed around Livingston, and just enjoyed laughing with each other. It was a fantastic week!

I can’t stand this picture. It kills me. The girls are THRILLED to be playing the hardest game of Go Fish (no numbers, only names, they can’t read. You get the picture.) ever and Jeff is physically in pain over it. I’m laughing as I type.

I’m not sure what this is about…but I like it

Someone finally finally won the game and put poor Jeff out of his misery

More to come on our Griswald-esk trip through Yellowstone National Park.

America the Beautiful

July 18, 2014July 17, 20141 Comment

All American 4th of July 2014

Small town parade….

Rodeo…where the only limit on the number of beers you can purchase is how many you can carry

I’ve got some work to do on high speed low light pictures….

Fireworks, pig roast, family and friends

‘Merica

(Did you notice Baylor’s missing tooth?! More on that later when I can stop crying…)

Loving Cousin Z time

There was much controversy brewing over the ring in my back pocket. Anywhere else? No one would notice. In MT? Everyone things I’ve taking up dipping…I assured everyone it was my lens cap, not a can of tobacco!

We did discover that Auggs is not a big fan of fireworks. But he was a trooper and agreed to watch them from inside so there’s hope he’ll be with Peter on the fire duty in the future!

Ride ’em Cowgirl

July 15, 2014July 15, 20141 Comment

The first week we arrived in MT, Baylor was scheduled for riding lessons with a friend’s wife. She is a teacher and she and her family have an arena and a pony perfect for lessons. I skipped the first lesson and I was totally shocked at the second lesson how amazing she did! Our friend, Carolyn, also noted that she seemed like a natural. She has a calm yet excited respect for the horse, Duke. She listened to everything Carolyn told her and she did each action, even the scary ones, happily. I’m excited to find her a stable at home and keep up her skills. Can’t wait until we can go out for rides together.

Leading Duke to the arena

Each lesson starts with her turning herself around in her saddle while Duke is lead by Carolyn. It is to teach balance and this kid must have been a cat in another life because she does this like she’s done it every day of her life!

You gotta love having a school teacher teaching riding. Carolyn put the letters of her name on signs around the arena and B had to ride Duke to each letter in order.

In just three lessons she had Duke in a trot and was neck reining all around the arena! I’m guessing by the end of the month she’ll be jumping him over obstacles…

This Guy

June 19, 2014Leave a comment

As everyone within ear shot knew, I was not too thrilled about this guy becoming our newest pet. It was nothing personal, I just didn’t need another being to look after, care for and clean up after. Oh and the hair. The hair! I did not need the hair.

But….as we close in on Mac’s first birthday, I have to admit, he’s pretty great. I got the pick of the litter and I chose him because I could hang him upside down over my head and he laid loosely in my hands and stared at me. I thought if he can handle that calmly, then he might make it at our house. And thankfully, his nature is as mellow today as it was then.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There has been some serious work that went into this guy – but to have your 5 year old be able to walk the 60lbs nine month old lab around the block? Totally worth all the effort. And we have the amazing DaCoda to thank for it! Call her at Paws and Effect Training 480-577-6043. She’s worth her weight in gold! Or dog treats. Either way she’s awesome.

He totally walks better for her than anyone else

I can’t believe how little they both were! Best buddies in the making

Then…and now

and then there’s this…

Labra-bunny. Oddly, I think he really liked these. Everyone knows labs make the best pillows

We’ve still got work to do on his need to stealing the kids toys and sneaking them outside to eat. And to stop eating my tomato plant. And not eat anything he finds on a walk….but his positives outweigh his negatives so I guess he stays. And I might even like him…but just a little .

Viva La Fiesta!

June 11, 2014June 11, 2014Leave a comment

This year we decided to combine B’s typical two parties into one and scale back the guest list. It was nice to enjoy the party and not be soooo partied out by the end of the week…which is really quite convienint since this year I’M having a party (more to come).

And as usual, when you have a June birthday in Arizona, your party needs to either be indoors or involve water. Baylor has had about the same party every year, but with a different theme. And this year was no exception! The Fifth Fiesta kicked off with two ladies making tacos on demand (best. idea. ever.), there was a kid car wash somewhere in the middle and a pinata and make-your-own sundaes to finish off the evening. It was a rave with the five year olds and the adults all walked out the door with to-go plates so I’m thinking it was a win in their books too.

Festive decor – even at 108 degrees

There’s no way we were getting away without SOMETHING Frozen

Our “west side” water slide is always a hit (sorry Ali)

Of course the Kid Car Wash was out. And looking better than ever.

Cousins gotta splash

Happy birthday girl

~~Patiently~~ waiting for the pinata

Family picture time!

(no sunglasses, please)

And thank you to the lovely Stephanie for being guest photographer! I love that I hand her my camera and I don’t have to say a thing. She takes. She snaps. She hands back.

