Bump goes the......

Well, you know how sometimes things in life just get so good that you have to be reminded that life isn't always fair and that we have to be tried for a reason??? That day came on Tuesday as Rusty was driving to work! Everyone involved is fine, no injuries, but some badly beat-up cars! To make a long story short Rusty and the guy in front of him were both ticketed, but Rusty really isn't at fault for the other two people in front. It's crazy! The guy in front of him is lying and being a jerk trying to get us to be responsible for everything but...we will see! I can say that I am just really grateful that everyone was ok! That is a phone call that a wife or mother never want to get! Oh, and I guess I am really grateful now that we spend a lot of money a month on car insurance!

Hilarious!

Check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWBaphfXSRk

I was getting ready tonight, and all I heard was Rusty laughing as hard as he could! Bad carrots will kill ya!

GO SUN DEVILS!!!!

Just wanted to write a quick note and tell everyone that Rusty and I just purchased our season tickets for ASU football! We are so excited to have almost every Saturday night planned already! Just kidding, we both love football and can't wait for the season to start! If you are interested in where to find a good deal, let me know and I can get you the number!

2008 Easter Pagent

I just have to say, Arizona rocks all the time, but this time of year is just awesome! We went to the Easter pageant last night, and of course, it was about 70 degrees outside! The whether was awesome and my favorite part, the orange blossoms in the air! That smell is my favorite ever! I have tried so many candles to find that smell and no matter what they just don't quite get it right. We met our Young Men and Young Womens groups there and it was a packed house! I am so grateful to work with the youth in our ward! This calling has definitely taken more time and thought and prayer than any calling I have ever had, but it is totally worth it for things like last night. Most of our ward sat in the grass on blankets so the kiddos could play, but a few of the youth came up to sit with Rusty and I and a few other on the chairs. (We got there early and got really good seats.) Four of my young women were sitting behind me, and as the pageant started, there was a group behind us that I don't think were to "into" this whole thing. They began laughing and talking really loud and making fun of the program. I was really proud to turn and see one of my young women (very politely) ask them to stop and that she was here to listen and watch. They continued to pester them all night! I didn't know that it continued all night or I would have said something, but I am so proud of those four girls. They could have caused a seen or been really mean but they didn't. They sat and tried to enjoy and feel the spirit. I learn all the time from the youth that they are so much more capable of achieving great things if we set the bar high and expect it! We have some great girls! Anyways, the night was great and the spirit was so strong. They must have changed the program since I had seen it last because it isn't quite the same, but I loved it! The music is great and it is awesome to see so many saints gathered together! I encourage anyone, if you are even thinking about it, please go! Your kids will love it and it's a great tool to teaching them the story of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for his sacrifice and willingness to put me above his own suffering and pain, that I might live again! What an amazing thing it is to have the gospel, huh?

Go RoadRunners!

No, I'm not from Holbrook, but I did get to go see my first hockey game! It was awesome! The Roadrunners are the minor league team (if they call it minor league in hockey, i dunno?)for the Phoenix Coyotes. Rusty and I, along with the Mayhews, got to go and see the game last Friday night. It was so much fun! There weren't a lot of people there which just means that you aren't sharing your seat with the guy next to you and your knees are digging in to the back of the guys head sitting in front of you. To be honest, I wasn't that excited to go! I have always wanted to go to a hockey game but I had been working a lot and was SO tired. In fact, Rusty had to wake me up to go, but once we got there, I got pretty pumped! I had to take a picture of the Zamboni, dude what a great job! And, they were letting people ride with them......where was the sign-up sheet for that?















The cutest little girl started the game by singing the national Anthem. She sounded so cute! Her little voice would just quiver but she made it all the way through and didn't mess up on any words (more than I can say for most celebs!).














I know I had posted before about the jumbo-tron and it saying "Welcome Wilkins Family", but I finally got it on film! Ya, were pretty special!














They had this dance off and the kids ended up on the screen like eight times that night. I think they thought it was funny that all of the kids were wearing jerseys and dancing. That is the four of them on screen. After that, every time the screen went to the crowd they danced! Watching four white kids dance for attention in hilarious!Rusty and I were watching the screen and this little guy shows up. Both of us were like "Doesn't that look like Kayden Anderson? Sure enough they zoomed out and we could see Brooke! The Anderson's were there in the box seats! I am telling you, these games are such a good time!









One player was in the penalty box for all but maybe two minutes of the game. As soon as they let him out, he would get in a fight! It was great!











I think the best part was the "Sexiest Back" contest. They chose three guys with hairy backs....ya, I said HAIRY, and had their wives smother it with shaving cream. Then they had to see who could have more Cheetos stick to their back. It was one of the nastiest things I have ever watched but so funny! The winner had something like 78 Cheetos on his back! NASTY!

