Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009

Halloween this year ended up being a crazy day. Since it was on a Saturday, we had 4 ball games and Riley and Mia were not feeling all that well. We had a bunch of neighbors over to grill and have a potluck in front of our house. Then we took the kids trick-or-treating, followed by a movie that we projected to a wall on our driveway. Brayden, being a 7th grader, chose to go trick-or-treating with his friends (10 girls and 3 boys). When they were done, I took them to a haunted house some friends of ours put on each year. It was a fun Halloween for everyone.

My one picture of all the kids. Everyone seems to look pretty happy in this picture. Riley was a fairy, Tanner was Anikan Skywalker, Mia was an Asian princess and the older boys traded each others costumes from last year. They couldn't figure out what they wanted to be, so they dug through my costume bin and Chase ended up as Slash and Brayden was and "old school rapper".

Brayden with his good friends, Jack and Grady.

Rylee was the girl in the green scarf from Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Chase with Jake, who was a piece of Papa John's Pizza!

Chase, AKA Slash!

A bunch of the kids on our street.

I took Brayden and his friends to the Jenson's house to be towed around their neighborhood on a trailer. They had a great time.

Here's the group that Brayden trick-or-treated with. I joke that it's his harem. He has such a great friendship with these 7th grade girls that we go to church with. In typical fashion, notice the 3 boys to 8 girls (plus 2 little sisters). Isn't that how it always is? More girls than boys!

Erin and Allie. I loved Erin's cat costume!

On the trailer!

I ran back over to our neighborhood to take the twins trick-or-treating. Chase and Mia had taken off with their friends, leaving me with Riley and Tanner. Riley's was starting to feel sick again by that point and she didn't want to walk, so I had to get the wagon out.

After trick-or-treating, everyone came back to our house to watch Monsters Vs. Aliens.

Mia sorting through her candy

Trunk or Treat

The night before Halloween, our ward had it's annual Trunk-or-Treat. It was fun, but sad since we knew our ward was getting split 2 days later.

Riley was feeling really sick. I probably shouldn't have brought her, but this picture pretty much captured her mood for the night.

Tanner was Spider-man since we couldn't find half of his Anikan Skywalker costume. Fortunately we found it in time for Halloween.

I don't think the twins look happy to be with me!

Lia, Mia and Camilla

Bray with Allie and Rahgan, who was the "Balloon Boy."

Brayden and Rylee goofing off as usual.

Melissa, Chelsea and me.

With Chris and Michelle Jenson.

Jason and Jamie were dressed as Jon and Kate Gosselin. I loved the wig!!!

Jake and Chase, who had abandoned his costume by this point.

Preschool Halloween Party

The twins had their Shining Stars Halloween party. Here are a couple pics from that day:

Riley with Madison and Sadie, a couple of her best friends.

U2 Concert - Oct 2009

U2 Concert

On Oct 20, Matt and I took Brayden to the U2 concert in Phoenix. We had a blast. Matt is a diehard U2 fan and has seen them several times. This was my second time seeing them. It was a great concert and took me back to the good old days of high school and college. I love it when they play their old songs. When the tickets first went on sale, Matt and I were planning on going alone. But, Matt really wanted the boys to go and was contemplating buying 2 more tickets. In the end, Matt's boss gave us an extra ticket that she had, so we decided to take Brayden (on a school night). We didn't get home until 1 am, but Brayden still made it to school the next day. Bray has grown up listening to U2 and I think he enjoyed his first concert experience. Here are some pics of the night:

Outside the University of Phoenix Stadium before the concert.

Here we are U2 came on.

Here are some pictures during the concert:

Bono's starting to get old, but U2 still puts on a great concert. What a fun night!

California 2009

California

July 2009

Yep, it's pretty pathetic that I'm still blogging about our summer. We went to CA for my sister's California wedding reception. My brother, Jim, and his family came too. We only stayed for a few days, but I was able to see some of my best friends. I was able to go to the beach with my friends, Traci and Melissa, from Louisville and see my good friend, Tara, that I grew up with.

