I am so far behind but that just shows how busy we truly are.  School, soccer and work keep us going.  Plus seriously time does fly.  I can't believe it is already November.  We actually sold our house and are buying a new one.  The next post should be pics of our new house.  I made a trip to Utah to see my niece Crystal.  We have had soccer tournaments in Vegas and California. 

OK, a little behind on the posting but life is great. 
Family Reunion in Utah.  What a great family.  Crazy to think this isn't even 1/2 of us.

Back to school, work and summer is over.
Mitch came back home to attend school and be close to family.
I love it because I am in such denial about being an empty nester.
It scares me to death.  HEHE
Kyle is a senior, and loving senior life and work at QT.
Courtney is playing soccer for Ahwatukee and loves her team and coach.  They are going to have a great year.
Mitch is attending Chandler/Gilbert community college, hanging with friends and cleaning pools.
Eric is working and staying busy with that.  Hasn't traveled much lately but looks like that may change soon.
I went back to work at BFCS but went to the Power Campus. More students, teachers and bigger campus.  But I enjoy the challenge and the people I work with. I love to be busy and it is such a blessing working with kids.

Courtney and 8th grade formal.  Lauren, Andie, Ciara and Courtney

 

 4th of July crew ready to go the Parade and celebrate the freedoms.  And stadium of fire with the Beach Boys. Can you say AWESOME night!!!!

Family Amazing Race and yes our team kicked butt.  Mitch taking picture.

Mike, Meg, Mom and Mitch

Meg, Cass, Mitch, Kaylee, Courtney and Opie

 

 Courtney, Dax, Reece, and Beck and Kaylee hiking in Payson Canyon.

My beautiful great nieces, Liberty and Teagan.  I miss these two girls and their contagious smiles.

I miss this gang also. Wow the laughs these 3 boys can bring.  Cass and Tyler's gang.  Kaylee, Reece, Beck and Dax.

Courtney attended soccer camp and BYU and was excited to have family watch her.  It was also fun to meet the BYU team and be coached by them,

 

Best friends and sad that all great vacations must come to an end

 1st soccer tournament in California.  They did great and had an awesome time building friendships.

 End of summer Big Surf Party with the Janda crew and a few friends.

 1st day of School.  Perry High with a freshman and Senior. What a great pair.

 

Grandma Great's Funeral

Bruce, Jim, Jerome, Brenda, Mom, Lyle, Jenny, Lisa, Kenny

My beautiful great nieces Libby and Tegan.

Mom, Brenda and Jerome

Sarah, Hunter, Tegan, Emily, Megan, Libby, Courtney

Jenny, Brenda, Kenny and Lisa

I have to say this was probably one of the very toughest moments in life so far.  It was so good to spend time with my family.  I haven't seen some of them in so long.  What a wonderful, emotional week.
I am so grateful for all the memories and times I was able to share with this most amazing women.  She touched so many lives.  Her smiles, hugs and wet kisses would bring a smile to any one's face.  She was the most amazing cook and one of the greatest examples in my life.
Grandma I know it was your time to return to Grand-dad, your Mom and many other people waiting for you on the other side.  I am jealous and sad for me but so excited for you.  You lived a full and amazing life.  From seeing the first airplane in the sky, to indoor plumbing, hearing about your 1st washing machine, to computers and those dang telephones that we all text on and you hated us playing with those dang finger things.
I love to read, cook and daydream in the beautiful outdoors because of you.
I watched my 1st soap opera with you and I was able to get pierced ears because I told Mom grandma does. Hehe
I also have a stubborn, feisty, mean streak that keeps me focused so that I can accomplish what I need to and I am so proud to say I am a lot like you. 
I look forward to the day I can get a hug from you.
I hope I can be the type of person you taught me to be so that I will have the strength and determination that you did.
I love and will miss you tons. HUGE hugs.

April & May

Ok, so the goal of a monthly post went pretty good until now. In my defense I am still shocked that it is May so I guess I am in denial.  It has been a couple months of crazy roller-coaster rides but I will give you the readers digest version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3-v-3 soccer tourney-girls did awesome and took 2nd place.
Courtney, Ciara, Savannah, Anna and Lauren
Piano Recital - Kyle played "Solfegietto" and Courtney played "The Wildhorse Man"

Skyping with Morgan on Mother's Day.  He looked and sounded great.

End of soccer season with Sereno. Awesome group of girls.
They had a tough season with coach changes and all but stayed strong with positive attitudes.

Track and end of Junior High.

Visit from Mitch, what a great treat!!!

March 2012

Lots of fun this month......
It was spring break and Easter weekend.

Me and my work besties. I love working with these women (Evelyn, Kriston, Me & Gaia), they are awesome and such great friends. Helen and I blinged the kool-aide shirts which was great fun.


We went out to dinner with the Rea's. Courtney ordered Nachos which were huge. I am grateful daily for the friendships that I have. And the people who are in my life. Karen is a great example to me.
Mitch cut his head open and him and his friend glued it together. Pretty smart boys.
Spring break we went to a Spring Training game. It was a fun experience. I question why we haven't done that more often. We have so many fun things around us to do yet we don't take advantage of them.



Hunger games movie premier with Curtis' and Dawson's, Emma and Verplanke's.
Always a favorite to hit the movies when it is a series from books we all read.
ASU soccer game with the team.

Easter Pageant and it's always the best when we run into people we know.
We went with the YW/YM and it was a wonderful night.
My favorite tradition of Easter.
(Alex, Kylie and Jaydn, other actors we didn't know but Karen Malanca thought I knew everyone.)

Mitch surprised us by coming home for Easter weekend. Great surprise. I truly miss him and Morgan. Everyday is tough but holidays are the worst. We went to a diamondbacks game and really had a great time.
(Mitch, Mikey, Jake, Kevin, Eric, Sis and myself)


Every year Glenn and Kathy take us for our annual birthday dinner. It is always a great time. I am so grateful for them and having the Janda family close. They are a strong support to our family and it is nice to be able to go out with them and have our monthly FHE's.

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. Kids still humor me with the traditional basket hunt.
Glenn and Kathy came over for dinner. I was so happy that Mitch was here. It really was a nice relaxing day. Of course we miss Morgan and with each holiday as the kids get bigger things change but it seems that we remember more what the purpose of the holiday is and don't spend so much time on the commercialism.