little trip to Oak Creek Canyon

Me and Daddy

The icy river

cute little clan of buddies

Aubs and Alex -- best buds

Mower fam

A HAPPY GIRL!

sisters

Oak creek canyon

signs of fall and winter

Spring trying to come up

our new Gore coats

This morning RY wok up at 5:45 to go to a GORE sale -- they do them every year and offer all the GORE employees a GREAT deal on Goretex jackets! He got us both one! Then we got a call from out buddies to go an a jaunt down to Sedona to Oak Creek canyon -- WE went down wnd hiked the West fork! It was beautiful and warm -- There was still snow and crossing the river was tricky but the kids did great! It is so much fun to be in such a beautiful place! We love it!

THE WHOLE REASON I BLOG!!!

Oh happy day! This is the nifty little present that I got in the mail today!!! My blog book of all my blog post in 2008! 178 pages of our year of 2008 bound into a hard cover book! My dear buddies Lichelle and Misti turned me on to them -- Them being blurb.com. They slurp up your whole blog and then you can format it with whatever font, text, color, picture arrangements you want -- and for a steal!!! This is the whole reason that I blog so much because it truly is our family journal/scrapbook. I love it! We sat down as a family and looked through it tonight and had a blast -- Even RY was totally impressed and loved it!

What a Day!

Holy cow -- Just for journal's sake -- Have to write down the details of this day!

7:00 a.m. -- Wake up and get everyone ready for school and eat breakfast

8:05 a.m. -- Get carpool and take kiddies to school

9:00 a.m.-- Drop Carter off at preschool and run to the elementary school

9:15-10:30 - Go help with Aubrey's 100th day of school party and Kel's PJ party






10:45 -- run a couple errands to get ready for tonight

11:15 -- Got to the rest of preschool and the party to say good bye to Carter's buddies moving to Germany this weekend

12:00 -- clean up around the house and eat lunch with C-man





12:45 -- run back to the school and pick up the carpool

1:20 -- come home and try REALLY hard to get Carter to take a nap while I get ready for the night

1:45 -- finally give up on the nap idea and get to work and make reminder calls for the activity

3:00 -- make two dutch oven desserts (apple crisp and peach cobbler) and get them prepped while Carter tries to go through my drawers and find the sharpest knife for his playdoh


4:00 -- Take the kiddies with me to the Church to set up for our YW/YM mentor dinner. The girls get to talk to Sis. Thurber who brought her whole doll collection to decorate the tables with -- They also helped us set all the tables and were a huge help to me --

5:15 -- Ry arrives at the church to get the kids and take them for dinner and home




6:00 -- Had the best night -- Each of the youth have had a mentor assigned to them -- We had a dutch oven dinner with all the youth and the mentors -- The mentors brought things about themselves to share and all had a great time!

8:00 -- finish cleaning up and arrive home to my cute family! Bless their hearts for baring with me every Wed. for most of their lives -- Out of our almost 9 1/2 yrs. of marriage -- I've been in YW for 8 1/2 yrs -- And truthfully -- I LOVE IT! And wouldn't want to be anywhere else -- I love my girls and the great ladies I get to work with so much and more than that -- I love my family! I couldn't ask for more wonderful little buddies to spend forever with!

8:30 -- Finish getting kiddies to bed and say good bye to RY who leaves for the church to do his ward clerk responsibilities! What a day! A good day but a day like so may others - tiring! Thank goodness for sleep! Like I always say, "I'd rather be busy than bored!"

My cute presidency -- Tash, me, and Laura -- minus my wonderful sec. Kelly (she had to take her cute boys home)
I love them to death!!!!

