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!

Lunch with my favorite girls!

 I had lunch with some of my favorite people the other day - my sissy, my cousin and their two daughters, along with my little girl.  Ra was our choice and we sure did tear it up for a Saturday at noon!

I had to post pictures of my sister's parallel parking job. Granted she did it because I was way too freaked out to, but holy cow! You could fit a Prius next to my car with how far she is away from the curb! :) I made her pull in the driver's side mirror so it wouldn't get clipped from a passing car on Scottsdale road! :) Love you, Megs!

Oh these little girls . . . T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

Mmmm . . .  sushi!

Somehow I don't think this will be the last time these three will be clinking glasses!

Yep, all my favs on on park bench. My heart is full!

Happy Birthday Adelaide May!

Can you believe my niece (or my long lost baby) is ONE?! She is the super cutest and is really fun. We drove down to the Nordling homestead for her birthday party. I don't know how Shauna did it, she and Brandon flew in from Texas that morning, drove home and set up an awesome candy filled birthday party. Candy everywhere! My kids ate so much candy that Karsten thought he was going to puke as we were loading up to go home. Shauna thought that was funny as she handed me some plastic bags for the trip home. Thanks, Shauna. :)

Love this little Nordling face! 

Fun in the Pines

A few weeks after getting back from Indiana, we (the kids and I) took our yearly, summer trip up to see my Nana and Papa in their summer home in Lakeside/Pinetop. My Mom was in town also, so she joined us, as did my cousin, Shauna, and her two munchkins too. We all decided to pile in Shauna's Tahoe for the trek; it was a tight squeeze, but saved us some $ on gas!  

Right away, the kiddos went to playing. Little Jon was inside the older kids outside - little Jon Boy so wanted to keep up with them, he's such a cutie pie!

Bella and Jon Nordling

My handsome boy, Karsty Do!

On our way up, it started to pour rain! So we all got drenched as we unloaded the car. 

It was such a nice change to get into jeans and long sleeve shirts.

I'm pretty sure Karsten took this picture of his Me-la!

Ella and Kar keeping Jon occupied while we got ready for the day. 

Painting rocks is the BEST thing to do! My Papa pulls out rusty old coffee cans, a bunch of paint brushes and the kids go to town painting rocks, trees, coyote decor . . .

Ssshh, should we tell Ella her tushy is showing?

We went into town for a tiny bit, found a Pony Ride before the rain came pouring down again! 

It was fantastic. Love that rain!

Doesn't he look HUGE on that pony?!

Little Ella Bella.

Bella Boo, not super sure of the pony, so Shauna and Jon walked round and round so Bella felt more comfortable. That's a multi-tasking Mama!

Bella. Is. Such. A. Ham.

The Porch. This is where all the magic happens. 

Lots of reading, drinking, talking, drinking, eating, drinking . . . .

This is usually what happens after every rock paint party - a water hose party!

All cleaned up, snug as bugs in rugs!

My Papa and the great - grandkids after a walk. 

Me-la and Kar - they have a special bond.

My uber-tan Mama and Me! I am so lucky to have her as my Mama!

My Nana and Papa - aren't they fab?!

Shauna and myself with the g-parents. Love them more than anything!

Thanks, Nana and Papa, fantastic trip as always. Can't wait to see you back in the Valley! Loves!

Girlie Sleepover with the Second Generation

Shauna had the most fabulous idea - to have a girlie sleepover with our babies! 

So Shauna and Isabella, Meggy and Ava, joined Ella and I at our house for pizza, chocolate fondue, makeup, dress up, dancing and posing . . . oh there was so much posing! 

These little ones are so different, all with their own personalities; they really can hold their own.  

Strong and confident, sweet and sassy. We had a great time. 

It's now a annual event - one I will look forward to all year! 

Here they are dressed up in their favorite dresses.

Ella loves chocolate!

Bella is the BEST model, ever!!!

Ella taking cues from Bella!

Little Beans! She goes to the beat of her own drummer - she is quirky and sweet! 

I love her so.

This is just one of the MANY pictures of these girls posing. HA! They are fab!

 I wish you could see their shimmering faces - they really love make up!

Here's to all those girlie girls out there . . . as much as I love the make up and dress up, 

the time we had together was even more amazing! 

I love being with these fantastic women/girls! Love you!

Jon Brandon's Baptism

What a special day we had! My cousin Shauna baptized her son, Jon Brandon, and my sister and I were his god-mamas! So cool! So all our little ones were in attendance to celbrate and that spelled T-R-O-U-B-L-E! Actually, they weren't too bad, they were so fun and cute together, it's hard to stay mad at them when they are running around loving each other; even though it is in church!

Here's Ava, Karsten, Isabella and Ella

Karsten with his Great-Grandpa, Papa. I love this picture - look how Karsten is looking up at him, with such love and awe. I am so happy they have such a great relationship.

Brandon (Dad), Shauna (Mom), Lauren (God-father), Me and Megan (God-mothers). Karsten snuck up with me and was able to share a wonderful moment with us. 

The little one, being baptized, blessed by Pastor Steve.

I guess the service wasn't quite exciting enough for Ella, she needed to take a little snooze.

This warms my heart, my little man, not old enough to receive communion, but being blessed by Pastor Steve. Karsten thought it was so cool! He told his sissy all about it; as soon as she woke up!

The Nordling Family

The parents and the god-parents.

Back at the Gleason Family Home, lots of T-R-O-U-B-L-E! The kids had a whole room of toys to play in, and it got a little crazy. I think some of the other adults were scared to go in there! Ha! Don't let those smiling, innocent faces fool you.  I'm so incredibly happy that they have each other. My relationships with my cousins is a huge part of my life; having them around, enhanced my life immensely. I hope these little ones find the same friendships in each other!

The sweetest, little cuddle bug, Mr. Jon Brandon. He is so loving! After Jon was born, Marky was so smitten with him. Mark even wanted another baby! Crazy man. I told him we could get another puppy. Congratulations Jon! We love you!