Christmas 2011

 Merry Christmas!

The time has come to reflect on 2011 and to look forward to what 2012 has in store for us.

WOW.......the years are flying by! We have had a trying year this past year, but have come out of it with our health, jobs, and sanity in tack! We are looking at 2012 and wondering what the Lord has in store for our family.

We have now been in Arizona 12 1/2 years. It doesn't seem possible!

Tabitha is now in the 5th grade and doing very well in school. She has been such a blessing in our life. It is very exciting watching her grow into the beautiful young lady that she is becoming! I just don't understand how she can be getting older but I am staying the same. We decided to not do soccer this year. She has been interested in doing some acting so we are looking into that. She would also like to start band in school next year when it is offered.......hmmmm, might have to think about that one!

Chris is still at Cox and is once again working from home. I have started working at a State Farm agency. Tetris is as Rotten as ever!  All in all we are doing great.

We hope that you are enjoying the season and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2012!

Love,

Chris, Jean, Tabitha and Tetris

Grandpa's visit

Time for Grandpa's yearly visit.......
Chris LOVES when anyone in the family comes to visit, but I think he enjoys the times that he gets to spend with his Dad alot! They always seem to find something to talk about and enjoy just being together. This year we got to see him in Nashville then he was out a couple of weeks after we got back home. Since he had such a 'great' time doing the go~carts in Nashville we just had to take him to CrackerJax in Scottsdale. They have carts, bumper boats and mini golf.....4 hours of fun!

 

It was a very hot day so the bumper boats seemed like the best way to cool off. But once again we found out that Grandpa had not ever done these either. He got DRENCHED! But I think he had a good time.

 We decided to wait til the sun went down to play mini golf. As always it was a very competitive game......I think Tabitha really won but we will let them think they each one. Ha!

After all this fun in the heat we just HAD to head to Dairy Queen for some treats. (I have never seen someone down a Chocolate milkshake as fast as Grandpa can!)

We always look forward to company and hate to see anyone leave, but we know that he is already planning his next trip out!

Summer 2011

   Summer 2011 ....... it all began with a visit from Jodi. After a longgggg time of trying to make it out to Az she finally got a chance to come visit. We spent a week of catching up, laughing and eating. (as we always seem to do when the family is together!) We sure enjoyed spending time with her.....makes us miss being closer to family and friends back east. So while she was visiting we decided it was time to make a trip to Tennessee to visit Daddy, Jodi and their families.

   We flew in to Nashville to spend a couple of days with Chris' dad and uncle Jerry. Tabitha was also wanting to go to the Parthenon in Nashville. If you have never had the opportunity to visit this, it is well worth taking the time to do it. After gettting some education in we hit the go-carts......many times! We even had Grandpa Mike on them......but they then became slow-carts! I think it was his first time on them .....ever! We spent the next day visiting downtown Nashville and walking around the Opryland Hotel.

   We drove down to Memphis to hang with the family. We were very lucky that Jennifer and the kids could make the drive down while we were there. (we missed Jamie, Chuck and Bri!)

   We started our week off at Graceland. It has been YEARS since I had been and Chris really wanted to see it. I think he is an even BIGGER Elvis fan after going...I have had to watch every Elvis movie we can find. Ha!

   We got to eat BBQ Memphis style when we headed downtown to eat at the famous Rendezvous! YUM!!! Love me some gooooddd BBQ! We then took a walk thru downtown to the river.

   The redbirds were in town so thanks to Chad we got some great seats and enjoyed a fun night at the ballpark. (well....after the sun went down it was nice....and they say Phoenix is hot! HA!)

   We Took Chris to Beale Street to eat at the PIG (another BBQ place) and to walk around and see the kids that tumble down the hill. Man are they something to see! We also made a trip to the Peabody Hotel to watch the ducks leave the fountain and head to their home on the roof. As usual Chris made a new friend there and we spent most of our time talking to her. There is something about the South.....you can make friends anywhere you go!

   This was our first year together as a family in several years and since we can't do all the fireworks in Az as can be done in Tn then Chris was like a kid in a candy store! He had a blast......and I enjoyed watching him have so much fun with family!

   Family time is the best! And I think Tabitha could become a southern girl quick! She was LOVING her Aunt Jodi's Buttermilk Pie and all the sweet tea! But as with every vacation ....... they have to come to an end. We sure enjoyed our time that we spent with everyone. We Love you all and hope this is the begining to many more vacation times together!

Tabitha's first Step

Many joys come with being a mother. Seeing them take their first step is a very significant event in them becoming independent. A week ago today I was blessed to see my baby girl take another Big First step in her life. She accepted Jesus into her heart. I can't help but to have tears of joy while I write this. She has always asked me when she could become a Christian and I told her that she would know when it was right. Well the time is right. She is growing way to fast but at least I know that she will be growing in her Christian life as well!

Chris and I are very proud of her and the wonderful young lady that she is becoming. To keep them little and in your safe reach is what every mom would love to do, but to know that they are making the right decisions in their life makes it easier to let go and watch them fly.

Family Time

FUN TIMES with Family!!!!

Jamie and Briana came out for a visit during Briana's spring break. We always LOVE to have family come for a visit but it always goes by too fast. It is times like this that make us sad to be so far away from family.

Tabitha and Briana have such a great time together and seem to laugh the whole time....... not any different then Jamie and I. Hee hee. It was nice to just relax and have a fun time.

We hope that we have more visitors this year..... I already have Jodi coming in 5 weeks and can hardly wait! I Love my sisters. They are my best friends!

Come and visit us!!!

