Lacrosse!!!!

Karsten has decided Lacrosse is his new absolute favorite sport ever in the whole world. It's awesome. I'm just happy that my car has some folding chairs in it again. We missed those. :)

Kar's team has had only had a handful of practices but they had a tournament this past weekend. This tournament was supposed to happen in December but was rained out twice. So here we go! I think only a few players on the 20 something roster have actually even played in a legit game before so we weren't expecting a win. The first game was pretty brutal, I had a quick chance to talk to Kar before the second game and asked how he felt. I said he LOVED it! So even though they lost, he was still stoked! That makes my heart happy. 

 My little man on the field in action. 

 Kar and his best buddy, Aidan.

Expect many more pictures of this little dude this season. We are so excited for this new adventure!

Payson New Year's 2015

After a busy Christmas (lots of family), a quick trip to Sedona after Christmas, we thought it was appropriate to take another road trip to visit my parents in Payson. We LOVE to go to Payson, definitely one of our favorite places to be.  There is something about being at your mom's house that is so relaxing and comforting. Our plan was to head up after I worked a few hours on New Year's Eve; but Mother Nature had other plans. The storm I was supposed to avoid by driving up that afternoon hit New Year's Eve morning and it hit the Valley and Mountains HARD! By the time we were ready to head out, they had closed the highway. We were so sad! We drove around, getting gas and lunch, hoping by the time we were done they will have opened the highway. Nope! Still closed. We went home to wait. My mom kept telling me to come up the next day, but I knew we could make it up that day, I would make sure of it. I kept refreshing the highway website that listed the closures and after another hour, I noticed it was open! I had my mom verify that I read everything correctly (I had) and we were on our way!!! I knew I had a crazy drive ahead, but I didn't realize what I was getting into. Luckily I have a car that has 4 wheel drive, so I was fairly confident we would make it. That drive was very tense and scary a few times, but we made it to Payson safe and sound . . . and my kids were over the moon about the snow! 

Here is a picture of the two lane highway we drove on. It was down to one lane in the middle because the snow kept piling up on the sides of the road and the snow plows couldn't keep up with the snow. I followed a Jeep most of the way to Payson. 

This picture was taken about 5 minutes after we made it to my mom and dad's house. Quick change into snow clothes and they literally just flopped down on the snow. This is in my parent's driveway, the kids didn't even make it into the front yard! 

Happy happy little munchkins!

 Snow Mama. Happy to be here! 

 The next day after playing in the front yard again, it was time to go sledding! This hill was super close to the house and so fun! Here goes Lala Jane!

 We convinced Daddy to take a break from work and come up for the day. He decided to take on the sled hill once too!

 My daredevil little guy, sledding on his belly, face first.

 Another great things about my parent's house is all the CUTE animals they have. Here is the newest addition, Miss Tiffany. She's super cuddly, soft and chubby. We fell in love instantly!

 My favorite picture from the weekend. This was taken later on in the day, after sledding. They absolutely loved being outside in the snow; they loved jumping in it, laying in it, eating it. My desert rats have turned into snow bunnies! 

Thanks Mela and Papa Rich for the best few days! We loved being with you and had so much fun. I can't think of a better way to ring in the New Year! Love you!

Annual Summer Trip to Nana & Papa's Cabin

Shauna and I always coordinate our summer trips to Pinetop/Lakeside to visit my Grandparents.  The kids have so much fun together and so do we! Here's our trip this year. After we spent a couple of days at Nana and Papa's cabin, we went to visit Shauna's mom and daddy.  They had a new fluffy, BIG puppy that my kids were obsessed with! Gemma is so amazing! We made a stop in Payson for the night on our way home to visit Mela and Papa Rich of course. Love having family in the mountains of Arizona. It makes for the BEST weekend getaways during a long hot summer!

Addie is my long lost baby. She is my special special girl!

We got to celebrate Bella's birthday while we were up north as well!

Shauna sneaking a taste of Bella's ice cream cake before we brought it out. I, of course, had nothing to do with the making of this cake, but helped keep Shauna's wine glass full while she slaved in the kitchen!

Jon Jon having some cake!

Beautiful Bella and Shauna

Annual picture on the patio before we took off.  Nana took it since she was still in her flannels and didn't have her "face" on. 

Kars with Gemma. He SO wants a big dog!

Ella Jane with Gemma. Gemma was so good and let the kids pet her to death!

Beans on the way home. Too much fun!

Karsten's favorite place to be - on Mela's lap, playing her phone. Someday he will be too big!

Cardinals Football Camp

Um, what?! Cardinals Football Camp with all the new rookie players on the Cardinals Team? And my little buddy gets to go? And play? And learn drills with them?? Holy crud! I thought Karsten's head might explode when I told him! It was super hot, but so fun. The girls were really good and patient. He had the best time and completely passed out in the car on the way home! The football players were so sweet and cool. What an awesome opportunity! 

