Tucson, AZ (weekend of 4/20)

This was such a great last minute trip. My husband was suppose to go alone to take his Structure II exam (hopefully, this will be his last test ever). The 8-hour exam is not something I want to be involved in, yet anyways.

We left PV and arrived in Tucson just after midnight. I guess we should have left earlier. Nakai fell asleep at dinner in Phoenix. But, Shandiin didn't seem to mind the long trip-she was watching a movie. Isn't it a lifesaver to have TV's in the vehicles and especially for long trips. Those of you with kids know what I am talking about.

Anyways, as Stanford is draining his brain with tons of calculations-we went shopping. And guess what, I found a scrapbook store down there-just out of the blue. Nope, I wasn't even looking. It was fate! In most cases, I am always on the look out for new things at different locations. I keep telling my husband they are not all the same. He doesn't get the concept.

Later in the early evening, the kids and I went and rescued my husband from the Convention Center-this is where the exam took place. I told my daughter, look as all the examinees ( I actually said Nerds) come out. They are doing to have their pocket protectors on, their glasses and all there books-the stampede. She got a big kick out of that one.

I didn't want to do took much exciting things that day

without my husband, so we waited until he was with us. We put off going to the planetarium until that evening. We walked through the U of A campus to get there. We watched a show, enjoyed the little science museum that they had on-site there and looked through the telescope to see Saturn. This was very exciting for the kids, since this was their first time to a planetarium. Afterwards, we had a great dinner @ a location that a friend recommended. To top off the night, we got to see long, lost friends and their two great, cute and funny boys. We definitely got to return to Tucson to see this family again.

The finally day on Sunday that we were there, we had to get some Wildcat souvenirs. We are such big fans of any UofA sports. We didn't know the softball team was playing until we made one final lap of the campus. Guess what, the UofA softball team (#3 in the nation) was taking on Oregon Ducks (#15 in the nation) at noon. The girls of course won, 9-1. Yippie! That was our first game ever- very fun and hot. But, I think I was the only one that sunburned-I was even under the umbrella. Shandiin was very excited, she got a poster and a shirt that was signed by the girls after the game.

Easter...

What were we thinking-we went camping out on the Mollogon Rim. Knoll Lake to be exact. The scenery getting there and back was great, the location was great also. But the weather was cold. A nice bonus (or lack of) was the slight malfunction of my husband's part. I blame him-since he is not writing. We forgot to pack the bearings of the folding tent tires. Who knew, definitely not me. Well, thank god for my love of taking photos of scenery-the tire didn't fall off. We drove very slow, since we were near the edge of the rim for the majority of the time (FR 300-for those of you in the area). My father notice it right away-the rest of us, you must be kidding. We were just complaining that everyone got there later that we all thought. Also, trying to locate our stake of our tents, and RV trailers. The guys in my family got into gear and with little tools on hand took of the now welded remaining parts off the axle. With the information needed to get a new bearings and additional items, my father and husband took a cruise down to Payson heading east on FR300. The remaining family members joked about how the guys would eat at Chili's before heading back to the campsite (only if they were smart). We even tease about how we should put in a order, so we didn't have to cook. Aren't we lame. Well-it was cold. With luck the guys got the parts and headed start back for camp. When they returned they commented on another trailer with the same tragic ending. But they just booted theirs to the side of the road with some major damage. Lucky for us, I'm a tourist. But the weekend went smoothly other than that. We decided on taking another forest road back to Winslow, so we took FR321. Take this road if you are headed to Knoll Lake, it is much smoother. Also, you will see a variety of pine trees. Very nice...I plan on heading back but later in the summer-when it warms up a bit.
*The picture is taken somewhere on the rim with my son and husband. Not much trees in the background, this is due to forest fire from several years ago. It must of being a different site to see with all the trees.

...transition time...

Only a couple of pics from the kids games, I kept forgetting that I had the camera w/ me. As the kids are becoming more focus on the game, I guess I also have followed. Shandiin has grown in the sport w/ only 2 yrs of experience, she is taking it a little more serious. Nakai on the other had is still having fun. He wanting to look more like his favorite player (Steve Nash, of course) so we are attempting to grow out his hair. Stanford doesn't like this too much. But, we know this is only temporary.

As basketball seasons is winding down, try-outs for little league begins. It has been crazy, trying to get the trophies out to the kids from the basketball and running to practice for both kids to two different locations. But one nice thing about Little league, all practices and games are on weekdays. So, the weekends are free to see family and friends. Hopefully, we can get more camping days in this year. The only down fall will be driving like mad people for the kids sporting events and having late dinners. Funny thing the first day of practice for Shandiin and I get a speeding ticket. There goes a Saturday morning for driving class-shows me to take off alot sooner than expected. Stanford wasn't to excited about that one. But that is okay.

