Good to Know

Good to know that people actually still read my blog. I can't believe I have gotten a single comment on my Colorado Post. Maybe I just need to post more life changing events on here... I'm happy to say we don't have any more life changing events (that I'm aware of)...
And, Ashley, OF COURSE I've thought of the scenery! :) And thr prices just jacked a few weeks ago.
Thanks for actually commenting, my sweet friends! Good to know I'll be missed at least a little.

Change

I'm sure all of my faithful readers (which is only my dear, sweet Grandmother) have noticed I've been a little MIA for a while. We have had a LOT going on. On top of my time intensive calling with the young women (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE), being the busy mommy of three, starting school/preschool, trying to get my tooshie in shape, and taking a photography class, Bryan and I have been doing a LOT (L.O.T.!!) of praying. We have had several opportunities to buy into different practices here in Phoenix. None have felt right. Bummer... Then, about a year ago some close friends told us about an opportunity in Colorado. I have nothing against Colorado... never thought I'd live there, but I hear it's a nice place. As the year went on we took the idea more seriously leading to a few trips up there to meet with owners/potential partners, etc. I FELL IN LOVE with Colorado Springs. It reminds me of Poway. (just in the feel of the place... not the weather. :)) About 2 weeks ago, Bryan got a call from a guy who was looking to sell his practice. We prayed about it, went to the temple, prayed some more, flew up, prayed some more, looked into it, prayed some more, and then finally agreed to it. After we wrote a big, fat check we got in the car and I immediately burst into tears.... and didn't pull it together for at least 30 minutes. Since Wednesday when this happened I have cried more than I thought possible. I cried when I told my presidency. I cried while listening to Bryan tell his Mom (that was a hard one!!), I cried when I told the Bishopric member over the Young Women, I cried when I told the Young Women, I cried while telling friends, I cried while discussing it with friends that knew it was coming... BUT, I am SO excited! I am excited for what opportunities lie ahead. I'm excited to have Bryan home a million times more than he currently is. I'm excited to try another place. I'm excited to drive around and stare at the Rockies!! I'm excited to grow closer to my little family. I'm excited to decorate another home. I am going to miss Arizona SO SO much! I have made the best friends EVER while I've lived here. I have grown so much as a person. Bryan and I have started our lives here together as well as had three children. There are far too many memories to list in a single blog and I'm sure the tears will not stop coming for probably another 2 years until we are beyond settled in Colorado. I just wish I could transplant all the people I love here up there... to enjoy the amazing summers and suffer with through the snowy winters. But I can't... trust me... I've more than begged some of them to come with me. So, beginning November 1st, Bryan will be up there working away while I tie up loose ends here. I hope to be up there with the kids by Thanksgiving. Change is a good thing... right?

Isn't it beautiful?

Not real sure how I'm going to handle this... this will be the first winter EVER where Bryan or I will have a white Christmas... wish us luck!

Cheer Practice

It all started with the Ladies wanting to try being lifted up like little cheerleaders. They did great... my kids? Well, now, that's another story. Carter wanted to be lifted up but opted for the "I'm number one" fingers. Addilyn just screamed the whole time because that's what the Ladies did. We had a blast swimming at my parents house. And it hasn't gone unnoticed how... reflective we all are. We're a pasty bunch. :)

Gracie, Jayden, Candin, and Abby.

Coolest Thing EVER

As mentioned in the previous post, my friend Jaime TOTALLY hooked us up at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. We took the kids to feed the giraffes on the safari tour. You have to be six... minor problem since Carter just turned 5 and Addilyn just turned 3. So, we had an impromptu birthday party for my "twins". We told Addilyn that she was 6! Carter understood why he had to... fib. We had her completely trained: "Addilyn, how old are you?" "SIX!" So, off to the giraffes we went. The kids did great. They weren't even scared. The giraffe that we fed was 2 years old and his name was Maliki (I think?). He was a little pushy and clearly NOT scared of people. He also wanted every last leaf he could smell. It was a once in a lifetime experience. And, Jaime, you're welcome for not showing any preggo pictures of you in your fancy little work uni. I DO have some so you best be nice to me! :)
Addilyn, giggling with delight as the giraffe snagged the leaf from her hand.

It's scarier than it looks. I was giggling... but it was a nervous giggle.

Kelly making eyes at her new friend.

He really had Grace backed into a corner. She thought it was awesome, of course.

Abby and her toothless grin.

See, Evelyn, purple tongues! Just like Aunt Jen told you! ;)

These guys were B.I.G.!! They are only 2 years old. I love the way they have to eat. So cute, huh? Too bad we weren't allowed to pet them.

Wild Animal Park

We headed to the Wild Animal Park while we were in San Diego last month. It was nice to escape the heat of Phoenix and spend time outside in San Diego... except that it was so stiflingly hot and humid this particular day I thought I was literally breathing jacuzzi water. It was SO gross.... but worth it. :) My super awesome friend Jaime took us on the adventure of a life time. (That gets it's own post, though.) The kids got to hold a (literally) priceless rhino horn. The rhino that lost it is one of less than 10 of her kind left in the world. (Jaime, if you read this and any info is wrong email me so I can correct it.) She had one literally grow under it and shove this one out of the way. Random fact of the day: did you know that rhino horns are made of HAIR. That's right. Like what we grow on our heads... How crazy is that? It was so cool!
(Grace is in the pink; Abby in the purple.)