Wienermobile.

What are the chances we will see this again in our life? 

Well, maybe, I guess. But it's been a looooong time since I've laid my eyes on this vehicle so we had to stop and play!

The Wienermobile is making it's way around this beautiful country over the next year and made a pit stop in Gilbert. We got Oscar Meyer Wiener Whistles and I found these three hot dogs as well!

Mmmmm, hot dogs. :)

Goodbye First & Third Graders!

 I think I get more sad on the last day of school than on the first.  

There is something so final about the end of school. 

Another year has gone by.

The kids keep growing older.

(And so do I!)

It gets harder and harder to say goodbye to these grades as Karsten and Ella progress through school. 

So many different challenges and interesting things await us in the coming times. 

This was a good year though . . . we had great teachers, the kids did so well in school, fun friends. 

I have to brag a bit - Karsten ended up with straight A's, and improved on his percentages in every subject from the last quarter. 

Ella is meeting and even exceeding her subjects at school as well.

 (They don't give grades yet for Ella, so I just have descriptions for her.)

I am so proud. 

Just look at those monkeys - who wouldn't want to be their Mama?! 

Well, Hello Summer, we have missed your lazy days, full of vacations, movies and swimming. 

Much more fun to follow in the coming months. 

But goodbye to my first and third graders, I will see a second and fourth grader soon!

Football's OVER!

It was a great season! This was Karsten's second time playing in this league and I think we found a home with this team. We met some great teammates and families and had so much fun! We are hoping to stay with this coach and a few other players for next season as well. Three months and counting til fall season starts! :)

Here are some pics from Karsten's playoffs.  The teams play until they lose - all day if that's what it takes. Going into the playoffs, the Cardinals were 4 and 4 - right in the middle of the pack. 

We expected to win the first game, but beyond that, not much else. 

Here is a picture of our "camp". Lots of folding chairs and umbrellas.

Here is Karsten scoring a touchdown during the first game which we WON! Yay!

Now onto the next game . . . 

 The team we were playing in the second round was considerably better, but these boys played perfectly and they WON AGAIN! Holy moly, it was exciting!

Karsten prevented the other team from scoring by pulling this kid's flag at the one yard line.
He got it! He got it!

 Here is the team celebrating after their second WIN!

The third game we played was as tough as the second.  It came down to a one point difference, and we lost. But there was nothing to be sad about, these boys and coaches were amazing this day and everyone had so much fun cheering them on!

(I may have been hoarse the next day. :))

My little guy when we got home - he slept for hours!

Go Cards! These little guys are awesome football players!

Busted Chin

So when I received the call from the nurse at the kids' school, my first thought was one of them threw up, or wasn't feeling well.  I never thought, in a million years, that she would tell me Karsten had an accident on the playground, hurt his chin and may need a stitch or two. 

 I raced to his school mid-day, and took him to the ER to be checked out.  

Karsten SO did not want stitches - he was very worried and upset about the thought of getting them. Luckily, he was able to get this thing called "glue".  It kept the skin together to let it heal like stitches, but without the scar (or needles!). Karsten would have said yes to anything the doctor suggested as long as he didn't say "stitches". 

So we left with "glue", a nasty bruise and instructions for no football or swimming for a week. That was a loooooong week, for both of us and when time was up, I was so happy for him to go run around!

With the "glue" on . . . 

 A few days after the accident . . .

Happy this is behind us, though I'm not betting on the fact that that was our last time in an ER. 

Raising a boy . . .  never a dull moment!

And the football saga continues . . .

My man LOVES football.  He adores playing and I LOVE watching! 

Here are some action shots of my little guy playing. 

BTW, the last one of Karsten caching the football in the air, was for a TOUCHDOWN! :)

I am so lucky, I have my amazing family to help cheer Kars on. 

My sissy is always there and now Papa and Grandma Karen have joined me for games as well.  

When Mom and Papa Rich can, they make their way down the mountain for Karsten too!

One game, J and G tagged along with Papa and Grandma. 

Grandma made an awesome picnic lunch and we noshed on some good eats after Karsten's game. 

 I love how my Mom and Papa Rich roll . . . styling in their covered folding lawn chairs!

 And this is my little buddy, after every game  . . . he really does leave it all out on the field!

Crafty Ella

Ella loves to craft. She loves to make things, with paper and crayons, or other elements. She was given a sewing craft by Grandma Karen and she LOVED putting it together. The funniest part was when she pulled out these glasses and placed them on while she sewed.  Ella doesn't need glasses, they are fake, but she felt they were appropriate to wear while she made her stitches.  That's my funny girl. 

No rhyme or reason behind this picture of Karsten, 

I found it in my photo stream. 

It made me laugh and hope it does for you too!