Pinetop Extradinaire!

I am not sure what to write about this trip.  It was SUPER fun and SUPER needed at the time.  We had only had Joey for a week and I was stressing about him.  Anyway, we were invited by the Lee family to join them and Abercrombie's and Peachers...to go to their cabin in Pinetop.  We found 3 different friends/family to watch the kids and another friend to watch the DOG...and we were off for 3 days!  I was feeling worried about things for a couple of hours...and then just enjoyed the time away from LIFE.  We felt like kids again.  There was a LOT of laughing, cards games, dice, food, SNOW...more food and just plain fun.  We ate out as a group both nights.  We played some hilarious games and I was introduced to some funny stuff on YOUTUBE.  Who knew!!!  I was teased relentlessly and I loved every minute of it.  Again...reminded me of my younger years.  Thanks for having us Gina.  We love you guys and hope to do this again next year!!!!!

I haven't seen snow forever.  It was beautiful snow too!  It was nice and almost warm...but snowing.  I LOVED the weather!!!

Ashley made the cutest snowman with Marreen's help.  What was the name girls???

This is us roasting starbursts.  So yummy.  I was by the fire often.  Not used to being cold I guess.

I got to know Chris.  Funny guy...very funny indeed.

This is the whole group rockin the eighties snow clothes and just feeling super COOL.  I loved sledding.

This is right after Jake fell and HURT his shoulder.  He was riding on some sort of sled that you stood on...kind of like a snowboard.  He hit SO hard.  In fact, he is still not able to use his arm.  Still hurts like crazy...poor guy. 

Isn't it beautiful!!!

Kameron and Gina.  We love you guys and really appreciate you inviting us!  We want to do this EVERY year from now on.

Chris and Ashley!

Goofing around with the HUGE icicle

Marreen and Gina.

 Another shot by the fire.  Thanks friends.  Love you...wish we did this semi-annually!!!!!

Christmas Card.



So I couldn't figure out how to get a copy of the Christmas Card I sent...so here is a new one.

For those who didn't get a Christmas Card from me this year...sorry.  I ran out of stamps.  I love you still the same and hope you have a WONDERFUL Christmas and New Years!  Here is the letter I sent as well.  I thought I should document it.  If you have already read it...nothing has changed. 

November 15, 2011

Dear family and friends,

It is that time of year again: my FAVORITE time of year for sure.  Especially living here in AZ…the weather is just gorgeous.  I love Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve too.  I love that we get to FIRST: show gratitude for all we have been given.  NEXT we are reminded of our Savior and His life and all He has done for us.  Last we get to START FRESH and make necessary changes and renew our commitment to live Christ centered lives.  The Holidays are wonderful.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas and more.

Now onto our little lives.  Soon after this year began we moved from our HUGE home in Maricopa to a smaller humble home in Mesa Arizona.  This move was mostly out of necessity to be closer to Jake’s work and to save money.  We were a bit discouraged to be moving once again, but we sold a lot of things and moved with a good attitude.  Now that we are here…we LOVE it!  I feel so at home in this ward and with our family close and with wonderful new friends.  We absolutely love having Jake home more often as well.  The middle of this year; Jake got a new job.  He is now employed doing work that he LOVES. The only downside for me in this job he travels.  I don’t enjoy being home alone, but he is getting to see the world and we get presents from his travels.  We are mostly glad that he enjoys his job and that I am able to stay home with our kids.  We know we are very blessed.

I am now the adult Gospel Doctrine teacher.  This is a hard calling for me, but I have grown a lot and enjoy having a large amount of time to TALK. Haha.  It really has grown on me.  However, I do still get quite nervous.  Other than that…I don’t have much going on. I love taking time with Spencer.  I am a Mom and a wife and my life is simple.

Aubrey is in 3^rd grade this year.  When we moved here we decided to homeschool the kids until I found a school that I approved of.  I was able to see how bright and wonderful Aubrey is.  She really loves to learn and help Mom with her little brothers.  Aubrey was baptized this last Oct and we are so proud.  She now attends a charter school and is excelling.  In fact, the first month she was chosen as the STUDENT OF THE MONTH and her teacher exclaimed she would love to have a “whole classroom of Aubrey’s!” Aubrey is also in a local choir and loves to sing.  She is a great performer.

Weston is now in 1^st grade.  I was so nervous to send him to school cause he was homeschooled for kindergarten. I don’t know why I was…he is thriving and excelling in every way.  He is also very social and makes friends wherever he goes.  Weston was chosen as STUDENT OF THE MONTH in his PE class.  No surprise to me.  He loves sports!  Weston is on a soccer team and usually scores a goal; even though he is the youngest and smallest player.  He is so fun to watch.  Weston loves life and brings a smile to us often.  He is also a little stinker…but we try not to dwell on that!  We love him.

Spencer is turning 3 years old tomorrow.  I can’t believe he is so big.  He still seems like my baby sometimes.  Spencer is a great talker.  He loves friends.  Spencer plays well alone (which is good because he is alone with me a lot.)  Spencer is my pickiest eater and loves SUGAR.  We are working on that.  He is silly and fun.  Spencer is a sweet soul and we are so blessed to have him in our family. 

