Saturday, May 29, 2010

Things That Warm My Heart...

...Good times with great MOPS friends

...the Train Park (thank you to whoever's idea that was!) in Scottsdale with BOTH sets of grandparents
(not pictured--my dad popping up in clever places along the train route to take pictures in classic Joe Kaufman style)

...Annie's first ice cream cone with Gamma (don't worry, she didn't eat the whole thing, just gnawed on the cone, mostly. And yes, Sam and Evan, I never would have let you have ice cream so early, just deal with it)

...Jeremy graduating (with high honors, brag brag brag) from Phoenix Seminary with his Masters of Divinity in Biblical Communication





...Evan standing on the pew and clutching all his "treasures" and listening attentively during the entire worship set

...enjoying the day with Jeremy's brother, Jack, who we were blessed to see alive and well after a scary medical situation last month. We love you, Uncle Jack!

...Jeremy not complaining about me going overboard with his graduation party. I just couldn't resist!

...Annie reminding me to look on the bright side by viewing a broken dryer not as an inconvenience but an opportunity to toss wet clothes around and giggle

...celebrating Evan's birthday at Peter Parker Pizza (that's what they call it) with Grandma and "Crampaw"

...brotherly love (or a subconscious attempt to strangle younger brother and steal his new Buzz Lightyear wings)

...trying to get 3 children in matching outfits (from Hawaii) to smile into the sun for the camera (okay, that one warmed my heart in a different way--more like raised my blood pressure)

...babies with automatic weapons

...Samuel saying proudly, "Look, Mom, this is how the cool guys wear their shirts." To which I replied, "But the cool guys who wear their shirts like that have hairy chests. Do you have a hairy chest?" "Not yet!" Samuel says, looking down with great excitement and anticipation. Oh, if he only knew.


...watching tractors and cranes with "Crampaw" at the new Walmart

...the great efforts the boys went to on their own in order to be together watching their movie

...Evan bringing cupcakes to his new "big boy" Sunday school class. This is his proud face, if you couldn't tell.

...roasting marshmallows with Gamma and Pa J for Evan's birthday dinner dessert.

...flowers in my flower bed. I'm a little obsessed, I confess.

...Sam's Lego Museum (no doubt inspired by his recent trip to Legoland)

...little boys in matching outfits, headed to the park (actually a good idea when trying to find said boys in a crowded park later).

...Movies on the Square with friends, watching an excellent selection--"Star Wars: the Clone Wars" (AWFUL--thanks for choosing it, our pediatricians!)

There. Now I'm caught up and you're bored. Shorter post next time, promise!


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Griffith's Spring

Yesterday was our 10-year wedding anniversary. Last year, we watched our wedding video with the kids. A few weeks later, I was explaining the concept of an anniversary with Sam. I said, "Remember a few weeks ago when we watched that special video? What was that?" and Sam said, "Probably football." So this year, I decided not to get too sentimental and instead just enjoy the fruits of 10 years of marriage--spending the day with my best friend and 3 children.

For some reason, I like taking pictures of Jeremy and the boys from behind--the boys are so small next to Jeremy and they are always busy looking at the world together.
The boys are so excited about "clifts", so after Jeremy and the boys climbed down the rocky clift (and Annie and I went around the long way), we had a picnic lunch and played by the water. I encouraged the boys to put their feet in.


Evan, the boy who screamed when he got wet at Legoland and didn't want to play at the water park in Anthem said, "I need to go in. I need to take my clothes off. Now." I convinced him to leave his undies on.

So here is the fearless river explorer with Thomas the Tank Engine on his butt.

The boys played for so long! The stump was their volcano.

Jeremy and I took turns entertaining a non-walking, barefoot baby who wants to put everything in her mouth...not an easy task when there are pine needles, rocks, mud, and rushing water nearby.







I eventually put Annie down on the pine needles and she didn't seem to care.

This is my, "I was here, too!" self portrait.






Have I ever mentioned that we love Flagstaff?

Sunday, May 9, 2010

The Best I Could Do

I had great intentions of homemade cards or a tear-inducing video for the Grandmas for Mother's Day. I got nuthin'. (I did get to stay home from church and clean up puke, though). I was almost going to just throw this day to the curb, but then I realized I could just post some recent pictures of the kids and the Grandmas would be happy. So here's to you, Gamma Glenda and Grandma in California!

Sportin' the cute swimsuit from Grandma in California.


Jeremy and Mini-me #s 1 & 2

Sticks. Knives. Fire. Good.

The secret trick to a successful Garage Sale--put your cutest "things" closest to the street and people can't resist stopping. The kids made over $7 just on their snacks!

Things I learned from my mom: turning ordinary objects into playthings

Who wouldn't be proud to be a mom or grandma to these tough guys?

Happy Mother's Day!