Lizzy

My niece Liz is going to be 12 years old next week.  I like hanging out Lizzy because she is my psuedo-daughter since I don't have girls.  Lizzy is actually pretty fun to hang out with and I like being around her.  A few things about Lizzy.

                            -when she was little, she was very shy - almost mute.  Now she is very, very loud, outgoing and drama-filled.
                           -when she was little, she was called Elizabeth.  Then, she made her name Lizzie....now it's Lizzy....yea, I know....?
                           -Lizzy is pretty and I think she looks like me (haha)
                           -Lizzy is close with Ben - they were the "first two" and even though they might not see each other for a few weeks, when they get together they are usually find common ground pretty quickly
                           -I feel close to Lizzy because she is the first born girl - just like me!
                           -I am almost always invited to her (huge) all-girl birthday parties to help
                           -Lizzy and I were both gymnasts......not really - I wasn't
                           -If I see a movie without her, that she wants to see, then I "owe" her the movie

Happy Birthday to Lizzy - I am lucky to have you as my niece.  Please come over and stay the night again soon!

3 Stooges

Evan and Jacob have been friends with Ben since Kindergarden!  These three have stuck together through thick and thin!   It's so fun to watch them together and it's amazing how well they all get along.   Evan and Jacob stayed the night last weekend and these three would stay up all night if you let them.  They have such similar interests and when they are not together, they are on the cell phones with each other or on x-box live talking through their headsets.  The photo was just before they walked into a school dance - Jacob was so cute to scoot down since he is super tall.  I am happy Ben has two best friends and I like their moms too - so it all works out!

Water Festival and the Dust Storm

This year's water festival was interesting.  Each year, right after school begins, WTA PTA hosts a water festival - they put a lot of money into it, renting huge blow up water features and a rock wall.  Ben always invites Lizzy (it's tradition) to come along.  It's free admission for the families and this year, due to it being so hot, they had free waters and free popcorn too.  It was going to be a great water day, despite the heat....until the giant Haboob struck!  Suddenly it was "grab your kids, run for your life" - well, maybe not that dramatic, but very similar.  Oh well, we ended up at Cold Stone for ice cream, so the day wasn't a total waste.  30 minutes was better than none at all - and there is always next year!

iphone

I am addicted to my iphone.  I am not saying it's a "problem" per se, it's not like I need a class or anything . . .but I just love my phone!  I can't even say which part I love best...the photos that I take and have stored on it....the games I play....how I can check facebook and my work email at a touch of a button...or how I can face time with Lizzy and the other kiddos at the Phipps house....how I can use Suri if I want to text or find a number if I want...I just love it....not that it's a problem, right?

Boy Cousins

I think this is such a great photo of mine and Lynn's boys!  Alex, Markie, Michael and Ben.  I hope they will all be friends when they are older, and that they will all embrace Alex and watch out of him later in life.  It's so cute because Alex used to be so into Bella a few years ago, but now Alex always asks about Mark and Michael and Michael (formally referred to as the baby, but not one anymore!) always asks for Alex and Ben!  Oh, and Alex still loves his Bella, but he gets a kick out of hanging with the boys!

Sedona mini vacay

My sister and her family have a timeshare in Sedona and they invited us up for a few days in July.  Since Bill had to work, I took the two boys - we always enjoy Sedona with it's (slightly!) cool weather and beautiful red rock views!  The parents were there as well, so it was a pretty busy two days.  We managed to get in some pool time, mini golf, pizza at the Hideaway and general time share vacation relaxing.  . . .it was a nice getaway!

My Bloggy

This is my new bloggy - my old one got bogged down and refused to operate due to the number of photos I had posted over the year!  But now I have a new blog to chronical life according to me!

It's fun to post events in my life and also the life of my family!  I hope you enjoy!