San Fransisco Peaks

Carter was out of preschool today so we went on a little drive up to see the Peaks- It snowed last night and today the sun and blue skies came out and I couldn't resist! It was a beautiful day -- The San Fransisco Peaks are my favorite picture in Flagstaff! And season -- Here are a couple from today!

loves to Grandma and Grandpa

love the globe

Kel's favorite fried eggs

This is Mikelle doing some homework this weekend -- She has been such a good little student and amazes us at how diligent she is -- She got the sweetest letter from her grandma this weekend that just made her day -- They got to Africa this past week and are safe and well- We were so worried but they've been in touch a couple times with us and we were so grateful to know they are doing well. We are so grateful for their example and the amazing work they are going to be doing and already are! WE will miss them so much and selfishly, I will miss talking with Mom P. several times a week -- WE love to chat on the phone and I feel like I'm just chatting with a good friend--I feel more than blessed to have her in my life - -- To me she is more than a mom-in-law -- she is one of my dearest friends! Mikelle has a special bond to her too -- From the very beginning, When she came to MI to help when she was born, they would nap on the couch together :), they love reading together, She would call Kel every Wed. to read Dr. Seuss over the phone, they took a couple trips out to our home that meant so much and for Kel's B-Day last yr. she taught Kel how to make her favorite fried eggs, on our last trip home they took some special dates together and we able to go get Kel a baptism dress that will forever be a treasure and make us feel like G&G are with us this April when Kel is baptized, and pretty much, they are both -- the greatest parents, grandparents, and missionaries ever!

The globe was a neat gift from them this past Christmas that sits on the girl's desk and they LOVE it! Here Kel is pointing to where her G&G are--- Aubs and Carter love and miss them too (they'll be in a diff. post later) -- LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!

A little bit about Flagstaff

I was out doing a shoot his morning down Highway 89 and on my way back had never noticed this sign -- It tells some fun things about Flagstaff. Flagstaff is a star gazing city which means the lights are all dim (street lights) so that you can see the stars better -- They truly are amazing on a clear night -- I got RY a telescope for Christmas and he has been having so much fun and can't wait for the summer!

Legend has it, Flagstaff’s name came about when the first settlers of the community erected a pole constructed from a tall Ponderosa Pine and attached the flag to it to celebrate the Declaration of Independence Centennial in 1876.

It really is a great place to live and so many beautiful fun places to visit! Sedona, Grand Canyon, PHX, and lots of great hiking and camping too that we have loved -- Now we are just waiting for the snow to melt- Summer is our favorite time here because it is never higher than about 85 and is so beautiful! Here are some more climate averages just for fun!

CLIMATE AVERAGES

Annual High………………….61°F Annual Low………………….30.5°F
January High…………………42.2°F
July High……………………..81.9°F
Annual Precipitation…………22.8 inches
Annual Snowfall…………….108.8 inches
Days of Sunshine…………….Nearly 300 days

An American Girls play date!

Kel had her two best buddies (Carly and Emma) over with their American Girls (and her sis too) to have a play date -- It was the cutest thing ever! They had a little tea party in her room, had dress up time, ate little peanut butter cookies, and then came down for a dance in the living room! They had the funnest afternoon and Carter wanted in on the action too -- He brought his Diego doll and was wanting so much to play too -- He had his own Diego date downstairs but come to come to the dance portion-- thanks to his sisters!

A momentous day

Happy inauguration day! What an amazing experience watching 2 million people flood Washington D.C. ! Such a neat thing to see and right after the holiday yesterday. Mikelle gets so excited about any holiday -- no matter what it is -- She printed off Martin Luther King's speech and read it to us -- Something that struck us were his words, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Wow! I think that day has truly come and although I don't consider myself to be of the same party -- I still am looking forward to the future and will pray for and support our new President!

On this same day our dear parents
flew out on their way to Zambia Africa! We will miss them so much and will be also praying for them and know they will be the best missionaries a 2nd time
--WE LOVE YOU!!!!

A sunbeam!

Here is our little SUNBEAM! We had a great day at church and Carter was so much fun to get ready-- I got him all dressed and he looked down at himself and his little tie and said, "I look like President Monson!" We about died! He has the cutest comments that we are seriously writing down every day! He gave our morning prayer the other morning and went around the family blessing each one of us and touched us all on the leg! Needless to say, we all had a great day!
Seeing him with his little scriptures reminded me of a shot I got of him as a baby -- so I thought I'd add that one too for fun!

