Wednesday, March 14, 2012

This One is for You (Ben Davis)!

Was my last blog post from Christmas? Really? What is even more sad is that my Husband's (a guy) best friend (another guy) was the one to point out that I've been a little slow posting! So...this one is for you Ben Davis! :)

In spite of NOT having a business STILL, we've managed to keep ourselves pretty busy.

We spent a day at the Arizona Science Center. We hadn't been there in a couple years, so a lot of the exhibits were new to us. It was a lot of fun playing with Braelynn there. We love that place!


In February Kent's friend Ben and his wife Tonia...and there 5 girls were going to come for a visit on their way to Sedona. Unfortunately they weren't able to make it out, and were nice enough to give us their reservations to stay in Sedona. We were really sad that they weren't able to make it though.

We had a lot of fun in Sedona. It is one of our favorite places to go to. We went swimming, hiking, geocaching (well, attempted and decided we don't get what the big deal is), browsed at Tlaquepaque, and were able to visit my Aunt April.


Braelynn came down with a horrible cold, so we ended up coming home a day early. It was so much fun. It's funny because we have traveled A LOT lately, and this was the 1st trip that we came home from ready to hit the ground running. I love that feeling!

Our winter has been so warm, so we've been spending a lot of time outside. I never posted pictures of our yard from when we moved in. It was in BAD shape. I believe I have filled 14 dumpsters of dead shrubbery, leaves, and weeds. It never seems to end. The good news is that I was able to plant a garden a couple weeks ago. The better news is that my corn, peas, beans, okra, and carrots are already starting to come up! I don't think my tomatoes are going to work out, and I'm still waiting for my melons, watermelons, and pumpkins. I am really excited!


This weekend we're going to pull out the dead grapefruit and plumb trees...and then I will post pictures. It really has taken a lot of work, but it is has been worth it.

Kent has been really busy trying to find a new business. He's also been working at raising outside capital which he has never done before. We are so surprised that we haven't gotten anything yet, and are just trying to make the most of this down time that our family has together. He has also been called as the Executive Secretary for our ward which he has enjoyed so far. We have a really awesome Bishopric, so I think that will make the calling a little more fun!

Braelynn loves doing her Elmo puzzles still, riding her big wheel, and bossing Brooke around. Brooke loves playing with whatever Braelynn has, is warming up to being outside, and gets so excited for baths. She still has 2 teeth and isn't sleeping through the night! Haha! I cannot believe she is going on 11 months. She scales the furniture and walls, and is starting to bear crawl.

The same old trials are still plaguing us, but other than that life is good!


Monday, January 2, 2012

Christmas and Beyond

I don't even know where the holiday season went. We tried to do so many Christmas activities, and we have all been sick...it just flew by!

One of our favorite activities was McCormick park. They do the whole train park up in Christmas lights. We got to ride the train and Braelynn loved her 1st ride on the carousel. While Elmo is her favorite "person," the real one walkingaround the park was another story. We finally got her to say hi to him, from about 10 feet away.

We also went to San Tan Village and took a Carriage ride, watched the light show, and and took in the busy, last minute shopping energy.



Then there was my birthday. Sick. End of story :(

Finally, it was Christmas! Braelynn really wasn't sure about the whole thing. The idea of Santa terrified her- she would growl every time we talked about him. Seriously, she would growl. She loved the Grinch though!

We woke up in a time crunch, since we GOT to go to church that morning, so I was a little hurried and stressed. Braelynn loved her Tickle Me Elmo...and then took the next 3 days to open the rest of her presents. Unfortunately she figured it out at the tail end :(
After church we went to Tucson and spent the night with my family. Braelynn loves her big cousin Chloe, and the 2 of them ran around together 'till they had nothing left in them.

I still can't believe it's over. I guess I should finally pack everything up tomorrow :(

We spent New Year's and Kent's birthday in Sedona with my parents. It was a lot of fun, in spite of us all being sick STILL/AGAIN. It's never ending...however Brooke's explosive diapers really made the weekend interesting!

2012 holds a lot of mystery for us. Hopefully things will pick up for Kent in the Business Brokerage world, since everyone has been on Holiday mode since September. It would be really nice to have a company again!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Not So Traditional

Our Thanksgiving this year was a little out of the ordinary, but boy did we love it!

Last year we had gone to Utah and froze for 3 days...it was that trip where we decided we were done with winter holidays anywhere north. Why would we leave a paradise of 72 degrees?

My brother had come the 2 weeks before Thanksgiving, so we already did a turkey with him, since he hadn't been home for Thanksgiving in 8 years! My step-dad, Ken, had back surgery the week before, so my parents were in no condition to travel or host.

What were we to do???

Play outside, watch movies, go to the park, go shopping, and decorate for Christmas! The weather was beautiful making it just perfect!

Here's Brooke helping me in the kitchen


Kent and Braelynn watching Megamind


Let's eat! Steak, baked potato, roasted pesto veggies, and yummy sourdough with butter, garlic, and cheese


Kent definitely approves of the new holiday menu!


More bread Braelynn?


Brooke barely made it through the prayer!


Peek-a-boo Brooke!


Ahh- get a load of that sunset!


I love my little sweethearts!



How's the view from up there?


Yes ma'am! Flip-flops in November :)


And now onto Christmas!