Grandpa's Birthday

Grandpa is turning 80!  I am so glad that Colton and I were able to be here this year with him to celebrate!  Just spending these past months with him have been so fun.  He has told us many stories, we have gone for several drives, and we have made a lot of trips up to the cabin.  He is such an example and I love him so much!  For his birthday, friends and family wrote notes to him and they were put into a book and I think he really liked that!  We celebrated by going to luch at Casa, his favorite restaurant!  Happy Birthday Grandpa, I love you!

Looking at his book.

Shooting

We went shooting with our friends today and it was so much fun!  I haven't been shooting very often and I really enjoy it.  We set up a couple targets and I have to brag just for a second (because I'm sure it won't happen again) but I was a better shot than Colton!  I couldn't believe it.  Maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much! 

Back to School

Well it is that time of year again, school has started and to be honest I am not very thrilled.  Usually after a nice long break you are rejuvenated and ready to go again.  For some reason I still don't have a lot of motivation.  However this semester we get to start IV's and hang medications.  Starting an IV was my worst fear for this whole program and Colton and I both were able to practice on our instructor.  It actually wasn't that bad and I definitely feel more confident about starting another one!

Dance Recital

The girls had a dance recital tonight and it was so fun to watch them.  They both did a great job!  My Mom did their hair and makeup and then they were off!  They were the opening act to the Dutton's who were on America's Got Talent and it was so fun!  They are a very gifted musical family and their program was so fun.  I would definitely go see them again!

This weekend while we were at Donelle's we also went 4 wheeling in the desert the one day and shot some arrows.  It was so much fun and I think Colton really enjoyed it because he loves to do that kind of stuff.  Too bad we couldn't party like this every weekend!

I Love to See the Temple

Colton and I were so fortunate to see the Gilbert Arizona temple today!  Thanks to Donelle, she got us tickets so we were able to go.  I was so happy that my mom was able to come with us too.  This temple is beautiful!  I had never been to an open house before and it was so neat!  I love the fact that we can walk through the temple that is in our area before it is dedicated.  I love that we can invite our nonmember friends and have them experience a little bit of our religion.  I am so grateful for temples and so happy that I was able to go to the Gilbert temple today to see its beauty!

Christmas Break

This semester has been hard and challenging at times so I think it is safe to say that we are both excited and ready for a break. We headed to Utah first and had a really good time except Colton got sick a few days after we got there with strep and then it gave it to me about 5 days later.  Then a few days after that I got the stomach flu and was throwing up all night so our time in Utah was fun but we just weren't in the best health!  We did have a little fun while we were there though, the boys went shooting and hunting for animals and Colton and his dad went on a horse ride.  Christmas Eve we had a karaoke night and the older boys were loving that!  Colton, Kristopher, Curtis, and Bryant all had their fair share of singing!  It was great to see the family and our two little nephews that will be here with us in just a few months.  I can't believe Kylee and Kali are due so close to each other!  Those little boys will be the best of friends. It was a really fun time and a great Christmas even though Colton and I were both sick the whole time.

We left the day after Christmas to go to Colorado to spend some time with my family.  We had a great time there and Jake, Colton, and Zach went snowmobiling.  I know they all had a great time doing that especially Colton since we can't really do that in Arizona.  We played games, watched some movies, and since we were there for New Years, my Dad had all of us set some New Year's Resolutions that we will open at the end of next year.  I think this was a great family night and I loved that Colton and I had the same first resolution, going to the temple at least once a month.  I guess we both knew what to work on and I'm going to try really hard to make that one happen. The temple is so important and we get so many blessings from going there so I'm really going to make this a priority.  It was great to be together as a family, we haven't had a lot of opportunities for this and I really liked it.  I have realized lately that families are so important and I am so grateful to have the family that I do.  They have made me who I am today and I will be forever grateful for them.  There is such a peace in knowing that our families our eternal and we will forever be together.

This break has been so fun and relaxing and now that it is coming to a close we are both sad to go back to school.  Only a few more years... that seems like forever but it will go by fast.  At least I'm hoping!

Nothing like a little Egg Nog for the road trip! He makes me laugh.

Jaxton's Christmas program at school.  He was the BEST singer!

Singing their hearts out. (All night long!)

I just love this picture.

These boys love their Uncle Colton.

I loved this.  They were both taking a little snooze.

Bowling with the family in Colorado.  My Dad kicked butt!  He won both games!  I couldn't believe it.

I just thought this picture was really cool so I had to share.