Guess what, some good news. After taking a long break for school-I decided to return. Being a dental assistant wasn't good enough for me, so I decided to apply into the Dental Hygiene Program @ NAU and got it. Yippie... So the move is official, we will be putting the house on the market in April. We are finalizing the backyard's landscaping-but, with the rain stuff has been delayed. Don't get me wrong, I love the rain(now I get to have more of that in Flagstaff w/ the monsoons).

Happy New Year!

Today, wow… the first week of 2007 is almost over! I am excited. So much I want to accomplish, change, improve and make happen! It was kind of good to have family near for the holidays, even though we did lots of traveling. The worst part was leaving some home earlier than we wanted to but, there is so many families we wanted to see. We finally came home to our bed, which our backs were happy to feel. With only week left of Christmas break, we all worked together to clean up, do laundry, clean out clothes that don’t fit and toys that are no longer interesting, and put away the Christmas trees and all decorations. I hate to put away all the decoration, but it is also fun to organize all into it's right places. But my house looks so clean and nice with everything back in it’s place. A little bare but Valentine is coming...soon.

Some new hopes/goals for the year would have to include:

• becoming more healthy
• completing a scrapbook page per week
• purging some unneccessary items (husband would love this one)
• moving back up North to Flagstaff (to be closer to family)
• enjoy life more and reduce my worries about the little things

What a great day! (12-22-2006)

Isn't it awesome, we actually got a hint of snow. Barely to cover the ground, but there is snow. Probably will melt soon. Also, the kids Christmas break just begun after a full day of school and a party. So to celebrate this, we went to watch the Phoenix Suns play against the Washington Wizards.

As you all know the Suns finally lost, but who can blame them after arriving least than 2 1/2 hours before game time. After the cancel game in Denver, they drove the bus to Colorado Springs and flew in hours before.

As you can see the kids enjoyed themselves too at the game (before and after):
-Nakai got alone time with a cheerleader-I think this will be his Christmas card to some male family members next year

-Shandiin can't take here eyes of the game

I think is was worth it all, coming home at 2:30 am just to get Washington Wizard's Gilbert Arenas' autograph.

Happy Holidays!

I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!

My favorite time of the year!

Well I think my husband would agree, it's Christmas!
I think some the reasons:

• families coming together, everyone seems to drop just about anything to run home for mom's cooking ( I think...)
• seeing old friends as they return for the holidays to see family
• the smells in the air; such as pine, all the baking that happens, and the crisp, cool, air
• decorating the home inside/outside; time to get the ladder out-my husband didn't care for all the containers around the house for a couple of days( they were in the way )
• driving around to see parades (day or night) and all the homes decorated, seeing the Valley of Lights here in PV and looking at the Courthouse in Prescott all light up is a sight to see
• giving and sharing gifts
• taking tons of photos of family, especially the little ones-so I can procrastinate all year to do
• finally, this is also that time of the year that there is little or no time for attending time for school-finals have past and this is the time to relax

So here is a couple photos from our home to yours.
I tried to get just a couple from both lights natural/artifical. These are two of my favorite from my little tree in the living room. I try to keep a look out all-year to add more to my native tree-a treasure hunter at heart.

This was the only photo that look decent from the outside at night. -My lonely pair-

Can't wait for Christmas...

Sorry, I'm so bad about this. I was just a little busy with home, school and volunteering. Hopefully I will get better. So I attended the Winslow Christmas Parade, and guess what I am ready for the winter holiday. I can't wait for Christmas-Blame the parade... (nah! just kidding)

Well we start on our Christmas shopping way early. I need the time to get the perfect gift for the special someone. For me that is all the nieces and nephews. So hopefully, I will be done in a couple of weeks.

But the thing I can't wait for is the decorations. I know that Thanksgiving hasn't occur but, I think I will put up the tree or at least set it up (I won't even turn on the lights). Okay, I will put up some of the garlands too. So when I come back from Thanksgiving Weekend all I have to do is put up the trimmings. Don't worry, as soon I'm done decorating I post some pixs.

{On our way home..a detour}

For us it is just never just a drive home. We have to take a scenic route if there is any light. So we go through Sedona. We enjoyed how some of the trees leaves had turned to the bright autumn colors. Fall is setting in-it's offical. The yellow, orange, and red leaves make this drive very romantic. Even with the kids they enjoyed the noise of the rushing water and how it made them very relaxed. They wanted to camp-out. So maybe one more camping trip before it gets to cold.

We always have the camera ready, since we are tourist. Though we have those moments when the battery wasn't charged. But, you will never see me in the photo-since I'm the one always taking the photo. I want my kids to remember the time we shared not what they own material wise.