New year of PRIMARY!

Today was the kid's primary party! The first time all 3 of them got to go and they loved it! Ry and I had a whole hour and a half to ourselves to clean the garage! So nice and they loved every minute! Carter loves being in SUNBEAMS and I just love walking past the door and seeing him sitting in Primary like such a big boy. And Aubs loves CTR and wearing her ring. Her favorite thing is singing and loves Sis. West -- our wonderful chorister. And Kel is also loving primary -- Tomorrow night is the "Great to be 8 Fireside" and she is counting the days til her baptism --(April 11th!) We are so pleased with them and love seeing them learn and grow!

American Girls

The girls got American Girls for Christmas and can I just say, "Sooo worth it!" Thanks Santa! They love them so much and have been taking care of them so well. They set them up little rooms in their closet and dress them up like each other as much as they can -- They're even having an American doll play date/Tea party this week and can't wait-- I love that Mikelle is at the age that she still loves dolls and has enjoyed the historical aspect of the dolls and enjoys reading the books that go along with them. It's a great thing!

PIZZA and a great show!

Tonight we did one of our favorite things--homemade pizza and a movie-- The pizza is one of our favorites-- thought I'd include a recipe for fun-- The kids love to help!

PIZZA DOUGH
3 c. flour
2 1/4 tsp yeast
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 c. very warm water
2 Tb. oil

combine 2 c. flour with salt and yeast. Add oil and water and gradually add the other cup of flour. Knead for 10 min. and then let rest. Roll out onto pizza pan and add toppings-- Bake at 400 degrees for 30 min!

Then we watched THE ERRAND OF ANGELS. It's a movie about Sister missionaries -- SOOOO GOOD! It reminded me so much of my own mission and brought back so many memories of all my companions, great lessons learned, lots of growing (physically and spiritually) and so much more-- It made me so grateful again for that experience in my life! Great show!!!! And a fun night together-

from the weekend

So the first snap is one from the field just down the road -- I love the Flagstaff pines and with the full moon out -- It's so pretty!

Then this weekend we went down to PHX to see RY's grandparents, sis and cousins, and also say good bye to Mom and Dad who are on their way ti Zambia next week! WE will surely miss them -- We had the neatest morning together at Grandpa and Grandma's -- This was a snap of 4 generations of Patterson men! Love 'em so much!

Deep Thoughts....

Nothin like watching your kids sleep at night -- Just walked in to check Carter and had to snap this -- Always thinkin'!

Welcome home!

We pulled in on Sat. night at about 9:45 from a full day of driving. We were welcomed by a driveway full of frozen, icy, heavy snow -- Ry and I were shoveling until about 11:00 but we are writing it off as a bonding experience! I can't believe we were actually in such good spirits -- I think we were past tired! This was last night right before we came in -- Our 7 foot mountain is back! Happy Snow!

fun with friends!

We went out o Kaysville and spent time with our great friends the Perrys-- We just love them and had such a great time, Fish tacos, Game cube, pics, and a fun game of Bonanza! Then Lichelle gave the girls the cutest hats that she does -- check her out at shelbybows.blogspot.com

Then we went over to Trisha's for pizza and games with the Lotts and Brimhalls- WE miss them so much! My kids still call them Aunt Trish and Aunt Rach and they forever will be! We feel so grateful to haev such dear friends!

Petersons!

We got to get together with our dear buddies the Petersons! WE have been friends since we were dating --RY and Andy both served in India together and so we LOVE to cook INDIAN food! We went to my Dad's and had them come over- We had Tikka masala, turkey curry, Dhal, Naan, mango lassie, and Kheer! So good to be with such great frineds! Mikelle and Sam are betrothed to each other (jk) and we joke that they will have quite a great wedding DVD with all the pics we have of them together! And after 3 boys -- they now have a baby girl that is wrapped around their fingers and is an absolute doll! Aubrey wouldn't leave her side!