I'm BACK!!! Gotta catch up

What a year its been. I don't even know where to start but as I was searching through my pictures I realized how long it's been since I have blogged. Kids are all back in school and we had a great summer. We went to Yellowstone with Brian's family (well a few of them anyways) and had a great time and then 4th of July week was spent in Newport. We had a great time...So I'm just going to post a bunch of pictures and put captions under them to catch up on my blog.

This was in October..group halloween costume. Gilligans island (I'm Ginger and Brian made a great

Gilligan)

                               We just put our house  on VRBO..see if we get any renters

                           Natalie's cheer picture and she is now on Varsity for her junior year.

                          Zane got baptized in April...isn't he so cute?

                                     our easter picture, of course boys closed their eyes.

                                  Brian and I went on a cruise for our anniversary in March.

                                   We had quite a bit of snow this past winter.

Jake my nephew came and payed baseball and then came to a soccer game. My dad too.

                                           Grandpa Ron and Claire building a castle.

                                Trenton had a great soccer year and Zane played club too.

                    Melissa and Alex called it quits last week of school during finals!

                               our christmas card 2013........Zane was crying entire time

                                Disneyland trip for Natalie's birthday

                                        MY adorable children

                               Claire and Brian on Halloween.....she was Rapunzel.

                          My sister and her kids at a magic show in Vegas....Aug 2013

                            Boys went on a cruise with us and Brian's family in July of 2012

                                 A visit with My Grandpa and June his wife.

                               Claire seeing eye specialist. She  has intermittent exitropia.

Cruise Summer 2012

 

             Trenton getting ready to go on the water slide

       Debbie, Kathy, and Carolyn    (sisters at sea)

      Lunch in PV  ( this was a fiasco) with the bill                                                                                  

    Lovers beach view of our ship

 Trenton and Zane enjoying  their regular breakfast of pancakes

    Trenton,  Me, and Canon parasailing

       our family enjoying the water

  Brian and Zane parasailing in Cabo

    Grandma Debbie and some of her grandkids

              Brian doing what he does best

Boys improved their swimming ability, especially Zane

 Jordan, Ash, Taylor, and Lacey on a luxury boat ..........ha ha

       Tiffany, Elsie, Ava, Lonnie, and Debbie ( and Jordan too)

I have the best in-laws in the whole world ...literally. They gave all the couples a trip for Christmas which was going to be to Branson ,MO. My mother in law realized after Christmas that Branson in July is worse than Phoenix in August and changed it to Laguna Beach for 4th of July. Then not being able to get everyone a place to stay changed it to a cruise to MEXICO!! woohooo!!! We had taken our older girls on this same one the year before for Melissa's graduation and were excited to bring our boys this time ( we paid for the 2 of them) We had a fabulous time and I got to hang out with my mother in laws sisters a little bit and they were so fun. The cruise went to the same spots which were Cabo san Lucas for 2 days and Puerto Vallarta for 1 and a couple sea days each way. We relaxed more and didn't go to the shows as they were the same as the year before. We enjoyed parasailing and a wonderful massage in Puerto V. I'm looking forward to more wonderful trips together in the future.....

next on the list a day in Jerome

ONe fine beautiful summer day the older girls and I decided to go to Jerome and explore. It was fun to justhave some girl time with them and be together before the inevitable return to college. Melissa drove and we went to a sorta ghost town and wandered around the old vehicles and whatnot.Then on to lunch which we decided on the "haunted Hamburger" great views and just ok food. Then we walked around a little bit and explored. The sky was a scary black color as a storm was coming and so after seeing a friendly tarantula we decided to hit the road. What a fun day with my girlies!

no time...too busy........blah blah blah!

There were some interesting sights...I love AMERICA!!!

Claire and her best buddy "Brock"

Natalie marched in parade for cheer

Claire in her 4th of July dress

I feel horrible I haven't posted anything on my blog since June! I could say it is because I have been so busy or I haven't had time blah blah blah. But the real truth is I haven't been motivated to post all that has been happening because I have fallen so far behind. I keep thinking, I'll do it when I have a few hours because that is really how far behind I am but I really never have a few hours. I will start with our fourth of July which was spent here in Flagstaff. We went to the parade downtown for the first time and we have lived here 10 years! Then we went to the fireworks show out by the mall in the evening. The last time we went to this was a about 3 years ago because every year since they had forest fires and cancelled or we were in Laguna Beach (miss those 4th's..nothing like watching fireworks over the ocean) The show this year was pretty disappointing with it only lasting a few minutes and no music along with it like the year we went. Alex and his family joined us and all was well.

my brother gets married

My brother Ryan is 4 years younger than I am and lives in Tempe AZ. He owns a bike shop in Scottsdale called KORE Bikes. He loves to ride and put on events having to do with bikes and spends most of his life at his shop fixing selling and working on bicycles. He has been dating Angela for quite awhile now and they recently took a trip to Japan and got married there at a japanese buddhist temple somewhere in Japan. They had a great vacation as well and Ryan got to be back in a country he has always loved so much.

Claire's 4th birthday

Claire just had her fourth birthday and what a day it was! She had been wanting a "bepunzel Party" for a long time and we threw something together the day before. Melissa helped me out a lot and did a great painting of Rapunzel which we used for a game. Natalie helped me decorate and took all the pictures. My parents came up for Alex's baptism and brought Claire her favorite gift of all, the new "Brave" movies character Merida's costume...wig and all. She loved it and wore it at her Rapunzel party. Melissa made these amazing tower cupcakes and I did a puppet show. The kids had fun and I was glad it was all over in 2 hours! Happy 4th birthday Claire!