My little superhero...

Or eighty-year old granny...

But according to her, she is a " 'Credible"...She really likes The Incredibles. (c:

Amazing display...

We went to the Mesa Temple lights/concert tonight and spent quite a while wandering around and listing to the beautiful music...I was shocked when we went to leave and Caden said "I don't want to go, I want to keep listening to the beautiful music!" I know, right? Totally shocking. (c:

No, we don't have a problem with violence in our family...

This is how Auntie Cherish likes to play with her niece and nephew....

Our sweet little girl...where does she learn this stuff?!?

Halloween Time!!!

I really wish we had been more creative for Halloween this year, but between school, work, kids, and well, life in general, I felt a little unmotivated! I mean, we didn't even take the kids real trick-or-treating (it was sunday and we figured they won't remember anyway, right?)...I know...we are busy scarring our kids for life. But they had a blast at the trunk or treat at church and Caden was busy telling us that "everyone thought I was AWESOME" because of his motocross costume and his 4 wheeler that he got to ride to the church. Skylar was less than impressed with her costume, she was telling Daddy "NO PRETTY!! NO PRETTY!!" when he tried to put it on because we told her it was a pretty costume and apparently she also wanted a motocross costume. *sigh* So much for my little princess, huh? (c:

My little monsters...




Our Halloween dinner this year didn't turn out near as cool as when Debbie (my MIL) does it, she always does something really cool and creative (and I love that she does it and I don't have to! Love ya Mom!)...but we tried to make it special because it was doubling as Skylar's birthday party. It was actually a lot of fun and the kids were going crazy on a sugar high by the end...a success, right? Right.

The "new" temple

Since the kids are used to the Albuquerque temple, we thought we would introduce them to the "new" temple in Mesa...turns out we aren't that creative for our FHE ideas...don't judge. (c:

Cousins...

This was forever ago that Kara, Garrick, and the girls visited us...but we had so much fun and the kiddos were so cute together, I just thought I would share...


I don't know why it's publishing these pictures so small...stupid blogger...and not me

My baby is 2! *sniff*

It's little Skylar's birthday today and I can't believe my little girl is already two! It seems like yesterday that we were deciding on baby names. She is such an active little thing and talking/babbling up a storm. Sometimes we wish we could get her to sit and be quiet for just 30 seconds, but then we remember that someday soon she will be a teenager that won't talk to us at all and we are grateful for the constant "mommy!!!daddy!!!mommy!!!daddy!!!" (c: She is a typical two year-old that wants to do everything by herself...get her food/drinks, pick out clothes/shoes, put in dvds...which she is obsessed with "How To Train Your Dragon" and "Up" right now (only she calls them the "dinosaur" and the "doggie"). She and Caden are pretty good friends (except when they're not) and she pretty much thinks her brother is awesome. We love our little Sky Sky and are so glad to have her in our little family.

Take a deep breath...

I don't know why it freaks me out to put this out there, but I started another blog. There I said it. It's not a big deal, but for those of you who know me and my obsession for interior design, I just felt like it was a nice creative outlet. For all you mommies out there, it really is a must for those days when you are about to strangle someone! If it's not your thing, I understand. And I don't mind if you think it's silly (because it kinda is), but I'm sorta hoping that I'm not the only one who ever looks at it! (c:

I called it All Things Bright and Beautiful

There. I feel better now.

That is until I realize that I really am the only one looking at it! (c:

Who knew Elmo was so funny?!?

This is what hanging out with a one and three year-old has done to me...we watched this clip about 50 times today with Caden laughing hysterically...Awesome.

New Master Fisherman...

Yes, daddy might have to give over the title after his little girl caught a fish *all by herself* at not even two years-old. She didn't even have bait on there! Those poor fish must have been desperate! Don't worry, we threw the little guy back...relatively unscathed...

What I know...

is a very short list...*BUT* it has definitely been growing as we are enjoying (mostly) our new experience of living in a new place, with new people, and without our wonderful families. (wiping a little tear from the corner of my eye) We have gotten settled in our new abode and I can almost get where I need to go without a GPS! (almost) Josh is chugging along at school and cursing the day he got the thought "Hey, maybe 3 more years of school would be a good idea..." (c: Caden set the record for fastest to be banned from nursery (no, I'm not kidding, but that is a story for another time, or never) and is looking oh-so-grown-up in Sunbeams. (wiping another little tear) Skylar is taking the move like a champ...besides getting more and more "two year-old like" every day. And I don't mean that in a good way, more in a "throwing tantrums, talking back, and torturing Caden" kind of way. (c: We very, *very* much miss all our dears back in the Burque, but we think we will do just fine on our own. Do I sound convincing yet?

Things I know:

Caden is absolutely OBSESSED with trains...these pics are from Santa Fe and the trip to/from on the Rail Runner. You might think moving would calm his passion, but quite the contrary...now we live even closer to train tracks!




These little guys can seriously cut a rug (as demonstrated at the Abq Aquarium) and actually really like each other. Big sigh of relief. (c:


Skylar *L*O*V*E*S* to talk...not that she actually says anything...but loves it. And telephones. Because they facilitate the talking, natch. See? I'm already picking up the local lingo...not really. (c:






Skylar is also super silly...I'm sure she gets it from someone besides me...maybe


Caden loves soccer gear...no, not soccer...just the gear. Especially if it belongs to his cousin Rylee. Thanks Rylee!


And we ALL know now that the only way to be outside in good ol' AZ is if you are in a pool...even if it's the inflatable one on the back porch!