Here are some pics from the kids swimming with their cousins at my mom's house:

Mia had a little photo shoot in front of my mom's house next to the palm tree that I stood next to for every picture on the first day of school, etc, while I was growing up:

Oceanside

We decided that meeting in Oceanside was a good central place to meet my friends, Traci and Melissa, since they were in San Diego with Traci's family. We didn't have a whole lot of time with them, but I had such a fun time seeing them. It was just like old times. They're friends for life! Here are some pictures from Oceanside:

Mia with Sydnee Mortenson. They were great friends when we lived in Louisville.

Brayden looking studly!!!

Me and Melissa. I can't believe I'm putting this picture in, because I look terrible, but Melissa looks great and I had so much fun seeing her at the beach and then again when she came to AZ in August.
Traci and Melissa. I hope no one's mad about swimsuit pics, but they both look great. I love these girls and I miss not living near them.

The Martinez, the Mortenson and the Underwood kids! It's hard to think Kari is now 14 and I still remember Melissa telling me she was pregnant with her.

San Clemente

Beach # 2 was San Clemente. This is our favorite beach to go to in California. We went their with the Haslam cousins. Here are some pictures that look very similar to the pictures of Oceanside:

Oakley, Riley and Sadie all in their Old Navy swimsuits!

Jen and Spencer's California Reception

Since Brayden wasn't in Utah for Jen's wedding, he didn't get to see my grandmother. I made sure I got a picture of them together.

Spencer and Jen - the newlyweds!

Here I am with Tara Bullock. She's one my best friends from growing up. It's always great to see her. She looked great having recently had a baby boy. I always feel short around Tara!

Utah Trip- July 2009

Utah Trip

July 2009

I'm so pathetic that I'm finally blogging our trip from 3 months ago. After my sister's wedding, we went back to AZ for about a week and a half and then turned around and went back to Utah. It was pretty crazy! We had planned to spend the week of the 4th of July in Utah long before my sister was even engaged. We had already paid for Brayden to go to BYU baseball camp as well. So here are some highlights (and way too many pictures) of our trip:

4th of July

We stayed at my brother, Jim's, house once again. They're great hosts and my kids love their cousins. Here are some pics from that night:

I don't know what it is about my kids, but they never want to go to classes when we go to different ward. We had photo shoot before taking the 3 youngest home.

Sunday Drive

It was such a beautiful day that we decided to drive the Alpine Loop. We checked out some springs and went up to Sundance.

I had to snap a picture of Sundance as we drove down the Alpine Loop.
The kids loved seeing where they had skied just a few months earlier.

Sundance

Matt and I standing where our engagment pictures were taken over 15 years ago. I don't think I look 22 anymore!

BYU Baseball Camp

Brayden went to BYU Baseball Camp for the first time this year. He was roommates with his friend, Taylor Plewe. They were next door neighboors with a couple other friends from Gilbert. They had a great week. Besides playing baseball all day, they had counselors and fun activities at night. They even got to go to Seven Peaks. It was well worth the money. Brayden had a blast. Matt's dad flew out to Utah to see the kids and check out baseball camp since he didn't get a chance to get out to AZ for Brayden's baseball season this year. We ended up hanging out with him watching a lot of the camp.

Brayden stayed in Helaman Halls. You got to love the lovely block walls of the dorms!

Brayden with his roommate, Taylor.

Ready for baseball camp to start!

Here are some shots of Brayden at camp:

Serge, Matt's Dad arrived. Here he is hanging out with Chase.

Chase and Grandpa went out and practiced pitching after camp ended for the day.

Riley!!

Here are some other pics around BYU

Chase posing in front of Ty Detmer's Heisman Tropy.

Boating

We went out on the boat with the kids one morning. We didn't have much time so we just kneeboarded and tubed.

Chase, Tanner and Oakley

Chase on the kneeboard

Oakley and Riley on the tube

Oakley and Tanner on the tube. Oakley was the one person the twins trusted to take them on the tube!

Bryce and Tanner

Mia on the kneeboard

Lucy and Mia

Dinner at Cafe Rio

We met Matt's sister, Melanie and her husband, Brady, for dinner at Cafe Rio. Our good friends, Kristi and Todd Hamilton came as well. It was so fun to see everyone.

