Girl Handsome

Here is Malia with Jocy's puppy Belle. The name Belle came later. Here was Malia's suggestion for the puppy's name...

She was so in love with this puppy. I know she would want more than anything to have one of her own. However, I'm allergic to dogs and were not sure about the extent of Abram's allergies yet. I guess for now she'll just have to keep loving other's dogs :o)

Summer Wellness Challenge

I am participating in a "Summer Wellness Challenge". Feel free to check it out if you are interested in joining yourself or if you just want to see what it's all about to support me in my newest endeavor!

http://nicholsflyers.blogspot.com/

FEBRUARY- A Month in Review

So the entire month of February was spent in Arizona. David headed back to Afghanistan, leaving the kids and I the opportunity to spend some quality time with the family. Jocy got a brand new puppy. Needless to say, Malia was is seventh heaven...

Jocy and I took the opportunity a few times to load the kids up into strollers and head over to the nearby park. We were quite the sight with 5 kids in tow! Although the park had great play equipment, the kids opted to play by a tree...

We also went over to Metro Center for the kids to play. Here is Abram conquering Saturn...

Malia, Queen of the Planets...

Lots and lots of climbing...

Awww.... Gabrielito and Malia, primos forever!

The kiddos, minus the non-walker Abram! Alex, Malia (with some attitude), Gabriel, and Tony...

A more pleasant face...

On one of our many walks Malia received her first real knee scrape. Oh, the drama...

Nothing a Pet Shop band-aid can't heal! Although, the pout still stuck around...

The kids decorating a cake for Grandpa... Happy Birthday Gabriel!

Double Trouble... Love these boys!

The band-aid fascination continued...

Another fine looking young man... Gabrielito... Great kid!

Abram enjoying some peaches. Enjoyed them so much he felt it necessary to put them in his hair...

We ended the month of February with a real bang! Literally. Some guy hit us. Totally his fault. A minor fender bender but what a hassle! Fortunately, insurance stepped up and most things were dealt with quickly. The car was fixed within the week.

So there's a bit of what we did while visiting Arizona. I have other great pictures that I took, but unfortunately they are stuck on my phone! Almost caught up... now on to Abram's birthday!

Happy Birthday David!

David left on the 31st of January, so was still traveling across the world on February 5th, his birthday. In his absence, we decided to celebrate his birthday by making him a cake. I baked the cake and Malia frosted and covered the cake in sprinkles. We made the cake at Jocy's house and then took it over to David's mom's so we could Skype with David. The cake made the long car trip (5 blocks), the walk to the front door, the path to the kitchen just fine. Malia held that cake oh so carefully. As she went to set it on the table...


The only logical conclusion is that the table moved :o) Unfortunately, I didn't think to get a picture of the creation BEFORE we left the other house! Oh, well. David knows it was made with love and that we wished more than anything that we could have spent his birthday with him. Here is Malia enjoying the cake, that is what didn't fall on the floor...

Not the Pet Shop band-aid. She had knocked her nose the night before and INSISTED on getting a band-aid and wore it for several days!

Happy Birthday David! (only six weeks late!!)

An Early Morning Farewell

David's two week leave flew by. "They" all said that was how it would happen, I guess I was just hoping it would slow down for us. No such luck! The only happy thought is that David came home near the end of his deployment, so we have just a little bit until he is home for good!

Papa giving kisses to our little man...

Malia wide-eyed... not quite sure what is going on...

Miss Malia getting a hug from Papa...

David had to fly out super early in the morning, so I didn't think the kids really knew what was going on. As we were driving away from the airport, I was crying. Malia's voice came from the backseat, "It's okay mommy. Papa will be back soon." I kid you not. I love my little girl.

Mexican Style Birthday

 

Right before David left we went to one of his cousin's birthday party. It was my first time attending a birthday party done "Mexican Style". Let me just say, they go ALL out! Tons of food, candy, cake, candy, pinata, candy, "beverages" ... did I mention candy? Needless to say, Malia LOVED it! Plus, it gave us an opportunity to see how it was done for Abram's 1st birthday party. I'm getting there, almost caught up!

Play Day at the Park

 

We had some things to take care of at Luke Air Force Base while David was back, so we decided to pack a lunch and make a day of it. They have a great play area and the kids had lots of fun. Malia even helped out with the photography and took a picture of her sandwich! I can't wait for this summer to have more days like this. Have I mentioned yet how much I miss my husband?