Here's What I See Every Weekday Morning

Hard to believe, but Grandma is 49 years old... and holding!

Uncle Ralph and Aunt Denise hosted Grandma's 80th birthday party. What a great influence she has been throughout my life. I have many fond memories of grandma... running down Green's Peak at the Heap Reunion, trips to the Phoenix Zoo, making peanut butter fudge, reading stories on her fuzzy "lion" blanket during sleep-overs, listening to her homemade stories on the way to the reunion in the back of grandpa's truck, her taking care of us every afternoon while mom was sick, going to Circle K for treats and only getting to pick 3 candybars, amongst others. My hope is to be that kind of grandma to my grandkids one day.

Johnson Desert Ride

The day after Thanksgiving, we headed to Mesquite Wash for a picnic, 4 wheeler rides and gun shooting.

Nolan wasn't happy about the picture, but he did love bouncing around on his ride in the Ranger and even fell asleep.

Ryan's cousin, Curtis Farley, told Eli that if he dug a hole and hit water he would give him a dollar. Curtis then agreed to give him $100 if he hit lava. That was all the insentive Eli needed to dig for the next 30 minutes. He never did hit lava, but I think Curtis gave him a few dollars anyway.

Cutie Nolan Boy

Things to be Thankful for...

- 2 little helpers, cause what's Thanksgiving without the pumpkin pie?
- the beautiful Amaryllis flower, in the foreground, that Grandma Martinsen gifted to us.

- awesome chefs (Uncle Zay & Dad)

- Mom & Aunt Molly

 - awesome kids who enjoy the finer things in life (Orange Crush & turkey legs)

- Marcus's "go to **** stare" - can you tell he hates when I get the camera out?

- relatives that love to hold a sweet little baby (cousin Trina)



- Great Grandma Cooper

- Grandma Martinsen

& Grandpa Martinsen

- a sister who attempted to take our family picture after the festivities, with less than cooperative kids

- a handsome husband who hates posing for pitures, but does it for me anyway

can you see the sarcasm in this picture?

DC Turkey Trot & Kinder Play

Caleb's school held a turkey trot the day before Thanksgiving. Basically they just run around the outdoor basketball courts for 30 minutes or so. I took the other boys and we all ran with Caleb for a while. He really turned it on when I got the camera out!

After that, we walked to the park next to the school to watch Eli be a hunter in the Kindergarten play. After the play, the kids had a "feast" and played on the playground.

12 Big Ones

Thanks to an awesome ward member who was home from college, Ryan and I were able to celebrate our 12th Anniversary with one night in Sedona. Nolan came with us and we had a great time. We relaxed, ate tons of chocolate and even hiked Cathedral Rock with Nolan in the front pack.

Rain Gutter Regatta

 Caleb is still loving cub scouts. Here he is racing his boat. Eli got a chance to race too.

Quero Pina!

Here's little Nolan at about 2 months wearing his pineapple church jumper from Grandma Martinsen.
Ain't he sweet?

A Raggedy Bunch

It's days like this that I really miss the Navy!
Here's us at the end of moving day. Really, it was the end of the 1st moving day. The moving continued for almost a whole week! And, the new house is really just around the corner...
A big thanks to Ryan's parents who helped out A LOT! And, to Grandma Martinsen for helping with the unpacking the following week. Don't know what I would have done without them all.

Minor setback of not being able to get the fridge out of the old kitchen. Had to remove the doors...

Grandma entertained all day long!

There's Nothing Like a Sleeping Baby...

Go A's!

Eli had so much fun on his first baseall team this fall.