Labor Day Fun!

Mike had to work on Labor Day but the kids and I were free to have fun. My brother-in-law, Scott and my sister-in-law, Lindsay both had the day off too. They found this new in-door play place that we went to go check out. It's called Jump & Shout! It's in the Mesa Riverview development @ Dobson & 202. It's an indoor jungle gym place that also has inflatable bouncy's and a small area for toddlers (which was great for my niece, Sara). During the month of September it's pay for one kid get the second kid free for 2 hours of playtime. It was $9 for both kids to play INDOORS for 2 hours. It was a lot of fun and the kids had a great time. They also invited a friend along, her name is Makenna. When we were done playing we went to lunch and took some ice cream to

the Fire station to visit Mike and his crew. It was a fun day!

Soccer season has started

Logan and Carlee are both playing soccer this season. This is Logan's 3rd season, he really enjoys playing. We tried to get Carlee to play last year but she backed out at the last minute when we went to sign up. This year though is a different story. She's having a blast and says she's SO GALD that she's playing this year. Here are a few pics from practices and their first games. Both of their teams won their first games. WHOO! HOO!

Go Wildcats! (Carlee's team) Go Fire Hawks! (Logan's team)

Back to School!

Logan started 2nd grade this year. He has a really nice, patient and fun teacher this year. He's doing very well in reading and coming along in his math. He has a lot of his neighborhood friends in his class, as well as some of the kids from last years class.

Carlee started ALL DAY Kindergarten. She LOVES school and can't wait to tell me all about it everyday when she gets home. I keep waiting for the "newness" of school to wear off but she still talks about it non-stop and how much she loves her teacher, friends and the school.

Here's a little story for you...the second week into school Mike was gone on shift, the kids were off to school and I had things to do (or so I thought). I went to the gym, got gas and went to the grocery store with my long list. I was IN & OUT of the store in LESS than 30 minutes!! Weird! I thought I had forgot something (or things) or maybe a kid or two??? No way could I be out of there in under 1.5 hours (and there was no screaming, fighting or extra things in the cart). I got home and put it all away, did some laundry, straightened up the house, checked email, returned some phone calls, took a shower (BEFORE the kids got home from school) then sat down on the couch BEFORE 2:00 pm. The kids don't get out of school until 3:00 and get off the bus at 3:30. I ACTUALLY HAD NOTHING TO DO AND YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP it was so quite in the house! VERY WEIRD AND UNUSUAL! But it was WONDERFUL to have some time to myself and be able to rest a little before the kids got home and the "chaos" started all over again.

What a change from the last 7 years! I'm FREE, I'm FREE!!!

I mean, I'm sad that my kids are gone ALL DAY!! wink, wink, hee, hee!!!!

Family Get-together

Recently my brother and sister-in-law were sealed in the Arizona Temple. We had a family dinner afterwards at Joe's Real BBQ in Gilbert. It is REALLY GOOD BBQ! You have to go sometime and feast on the delicious BBQ chicken, sides and WONDERFUL desserts! Here are a couple pics that we took (of course Mike was on shift that day). It's fun to see family that you don't get to see very often.

My grandpa and step-grandma came from Arkansas to celebrate, as well as some cousins from Thatcher, Queen Creek, Coolidge and other cities in Arizona.

Congrats to Jared, Nicole, Audrey and Olivia!

California, here we come!

Since Mike and I took a trip we decided to take the kids for a trip too! 3 days after we got back from Hawaii (just long enough to wash laundry & re-pack) we took the kids to California. We went to Knott's Berry Farm, Knott's Soak City (water park) and the beach. Logan got his own Boogie board last year and loved it. This year it was Carlee's turn (it had to be pink, of course). Once she got the hang of it, we couldn't get her off of the board to leave (after 7 hours)!! My kids are definitely water kids.

They love the beach. It was so much fun and it was very nice, cool weather in California too! However, we were very ready to get home and not be living out of

suitcases and eating out after 2 1/2 weeks!

Hawaii

I'm way behind in my posting because we've been really busy since mid-July.

I promise to get caught up!

Mike and I went to Maui, Hawaii, again (we went for our 10th too), for our 12th anniversary this year. It is SO BEAUTIFUL there! It's relaxing, slow paced, quiet, beautiful, serene and it's perfect weather. We had a blast swimming, snorkeling, hiking, sight seeing, a boat/snorkeling trip to Molokini,

eating and shopping. Here are some of our favorite pictures.