Ashleigh's in the hospital

For those of you who know my sweet sister Ashleigh (anthonashleigh.blogspot.com) she had surgery early this morning - it was her appendix. She was in horrible pain all day yesterday, fainting from it (you can imagine) and on her second visit to the ER they did a cat scan and located the problem. She's recovering fine in the Mountain Vista Hospital.
Poor, sweet girl! We love you, Ash!

Denver

Denver sent an email accepting Pace into their program yesterday. They're a great school! But Texas Tech's scholarship and study abroad opportunity are too good to pass up (as of now). We aren't thinking he should secure any seat in Denver, but what a blessing it is for Pace to start off the waiting period with a couple good "yeses". (Tiff, you what I mean!) It'll be a comfort if/when any "no's" come his way. :)

Incidentally, we have set a date to visit Lubbock and check out the school next month. It's an 11 hour and 54 minute drive, and Sydney is coming with us. Wow. We are adventurous! Either that or crazy, I'll let you know once we get back...

Sydney Talk

She used to say "ME" when asked what her name is. That was the video I was going for but this is too cute not to post.
I can't get enough of her "baby talk". :)

Now she gets it - quite enthusiastically I might add!

"I'm Sydney! Uh, yeah! I Sydney!"

Lately Syd has grown more and more decided on what she wants, and rather determined to get it right then. She'll wake up from her nap, look at me and demand very clearly, "MILK" (with her outstretched hand squeezing the milk sign at me). When I try to get her down from bed she just shakes her head and says, "No, MILK." Okay, so I bring her some milk. After sipping a bit she is ready to get down, then she looks up at me with her pretty blue eyes and states (as if she has decided), "Baby Signing Time. Yeah! Baby Signing Time", and off she goes into the other room, fully expecting me to be right behind to give her whatever her little heart desires.

I do love the decidedness, I have to admit. It cracks me up sometimes! I just hope she's nice to me once she figures out that she is working me (assuming she hasn't figured it out already...). Kids, ha. They are SMART, aren't they!

Note: Thank you to those who continually inquire about my brother and our family. Still we have no news but do hope that one day that will change and he will be home. Until then, thank you for your thoughts and prayers! They are really appreciated. I will keep you posted...

Be sure and VOTE today, everyone!!

On from our point of view... GO MITT!!

I'm selling my car

Know any interested parties? :)

**It sold in 3 days. Thank you, Craig's List!**

I just listed it last night on Craig's List (click here for add) and got a phone call bright and early this morning. Nothing final yet. I envision either a young low income family in need of a good car or a cool high school student with little money to spend. It's a pretty car but times have changed.

Pass the word!! I have some room for negotiations... :)

Back to school

My Economics class is going well. :)

Sydney and I celebrated my first day back to school with a trip to the salon
where Sydney received her first haircut.

My friend Sabrea works at Le Studio. If you're looking for a new stylist, I totally love her! Sydney wasn't very happy during the cut (I had to hold her in the my arms) but Sabrea managed to calm the mullet. Thank you, Sabrea!

In other news...

has already responded to Pace's application
with a sweet acceptance letter and a scholarship!

Several aspects of Texas Tech make this an appealing offer:
1. Tuition drops to $10k a year (compared to $20-$37k at other schools) Important since he's interested in govn't work, not high paying private firms
2. They have a study abroad program in Seville, Spain!
3. Lubbock has a smaller population (200k) yet they have a temple
4. And yes, Lindz, they have a Target! Plus Texas Roadhouse...
(shopping's important, not that we'll have the money...) :)

Lubbock is in the "panhandle" of TX, nearly two hours south of Amarillo, and like 5-6 hours from every other major city. Pace will wait to hear from the other schools too, but this is a great option and I'm thrilled for him!

Pretty Good...

You Belong in New York City

You're the energetic, ambitious type. And only NYC is fast enough for you. Maybe you'll set yourself up with a killer career Or simply take in all the city has to offer.

What City Do You Belong In?

I may belong in NYC, but I am here, choosing the less materialistic, far more eternally rewarding life of family and motherhood. Although I may struggle with it at times (recently, anyway), I do appreciate my "life in the slow lane".
You can't beat joy, and it's found in every day life with family and friends. That is certain.

However, life in the "slow lane" can include some continuing education... Aleia, you have inspired me! (Just kidding, I have struggled with this decision since I don't know how long) and today I decided to go ahead and start small - I can't bite off so much that an evening of need by my baby would ruin my academic performance = Econ 211 at MCC.

Two nights a week I can let Pace have some alone time with Syd (which is something he has been pining for, sweet daddy) and stretch my financial awareness a tad. I'm excited! Wouldn't it be wonderful to one day finish my degree!! I think so... Wish us luck. :)

Distractions are a beautiful thing

Mom, Syd, Ash, and I at the Zoo....

We all really appreciated the time together, outside in the beautiful weather.

My Mom has suffered a lot over Jared's disappearance, probably more than anyone, I am sure you can imagine. To be honest, if we hadn't lost my other brother Rusty just 3 years ago, I don't think Jared's disappearance would throw up so many red flags. But it does, and we are worried.

But scared we are not, for we are assured of one thing: ultimately, he will be alright. Whether alive or gone, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will all be alright. Personally I think he just moved, had a tough few year's beginning with Rus's death and ending with serious financial troubles and emotional instability. However, no news is good news and we do have hope!
That's our update...

