Happy Halloween

Keira wanted to be a princess (of course) for Halloween until she found a pink dress Bat Girl costume that came with a cape! She was so excited to wear her new silver glitter boots with it! She also wanted her hair straightened and make up! She looked adorable!

Tyler went as General Grievous from Star Wars! He kept his helmet on for most of the night but ditched the double light sabers when the candy bag got heavy!

 As always, Daddy dressed up too! This year I found a Captain America shirt at Target!

 



How every night ends...The boys drop of sister because she is tired of walking and they head out for another hour or so! She actually really enjoys handing out candy with me!

Trip up North

We decided to get out of town for a couple of days and head up to Sedona, Jerome and Prescott! It really felt like fall and Keira got her wish of seeing the leaves changing colors.

 

 Trout farm in Sedona. Ty and Keira both caught a fish which we kept and mommy had for dinner!!

 The haunted hotel in Jerome

Luckily we were able to stop by GG's house (Great Grandma Cottrill) for a visit. 

Super Shark Keira

Chaparral started a new awards program this year called Super Shark. Two students from each class per quarter are chosen by his/her teacher based on the student's academic success, good decision making and admirable character.

 

Keira was awarded Super Shark for 1st quarter!

 

 Super Shark presentation. (Keira is front row with gray and pink shoes)

Keira and her teacher, Mrs. Clayton. Keira loves her teacher and loves school! She is doing so well and making so many friends. 

Visit from Grandma Heather & Quinn

Giving Brooke & David some alone time with new baby Tosh, Grandma Heather & Quinn flew to AZ for a visit! The kids had such a great time playing together! They are all getting so big!



Sea Life

Tyler really wanted to go to Sea Life this summer but we never made it. Brian and I surprised them with a trip a couple of weekends ago! They added new exhibits since our last trip which made it even better!

 

First Day of School

Monday we began a new school year!

Both Tyler and Keira are at Chaparral Elementary School. Go Sharks!

Kindergarten

 3rd Grade

And mommy teaching Kinder-Prep & STARS

August brings new opportunities...

August is going to be a month of new beginnings and opportunities!

On Monday, August 5th...
Tyler will start 3rd grade at Chaparral Elementary School! While he has never really enjoyed school, we are very happy he will be in Ms. Richardson's class. Tyler's second grade teacher recommended her since she does a lot of projects and hands-on learning, best for Tyler!

Keira will start all day kindergarten at Chaparral Elementary School! Her teacher, Mrs. Clayton, taught 3rd grade the last three years so we are hoping she will bring new insight on reading and learning at a young age. Keira is nervous for school but so happy to be at "Tyler's school!"

I will also be going to school...as a full time Kinder-Prep/STARS teacher aide at Sue Sossaman Early Childhood Development Center at Sossaman Middle School. Two new middle schools open this fall in the Higley Unified School District, Cooley and Sossaman; both have Early Childhood Development Centers for preschool (3-4 year old), kinder-prep (4-5 year old) and STARS (special needs 3-5 year old) classes. This is a big change since I have been home for 8 years! While it has been a blessing and a dream come true to be a stay at home mom, we have always thought I would go back to work when Keira started kindergarten. I really didn't want to go back into the fitness field and since I have really enjoyed teaching at church for the last 1 1/2 years in our preschool classes, I decided to apply for several jobs within the school district. With lots of prayers to find a job that would enable me to still be home with the kids as much as I could, was very excited about the teaching aide position. I love the teacher I will be working with and feel like this is exactly what God has planned for our next chapter!

And on Tuesday, August 6th...
Brian will start his Master of Science degree in Leadership with an Emphasis in Disaster Preparedness and Executive Fire Leadership at Grand Canyon University!!! I am so excited since I am an Alumni of GCU! Brian is like Tyler about school...not too excited about it but to continue promoting within the Army, he has to get his Master's Degree!

End of Summer

Our summer break is coming to an end! We feel the last two months have flown by!

The kids have been swimming almost every day. Their dives and strokes are getting really strong! They were in the same swim lesson class this summer. That was pretty cool to see!

 Brian took Tyler last weekend to meet some of his college buddies & their boys! They had a great time on the boat and even a jet ski!

Keira hung out with me getting school supplies, cleaning house and going to church. I love how she gets her purse and water ready to go as we leave the house, just like me! Little eyes....



4th of July

We had a great 4th of July! Brian's sisters came into town for the weekend.

 Quinn (Brooke's son) and Tyler. Tyler got Quinn hooked on Angry Birds over Christmas so they were very excited to play again!

 Tyler, Quinn and Keira in the playroom! They had a great time!

Quinn and Keira playing at our church's splash pad before the fireworks show! 

 Keira, Quinn and Tyler having a snack before the fireworks! Loving the Pirate Booty!

Tyler, Joey (Angela/David's son), Shannon, Gina, Angela, David, Amy, Keira, Brian, Quinn (Brooke/Dave's son), Dave, and Brooke (with baby due in August!!!)

 

Thanks for coming out to the heat!

We love you!

Happy Birthday, Brian!

For Brian's birthday this year he wanted to go to Big Surf Water Park! The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time! The kids LOVE water slides. Both Keira and Tyler rode the big slides with huge smiles on their faces making their daddy happy!

 

 

Happy Birthday, Baby!



Florida!

The kids and I flew out of Florida to see my parents for a week. They moved out there this Spring from San Diego. We had awesome weather and enjoyed the beach almost every day! The water is warm and there are A LOT of seashells to collect (which my mom and the kids did almost every day!)

The kids climbed up 105 steps of the Jupiter Inlet lighthouse! They did such a great job! Many of the adults had to stop and at the bottom said they were amazed the kids did it!

  Loggerhead Turtle Rescue Museum

 

 

We went to the Lion Country Safari African Adventure which was a up close look at lions, giraffes, rhinos, antelope, zebras, and monkeys. The tour began with a 4 mile drive thru different animal exhibits! We were able to see all the animals and figured out why the rhinos had the right of way (they walk wherever and even try to put their head on the vehicles!) . After the drive we walked through the zoo section and even feed the giraffes!