Halloween 2010

Sorry this is so late, but here is our only good(ish) Halloween picture. I look awful, but Chris and the kids are pretty good. I was a gypsy, Chris a Personal Trainer, Lexi a cowgirl, and Ethan was Bumblebee the Transformer.

We had a blast at the ward trunk-or-treat, which turned out to be both wards trunk-or-treating at the same time... Double the loot... Mom's hips twice as big... But oh so fun! We also had a blast going out on Halloween to trick-or-treat around a few houses in the neighborhood. Yes we are still eating candy, and probably will be till Thanksgiving, or later...

Ethan

So lately Ethan has discovered a new favorite saying. Several times a day he will come up to me (or Chris) and say "Mom" and I reply "Yes, Ethan" then he goes "I love you." It is so adorable I don't know if I will ever get sick of it!

Hiking the White Tank Mountains

We went hiking with our little family this last weekend up in the White Tank Mountains, just to the west of Phoenix. It was a great desert hike, and the weather was perfect. The hike is supposed to end at a waterfall, but since there hasn't been much rain, it was just a smelly little mini pond at the end. We had a great time though!

My little family! Oh how I love them!

The kids loved climbing the huge rock outcroppings.

My buff girl! You hold that rock up!

My kiddos, so cute!

Utah, Oct. 2010

First off in unrelated news... A few weeks ago Ethan ran head first into the wall and split the skin on his head open. Chris and I went and picked up some butterfly bandages and closed it up ourselves. Luckily nothings phases the little man, after a few tears he was perfectly fine, and healed very quickly.

This is how it looked after just 2 weeks! Like I said, one fast healer!!!

In other news, we took a fun trip out to Utah last week. Here are the kids along with Lisa, and Jenn playing a fun game of Conference Bingo at Grandma's house. Thanks Jenn for all the effort you put into all the fun games for the kids!

Even my sister Lauren got to come down from Rexburg and visit us while we were in town. Thanks for making the extra trip Lauren! It sure was great to see you!!!

Yep that is my hubby with Lexi and Anni and their Pipe Cleaner Creations!

The 2 best friend Cousins! The girls had a great time playing and visiting each other!

Our Big Little Helper

Let me just say that Ethan loves cars. He also loves being a big helper. So whenever Daddy needs a helping hand fixing anything on one of our cars Ethan is always the first to volunteer with a big smile on his face! Chris had to change the air filter on his truck so we can get it to pass emissions and get it registered here in Arizona, so Ethan was happy to help!

Here he is pointing out which filter is the clean one.

And here he is helping daddy put the clean filter into Daddy's truck. Thanks for the help little man! We love you!!!

Happy Birthday Chris

I know this is a little late, but Chris just celebrated his 30th Birthday on July 30th. We had a fun day celebrating by going to a movie, swimming in the backyard, shopping, and bbq-ing. We are so blessed to have Chris in our lives. He is such an amazing husband and father and we love him with all our hearts!

Happy Birthday Babe! We love you!!!

Yep that is all 30 candles!

His Birthday Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake!

Alexis Starts First Grade

Well it's official my little girl started first grade yesterday. She is attending Carden Traditional School of Glendale. So far she absolutely loves it. She especially loves that she not only gets to go everyday, but she also gets to eat lunch at school.

I am appreciating a little extra quiet time, although it is still a little eerie. I just still can't believe that my little girl is grown up enough to be in school full time!

Here is my Beautiful Lexi on her first day of First grade.

Love you sweetie! We are so proud of you!!!

Poor Maya

The other day the kids come running out of Lexi's room all excited and giggly about something, then out comes Maya dressed like this...

Unfortunately it was too funny to get mad at, so we just took a picture and made them undress her... Poor Maya!

In other news the monsoon season has officially started. Here is a great shot of the monsoon heading in at dusk!

Hiking in Sedona

Chris had Monday off and we wanted to spend the day doing something really fun with the family. So we packed up the kids and our newest addition, a 2 year old yellow lab named Maya, and headed up to the mountains outside of Sedona. I absolutely fell in love with the area, and we had a great time hiking, and spending time together as a family!!!

Here is the newest member of our family. Maya is a sweet, very well behaved yellow lab. She has been a great addition to our family!

These were some really cool old ruins that were at the start of our hike.

Our family... My World!

The stream that flowed through the canyon we hiked in was full of little baby fish. Lexi wanted so bad to catch one, but never managed. I guess we will just have to go back so she can try again. ;)

Ethan playing in the water. Needless to say both the kids and the dog all got soaked, but had a great time!!!

My loves!

Hiking up the trail.

Playing in the water, in the shade of a cliff.