There you have us in a nutshell.

 Love to you and yours,  The Watkins Family

Aubrey and Christmas

This little girl has got me in the Christmas Spirit the MOST this year.  I love seeing her sing in the Mesa Children's Choir.  She does such a great job. She knows all her words and really just sings her heart out.  She is a wonderful performer.   Here is the dress she wore to perform.  This picture was taken before the Father Daughter Christmas dance.  Notice the corsage.  Aubrey has the BEST dad ever!

 Here Aubrey is showing off her Gingerbread Fireplace she made at school.

A boy and his dog.

Ok.  I admit it.  Having a DOG is a lot more work than this little lady anticipated.  However...only I have noticed the work part.  Spencer on the other hand...enjoys the play part.  He LOVES Joey and we spend a lot of time going "potty outside."  Spencer likes to join us for potty trips as well as walks, belly rubs, baths, fetch and the new favorite...tug, tug, tug. 

Notice the doggy jammies.  haha.  Of course...this was at noon. 

Recent Family Home Evenings

 This is another random post, but I wanted to remember some of the fun things we have been doing this month.  We have family home evening on Monday nights.  We just have fun together as a family mainly.  Last week we went to the Mesa Temple lights.  They are such a sight.  I loved going before the crowds... I highly recommend going before the performers get there...it was so peaceful and quiet.  I loved it and our kids aren't old enough to sit through a performance anyhow.  We took hot chocolate, walked around, then ended the evening with a short movie about Jesus's birth.  I love Christmas time! 

Tonight we roasted marshmallows in our very own FIREPLACE!  I have always wanted one and we finally have one.  My other pictures were fuzzy cuz it was sooo dark, but here is Weston the stud!

A few weeks back when it was warmer out...we enjoyed dinner on the patio.  This was Lettuce Wraps.  We acted like we were at a restaurant...so yummy and much cheaper in comparison!  I am just grateful for our family and that even if we only do it weekly...we remember to have this time together. 

Sunday Afternoon Photoshoot

 

For no reason at all we took pics in the backyard of the kids.  They were just in a great mood and I wanted to gets some memories in a photo.  I let them figure out a pose.  I love my kids sooooo much!

Christmas came early!

So we wanted to get a dog for the kids for Christmas.  However, once we found Joey...we just couldn't wait and didn't want him to stay with his owners...we wanted him here!  So the night before Thanksgiving felt a lot like the night before Christmas.  We tricked the kids and said we were buying some dog stuff for a local shelter.  They helped us find a doggie bed and food and stuff.  Then that night I drove out to Maricopa to get Joey.  Joey is a cockapoo.  This means he is a mix between a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel.  He doesn't shed and will grow to be about 25lbs.  I am a little worried about the size myself...but had my rambunctious boys in mind when making a decision.  I brought him home and we were getting him settled.  Around 11:30 pm Weston woke up to go to the bathroom and saw Joey.  So we ended up getting all the kids up and it really did feel like Christmas morning.  They couldn't believe that we had "tricked them!"  Weston was just crazy excited.  Things are going good now we are on day 3.  I am shocked a bit about potty training...it isn't going good in my mind.  I also didn't realize I would be getting up so early...cause he is.  Oh well, I did it for my kids...so I guess I can make the sacrifice for our new addition.
Other than that though he is fun and crazy when we want him to be.  He also just loves to cuddle.  Right now he is sleeping quietly at my feet.  Aubrey keeps saying "I can't believe WE have a DOG!"  I couldn't agree more!!!

Funny little thing that happened.  We are teaching Joey to pee on the paper.  This means if he is in the house...and has to pee, we have some newspapers laid out on the tile for a accident.  Anyway, I was dosing off here on the couch after Thanksgiving dinner and I awoke to find my Spencer "peeing on the paper!"   I was in such shock I think I scared Spencer to death.  I kept just saying..."What just happened!!!"  Spencer I guess was playing like he was a dog and he later told me that he was just being a good dog and peeing on the paper like Joey!!!  haha

Happy Birthday Spencer

So Spencer had his first "friends" party.  We chose the "Cat in the Hat" theme.  A recent favorite show and book of Spencers.  It really was so much fun to plan and decorate for.  It was also fun to be at.  It was a little crazy...not gonna lie.  Thanks to all those who helped me pull it off.

We went with the green eggs and ham concept...with pancakes too.

Lots of friends...haha

Spencer seemed to have the most fun.  He kept running around saying I am "Cat in the Hat."  He loved the food, the dancing and the craft.

We had "Thing 1 and Thing 2" cupcakes.  His was "Thing 3" of course.  He turned three...duh!

Dance party

Blowing out the candles.

Mommy loves you son.

The craft was a little over ambitious...in fact, I think we only got about 5 done.  Oh well.  Spencer and Aubrey got theirs done and they were the most concerned about it.

Notice my cat in the hat drawing.  I was pretty proud of myself.  haha

The end.