We just can't get enought of the view and how nature can be so inviting. The photos remind us a that life is all around us so enjoy it as much as you can.

My son the fisherboy~

Who can get any luckier than my son? I was shocked when he told me that he caught two fish at one time. That is why my husband always takes photos of all his catch, so they don't become just another story. He brings home proof. This occured at Clear Creek near Winslow, who would of have guessed? Yup! Gross- but my husband and son love to fish. They both got up pretty early, especially for me, about 6 a.m. for their mission. They caught and release about 18 fish, I think. But I thought that this cat-fish was the ugliest, caught also by my son. I still think that fish are gross, especially to touch, but that doesn't seem that way to my son and husband. Nakai, wanted to bring this one home-but my husband convinced him otherwise.

Now the both of them carry their fishing gear with them everywhere we go, just in case there just happens to be water. Lucky me---

A slow beginning to a new soccer season.

A rough start to the beginning of the season. First practices were canceled day after day, due to rainy weather, thunder and muddy fields. Finally Marcus attends one practice and then the 1st game, the Green Dragons win 7-0. Marcus missed a goal, but he had fun. He couldn't wait to play again--then the world came tumbling down when his allergies kicked into high gear. First he missed to two days of practice, then three days of school (it got that bad) and sadly he missed a game. But I know he enjoyed his endless hours of playing with his Game Cube. I also know that he missed all his buddies from school including his teacher and of course his bus driver. His days must of being long, since he had to spend it with his mom.

But that is okay, this is a new week and Marcus has return to school and practice had now resume. All is well in the world of Marcus. He can't wait for his next game.

-Labor Day Weekend-

First time going back to the rez for a while-the to do list begins:

• visit family
• a traditional wedding
• birthday party
• and being a tourist

Spent the night in Winslow, went around Ganado, visit a niece. Stop near Rock Point for an evening wedding. Spend the night and following day in Utah for the birthday barbecue, fishing. Going to Cortez for shopping(husband loved that by the way-that's what happens when you send the girls alone). Along the way home stop at Mexican Hat, Monument Valley for photos. Also, did some window shopping by the roadside vendors. Visit a grandma(Black Mesa), that was rewarding she gave us some peaches-delicious by they way. Visit an uncle(in-laws), briefly near Red Lake. More photos here and there, I just like the scenery. My husband always says that I'm just a tourist-but that is okay by me. Just not what we see on a daily basis around the Prescott surrounding. I guess I just miss it, makes me keep coming home-meaning to my family. Visit more family in Tuba City, caught up on some home videos(graduations that we missed). Finally we made our way all the way back home-some of us were sleeping though. All in all the trip was great, can't wait for the next time to see what we missed. There is way to much to see or just can't get enough of.

From this photo it looks as though my kids get a little tired of me always stopping to take more photos, so they entertain themselves. At least they're not bored huh?

Returning to School . . .

I'm kinda of writing this late. But, I thought it is better to share than not. I will be better about this. So ....

Isn't this great the kids have now return to school? Well I think so, the activities with the kids or should I say entertaining them have tremondously slowed down. From hauling the kids around from swimming to little league, I was definitly the taxi driver for the summer. School is a salvation from the crazy gas prices. So to celebrate the kids return we decided to go camping. Since, we hardly did that this summer--we thought we would squeeze one in. The view at Ashurst Lake toward the Peaks was breath-taking. But, the fishing were just nimbling an unfortunate event for Stanford.

The kids return to school the first Monday of August. Don't they look exhausted from the camping trip. Boy, did we learn out lesson. But with the month almost up the have return to a regular schedule. They are happy to see their friends old and new on a daily basis. The teachers are happy to have them for the year, but that is too early to proclaim-I think anyway.

Returning from...

How to spend time during your birthday? The only answer is to go to the happiest place on Earth-DISNEYLAND. So that is what we did for Shandiin's 11th Birthday. But, before we did that we went to Huntington Beach with Michelle (my dad's niece) and her family. Lucky we had family to take us to unfamilar places. The fun-filled day ended with an evening of roasting marshmallows.

Even though we were tired from the day before, we went to Disneyland/California Adventure with our 3 day pass. For the next couple of days we endured recording breaking temperatures, miles and miles of walking, long lines(thank goodness for Fast Pass), all the foreign tourist and expensive foods. All worth it to see the faces on Shandiin and Marcus. The laughter, screams, and the phrases "we are tired, hungry, or hot". Would do it again in a heartbeat, if finances could permit. Even with all this surrounding us Stanford still thinks of fishing. I guess he is keeping his priorities straight.

We have now returned from our extended trip to cloudy and more agreeable weather. Solution to a resting period before the kids return to school on August 7th.