Happy Halloween to all You Ghouls and Goblins!

Have a safe and enjoyable Halloween!

Day off for Fishing!

On Friday (24th) Doug took the day off of work so he and I could go fishing. We haven't had much opportunity to do that this year. Well, Kristi wanted to go so we let her tag along! It was up in the nice cool mountains. What a beautiful day it was - and very relaxing too.

We brought home 7 nice trout - threw back 4 (too small). So, it was a fairly successful day too.

Kristi enjoying herself. Well - I think she was. Does she look happy to you?
The man with the controls!

On the way home we stopped at one of our favorite places to eat in Payson - the Beeline Cafe. It isn't a big place - pretty small - and one of the old time places there. The food is good - you get a lot - and pretty inexpensive. All my kids love to stop there too. So, the next time you go to Payson, stop and try it. It is on the main road as you head to Mesa, next to Big O tires and across from Chile's.

Fall Block Party

On October 18th our street had its annual Fall Block Party. It is so much fun for the kids. Our street is great with the activities they have for all the kids. Here are ALOT of pictures from it.

It was just me, Kristi, Dani, Carson - and my granddaughter EmmaLee who went. That's okay - they are the ones who enjoy the parties the most anyway!

Here they are getting ready for the hayride. Carson wasn't sure about it at first, then really enjoyed himself. Can you believe it is an October evening and kids are still in shorts?

Dani bobbing for apples. She put her head down quickly and one bob - had an apple! Dang she was good - got wet, but good!

All EmmaLee wanted to do was go- go-go. She wasn't very happy with me when I had a neighbor hold her for a second to get her picture. She has the hat and glow stick from the fireman that came.

The Firemen let all the kids shoot the water hose. What a hit that was! Here's Kristi helping EmmaLee with the firehose. They had cones set up for the kids to try and knock over - and of course the neighbor kids had to be there to try and get wet too!

Dani enjoying herself!

Selena (neighbor) held Carson. He enjoyed watching, but didn't want to do it himself. Silly boy.

There were three naked scarecrows - which the kids had teams for a contest of dressing them up in a short amount of time. There was a box of items to choose from to dress your scarecrow.

Dani with the scarecrow she helped dress.

Little miss EmmaLee. Isn't she cute! (and I'm not prejudiced at all being the grandma!)

The Mesa Swat team also came with their swat vehicle. They let the kids get inside the front and back. Here is my crew looking out the top.

The also had a pumpkin decorating contest. I'll have to get pictures of the ones Dani and Kristi decorated. Dani made hers into bats and Kristi did a mummy pumpkin. Kristi won - but they both did a really good job!

4th picture - 4th folder tag.

Let's see - first it was the tag from Jo, then Jana, now Danette. Guess I better do it too!

This is the 4th picture in the 4th folder in "My pictures"

Carson last April enjoying his 1st popsicle at a friends house.

So - all of you other out there - Tag!

Old Yet?

You know you're getting old....when, after you get it all together, you realize you'd do better if you took it apart. ..........when you get a little winded while brushing your teeth. ............when you reach the age when you know all the answers but nobody asks any of the questions.....................when your crow's feet need orthopedic shoes..................when your appendix scar hits your knee...................While sitting in a rocking chair you have difficulty in getting it started.................when you get out of the shower, you're glad the mirror's fogged up..........................when you get up in the morning and you have one shoe on and one shoe off and you can't tell whether you are getting up or going to bed. So - are you getting old yet?

These were from a talk I ran across by Paul H. Dunn. He was one of my favorite speakers when I was younger (like a teenager/young adult). He was a member of the first Quorom of the Seventy's. Here are a couple of other things he said (which he got from his dad)

"Remember, one day for church, six days for fun. Odds on going to heaven - six to one."

"Whenever I pass our little church I like to linger for a visit, so that when I'm carried in, the Lord won't say,'Who is it?

Have a great day today!

Birthday Party!

A couple of weeks ago, our really good friends, Debby and Gary Black came down to celebrate their grandson's first birthday - Zane. We were lucky enough to be invited to the party.

Here's the birthday boy - Zane.

Carson enjoying some of the cake.
EmmaLee too!
The party was at Katrina and Tim's apartment complex by the pool. Dani, Kristi and Carson enjoyed themselves swimming. (it was so dark trying to take the pictures. I had to point my camera and just shoot. I couldn't see anything I was pointing it at and just hoped it would turn out!)

Here's Dani!
Doug, Gary, Jeremy and Jo enjoy visiting (and having some of the homemade rootbeer we made for the party. Yum!)
Jo and EmmaLee.
We loved having Debby and Gary here staying at our house and really enjoyed staying up late at night playing Rook. We have missed them so much since they moved - and missed our fun Rook games!

Concert Time!

Jason had his first concert for his Westwood High School Men's Choir. As a sophomore - you are either in Men's Choir or Women's Choir. If you are good enough as Junior/Senior - you get to move up to Honor Choir. Jason is really looking forward to that! Westwood has one of the better high school choirs in the state of Arizona. Jason has a great bass voice. I love to sit by him and hear him sing. It reminds me of my growing up years and sitting by my dad in church. He had a great bass voice.

We were sitting in the back of the auditorium and it was hard getting a picture of Jason. He is partially hidden in the one photo I did get.
I am really looking forward to many more wonderful concerts in the future!

Hats off (or on) to Carson

Carson loves hats - any kind. He is always putting them on. Here are a few pictures of him in his "hats"!

