Andy *hearts* (finally) Amber

Most of you know my brother, so I feel confident you will want to know he and Amber are getting MARRIED! yeah! We were lucky enough to have these two ridiculously cute chickadees come visit over new years. What a fun time! I totally wish we lived closer. I know we'd have way too much fun and spoil each other rotten, but seriously, someday, someday... We had such a blast staying up late talking and getting up early to run. We just love 'em to pieces and can't wait for Amber to officially be a part of the family:)
     It's really funny because in a lot of ways, Andy and Amber remind Ben and I so much of ourselves... It definitely takes us back *8 years* (whoa) ago when we were dating and considering marriage. What a crazy (yep, crazy is the best adjective I can come up with for exactly what I mean) time in our lives! I remember that time of engagement being exciting because I knew (with all of my heart) this was the man I wanted (and he equally wanted...) to spend the rest of my life with, but also anxious because it seemed like the rest of my life wasn't happening very fast! I so just wanted to be married and stop making wedding plans and getting frustrated with details of the plans and all the other dramas that come along with planning a wedding. Oh, how I'm glad that time is *well* behind us! *Side note: Secretly, or not so secretly, I think Ben is extremely thankful I had all those feelings because it made our wedding plans so much more simplistic than say other events I have since had my hand in... Ha! Lucky he asked me when he did! Don't get me wrong, I am glad we had that time in our lives and I thank the Lord every day that we are together forever, but that engagement time was not my favorite:) Amber, I wish you much luck on this journey. If you ever feel frustration or like no one else understands all the emotions you are feeling. I do. And I'm right here. A phone call away:) Andy, I'll listen to your whining, but in the end, I'll probably side with Amber:) Love you!!

Now that it's February, how about Christmas?

Santa found us!

Zachary and Ike in their new Christmas Jammies playing away

The Tunnels! Zach's new favorite word and a HUGE hit!

Best Friends, and funny kiddos:) Notice pants on backwards!

This was before Macy ran into a cactus on our hike- after that she kept saying

 "stay away cactus! I don't like you at all!"

Sunny AZ Decmeber 2010

Rainy day at the zoo- Giraffes were really close though, I guess it's worth it!

Lions!

Ike and Amber on the lightrail on our way to the Fiesta Bowl Parade

Andy and Macy on the lightrail- good times:)

sweet little family

Standing like this holding Zachary was fun for the first 10 minutes... 2 hours later, not so much:)

So, the second half of Christmas break was spent with Joni, Clay and the girls escaping the winter abyss for our little oasis of sun! We had such a great time with them! On Christmas Day, while poolside catching some rays and watching the kids splash around, we made an *extensive* list of all the things they wanted to do and see in Phoenix. Guess what?! I think we did it all! What a week! Our kiddos got pretty good at sleeping in the car, eating in the strollers and looking darn cute together! They were worn out every single night and never threw fits about going to sleep- does that say anything? Some of our favorite events: 1. sitting around talking and playing and being together Christmas Day 2. Showing off my cute nieces and even cuter preggo sister at church 3. going hiking to the petroglyphs and out through the sahuaros 4. watching Clay in Cabelas 5. Going to the Temple! 6. Zoo Day 7. Introducing the Kenningtons to IKEA:) 8. crisscrossing the valley for good eats and yummy frozen yogurt treats 9. fresh citrus 10. fiesta bowl parade 11. Andy and Amber driving all night to hang out 12. new years eve facials 13. late night talks and early morning jogs          I'm just sayin' I think I would almost be willing to commit to living in someplace like Pinedale to be closer to those guys! We love them and miss them dearly! Wait, the high there today was below zero... I may have to reconsider... P.S. Andy and Amber- you two rock and you deserve your own post:) I'll see what I can do...                                                                                                                 

 

Lovin' Every Minute of It... Part One: Piepers

 Alright, if you can think of the song I was thinking of when I wrote the title, I love you already! Truly, this is how I felt about our Christmas break... We LOVED every minute of it! We were lucky enough to have family visiting from Dec. 17-Jan 2nd! Isn't that great?! It's a good thing we live in Arizona, because I have a feeling that had something to do with it!


Ben's family was able to come visit first. We really had a fun time, even if we were busy getting things done too! SOME of us overbook ourselves *just a little*!! But all in all, we were able to spend a few Glorious days together laughing and just enjoying one another's company. SOME of us ended up injured, OTHERS ended up with ALOT of citrus and A FEW Krispy Kremes... Not a bad way to start the holiday season, right?!

What I have to keep reminding myself of, is that it's not WHAT we did (or didn't...) get to, it's who we were with. I can't think of a better crew to be with! The kids are still talking about "Pauuul," (Zach's favorite to say) Mary, and Hannah (and of course Grandma and Grandpa). Some of my favorite times were...
Cooking LOTS of crazy, yummy meals
Going to LOTS of parks
Running and Bike rides
The FUNNIEST white elephant gift exchange (let's just say Paul went home with the book, The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands!)
Cooking some more
Rainstorms
Picking THE BEST blood oranges, clementines and grapefruits
Entertaining Hannah's admirer's parents (he does like you Hannah!)
and Watching Cooking Shows:)

Zach patiently awaiting Grandma's return

 

from a much needed snooze!

