Sedona

New Years Day my Mom, Sister, Princess, Morgan and I had a girls day in Sedona. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time. Our first stop was The Chapel of the Holy Cross. This Chapel is absolutely amazing.
The view from inside the church...breathtaking.

My Sister, Princess, Morgan and I waiting outside the Chapel for my mom...she was shopping in the gift shop!

What a beautiful view it was from the Chapel.

Our next stop was The Secret Garden Cafe for lunch. This little Cafe is dog friendly. When we arrived the owner greeted us and took us to the back garden area. She looked at Princess, my sister's dog, and said "You are why I bought this place, we will get you step up first, then the humans next." My sister thought it was great, as Princess is her baby.

One of the little ponds and fountains in the garden area where we sat.

We had this area to ourselves...it was nice to enjoy a quiet lunch outside.

The salads were great, their dressing is homemade. I ordered a chicken salad sandwich...Y-U-M-M-Y!

And even Princess was served a small bowl of grilled chicken and a large bowl of filtered water.

After lunch we headed down to the park by the creek. The park was called "The First Little Piggy Park". As we walked through the arch I noticed something on the ground nearby, so we walked over to see...it was a Chess/Checkers board...Morgan size chess pieces. Then all the concrete tables around the board had miniature game boards on them. It made me think of Alice in Wonderland.

Morgan loved crossing the bridge to see the creek.

We found a small waterfall/pond that had rocks around it with inspiring words on them.

I came home and told Shawn that we are going to have an adult get-a-way weekend in Sedona this year...maybe in the Spring when the colors are changing again. It was a very peaceful and relaxing girls day!

Annual Shot Gun Shoot

On New Years Day Shawn, Zach, my Dad and my Uncle Shawn all joined some friends out by Lake Pleasant for their annual Shot Gun Shoot Tournament. This is something Shawn looks forward to every year! Zach is usually the "puller" for the clay pigeons...this year he made money for doing...I guess it pays when the old men drink! :)


There is Shawn getting ready for the "bird".

My dad getting ready.

My Uncle Shawn in the one in the white shirt facing us.

None of them brought home the trophy this year...oh well maybe next...or maybe not because I really do not want to HAVE to display it for a whole year just so my husband has bragging rights! :)

Dinner on Dad

For our birthday's we always either go out to eat and the birthday person picks the place or we eat at home and the birthday person picks the meal...this year my dad wanted to stay home and grill up some steaks on his new toy. Mmmmm they were YUMMY!!

Morgan was trying to help "Pop" blow out his candles.

This is my silly daughter saying cheese...everytime the camera comes out, even if you aren't taking a picture of her, she says cheese and makes this silly face!

My dad was teaching Morgan and Ashlyn to give knuckles...Morgan caught on and now she goes around saying "knucks" and holding her fist out!

Another picture of Morgan and Mel...I had to beg my sister to let me take a few, we don't get to see her all that much with her work schedule sometimes!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today we celebrate the birth of my dad! He has been there every step of the way in his family's life. My dad's family is the most important thing in this world to him. He has ALWAYS put us first. There were times when he would get a bonus from work and spend it on his 3 girls...my mom, sister and I. He walked me down the isle, even when he did not approve the first time, and held me close as he gave me away. He walked every step with my sister as she purchased her very first home by herself. He is a man that just keeps giving.

He is also the BEST Grandpa/Pop that any kid could ask for. Zach and my dad are hunting buddies and Handi Mac buddies. My dad started his own Handi Mac business a few years ago and had shirts made...his said Handi Mac and Zach's said Handi Zach. My dad has taken Zach on many hunting and quading trips. He adores Miss Morgan more than words can explain. He even tries to beat my mom to her...He had a cup of coffee in his hand one day and asked my mom if she wanted it...my mom looked at him in confusion and asked why...he told her, because I need both of my hands so I can pick up my granddaughter...all of this was being said as they were walking up to meet us at the train park! He is a pretty sneaky man!

As we celebrate you today Dad, I just hope you know how much we all love you and care for you! You are our "Number 1".

I did it...

