Snow cones are the best part of any carnival-type event.


The hard part is getting the snow cone in your mouth and not dropping it on the ground.

The tongue was a very important part of getting the snow cone to stay on the spoon,

and "Do-it-self" is very important too.


I could follow her trail of ice from the stand to the car.

It was a great day at Schnepf farms.
Snow cone+reptiles=one happy girl!

Chro-to-dile, mom!

The Scottsdale Herpetological society brought their friends to be part of the fun at the London's run event and Maura was in heaven!!! She got to touch a real live chro-to-dile!

She wanted to touch him so badly, it was tough to get a good picture.


There was a friendly tortoise,

and another cold-blooded critter wearing a sweater that was very friendly.


There were also a lot of other reptiles in cages that you could look at (and stick out your tongue at).


Very cool!

London's Run, 1/2 marathon

Two weeks after running in the PF Chang 1/2 marathon, Adam decided to do the London's run too!

We waited with some friends to cheer on the runners from our neighborhood.

We had some yummy kettle corn while we waited.

Adam didn't feel very prepared for it, but did a terrific job and improved his time!

He really picked up the pace when the finish line was in view.

Dallin ran out of the spectator area to run with him the last 50 yards (and I missed getting a picture of it! Bummer).

He had a special shirt made to inspire him.


What a studly looking guy.

Mookster chronicles...

Playgroup was at my house last week. It was so much fun! I was surprised at how well the kids got along and what a good time they had. I was in a crafty mood (go figure) so I hauled out the craft box and we made some bird feeders and some caterpillars. It's amazing how a few pipe cleaners and old egg cartons can keep two year olds busy for such a long time!



Maura loved it!

We strung cheerios on pipe cleaners to hang in trees for birds.


I'm amazed at the Mookster's fine motor skills. She does not take after her mom.


After crafts and play time we sat down for some snacks and a Barbie movie.

I sure do love playgroup! Almost as much as Maura!

PF Chang take two!

Could YOU pick your hubby out of a crowd of 30,000 people? I did this weekend, and it was tough!

Adam ran the PF Chang half-marathon and Dallin and I went to cheer him on. Instead of meeting him at the finish line, we chose the 2.6 mile mark to try and find him. It was much easier to park and find a place to watch, it was just tough to try and spot him in the sea of humanity that streamed by for an hour. Both Dallin and I felt dizzy after about 30 minutes of scanning the faces of the runners, luckily Adam spotted US and gave us a big wave!

He ran with some training buddies, Ruth and Chelsey.



I think Adam should have worn a tu-tu too! It would have made it much easier to spot him.


We got to see him and cheer him on for about 5 seconds,


then off he ran to finish the last 10 miles.

He improved his time by 20 minutes AND he is talking about running the full marathon next year! He's really done a great job of sticking with his running and being careful about what he eats and going to the gym. It really paid off!

Adam, you ROCK!

Mmmmmm, carrots.

I've enjoyed having a garden. I like to be outside planting, weeding, tending and picking. This week we thinned our carrots and used them in our chicken noodle soup. Yummy.


Nothing can beat garden fresh veggies...unless it's a banana-oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie!



Yeah, we made those too. The yum factor is in direct proportion to how messy you get...



Deeeeeelicious!

My Honey

Did I ever mention that I think my hubby is awesome?

He's such a smart guy, he's a great father, a super husband, a terrific provider and a really hard worker.

He worked at some pretty interesting jobs before he graduated from college BUT, he never complained. He just did what had to be done. I really admire him for that.

He's the kind of guy that will do what has to be done even if it means working at Cache Valley Cheese factory. Mind you, he doesn't even LIKE to eat cheese, but he spent several months of our newly-married life riding his bicycle 5 miles in the dark to slice, wrap and process cheese so I could have the car.

Even more amazing than him just doing the job was that he made friends, had a good attitude about it, and had fun.

He went to school at the same time getting super grades and eventually got a Master's degree. He just did what needed to be done.

I'm really proud of him for doing that!

He's pretty amazing...even if he still doesn't like cheese.

Who are these kids?

I've been rifling through some old pictures in a box marked "Bekki" and this is one of the first pictures I picked up.

At first glance I thought the girl on the right might be Maura, then looking at the lovely drapes and the 1970's television I thought again....Hey! That's my sister, Gina!

I think they look a lot alike, but what really clinched it for me was the expression, the one-pony-tail hair and the froofy dress!

So, obviously, the other kid is me. There wasn't a date on the back, but it was taken when we lived in Central, Arizona. That would make me about 4 or 5 and Gina about 2 or 3.

On another note, I've never really been able to recognize myself in any of my kids. I just don't see the resemblance. I can look at other people's kids and see a resemblance to their parents but not my own kids and me....until I found this picture.

I think I look like Garrett! (Or he looks like me-whatever) The pointy chin and cheeks, the ears, and we almost have the same haircut!



Awesome!

I'm not a resolution maker; I'm more of a spring cleaner.

In church yesterday one of the speakers spoke on this kind of topic and it was exactly what I was thinking, I just couldn't put it into words.

I don't sit down and write resolutions each year but I do like to look back over the last year and take stock of what I have accomplished and where I want my life to go from here. I do some mental cleaning of things I want to change and try to make a succinct list of things I want to improve over the next year.

I do write them down where I can take a peek at them to keep myself on track and at the end of the year I usually can find the list and see how well I've done or what I need to work on.

This year I've been mulling over a few things I'd like to clear out of my life, put them in my mental trash can and throw them out. There are a few things I would like to add to my life.

Whew! Done. It's a good clean feeling.

Now, like every other cleaning project, I just have to maintain it...

Monst...I mean Mookster Chronicles continued...

I know that all children at one point or another find the black permanent sharpie and do all kinds of dastardly deeds.

Well, she did.

One afternoon while I was doing...not sure what I was doing....but I hear this little giggle. I follow that cute sound and I find...AAAAKKK!


Maura!! What do you have on you???


Pretty mom.


Yes, pretty... Hold still for the picture.

Guess it was just our turn. *SIGH*

Happy Birthday Teac!

He has his birthday January 1st and sometimes gets lost in the other partying. This year we were lucky enough to be able to help make a really fun birthday cake for him.

There were a lot of helpers decorating the cake and tasting the frosting. Blue and Black...yuck!

Yup, four years old!

He's a happy guy that is a ton of fun to be around.

Happy Birthday from us!

2010

I mean...

Or is it...

or...


I know! It's...


However you say it, I hope you have a happy one!