Our little clementine picker:)

Miss you guys already! CAN'T WAIT for next Christmas!

Lazy? or Focused?

I just realized my most beloved sister (in law) had a baby two days ago and has already blogged that sweet little bub. I, on the other hand, am once again pushing a month between posts. Yikes. Is it just me or is anyone else feeling a sense of buckling down, focusing your efforts and finding some things get the cut? Whatever that means to you. It seems like everyone I have talked to this year is feeling the same way. Is it the current feeling in the air? or is it my stage in life? I'm not sure. Somedays I feel I'm just keeping our heads (collectively) above water, and other days, I just feel like there are other very important things to do:) Either way, I promise to get some Christmas/New Years pics posted soon. We love you all lots and are so grateful for each of you in our lives. More to come:)

Running... Santa Style

I'm really not that short, but Kallee is that tall:)

Our very own cheering section



Odd coincidence... Kallee and I actually planned to match
these two dental buddies are just on the same wavelength:)
A little freaky, huh.

 My DREAM race... dress up competition, carolers, cheering crowds all along the way, the GREATEST friend in the world by my side to talk to THE WHOLE TIME (other runners must've hated us), and Blue Bell Ice Cream sponsoring the event! So, if you are wondering what I'll be doing every year from now on, it's the 12k's of Christmas. We had a wonderful time and even ranked in the top 25% of runners (out of almost 1100). Ok, we could've been faster, but then how would we have had time to talk about all the things we needed to... like labor and delivery stories, where we want to open a dental practice, what to get our hubbys for Christmas, etc. :)

Balance... November Style

For those of you who noticed, I'm sorry. I haven't kept up with my blog like I would prefer. Ok, I admit it, I haven't kept up with much of anything this fall the way I'd like to... As my windows and the floor under my fridge are practically screaming:) Our family is coming to visit at the end of this week and all of a sudden I'm noticing all the ways I have slacked off, or as I like to call it "balanced" my life this fall:) As Ben has been increasingly kicked in the pants with school and I have been equally beat up with teaching preschool and running Z to physical therapy twice a week, we are doing a lot of BALANCING!

So, here's a quick rundown in pics of our past month. We had a great trip back home in November and a few other adventures on the way:) Apparently I forgot the camera most of the time, but we had a great time with everyone and miss you all already!


Playing with Gramps... they were having a better time than they are letting on...



Zach's 18 months!

Believe it or not, Gramps found this reindeer cookie recipe and
decided it was high time Ike have a project. They were TASTY
unfortunately, and super cute! Thanks Master Chef Gramps!

Best Playmates:) These two made a cave in the pack and play.
We sure miss having that Jenny Wren around:(



I had to add this for Jen: The 8 year olds "bonding" before Matthew's baptism.
Can't wait til our other kids are old enough to bond like that:)
Wait, maybe I can!



This photo does not even begin to explain how COLD we were
in South Dakota! Brrr! but way prettier than I expected:)

    

Trick or Treating like there's no place like home!

I'm no halloween extraordinaire. I am, however, LOVING that we are in a place where you can fully appreciate halloween and outdoor events. No coats. No jackets. No snowboots. No winter storm warnings. No hot cider (ok, I do miss that). No finishing when the sun goes down. THIS is halloween Phoenix style. We quickly found out last year that halloween around here is for everyone. There are events on every corner, for a week before halloween. Every neighborhood has a block party and if you want to have trick or treaters, you merely set up outside and watch the kiddos flock to you:) It's great.

Cute brothers... Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh MY!



Pumpkin Patch in the middle of the desert!?
Fun day with preschool
and the boys' favorite skeleton shirts that I had to wash
every night for the past two weeks! They DO glow in the dark
 and I got them on sale at Carters:)



The happiest Tinman! One of the girls at the Boo Bash was teasing
him telling him he didn't have a heart and how was he going to have
 a girl friend if he didn't have a heart. He replied, "In real life I do
 have a heart, right mama!"

Poor Cowardly Lion... fleece costumes are not conducive to 90* Phx!

Ok, this is the only pic I have right now of our whole fam, but the
Boo Bash took professional ones... so more to come. And no, Napoleon
is not part of the Wizard of Oz, but he is single, ladies (wink, wink)
AND he's going to be a dentist, if all goes well!

    This year, we were able to hit up a few parties including the Midwestern event on Friday afternoon and the Boo Bash (put on by the Az Dental Assoc.) on Friday night. Saturday, we laid low and went to the zoo and then Sunday we got together with our totally awesome friends to eat dinner in a pumpkin by candlelight and watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and eat yummy popcorn balls. It was Great! I also have to mention, we (again) took first place in the Boo Bash Costume contest. Oops. I think I'll retire while I'm ahead! The greatest thing about our costumes is that for the 4 of us, I spent less than $20! I planned ahead this year and hopefully can do the same next year... with a little less last minute rush:) Ha! (Did I mention I have been telling Ben I want to SIMPLIFY my life to which he keeps replying with a sinister laugh and a "You wouldn't know how!") Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll have to simplify AFTER the holidays. Did you know I LOVE holidays AND ANY reason to party??