Congratulations Spencer!
We had a pretty good turnout for Spencer's graduation. I know he really felt the love and support given to him. He will be the first person to tell you High School is not easy. Even though it took him longer than expected he never gave up.
We love you!

Cami & Spencer

Spencer doing his thing!

Golden & Spencer

From Storage Bin to Fan-plastic Pool

Last summer the kids would pretend this storage bin was their pool.

A couple of days ago Jolie was wondering where the bin went and wanted to find it.

The kids did grow this past year (shocking I know) so we had to retire the bin and.....

Upgraded to this!

Ben surprised the kids this morning with the pool.
They were ecstatic and played out there all day.

I don't know what we are going to do when we move into the new house next month...

The whole yard is dirt.

Yikes!

Bees in my Backyard

Spring time is my favorite season.
The trees are leafing out.
Flowers are blooming.
Our grass is green again.
My kids play in the hose water everyday.
Little baby birds are exploring. (check out the new baby owls at the Home Depot garden center in Prescott Valley)
AND....
Bees are creating hives in our apple tree!

We watched as a massive swarm of bees flew into our backyard and started making a hive in the apple tree within minutes. There had to be a thousand bees hanging on this one branch. The pest control people wouldn't do anything for 48 hours! It was a bit frightening to let the kids go outside to play and I wasn't going to wait 2 days for something to be done. Ben swooped in and saved the day with a can of wasp killer. After they tried to rebuild a third time we sprayed all the trees and flowers down with a jet of water. I think it is finally safe to venture outside.

Jolie's T-ball Game

Who knew t-ball involves tackling and wrestling for the ball?!? These kids are so funny to watch. They really have no clue that it's okay for another teammate to get the ball. It's a fight to the end to get the ball. After someone comes out of the pile with the ball the last thing they want to do is throw it home.

Jolie fighting for the ball

Coming out with the ball

Chillin' on the bench

Up to bat

Running home

Bronson enjoying the game

Easter at the Mason's
It was totally raining during the egg hunt. Of course that didn't stop the kids.
Sorry no egg dying pictures. At that time Ben was off with the camera.

Zane, Bronson, Max, Justin, & Jolie

Bronson spent the whole time in Gus's room playing with the train set. It was hard to get him to come do the egg hunt. Right when the egg hunt was over he went straight back to the train.

Jolie's favorite part was hangin' out in the jacuzzi. She was there way past everyone else. Crazy little water bug.

Jolie's Very Fancy Birthday Party!

We made fancy purses....

dressed up in our fanciest clothes...

(here's Jolie totally peeking)

played pin the jewel on the tiara...

took some fancy pictures....

decorated fancy cupcakes...

ate fancy food....

After all that fancy stuff the girls had to just let go. Running around and going crazy was the best part!

Happy Birthday Jolie!
Our little Jolie Bear turns 6 today! Of course Jolie has been telling everyone for weeks that she is "practically 6". She just can't wait to be older. It doesn't matter how old.....just older. Why is that when we're young all we want to do is grow up and be big and now that we're adults we just want to be kids again?

Rocket Ship

Ben and the kids made this box rocket ship in one of the rooms over at the new house. We filled the ship with pillows, toys, blankets, and a DVD player. The kids will play in there for hours. Its totally great. While they are hanging out I can get tons done over there.

Luck from a Leprechaun

Jolie has been obsessed with leprechauns for the past few weeks. It's a constant topic of conversation. The other day it was getting to be a little too much and I had to break it to her that leprechauns are not real and that they are only make believe. Mean, I know, but I had been painting all day over at the new house and was driving the kids home, exhausted. This was our conversation.....

"Mom! When we get home you have to get me a box so I can make a trap to catch a leprechaun!"
"Not tonight Jolie. When we get home we have to get ready for bed and I'm way too tired to find a box. How about we make the trap tomorrow?"

