the lotts

A Favorite

2012-01-25T13:28:00.000-08:00

Wish they would stay young forever. Love this love.

Reminising Snow Canyon

2012-01-24T22:08:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine got me to reminising about the red rocks in Snow Canyon. It is one of my favorite places on Earth. God's Country. I love hiking all over this canyon. I can't wait to go back again.

Gavinator

2012-01-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

I love him.

Guns and Roses

2012-01-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

My girls love to shoot guns. Here is Arden shooting out at some cindar pits. She is a pretty good shot, Alexis on the other had can blow some real smoke off a target.

To: You, From: Arden

2011-11-30T21:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOMgDbcA84A&feature=related

Arden watched this at school today and couldn't wait to share it will all of us at home. We loved it so much we just have to share it with you. Thanks Arden

Play Dough

2011-11-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

My kids have been fighting a lot. When someone is crying or screaming, or yelling I think we might as well have a drill going or a table saw in the house. I can't hear anything. So when Alexis made this sign for her Dad while he was in the backyard with some power tools, I got a really big kick out of it.

I thought to myself, this is how I have felt all week, and not only with the kids but with myself. I can't even hear myself think. We have a really loud children.

Today is better. I turned on some nice soft music about our Savior. I made play dough with the boys. Everyone is at the counter completely indulged in the play dough, for some reason they are helping each other, I think it's the music, it must be having an effect on them.

I love my kids, especially when I am alone with one of them, it really doesn't even matter which one, because when we are alone there is no fighting...

And here is my PLAY DOUGH recipe:

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

4 tsp cream of tartar

*mix in sauce pan

*add

2 cups water

2 tbs veg oil

food coloring

*stir and put on stove, keep stirring, when it starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, remove immediately, put on counter and knead until cooled.

Alexis runs her first 5k with Girls On The Run

2011-11-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

Way to go my little runner. Alexis has always been a great runner. I told her someday she will run marathons. It was hard to keep up with her, she's a maniac.

What would our lives be like without Arden and Mango cheering us on at the sidelines. Got Girl? Got Alexis. And we do.

Purple Reaper

2011-10-31T20:18:00.000-07:00

The Piratessa and Mango bird

2011-10-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

the Mad Scientist

2011-10-31T20:14:00.002-07:00

All my kids on Halloween

2011-10-31T20:14:00.000-07:00

LoVe all you amazing Halloweeners!

Sneak Peak Halloween

2011-10-31T20:04:00.000-07:00

He put his scuba costume on once and I took a hundred photos. He is darling in it.

LoVe

Mountains

2011-09-26T23:36:00.000-07:00

We were invited to a work party up a cabin celebrating some coworkers anniversaries. We had the best time and the light in the mountains was worth taking pictures. I had to beg my kids to pose for me. LoL

Ham

2011-09-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

http://caroljoyphotography.blogspot.com/2011/09/di-my-sister-mentor.html

I have never been such a ham in my entire life. I don't really like having my photo taken, but I let my sis go to town and really have some fun. I have also never weighed so much in my married unpregnant life. I guess I just don't care sometimes about all that stuff that I think I should be caring about.

I like these pictures because they were taken so close to my home and somehow that means a lot to me. Also, I am doing more and more photography and the pictures of me with my camera are so fun. My camera is my fifth child, or my sixth, if you count my husband as one of my kids, which he most definetly is this month since he has an elk hunt ( hopefully more on that soon ).

I think every Mom should do this; get a bunch of pictures taken, even if it is just for a good laugh.

LoVe

More eccentric faces

2011-09-08T23:03:00.000-07:00

Wo-oh, she's an actor. I think someday one of my kids could really act, although I am not sure which one, they are all so dramatic. They have no idea I blog this stuff.

Faces from the Fair

2011-09-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

I'm not really a big fan of face painting but the lady at the fair this year was so so good, she did an amazing job, turned my kids into eccentric carnies.

Carol and Gav

2011-09-08T21:58:00.000-07:00

My sister came to stay last weekend. Every morning Gavin was enamored by my sister sitting by the dining room window doing her make up in the great soft box type light, and every morning my sister let Gavin help her. Love you Carol, you're the best.

And...I love all the crazy little things in the background that tell such a true story of my life with kids and all our stuff. The paintings hung, paint brushes in a mug, the map of the United States, a name tag for a cubby, a staw cup. I'm not sure any journal entry could say more than these photographs say alone.

