Halloween!

I had such ambitious goals for this weekend! I was going to pull out all of our very cool Halloween decorations and get the house ready for one of our favorite holidays! Mitchell was down with the flu on Friday, I ended up working overtime on Saturday....and the decorations are still in the garage and it is Sunday morning....do you think it's going to happen? Hmmm....clean the bathrooms or decorate for Halloween?

The Best Baby Shower Ever!

Jenny came home to Arizona to visit this Summer while Nick was out on field exercises, getting prepared for his inevitable deployment this Fall. We took advantage of this opportunity and had the Best Baby Shower ever for Jenny and Jaxon.

All the Mamas, Grandmas, and Great Grandmas... how fun for Jaxon to see this picture someday... Grandma Lolly, Mama, Great Grandma Reba, Great Grandma Barbara, Grandma Carmen, and Grandma Sunny.

Jenny's "Baby Bump". And she gave her baby bump a name.....it's Jaxon!

Drinking Games! Everyone enjoyed the Beer (rootbeer) drinking games...and yes, they are drinking from a baby bottle! Yep...that's Aunt Diane, Aunt Aubrey, Uncle Mitch and Uncle Tommy!

And the winner is....Uncle Tommy! But Aunt Aubrey was so close to taking him down!





Gurgle, burp, gurgle, burp, burp, burp!



Oh what Fun! And as you can just imagine, all these guys needed a good burping when they were done!

Grandma And Grandpa, amazed at all the nice gifts everyone brought for Jaxon!

Eewww....The poopy diaper game! We caught Garrett and Uncle John cheating when they were licking the diapers to see what kind of chocolate bar it was.......

That was just too wrong for pictures!

Uncle Cameron and Aunt Aubrey chillin' on the back patio....

What an awesome cake! Thanks to Grandma Sunny!

Even Jaxon's Grandpa's are in on the Drinking Games!

Grandma Lorna couldn't be here, but she sent this handmade Army camo quilt for Jaxon...I am sure this will be Daddy's favorite quilt!

Grandma Lolly couldn't resist the old school sock monkeys. Hopefully Jaxon will have fun with this quilt.

And here was the highlight of the party...everyone had tears in their eyes. Nick sent Jaxon a gift for the shower. Jenny opened it and just fell apart. He sent a Build a Bear Army dog and when you press his hand, Nick's voice says "Daddy loves you, Jaxon". Jenny also received a similar bear when she and Nick began dating, with a different message of course.

It was a very tender moment!

This was just too cute!

Showing Our Independence

This 4th of July weekend was nice and quiet. Mom and I were undisturbed most of the weekend, but we did manage to get to Cindy and John's house to wish John a Happy Birthday and have an awesome Summer BBQ dinner with family and friends. Mitch and Aubrey spent the weekend camping with their dad. I can't wait to hear their camp stories!

Jenny arrived this weekend and will be in Arizona for the next six weeks while Nick is on a field Trip - although I don't think that's what the Army calls it. I think they call it field exercises? A field trip makes it sound like so much more fun. I am sure Jenny is chatting with him as we dip our toes in the pool.

Happy Birthday John! He is enjoying his new pool toys that he got for his birthday.

Cameron was also celebrating his 22nd birthday this weekend. He took a trip to Disneyland. Rumor has it that he got lost....in Mickey's House....ended up on the back lot? Is this true Cam?

My lazy weekend actually produced this darling quilt made especially for Jaxon Thomas. I hope he likes it as much as this monkey likes it!

Jenny and I had one more fun activity this weekend. We made the baby shower invitations. They are so cute! Make sure you let me know if you didn't get yours! What a fun weekend!

Happy Birthday Cameron!

Happy Birthday to you,

Disneyland Welcomed You,

You had fun like a Kid,

Even though you're Twenty Two!

Love you Cam!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Don't Make Me Get My Flying Monkeys!

Friday July 3rd Mitchell, Aubrey, Cindy, John and I went to see the musical Wicked. We've been waiting so long to see it and it was well worth the wait. It was beautiful, funny, sad, and so much more than we expected. The story has really changed the way I will watch the Wizard of Oz in the future, and I am not sure I like it or not? Hmmmm. That movie has always been one of my all-time favorites since childhood and now I really can't be afraid of that wicked old witch anymore. But you know, the monkeys will always scare me! It is a must see from all of the critics in our house!

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.....

We have so much to catch up on, but I am going start with the best news first. Nick and Jenny are expecting a Baby Boy! They haven't decided on a name yet, but they will find just the right name for him. Congratualtions Nick and Jenny!

Today, Nick, Jenny, Mitch, and Aubrey are packing to go to Disney World tomorrow. A trip they've all been waiting a lifetime for. Mitch and Aubrey left for Georgia to visit Nick and jenny last Wednesday. They'll be there for a total of 2 weeks with 6 days at Disney World. I can't wait to see how many "Hidden Mickeys" Aubrey can find to share with Cameron!

Mitchell got his first "Straight A" report card. Wow...Congratulations Mitch! I am so proud of you. I am also very worried that when you get to your honors classes next year, you'll be too smart for me to keep up with you and helping you with your homework! Mitch also got a buzz cut while visiting Nick...you gotta be really careful when you get too close to an Army Base...you might just loose your hair!

Aubrey made it to the Symphony Orchestra next year - Whoo Hoo! This will be her sophomore year at Chandler High. Congratulations Aubrey! I can't wait to hear you play again...I've missed it since you've been gone!

Cameron is living in California...San Diego. He's probably surfing more than working...lol...but he is working hard and is still working on his military enlistment. He did get a new car and it is HOT HOT HOT, or at least that's what the paint job said when he bought. No really...it siad HOT HOT HOT on both sides of the car! He's fixed that now, and loves his new VW Cabriolet!

Diane is studying hard and trying to make her required classes fit into the limited schedules the California colleges are offering. Due to the economy, they are cutting back on Summer class offerings. She is so determined, I know she will find a way to make it work, I just hope it is easier, not harder for her. Cito is recovering well from his taxi cab accident. He still has his cast on, but Diane says he is walking on it and hasn't complained too much. I love that boy! He will start Kindergarten in the Fall so Grandma needs to get busy and help Diane get him ready with new clothes for his new school. He's going to love the light-up Cars tennies I found!

Mom is doing so much better after the last horrible few months. After her fall and fracturing 2 vertebrae, she is ready to come home from Rehab this week...She didn't want to go to Rehab...She said No No No. But she went and it has definitely paid off. We are looking forward to her homecoming. Love you, Mom!

We'll be planning a baby shower for Jenny in July...can't wait to celebrate this new baby!

For Some Must Push and Some Must Pull....

Early morning gathering of the pioneers.

It looks like I might be pushing Aubrey out the door and pulling her out of the car to get her going...but in the end, I bet she'll have a wonderful time!

It's time for Aubrey's pioneer trek. She leaves early tomorrow morning to strat her journey and live as the pioneers did as they crossed the plains. I've heard there will be pioneer food....soup water with carrots, pioneer games, and testimony meetings. Good luck Aubrey! I hope you have an experience that you will cherish throughout your life.