Light Parade

I have to say I think this is the first time I have ever been to a light parade before and it was fun.  It is a small town thing so I got my first change to go here in Safford!  It was fun to see all the floats, some were definitely better than others, but it was still fun.  It was short and sweet but at least it got us out of the house for a little while.  I love the Christmas season and this year has been hard just because we don't have a lot of room in our apartment so we haven't put any decorations up.  (Colton said there was no room.)  I assured him there is ALWAYS room for Christmas decorations but he wasn't going for that.  Seeing all the lights did get me a little more in the Christmas spirit.

Hard at Work

I brought lunch to Colton today while he was at work and decided to ride with him for a little while to see what he did.  I quickly found out it took 15 minutes to go from one end of the row to another and all he had to do was turn it around, push a button to line it up, turn the plow over, and then wait another 15 minutes to do it again.  So it wasn't too exciting but it sure beat just sitting at home.  I think Colton really likes this tractor because it pretty much does everything by itself so he doesn't have to do much!  I'm glad he enjoys being on the tractor.

It's that time of year

Grandma has a pecan orchard in her yard and all the nuts are beginning to fall off.  They have been slowly coming off for about a month now but there's a lot more falling now since it is getting colder.  Grandma loves pecans and she loves to work!  Without fail, every time Colton and I go over to visit, you can count on Grandma being outside!  She has about 8 buckets full right now and she will have SO many more to come.  She was telling me every year is different as to how many nuts they get but these pecans are also very pricey.  She said they are about 10 dollars a pound which I couldn't believe!  I never realized how much work nuts are!  She hand cracks ever single nut.  She is just incredible and I love to sit and watch her.  I can't believe she is still working even when she is sitting!  I am sure thankful for all of her hard work so I can get some of those yummy nuts.

Grandma hard at work.

Thanksgiving Weekend

This Thanksgiving Colton and I spent it at my grandparents.  My Grandparents have a pit they always cook their turkey in along with many friends and family in town.  We pulled all the turkeys out, opened the lids to check them, and they weren't done!  They said this had only happened once before in the many years that they have been doing this.  So, we told everyone to put their turkeys in their oven to finish cooking them.  It only took about 2 more hours so it allowed time for us to get everything else ready for the turkey dinner.  We had so much yummy food!  My Mom came for the turkey dinner and brought her friend.  I had a great time spending it with her and my grandparents.  But, then we headed to Donelle's house for some Black Friday shopping!  We went out at 8 pm and let me tell you it took about 10 minutes to get what we needed and then stood in line for an hour in a half!  I'm so glad for a patient husband that stood in line while I roamed the store trying to find more deals! =)  We got him a new church shirt and some shoes and then went home for another big day of fun!  Friday we went shopping for some black boots that I have really been wanting and then we went to the movies to see Frozen with Donelle and her kids.  It was such a cute show!  We don't go to the movies much so it was fun and it was during the day so I figured Colton had really good chances of staying awake!  I just have to say I have a very caring and loving husband and I love that about him.  When Donelle and I would run to the store, Colton would stay home with all the kids and when we got home I found him playing basketball with the boys and pushing the girls outside on the swings.  He is so patient and I love that he loves to do things with her kids.  He is such a good example and I know that he will be a great father someday!

So we went for a bike ride with Donelle and the kids to Dairy Queen and Colton made me do all the work!

The double bike was a big hit!

Playing with the girls.

Playing ball with the boys.

Who knows what they were talking about!

Colton helping with the turkeys for the first time!

Grandma's House

I love to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house and I am so fortunate now to be so close to them.  Colton and I usually go over on the weekends since they have been spending their week in Phoenix for Grandpa's treatments.  Tonight was a Thanksgiving dinner for her ward and she was assigned to bring potatoes, 10 pounds of them!  So, I helped Grandma peel them and I could not believe how fast she could peel them.  I should have taken a picture of our peeled pile and mine wouldn't have even compared to hers.  She is such a hard worker and I look up to her so much.  Every time we go over, we walk in the door, say hi to Grandpa and I'm off to go look for Grandma.  She is always in the yard raking, pulling weeds, or picking up nuts now since they are beginning to fall off the trees.  I am just amazed at how much she does and how fast she works.  She is so inspiring and I am so glad to be with her for the next few years.

Weekend drive

Well once again, Grandpa wanted to get out of the house and go for a drive.  We went around the back side of Mt. Graham to Fort Grant and then to Willcox.  I had never been this way before and it was really pretty.  There was a lot of land and fields to see and it is that time of year where everything is changing colors.  I love the fact that Grandpa just likes to go for joy rides and especially with us.  He tells us all the stories he knows and then usually treats us to dinner.  I love this time that Colton and I get to spend with them and I will always cherish these moments.  It is so amazing to just take your time and see all the beautiful things on this earth.  We are usually in such a rush we don't look around us to see the beautiful scenery. So, I'm grateful for these rides that we get to take to enjoy the land around us!