Monday, February 5, 2024

Full Schedule Time of Year- October







I know its a busy month when I have triple the amount
of pictures than August and September!

Its the kick off to back to back to back holidays, plus 3 birthdays. 
Where's the Dr. Pepper?!



I thought this was an appropriate picture to depict 
my feelings and brain capacity for what was ahead of me these
next few months!





My friends dog had puppies!
She sent out a text saying they needed to start being around little
kids before going to their forever homes.
I quickly volunteered us as Della begs for a dog of our own. 


They both were in heaven!




I had to laugh because when I sat down one by one they each started
to migrate over to me!
Did they sense I was a mom?






It was still blasting hot in AZ.
Rusty's nice sweaty hairdo after basketball practice.





Lane taking the Can-Am to pick up his friends.



She loves to lead the music during general conference.




Time to bust out Mr. Bones!
I had to laugh as you need to get up close and personal during the process.






On the nights that we can we scooter over
to the haunted house.






My mom very generously offered to give Lindi violin lessons!
BLESS HER!
She had been asking to do orchestra at school.
However with her demanding schedule, the practices were after school
on days she has dance. 
She's been loving every minute!
She also throws in some piano to get her well rounded in the basics.

Picking up her violin from Milanos.




I was backing out of the garage when I noticed Skelly was packing some heat!
Haha, these kids crack me up!



Lunch with neighbor friends.



Lindi's last volleyball game!




Lots of golfing for Lane.
More on that later.






I had to laugh at Rusty's depiction
of himself and his DNA for science class.

It looks like something that should be on the Rugrats 
cartoon!




Lucky Lindi was invited to see Taylor Swifts concert!...
at the movie theater:)

I will never understand the TS hype.
But she had a grand time shaking it off with her friends!








OCTOBER BREAK!
It was a party each day with different things going on.
Casey and the boys had Mountain Man for the last half of the week.


Soaking in the sun.


A day spent on Main street seeing the puppet show at the temple visitors center.



Then eating at Tacos Chiwas and going to the Dinosaur museum.






The girls got to invite a friend to spend the day at the Grand resort pool.









They think when dad is not home his side of the bed is theirs!





We spent a night at Mother Nature Farm





And bowling and burgers with the Ellingsons!






The only 2 pictures I have of the boys up at Mountain Man.

Rusty LOVED every second.




Even taking home 2nd place in the knife throwing competition!

Unfortunately they realized when they got home that
his duffle bag flew out of the back of Casey's truck.
He lost EVERYTHING!
Clothes can be replaced, but he was most devastated about losing
everything he had made beforehand and during the campout.

I was so sad for him!!




Receiving birthday money in the mail from Grandma Ann!





Tithing declaration with the cutest bishop around:)



Della got to try her first sport!
She picked softball with Scarlett.

At the first practice she was a little hesitant, but as it went 
on she got more comfortable and was loving it!





More purple people!




Halloween dance activity for Della after class.

The set up was fancier than some baby showers I go to!
Some of these dance moms really bring it.
I'm happy its them willing to go all out and I just venmo my portion!






 



Studio G








I wasn't planning on getting pictures taken this year.
My friend asked if we wanted to split a studio fee with them
so I said what the heck!

It took longer to drive to the ghetto of phoenix than it did
for the photographer to take all of our pictures!
She was quick and efficient, just how we like it!


I think they turned out pretty great!




















 

Friday, February 2, 2024

August Camera Roll Dump





School is back in business!


Ready to crush his last year in Jr. High!



Junior, 5th and 1st grade!






I think these 2 mulled over first day outfits for days!
These pants are so cute on them, and have done a 180 from the
skinny pant trend not that long ago!




I celebrated the first day of school by heel clicking myself to lunch
with my high school friends!

23 years later we still are super close.
Actually longer, since we became friends in Jr. High!






I finally got the energy to let the girls
 add sports to their already busy schedule.
They have never played any yet, and they are only getting older.
I figured it is a good way to see if one is a "natural". 

They take turns picking a sport through the city league.
Seasons are manageable being only 5-6 weeks long and commitment isn't as 
crucial as a club team. 
Not that we are anywhere near that level yet!
I do feel bad they miss some practices because of dance, but it gives them a  taste of it.


Lindi was first for the Summer season and she picked volleyball!
You could tell she was nervous, but she improved her serving each game.





Rusty made the basketball team for school.
I'm soaking it all in as this could be the end of Jr. High sports for us 
if the girls decide not to play.







Lane got a friend day at the lake one Saturday.
It was fun for Casey and I to sit back and watch highschoolers be highschoolers.
They are great kids and we are thankful for the good influences that they are!





We took them to Venezia's afterwards.






Dance ramped right back up again!
They started a new "team" at their studio called All Stars which
both girls are a part of.
Della is in Petites and Lindi is on Force.

They still do competitions, but just not as many as the company girls do. 
Phew, competitions are NOT my favorite.
They also added more events for them to dance at like Merry Mainstreet,
the Suns/Diamond Backs games and coolest of all,
the Main Street Parade at Disneyland!





Our stake Relief Society put on an amazing conference.
Their key note speaker was Tamara Hall.
She hosts the podcast Sunday on Monday.
I had never heard of her before but man is she an incredible speaker!
She is witty and hilarious but can bring in the spirit so well.
I wish you didn't have to have a Desert Book subscription to listen to her weekly.

She was so kind to talk to you afterwards.
Some of my ward friends gabbing her ear off and were the last ones to leave!




She is always right next to you wanting to help in the kitchen.
Even with raw meat!



Pickleball night at the neighbors.




Hoping this was a parent helper!





Our picnic by the pool got crashed with rain!



Lane asked Riley Houston to Home Coming.


The asking and answering.









Not sure what made them all conk out like this!




Peach season is the best season!!
It is the perfect topping to my oatmeal.





Lane was invited to be a Purple Person at school!
My friend sent me this picture of them transforming into, well purple people.
Her poor backyard!






I snuck into one of the assemblies to see what it was all about.







It was basically a sports pep rally.
I don't remember doing any of this when I was in high school!
It made me slightly emotional being there!
Not because this was the high school I went to.
The energy was high and positive.
I loved the comradery and inclusion amongst everyone there.
The music was pumping, the kids were roaring with cheers for
 every announcement or introduction!
I wanted to jump right in with all the students and join in on the fun!

I felt SO OLD. 
Like a laser beam was pointing at me saying
She doesn't even go here.
I even wore a hat to make me blend in better.
I knew Lane would kill me if I dared make one dance move.
So I sat and silently danced in my bleacher seat:) 
 




At the end they all huddled to sing Carry On, the schools song.

GO MESA HIGH!!



I loved getting pictures from other moms throughout the day.
Maddie is the sweetest and I love that second cousins
go to school together.

Not even together.
Lane knows tons of my cousins kids from Westwood and Mt. View
from sports, FSY and other things.




That night they cheered on the football team!
With more cousins looking for purple Lane!

My neighbors were also wondering why the street gutter
had a milky purple residue.
I do give the kid credit to know better than to hose
off on my pavers!





Della had a dance swim party.





Stephanies friend, Camilla, has a Kids with Kindness 
service group she runs.

We went down to help with this activity where Austin got to speak about
being a police officer and helping our community!

We made cards for teachers and key chains.



Evelyn came over to play so we took her with us which was fun!







August still giving us plenty of parties and good times!