Forest trip

2011-08-31T22:29:00.001-07:00

Bows and Arrows

2011-08-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

I nick named her Joan. As in Joan of Arc.

Little faces. I get this one a lot these day it means, "Mom, I know you love me, because I am so stinking cute."

Turbo getting ready for the big Hunt in September.

When I look at this face I am thinking to myself how this is the same exact face she gives me everytime. She is so consistant with her faces. Something more to it and I am not sure what it is exactly. LoVe

Arden's First Day of School

2011-08-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am sending her off to college but with a carpool. She wouldn't even look at the camera, that is her new thing, hating getting her picture taken. I took her on a date last night. I try to do that with all the kids before school starts. We went to the Wildflower Bread Co. She loves ravioli, soup and bread. She put her head on my shoulder at dinner, we were sitting on a cushioned bench outside. She told me she loved me and that she has the best life. I told her I was sad she was growing up so fast but really proud of her. She told me she is sad too because now she is too big to go for garbage can rides with Dad in the kitchen. I thought that was really great that she pulled that thought, that memory out of her head as part of the best of her childhood recollections. Then we talked about Dad and how great he is and how much we all love him. We talked about school, 5th grade and her classed and homework and we both promised to work really hard together. I love her so much, it was kind of a teary night for me. I took her to the mall and we didn't buy anything, nothing really there that she wanted, well that just made me love her more. Simple, sweet, flip flops, shorts and a t shirt, lizards, birds, bikes, friends. Never grow up. She is the best. Love you Arden.

My Garden

2011-08-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

Our garden this year was almost an afterthought, we just kept putting off planting and then one day we just planted the whole thing. I am always impressed with what we grow with such a short growing season. The kids have been eating peas like crazy. We don't grow peas to can or really even put on the kitchen table but for the kids to just pick and eat.

My Brick House

2011-08-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Built like a brick house and sleeps like a baby. This is my baby, three years old and fell asleep listening to "Gotta get my head in the Game" a High School Musical song.

Scowl

2011-08-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

No one does this better than Turbo himself.

Yogurt U

2011-08-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

Yogurt U is now open. My friend Jen Vallecorsa owns it and has been working like crazy to get this place up and running. My kids are so so excited about this it, they love choosing as many yogurts and toppings as possible and weighing it. So go get some yogart. It is located near Safeway on Plazaway and right over there near Chipotle. I took a bunch of photos for her at the Grand Opening for friends and family night and all I can say is that this place is going to be great. Photos from the night will be on a slide show at the shop. Good Luck Yogurt U

Boating

2011-08-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

I wanted to thank our friends the Hardings for inviting us to go boating. My kids have never been on a ski boat and now they have all knee boarded for the first time. Thanks a million Hardings, you guys are so much fun.

Bits from Lott family reunion

2011-07-31T23:22:00.000-07:00

Grrr...love you little tiger.

Gav the ball hog.

I had not idea so many different kinds of marshmellow existed. Coconut coated...yum!

This is frost bite, well that is what I named him. He is Aunt Sherry and Uncle Steve's cat, he was a stray kitten during the winter and the tops of his ears got frost bite and fell off, so he has little ears. He is the nicest cat, thinks he is one of use really.

Meet buddy, the cousin's dog.

Rubarb pie that Aunt Sherry made from rubarbs in her garden.

...us and Aunt Sherry.

My kids only ate like 20 popciles while they were there.

Grandmother

2011-07-16T23:51:00.000-07:00

My kids are having so much fun with Grandma Lott. Gavin wanted her to sit right next to his car seat in the car. They played Uno all night, wow!

Two loves

2011-07-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to document your summer! It's that time of year!

2011-07-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

I am doing a lot of summer photoshoots.

Kids are $100 for a setting for the summer only.

Families are $200, it's a smokin' deal!

I will go anywhere from Snowbowl to Oakcreek.

Happy summer shooting.

http://diphotography.blogspot.com/

Weekend warriors for the 4th of July

2011-07-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

2011-06-29T00:02:00.000-07:00

a few more just for fun

the grounds at Northcoast Village are unreal

when i grow up i want to be a photographer

day five

2011-06-28T23:54:00.000-07:00

Family photos at the beach are a real pain. We always do them on Sunday morning and really no one wants to do them. But we did it and I think we got two pictures that we could possibly put in frames.