OH, what a beautful morning!

Cameron's response to Rusty taking this picture was "Dude, that's gay!"








































So I posted earlier that we are hiking every Saturday morning to get ready for the trek. This last Saturday, we went with the Heath's and the Udy's and had a great time! Being from the White Mountains, I can never get enough of being "on the mountain", even if I am just riding around. Even Rusty isn't as attached to it like I am. Sometimes, even if it is just for a day, I can go ride around Nutrioso or Alpine and for some reason feel recharged. It's like I'm back and ready to go again. I think it comes from riding quads just about everyday my junior and senior years. I have had great times up there. So, when we were liking this morning, believe it or not, I got a little bit of that same feeling. It was absolutely beautiful early that morning, the green in the desert and there were even some trees mixed in with the cactus. Don't get me wrong, it's not like MY mountain, but it felt great. Rusty and I were a little late because he forgot to turn his alarm on, so we started hiking at about 6:45. It was great to be able to talk with the girls and get to know them a little bit better. I think the boys were glad to get rid of their chatty wives as well! Even though we were a little bit slower, we did 6.25 miles in a little over 2 hours. The trails were full of people mountain biking and I think there was some type of event going on because there were a lot of people. That is why we go so early. To many people makes it not so fun. Here are the pics from that day! Thanks everyone for a great Saturday! See ya in a few days!







Who's idea was it to take this one in the shade?


















Yes, we were a little behind!















I have the cutest two "boys", don't I?!?!?!?!

The Perfect Day

Rusty and I were called as Ma's and Pa's on our Stake's Pioneer Trek this summer. For that occasion, we are in need of getting in better shape to walk 18 miles a day! So, with Cameron and Lea Heath (who are also called to be Ma's and Pa's from our ward), we are starting to hike every Saturday morning at 6:15. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome! This last Saturday was mine and Rusty's first time hiking this trail. We hike around the San Tan mountains and it is beautiful! Lea wasn't able to make it, but we met Cameron and took Bronx and had a beautiful morning hike. I totally forgot my camera, but I will take some pics this Saturday and post them. There just isn't anything like Spring in the valley. We did about 4 miles in an hour and a half. Not to bad?!?!?! Then Rusty and Cameron went to play basketball at the church, and I went home to put a waisted puppy in his backyard. When Rusty got home we made breakfast and cleaned the house. I know that doesn't sound like much fun, but for both of us, a clean house is awesome! I love the feeling when it's all done. Then we did some grocery shopping together (what constitutes a NEED in our house is always an interesting conversation in the middle of Wal-Mart!), and then picked up Kyle to go see the kids Spring Fling at their school. Kylee had a solo in her performance (which she did great!), and all of the kids made a cake for the cake decorating contest. My mother-in-law Janet used to make cakes professionally so she brought her equipment but the kids did a great job on their own! Here they are showing off their projects!







Uncle Rusty and I bid on Kylee's and other family members bid on the other kids. We all ended up going home with a cake (wasn't I talking earlier in this post about getting in shape?!?!?!), and the kids came over and ate most of ours. It was fun to watch the kids have fun and be excited about something they created! One thing is for sure, the Mayhew kids do not lack imagination!

After all of that fun, Rusty and I picked up a cute no-name chic flick, took Bronx for a walk and finished the night with...a movie! While we were walking that night, we both comented on how perfect a day it was. It was what a Saturday should be like!

M.O.M. spells....Aunt Ashley?

I love my sister! Really, other than my husband, she and my Mom are my best friends. We sound alike, kinda look alike, and write exactly the same. She is six years older, so when we were growing up I was the pesky little sister that tried to hang around while her "cool" friends were there. Then she got married and moved to Silver City, NM and I didn't see her as much. That is when I started to go see her on my spring breaks and summers. When she had her first baby, I would go down and stay with her and "help" her with Shae. We became really close when she and Justin moved home and I got to babysit her kids a lot while she worked. So it wasn't a question when she called me to help watch her kids a couple weeks ago while she had surgery. She had some muscle damage in her stomach from her first baby and the msucles just ripped more with every birth, so she went and got it fixed along with a new tummy! I consider her kids part mine. I think I'm their favorite as well, (at least I better be!) So two weeks ago, I went up to RV and watched the kids for four days. We had a lot of fun but were really busy. I have always known that mom's are busy people, but her schedule is CRAZY! Especially with kids ranging from almost 12 to seven months old, there is a lot to do in a day! Snowboarding trips, diapers to change, basketball games and practices, bottles to make, homework to do, naps to take....I don't know how she gets it all done all the time. And the thing about my sister that is amazing is that she has a cute clean house and always has something good on the stove. I really hope I can be as good a mom as she is! I won't bore you with a timeline of events but we did a lot of laughing (mainly at my sister who couldn't stand up straight), and talking and a little bit of sleeping. The baby was teething so sleep didn't go so well for me, but the trip was great! It is always great to see the kids. Here are some pics of the kiddos!