Todd, Kristi, me and Matt

Melanie, Serge and Matt

Here I am with Kristi.

BYU Creamery

We had to go to the BYU Creamery for ice cream. It was filled with EFY kids. It made me totally nostalgic for my days as an EFY counselor. We took some of the cousins and Grandpa Martinez came too. He wouldn't miss out on ice cream.

Cabella's

Jim and Diane live totally close to Cabella's. We hadn't ever been before, so we decided to check it out. It was really cool. The kids loved it. They loved all the cool animals and the big fish tanks. Chase loved it so much that he went twice. He went the first time with us and then he took Grandpa Martinez back for a second time.

I guess the "triplets" are done with Cabella's!

Last Night in Utah

We went out to eat at The California Pizza Kitchen our last night in Utah. Brayden finished up with his baseball camp that day and Serge was leaving on a late flight that night. Melanie came down from SLC to hang with us.
Right before Serge left, the boys all played ball in the parking lot of University Mall.

The next day we left Utah for California for our next leg of our summer trip.

Melissa and Mindi visit Arizona!

August 2009

A few weeks ago, a couple of my best friends, Melissa and Mindi came to town for a conference. It was so fun to see them. We used to all live in Louisville together. Melissa still lives there, but Mindi now lives in Reno. I hadn't seen Mindi in about 3 years and it was just like old times. We went to lunch one day, went to a movie and I just hung out their hotel one night. We had a blast. I just love those kind of friends that even if you've been apart for a long time, it's like you never left. They're coming back next year for the same conference. I can't wait!

Mindi and Melissa

All of us at lunch

Some pics at my house. Why do I look pregnant?

First Day of School

First Day of School 2009

July 27th is WAY TOO EARLY to start school!!! There's something wrong with going to school when it's 110 degrees outside! We should be in the pool instead. That's the way it is here. My kids have gotten used to it. Mia started 1st grade, Chase started 4th grade and Brayden is in 7th. Yep, Bray's in middle school! Mia and Chase still have to wear uniforms at their school, but Brayden is finally able to wear normal clothes again. He was pretty excited on that first day.

Mia - ready for 1st grade! She was fortunate to get in a class with most of her friends from last year. She had a great first day of school, but started getting a little sad by the end of the first week. We had to bribe her to be happy and not to cry at school I'm not sure why she was so sad and didn't want to go to school. She didn't have any problems with Kindergarten and she's old for her grade, being almost 7. She finally got over it after a couple weeks.

Chase-ready for 4th grade. Chase has had a great year so far. He has several friends from last year in his class and his teacher is in our ward. He pretty much lives for playing soccer at recess with all of his friends. He's bummed when it's over 110 degrees and they can't play outside!

Chase and Mia in front of their school.

Brayden right after the first day of 7th grade. I totally forgot to take a picture of him before school. He looks a little hot. Could it be because he just walked from the bus stop in the Arizona heat? He had a great day too. He ended up with a lot of friends in his classes and his lunch period. I know that middle school can be a yucky time, but he's been doing really well.

Shining Stars Preschool 2009

Once again the twins are going to Shining Stars Preschool with Miss Nicole and they LOVE IT! They were bummed that a few of their good friends are no longer there, but Riley is thrilled to still be with Madison and Tanner is stoked that his buddy, Damon, is in his class too. It's hard to believe the twins could start Kindergarten next year. Since they have August birthdays, I'm holding them back. I want to hang on to my little buddies a little bit longer. I'm not ready for them to grow up. Preschool is perfect! A little break, but not all day. Here are some pictures from the first day of preschool:

Tanner

Riley

Tanner and Riley with Madison at school.