Finally...I have been trying to create my own blog backgrounds for sometime now. I figured out how to create them...but then I was having trouble actually uploading them onto my blog and them actually fitting. So after a few days of hours and hours spent on the computer I finally did it! I am having so much fun creating these...that I have created a few for back ups so I can change them out every month! I can create one for you too, if you are interested!

Happy Blogging!!

Presents...Presents...and more Presents

Christmas Eve was spent baking, eating and visiting my sister at work. We always open 1 gift on Christmas Eve and it is always the gift the my Nana and Grandpa send us. So this year we took the gifts and some goodies to my sister at work so we could keep the tradition going.

This is the goody I bake them...a Santa Pizza Cookie. Cookie dough on the bottom (baked for 20 min.), melt a bag of white chocolate chips and cover with pretzels, m&m's, gum drops. Then drizzle the left over white chocolate over the toppings. My sister said it was a hit! I had to hold myself back this holiday season from all the goodies...as it would not be good for my marathon training.

"Pop", Morgan and "mama" at Melissa's work. Morgan has started calling my dad Pop...which is neat because my dad's father's nickname was always Pops. Both of my parents decided that they would let Morgan pick their "Grandparent" names. My mom's is still "mama" for now.

Mel and Mom after we opened our gifts.

Christmas day was spent at our home. I made French Toast for breakfast, we opened gifts, played in the backyard, put new toys together, and played Yatzee, Pictionary, and Catch Phrase. Along with all that fun we had food to munch on all day. What a blessed family day we all shared together!

Morgan is opening her Mickey Mouse Movie and Zach was opening his movie UP.

Zach was entertaining the babies...I think her just liked playing with their toys better! :) We are ALL kids at heart!

Morgan got a kitchen...I picked this one because it will match our kitchen in our new home...once I am done painting (can't wait to close and get the keys)!

Morgan LOVES Minnie Mouse...what good is a kitchen without an apron and a chef's hat.!!

My Mom made Zach a new blanket for his bed. His current room is done is skateboards, and that is what we are keeping it when we move, so we found some blue skateboarder material and my mom made a blanket. Homemade gifts are the best!

Morgan and Ashlyn (our cousin) after opening presents! I am so glad my Aunt and cousin were able to join us on this special day!

We had a wonderful Christmas. Zach also got a MP3 Player, Star Wars Lego sets, books, clothes (lot's of them), new shoes, movies, candy, Battleship, a Nerf Machine Gun, and I am sure much more. Morgan also got a Minnie Mouse cupcake set for her kitchen, Little People Ferris Wheel, Leap Frog reading set, clothes, a V-Tech pink laptop, and much more. I decided to put over half of Morgan's toys up on the shelf until we move...they will be easier to move if they are still packaged up!

I hope your family has a VERY Happy New Year!

My memorable moment for 2009

Choosing my most memorable moment for 2009 was a hard pick for me. I decided that the best memory I had was all the visits I had with my cousin Michelle and her son Wesley. She got married last December to Schylar...he enlisted in the army and sent to boot camp, then stationed in Germany. Through this time Michelle was without her new husband, having and taking care of their baby. It was a long 8 months for her, but her time paid off. On Christmas Eve she boarded a plane that took her and Wesley to Minnesota, then onto Amsterdam, then into Nurnburg. This family was brought together on Christmas Day and were able to celebrate their sons first Christmas together.


Here we are in August at the Children's Museum in Phoenix.

Here is Morgan touching Michelle's belly. This was taken in February at the Denver Airport.

Another of Michelle and Morgan in February. We flew to Colorado to join in on the fun of Michelle's baby shower.

Here we are in May...My cousin Stephanie also had a baby this year. This time we visited Colorado for my cousin Chelsi's high school graduation.

Wesley and I in May.

Michelle and Wesley in August at the Children's Museum.

Me, my sister and Michelle playing a little Beer Pong while she was her in August.

Morgan and Wesley shopping at Target in October when Morgan and I visited Colorado again.

Michelle and I pretending to eat all that frosting. We were frosting all of our Halloween cupcakes that night.

Morgan and I are looking SO forward to our trip to Germany in 2011 to travel Europe with them. Schylar will receive orders soon to be deployed...please keep him in your prayers as he has to once again leave his family for a year. Good Luck to The Woods Family. We LOVE you all so much!