Touching giraffe skin.

Taking a ride. You can see how hot she is. And her hair was WET from sweat. Poor thing.

All 4 of the kids. (Pres stayed home with our awesome sitters.)

Touching a boa constrictor.

How Can This Be?

Our sweet little (ok, so she's not that little...) Preslee is ONE! She turned one a few weeks ago. (I know, slacker Mom alert... just had lots going on). We had a family shin dig (pictures coming soon) and let our little chunk dig into her very own beautiful cake! (Props to Erika for making it!!)
At the risk of sounding like every other doting mom on the face of the earth, I canNOT believe she's one. This one is hitting me hard. Maybe because she's the last (go ahead and internalize that: we are DONE!) or maybe because the past year has flown by. We have loved watching her grow and adore her sweet personality already. Don't get me wrong, she's a red head for SURE. She's got some spice and spunk, but that's one of the things we love about her.
She takes her food VERY seriously (as evident by the thighs) and already loves playing with her big brother and sister. She's a crawling machine and on the verge of walking; although I'm sure she'll make me wait a while for that one.
Like Carter, Addilyn, and me, she's addicted to Daddy. When he comes in she will make her presence known until he comes and gives her loves. Preslee's for sure our climber. She can get onto the coffee table if there is anything at ALL around it to give her a little boost. Same with the couch. Patience is not her strong suit. (a trait from Mommy.) She's an early bird (NOT from Mommy). She's a laugher and, boy, is that laugh infectious! It makes the entire family laugh. One of the things she does that makes me smile every time is her obsession with pillows. She loves to throw herself onto a pile of pillows. She will belly laugh every time, stand up, and do it again.
This girl has got it good. Everyone in the family just adores her. And rightfully so. She puts up with a lot of smothering and teasing... but she takes it all in stride. We love this little angel and our family would be absolutely incomplete without her!

La Playa

I love the smell of the beach air. There's something for refreshing about it.... and nostalgic for me, as well. Like all kids, my kids absolutely adore the beach as well. They run from the waves, play in the sand, get their toes wet... all the stuff I use to to as a kid.
I took two babysitters with me from here to help out with the kids because Bryan was here most of the time working. It was really nice (and saved me TONS of money!!) The kids really liked playing with the "big girls" too, which helped.
I love Carter's expression here.

There is just something about that gut! Don't get me wrong, I hope for her sake that it goes away by the time she's 12 but right now? SO CUTE!

PAPA!

Sunset. They are so beautiful there. (Although, I must say, sunsets are one area that AZ beats CA in... probably the only area.)

Jayden and Preslee.

Firecrackers

While we were in San Diego we went to the swap meet (which deserves an entire blog post of it's own... MAC make up for $5?!?!?!?) and I got some little sparklers for the kids. (This is where you envision my mom saying, "THAT IS A FELONY! They are going to burn down the ENTIRE neighborhood!!"- don't worry. They didn't.) The kids loved them. We got enough for them each to have several. We tried to wait for it to get dark but it was July and bright until 9 or something so that idea went out the window. I love that my kids are at such fun ages. They are so cool and I can do so many things with them. It's so different than the baby stage. :)

Abby, Carter, Addilyn, Grace, and Josh.

Seriously?

Out cold. What a goof ball.

Peek-a-boo!

One night while sleeping at my parents house I went in to check on the kids. They were sleeping on an air mattress that "had a little hole". Carter was easy enough to find but I could not find Addilyn ANYWHERE! I was kinda getting worried until I moved the pillow...

I am over 100% sure that this picture will be burned/deleted/cursed over in years to come but I, personally, think it's one of the funniest pictures in the world. Don't worry, we moved them... and deflated the air mattress all together to alleviate any chance of someone suffocating.

Kid Zone

While we were in San Diego all of us took the kids to a fun little play place. There were so many things for them to do and an area in the middle with tables where all of the adults could sit. The kids had a blast and we had fun catching up.

This Shamu was bigger than Addilyn. She loved it!!

Abby, Carter, and Tag... with hanger guns on a pirate ship.
Addi, Grace, and Carter in the stuffed animal room.
LOVES! Not often I get a picture like this and even though it's not great of either of them, it's still blog worthy.

First Time in a Long Time

I found these AWESOME outfits on Etsy. (Shocking fact: Bryan? Not a fan... what a loser! ;)) Clearly, anyone with taste can see how fabulously adorable they are. Addilyn picked her color and I chose Preslee's. I am in LOVE with them and they will become part of my photography props as well.
Anyways, we headed over to a friend's house for a little photo shoot. She has a really neat home with great light and vintage decor. We had a blast. And by "we had a blast" I mean I remember how why I don't take pictures of my kids like this very often. I wanted to kill both of them and myself after it was over. GRRR!!! Worth it though, because I ended up with some cute ones. :)
I love this light. Moody and shadowy. Mmmmmm.... (but I love that gut more!)
I can not get this child to leave a bow in her hair for the LIFE OF ME! It irritates me to no end. She's got such awesome hair but at the ripe old age of 1 she has decided she doesn't like them. Turkey.

So angelic, right? Don't be fooled! (kidding... she's so stinking cute!!!)

Love this baby... and we got one before she ripped the flower out!

Thanks Tatum for the good time. There are more pictures to come once I finish editing. My computer has been on the fritz.