Railroad Park Lights

This year we were able to make it to the Railroad Park's Christmas light display. It's been years since I've gone and was impressed with all the lights they had. Going to the park always brings back so many special memories of my Papa and all the times we spent at the park growing up. I'm so grateful that I can continue these wonderful memories with our own kids and they can have that special connection with Papa when riding his trains.

Waiting to ride the carosel

All aboard! The kids loooooved Christmas lights this year and they were so amazed to see the light displays from the train. The tunnel was my favorite, because coming out they had snow falling on you!


They had every character you can think of at the park. Big Freeman was calling down Elmo and Cookie monster to come take pictures with are boys since Nate loves Elmo. Well, Nate didn't love this Elmo and was scared out of his mind. And like I said before, there were these characters all over the park so he would hide right behind my legs even while walking around.

Another character we saw (pretty sure we saw) was Larry Fitzgerald from the Cardinals. We weren't sure if it was him so of course we had to walk by to get a closer look. Well, Freeman walks by all casually, and then there is me who when I walk by and he looks at me I have this huge crazy smile on my face and give him the "what's up nod." (I was excited because he's my favorite player)

So it was an enjoyable night for all of us and can't wait to go again next year!

Grandma Donna's visit

My mom flew out from St. Louis to see Preston for the first time

and to also celebrate Nate's 2nd birthday.

Here are some pictures from her visit.

Nate blowing out his 2 candles at Island's.

Grandma D and Freeman at the restaurant
Nate loves to look at books when he goes to bed and if you look closely he actually fell asleep reading... the book is on his face!

Freeman Jr. doesn't like it when dad leaves for work so this is one of his barricades that he put up. He was sitting in it and actually surprised Freeman when he was getting ready to leave. We think it's pretty funny, but Freeman Jr. is serious about it and get's upset when Dad gets by his wall/barricade.

Preston just hanging out.

Grandma and boys enjoyed the ride they just took at the Railroad Park



Phoenix Zoo

Grandma and the boys at the petting zoo.

I loved watching Nate being so careful and having to brush every goat in sight.

Zebras! It was feeding time and we had a nice view of them.

Ahhh... A sweet brotherly moment

Preston at 2 months

He started smiling this week and I was trying to catch it on film

Grandma Donna pushing Nate on the swings.

The kids loved playing with her at the playground. I truly wish I had a picture of my mom tumbling backwards off the teter totter and covered with wood chips. We had a good laugh about that moment. :)

Here we are hiking on a trail near Verrado. Yes, Freeman is carrying a sword. He brought it to protect us from Mountain Lions and bears. My mom pointed out some animal tracks, and after that, any indention in the ground had to be analyzed and assigned an animal. We didn't get very far on our hike.

Freeman Jr. wanted to not only pee off this rock, but wanted to pose and have me take goofy pictures.

10 years ago..

So it's been 10 years ago since Freeman and I first met.

Here is our story...

It was my first week of college at Scottsdale Community College, and I was hanging out with my sister and her friends in the cafeteria. I looked behind me and saw the cutest guy ever, playing pool with some guys. He had dark hair, amazing eyes, great smile, and had freckles. I told my sister that I thought he was so cute and she was all, "Oh, that's Idaho. I can introduce you guys tomorrow." So this wasn't like me at all to chase after a guy, but I felt like I had to meet him.

So the next day, I waited 2 hours in the cafeteria for my sister (turned out she had a lab she forgot about) I was sitting at one of the tables and this guy, Jason, comes up and starts flirting with me and trying to pick me up. I saw the cute guy walk into the room, and told Jason, "that I wasn't interested in him and that I was actually waiting around to meet that guy over there." He turned around and laughed and said, "You don't want to date that guy, he's Mormon!" And I said, "Well, those are the best guys to date!" So anyway, Freeman walks up and says, "Jason, why don't you ever introduce me to the pretty girls?" He smiled and walked away. My sister finally shows up with her friends after that.

A few minutes later, Freeman walks up and announces that he was tired of losing to everyone in pool and he needed to beat someone. My sister told him that I stunk at pool (not true, we had a pool table at home) and volunteered me. Well we had a great time playing and I did beat him in pool. We exchanged numbers and he told me he'd called me. Well, I left for work and when I got home he called and asked me out on a date for that night. So we went to Fiddlesticks at Scottsdale Pavillions and played minature golf (I hit some live rodent living in one of the holes, and still beat him) We went over and saw the dumbest movie ever (Eye of the Beholder). And yes we had our first kiss. Oh, let me rearrange the last part. Before the previews even started Freeman made his move and kissed me!

So that is the story of our first day and I can't believe I truly married my dream guy. I think he is the funniest guy ever, and can always find humor in any situation. He is my best friend and will always be.

Nate's 2nd Birthday

Welcome to Nathan's Street!

Our Nate loves Elmo so we threw him a Sesame Street Birthday!

We had the letter of the day: N

Number of the Day: 2

And sang songs, colored, and played games. We all had so much fun and Nate loved all his new presents... and became very protective over them too. (I think the word "Mine" entered his vocabulary that same day...)

Kate & Nate + 8

Yes, Best Friends Forever, these two are so cute together

What Up, I'm 2!
Cousin Miley, Nate, and Katelyn

The whole birthday crew

Megan holding our little Preston

Cousin Robby

Nate checking out a new Batman Backpack

Duck Hunt

Ernie and Burt lost their ducks so the kids are helping them find them.

Happy Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009

Family Picture of us all dressed up.

For those of us who has known us over the years...

Yes, this is our 6th year in a row as Cowboys

Here is a pretty convincing Spiderman... but it is really Freeman Jr.

Nate had is face painted at our ward's Trunk or Treat

This is a wierd expression, I think he was just tired.

Nate, Pierce, Laif & Freeman

These are one of our boys best friends.

Guessing which cup the candy is under.


FHE Activity

For one of our family home evenings we all painted pumpkins.

(these were the pumpkins picked from our preschool fieldtrip)

Left: Nate's

Right: Freeman Jr. (Isn't that creepy coming from a 3 year old?)

Preston hanging out.

He didn't feel like dressing up, just watching some Halloween specials on TV...

Here are the boys going trick or treating in our neighborhood.

They were so cute saying "trick or treat" & Nate just growling at everyone.