I have never done a red white and blue theme, but I tried it this time just to do something different, I think it turned out ok.

Happy 4th of July everyone. God bless America!

day four

2011-06-28T23:48:00.000-07:00

So it's taken me forever to post day four. I know I shouldn't attempt such sequencing of vacation days. I'm really not a reliable blogger.

Day four was different because it was overcast for most of the day. I love overcast days, it's like having a giant softbox over the earth and it softens the world including all photographs which is so cool.

Kite flying at the beach is a must. Dave and I could hardly keep up with two kites and four kids but I think by the end of flying kites Arden and Spencer were pro kite fliers.

I already want to go back, what else can I say.

Love.

Ocean Day Three

2011-06-04T00:42:00.000-07:00

I am alway enamored at the amount of excitement two boys can have with a ball, specifically brothers. Gavin had me enthralled with his endless brother calling, "Shpencer, Shpencer, Shpencer!" with his raspy like voice. I think they finally had to end this game when they lost the ball in the ocean.

Not normal. I woke up but couldn't get out of bed. I slept till noon. My body felt completely wasted. The stomach bug that had been throughout the rest of the family finally got to me. Alexis slept with me all morning in the kind size bed upstairs, she must still feel sick also. When I woke up I found Arden asleep and Alexis and all the boys had abandoned us for the beach. We were sick, at the beach, how horrible. So I drug Arden down to the beach, she sat on the boogie board for a long time and just watched the waves. Everyone once and a while my stomach would turn and I felt sick, but more than anything I just felt wasted.

You can tell a good Dad when you see one, it looks something like this; launching a six year old in the waves on a boogie board over and over again until the six year old finely gets it and loves it! Spencer and Dave had the time of their life in these waves.

You can tell an over confindent Dad when you see this two year old launched into a sandy, salty wave on a boogie board with absolutely no sucess at all.

Ocean Day Two

2011-06-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

I looked forward to this everyday. I don't really like cold swimming pools, but I rarely pass up a hot tub. Spencer and I see eye to eye on this, although he can last for hours in the cold pool without me.

When I agreed to this thing I do called "motherhood" I didn't know I was getting this angel. Everytime I asked Alexis to look at the camera she did and she smiled and gave me this look, well if the ocean isn't heaven, this is. Love you little one.

Ocean Day One

2011-06-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

I look forward to this trip every two years since that is our schedule for ocean vacations. But more and more I feel like it should become an anual event in out family. We talk about it for two years, dream about it, anicipate it's arrival. The sand beneath our feet beckons us, the smooth ocean rocks, the endless miles of seashells that my children collect by the gallons in ziplock bags. The ocean seems new to Gavin, who doesn't remember this trip two years ago. He is not sure if he really likes the feel of the seawater on his legs, but he plays in it anyway. I photograph everything my kids do. I am obsessed with the sound the shutter makes when I push the shutter release button. I am in heaven on the beach tweeking my camera and watching my kids. I am convinced Heaven isn't Heaven unless there is an ocean there.

A sand dollar. A precious find in our family. Every morning before anyone was out of bed, before anyone was on the beach, in the breaking dawn hour, Dave would get the girls out of bed and take them down to the beach in search of sacred sand dollars. If you get there before the seaguls do you might find one perfect unbroken gem. It's the hunt my girls have been waiting for all spring.

In retrospect I am not sure really which day was day one or day two. My mind has already lost track of events and blurred them altogether.

There is a jetty on the northside of our beach condo, it goes out about a hundred yards. Dave and Spencer are in search of a crab.

On the jetty the kids found different colors of starfish attached to barnicals. Arden caught about nine small crabs, although they outsmarted her and got away, crawled right out of her container and jumped back in the ocean. She was devistated at first until she realized that she can't keep them anyway, they aren't exactly like sand dollars now are they.

Take me out to the ball game!

2011-06-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

This post is long overdue. I have been feeling somewhat guilty for not posting it sooner. Spencer has had a great t ball season, one with lot of excitement and not tears. I am really proud of him for getting out there and giving it his all. Game on Spencerator!

Gavinator and the Ball

2011-05-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Gavin's T ball season has come and gone. I took these pictures yesterday at his last game. I was a good season. He loved it. He was always excited about going to t-ball. He loved his coaches; coach Kilee and coach Mario. Gavin is still two but they let him on the team anyway, I thought that was really cool of the YMCA. I think Gavin is going to be our kids that LOVES sports or anything that has to do with playing ball! And...he has a pretty good little arm for a two year old.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Dave took this photograph of the kids and I today in the back yard. Although I took a second to put lipstick on, this is how we are today only edited in photoshop for a bit of a snappier pic. Love the light in their eyes, can't believe they are mine.

Happy Mother's Day to all the great Mothers that have ever lived. My Mother is my greatest example of love, courage, strength, hope and FAITH. I love my Mother so much. I miss living close to her and wish that I could be with her more and that my children could spend more time with her. My mother is always teaching my children, she is always kind and loving and a great inspiration to my children.

My husband also has an amazing mother, who I am so grateful for, she is good to my children and above all, she raised Dave to be such an amazing man. My sisters are incredible mothers, I look up to them in so many ways. I think what I admire most about my sisters is the great relationships they have with their children. I have so many good sister-in-laws that are fabulous women and are good friends to me, I love them very much.

A good friend once said, "I never thought I was beautiful until I had children." I feel like that simply because my children make me a better person, they give me greater purpose in my life. I love each one of my children and wouldn't trade one day of being with them for anything else in this world. My family is my greatest treasure. I am so grateful for my life with them. I pray everyday to be a better Mother, to be the one Heavenly Father wants me to be. It requires a lot more spiritual strength than I ever thought that it would.

I have found that when Dave and I read scriptures and say family prayer everyday with our children, everyone is happier, everyone is calmer and life is better. I have felt the spirit with my children and know that Heavenly Father is watching over us everyday.

I love my children, they are so beautiful. Thanks kids for making me laugh everyday, without you live would be so boring. Love Mom.

Today

2011-05-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

Today I spent the day with Gavin, just like everyother day, he is really my best little buddy all day. I love being with him. He is the funniest, most sarcastic, naughty little lovable kid. He turns three in June. I don't want him to grow up, I want to FREEZE TIME for now. He makes me laught everyday, tells me he is not poopy and that I am. He tells me I am a bad Mom whenever I do something wrong like dropping something on the floor. When I threaten to spank him when he is naughty he says, "Spank me Mommy!" He rides a two wheeler without training wheels like a stunt man. He tells me he loves my brother Brad and not me but he hugs me all the time and snuggles with me. He loves to be rocken in the rocking chair, but hates it when I sing to him. He is all boy and I love him so much.

Dune Buggey

2011-05-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

My brother told my kids he ownes the fastest and funnest dune buggy in the whole world and that it can go faster than my mini-van. The kids thought it was a riot, especially Gavin, sorry I didn't get a photo of him in the buggy. Check out the shocks on this baby! My kids can't wait to go to the dunes with my brother, the talk about it all the time.

Zoo

2011-05-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

Ye haW! Ride em coWboy! I love boy DraMa.

Alexis was "utterly" enjoying herself here. She sat here and milked the fake cow at the Phoenix Zoo for what seem like too long for to be normal. I was starting to worry. Maybe we need to move to a farm?

Spencer again

2011-05-03T15:57:00.000-07:00

picking oranges

goofball

Scooter rides

2011-05-03T15:52:00.001-07:00

Arden in the Grarden

2011-05-03T15:50:00.001-07:00

Spencer

2011-05-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

Roses

2011-05-03T15:45:00.001-07:00

Cascade Falls

2011-04-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been to Cascade Falls it is worth the trip! Take an extra set of clothes for the hike out, especially for the kids. This was much more fun than the Grand Canyon, just ask my kids.

Directions:From I-40, 15 miles east of Flagstaff, take exit 211 at Winona. Drive 2.3 miles north to Leupp Rd. Turn right and drive 20.3 miles to unpaved and unsigned Indian Road 6910 (between mileposts 5 and 6). Turn left and drive along this rough road 9.4 miles to the turnoff on the left, which leads to the falls overlook (do not cross the Little Colorado River). Grand Falls can also be accessed from Indian Road 70 (instead of 6910). This road is located 15.0 miles along Leupp Rd (5.3 miles before Road 6910). Follow Road 70 8.4 miles to the same turnoff on the left before the Little Colorado River (Roads 6910 and 70 join together just before the turnoff). I recommend driving along Road 6910 instead of Road 70. Both roads are very rough going and you will need a 4x4 to drive them. But Road 6910 is much easier going and faster than Road 70.