He wasn't so crazy about Bronx licking him, but as soon as Bronx would walk away, he started kicking and wanting to see him!




Seriously, one of the chubbiest kids I have ever had to haul around! 7 months old!!!!!!! He is the best baby in the world though!


I was trying to teach Kelton the patty-cake song so you can see his finger out for the "pick it and pick it" part. Look at those red cheeks. Slobbering everywhere, fever, crabby, biting...yep he's teething.




These are my girls! Madison is on the left and Shae is on the right. Madison is my girlie girl! When she was born she looked just like her dad. She was pretty chubby, so we used to call her "the Rock", and the name stuck! Some people still call her that even though she had turned out to be a beautiful girl! I'm so proud of who you are Mads! When Shae was 3 or 4, I would pick her up before the basketball game and take her with me. She would sit with my friends during the game and watch me cheer! She was the hit of the high school! Now she is turning 12 this May and headed into Young Women's...it freaks me out! She started to throw and attitude so I had to show her who was still boss. I will be honest though, she is a bit tougher than she used to be. These are pics of me taking her down. Shae, if it hadn't been for your dog jumping on me to protect you, oh and the cheep move you did by grabbing the table leg, and the biting and pinching... I would have had ya!




Kelton did so good riding in the car with me to and from everywhere we had to go. As long as he can see outside, he doesn't care!
This guy is Easton. We thought he was the baby baby baby but Heavenly Father had other plans. Easton loves working with his dad and fixing hitches....yes, that's right I said hitches. Like what's on the back of your truck! If you drive up to the house with one on your truck, I'm pretty sure you aren't leaving with it! He is the sweetest little boy and he loves Aunt Ashley. I had to leave a day later than planned to go up there and he just cried and cried and cried! Doesn't he look a bit like RY-RY Sonda?


Thank you kids for being so good while Aunt Ashley tried to be a makeshift mom for you! I love you guys and you too Lish! Get better soon....or should I say stand up straight soon?!?!?!?

So sorry!

Just a quick note! My blog is having temporary difficulties downloading pics and my new templates and papers.So, while I have posted a few times, there are no pics. I promise to have them up and running shortly!

Update on Bronx

So, I know that many of you have publicly told me that it is pathetic that I blog about my dog , to which I agree, I'm pathetic! Considering that this is the only form of journaling that I do, I have to keep it somewhat updated to his growth and the funny little things he does, cuz I do kinda like him! So, feel free to pass by this post, it won't hurt my feelings. Actually, I won't even know, so go ahead. For those of you who do care, he is getting so big! He is only 3 1/2 months and his paws are as big as a full size dog! I know he is going to be huge! No more cuddling on mom and dad when you hit over 50 lbs. bud!




Anyway, one quick story and then I will just update with a few pics. I have a body ball that I have had for years. My mother-in-law got it for me about the time we moved into our house. Bronx found it the other day and started playing. Needless to say it is a little flat, just perfect for him to get his teeth around. He started just nipping at it at first so I didn't think anything of it, then all of a sudden Rusty hears this noise. Sure enough he punctured right through it! After that he didn't want anything to do with it. That is just one of many things he has destroyed. We came home to find Rusty's good pair of church shoes totally trashed. We are usually pretty good about either keeping him outside or making sure nothing is on the ground that we don't want him around or chewing on. I guess Rusty didn't pay attention and sure enough Bronx drug them outside! But, no matter what, even with all of the chewing and nasty smells, I still love him! Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure!

This is his favorite position to be in while I am on the computer....it's called IN THE WAY!!!





"Fine, if mom is going to be mean and yell at me all day, I'm going to sleep by dad's clothes and pray he comes home soon to save me from the mean lady!"




Chloe and Cooper are Cam and Ash's dogs and we love them! Being around them with their dogs was a big influence on us to get one. Ashley and I try to get them together for regular "play dates" (all of you Mom's out there quit rolling your eyes!), but I live so far out here that sometimes it's hard. These were taken one day at Ash and Cameron's while we were playing guitar hero. Look at how cute they are together! What's even more funny is that he is so much smaller, but his paws are the same size as theirs are!







These are blurry but funny. If you look close in the first one, he is dead asleep and his little tongue is just hanging out! In the next two, he is sleeping with his paws covering his eyes. Just too cute to look at!




This one is just to show his size, I took one like this when he got home. Just for reference.