He found Dani's bicycle helmet and had fun trying it on! Everytime he gets on his little truck - he has to wave good-bye to us before he takes off.
His fireman hat - trying to get it on right.
He was playing ball with Dad. The green thing in his hand was his bat. He would pretend to hit the ball and take off running - then run back and start all over again. This kid absolutely loves baseball - watching it on TV and trying to play it himself!

He even had his hat out in his kiddie pool.
Carson thinks he is funny by climbing up in the swing and starting it. He won't stay in it very long - just likes to play with it. I think it is time to put the swing away! And yes - it is another hat!
Just a few random shots of Carson doing other things.
Here he is after finding a piece of chocolate cake that had been thrown away. Does he look like he enjoyed himself? (At least the cake was still in a container and hadn't touched any of the other gargabe when he found it!)

Carson usually loves his bathes. But, this day he decided he didn't want one and went and laid down in the hallway instead.

Cool dude!
After church one Sunday Kendall put his tie on Carson.
I told you before how Carson will watch is Disney's "Three Little Pigs" on youtube. (It's the only thing he will watch besides baseball - and sometimes Sesame Street) Kristi put in on my ipod so Carson could watch it while we were camping a few months ago. It was the only way to get him to lie down to take a nap!Here is Matt and Carson enjoying watching "Three Little Pigs" (Carson isn't the only one who likes it!)
Just a few photos of the life and times with Carson. He keeps us all entertained and busy!

(Is he spoiled yet?)

Celebrating Kris' Birthday

Kris came over Sunday evening to have a small celebration for his birthday. For some reason he wouldn't sit in the "birthday chair". I guess he would rather sit by Mikel on the couch - imagine that! He had an earlier celebration with his family and Mikel - so the presents were sparce at this one. He got some popcorn he really likes and a camo shirt, and some money to buy a hat he wants. (I wasn't sure which one he wanted so he can go get it himself!)

Here he is with Mikel and his presents.

He didn't want a cake - so Mikel made him brownies instead. Brownies go good with homemade ice cream.
Caron was upset because he wanted to open the presents. Is he getting a little spoiled yet?
Happy -late - birthday Kris. We like having you around.

More Mischief Making

Carson is just been full of - well - you can fill in the blank.

Last night - I was in my bedroom taking care of a few things. Doug had left to go back to work to get some things done. Jason, Kristi, Dani and Carson were all in the family room area - or so I thought. When I went to check on everyone - this is what I found.

Somehow Carson had gotten into my cupboards (which have magnetic locks on them) and pulled out a brand new opened can of oatmeal. It was EVERYWHERE!
He was picking it up and throwing it, having a fun 'ol time. Of course, I had to hurry and get my camera.
After throwing it - he started using it as a slip/slide. More fun for him - oatmeal spread out even farther for me to clean.. When I showed Doug these pictures, he told me Carson is going to think this is all funny - because I take pictures instead of getting mad at him right away. What do you think? Pictures or an immediate time-out?

By the way - keep an eye on Jo's blog (family or photography, not sure which). She is going to put another one of Carson's mischief tricks he did at her house today while she was babysitting him for me while I went to physical therapy for my knees. Yea - he's on a roll!

Big Time Mischief!

What a troublemaker this little kid was today! And no - this pictures was from last month at a happier time! First it was just little things - spilling my big cup of ice and water all over, making a mess at lunch, pulling things off the counters, (and more)- just the normal, everyday mis-haps that little hands make - especially Carson. Then - it happened. Somehow, somewhere he got a hold of a bottle of gun cleaning solvent (blame his Dad) - and poured it out on my bedroom set, my bed/pillows, everywhere. What a mess - and what a smell! I stripped my bed, cleaned up my bedroom set (which it took off the varnish) - and my room still stinks. It's giving me a headache. Then, tonight when we went to start the humidfier - we find all sorts of things he dropped down into the fan. Good thing we had that talk at conference about laughing at yourself and other things when they happen. Good thing I love my son. Good thing he is so dang cute most of the time!

Clear All Sidewalks!

Today was the big day - Jason got his driver's permit. He even passed the written exam on his 1st try! Congratulations Jason! I'll have to be sure and let everyone know when he is going to be driving, so you can be sure and not be on the streets or sidewalks! It also means white knuckles and gritting teeth for me. It seems like I have been through this a few other times - you would think I would be used to it by now!

Handbag Anyone?

Hey, if you go to this website - http://www.handbagplanet.com/ -you can register to win a free handbag. They're cute. You should go and check it out. Why? Because you like handbags either for yourself or a gift for a friend - or just because you like winning free stuff! Thanks Karen for getting "word" out!

A Day of Fun?

Saturday was a Prepardness Fair at Bass Pro Shops. They had all sorts of things - booths, seminars, etc - both inside and outside. We went and visited some of the booths, got a lot of information and just walked around. (Doug just looked at the hunting/fishing stuff and at the Toyota vehicles they had on display. His kind of store!)

There were a few costumed people there - which Carson really DID NOT like!

First up - was Smokey the Bear, who scared him to death when he patted him on the head!

Hmmm - I wonder how he'll like all the costumes at Halloween this year?

Still scared when he saw the Chick Filet cow! Not bothering EmmaLee though.
Even scared of McGruff the Crime Dog!
Outside was a great big 6,000 gallon tank with catch and release fish for kids 12 and under.

EmmaLee caught a fish! Here she is with Jeremy and Jo.
Carson was more interested in watching the fish - not catching them!
In the big Emergency Response truck - well, a firetruck type vehicle.
Carson, EmmaLee and Kristi in one of the many helicopters they had there.