Our Quick Photo for Easter

2011-04-27T22:22:00.001-07:00

High Five Dude

2011-04-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

...with this one was in sharp focus...oh well

HB Arden...Double Digets!

2011-04-27T22:20:00.000-07:00

And a rockin snake cake too! Gotta love this girl!

Silly Bird

2011-04-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

Mango loves any pen for a toy. He will hold it anyway he can get it even if that means he has to be on his back! Silly bird.

2011-04-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a really great windy day, one perfect for kite flying. Dave broke out the new kite, it was as much fun as we expected it to be. This cell kite can lift the kids off the ground, and it did, took Arden down the feild a ways. She came home all scrapped up and now looks like she is advertising bandaids. Never the less, it was "screaming fun!" If you could see her face, she was smiling the entire time.

Getting the ears pierced

2011-04-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, here she is really nervous.

All done.

She was feeling so nauseous after getting her ears pierced, she had to sit down. But, she was happy it was all over with. She was really excited about this day. She has been talking about it every night for a week or two.

T Ball days

2011-04-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Never Give Up

2011-03-24T22:10:00.000-07:00

Every spring I look forward to the tulips breaking ground and every year I am always amazed at the strength and determination of these pretty creations. After the tornado last October we had to remove some fallen trees, one of which was near where the tulips break ground each spring. There was a circular pile of rocks around the tree we had to move also. We just ended up piling the rocks on top of where the tulips would come up. When the tulips started breaking ground I told the kids we needed to move this pile of rocks so the tulips could come up. Days passed and we forgot to move the rocks. Yesterday, Spencer came running in the house shouting, "Mom, Mom, look at the tulips!" Now, I can see the green leaves from my front window, where they have come up through the rocks. I am so impressed with them. I told Dave to come see them and he said casually, "Oh ya, those things are tuff, they will bloom anywhere." And they do. I see them servive the snow every spring after it warms up and they break ground and then they always get slammed with a few snowstorms before it's time to bloom, even then the snow doesn't seem to bother them. I guess I was just thinking metaphorically so to speak that women are so much like tulips; beautiful, graceful yet determined and tuff. I think I might have needed something to inspire me and it just happened to be rignt outside my front door.

More pics for Spring Break

2011-03-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Sweet Z and Lexi Lou Whoo

"Life is ball"

Spencer is a great big brother, always being kind to the Gav. Gav misses Spencer when he is gone to school. They light up my life everyday.

At the Pool

2011-03-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

I can't believe none of my fair-skinned kids got sunburned. We lathered on the sunscreen like crazy. This was so much fun to swim for a couple days in the pool. Obviously they had a great time. I love sunshine. I love warm. And so do my kids.

On the way to the pool

2011-03-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

First, there always has to be someone out of line, thanks Spencer, you are entirely too funny. Second, Gav that ball is way too big for you, but oh well it was only a dollar. And last, thanks for posing girls, you're super cute!

Montazuma Well

2011-03-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

This is day one of our four day Spring Break excurtion. The kids just get funnier all the time. Already the poses begin. By the end of the trip they won't even look at me when I took the picture. I had fun editing these little gems, each differently just to get back at the kids.

Love you guys so, thanks for making my life so much fun all the time. Love Mom.

Fun at Bearazona

2011-03-14T15:18:00.001-07:00

My blog is a work in progress today.

2011-03-11T20:43:00.001-08:00

Goodbye Training Wheels Forever

2011-03-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

Today is the day. March 11, 2011. Gav isn't even three yet! Took off and never looked back. It was the perfect day for a bike ride.

This one is for you CJ

2011-03-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

Caught her knitting when she was suppose to be sleeping.

Gavinator's First T ball practice

2011-03-10T21:34:00.000-08:00

For some reason I wrote more about T ball on my photography blog! Check it. I love photographing my kids, it's my favorite thing to do.

diphotography.blogspot.com

Daffodils

2011-03-09T15:54:00.000-08:00

My daffodils are blooming. I found them today. I had a hunch they were blooming. I have been checking everytime there is an exceptionally beautiful and warm day. I LOVE spring, it is one of my favorite times of the year. I love planting things and watching them grow. These little beauties are proof that we survived another winter. I love watching them grow. They will bloom around Easter!

Hey Maren

2011-03-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

Hey Maren, wanna come over to my house and play?

Thoughts of Maren consume Gavin on a daily basis. He loves her more than anyother friend right now. He wants to hug her as soon as he sees her and pull her into the house and show her all his toys. Here he is talking to her on the phone last Sunday, begging her to come play.

Make Me Laugh Girl

2011-03-06T16:49:00.000-08:00

this is normal, on a normal day, thanks for making life so exciting Arden

Sweet Fabric Pouch

2011-03-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

This little project was inspired by one of Alexis's friends at school, who alway brings her snack in a little fabric bag. I asked her if her mom made it and she said her mom bought it from the internet. Well, I just had to go home and see if I could make one. It turned out perfect, now I just need to make three more, one for each of my children. My sister has been knitting up a storm, since I can't knitt, I think my sister just inspired me to do something with fabric. I love these Amy Butler fabrics, they are so darling. I think I will snack on pretzels today!

Goofball

2011-03-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

Spencer is more than a goofball these days, he has quite the sence of humor and looks rediculously funny in this wild photo with missing teeth!

Just goofing around

2011-03-03T12:09:00.000-08:00

Hilarious!

Hanging our Valentines flowers.

"Honk, honk!"

"Hey Mom, I have to tell you something...

2011-02-24T12:24:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to let you know I won't be able to play soccer anymore because my hair is going to be so long I might step on it and trip!" -Alexis-

Oak Creek in January

2011-02-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

Ready to catch a Five Striped Skink!

I think we just really needed to get out of the house and into nature, so we found ourselves in Oak Creek. We told the kids we were going hiking. As soon as we got there Gavin walked right into the freezing cold water. Before we knew it Gavin had gone down with Alexis into the water, completely submerged from head to toe. She said she slipped while holding him. Not quite what we were looking for in a hiking trip in the great outdoors, but it made for a good journal entry!

Sleeping with the skateboard!

2011-02-03T14:06:00.000-08:00

A boy and his Briefs

2011-02-03T14:04:00.000-08:00

He carries these around with him all day. He won't pee in them either. He finally went on the toilet yesterday for the first time! He took a nap for 3 1/2 hours and didn't wet the bed. Wow! I think we might be onto something!

Bubble Science

2011-02-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

This is what Arden calls "washing her hair!"

so in love with you girl...

2011-02-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

i am so in love with Arden. she is so interesting. she loves science. this weekend she got all the kids to plant pumkin seeds on damp towells in containers and record the results each day. i'm so glad she is mine, she make life worth living everyday, in taylor swifts words more or less, "i'm have the time of my life fighting dragons with you Arden." and we have a lot of dragons to fight!

Hilarious. Gavin ate string cheese with a spoon today. What a crack-up!

2011-01-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

Here he is having a foot bath. LOL

I just blogged a few photos I took yesterday. Check them out.

2011-01-27T20:22:00.000-08:00

http://diphotography.blogspot.com/

Gavin alseep on the bathroom floor at 10am

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guess my little buddy is tired

Fun with wide angle lense

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near my house

gavin rides in pink

remains of the tornado

the peaks from bellemont

my snow goers

And More...

2011-01-11T13:02:00.001-08:00

Baptism Day Photos

2011-01-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

Gone Moto Crazy

2011-01-11T12:36:00.001-08:00

Once anyone of my kids got on a motocycle it was hard to pry them off. "Lovin' every minute of it"

More fun with the D700

2011-01-11T12:34:00.001-08:00

Fun with my new D700

2011-01-11T12:31:00.000-08:00

Z we miss you!

2011-01-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

We had the time of our lives with you, thanks for playing cousin Z!

Alexis's Baptism

2011-01-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

Way to go Alexis. This was such a special and exciting day. You are such an angel! The spirit was so strong, I will never forget this day with you.

I can't believe she is already eight and now already baptized. She was so beautiful and radiant the whole day. I just kept looking at her in unbelief that Heavenly Father sent her to me. It's such an honor to be your Mom. The best part is, Alexis makes me laugh everyday.

Turning Eight, capturing Seven

2010-12-22T15:06:00.000-08:00

We thought we were going to do a baptism dress photoshoot, but it was too cold and wet to take off the coat.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone. This photograph really says it all, it is so us, silly and goofy and little out of control. The photographer said kiss so we kissed and all the kids just took their pose, Arden steeling a kiss, Spencer totally grossed out that he parents are kissing, Gavin thinks that all the photographer cares about is him because his is so cute and knows it, and finally the star on top of this silly love tree is Alexis like an angel making a heart with her hands.

He's been waitng his whole life for this moment!

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We never let Gavin do this, I guess that is why it is so exciting. He see's me paint the girls fingures and toes and the girl friends fingures and toes, but not his. So Alexis who really wanted Gavin to come out a girl it just pretending he is a girl for one Sunday morning. Gavin wouldn't wear shoes to church this Sunday either, he wanted everyone to see his toes, he made an interesting Joseph in the Nursery Nativiy at church that day!

Little Posers!

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They love this stuff! And they love being on the other side of the camera too!

Yes, he will fall asleep anywhere.

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And...yesterday he fell asleep on the floor at the grocery store at the checkout with his blanket next to him, no joke.

Hey boyz, get in your own bed!

2010-12-16T12:34:00.000-08:00

At least one kid gets in bed with me every night. It's a rare thing to sleep without one of them, well, that is for my husband, since I go get in the kids beds to finish my night peacefully without getting kicked. So this is how I found them the other morning in my bed when I woke up; so so sweet.

Another photoshoot

2010-12-16T12:27:00.000-08:00

I love editing photos like this, so fantastic! And what amazing models!

Just Hanging Out

2010-12-03T15:59:00.000-08:00

Spencer finally lost a tooth without having to go get it pulled! He was so excited, he kept having everyone try to pull it out for him. Finally, I just yanked it out, he was surprised, but didn't cry because he was so excited about the tooth fairy!

Ya you guys are silly!

Alexis is the happy maker in this family. She always makes Gav laugh. She love him as much or more that she hates him!

Never Grow Up

2010-11-04T23:29:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I am blogging with no photo, this is so unlike me. I just bought Taylor Swifts new CD, "Speak Now." My favorite song is Never Grow Up. It just makes me think of how fast time goes by and how fast my kids are growing up and I love it all, but will miss their little inocent faces and the funny things they say.

Gavin gives me a run for my money everyday. I find it so comical all the things he does like wipe his poopy bum on my new faux fur pillow and remove tile spacers from the tile spaces where the grout is suppose go right after the tile guys leave for the night and then come to me and give them to me like a gift. Never grow up Gav, your too funny, what will I ever do without you to make me laugh, because if I don't laugh I will cry!

Basket Ball Gavin

2010-11-04T23:22:00.000-07:00

When Gavin told me he wanted to be a basket ball for Halloween, I believed him, although I thought I would be able to get him to change his mind. I even took him to Old Navey and Wal Mart and showed him other costumes and tried to convince him how great they all were. But no no no, he was dead set on being a basket ball. So here he is in all his glory. I actually pulled out the sewing machine and made this costume. He was the cutest basket ball I have ever seen. He loved it when I took pictures of him doing random things like drinking water from a straw and them I would show him the picture on the camera display and he would laugh histerically and say, "Basket ball drinking water!"

Gavin you are the greatest, thanks for having a opinion at two. Love Mom

Tornado in Bellemont? What the... Oh my gosh!

2010-10-10T23:18:00.000-07:00

Our garage door mangled
I feel really blessed. I feel humble. I feel grateful. The only thing that really scared me was loosing my family, my children and husband, that is what matters most.

It's 5:30am Wednesday October 5th. I heard it rain most of the night as it had the last two days off and on. I love rainy nights, I love thunderstorms, I always have. My kids and I like to sit in the garage in our lawn chairs and watch the thunderstorms and play in the rain during the monsoon season. The rain relaxes me, helps me unwind, not anymore.