PS - My Mom is amazing. The crutches are a result of a life-threatening blood disease she was diagnosed with at the age of 29. She lived in Brazil at the time and was treated with massive doses of steroids. Unfortunately the medicine ended up crippling her joints, but the blood disease was defeated and to this day she is still walking, which is amazing (many miracles she has been a recipient of in her life). Her faith and testimony bless us everyday.
I love her so much!

My brother is missing

Please say prayer. Our family is really worried. He was last seen in Pinetop/Lakeside on 12/21 at a cabin there he had been remodeling. He may have relocated but we have no way of knowing for sure, or contacting him, nor has he contacted any of us since then. To just disappear like that (around the holidays??) - it's crazy, plus really alarming. We are searching, along with the police, in both Scottsdale and Pinetop (attached is a flier my sister made). Aweful feeling. Again, pray for us. His name is Jared.

Merry Christmas

I haven't been blogging lately - spending more of my time running around, as I'm certain you all are too. I wanted to catch up on what's been happening here (a little more words than pictures this time):

Tracy - You may have noticed the picture of one of my sisters that has been staying here with us in our Halloween post... She's still here, struggling with major health issues. We are trying to help her get the aide (medical and government) necessary to allow her a life on her own. It's hard, she has pneumonia pretty consistently, plus a variety of other major ailments. We hope that mid-January she will be able to move to Utah near her kids and start again. Wish us luck. :)

Health - We count this as a major blessing! After last year's continuous battle with cold/flu bugs, (Sydney & I passing them back and forth) we have been praying mightily that we would be albe to stay healthy this winter. And so far, we have. One day Syd had a fever, not too bad. We are so grateful. Oranges! Lots and lots of oranges.

Pace - We had him here a little more last week since his folks took a vacation (slow season for pest control), which we ENJOYED. Now it's back to the grindstone... Last month he did send out his law school applications to UofA, ASU, TX Tech & BYU. The deadline for the majority of the schools to respond is around May of next year, so there's still some time. However, he did sign a binding early decision agreement with UofA = he'll have an answer THIS MONTH (could be yes, no, or we'll let you know come May). Nail biting times - kidding. We feel peace about it. He'll end up where the Lord wants him to be, we are certain. As of late he just got a new calling to be the Assistant Scout Master & Assistant Deacon's Quorum adviser- which he'll love. Merry Christmas, Pace! You get to go camping once a month! Hurray!

Syd - Whew. She keeps us busy. Her new craze is pulling up (make that, having us pull up) clips from youtube.com for 30 mins at a time. She loves the screaming frog, the aggressive turtle chasing cats out of his garden, and the monkey who taunts tigers in the jungle. It's hilarious. She is delighted when we adhere to her demands for "Fog!" or "Mon-tey" on the computer, but boy does she throw a fit if/when we don't. Terrible two's are just up ahead, you know it. Anyway, she's a growing girl, getting tall and thinning out (not such a baby anymore)... We absolutely love her. :)

What do I do? I just got released from Gospel Doctrine, now I am the Enrichment Leader. Fun, fun... Pray for me - I don't do as well as a group/team player. I'm much better on my own... (we all need to grow now don't we). :) ...I am nervous a lot - must be the impending doom of student life and tremendous debt law school affords. Plus the inevitable move... :) Laugh with me - I am THRILLED with my road ahead! Just nervous, that's all. Very common.

One of my new year's resolutions is to be better with posting to our blog. More open... wish me luck. :) I enjoy reading your's - keep the good lines rolling. Merry Christmas!

It's cold out there...

at least for Arizona.
I turned the heat on today.

Am I a pansy or what :)

Today I am especially thankful for...

In-laws with a fun backyard - helps to keep our girl sane :)
And Arizona's gorgeous Thanksgiving weather!

Lily - Syd's favorite female playmate and neighbor.
Happy 1st birthday, Lily!

Siblings who make life fun! (Did I mention I have 14?)

My youngest brother Peter teaches Syd to ride a skateboard, She loves him!

Hair that's finally long enough for ponytails and pigtails - I just love her chubby cheeks and neck!

Christmas decorations!
The banister is my favorite upgrade for this very reason...

Lights off, lights on... :) We love FROSTY!
Happy Holidays!!

The Phoenix Zoo

Pace and I took Sydney for the first time to the Zoo last Saturday, and then (because we have a year pass - best present I have ever received, thank you to my CHASE co-workers!) Ashleigh and Tracy and I went back on Veteren's Day! Here are a few of the things we saw and did...

I had to put a few video's on here:

"Tiger! Raaoooor! Meow!"

Sydney "Getting Her Wild On"
before the show starts...

We sat down early at the Wild Things Show, very front row.
The trainers asked me to be the "adult volunteer" and told me I would be feeding a baby bird.
PS - For those of you who read my previous post about athleticism, this proves my point - I really am not athletic. Ha! (3rd time's charm, though)...

"Open your eyes, Sydney, the bird's gone!"
It flew right over our heads... Hilarious! Freaked poor Sydney out.

Happy Halloween!

My sister Tracy & Sydney enjoying a Halloween treat

Tracy is staying with us for a while. It's nice having her here!

Here's our little pumpkin - in a tutu :)
Baby Roo is actually Luke, Sydney's first "boy-friend" (besides her cousins). :) Since they were barely crawling they'd both scream and play excitedly when they'd see each other. He's a doll!

Our friend Ronnie made this costume - we loved it!



I love this video! It's pretty dark, but Luke and Sydney are running around, Sydney's just laughing a ton, then she stops suddenly and points -

"SPONGEBOB!"