TOO BUSY AND TOO MANY PHOTOS

(one of my all time favorite pictures - Kyler - age 1 1/2)

December has been very busy!  (I know, it's busy for everyone)  I started out the month sick and my poor lungs are still recovering.  When I finally had a little energy, it was time to get ready to travel to Utah for my brother's wedding.  We had so much fun (despite the short trip and 24 hours total in driving) and the boys even had their first snow!  Then the week of Christmas was busy and now I've given up being productive....and I'm loving every minute of it!!!  Everyone is enjoying their freedom from school, work and "regular duties".  

Aside from being busy, I've having issues with adding photos to my blog.  I'm still waiting on Tony to fix the problem so I can continue "keeping my journal" on here.  So enjoy the Kyler picture and what his classmates wrote about him before the school break.

Kyler is original.

Kyler - Awesome

Kyler, you are really funny.

Kyler is good at 4 square.

Kyler, you are a good friend - awesome and cool.

Kyler, you're cool.

Kyler is awesome.

You rock and you're one of my best friends.  You rock.

Kyler, I remember when you stole Brooklin's ball. 

(apparently, this one was a good memory between friends)

Kyler is funny.

Funny and awesome.

Kyler is a great friend.

Kyler is cool.

Tall, fast, smart.

Kyler is very funny.

Kyler is funny, but weird!

You're fun.

Kyler, you are funny.

Kyler is funny and awesome.

Kyler is so funny.

Kyler is strong!

(and now for my favorite)

Kyler always knows how to set the mood.

I'm not sure I want to meet the third-grader who wrote that, but it's the best!  So to sum up, Kyler's an awesome class clown!  

(would we have it any other way?!?)

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Mulleneaux!!!

I can't wait to fix the problem with my photos and get back to blogging.  

Here's to a great 2013!

DAYS 1 & 2 - CHRISTMAS 2012

 It's that time of year.  

Anticipation of new pajamas. 

 Warming by the "fire".

Christmas vacation = video games!

Every year I have grand intentions for daily activities with my kids during December.  This year, I was especially grateful for Thanksgiving being so early and having a full week before December started.  Then I got sick.  Energy zapped.  Napping good.  Before I knew it, we're at December 3rd.  No worries though.  1st DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2012: Ward Christmas Party (a breakfast)

No pictures, the teenagers skipped out early and started on their service for the day.  Kyler begrudgingly sang a few songs with the Primary.  Tony folded chairs and put away tables.  

2nd DAY OF CHRISTMAS 2012: The Christmas Devotional from the First Presidency. 

 I always enjoy the talks and music.  Great way to start off the holidays.  You can watch it here.

Here's to a great 25 Days of Christmas!

THANKSGIVING 2012

First....I'll finish my 3rd week of gratitude.
Day 15 - I'm thankful for procrastination.....(forgot to post yesterday).
Day 16 - I'm thankful for holidays!!!!! They're so much fun, Tony gets to be home with us, and we're surrounded by extended family and friends!!!!!
Day 17 - I'm thankful for service and thankful my family is always happy to serve. We've also been blessed to receive service from others and are so appreciative of their kindness. Service changes both the giver and receiver for the better!
Day 18 - I'm thankful for my dogs....there, I said it. Yes, I'm crazy. Yes, I spoil them. So here's to Roscoe Maximus Stock & Cocolette Amelie Genevieve Stock!
Day 19 - I'm thankful for 3 day school weeks and 4 day weekends!!!!!
Day 20 - I'm thankful for temples!!!! I'm thankful that Tony and I were married in the Mesa AZ temple. I'm extra thankful that 8 years ago today, Tony and I were in the temple with all three of our boys while Kyler was sealed to us for time and all eternity! Blessings, blessings, and more blessings!!!!!
Day 21 - I'm thankful I'm not going out to shop on Black Friday!
Day 22 - I'm thankful for Thanksgiving. A great meal, great company and fun get together with lots of desserts!     
We enjoyed a delicious turkey for our dinner and had lots of extended family over for dessert that night.  Sadly, no photos!  We all had a wonderful time though.  Both of my brothers drove down from Utah and we're loving having them here.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 

2nd WEEK OF GRATITUDE....AND A SHOCKER!!!

 (little flower turkeys I made last year)

Day 8: I'm thankful for friends!!!!  Seriously, what would I do without them!!!!!  From elementary school through to now....I love you all!

Day 9: I'm thankful for nieces & nephews!!!! I was blessed to be with 6 of them (Michael, Sofia, Sariah, Jean-Jacques II, Ruslan & Joseph) tonight. Can't wait to see Jade next month! (yes, lots of my gratitude has to do with family!) Love to all my nieces & nephews and all my cousins kids that I consider nieces & nephews too!
 Day 10 - I'm thankful for cooler weather....finally!!!! I really try to enjoy days that actually make me cold in this desert.

 

(This is what my boys do during church)

Day 11 - I'm thankful for a prophet and apostles that serve as Christ did. My family and I had the privilege of listening to 2 of those apostles today at Stake Conference.

Day 12 - I'm thankful for all who have or are currently serving our country! Thank you for your service and dedication to this great land!!!

Day 13 - I'm thankful for luxury!!!!! For example: electricity, grocery stores, van, washer & dryer, dishwasher, stove & oven, computers, etc. They make life so much easier.....so why do we still complain?!?

