Bringin' Out the Bathing Suits

I know it's only February, but swimming & sunburn season has begun. Yes, this is the Valley of the Sun. Here are pictures of the kiddos in the frog pool my sister sent them. Ty has been begging to swim in it for months.

Jumping like frogs:

Valentine's Weekend

We had the best weekend. Friday, as i was getting done with Ty's preschool Valentine's party my dad called. "Do you need a babysitter for Valentines?" An hour later they left San Diego & headed our way.

The weekend was fabulous. We went to the local zoo, had a blast playing Ultimate Frisbee & having a bar-be-que at the park. Then Sat evening Jeff & I went out to 1/2 a movie (we don't recommend- He's Just Not that into You). Then Sunday Jeff & I went to church kid-free. What a treat! Meanwhile the kids played at the park with their grandparents. Then my folks headed home. A quick, but great trip.

Flamingos

But the joy goes on...With President's day Jeff had Monday off. We went to a nearby lake that is 5 miles around paved. It is always fun to go run & bike around the lake. That evening we had a nice fondue dinner. Here is the recipe...SOOOO GOOD!!

Vegetarian Mexican Cheese Fondue

3 TB butter, 3 TB flour, 1/8 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 cup Vegetable Broth, 1/2 Vegetable bullion cube, 2/3 cup half and half, 3 TB mild salsa, 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese, 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese.

Melt butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and garlic powder until blended. Then whisk in half and half, broth and bullion cube. Continue to heat until and thick and bubbly. Reduce heat to low. Gradually add the cheese, stirring until it is melted. Stir in salsa and transfer to a fondue pot.

Here is Syd saying Cheese for Grandma...

Playing With Grandpa

My dad helping me garden...and the kids helping him.

The Big 3-0

He's now...

Jeff's big birthday fell on a Thurday, which happens to be my work day. In preparation I spent Wednesday baking like crazy (lots more than pictured). Everything was cooled, iced & in the car before Jeff came home from work.

Thursday (once I finished working) it was time for the delivery. As we were walking up to the school I thought the surprise was ruined; Jeff was welcoming students at the door, looking our direction. Thank goodness for our year-round blinding sun, we still had our cover. Security & a co-worker helped me parade into Jeff's class & sing Happy Birthday. It was fun to have him be surprised.

Here are the lovely decorations, courtesy of Ty.

The next day Jeff was offically thirty. He left the house for his typical morning run...but was gone for over an hour. When he came back I said, "Where were you??" He then tells me that since he's 30 he can't do his typical run. He took an extra long route that travels along workout stations. At the stations he proceeded to do 30 of every excercise. He's got a lot of his dad in him!

Happy Birthday Jeff! I love you!!

Mascara

Rough Weekend for Arizona

What a horrible blogger I've been lately. I've just been busy in bow-land. It takes up many hours, but I love the extra $$.

So here is our update. For Christmas I had given Jeff tickets to a Coyotes Hockey game. It was great seats & intended for his 30th birthday celebration. We had a good time, but Sydney had a fever, was begging to go "bye-bye" all through dinner & both the kids zonked out during the game. That would be one of the few downfalls of having a 6:30 bed time.

We enjoyed all the excitement of a hockey game, despite their loss. Ty was so cute. He brought a hockey puck with him & held it most of the time. He was loving Howler, the mascot.

Jeff even got brochures about the kids Hockey league, but after seeing the heated fights break out, I've banned that sport for my boy.

Speaking of Ty...he's got a serious case of monkey lips. Jeff thinks it might be hereditary, but I never had them...So we know who to blame.

Ty is also getting great at his bike riding skills (training wheels included). He's taken a couple good falls & has some skid marks on his chin. That poor kid has more scars than Jeff & I combined. It's been great though to go on a run & have Ty riding along with us. Hopefully soon he'll be running along with us.

2 more days until Jeff turns 30!