JoDee's Visit

Megan asked me today if I'd ever blog again.

I have just been flat-out lazy when it comes to blogging lately. I feel like I go in cycles -- one week I'll post four times and then I'll go two weeks with nothing. I really need to work on some consistency here!

A couple weeks ago -- the week of Reagan's birthday -- JoDee came to visit for a whole week. Andersyn was the only kid to stayed home =(

One thing I always love about Andee and Madee is that they always write cute little notes/pictures for people. Here's one that came for Savy this trip:




















We had a fun week, but don't take my word for it, see for yourself . . .

Visiting Grandma's school - Heritage Academy

Reagan loved looking at everything on the walls

The Make-Over Sleep-Over

I had nothing to do with these make-overs!

The Phoenix Zoo

I brought my own, personal (hot!) stroller pusher which made me super-happy!I always feel bad/spoiled when JoDee comes and we go somewhere with all our kids because Madee gravitates to my kids and I'm sure JoDee would like the help herself. But I love it -- everytime I'd do a "kid check," I'd see one or the other of my girls with Madalyn. No wonder my girls are obsessed with the girl! Sometimes I wonder if London's on the right side of the cage. . .

I think giraffes are my favorite.

I think this picture actually catches Reagan seeing something. She spent most of the day sleeping or looking absolutely exhausted in her stroller. I think the poor chica got some heat stroke because she was flushed at the zoo and just didn't seem well all day then ran a fever that night and into the next day. Poor girl - I had hoped the zoo would be a blast for her.

Crew - JoDee's mischievous little devil! He gets away with a lot thanks to that cute, irresistible smile!

The group (minus Cyndee and myself). I felt clever getting this picture -- all I had to do was excitedly call for them to look "over there" and, like magic, they all looked the same way and I got the (almost) perfect photo!

Valentine's Day

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE England. I always have ever since I was a little girl. Maybe it stemmed from my mother's interest in the British monarchy and history or maybe it stemmed from me watching my sisters read Victoria Holt books which I automatically read as well once I hit about fifth grade (Victorian light romances - very clean). At BYU, I went to London for a semester (Fall '98) and fell in love all over again with England, only this time it was tangible and even better than I had imagined!

Here in Arizona, not much resembles England except on thing, albeit a bit trashy: the Renaissance Festival. Nate and I went when we were first married and then we went about two years ago with Amy and Jim. So this year for Valentine's Day, we packed up the kids, picked up Cyndee and headed out to the Renaissance Festival.
Savannah and London got so excited and remembered that you can dress up like princesses. They love it because everyone there addresses them as "princess." What girly wouldn't like that?

The day was fun, but we determined that we probably won't be heading back because it really is flat out trashy and our girls are getting old enough to notice immodesty and there's A LOT of cleavage there!

Here are a few of the little pictures I took:

Highlights of the day included:
1. turkey legs - my girls LOVE meat on a bone because they seem to think it funny and entertaining to eat like a "barbarian" - can you tell they're Nate's children?
2. the fire-jugglers
3. The dragon-slide wrapped around a turret - you climb up the tower and then slide down the slide which is the dragon's body.
4. the joust
5. the petting zoo
6. and finally, Savannah getting her hair done. Grandma Cyndee insisted and Savs was super-excited although you would never guess from her seriousness in the pictures. So cute.

We were all quite taken back when she chose green flowers.

The girls had a great day and that's all that matters, but we won't tell them that that was their last time going there. I just love going places as a family.

Noah T.

Usually when Tyler and Gina come for Christmas, they have a b-day party for Noah at Chuck-e-Cheese because it's easy with all the cousins (plus it's the one time a year we take our kids there so they love it). I just found these random pictures and thought I'd post them.

Tyler and Ryder

The girlies on tv

Regina and Reagan -- Gina actually held Reagan like this almost the whole time.

Then Reagan went to Uncle Jim -- I think he secretly likes her.

The cute birthday boy who is an exact replica of Tyler.

Cousins Pictures - catch-up

Cousins at the Park.
They're not the best pics, but it's the memories, right?

This was the last night before they left - snuggling on the couch, watching tv.

Thinking of Megan. . .

This morning as I read my CNN Newsletter, one headliner caught my eye and made me think of Megan. It read:

Iowan: Cold hurts, makes 'skin burn.'

Ouch! Poor Megan out there in good old Iowa. I'll be thinking of you as my house heats up to about 76 by the end of the day with no heater or air conditioner running. Maybe this picture will help you, Megs ---
I love you!!!


On another note, I am feeling dang crappy right now with major congestion/headache/cough. Reagan and London are stuffed up too, but are acting fine so far. Lucky for me, it's Cyndee's day off and she didn't get to see the girls last week so she's going to come and get them for the day. Lovely. As a mom you get so used to just sucking it up when you're sick so this should be super nice to just lay down and not have to worry about anything - or better yet, anyone. Hopefully the rest will help me knock it and we can go to the zoo like we'd planned to this weekend.

La Navidad

I've been a slacker at posting these because JoDee was here and we stayed up too late every night -- mostly playing rock band until we all felt like we had carpal tunnel (Amy and Andee at least). One night was devoted to my new favorite movie though. And I'm so not used to staying up past midnight anymore so the 2:30 bedtime on New Years about did me in the next day. . . week (more on that later as I steal pictures from Amy).

So now today has been devoted to deep cleaning and laundry. Seriously, it's 3:32 and this is the first time I've sat down today -- and I'm far from done.

So here we go!

Christmas was fast, chaotic and fun. Isn't it always? Seeing Tyler's family is always fun and then as soon as they were ready to go, JoDee came down with the girls for a "cousins Christmas party" and a weeks worth of fun.

(picture overload, as usual)

Reagan was just excited to have the whole family in "her world" (the floor).

I about died at the difference in these two girls Christmas morning. Every present evoked a squeal of delight from Savannah while London appeared rather stoic while opening hers. I was a bit worried that she was unhappy with her loot until Nate informed me that she whispered to him that this was the best Christmas ever. I guess that's just the difference in their personalities.London with her presents from Savannah. I was so excited that Savs got to go to "Santa's Workshop" at school because I remembered going as a child. Yeah for Mr. C. - the P.E. teacher who instilled a love of hula hooping in my little girl! If you haven't had a good laugh lately, you should watch this girl hula-hoop! It's the best thing in the world! I'll have to see if I can figure out how to put a video of it on here.

I must say that it was one of the best meals EVER!. Amy made the same (amazing) turkey I made for Thanksgiving and I made the same stuffing and then mom's rolls were fabulous, as usual. . . I could go on and on, but I already have.

Davyn, Wyatt, London and Noah

Ryder was excited to have another little person. Here he is trying to blow on her tummy -- like everyone always does to him.

And here he is just flat out pestering the poor girl. It was quite entertaining to watch and Reagan didn't get upset at all. Cyn and Noah. London and Ryder with D's new "Wall-e computer." London's always attaching herself to a little one - she likes being older and tending them.
Noah - the boy is seriously an exact replica of Tyler at that age. Cutie Ryder.

Wesley

Savster

Reagan's Christmas bottle with Grandma Jones.Merry Christmas!