My Baby is "5"

Journal entry for her birthday; I love birthdays!  I am always going to be a big girl and I am always my moms baby.

Kendal is loving all of her new friends in the area.  We were invited to join a co-op group of other kids that turned 5 to late for Kindergarten.  She absolutely loves it and looks forward to it every week.  Here is her on her first day.

She has been really hamming up the turning 5 business, the other day at the lake she was jumping from one piece of dry land to another and proclaiming, "Don't worry mom I can do this, I am 5 now."

For her birthday she wanted a cowgirl outfit, I can't believe how much an authentic cowgirl out fit costs.  But it was totally worth it, look how cute.  She also said she wanted to be a cowgirl with straight hair.

She got a tire swing pony for her birthday, cause every cowgirl needs a horse.  This weekend she gets to wear her totally authentic cowgirl outfit to ride a real horse.  She is ecstatic!

We celebrated her birthday with family lunch at I-hop, dinner and cake with Angie's Clan who also had a b-day boy that day and family movie night.  We watched Spirit and had lots of popcorn and candy.  She also had a little birthday celebration with her school friends.  

MY LB and I certainly love this little girl and her cute little ways.  

She definitely has all of our heart strings wrapped around her little fingers.  

Come One Come All

We are very excited to say that we have already had friends from the Valley come to visit.  Amber's Clan called and said they were looking to flee the heat and wondered if we were busy.  We are never to busy for friends.  So, come one, come all and visit us. 

A trip to the Prescott Zoo with Amber's Clan.

After the zoo we came back to our pad to visit and eat pizza!

FYI, this big guy held on all the way home!  It made for some great on the road entertainment.

A Much Needed Reminder

Since we have moved into our new home we have been all about "work".  The inside of our home minus a few needed projects was already beautiful and ready for our personal touch.  Now, outside of our home is actually what you might call a "train wreck".   My patience are the type that want everything done before I even knew that it needed to be done. So, needless to say we have been working day in and day out. 

Moving rocks, picking weeds, digging trenches, putting up fences, taking out bushes, trimming trees and so on and so forth.  In the process of all of this outdoor work we forgot that we live in a beautiful country that is in need of exploration.  It's like living close to the ocean and never going to the beach, or worse yet living by Disney Land and not knowing Mickey personally.

Despite my gung ho lets get it done mentality we stopped, took a deep breath and realized that the beautiful summer weather will be gone and we will be spending our days indoor next to the fireplace before we know it. 

Can't wait for our next adventure!!!

Moving On

Most of our close friends know that for some time we have been trying to move our way out of the Valley.  We were looking for cooler weather and more outdoor activities.  We were mainly looking to stay within the company MY LB was working for.  However, a few month ago work came looking for him.  He is now a CH2M Hill employee and totally loving it.

When he came to me with the information that they were looking for a Project Manager in Prescott Valley I replied with, "No one looks for work or finds work in Prescott Valley".  Born and raised I was not looking forward to returning to my hometown.  MY LB needed this promotion/new job to advance his Water/Waste water career.  What could I do?  I single parented for a month, packed up, lived with my sister for a few weeks and finally moved into my new home in Prescott Valley in July.

Here we are a finally a very long three months later living in Prescott Valley.  Everything though long and drawn out worked out wonderfully in the end, we thank the Lord everyday.  We were able to purchase a home again in a lovely neighborhood.  I love my house and the weather is fantastic.  MY LB is enjoying his work and loving the outdoors.  He has wanted to move to P.V. since we were married fourteen years ago (just had an anniversary).  I am so glad that he finally gets what he wants, he is always so busy giving me everything I want often times he surpasses his ideals.  I do love him!


This is Kendal playing in the rain in our new front yard.  When it rains water flows everywhere, the kids love having stick races.  It is cloudy and stormy today and we are really hoping for rain.

This is one of the many school days we have spent outdoors.  This particular trip was with our new homeschool friends, Angie's Clan.

We are surrounded by beautiful country and loving it!

Colorado

Colorado was our last trip of the summer.  MY LB's sister got married and invited us all out to a beautiful bed and breakfast.  We had a wonderful time and are so grateful for their hospitality and the amazing time we had while we were there.

Some of our recreational activities while visiting Colorado....

Four corners on the way home

(actually we were homeless at this time)

MY LB and I were so happy to be able to dance together at the reception and even happier to dance with our offspring (we don't get many chances for that).  Plus there is something so special about seeing them dance and having a good time together.  They even got some dance time in with grandma and grandpa and of course the bride.

What a great end to a fantastic summer!
Actually the summer was maddening.  It was jam packed full of packing, patience, unknown stuff and living with family (love to my sister).  Ending finally with the grand finale of "unpacking".

Payson for the 4th

We ended up in Payson for the Fourth of July.  We had a very relaxing time with no agenda, cable TV, a swimming pool, book stores, nature and did I mention NO schedule.  I love being able to do whatever we want, whenever we want (love home school). 

Fourth of July

 

 Tonto Natural Bridge

(warning do not do this hike alone with four kids 12 and under)

There was a lot of this.......

 Some of this.....

 Nice of them to post the yellow arrows so we can find our way through the endless rocks.

 I love this pictures!  We had to stop often and when we did we all took advantage of it.  I try not to remember that she promised to carry the book herself but as always I ended up with it (it's tuff being mom).

We were visiting Payson because of MY LB's new job, yep he has a new job.