Last week I was lucky enough to have Brandi come and visit. It was so fun. Bless her heart, she is so patient with my little rag-a-muffins, and with me. She was gracious enough to forgive me for being late to the airport, and then she even came to a babysitting coop meeting with me with me the night she got here. That's what friends are for! The weekend flew by because we stayed busy. Friday afternoon we drove up to the cabin and stayed the night, and Saturday afternoon we got to have some girlie time shopping in Scottsdale.

The famous picture taking spot. We have got to get out of this rut, but it is just so darn beautiful.

I am so proud of Brandi. She has been dieting and exercising, so we tried to watch our calories and we went on lots of walks when she was here. She lost 6lbs in like 5 weeks! Yippee!

She has been a trooper making it through boot camp back home, but those hills combined with the elevation at the cabin were a great workout!

Brody had so much fun on the swing (and so did Matt and I)!

Colby was "discovering bones" (in his own words) on the side of the mountain. "Those rocks were actually the dinosaurs caves, that errupted into tiny rocks, and I am the only one that can climb that high on the rocks." -Colby-

Combine kids with rocks, mountains and all the excitement of being at the cabin and there is bound to be an injury...Colby fell backward into a table upstairs and hit his head right behind his ear. It was a pretty ugly lump and cut. Poor kiddo, but cartoons and ice packs make everything better....and so does ice cream...

Brody loves ice cream! What kid doesn't right?

Brandi was laughing at me taking these pictures...it was like the paparazzi swarming J-Lo or something. What can I say...I love my messy kids.

Can you believe that is it? I was so bummed. Out of all the good times we had, Brandi and I only got one lousy picture? Really? This always happens! Darn it! &*#@@!!! Okay, okay....we did get a least one! I just find it funny, we talk about it so much...and we never get pictures. It was so good to have her here...it brought a little piece of home to AZ.

So Big So Fast

Time flies on wings of lightening! Where are my little boys? Who took them? I really wish some days that I could just freeze time. Colby started his first day of Preschool now two weeks ago. I can hardly believe he will be in Kindergarten next year, and Brody has been walking for about a month now and is saying his first words (ball, wow, uh-oh, mama, dada). Brody's favorite game now is peek-a-boo and/or being chased, and he loves any kind of ball he can get. Colby loves anything make believe. There is not a day that goes by I am not in some sort of alien adventure, pirate quest, or transformer show down. When is it exactly that all that fun and imagination gets sucked out of you? Well, mine is long gone, and some days it is painstakingly difficult to pretend just five more minutes that Darth Vader has me trapped in a dungeon while the aliens are trying to steal my treasure, and the Transformers are hunting the aliens. I try to tell this boy that mommy likes to play other things because I am girl, but that just doesn't work. And well Brody, he is pretty self-entertained as long as he is not seeking trouble which is most of the time. Climbing is his new adventure. He climbs in and out of the bathtub, up the stairs, up any furniture he can reach and he loves rolling off of the ottoman down stairs. So since I can't freeze them I guess I will have to enjoy them and let their little personalities melt my heart each day (or turn it to stone when they are terrors j/k)!! I love these boys.

It's hard to imagine right now, that both of them will one day at least equal their daddy's size, and if the predictions are right tower 3 inches above him. Yipes!

Happy First Birthday Brods!!

Our sweet baby boy, we cannot believe you are already one year old today!

Just one year ago, the day you were born, I was trying to walk you out at the AZ science center...I got my wish.....

You arrived that evening...and there we were proud parents!

And the very next day...you met your proud big brother for the very first time!

One month later...we were still in awe that you had all that dark hair! You were uniquely you!

At 3 mo old we took you to Texas and you met your Auntie Marcie for the first time!

I loved to put you in this shirt...you were only 4 months old.

You were such a happy baby at 5 months!! You still are.

6 mo.

We still laugh at your 6 super long hairs!!

7 mo

8mo

9 mo

11 mo.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1......

Big Boy!!!

We had a wonderful day. You woke up at your normal 6:45am. We played and then had a pancake breakfast, went to church, opened presents, and listened to message from your Gram, Auntie Marcie, Grandpa, and Uncle Aaron. You took two - 2 hours naps. We had a fun party with your Mimi and Papa, your Aunties and Uncles, and all the cousins, and you were a happy little boy from start to finish. We love you so much! Our little family wouldn't be the same without you!

Home Sweet Home

Things I Love About Texas....

The anticipation of getting there!

My Family

My sweet mama!

I love this picture....it's totally mom and I. We only butt heads because we are so much alike! Scary!

My Sistas!! There is nothing better than sisters!! The years have brought us different lives, but I know that no matter what we will always love each other! Even when times are rough! My friend Jen's blog says, "At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable!" We do!

Who's the tallest? Marcie is really the tallest, I only look it cause my shoes, Mel's on her tippy toes- Mel and I keep dreaming we had Marcie's long legs!

Colbs with Mel's kiddos AJ and Drew!

My Cousin Colin, his wife Meghan, and newest addition Madison.

My Grandma - looks pretty awesome for 92 doesn't she!

AJ I can't believe how grown up you are sweet girl!

I finally got some really great pics of mom with the kids!

Mama's House

If there is one thing I love about Texas, it is my Mama's house. I always feel grounded there. It is a modest home now over 36 years old and there is no place like it. The big pecan trees out back, the garden, the big oak trees, the barn, the pastures, the gravel drive! I just can't adequately describe how good it feels to drive up Parker Rd. and see that little old yellow house!

Thunderstorms

It rained a lot when were there! I love it. We just don't get rain, thunder and lightening here in AZ like the stuff in Texas. I love to watch it! I cherish monsoon season here like a kid in a candy store because it brings back memories of Texas.

Cottontail Bunnies

Oh the bunnies, they are timid, but not afraid. We just sat and watched them for a while. When I was growing up after bad rain storms, we would all go outside and make sure all the baby bunnies were safe, and often times there were some in very wet nests. We would bring them in and seriously raise them until they were old enough to live alone and then release them. Don't get me started on all my crazy nature stories...there are a gazillion, but I love the bunnies.

Fresh Homemade Peach Sorbet

Jon my mom's hubby made the best fresh peach sorbet! It was incredible and Brody ate tons...

The Best Old Toys

Mom has kept the most fun old toys and Colby loves all of them. Tinker Toys, old metal trucks with Coca Cola logos and real little coke bottles to put in the truck, the best old books...

The auto harp! I knew Colby would love this thing. He wanted to carry it around everywhere.

Our little Indian!! Brody never wears hats, but he would just leave this on.

Simplicity!

Who knew playing with veggies could be so much fun!

Yes, that is a gi-nor-mongous zucchini from the garden.

Seriously, they played with a bucket of like 6 veggies for about 30 min.

My Boys Getting to Play with the Aunties!

Playing With Cousins!

Colby and Drew played a ton! Drew was fantastic with Colby! He even shared his DS with Colby a few times, but after Colby slobbered on it...that was pretty much it...and Colby kept saying "My other cousin called Andrew lets me play with it all the time, he shares." It was so funny.

They played treasure chest with this old trunk that was Jon's mom's trunk for hours.

They played at the park in Allen a few minutes from mama's house.

They tried to go swimming at a big "real" pool one day and it didn't work out, so they played in the driveway of mom's house in a little pool. Colby didn't care, and Drew was a brave boy when he got stung by a bee.

Brody with cousin Madison. He was so sweet with her, he kept giving her hugs and loving on her it was precious!