We had such a great time. I can't wait to go back again!!!

4th of July

We had a pretty fun Independence day this year. It was hard being away from family, but we still had fun. With Church in the morning, swimming in the afternoon, and fireworks at night! Just a few miles down the street is a huge baseball complex where the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres do their Spring training. At these fields they had a huge Independence Day celebration with music, activities for kids, and of course a fireworks display. It was a lot of fun, even though it took us 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot!

Here is Ethan waiting for the fireworks to start.

And Lexi waiting too!

The Apple Pie and Homemade Ice Cream we made. Yes it was as delicious as it looks!!!

Chris making the Ice Cream.

This picture is funny because Chris got dressed after Church and then Ethan went to go change later. Well somehow, without planning, they ended up matching... It was so cute I couldn't resist a picture! I guess great minds just think alike!

And last of all... Here is a picture of the sandbox we built in the backyard.

My New Blog

In other news... I started another blog. I have heard time and again from friends and family the proverbial question "What's for dinner???" So I decided to help solve this quandary by creating a blog!

My new blog is called Rosies Dinners. It's found at rosiesdinners.blogspot.com . I include not only recipes, but also a meal plan for the week, and shopping list for that meal plan.

When you get a chance check it out and try a recipe. Hope you love it as much as I do, and that it helps those in need of a few good idea's for dinners!

Alexis Turns 6

Well... we are finally in our new house, although I am not planning on posting pictures till we get more settled and start actually getting rooms fixed up. We have a lot of work in store, but we love having a place of our own!

In the meantime Lexi had a birthday! That is right, much to my disbelief she is now 6!!! Here are some pictures of her Birthday...

The Birthday girl... This was actually her school picture from this year, but it's a great one of her that I thought I would throw in anyway.

Wearing one present and holding another... The baby has definitely been her favorite gift this year! It only took 6 years for her to like dolls...

Getting ready to swim...

Say cheese!

Jumping in the pool.

Swimming with the dog. (ok, so maybe that is her favorite birthday present although we got her a couple days prior, and she is for the whole family... Her name is Maya and she is a 2 year old yellow lab.)

Swimming together...

Happy Birthday to you Alexis!

She wanted a cookie bar "cake" this year... I didn't object... mmmmm!

Sacramento Trip

Here are some pictures from our trip to Sacramento this spring, and Lexi's second lost tooth. Sorry it took so long, but enjoy!

Here is my little toothless girl. This is actually the second lost tooth that she has had. She tends to pull them out when they are still fairly attached. She just doesn't like to wait for them to fall out...

My little junior conductors helping to get grandad's trains running...

Craft time with Nonnie. They loved making these little gingerbread bunny houses!

Like father like son. Ethan caught his first fish!

On the railroad tracks by Nonnie and Grandad's house.

Visiting the Wattersons

Meeting Darth Vadar. Ethan was thrilled, It took Lexi a good ten minutes to stop hiding in mommy's shirt and actually even look at him! She warmed up eventually...

Latest Breaking News

I have really let my blog get neglected while being at my parents house, so I do apologize to my readers... I did want to post our latest news however...

Chris got a job in PHOENIX!!! It is working for an engineering firm called Kimley-Horn, in their small landscape architecture division. He will receive the same pay he made at this last two jobs, but we will be getting better benefits. He starts work on April 26, and we are hoping on trying to get the ball rolling on buying a house in the Glendale/ North Phoenix area next weekend.

Chris is very excited to start his new job, and we are both ecstatic to piece our life back together in an area that we plan to call home for a long time!

Our Anniversary

It is that time of year again when Chris and I celebrate our marriage. We were married seven years ago in the Denver temple. It was snowy that morning and I was running late, but made it just in time. It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a great time with Family and Friends.

I have loved spending the last seven years with my best friend. Although we have had our fair share of trials going through them with Chris makes them seem so much easier to overcome. I love the way he understands me often better then I understand myself. I love the way he makes me laugh, and for the adventurous spirit he has. I love the way that he supports me in whatever hair-brained ideas I come up with, and loves me more for them. Most of all I love him for who he is, a loving father, a friend and lover!

Happy Anniversary to my sweetheart.

I love you!

Our Engagement Picture Nov. 2002

Our Family Photos

We had our family photos taken In November by an up and coming photographer. It took us a while to figure out how to get the pictures onto our computer since our CD drive isn't working. The pictures turned out great, and I am glad I can finally share them with all of you! Enjoy!!!

My handsome little man. I just can't resist those blue eyes!!!

My beautiful princess!

Still deeply in love after seven years...

The joy of my life... Our Family!

My wonderful kids! I love them with all my heart!!!