It started hailing, it woke me up, it hailed harder and then harder, it sounded like golf balls hitting my house and then it got even harder, like rocks or bolders and lounder and then I heard crashing and it sounded like someithing or things hitting our house, not just on the roof but on the sides of the house as well, I heard my children screaming in terror. I ran to them, I saw the boys window was boken when the lightening flashed, I felt the wind coming through, I say Spencer first crying and screaming, I told him to come to me and get in my bed, the other kids were screaming and crying too. I took Spencer and handed him to Dave, or was is Sissy my friend who was staying with us, I don't know. I didn't see Gavin, but could hear him. The lightening flashed and I say him get out of his tent that he sleeps in everynight. He was scared to walk there was glass everywhere, I picked him up and held him really close, my girls were still screaming and crying, I went into their room trying to explain it was a golf ball size hail storm, it felt like I was yelling, "Get in my bed, get in my bed!" We could only see when the lightening flashed. Dave had a flashlight, the girls ran into my bedroom and up into my bed, Sissy was there with my kids, I don't know what we would have done without her. I went to the garage to get a flashlight, I still had Gavin, I couldn't see, lightening flashed and I saw our garage door was mangled. I went in the house, "We lost all our trees!" Dave had checked on the neighbors, "The Haggens are coming over" I found a candle and lit it in my bedroom so the kids could see.Sissy was there with my kids, I went outside to help get the Haggen's kids, lightening flashed and I say their house, it looked like a tornado blew threw their house, all the window were broken, the garage door gone, my neighbors car had been picked up and moved, all the windows broken, it was trashed. Back into the house there was glass everywhere, our sliding glass door had broke in our dining area, somehow I had shoes on.
There were seven kids in my bed, Gaving still in my arms. I fixed our neighbors bleeding arm in my master bathroom.

Somehow the worst of it was over in less than a minute. It all happened so fast like a fast train passing by.

The neighbors left our house for an even safer neighbor down the street. I got my kid rubber boots on. Evenually I was able to walk into the rainy street and servey the damage of the neighborhood. Every house was damaged, especially the houses on the opposite side of our street. I look down to the end of the street, the roof were gone on two houses, there were people everywhere checking on eachother trying figure out what happening. I heard it was a tornado and couldn't believe it, but I have to. I have told my kids over and over that we don't get tornados in Flagstaff and now I know I was wrong.

I am so grateful that no one died or was seriously injured. God is watching over us. Eveyone of us walked through glass to get to each other and make it into my bedroom. My boys room was cover in glass so much that is has to be gutted, scrubbed and repainted. We lost eveything in the boys room, it all has to go because of the chards of glass that were everywhere. There was so much glass in my boys beds and they don't have a scratch on them. Like I said God is watching over us, not just my family, but all my neighbors as well. There are so many families with similar stories, and so many people that walked away unscratched. My house could go up in flames tomorrow and I wouldn't care as long as I have my family, that is really how I feel. The only thing that scared me especially when windows were breaking was that my family was ok. My broken house doesn't bother me so much at all. More later.....My husband has been absolutely amazing!....and thanks to all those who rushed to HomeDepo and bought ply-wood and boarded up everyones broken windows, thanks to everywho came to help and offered.
P.S. If you don't have Met Life, they have been awesome.

We lost our trees

This is not my house, this house belonged to good friend last year. Nobody was home during the tornado.

The two houses at the end of our street lost the roofs. Nobody was badly hurt, but they lost a lot of sentimental things, baby books etc. This is so sad.

This is the house across the street from ours. It was damaged so much more. Nobody was hurt! The tornado lifted this car and moved it and did a lot more to it. This house is trashed.

This is the house across the street one house down. Crazy how bad it all really is. Who would have thought a tornado would have ever come here.

Tarantula

2010-10-05T15:58:00.000-07:00

the Story goes something like this:

I went running a good friend of mine from out of town

and saw this tarantula just as we were about to turn around and head for home. I put it in an old grocery bag I found on the side of the road and brought it home. Before my kids came home from school I bought an aqaurium enclosure for it. I was so so excited to tell my kids because we have been wanting to catch two tarantulas, one for us and one for Arden class at her teachers request.

So then I get a phone call from a friend who is at the elementry and she says "I just want you to know that Arden was trying to catch a tarantula at school." I think she thought I might be a bit disturbed by this but instead I was like "Really? Did she catch it? I hope she did, her teacher really wants one for their class and I just caught one for our family toady while I was out running!

What do you know, Arden and I are totally in touch catching tarantulas on the same day away from each other.

So the kids named her El Vira and just so you know she is completely harmless. It take a lot to get a tarantula to bite and if they do it hurts less that an bee sting and is not at potent as a bee sting either. They are very fragel creatures and come out this time of the year here in our town.

And just in time for Halloween!