Life's a Beach

Last week my friend Natalie had a great idea to take the kiddos to Lake Havasu. They are moving to Las Vegas this week and so we were cramming in the fun things to do. We went to this great family-friendly park where the kids were able to roam free. The temperature outside was about 80 degrees, a good 15-20 degrees warmer than Kingman, and the water was freezing. The kids didn't seem to mind at all though! Gracey was so excited to be at a beach. They even found hand fulls of little seashells!

I am not sure why we haven't spent more time in Lake Havasu. Growing up, we went nearly every summer to visit my aunt and uncle and play in the lake. We have now lived in Kingman for 2 years and sadly, this was the first time I have been to Havasu since. We will definitely be going again soon!

Spring Break

A couple of weeks ago was Spring Break for Gracey. We didn't have big plans to do anything for it but a couple of days before it began, I text my sister in law and said "can we come hang out next week?" Luckily, it was her son's Spring Break as well! Perfect timing. So me and the ladies drove down to Phoenix to spend 4 full days in the sun!

The weather was absolutely perfect! And when I say perfect, I MEAN perfect! One morning I went on an outside run for the first time since last October. It totally trumped the enjoyment of the treadmill! I could smell every blossom and flower that was growing and I could feel the sun on my back, but it wasn't super hot!

Perfect, I tell you.

And the kids, they played outside for HOURS every day with each other! They were in heaven. They pushed each other on the swings, they had picnics, threw frisbees, and they blew (or spilled, however you want to look at it) bubbles!


One day, the kids wanted a bit of a scene change, so we loaded up and spent nearly 3 hours playing at the park. We had to go home 2 times for potty breaks, but the kids weren't finished....and neither was I! They loved playing in the sand and as you can see, my totally white legs rocked the shorts! If you think I couldn't care less, you would be right!


The kids also had a lot of fun with food. One night, they got to decorate their own pizza. Then for dessert, we went and got some frozen yogurt!


Thank you Whipple Family, for letting us hang for a while!

Peyton (2), Emily (3), Gracey (5), Connor (9 mths), Blaise (5)

Doing Homework

On most afternoons, the girls and I will spend some time doing "homework." Gracey usually has a worksheet to do from preschool or will work from one of the workbooks that Corky and I have bought her. She calls it her homework, so naturally that is what Emily calls it too. Whether it is coloring, drawing, or tracing.

In just the last month, Emily's motor skills and attention span has improved so much. I bought this little dry erase book for Gracey when she was 3. It has all the letters and numbers in it to trace, with lots of repetition. Gracey has always loved to draw letters and numbers and picked up on them real quickly, but would often speed through them. Not really caring to repeat things over and over again. We learned to get creative. Emily though is a little more subdued, not in a good or bad way, and takes her time and really focuses on getting it just right. It is fun to see the differences between my beautiful and talented little ladies.

Visitors (Bailey and Skyler)

In the last month we have had so many visitors that we have felt spoiled! My mom came down about a month ago, (no pictures, doh!), Dallas and Jess 2 weeks later, then Bailey and Skyler just 2 weeks after that! It has been so much fun!

The weekend with Bailey and Skyler was full of fun stuff!

Lots of golf,
lots of good food,
(including those Asian Lettuce wraps)
comparing "flabby knees",
jumping on the trampoline,
getting pedicures,
watching the new movie "Alice in Wonderland",
making funny faces,
and just hanging out!!!





Come back soon! We love you!

Visitors (Dallas, Jess, and Baby Drake)

A few weeks ago my little brother and his wife, Jessica, and their son (my boyfriend) came to visit us for a long weekend. The weather was pretty cold and gloomy most of the time, much to Corky and Dallas's dismay since they wanted to go golfing, but we had a nice time just hanging out at the house. It wasn't until I put the pictures onto my computer that I saw that Gracey and Emily, hijacked my camera. This is what I found from the first night they were here.


When we have visitors, I try my best to feed them well. Really well. We ate some darn good food the whole weekend. We had Chicken Curry, Monkey Bread, Deli Sandwiches, cookies, and treats. But the real winner of the weekend was this, Asian Lettuce Wraps.. I used to make them for just Corky and myself a while back. We loved them then, but just hadn't made them in a while. Try them. You will absolutely not be disappointed.



(I used ground turkey, you could use pork, beef, or chicken. If you try them, be sure to go a little heavy on the Hoisin Sauce and add some crushed peanuts. Then use Mongolian Fire Oil mixed with soy sauce on the individual wraps! Holy Moly, it is good!)

After dinner, I hogged Drake. Who am I kidding? I hogged him all weekend. He didn't like it much....but I did it anyway.


