My mug

One of my favorite mugs that Matt's mom gave me (sorry Pam!) broke today. It was an accident of course, someone (named Ashley) was bouncing a ball in the house and it got knocked onto the tile. I was so disappointed, but it reminded me to:

Even when things don't go right, or they don't turn out the way we expect them to...or when your ice cream falls on the floor, or one of your favorite mugs breaks, Praise the Lord anyhow!

All on a Saturday

We started the morning off with Alyssa's 9 am soccer game, here they are doing a team prayer before the game.

Way to 'go-al' Alyssa! Wow, they won 9-0...so far they are undefeated. It truly has been a great season with great parents!

Fire Angels - Spring Soccer '09

Hershey's Kisses -

Mia's game was at 10 am, but how could I not get any action shots?! Here is Sara, Mia, Hope, & Elliot - look at Elliot crossing his arms! Too funny. Notice Mia's bling around her neck...

And here is Dylan on the left...they were missing 3 kids today but they played great. Can I just say, girls rock!!! - Boys too!

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Heading to Tucson...

After Mia's game, we were off to Grandma & Grandpa's house in Tucson...that means lots of swimming, in the hot tub & pools.

Madison loves the water...look at that precious face!

Did we seriously drive all that way to watch the NFL season draft picks...apparently so!

Ashley found something to keep her busy...

Watch out for women drivers...especially 11 year olds!

Off they go!

Alyssa's ready to go swimming...

This is the Preserve Pool...

No one would get in because it was so cold, so dad threw Ashely & Alyssa in! Alyssa stayed in and braved the cold, but Ashley got out and headed to the warm waters of the hot tub.

Ashley in the hot tub which is like a small pool.

Volleyball

Ashley's new sport...we went to the volleyball court to give it a try...

Practicing her serve...

No Ashley, like this...says dad. Have we done enough sports for one day?! Whew...we were so tired after this busy day, but it sure was fun! Matt & I went on a little date out to the Olive Garden for dinner which was nice, but we were so tired we came home and crashed instead of going to a movie.
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Sunday Swim Day

This is the Mountain View Pool...we like this pool the best because it's warmer.

Thanks Grandma for the new flip flops...to wear to the pool.

Mia & her pink noodle...

Madison feels safe in her daddy's arms...

Madison jumping in...

Mia poses even while jumping in the pool!

We swam a lot this trip.

Mia lost her tooth in the hot tub!

We had a beautiful sunset drive home after dinner...it was a fun weekend.

Volunteering

I have been volunteering in each girls class since...well, as long as I can remember. This year has been great since they are all at the same school. That won't happen anymore! This morning was the volunteer appreciation breakfast before school at 7:30 am. That was a feat in itself to get everyone up and ready and drop Madison off at my mom's by then...whew! But we made it...

I got a note from each teacher which was really thoughtful...and a candy treat. (Which Madison has probably found in my purse and has eaten it by now- I'm sure!) And anyone looking at this from bootcamp...I split the donut 4 ways!

On Friday's at school...you can find ALL of the classes K-6th doing this before school starts in the halls:

Mia's rendition of the 'Cha Cha Slide'...!

I stayed late because I was 'volunteering' for Mr. Cagle's 6th grade & Mrs. Titchenal's Kindergarten class, doing some much needed copies!

Matt the chaperone

Matt had the opportunity to chaperone the Kindergarten field trip to the Phoenix zoo this afternoon. Too bad it was 95 degrees! Here is Mia and Jessica on the bus...

Here is Matt's group looking at the otter. This is Garret...dare I say the male version of Mia who likes to pose too?!?!

The long walk around the zoo...

Up high in the giraffee look out...

Oh my goodness...more posing!

The tree house...home stretch.

One of the best parts...just to play.

The zoo shop...it's funny how they put that next to the exit so when the kids see it they don't want to leave.

Way to go honey...for chaperoning AND taking pictures so the wife could blog! Looks like you guys had a fun time. ( I think you are taking a full on nap at the moment!)

In bloom

Everything in our yard is blooming away...I can't wait for these tomatoes to ripen up. They grow so good here in Arizona, but only if you keep them thoroughly watered! (Right mom?!)

After about 7 years in this house, our little lemon tree, more like a bush, finally gave us lemons earlier this year. This will be round 2 of the lemon crop...I can't wait. It's fun to watch them grow and turn yellow.

Lemons again...

This is Matt's new little tree we just planted this February. It is a navel orange tree...the blooms are so pretty and smell good.

This is a mexican lime tree...Matt absolutley can't wait for these babies to produce some fruit!

Honeysuckle...

Oleander...

This is our oldest daughter Ashley...she's in bloom more ways than one. She only has 30 days in 6th grade until she's officially done with elementary school. She will be starting a new chapter in her life - Jr. High. Woops! - I think I just sprouted a new gray hair. Everything is changing and blooming...

...even our aloe vera plant. We have had this plant ever since we got married 12 years ago. This aloe was at our first apartment in Los Gatos, CA. When we moved to Arizona August of 1997, my mom potted it up and we took it with us. It then came to our first apartment here, then to our first home and into the soil. After 4 years there, we moved into our current home in 2002. This aloe has been growing strong ever since...just like our marriage. With each year it grows bigger and stronger. It's still blooming...

Pat's Run

Here we are at Pat's Run...waiting for the race to start! It was hard for me to get up at 5:30 am, but Matt was ready to go. Thanks to my mom who babysat for us, we left the house just before 6:00 am.

Here is the electronic tracking 'thingy' that you put on your shoe and it automatically tracks your time when you cross the start line, and when you finish. - Cool!

Oh my gosh...and who did I see??! Terri Smith from bootcamp! I can't believe I saw her out of the 13,000 people that were there! Go Terri...& family!

Waiting for our Corral number...

And we're off...


It looks like I'm walking here...but I was really running!

Oh finally...crossing the finish line.

We made it!

Matt & I had a great time...if you want to see what place we got click here. Next year I will definitely try and do better!