Happy New Year!

Emma's 9th birthday

This is the pirate ship cake Grandma JR came all the way from California to deliver.

Very nice, huh?!

The party girls. The boys didn't sit still long enough to have their picture taken.

Caitlyn and Emma met Taylor Swift, the new country singer, after a tree lighting at the outlet mall. On the way home Emma told me, "Mom, this was the the best birthday ever!" http://www.taylorswift.com

The Honor Roll!

Check out Emma's first report card from 4th grade. Three As and two B+s. Not only that, but she's "a wonderful person to have in this class." Can you see my pleased parent glow from there?!

Trick-or-Treat

Webslinger, Spiderman/Dedan, wore his muscles, but not his mask most of the night.

Nash, the horse, in his carriage.
The Pink Rockers, Emma & Aneleise.

Party of 20

We spent Saturday in Prescott where the Hartungs and Knowltons traveled from So Cal for a visit. Amy & Al hosted a visit to the Hertiage Zoo, tours of Embry Riddle campus and downtown Prescott, and a great program at church featuring their oldest, Caitlyn. Twenty people out to dinner even went well (Golden Corral buffet restaurant was yummy)! One of the coolest things of their visit was meeting the recently RM Lance's fiancee, Jessica. Welcome to the family!

SIX MONTHS OLD!

Sweet baby Nash is now 6 months old, but it seems like he's always been a part of our family. He seems to hit all the milestones well before Emma or Dedan ever did. After spending so much time on the floor at Great Grandma Jessie's he's close to crawling (too close for my comfort). He's got two teeth and at least one more pushing through soon. He loves to growl, give raspberries, watch Emma & Dedan, eat (both baby food & mama's milk), watch football, go for walks with mom, and chew on his own fingers. Big eyes. Sweet smile. He's adorable...people tell me that all the time...Seriously.

Family fun in Colorado

Dedan celebrates at the bowling alley. He also caught the biggest fish (a 3 pound carp) on one of the days they spent fishing. Overall, everyone had a great time in Colorado!

Our first night in Grand Junction we discovered Nash had got his very first tooth. It made him a little cranky as he met Grandma Ginny & Grandpa Harlan for the first time, but it didn't phase them at all. They jumped right in with the loving, kissing, and spoiling.

Spoiled Emma convinces Grandma to make her favorite breakfast. Have I mentioned that she's spoiled?

Emma, Briseis, Great Grandma Jessie & Dedan hanging out and having fun.

Emma spent lots of time playing handball against the side of the house and enlisting anyone and everyone that was willing.

Colorado Smoochfest

This was our first trip to Colorado to see the Carpenter side of the family in more than a year, so they were meeting Nash for the first time and really excited to see the rest of us (ok, not HAR & I but the kids). Sooo - the kissing was in full swing: Grandma Ginny trying to squeeze in all the kisses she missed for the first 5 months of Nash's life; Tracy kissing her brother; Nash getting kisses from cousin Briseis; Dedan kissing "his" cat, Ginger.

It's official!

We've been in Arizona since July, but we are now Arizonans...or whatever people who reside here are called. We got our driver's licences (check out our pictures!), registered our van, and completed our voter registration.

Welcome to the Grand Canyon state!

Sundays this Fall

Most Sundays this fall you'll find football on at the Carpenters. Yesterday the Broncos were playing Sunday Night Football, so Dedan and Har were pumped up and wearing their Orange & Blue. Princess Tomboy, our rough and tumble Emma, who loves all things girly wears the Bronco's hat while she helps give Nash his bath.

After a particularly disgusting diaper Nash required a bath where he showed off his latest hobby of sucking his own toes. Big sister Emma insisted on covering him up first - such modesty!Our "little cup cake" Nash (after bath) in the outfit Grandma JR sent him this week.

Emma in her boots & braids learns to lasso.

We also played horse shoes, did some square dancing, and spent some time on the hayride.

Those Mormons know how to party!

Howdy, ma'am

We went to a Western Night party at church. It gave Dedan a chance to put on his almost-too-small cowboy outfit and Daddy's hat (he was working).

He's so dang cute!

Training Camp

Har started Nash on football right as the season began. They were both glued to the TV for highlights of last night's games. Tomorrow is Nash's exposure to BYU football. GO COUGARS! Heaven help me.

"Just wait for monsoon season"

Everyone kept telling us about monsoon season, and now it seems to finally be here. Emma and I spent about an hour watching the light show from our balcony. We took about 50 pictures, but since we're amateurs this was the best shot we got. Pretty darn cool! Summer storms almost make up for the HOT HOT HOT days.

No tears...I swear!

above: Dedan & his teacher, Mrs. Canham

below: Dedan & Emma ready for the first day of school The day after his "real" 5th birthday, Dedan started Kingergarten and Emma went into 4th grade. They're new school requires uniforms, which has bonuses (not a lot of choices for the indecisive Emma) and drawbacks (spending so much money on clothes for school-which they won't wear anywhere else-when they have perfectly good clothes in the closet now!) *sigh*

WAIT! Why am I complaining? Do you know how much more free time I have now that they're both in school all day?! Nash and I can party!

FIVE YEARS OLD!

After a funfilled dino-themed birthday party for Dedan we took a swim with the Hartungs, down from Prescott, and Grandpa Santa, in from Burbank, at the apartment swimming pool...always a good way to cool off in the 100+ degree Arizona heat. Surprisingly, we practically had the pool all to ourselves.

Grey's Anatomy Countdown

For those of you as into Meredith, McDreamy, Finn, Addison and the rest of the medical team at Seattle Grace as I am...FIVE WEEKS until the season premiere. Seriously. AND if, like me, you're in need of something to tide you over I'd suggest checking out the link to the show's webpage. Plenty of tidbits to get you salivating and that funky theme song plays, too. http://abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/index.html

Nash's new toy

Nash enjoying his new toy from Grandpa,
which means I might get a little more freedom!

"Crazy girls"

Grandpa Mike (my dad) called Emma and me "Crazy girls" after beautifying each other's hair and taking too many pictures of ourselves. Mother/Daughter Nights ROCK!

My cute boys

A flirtatous Nash kissing the hand of Calleya Hartung (daughter of Amy & Allan).

Dedan falling asleep at 6:30...playing outside all day is taxing on a kid.

We got to visit with some of the Bramwell clan Sunday night (but I forgot the camera!). Thanks again for the delicious grill, Dave!

Profile: Nash

Nicknames: Nashers, Mr. Slobber Buckets, Captain Drool, Super Baby
Age/Birthday: April 20th, 2006
Hobbies: rolling from my front to my back, entertaining my big brother and sister, burping, and sleeping
Favorite food: mama's milk

A Sad Day

Dedan, cousin Garrick, Emma, Grandma JR, and Papa John expressing themselves in front of the For Sale sign at JR & John's house in Vegas the day we left for our new adventure in Arizona.

Update 8/15/06: The house sold! Escrow closes in two weeks. Yea for JR & John!