Packing Boxes for the Marines over seas

Bridget and I went to Tempe with Don and Joanne from Mesa Regal to pack boxes for the Marines that are serving our country. What a privilege it is to do something so little, that will brighten their day. We packed socks, crew shampoo, batteries, food, Christmas card and some other misc. things. We only had enough supplies to pack 32 boxes, but Bridget is going to see if she can collect some supplies so we can pack more next time. We had alot of fun. And I hope Bridget will feel the need to serve her community in this and other ways as she gets older. It was a fun time.

Halloween 2010

Shalynn was a Princess this year for Halloween.







She is actually a Princess everyday all year round. She loved the props at Mesa Regal this year.








Bridget and Austin helped out with the ward Trunk or Treat this year. Austin must have been a good help because I only got home with one picture of him.

Shalynn was such a big girl at her first dental appointment!








They even let her wear the cool sun glasses!

Summer fun

We have really enjoyed our backyard pool. Shalynn thinks she should be able to swim instead of taking a bath. She is fearless,
and enjoys playing with her dad and brother.

Shalynn thinks everything needs to be faster--higher--scarier!! I am really afraid she is going to be my trial in life. Every year she makes the other two look alittle more mellow. Never thought we would ever say that about Austin, but I think she is going to be worse.

Poor girl always has butt hanging out.


Either she is a dare devil or she just really trusts her family.

Austin looks like batman with his goggles on. He was telling me that one side of the goggles were alot clearer than the other. Then he poked the goggle on the side that was clearer. He found out real quickly that when the plastic is missing it's alot clearer on that side.

He also found out that it hurts when you poke yourself in the eye. He is so blonde sometimes. And we have always thought that Bridget was the airhead....Maybe it runs in the family.




Austin is really growing up. I was looking at pictures of him from just three years ago and his looks have really matured.


He thinks he looks more manly now!





These are pictures of him just three years ago. Ok I am sure the weight thing makes him look alittle different. But around my house we say weight makes you look buffer..

Austin is 14

I can't believe how fast time goes. It seems like Austin should still be my baby boy who loved to get rocked to sleep every night. I have really enjoyed watching him grow up. We are just hoping he will sprout soon, he is 5'7 but that is short for his dad's family.



Austin this year will be in the 8th grade. He will hopefully be playing basketball, baseball, and football. He is getting really good at doing tricks on his bike and he enjoys hanging out at the skate parks. He has learned alot of hard lessons this summer. One of which is you really need to be careful while picking friends. He has a good heart and its hard to realize that not everyone does. He is a sweet boy and we are so blessed to have him in our family.





OK Austin does have a point I do go to extremes when it comes to his hair cuts, but who knows when his next one will be. I promise not to go to short next time.

Oklahoma City Trip

I had the opportunity to go to Oklahoma City with Bridget. We had a lot of fun. We arrived in Oklahoma a day before the rest of her team so we decided to catch an extra College World Series Game. We watched University of Arizona play. Unfortunately they lost, but after the game Bridget was able to talk with the pitcher. I forgot her name but you would have thought Bridget had just met Taylor Swift. (Bridget said her name is Kenzie Fowler) She just beamed it was good to see her so happy. I loved all the time we got to spend together, it was like hanging out with a friend instead of my little girl. I guess that's what they mean when they say "Your little girls grow up to be your best friend." I was very grateful to have an opportunity to spend time just me and her. Although I do think we got a little picture happy.


Bridget looks for any photo opportunity. We were both hoping that U of A would take the series. UCLA won the College World Series. But we put up a good fight. Go U of A!!!





I didn't realize that the Oklahoma City Bombing was 15 years ago. I couldn't understand why Bridget didn't remember it happening. Then while in the memorial I realized that Bridget would have only been one years old. But she got a history lesson anyway. This museum is worth seeing. Not only did we go through it with the Hawaii College Softball Team (which Bridget thought was better than anything in the museum) but it was done so well you really felt like you were there when it happened. The only down fall was that you wouldn't take pictures inside. Yes, I cried all through the museum. It just kills me to know that people lost loved ones in the bombing.


There are two of these big structures on each end of the grounds with infinity water pool between them. On one it says 9:01 and the other 9:03 representing the minutes before and after the bombing. Its amazing what can happen in a minute.



There is a chair for every person that lost their life in the bombing on the grounds of the museum. Each chair has the name of the person it represents on it. I think the saddest ones are the little tiny chairs that had the names of the babies that died in the day care on the day of the bombing.



On the outside of the memorial people have put up little things that remind them of loved ones lost or just little notes just saying that they will never forget those lost in the bombing. Bridget had to read almost every note before we could move on...





We rode on our first trolley together. It's amazing what we had the guts to do when we are together. Everyone knows we do not go anywhere without our main protector...Richard... So this was a new experience for both of us. And we are still alive and well. We had so much fun who knows where we will be off to next.


Good News....Even when I have no idea where I am, I can always find a Sonic! It's like they just call to me. Bridget thought it was funny that we went all the way to Oklhahoma City to eat lunch at Sonic.







When the Dsesert Genz finally got to Oklahoma the fun started. There were some girls on the team that we really got to know while there. Bridget, Mallory, Emily, Dee, and Nicole had alot of fun together. They listened to ipods on the bus on the way to they're game. I don't think that had any part of them loosing so bad. I personally think it was bad decisions by the coach.



They thought that after dark they turned into Charlie's Angels. Thank goodness they knew what that was so I didn't have to explain. It hard when you still feel like your their age but little things like tv shows can really put you back in your era.





Who would have ever thought that Bridge would have grown up so fast. She is such a sweet, beautiful young lady. I'm so proud of her. Love ya Bridge!!

What will Shalynn wear today?

I remember when the big kids were little, the big debate every morning was what they would wear that day. Well with Shalynn, it's a little bit different. There is no fight about what I put on her in the morning, because after about ten minutes it always ends up the same way. (Same pink dress, and fancy plastic shoes!) She is even to smart for her own good. We used to hide it after we washed it, but now she stands in front of the washer machine and waits for it.