Loving Life.

Where did you go???

Well, we moved to Arizona...sorry for the abscence and I'm sure we will be up and running again soon...I know you all are waiting on pins and needles! (c:

Awesomeness

I mean, seriously people, it's just not summer without rolling down a grassy hill...or whatever Caden is doing here. Hmmm....I'm not really sure...

My Heart is in the Garden...

...but only when Skylar is there helping Grandma Debbie! Doesn't it look like she is just a *ton* of help?

It's official...we're headed to Phoenix!!!

We are so excited that it's finally official and we will be moving to Phoenix for school in the fall! That's right Kara, Cherish, and Ryan...we're comin' for ya!!! (c: And ridiculous 120* summer days, too. Drat.

Aren't the *kids* supposed to get tired???

I thought that signing the kids up for swimming lessons would be a great way to tucker out the little ones and keep them entertained. EPIC FAIL. All I have accomplished is tuckering myself out!!! (c: But they have had a great time...Caden learning to swim and Skylar...well, doing what Skylar does...but definitely not swimming. He loves his teachers (most of the time) and won't leave Chase alone. EVER. I think he has a man-crush.

*LOVE*

We hope everyones summer looks as good as ours does...

Can you believe I did this??? Neither can I...

For some odd reason, I decided that I was going to reupholster our wingback chair...myself. Yes, I think I am weird, too. But I really like projects and since I didn't much care for the fabric it was upholstered in, it went from this...


To this...


Now I know that depending on your taste, this might not be an improvement!!! (c: But obviously (since I am making you read an entire blog post about it...) I was pretty darn proud of myself! Free chair, a couple dollars of fabric and some elbow grease later...

Another Conversation with a Three Year-Old

As we are passing the Albuquerque Temple...

Caden: Oo! Oo! Mom, look it's the temple!
Me: Oh yeah! Should we sing the temple song? (I start singing...)
Caden: Mom, what do we do in the temple?
Me: Well, we pray and listen and learn.
Caden: But you have to be married to go to the temple.
Me: No, you don't have to be married, you can go in when you're twelve.
Caden: I'm not twelve yet...but I'll be big soon!
Me: Yep and then you can go in.
Caden: And then I'll get married in the temple! When I'm big like daddy! And when Skylar is big like you, then I will take her to the temple and marry her.
Me: (trying not to laugh) Well, I think when you're big you might find a girl that you would like to marry more than Skylar...
Caden: NO!!!! I'm going to marry Skylar 'cause I *LOVE* her!!!
Me: Okay, okay...I guess if you still want to when you're big you can do that...

I just saw no more point in arguing and trying to explain that we would like our family tree to have branches on it...pretty cute, though...(c:

I hope they call me on a mission...

We welcomed home Josh's brother Eli from an honorable misson served in the Birmingham, AL mission...it's always so fun to see guys fresh off the mish! We are having a ball getting reaquianted with ol' uncle Eli. As you can see, Caden didn't need much convincing...

They are so sweet...

WHEN THEY ARE SLEEPING!!! This is our favorite moment of our recent trip to Phoenix (no, it wasn't a pleasure trip, Josh was taking final exams...)
My favorite part is Caden's Dorito mustache...

Cousin Cuteness...

Um, yes, as a matter of fact, I am a dork. But they really are just so cute together. We were just so glad to see our cousins...Caden still just adores Rylee, and Skylar and Jayden...well, let's just say the love isn't quite as obvious. It's the age, right? (c: We just hope they still like us enough to come visit again! (c:

Okay so we're a little obsessed...don't judge

I guess we have developed a little obsession with the Jemez since we have been there the last three weekends in a row...this weekend we decided to actually stay overnight and go "tenting" like Caden has been *begging* us to do for weeks. I don't know if it lived up to the hype, but the kids looked pretty at home up there...

The happy campers (right after we arrived so they are still relatively clean-looking)


Why does Skylar always seem to be eating? Do her parents not feed her???



Cute picture, right? But it was a fun overnighter...perfect for the two little rugrats...

Heat Wave

It's been so hot here lately (you AZ people quit laughing at that)...so we busted out Grandma Lisa's fancy swimming pool and the kids were in heaven! If only we were all so easily entertained...
The slide was a really big hit with both of them...but so was drinking from the pool. Ew.

I just love this picture of Skylar, what a silly kid!

Just out of curiosity...does anyone know of some good and cheap swimming lessons for little ones??? (c: Just wondering.

I love the mountains...

They are so relaxing and the kids love it...thank goodness there are the Jemez so close by! We entertained ourselves hiking around, eating a picnic, throwing rocks in the stream...I know, it's way too exciting! But the kiddos had a good time and judging by the pictures, I'm pretty sure Dad did, too.

The Reluctant Graduate

So this is what we have been up to lately...getting Josh to graduate! I would be lying if I said that I was not SO RELIEVED that that part is OVER!!! Now for another three years...but we will think about that later. Josh did not want to go to his graduation ceremony at all, but someone *ahem* convinced him that it would be better to go, you know, for posterity and all. (c: I think he was glad he did, even if you can't tell from the pictures. Congrats Class of 2010!!!!

Just hand over that @#!$% thing and no one gets hurt! (c: I'm pretty sure that is what Josh was thinking at this point!

The only way we got Caden to take this picture was to bribe him with "yummy yums" as he likes to call them (M&Ms)...he looks super happy doesn't he???


The future graduate...hopefully...(c: