Why We Love Our Cousins...

They make swimming so much more fun!

They hand feed us lunch.

They look adorable in swim goggles.

Watching "Space Chimps" just wouldn't have been as fun without them.

I just have to add that the Harkins' Summer Movie Special is awesome and Bradock loved every minute of it. This was his first "real" movie theatre movie (Alvin and the Chipmunks at 9 months old doesn't really count). I also loved that him and I got to spend some one on one time together. Brett and I have decided that we are going to have special little activities where each of us has one on one time with Bradock and Raylee. I think it will be good for them to have that quality time alone with Brett and I. Anyways, we are having a great summer and can't wait to come up with more fun things to do.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a really great weekend up in Pinetop (minus the cold, rainy weather). The kids and I left Friday afternoon and when we got to Pinetop I could not believe how much it felt like the dead of winter. Brett drove up with my brother-in-law, Chance, later that night.

Here is "Sleepy Head" #1.

And "Sleepy Head" #2. These pics are definitely deceiving because it wasn't five minutes after I took them, that Bradock woke up startled and crying, which then woke sissy up and I heard non-stop whining and crying for the next hour. By the time I got to my mom's house I was ready to drop them off and leave them there, but now looking at these pics I think "Oh, they are so cute!"

Brett took Bradock fishing, quading and sight seeing on Saturday. They had a really good time.





While the boys were out having fun in the mountains, my mom and I hung out with Raylee and did a little shopping at Walmart. I love when you visit a small town and all of a sudden Walmart becomes exciting. My mom found these little "Cars" pjs and just had to buy them for Bradock. That kid loves cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, well anything on wheels and just loves the movie "Cars". He could watch that movie all day, everyday if I let him. Bradock was so excited to wear his new pjs. He just kept pointing at all the little pics of cars on his shorts.

Saturday evening, Brett watched the kids and I went with my mom and dad to the movies to see "Angels and Demons". I loved the book and was so excited to see the movie. It was definitely worth seeing.

After church on Sunday, we took a drive to Whiteriver, so Brett and Chance could see some of the Indian Reservation and community there. My dad goes down there quite often to provide medical treatment to the Indians. It was such a pretty day and we had fun driving around. When I was 13 my dad was in his 4th year of his medical residency and he did a rotation in Whiteriver for a month. Since it was in the middle of the summer, our whole family got to stay with my dad for that month and lived in the medical housing provided for the doctors. It was fun to see our old "house" and where we played softball all day long and where we had found our little baby pet squirrel. We made a lot of great memories in that short month and it was fun to share those with Brett and Chance.

We came home on Monday and I was so bummed because of course the weather was perfect. Oh well, we will just have to make another trip back up really soon.

Beating the Heat

Usually we are cooling ourselves off hanging out at our community pool, but on Monday we decided to change things up a little bit and head to Tempe Splash Pad for some fun in the sun. Rachel and Carsyn drove with us and we met the Crockett's, Peterson's and Huish's. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad we decided to beat the big crowds before school gets out.



Raylee loved crawling in the water, especially drinking it...gross! She looked like a little frog with her legs spread and her face right in the ground.




Bradock and Carsyn hanging out on the whale toys.

All In a Week

Headed up north, last Friday, with the Young Women for our camp certification prior to Girl's Camp in July.

Here's my wanna-be cowboy husband knocking down some trees for firewood.

Bro. McDowell looked hilarious in his chainsaw mask.


On Sunday I got to enjoy a great Mother's day, attend little Stella's baby blessing and have some yummy crepes and french toast at the Gonzalez house. Later that evening we celebrated the rest of Mother's Day and Tanner's birthday at the Flaherty's.


I just love Avery's cute little face in this pic.



Anytime you say the word "SURPRISE" Bradock makes this funny face. I guess Brett decided to make it too.

This is one of the cute, little faces that makes me love being a mom.

And this is the other one.



On Monday I met my mom in Globe and she took my kiddos for the week. About 6 weeks ago, the company I used to work for called me and asked if they could hire me as a contract employee to work on a project for them. My mom has been wanting to take the kids up to her house, so it was the perfect time to spend time with Grandma and Papa and I could get lots of work done. Actually, Brett and I enjoyed the childless week and had a couple date nights too. Thank goodness for Grandparents!! It was fun to drive back to Globe on Friday to pick up Bradock and Raylee. I think a little break is a definite for moms. It gives you the energy, enthusiasm and the actual "looking forward" to being with your kids again. All week I got a bunch of pix messages from my mom. The kids had so much fun. In a couple years the kids will be begging me to go to Grandma and Papa's house and never want to come home.

Girl's Trip

Last Wednesday I boarded a plane with my sister, Sarah, and friend, Rachel, and we headed to Utah for our annual Women's Conference trip. The plane was packed so Rachel and I found seats together in one row and let my sister sit by some strangers in another row because she is notorious for throwing up everytime we are on a plane. She didn't fail us this time either...poor lady who was sitting next to her. My mom and Aunt Velma picked us up at the airport and we spent the rest of the day in Salt Lake shopping, eating and having a good time. I am really bummed I didn't take any pics, but we got to hang out with my brother every evening. He was leaving on Saturday to spend the summer in Nicaragua...our little world traveler. We spent the night in Provo, so we could rise and shine early the next morning to get good seats at Women's Conference.

Here's our fun girls group sitting in the Marriott Center.

I am so glad Rachel got to join us in all the fun/craziness this year. Hopefully, she makes it an annual tradition with us.

We heard some great talks, but I would have to say my favorites were when Sister Webb spoke and led us in singing "Now Let Us Rejoice". Her words were inspirational "YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE" and when all 10,000+ women joined in singing that song the spirit was so strong. My other favorite speaker was a little old lady named Sister Hammond. She was so sweet, sincere and hilarious. I loved how she spoke about the power and service we can give through our hands.

My sister-in-law, Mindi, and her friend, Karen, were up at Women's Conference too. It was fun to see them and get to hang out a little bit.



Friday night we did some more shopping and then Sarah, Rachel and I got to stay with my really good friend, Kimi and her cute family. Once again, I didn't take any pics, but we had fun staying up late and talking.

Saturday morning we packed up my brother's truck, said goodbye to Kimi and Utah and headed towards home with a little detour on the way. We stopped in Vegas and spent the evening and night with some of Sarah and Chance's friends.

Here's Jen, Sarah, Rachel and I enjoying some yummy Italian food at a nice restaurant in the Venetian. The rest of our party group were too tired to hang out, so Rachel and I joined the crazy people on the strip and had a fun time walking, laughing and shopping. In fact, some random guy asked if we were twins (which we get a lot for some reason) and then decided to call us Trixie and Britney. You sure do meet some interesting people in Vegas.

Rachel and I decided to order a pizza and salad for dinner, so this "veggie" style pizza sounded really yummy. However, when our pizza came out this is what it looked like. Instead of the veggies being mixed all over the pizza they were seperated in to their own quadrant. Rachel looked at our server and said "Is this what it's supposed to look like?" It was so funny, but I guess that's what the "quattro" in the title of our pizza dish meant.


Sarah, Rachel and I eating at my absolute favorite place in Las Vegas...of course it's a buffet! However, it's the Paris Breakfast buffet and they make the best crepes and omelets I have ever tasted and right in front of you.


Here are some of the cute pix messages I got while I was on my trip. It was so nice to have a little break from the everday hustle and bustle of home life, but I sure did miss my family and was glad to get back home on Sunday.