Maddie Turns 12!

We were in Utah over Madison's birthday so Heidi made her famous Texas Sheet Cake--which Maddie asked for! It was really yummy! It was fun to be around family for her birthday! I can't believe she is 12 already!! She is excited because now she can go to Young Womens!!

It was bittersweet because the reason we travelled to Utah over that time was because our dear friend, Dan Pickett, died 11-16-08. He was Reagan's dad (Maddie's best friend in Centerville). It was really sad. He had cancer and lived for only 6 months past his diagnosis!

Heidi and I went to the Twilight opening together! Nate and Kerby came too! Hey--who wouldn't want their honey to attend a romantic movie with them?! Well--maybe if they didn't do it kicking and screaming! Anyway--Wende, my friend, had said that Nate and Kerby would probably be the only men in the theater!! So Nate suggested they walk in together holding hands!! They decided against that--it was just TOO much!! ;)

Luckily it turned out that there were a few other men in the theater (--maybe 3 or 4)!! I think Kerby was getting into it because he kept asking questions through the movie!

I liked the movie and can't wait till the sequels!! Yes--it was sappy. Yes--it was cheesy. Yes--I found myself giggling here and there. But I still enjoyed myself!! Edward is sure dreamy!! ;)

Thanks to Wende for this yummy picture:

**I am almost done reading the series for the 2nd time!! I can't believe that they still suck you into them even on the second go around!! Go figure!! ;)

Maddie was bugged I didn't mention that she along with Mekall and Jake were there as well!! Sorry Maddie!! :)

Emerie Learns to Ice Skate

Madison and Taylor spent the weekend in Sedona with their friends so Kerby decided it would be fun for Emerie to go ice skating! He had promised her that he would take her--by herself--for her birthday!! Yeah--her birthday was back in August! Anyway--I thought it was a crazy suggestion because how do you just take ONE kid and leave the others home??!! It worked out though, today, since the other two were gone for the weekend!!



She has talked about playing hockey--with a hint from Dad!--so we thought she better learn to skate better!! ;)

No--I never pictured Madison or Taylor playing hockey--even though Dad thought of it often! But somehow, with Emerie, it actually seems possible!! ;)

The have a program here through FYHA (Flagstaff Youth Hockey Assoc.)---t is called the Phoenix Coyotes Kids First and they get to learn to play hockey and use the equipment free of charge for ages 4-8!! That way I don't have to invest in anything--yet!

"Mo!", "Mope!", Mamma Mia and 'D-D-D-D-D-Dora!'

Payton is a child of few words but she has added a few to her small vocabulary:

Mo! --means No!
Mope! --means Nope!
Wora --means Dora (Dora the Explorer!)
Mo Baby!! --means I am not a baby!!


Payton sure loves to sing too!! She usually only catches a few words here and there and most of the time she doesn't say them right but she sure tries!! :)

First Snow of the Winter Season!

Taylor loving the snow!

The kids were so excited for the snow!! They got on all their 'snow gear' and headed outside!! Mind you--it was Sunday night at about 8pm!! They got the sled out and took turns riding down the rocks--yes, the rocks!! That is what most yards consist of in Arizona!!

Kerby shoveling for the first time in 5 years!! Hee-hee!! ;)

We gave away our snow blower and shovels when we left Utah 5 years ago--we had to go buy a new snow shovel on Saturday pending the Sunday storm! We are not sure yet if we need a snow blower again--we'll see how much snow we get!!

Payton--such the poser!!

Emerie sledding down the rocks.

Madison with Payton sledding.

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Comes to Flagstaff!!

The kids inside the wienermobile!!

It was an exciting night in Flagstaff!! ;)



Elisa found out the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was making a stop in Flagstaff and wondered if we wanted to go check it out! The kids were so excited!

The Bean kids

The whole Bean crew

The Reese Family

We thought they would be selling hot dogs--you'd think so wouldn't ya!--but that isn't until Sunday! They let the kids tour the mobile and let them color a picture. If you were really brave you could sing and they would give you wienermobile whistle!! ;)

Some interesting facts and info about the wienermobile:




Afterwards we headed to the Old Town Creperie for some dessert crepes! The kids loved watching them be made!




They were really yummy!! Bananas, strawberries, chocolate, whipped cream!! --YUM! :)

**Yes--it was cold!! Not as cold as it will soon get--but cold enough for scarfs and gloves and coats!!

Kids Workshop at Home Depot!

I love that once a month Home Depot provides a fun make-and-take craft for kids! For November it was a Leaf Press. The kids had a great time hammering and they even get a cute Home Depot apron and pin!

It wasn't actually the plan to go to the kids craft but we went to Home Depot Saturday morning to pick up some 'work on the yard' stuff and happened upon it! Notice the undone hair and throw together clothes!! ;)

Payton hammering the teeny--and I mean teeny--nails into her leaf press.

Emerie loved this project and wanted to 'do it all herself!'


Taylor has become pretty handy with a hammer!

**Maddie was a little grumpy and didn't want her picture taken--or to put the apron on (she didn't even really want to make the leaf press so I ended up making it for her!) I think she thinks she is 'too old' for kids stuff anymore!! ;)

Pine Needles, Pine Needles, Pine Needles!!

Because of all the tall pine trees here we don't have to rake leaves but we do have to rake pine needles!! And there are lots of them!! Luckily the city has a pick-up once a month for lawn bags! The kids got into too! They shoved on the gloves and scooped up the needles into the bags! We ended up with 15 bags FULL of pine needles!

...and that was only the backyard!!

Nobody gets in to see the Wizard, nobody, not no how!

My mom is such a talented sewer!! She not only made a Dorothy costume for Emerie and Payton but for me as well! And for Heidi...and for Mekall...and for Ellie...and for Camille... and for Aspen!! (I don't have a picture of Camille and Aspen--Yet!) Wow! We kept her busy!!

I didn't make as cute a Dorothy as Heidi and Elisa (she borrowed the costume for a party) since they have much longer hair!! But it was fun dressing up! **Emerie insisted we ALL wear the 'safety' glow necklaces!! ;)

Mekall, Heidi and Ellie

Heidi and Nate

Fred and Elisa Reese

Halloween night was a lot of fun!! Kerby stayed at home and passed out the candy and I went with Emerie and Payton! We joined up with Elisa, Sydney and Sean and walked our hearts out!! They lasted almost two hours!! Taylor and her friend Jane went out with Jane's mom!

Madison and her friends are 'older' now and didn't want to tag along with us old folks!! We sent them with a cell phone and off they went!! They EACH collected 10 pounds of candy!!! Too much in my book!! I think some of it will have to disappear... ;)

Madison, Sarah and Emily as Alvin, Theodore and Simon

Taylor and her friend Jane

Trunk-Or-Treat

Taylor--as Hannah Montana, Emerie and Payton--as Dorothy, and Maddie-- as Alvin

Madison as Alvin and her friend Sarah as Theodore

The Reese kids

Our church had Trunk-Or-Treat tonight and it was a lot of fun!! They provided hot dogs and chips for dinner and then the kids went 'door-to-door' on the classroom doors trick or treating!! Elisa and I shared a room! I wish we would have gotten a picture of it! It was decked out with scary signs, orange lights, dangling skeletons, and scary music--oh, and a ghoul (which scared most of the younger ones into not coming in for candy!) The kids had fun but since it was a school night we headed back home around 8:30pm. Fun night!! :)


My little posing Dorothy's!! ;)