While visiting, it was Jessica's birthday. The day before, Dallas asked if I could take him to the store to get her a birthday cake. Me, trying to be hospitable, just offered to make her a cake and save Dallas $20. I have close to 20 cake mixes. I asked her what her favorite was and it was white cake with white frosting. I said "No problem, you got it!" So the next day (Sunday) I go to make the cake and realize I don't have any of that kind. How dare I? It is Corky's favorite. So for her birthday, while she requested a white cake with white frosting, ended up getting a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I felt awesome! Sure, I could have done something from scratch...but remember, I have 20 boxes of cake mix!


This was pretty much the look that Drake gave me all weekend! Someday he will realize just how much he loves me!


And then came goodbyes! We sure had fun! My girls were in heaven playing with Drake all weekend, and I absolutely loved having Dallas and Jess come to visit!

Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are some of my most favorite parts of Christmas decorations. I love hearing from old friends and far-away family, and seeing their growing families. I took down my Christmas decorations within a week of Christmas being over with, but the Christmas cards usually stay for a while. In fact, I usually PLAN to take them down at about Valentine's Day. Corky always asks for them to come down sooner, like, when all the rest of the Christmas deco comes down. Here is my argument....

Some of those Christmas cards don't show up until right before Christmas. It isn't fair to those cards that didn't get to be enjoyed. I am just trying to even things out here.

So until Valentine's Day they stay.

Except this year, it was closer to St. Patrick's Day!

Oops, my bad.

On another note, but sort of the same. Every year I worry about what to do with all those Christmas cards. Some our handmade, some are handwritten and very personal, and the ALL the pictures are to die for. I have piles from year after year that I find difficult to just throw out.

This year, I found the solution!!! I was scanning all of Gracey's school work and art projects a few weeks ago to put into her little blog book (you know, so I don't have huge piles of papers) and a light bulb went off! "This is what I will do with Christmas cards!"

So today, I scanned in all of my Christmas cards that I received. I put them in my December 2009 photo folder, and they will be added to my blurb book.

I don't claim to be a genius but this is a great solution for me. I never want to be a pack-rat or a hoarder and this is going to make a difference for me. I will be able to enjoy my Christmas cards year after year in a very condensed manner!

Rest assured all you folks who sent us one, it was not a waste! They will be treasured always! And if you didn't send us one, shame on you, add us to your list!

Holy Snow!

We woke up this morning to thunder and lightning....and lots of wind! (The wind is completely normal)

Before long, it was hailing.

Not too long after that, it was snowing!

As we were driving to Gracey's preschool, Gracey said, "This is the BEST day ever!!"

When Emily and I arrived home, all Emily wanted to do was make footprints in the snow and eat it!


As of right now the snow has stopped and the sun is starting come out. I was really hoping that it would last long enough for Gracey to enjoy after school. Oh well, we always have the mountains nearby.

The Cut

Gracey was so excited all day! Her only citeria for this new cut was that it "still could go in a big pony-tail." (She is totally my kid)

Gracey had just enough to donate.

Emily's hair looks so much more healthy and even.

Both of them look great!


Our girls are growing up right before our eyes!

That long hair...

That long hair that you see is going to be cut off tomorrow! I am taking both of my girls into the salon to change things up a bit.


Gracey has been saying for months that she wanted her hair to be shorter like mine, but I literally just brush it off. After I get a hair trim, she asks when she can get hers cut. I admit, I have ignored her. I have LOVED her long hair. I curl it nearly everyday and enjoy how beautiful it is. The other day though, I was helping Gracey wash her hair while she showered. Her hair is so thick that she really can't wash it on her own anymore. At that very moment, I came to terms with this haircut that I was denying would ever come. I asked her, "Gracey, do you still want to cut your hair?"

She replied (not surprisingly) with, "Uh huh!"

This wasn't an "uh huh" that is comparable to an "oh, sure". This was an enthusiastic "Heck YES!"

So the appointment is set. While we are there, we will take a few inches off of Emily's hair too. She has this natural curl through out her hair (she gets from me) that is more of an annoyance than it is a blessing. If left to dry on its own, it looks frizzy and uncombed. I am thinking a little hair cut for her will help control some of that!

Needless to say, both girls are pretty excited. I am excited too. I have had long hair before. Really, really long hair. I know having shorter hair for Gracey will be great for the warmer weather, lots of outdoor playing, and lots of swimming.

This was taken this morning after the girls were all ready for their dance classes. Gracey wore her hair in a french braid yesterday.
That is where all of her wave comes from. (I will miss that, but we'll get by!)




All I am asking now is that there be no comments of "Don't do it!" or "You'll regret it!" Folks, she is 5 years old. It will grow back!