"Mom! You're not listening to me!" (that's her phrase of the week) "I need a box to make a trap. We have to find some shiny stuff to attract the leprechaun. Then when he tries to take the shiny stuff we have to stare into his eyes without blinking and say.....Take me to the end of the rainbow so I can have your gold!"

(What in the world are they teaching our kids at school?)

"Jolie I WAS listening to you. We don't need to trap a leprechaun and take his gold. But if you really want to make a trap we'll do it tomorrow."

"Mom! I have to do it when we get home. I have to trap him tonight! If we get the gold then we'll be rich and you don't have to work or paint anymore!"

I about died. Looking at it from her perspective makes a lot of sense, but after her relentless efforts to convince me just about drove me crazy, I had to let her know that leprechauns are just make-believe and there's no pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I don't enjoy dashing my kids' dreams, but my sanity was at stake here.
....

Like a month ago....


....My Grandpa Merrill was visiting down in Mesa. Since he lives up near Yosemite National Park in CA and we never make it up there, me and the kids went down to Mesa to see him....

(Lacey, Summer, Grandpa, me, Brooke)

(Spencer, Kyle)

....Also my cousin Kyle Gray just returned home from his mission. He lives in Provo, UT. His family was also visiting Mesa which gave us another reason to go visit.

It was so great to see family. We love you guys.

Bronson is such a spaz when he gets out of the bath tub. He has this little dance he does whenever he's getting dressed.

We are having a baby Girl!?!?!

Well according to Jolie....

Today in testimony meeting Jolie said "...I love my mom and dad and brother and baby sister coming in June..."

That's news to me...We still don't have a clue.

Boy or Girl?

We'll see if her intuition is right.

I was hangin' out with some friends the other night and got the comment that I was "dead to the world right now." This is however Sad but True. Between painting over at the house every day, potty training Bronson, working nights at the event center, and keeping up with all the other nonsense I don't have time for blog posts or really anything else.
So today I took some time and added some of the most recent things going on. Hopefully this month I will make more time for the important things like family and friends. For now we are still alive and keeping busy.

Happy Birthday Golden!

Today is my brother's birthday. He turns the BIG 30! This picture was taken years ago on the 4th of July. I still give Spenc props for this punch. Anyways....Golden have a great Birthday!

Student of the Month

I got a notice from Jolie's school saying that she would be receiving a certificate at an awards ceremony. Bronson and I headed over to the school to see what this was all about. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she got "Student of the Month" for December and her friend Bryant was Student of the Month for January. I thought these two kids were a couple of trouble makers. Who knew?

Unexpected Visit!!

A couple of weeks ago my sister Cami and her son Carter wanted to get away from the Utah snow so they ventured down to Sunny AZ!
We had a blast hangin' out and entertaining the kiddos.
My mom came up on Saturday and a BBQ was a must.
Thanks to Cami,Carter, and my Mom for coming. We love you guys!

Whether we've had a good 2008 or not, let's put our all into 2009 and make it a better one!

Santa At The Mall

The kids were so excited to see Santa! Bronson kept staring at him like he couldn't believe santa was right there....while Jolie kept blabbering about what she wanted and that she was very good this year. She asked Santa for a Super Ball, and Santa said he would grant her wish. Well, it turns out that a Super Ball is something from a cartoon that doesn't exist! We'll have to find a way to change her mind...

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast!
Jolie and Bryant (her friend in Primary) got put in the same Kindergarten class at school. They are now on their third teacher this year. That's right THIRD teacher. I can't begin to tell you how ticked I am at the school and hope that this teacher stays till the end of the school year.
Anyways......
All the Kindergarten classes got together for a Thanksgiving Feast. I think the other Kindergarten teachers are all buddies because their classes came to the feast decked out in Indian attire. But Jolie and Bryant's class came 20 minutes late and had only Pilgrim hats. It was really sad. Most of the food was gone and they only had a short time to eat. I'm pretty sure their class gets the shaft on most things.
Minus all the stuff that drove me crazy that day I am thankful for Jolie's ability to do very well in school and her ever-growing mind. I see great things to come for this girl.