The Pennsylvania Grandparents/ July 2009

My parents had a layover in the Salt Lake airport this past summer. It was a long layover, so we went to visit with them while they waited for their next flight. That long layover sure didn't seem very long... :( But it was so good to see them, even for a short time.

Amazing rainbows/ July 2009

We had some really beautiful rainbows this summer.

Sleepy, sleepy Ari/ July 2009

Ari feel asleep in the tub. Well that just can't be safe!!

My funny Max.

So one night this past week, I was tucking Max in. I was looking into his eyes as I was saying goodnight and I had one of those moments when you feel like you can see into your child's soul. I said to him, "Max, you are such a miracle." He asked what I meant. I told him it was such a miracle that he came to our family and was now part of our family. He then said, "You know what else is a miracle?? That Ari was badder than me today." Hmmm. I suppose that was a miracle, too. :)

Cancun!! June 2009

Our beautiful vacation spot.

Ari twirling on the beach.

Ari ate a marshmallow dipped in chocolate fondue to finish breakfast everyday.

Max after having his face painted in the kids club.

Max playing on the beach.

Ari with her cute humidity-induced curls.

Dinner with our great friends, the Davis'.


Headed home.... :(

Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay

In June, Michael and I did the Wasatch Back Relay. Teams of 12 race (or just run) 188 miles over two days with each person running three legs. So much fun! We are already signed up for next year.




Right before the women started running. The men had already finished their first leg.


The women at the very end of the relay. A big storm was rolling in and it was freezing!



My great running buddy, Robin King, and me in front of the Ragnar bus while waiting for our final runner to come in.

Michael running his third leg (I think...)

Sweet Mia

Mia, our sweet kittie, died in April. We knew she was sick and had to be put down. This was taken the day before. :( We loved that cat.

Ari's third birthday

Sweet little Ari turned 3 in April. She wanted a "Dora" party again... Happy birthday baby girl!

Max loses his first tooth....

So my sweet little boy is growing up... *sniff*... He lost his first tooth the end of March 2009. He got money from the tooth fairy... $1.50. But when he woke up, the dollar bill had fallen off the bed and he insisted he only got .50. There was no convincing him otherwise ("that $1.00 was already there!"), but his parents KNOW that the tooth fairy left $1.50. So then the next tooth that fell out, well he lost that one. So we finally left the tooth fairy a note that the tooth was lost. She left a note that she had found it and left $1.50 again. So then Max got the bright idea that he could just leave notes claiming to have lost teeth and score some dough from the easily-duped tooth fairy. His parents assured him that she would know if he had really lost a tooth or not!

Guitar Hero

Okay, so I admit it, I am a guitar hero addict! Yep, I'm even playing on "hard" now. (Though I CANNOT get through "Knights of Cydonia"....grrrrrr....) So of course, the kids have been tainted by my addiction and show early signs of having a problem themselves... ho hum.

The deer across the street

We often get deer across the street from us (and in our own yard as evidenced by my poor tree that they continue to eat), but this time it was quite an amazing sight because we actually saw two deer with antlers...

During December, when Max asked about the deer, we told him that Santa sent them to spy on him to make sure he was being a good boy... Is that wrong??

Christmas 2008

Max was very excited about the container of plastic bugs from Grandma Morgenegg. Ooooh, so much fun to torment Ari, who is TERRIFIED of bugs.. even the plastic ones!

Ari, enjoying her new reindeer cup from Grandma Morgenegg while her new snowglobe from Grandma Josie plays in the background...

Daddy and Max trying to outdo each other on the new Wii amid all the chaos of Christmas morning...

"Mom, give the camera a rest already! I'm opening presents here!"

Ari LOVED her new doll with high chair, crib, diaper bag..... and all things necessary to play "mommy"

Max's 6th (!!) Birthday

Max picked Chuck E. Cheese for his birthday celebration and invited his friend, Parker, to come along for festivities...

Filling their pie holes...

Opening presents at home after Mr. Cheese's

Daddy and Ari

Visiting with Santa 12/08

This year was no better than last as far as Ari thinking that Santa was anything but some sort of mutant alien life form intent on causing her great distress... She would have NOTHING to do with him....

She did, however, agree to take his candy cane offering.....

Meanwhile, Max had much to discuss with the big guy in red....


And apparently the big guy in red had much to discuss with Max.....