Jen and Spencer's Wedding

Jen and Spencer's wedding

June 23, 2009

My sister, Jen, married Spencer Roberts on June 23rd in the Draper, Utah Temple. My friend, Kelly Norton and I, set them up. Last fall, Kelly, and her husband, Chris, invited us over to have dinner and watch a BYU football game. We started talking about my single sister, Jen, and Kelly's single brother, Spencer, and how they both lived in Utah. We thought we ought to set them up. I told Jen that she needed to ask Spencer to be her friend on Facebook. Kelly told Spencer about Jen. Not long after a Facebook friendship, they started dating, and a few months later, they were engaged. Here is their engagement picture:

June ended up being a really crazy month for us. We went to Las Vegas, Brayden and Matt had scout camp, Brayden was doing all-star baseball and we had the wedding in Utah. We decided to let Brayden stay home from the wedding since he couldn't miss his all-star games. I had to be up in Utah before the wedding for the bridal shower. Matt stayed with Brayden in AZ and flew up to Utah the morning of the wedding. That meant I drove up to Utah alone with my 4 youngest kids. I can't believe I did it! I was very proud of myself. I did it all in one day. I think the longer I'm married, the less I do things like that. When I was at BYU, I would have done that drive in a heartbeat. In the last 15 years I've gotten used to having my husband around for the long drives!

Family Bridal Shower

My sister-in-law, Diane and I threw a family bridal shower for Jen the day before the wedding. Her are some pictures from the shower:

Jen and I

Here I am with, Jen and Kelly

Jen with Camilla and Mia. Camilla is Kelly's daughter and one of Mia's best friends. They thought it was the coolest thing that Mia's aunt was marrying Camilla's uncle. Their entire Kindergarten class and teacher knew the story. Mia and Camilla think they're cousins now!

My mom and Jen

The Haslam and Roberts women

Opening the presents

Camilla, Mia and Lucy

Swimming with the cousins

It was Jacob's 13th birthday and we celebrated with a pool party at Stephanie's mom's house.

Family Dinner

The night before the wedding we had a nice family dinner. No one seems to do the wedding luncheon thing anymore. That's what we did after we got married. It was a nice, relaxed evening with both families.

The happy couple!

Here I am with my one living grandparent-my 91 year old grandma. She looks great!

Mia and my grandma. Mia and my grandma both have the same beautiful light blue eyes. I had to get a picture of them together. You can't really see their eyes very well in this picture.

Chase and Oakley

Uncle Jim, Aunt Sherry, Grandma, Dad and Joyce

Who left the "triplet"s unattended???? There's bound to be trouble!

Sadie! I'm loving the curls!

Diane and Sadie

Lucy, Oakley and Mia

Front-Chase and Mia. Back-Jared, Cameron,Lucy and Oakley

Mia and Camilla-who hurt herself at the shower that morning.

Here are some other miscellaneous pics from the dinner:

The Wedding Day

I had to get all the kids up and ready to pick Matt up at the airport and get to the Draper Temple on time. All worked out perfectly and we got there with plenty of time. The only problem was that I forgot to charge the camera battery. It died right before Jen and Spencer came out of the temple. I did get a few pics from Diane's camera , but she didn't too many herself.

Both families at the temple.

While we were waiting for Jen and Spencer to come out of the temple, Matt took a ton of pics of the kids sitting outside a little window of the temple.

Mia and Camilla were very eager to see the bride!

The twins entertained themselves with Matt's sunglasses.

The Reception

The reception was held at The Old Meetinghouse in SLC. Here are some pics from that night:

Jen and I. I was the maid of honor. I'm looking too old for this sort of thing!

This was not a great picture, but here is my side of the family, minus Brayden!

Matt and I looking like we should be going to prom!

Matt and 2 of the boys!

Grandma and I

Camilla and Mia

The twins!

The "triplets"!

Tanner with his Great-grandma Haslam

Oakley and Tanner. My nieces are so sweet with the twins. I wish I had them around more often!

Sadie, the present taker!

Another prom pic of Matt and I!

Cousins!

Sadie and Oakley

Lucy and Mia

Tanner and Chase

Matt's sister, Melanie, and her husband, Brady came to the reception.

Jen and Spencer cutting the cake

Spencer and Jen heading for the car.

The very next morning, we got up at 4:30 in the morning to get back to AZ for and All-Star game for Brayden. The newleyweds headed off to Hawaii. We were exhausted, but it was all worth it. It was nice to have Matt with me for the drive home and good to get back to Brayden. I still can't believe I played a part in my sister getting married. Is there anyone else in need of being set up? Just let me know!