Christmas of 2010

Wishing you all the best Holiday season ever. As we sit here 2000 miles from family and friends we take the time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.......it means decorations, making cookies, family time and the most important is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

There is also the time when we remember the people that have touched our lives and are no longer with us. We lost a very dear person this fall with the passing of Chris' step-father Larry. Not was he only his step-father but also a very good friend to Chris.

This season has been a joyous time for our family spending quality time together. We turn all things over to him and let him lead us in our next path of life.

May God Bless you all in 2011!

Purple People Eaters

Fall is in the air and that can only mean one thing ........... soccer time agian. This year we have 5 of the same girls that played together last year and 5 new ones. The girls chose the name "Purple People Eaters". Which is a great name for them but made it hard for the team mom to come up with a banner idea.......and it just so happens that I was appointed the team mom this year. Hmmmm........ well if I do say so the banner turned out pretty good and the girls liked it. (that is all that matters)

The team started off the season with 2 wins back to back. They are doing really good considering that they had to play when it is still well over 100 degrees out. (I couldn't do it)

The season is half over now and the team is looking really good. I am very proud of Tabitha sticking with this and loving it. Even when she comes home and passes out on the floor with Tetris she still says she is glad she joined again this year.

Disneyland 2010

For Tabitha's 9th Birthday we decided to go to Disneyland in California. What a great time we had. We started our trip at the Santa Monica pier, where we rode rides and had a snack. It was pretty cold coming from 110 degree weather at home, but we had sweatshirts to put on.



We then drove to Venice Beach to play in the water and sand.








We stayed in a hotel right by Disney. Our window faced the park and at night you could see the nightly fireworks from our room. The first day at the park we hit Space mountain. Tabitha and Chris rode it and she loved it. She has to get that from Chris..........I am not a very good sport when it comes to riding rides.......let's just say that you could hear my screams all over Kings Island when I was forced to ride them when I was younger.

After a fun day at the park we headed back to the room to find a place to eat.

The second day it was Disney first then over to California Adventure. Tabitha had to ride space mountain a second time......I think she is hooked on roller~costers.

We left and headed to get something to eat at "Bubba Gumps" seafood. It was very yummy and a fun restaurant to eat.

The bext day we headed over to The Grove to do some shopping at The American Girl store. Oh my.... a two story store filled with all American Girl dolls and clothes. Any little girls dream and Daddy's nightmare. I think Chris had just as much fun as Tabitha did there.

On the way out of town we hit Rodeo Drive.......didn't stop.......but drove down it. Maybe next time we will do alittle shopping there! :)

Tetris

This is Tetris. Not the game - our dog. Or should I say our little furry man. He thinks he is one of us. I think it from all the spoiling he gets from his Mamoo and Granmom. (Daddy does his share also)

It was very hard to get another dog after Slater. He was my first boy. But I gave in and said ok. Well the first month I was not quite sure that I had made the best decision. Mom, Dad and Austin were out when we got him, so to keep him quiet he slept on the bed with us. He would not go outside to potty. The people we got him from used those potty pads so he thought the house was his outside. Then when you tried to take him for a walk he wouldn't walk. It was what he wanted to do or he would sit down. (This is still a problem - he is very stubborn)

Well after awhile he has come around and now I think he just might be a keeper.

But just in case he's not I just might auction him off to the highest bidder.

Hee Hee.

My Girl

Can Someone please tell me where the time goes. It seems like yesterday that I was laying in the hospital room waiting paitently for Tabitha to be born. Now she is 7 (going on 13) and comes up to my shoulder. WOW ~ that has happened quick! Here are some of my favorite pictures of her.

I am so proud of the wonderful young lady that she is becoming. Looking back thru the pictures reminds me to stop rushing through life. Take one day at a time and be thankful of the blessings that God has given me. I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings this holiday season. Take some time out of this busy time and enjoy your family. We love you all.

Tabitha's Limo Ride

Tabitha's school had a cookie dough fundraiser a couple of months ago. One of the prizes that she was eligable to win was a limo ride to lunch, if she sold enough. Well we all know that I don't like to do these but she talked Daddy into helping her. (doing it for her) Needless to say Daddy sold (bought) enough to get her to that level. (if anyone needs cookie dough we have a freezer full of it!!) I went to school Monday to pick her up and surprise her and take her to "High School Musical" movie. The teacher comes up to me and said that they scheduled it for Wednesday but instead of lunch they are going to take them to breakfast. She then tells me the limo will leave at 6:30AM. Thank goodness it was Wednesday and Chris is off on that day. I signed the form and off she goes on her first limo ride. While I went to lay down on the couch and try to go back to sleep.

She was a little nervous but ended up having a great time. She has now decided that our next car has to be a Hummer Limo!

I must say that I am proud that she saw something that she wanted and went after it. The first night that she brought the order forms home she was out knocking on the neighbors doors. Even with a storm blowing in. She got 3 orders that night.

That's my girl!!!

Spot the Turtle

This is spot. Tabitha wanted a turtle for her birthday this year. So I agreed thinking that we could get one with a little bowl and put it in her room. Here we are. Spot and a 40 gallon tank to go with him. They say that if you buy a small tank you will have to upsize it in a month or so. So me being a saver said no, I would rather get what I need now and not have to purchase another one. Well, then comes the rocks, log for him to play in, ledge for him to bask in the spotlight and filter. Did I mention that I had to purchase a stand for this to sit on also??? Yes, we are now hoping that Spot lives the 30+ years that he is suppose to so Tabitha's children can someday play with him.

All that being said he has the cutest personality. When you go to feed him he will swim over to you.

Turtle soup anyone???