Bella's first day of second grade.

Holding one of Grandpa Rick's Cavalier King Charles Spanial Puppies before dance class.

Lincoln's turn!

Wyn's first birthday. . .we had Cinnamon rolls (thanks Grammy Beth), eggs, and sausage and a little family birthday breakfast. For a present, Wyn got his very own roll of toilet paper and paper towells. The boy has an obsession with paper products . ..kleenex, wipes, toilet paper, paper towells. . .he can spot them a mile away and then, with a deliberateness and almost reverence, he begins to tear them apart. Slowly at first but then he really gets into it and goes to town!

Disneyland

Grammy Sherida and Wyn

These next two are for my friends Katie and Cory who didn't beleive that I was a level 7 space ranger or galactic hero. That's right. I got more than 1,000,000 points . . . so many that the counter thing didn't have the capacity to go any higher. It just stopped at 999,999. Eat your heart out Buzz Lightyear.

Disneyland June 2009

Wyn flirting with passersby in New Orleans Square.

Lincoln and Bella with the big guy.

Lincoln's first time on Grizzly Mt. River Run. See the gold star in the lower right? Those are Bella's Hannah Montana cowgirl boots Lincoln has on. They gave him the 1 inch he needed to get on that ride.

Grand Canyon

Guess who hiked the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim? Paul and I (with many friends) hiked down the north rim, across the bottom, and up the south rim. 24 miles. 95 degrees. "all in a days work." And dude, it was serious work (at least for me). We had a great time though. I had never been to the Grand Canyon before (shameful for an az-native), and it was absolutely beyond what I expected or imagined. I am planning on it again next year. Anyone else want to go?

Spring Dance Collection

Remember my post in the Fall about wishing to be on stage again? One of my dancers was unable to perform, and I took her place (that is why I am wearing so much make up). It was great fun . . . even the nerves backstage were fun in a wierd way.

L is 4!

Do you know any other 4 year old that wants to go bowling for his birthday? We took 4 of his friends bowling and then to Dairy Queen. It was the best kind of party--little planning, small number, and the kids all loved it. ALmost as fun as bowling itself was chasing the cosmo bowling lights all over the floor and dancing to the 90's dance hits they were playing. When was the last time you heard "No Limit" by 2 Unlimited?

Oahu

P had a convention in Oahu so we took W and made the most of it. North Shore, Pearl Harbor, PCC, Waikiki, all the usuals. Plus an unusual . . . we happened upon "Spam Jam." A huge party that occupied a few blocks and was giving away, you guessed it, SPAM! W was fantastic on the plane and loved the beach. He even learned not to eat the sand by the end of the trip--a skill he has since forgotten . . .

Easter

So we do the Easter bunny thing on Saturday instead of Sunday. My mom and sister decorated eggs with us and were able to come help hunt them which was so fun. I have posted pictures of what my kids and my house really look like on Easter, and then a posed one after church.

impromptu garage sale

B and L and two friends decided to have an impromptu garage sale on our front side walk. No takers for the items as priced. . . this was disappointing to my entrepreneurial daughter. After the success of previous weeks' impromptu bake sales, B was sure she was going to make a fortune. The story ends on a good note, however. We participated in a legit garage sale the next weekend and she made a bit of cash to add to her private stash.

Petting the Sting Rays at the Phoenix Zoo

B turns 7!

Because the chocolate fountain was such a huge success last year, we asked Gpa H for a loan again this year. B is not a huge fan of cake, but she loves dipping strawberries in melted chocolate. We also decorated flip flops, had a relay race, bounced in the bounce house, and climbed trees. All in all, B's kind of day.

New Years at Disneyland - January 2009

Lincoln worked really hard this whole last year to eat healthy, sleep, and exercise so he could grow tall enough for some of the big rides at Disneyland (okay, as hard as a 3 year old can). And he did it! He went on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Soarin' over California . . . he was pretty excited. Now, he is working on growing another 6 inches so he can go on Indiana Jones

Bella and Mickey Mouse. What would I do without Bella my helper? She is such a sweet girl.

Wynston's first trip to D-land. He did excellent. He even stayed up until midnight the first night so he could ring in the new year Disneyland style.

This was extra-fun. Liz, Paul's sister, came with us to Disneyland. She is moving to Phoenix this summer! We are so excited!!

Mom, Ty, and Missy were only with us in Disneyland for a Day and a night, but, you know us, we crammed a whole lot of playing into that time. Here is the whole crew. P.S. Bella and Lincoln both fell asleep in that car seat thing. . .

Christmas

Hands-down, Lincoln's favorite presents were bubble gum (the kind with sugar instead of NutraSweet) and this Nerf gun.

My cute niece, nephew, Bella, Lincoln, Wyn and I at the Phx Zoo.

Bella and her cousin Kate wore that Baby Bjorn around for a surprisingly long time. Wyn loved it, and the girls felt really grown up.

My Dad got Bell and Lincoln these helmets for Christmas. Lincoln loves riding his battery-powered quad in the wash by our house and is hoping to upgrade to a real one soon. . . these helmets are a step in the right direction.

Bella, my cutie, and Santa.