And it's official...

WINTER IS HERE!! Or what we like to call a "winter" in these parts. Man, time is flying by this year. I have taken six grad. classes already, only twelve more to go! The boys turned three in Sept. and we celebrated in San Diego. It was an awesome family trip and I have pics to prove it! ;)

Jorden just made cheer captain for the basketball season. All of my bossy, controlling, overachieving issues have finally been passed down. Oh, she makes me proud!

Bella turned five over the wknd and we had a really fun princess party for her. She had a few of her besties over an hour early and had a little tea party complete with lemonade, cookies, and Polite As A Princess story. It was super cute. Will post pics as well for that. Bella also had a Thanksgiving Feast at preschool today. The little school programs have begun all over again for me...and I reminded Mike that we still have a ways to go with two more kids coming down the pipeline!

Excited to spend the holidays with good friends and family. Kids are super excited this year for all the festivities and traditions. This is probably my second to last post for the year. Final updates to come...

I'm old!

Mommy celebrated another bday (don't ask), Jordie started tenth grade, Bella started Pre-K, and Cooper decided to jump on board with potty training. So soon enough, I'll have NO kids in diapers! Excited, yet depressing! Who am I kidding? I am stoked!! ha ha

Actually, I am facing the realization that I am old! You know the "old" we all thought our parents were when they were in their late 30's? Hilarious! But seriously, I am extra depressed because my husband will forever be 11mos. younger than me! Makes me sick, especially when he reminds me all the time! I warned him this year to sleep with one eye open! ;)

Did I ever tell you I hate the summertime???

Well I do! I am an AZ native and it never seems to get any easier...or cooler! Good thing we have a cabin up north to sneak away to, or I'd probably go insane. Between my four kids, two dogs, two cats (yes, we got a new kitten), one husband, and this blistering heat, I feel like I am going to go crazy most days! Luckily, school is right around the corner for me again. I'll be able to get away two nights a week and enjoy some "adult" time for a change. Unfortunately It will be to learn which isn't fun, but I'll take it!

So Jorden is officially a Sophomore now. Wow! She is taking summer school at my 'old stomping grounds' (THS)...it sure has changed since I was there (don't worry about how many years ago that was!). She seems to like it, definitely a change of pace for her. She finished out the year strong and will be adding two "A's" to that once she completes summer school. Bella will be starting swim lessons again in the intermediate class (Eels) and possibly in dance or tumbling after that if we can swing it this summer. She dances around the house all day long, so we feel it is our duty to get her started in something before this phase slips away. Boys will do a few rounds of swimming as well (Pikes) which is an upgrade from parent/tot classes, so we are excited to be able to hand them off to the teachers to listen to the screaming this year! Mike is embarking on a new adventure (more details later) so let's just keep our fingers crossed for the time being (biting nails).

We are now a family of ten!!! We have a new kitten named Canada. For those that don't know, we have another cat named America. This only made sense, right? She also goes by Candy (Bella) or Ninja (Jorden). She is cute. I'll post pics when I upload them. Frankie loves her, Floyd can't be bothered with her, and America won't even come inside anymore. We'll have to remedy this at some point, but for now it is as peaceful as a zoo can possibly be. :)

I got accepted to Ottawa's Master of Arts in Education program which starts in one week! Man, that break didn't last long. I am waiting to hear back from the director of NAU's Education program to verify that a School Psychology program is definitely coming to the valley next Spring. If so, I will be applying there this fall in hopes of transferring. I am starting at Ottawa instead of waiting because I will already be six classes down by the time NAU gets their program up and running, and I don't want to waste any time. I just need to make sure all the courses I am taking will actually transfer over or are equivalent to, which is why I am awaiting a phone call. SOONER than later, please!! So I will either be an Ottawa graduate or a Northern Arizona graduate in 2012. Either way, I am pretty stoked.

We are planning our first "real" family trip in September, to Colorado. It will be a blast and I am so excited to see where Mike grew up. We are also going to Elitch Gardens, Denver Zoo, Butterfly Pavilion, Estes Park, and a few other places Mike wants to show us. The boys won't remember the trip (yeah for cameras!), but the girls will and I am very happy to be able to share memories like this with them.

spring pics/events

Phx Children's Museum






Abigail's 6th bday

Family cabin in Overgaard






mama got a new 'do'


Bella slept in her new Xmas boots for weeks!


Shan and Hope-Ryan

time for big boy beds!


Bella just "hangin"

Jorden being Jorden
Wildlife Zoo

One Bachelor's down, one Master's to go....

I am officially done with school this week...FINALLY!!!!!! This last year flew by, but I don't recommend the 20yr graduation plan! Undergrad. was a piece of cake, however, it is a little daunting to think about the Master's program I will be starting in the fall. I get the summer off to apply to a few different schools before making my choice. I am leaning toward Ottawa and NAU's distance learning program. Heard exceptional things about both. ASU's School Psych. program is only a PhD. program, so that's a 'no-go' for me. I'm stopping at a Master's, thank you very much! I always desired to have a Master's but not so much a doctorate. I need to get school over with as soon as I can so I can start working and get on with the matters of life, which include raising these kids of mine...oh yah, and being a wife!

I am both nervous and excited to start grad. school, as it is a personal goal and accomplishment for me! For those that know why, you know what I mean. For those that don't, well let's just say "no matter what unexpected things life throws at you, you will eventually push past it all and see light at the end of the tunnel." We'll leave it at that. :)

As for some updates, Jorden made the JV cheer team for next year, and is ready to be done with freshman year (I don't blame her). Yes, I still remember those days. It hasn't been THAT long...ha!! Bella remains fairly "untamed" and can drive us all crazy on her best day! Crew is as handsome as ever and is talking so much (in his own language, that is). Cooper is just the cutest kid I've ever seen! He is talking up a storm as well and gives you this scrunched up face with a smile that will melt your heart. Mike has had a few half days recently, biz is a little slow. We will be heading up north a LOT this summer to escape this absurd heat!

More status to come on Grad. schools. Wish me luck!

Family Home Evening....

or the Spiro version of it anyway, took place Monday night. Jordie taught a sweet little lesson and afterward we asked Bella if Jesus loves her and she responds "yes he does." So we ask her if she loves Jesus, again responds with a "yes." We then ask her where Jesus is and she says he is in her heart, so I say "where else is he?" and she looks up. I ask if he is up in heaven and she says "no, he is way up high on top of the castle." Ummm, close enough!

Typical Sunday afternoon

My cousin and I decided to do lunch and pedis yesterday. While I'm sitting in the nail salon chair I receive a text from Mike that says:

Bella just pooped in her pants and I asked her why she didn't tell me she had to go potty and she said "Daddy I didn't mean to, the poop just fell right out of my butt!"

A day in the life....