Buddy Walk

This is our sweet niece Addi. We went to Arizona last weekend to join her for the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome. Her dad Steve designed the best t-shirts and we all went to a park in Phoenix and joined many other families with Down Syndrome children. Despite being over 100 degrees, it was such a fun event. They had all kinds of fun activities for kids. The kids had a blast! It was such a great experience to celebrate these sweetest of all children. You can't help but to fall in love with them.


The kids loved climbing the rock wall. Thanks Uncle Cody for being teaching them. They were the fastest kids up that wall!

Team Addi

New York

Todd and I spent a weekend in New York to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Our anniversary is in February but we waited until Sept. because I was still nursing Lola. New York is amazing! We stayed 1 block off Times Square. Times Square is crazy. At any given time of the day it was crowded and busy. I loved to just sit and people watch.
We visited St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was beautiful amongst all the big square high rises.

We spent time in Central Park. It's so nice and calming in the middle of all the craziness.
No, we didn't see the show but Todd was happy just to see the theater.
Todd grew up watching the movie Bye Bye Birdie. When he heard the Broadway Show was playing in New York he really wanted to see it. I was fine seeing it because it starred John Stamos. Come on, you know Uncle Jesse is hot!

Our hotel was right next to the Midtown Fire Station. Nine years later people are still leaving flowers in memory of those who died in 9-11.

We visited St Paul's Chapel. It is right across from Ground Zero. The graveyard was covered in debris for along time after 9-11. The chapel was used as a makeshift hospital following the act of terror. It was a place of refuge and peace. I'm generally not an emotional person but I could not stop the tears.
Ground Zero
The Brooklyn Bridge
We walked from one end of Manhattan to the other. We ate lunch in Chinatown. The food was good but the streets stunk like rotten fish. If Todd looks mad in this picture it is because I couldn't help but to keep repeating how bad it smelled!
Little Italy was celebrating some kind a saint day. It was insane! We were wishing we had waited to eat there! Who can pass up some yummy Italian food while sitting next to some guy who looks like he belongs on The Sopranos?
After eating cheesecake every night at midnight I gained 3 pounds. It was worth every bite!
The Empire States building
We went to sacrament meeting at the chapel inside the temple. Unfortunately, I forgot my skirt so it was the first time I've ever attended church in my jeans. After meeting some of the families in the ward that are attending Columbia University I felt very grateful to live in San Diego where my children have open space and green grass to play on.
We took a row boat out for spin in Central Park.
Me and Al Roker
We took a harbor tour and saw the Statue of Liberty.
The End!

Back to School

Ashton and Kye started school last week. They are both loving their new classes.
One of the kids favorite friends Aila. She is that rare friend who plays well with both Ash and Kye. We love her to death!
Kye's new teacher, Miss Flener. She taught 1st grade last year and Kye spent time in her class for art. He was so excited when he found out she was going to be his new teacher. It also helps that she is so cute. I think he may have his first crush.
Ashton's new teacher, Mrs. Thomas. Ash says she is sometimes strict and sometimes funny, just what Ashton needs!
PS Thanks for the beautiful blue eyes Grandma Cheryl! I love it when the gene pool works in your favor!

Fashion Show

We had a back to school fashion show at our house. Ashton had us all sit down and watch as she modeled some of her new school clothes. She is such a little diva. She made me turn on the fan so her hair would blow in the wind!

What was I thinking?

My two good friends Amy, Jamie and I agreed to be in charge of our 15 year class reunion. What were we thinking? It was a TON of work. Not to mention that we've all moved out-of-state since high school. We had fun planning it and it turned out to be a great event. We had it at Jamie's parent's greenhouse. It's beautiful there. It was so fun to see our old classmates and to catch up. After 15 years everyone just seemed really interested in getting to visit with each other and all the silly high school clicks were forgotten. It was a fun weekend but I'm glad it's over!




The night before, our classmate had all the families out for a bbq at his farm. The kids had a blast!

Summer

Lola's first ponytail's. My baby's growing up!

I can't think of anything quite as nice as a summer evening in Utah.

The Collector

My dad has always been a collector of "things". He used to collect animal mounts. (Growing up I thought a home wasn't complete without some dead animals on the wall.) He also collects guns and horses. His latest obsession is old muscle cars. He has several of them. This is his first "finished" car. It is a '68 AMX (American Motors Xperiment). It is way fast! I think he feels 18 when he drives it. While we were in Utah he put it in the Payson Onion Days Car Show.