WHOOOO’S READY FOR ICE CREAM??!!

Happy birthday to youuuuuu

Happy customers

The evening ended with – you guessed it – Frozen!

(also, there had to have been margaritas involved for me to let these crazys eat ice cream on the couch….)

Thanks to all of our lovely friends and family who braved the tipple digits to celebrate! Happy birthday Ms. B!!

Ben’s Bells Thank You

May 22, 2014May 22, 2014Leave a comment

I got the greatest letter this week. Thanks to everyone who contributed on Arizona Gives Day, Ben’s Bells won the grand prize for the most donations! They won $18,000!! Just amazing. Thank you to everyone who contributed and or bought bells. And if you haven’t yet, go there now!

www.bensbells.org

Stretching Christmas

December 26, 2013December 26, 2013Leave a comment

I need more Christmas. Christmas time, really. I need more festive parties, quiet nights watching movies, cinnamon candles, cookies, good excuses to leave work early, letting the kids eat too many Hershey Kisses, more of all of it! I’m not ready to say goodbye yet. I need to be eased out of Christmas. I mean, we start sneaking Christmas into our lives in late October, why does it just have to go – bam- done-! I need some time to say goodbye. I’ve still got cookie dough in my fridge for Pete’s sake. Therefore I am protesting. Christmas does not end in our house until New Year’s Day. And really, that’s only because the tree will be like really dead.

Family pics!

Lovely cousin Madi

All the cousin’s except Ms.Z – sad. And if we could figure out how to make Mason sit still…I’ve got like 6 pictures where all I can see is his posterior…Thank you Mason.

Those curls

Checking out Noni’s Nativity scene

Christmas Eve ended with an all out cousin wrestling match

Christmas morning brought presents from home, Aunt Nancy’s and Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Santa broke his back getting all the goodies to some very happy kiddos.

“I got my wish!! I got my wish!!”

The new tool table was a hit with everyone!

Mackie loves Christmas too

“Auggie, that’s not your gift. Auggie!! That’s not yours!!”

Auggie crawled away with his truck for some alone time…

Presents were followed by my mom’s world famous brunch. She makes enough food to feed an army and we all attempt to eat like an army. The day wound down with a warm fire (backdoor open of course because otherwise it was too hot), Christmas tree lights, stretchy pants and playing with all the new goodies! Which is exactly why I need at least one more week.

Surprise Santa

December 24, 2013Leave a comment

Last night we were invited to our friend and neighbor’s home for a little surprise party. The special guest? Santa!

Their family has been inviting Santa to their home right before Christmas since they were kids – in fact it’s the same Santa. The looks on the kiddo’s faces when they heard the sleigh bells was priceless. We are incredibly blessed to have such fun neighbors who included us in their party!

“Do you guys hear something?!?”

It’s so strange. We’re really not sure where she gets her chattiness from….Santa was impressed / a little overwhelmed by her detailed wish list.

Auggie was a little unsure.

Warming up with high fives

Hands down my favorite picture of the night. I love how B is holding Auggie.

My little shutterbug. I’ll finally have someone who wants to geek out over lenses with me.

Come On Ring Those Bells

December 17, 2013December 16, 2013Leave a comment

This past Friday we saved almost an entire pew in the chapel of Baylor’s preschool for family and friends so that we could all witness the adorableness that is the preschool Christmas program. Three songs and a group sing along have never been cuter.

The beautiful stained glass window in the chapel

I’m the mom with the super zoom lens…everyone makes fun until the pictures come out

This is the picture from the program two years ago. Eeek she’s getting big!

Adrenaline Junkie

December 16, 20131 Comment

We hit Zoo Lights this year on the perfect night – there was no one there! I don’t know if there was something bigger going on around town or it was just too cold – either way, it was fantastic. The only down side was that because there were no lines, we broke the bank on light up necklaces, kettle corn, Polar Slide, etc. Sometimes the lines are a good thing.

We’re into themed hats

FootballFootballFootballFootball!!

I had on no less than 4 layers. I realized in the car that the temperature was 56 degrees. It’s amazing we lasted in DC as long as we did…

The Polar Slide had no lines so we shuffled on over to check it out. It’s made of some kind of plastic mesh – like the stuff Olympic skiers practice on in the summer. It’s super slick, but not cold. It’s pretty cool – but the initial drop off scared me just to watch. But Baylor decided it looked fun so she and Peter headed up to the start line. I assumed they would have her ride with him – nope. She got her own inner tube and went flying down the hill giving me a coronary. She proceeded to go 4 more times until we ran out of cash…I hope this isn’t the beginning of other death defying feats!

The Goon Room

A little of everything and nothing, all in one blog

Tag: family