scorpions, friends and fun....oh my!

Pretty girls!
Just got home from a fast trip to Arizona to stay with the Fifes. I miss having Amy close by! We became so close when our kids were little, we literally spent almost every day together. First running together every morning and then hanging out making dinner or doing something fun with the kids later on. I have to say thank you to her sister in law for encouraging me to call Amy even though I didn't know her very well at the time. I think we were probably friends before we even came to this earth because she is like a sister. She brings out the best in me. The kids had a fabulous time at their house (which was beautiful!). They swam, hunted for scorpions(!) played badminton and hung out in the pool house. The girls were estatic because we took them to get the Twilight DVD at midnight and they stayed up watching it! Between the two of us we have 9 kids so most of our time was spent at home but Amy and I did sneak away for dinner and some fun at the MAC counter with the same sister in law that set us up 13 years ago. I will always cherish the relationship I have with her. She is defintely a friend forever. (It doesn't hurt that our kids also get along extremely well) It's worth that drive just to see them! Though next time I think I'll extend the trip longer cause it just wasn't enough time.
T playing football in the pool.
Girls goofing off on Cosette's bed

Lounging around by the pool

gone baby gone

My baby is driving! It's not even possible that that adorable headstrong toddler morphed into a beautiful headstrong teenager and is turning 16 next month! My baby is gone! (Though she probably thinks she was never a baby) It's hard to believe that much time has passed. I know just yesterday she was playing in the sandbox at Grandma's and wearing floaties at the pool. Why didn't anyone tell me they grow up so fast? Does that make me old? Cause I don't feel old yet...hmmm....I'll have to ask Grandma about that one. Zanna can't wait to celebrate her 16th birthday. I hope it's everything she wants it to be. Love you Zanna and I am soooo proud of you!

Catalina Trip

Scott and I took a trip to Catalina last week for a romantic getaway. His office gave us the trip for a Christmas present. Yeah Me! I got to enjoy it too. We had a great time. It was chilly and rained a bit, but we didn't let that stop us from exploring the island. This is Avalon Bay where the ships come in and is the most popular harbor on the island.
You can see the casino behind us that was built by William Wrigley Jr. the bubble gum magnet. He started up the tourist part of the island and there is alot of celebrity memorabilia in the restaurants and shops. People like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Cary Grant all vacationed there back in the day.
This is me by a buffalo. I found out that buffalos were brought to the island for a movie in the 20's and became so numerous that they actually had to ship some back to Nebraska to keep the population down. See, I learned something while I was there! We hiked to the Wrigley Monument (in the rain) and enjoyed the view. But mostly we just enjoyed eachother and the time to chill. I wish I could get away every month!

Frazzle Rock

It's been such a busy time of year with projects and such that I haven't had time to blog very much this year. Having four kids in three different schools is taking it's toll on me. It doesn't help that someone (Who shall remain nameless) forgets something and wants me to bring it to her at least three times a week. I drive to seminary two days a week, three different schools and after school activities every day. It's been kinda crazy. Not to mention homework! Science fair projects, book reports, mission projects, seriously, how do working moms do it? I can barely keep up on anything and I am home! Oh yeah, maybe I could stop using the computer because that's a time sucker right there. So in honor of feeling frazzled, I thought I'd post what I feel like I must look like at the end of the day...these lovely pics are me on my 16th birthday, courtesy of my friends.

This is what my hair looks like from behind, and usually still when I wake up.
And this is from the front when I am in a hurry to do my makeup. See I haven't really changed that much in the last 20 years.

London Bridge is falling down...

The London Bridge is not falling down...they just moved it to Lake Havasu! Who knew? I took a trip this weekend and ended up in Lake Havasu to visit my brother and his family and saw an amazing sight. The London Bridge. Yes, the one from the nursery rhyme and that song by Fergie. It was a short trip (if you can call any trip taken with four kids short) and we detoured to Big Bear for a snow day on the way home. It was great to visit Dan and Jess and family to see the new addition. New adorable addition named Elijah Burke Aston. It was so nice to visit them and see their new house and spend time together. We also got to visit Dan's classroom (he teaches at Lake Havasu High-GO KNIGHTS) It was fun to see him in his element. We had a great time and on the way home we took a detour and swung by Big Bear for a snow day.
Scott and I by the London Bridge

This is at the London Bridge in Lake Havasu.

An original phone booth "London's calling..."
A fashionable Lady always wears a hat!
Fun in the snow!

Carter's just along for the ride.
T and Scott throwing snowballs at eachother.
The guys helped Dan build a shed for his backyard.

At Elijah's blessing-what a blessing it is to have such a wonderful family!

The cousins-little did we know that they had been bribed by Grandpa to smile. With the Japanese candy that they all love, Hi-chews!

On the way home we stopped to collect some volcanic rocks. You can never have enough lava rocks right?

2009-We are Family

The adults trying to rock out-Amy played guitar like a rock star, I think Ty and Zanna were singing and Scarlett was taking a turn on the drums.

Ames and Sammy sitting at the kitchen table. Oh yeah, of course Buzz was there too!

Miss and I on New Year's Eve. Miss is rockin the "Hair-do!"

Scarlett has an amazing voice, Zanna already plays the hardest parts on drums and Ty working the guitar!

Mark and Lacey...what can I say? Great minds think alike! They were inseparable.

Taylor and Matt, too cool at 12 and 13. They are well on their way to teenager hood.

Well it's 2009. To catch up...we had the cousins for the holidays. We spent the new year rockin out on the rock band. We could start a family band ala "The Partridge Family" I'm sure. I have found that my children are extremely gifted in the music area...chips off the old block. (The old block being Scott, not me) I, on the other hand, stink. And that is putting it mildly. Back to Scott though, when I say "Old Block", I don't mean that really, though he is turning 4-0 this week. I feel bad that I haven't updated in so long, but as they say, no news is good news! We were extremely busy and happy over the holidays and I was so sad to see the cousins go. I wish they lived closer. We missed Dan and Jess, but hopefully (fingers crossed) will get to see them this week. They have a new member of their family. And baby makes three! Can't wait to see my new little nephew. Family is a blessing, I don't tell mine often enough how much I love them. I have an amazing family. Though they can be crazy at times...I won't hold it against them, if they don't hold it against me! We got to spend alot of time hanging out with my brother Paul and his wife Scarlett too, I love them so much! It was fun to be with them. It is extremely hard to let Amy go back to Utah. I miss her when she's gone. The month of January is already flying by!

Remember, Cherish, Love and Share

Remembering Christmases past is part of what makes Christmas Special. I love to see the love and joy on Carter and Lacey's faces!
Cherishing the special moments that are often too rare.
Loving your Dad so much you can't be next to him, you have to be on him!
Sharing you happiness and love with others. Remember the past, cherish and love now and share your love with others!