(CHIPS & SALSA....my favorite food group! this isn't Blue Adobe)

Day 14 - I'm thankful for MEXICAN FOOD!!!! Awesome lunch at Blue Adobe today!    
Now for the shocker.....

This is what I found yesterday and this morning 

I walked past the boys bathroom after everyone was at school and imagine my surprise that all the towels were hung up, bath mat was over the side of the tub, shower curtain was pulled shut, toilet seat and lid were down, counter tops were cleared and there was NOTHING on the floor!!!!!  And it happened  (without any guidance from parents)

TWO DAYS IN A ROW!!!!!   

HAPPINESS!!!  

JOY!!!!! 

BLISS!!!!!!!!! 

Boys, thanks for making me so happy....

AND SHOCKED!!!!!!! 

1st WEEK OF GRATITUDE

I'm writing something I'm thankful for everyday on facebook and wanted to record it on my blog too.  Here's the first week with lots of photos:

Day 1: I'm thankful for cousins!

(I quickly realized I don't have a photo with all my cousins.....so here are some over the years)

Day 2: I'm thankful for cousins that go to scrapbook paper warehouse sales with me!

 (Bazzill Warehouse Sale - November 2nd)

Day 3: I'm thankful for siblings!  I can't believe I'm blessed with 2 brothers and 2 sisters and I can't wait to be with ALL of them next month!!!!!

(we'll all be together for Austin's wedding!)

 (2007)

(2009 at Catherine's Wedding)

Day 4: I'm thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm thankful for repentance, forgiveness and the power of the Atonement.

(photo from our trip to Utah this last summer)

Day 5: I'm thankful that we only owe on our home!

(No other debt!!!!!!  OK, so I didn't have a photo to go with this, but it's an excuse to show off my fall trees again!)

Day 6: I'm thankful I'm a mom.  I can't imagine my life without Colton, Asher and Kyler.  I love, love, love them and I love being their mom!

 This is when the boys trapped Kyler in the hall. (we were rearranging rooms - that's why there's 1/2 of a bunk bed in the hall)  They even made a sign that they put on the blade of their sword - "Kyler the Amazing Baby"

 YES.....matching pj's!!!

Maybe I could get away with it one more time!

 Family Home Evening - putting on the whole armor of God

 Sweet Tomatoes!

One of the boys favorite places to eat!

 Kyler's 2nd birthday

 You see....what would I do without my inappropriate boys?!?

 They make this look good!

Day 7: I'm thankful for my marriage!  It's hard work, but so worth it!!!!  Tony, thanks for the past 23 years....here's to eternity!  Love you!!!!!!!!

 I have no words....just take in the 80's goodness. 

(and the fact that we were just BABIES!!!!!)

Just after Papa's funeral, we were doing karaoke in the parking lot.  I don't know what song we were doing.....but doesn't it look like "Endless Love"!

 I loved everyone at this age.....getting older, but not old enough to have their own lives yet.

But it's good they're all getting older.  One day we'll have an empty nest and it will be back to the two of us!

THE PHOENIX ZOO

 We haven't been to the zoo in forever!  It's the 50th anniversary for our Phoenix Zoo and they've been making some changes.  I didn't even recognize the new entry, it's really looking nice.  My mom invited us to her work's Family Day at the Zoo.  We started off getting a map, which Kyler took charge of and then went straight to the stingrays.  There was no line and I thought we should take advantage of it.

 

(Photo by Mamita)

 Kyler loved petting them.  They even have a little newborn.  You aren't allowed to touch it though, it doesn't like to be touched.  Kyler was so excited when he saw the baby and was very respectful of it's space.  I wish he was that respectful with our dogs!

(photo by Kyler.....it's not the baby)

Next up, the reptiles section.  They also had some buzzards and prairie dogs.  I was enjoying watching the prairie dogs until the buzzard started to open his wings....and he was facing me.  I decided to walk away and he kept turning his head to follow me.  I ducked into a little "cave" where Kyler was looking at bugs.  I told him and Mamita that a buzzard was going to get me and I had to escape.  When we came back out, the buzzard had his wings fully expanded.  He did swoop down, but not near us....thankfully......we didn't like the free-range buzzard.

We stopped at the Stone House Pavilion to enjoy lunch.  There was pulled pork and shredded bbq chicken, corn with onions and peppers, baked beans, hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and cookies.  Kyler wanted to eat a handful of cookies, he had 1 1/2.

 After our delicious lunch, we visited the komodo dragon.  He's huge!

 The orangutans - Kyler loved them so much, he bought a little orangutan in the gift shop.

(photo by Kyler)

 The elephant

(photo by Kyler)

 I think the Savanna was where Kyler became a photographer.  He loved finding the right place for his shot.  It was fun to watch him throughout the afternoon.  Later in the day, he was crouching down and framing the shot with his hands and calling for the camera!

(photo by Kyler) 

The Tiger

 (photo by Kyler)

The Lion

  (photo by Kyler)

 The Warthog

 (photo by Kyler)

 The Rhino and a little Gazelle

 (photo by Kyler)

 The Lioness

 (photo by Kyler)

 The Lion and Lioness

 (photo by Kyler)

Giraffes.....at the back of the Savanna

 The Kyler

 The Kyler who was born with awesome hair.

 That's what he told us!

Love this boy!!!