Easter

This Easter was unlike any Arizona Easter we’ve had so far. Usually we put the eggs outside & immediately have to start the hunt. Within minutes the chocolate is all melted & we can no longer tolerate being without a/c. This year was beautiful! It was in the 70s & so beautiful!
My parents came out for 3 days & enjoyed the holiday with us.

The kids didn't give Grandma any down time. They were bringing her books to read them only moments after after she awoke.

We had a small egg hunt at our house with a few of the kids closest playmates. I had hoped for it to be a little swim party/egg hunt; but with the non-swim weather, we called in a bouncer at the last minute. The kids had a blast! Sydney's friend Abby was playing with the roller-coaster car on the patio. Our tough little cookie snagged the car from Abby, insisting on putting it back where it goes. This picture is after she carried it about 20 feet.

After the party died down we played duck-duck-goose & ring-around-the-rosie in the bouncer.
On Saturday it was rainy, but we enjoyed the town celebration & egg hunt there. Later the girls went shopping while the guys went to the Science Center & Planetarium.

On Sunday Jeff & I went to church by ourselves.

(Sidenote: Next week Sydney starts Nursery! YEAH!)

When we returned we could see the Easter bunny had come. That tricky little bunny had set up a scavenger hunt. The kids were totally into it & were excited about each clue. Once they reached the final destination Ty couldn’t find the baskets, but Sydney did. She got a Barbie Jeep & Ty got a nerf gun he had been wanting.

We love the egg hunts, bunny, toys & candy, but more than that we love Christ. It's been fun to see Ty's little mind work as we share story & testimony with him. We hope you all had a great Easter as well!

The Busy Simple Life

I don't know what I did with my time before I had kids. Here is what we've been up to lately:

Friday: After teaching Preschool, I realized Sydney was being quiet...never a good sign. She got the soap pump from the bathroom. The aftermath...

I don't know if she was trying to wash her hair or her tutu, but she suceeded.

Saturday: I did not make bows. Hard to believe, I know! Instead I built 2 frames & a new desk for our computer. We keep our computer in the kitchen. It was on a sad old microwave cart. I got to use my 2 awesome saws that I got for Christmas. With my grand carpenter skills (ha ha)...I didn't buy anything, just used scrap wood we had left from other projects. I'm sure someday I'll have it sitting by the curb with a 'free' sign, but for now it's my little masterpiece. Did I make you proud Tif??

The plan was to add doors to the inside part, but our printer is too big.

Monday (today): We had a fun day out. Now we are getting ready to go to Jeff's basketball game. It's the High School's Varsity team vs. the Staff. It should be a blast. Here we are preping the signs.

Thank goodness for washable markers!!


Tomorrow will be an exciting day of work & then a jewlery making Young Women's activity at my house. We love our simple, drama-free, yet crazy busy lives!

Fun & Funnny Times

We'll start with Sydney...She learned how to say hair bow in the last week or two. ALL DAY today she needed to be wearing a "wear-bow" and all her baby dolls needed one too. I was putting a new shirt on her & while pulling it up over her head I hear, "AH! My hair bow!" She was obviously mad that I messed up her cutsie hair. When relaying the story to Jeff I was reminded that while I was in labor with Ty the only negative emotion I showed was when Jeff put a wet washcloth on my forehead. I was afraid to ruin my hair. Yes, she is definitely mine. Here are some of her recent hairstyles:

Some friends & I have been doing a little Preshool for our kids. This was our craft for the week, an icing P decorated with marshmallows.

This is Ty's:

Then this one is Sydney's

Last but certainly not least. A close friend turned 30 last week. They had a luau with fun games & a sumo wrestling tournament. Jeff was taken in his first match. I beat out 2 girls, made it to the finals. Then a girl twice my size took me down in seconds. It was a blast. Here are the photos. Usually I don't post unflattering pictures of myself, but here we go...

Jeff: started off strong.

And, he's down. I think the dude karate chopped him:

This is my 1st match of the 3. Don't you love the hair?

I'm not hiding, just pushing:

I win! I was trying to help her up, but that wasn't a very logical idea.

The girls could barely walk in the suits. The guys were a different story. These are a few other great shots.

The night was a blast! It's great to have friends who know how to have fun.

A Visit from Auntie Jenna!!

This week Jeff's sister & her husband came to town. After a brief hello Aunt Jenna & Uncle Wyatt whipped out the toys & chocolates they brought. Ty was stoked about his mini pop-up tent. Now his toys can have their own camp-out. It certainly brought out the wild-child in him.

We visited at Hard Rock Cafe, let the kids swim at the hotel. The next day we took Jenna back to our house. We had a schedule conflict, so luckily she saved us by watching the kiddos.

The kids were thrilled to have such a fun playmate.

Jenna & Wyatt were in town to buy up fire arms & stock for their Utah gun & camping store: Gunnies. Jeff & a couple friends joined her at the gun show. They came home with many free hats, toys & stickers...

So the got sig? is refering to Sig Sauer - a pricy gun name. We told Ty to pretend he was holding a gun for the photo (great parents huh?). This was the best he could do...yes, we are posers.
It didn't take long for the couch & Sydney to also be covered in stickers.
It was great to see you Jenna & Wyatt. Hope you'll be back real soon!!

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!!