Another Fun Weekend

We decided to take advantage of our last week of summer break before school starts and headed up to Pinetop to hang with the fam. We had so much fun at all my dad's retirement parties, seeing Cars 2, being in the Snowflake Parade and enjoying all the 24th of July celebration stuff.

Raylee's Princess/Wilderness Bday

I can't believe my little girl is finally 3 years old. Actually I feel like she should be turning 4 because I always seem to lump her and Bradock together in the age category (I get asked so much if her and Bradock are twins that I have started believing it myself). Not only does she look older than she is, but she definitely acts it sometimes too. I constantly have to remind myself that she IS younger. Raylee is one strong-willed little girl. She knows what she wants and she isn't going to let anyone get in the way of that. I hope this attitude helps her later in life in making good choices and going after big dreams. Raylee is also one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever seen...ok so I maybe a little biased, but there's not a day that goes by that she's not getting compliments from people for how pretty she is. Brett and I are going to be in big trouble when she is older...watch out boys, Dad has a bow and arrow:)

We are so blessed to have Raylee in our family and love her sassy attitude and big heart. Here are a few things Ray loves right now:
-Princesses
-Lipstick
-Dresses and dressing up
-High heels
-Playing in dirt
-Barbies
-Sleeping in...she is definitely not one you want to wake up because she is a big grump and can get super feisty if you do
-Singing
-Playing house
-Watching movies
-Loves not wearing shoes...any chance she gets she is chucking those bad boys
-Going camping
-Playing with Bradock...most of the time they get along and I love that they are best friends
-Snuggling with mom and dad

For her birthday we invited some of our fam up here to Payson to enjoy a fun Princess/Wilderness party. Grandma and Grandpa Flaherty, Grandma and Grandpa Kocherhans, Tanner, Kiley and her boys, the Clarksons, Mamaw and Papa Tindall and our friends the Youngs (who live just a few houses down from us and have become our good friends) came out to celebrate. We held the party at a fun creek area down Houston Mesa Rd. and had so much fun. We even have the Gonzalez boys begging to move to Payson. I don't think that will happen anytime soon, but I sure hope they will want to at least come and visit a lot. Raylee couldn't have been more excited about all her fun new presents. She is one lucky girl who has a ton of family that love her a lot!

Date Night

Last weekend while we were down in Mesa for Addison's blessing, Brett and I got to take advantage of a fun date night. We went out with our friends, the Fort's, to Cantina Laredo and then did a little shopping. While we were gone the kids had a fun night with Grandma and Grandpa Flaherty. I seriously can't wait until I'm a grandparent because it looks like so much more fun than parenting sometimes:) Anyways, the kids got to stay up late and Grandma Terri realizing how late, was rushing to get the kids in bed before we got home. She told Bradock and Raylee "You guys have to go to bed quickly because your mother is going to kill me!" Well, my smart little Bradock looked at his grandma without skipping a beat and in all seriousness said "Grandma...my mom doesn't have a gun, but my dad has a bow and arrow." I laughed so hard when she told me this. Of course, Grandma explained to him that I wouldn't really kill her, but man is it nice to know that your dad has a bow and arrow:)

Well, this past Friday Brett and I went on our first "date night" here in Payson. It's so nice to know that we have quite the list of good sitters...thanks to some great recommendations from our friends here. So, Miss Maddie (she is so darn cute and sweet) watched Mr. B and Raylee while Brett and I enjoyed a fun dinner at Cardo's Italian Restaurant. After our really yummy dinner we headed over to the Sawmill Movie theatres to get a good seat for "Larry Crowne". Well, let's just say we didn't need to rush over because when we walked into the theatre it was completely empty. Unfortunately we did end up having to share it with a few other people that obviously knew you didn't need to get there early to get a good seat...I bet everyone else was in Harry Potter. Anyways, I loved the movie. I had no idea what the movie was even about, but I am a definite fan of Julia Roberts and her and Tom Hanks had me laughing the whole time. I love when we pick a good movie, which makes for a great date night.

Tonto Natural Bridge

We had a fun Friday afternoon family outing to Tonto Natural Bridge for a little hike, a little dip and even a little wild life (Brett caught a fat little horny toad for the kids...which the kids decided to let go, so he could go home). I also love that when Raylee sees any crawdads she calls them "corndogs".

Fantastic 4th of July

Our 4th of July week/weekend started off with having our nephew, Kasen, stay with us here in Payson for a couple of days. We took him to our favorite hang out of course and I found out I have a new talent...I am pretty darn good at catching crawdads. Yup that's right...fast, slippery little suckers can't get past me:)

We headed to Mesa on Saturday and had a fun bbq and swim party with the whole Flaherty crew. On Sunday little Addison was blessed and then we rushed up to Pinetop Sunday evening, so we could be in the ShowLow parade with my parents. After a decade of being one of the most talented and dedicated OBGYNs, my dad is finally retiring from his practice. It seems so sureal and it's crazy to think that my dad has only been working as an OBGYN for 10 years. He was 43 when he decided to go to medical school and after ten years of schooling, started practicing in ShowLow. My dad is one of my biggest examples and heroes. He has always taught me that nothing stands in the way of my dreams and I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Education is a huge deal in the Tindall home and I am soooo thankful for that. As a big thank-you and goodbye to the community my dad thought it would be kind of cool to be in the big 4th of July parade. My sister and mom decked out my dad's truck and all of us (including the three most special little kids that have blessed our lives because of my dad) got to ride in the back and share the fun. The parade audience cheered and yelled and stood in applause for my dad...what an amazing feeling. He will truly be missed, but that doesn't mean he is done for good. My dad is going to be a part-time "on-call" OB for different hospitals throught-out the state. He is super excited about the change and hopefully we will get to see him more often.

Monday afternoon we headed back home to watch the awesome fireworks from our back deck. I think we may have had the best seat in the town. My mom and the Clarksons shared in on the fun and then drove home after our 35min firework show...Payson sure didn't skimp on celebrating. It was seriously a great weekend and who knew being in a parade was so much fun. My dad is thinking of doing the same thing for the 24th of July parade in Snowflake, since he has a big patient base there too...can't wait!