Arizona Fun With Blake

Me, Mom and Angelina

Mom with all her babies

Dad with all his babies... all in a "hot" tub

Blake giving Nolan and Aiden a ride on the quad

Kensington drew this in the sand in the backyard: "A Arizona by Kensy. To: Blake/Manda heart B&A 8/15/09

Blake and Cali, Kensi at Madera Canyon

Our picnic in Madera Canyon with Megan!!! So fun. 

look at that cute girl

Brae and Belli

In the shade it wasn't half bad that day! 

Manda & Meg high school cheer buddies & forever friends

Arizona critters are everywhere and so nasty. This guy is better than the critter chewing its way through my sister's walls and better than the two mice we caught in a trap this week. And better than all the tarantulas and snakes we have seen on this trip! I actually LOVE this guy!

We hiked down the creek. It has water running and it was beautiful. The water was freezing but everyone thought it felt good. We were all in flip flops. City folk...

They found this pool of water to stand in. 

Notice Hercules in the back. Still standing in water...

Our family... standing in the pool of water. haha :) We are so cute

Blake & Manda 

What a fun day! 

It's almost time to leave my home town. I am so sad and still homesick if that's possible but I am excited to return home to Houston! I am anxious to get the drive over with. I HOPE I don't have any super exciting posts about the drive itself this time. No mechanic and no tow truck guy stories. See you back in Houston. 

Swimming With Mom

This is the sign at the entrance to my mom's community. My mom isn't even 55. Haha. We went swimming with her this weekend with Blake.

Blake & Bella

Cali, Angie and Momma

Blake was throwing the kids in the air and they were doing flips! This is Nolan. He ended up doing back drops but he had FUN!

Kensington had the back flip perfected! This scares the crap out of me! But she looks beautiful! Such form!

Patagonia Lake

Last Friday the girls and I went with my sister, her kids and our dad to the lake south by the Mexican border. It was a blast! We got to tube behind the boat and I got to ski! Soooo amazing!

Nolan, Cali, Ken, Bella and Destiny ready to go...

Aiden & Bella in the tube sitting in the inlet

Brae, Me and Angie after we went tubing! My dad was able to get us off the tube twice. Both times hurt pretty bad. The first time we hit the water hard. The second time my sister let go and Brae's head flew up and the back of it hit my head. She and I both tasted blood after and I had a small gash on my head above my eye. It was worth it though! haha

Nolan, Bella, Cali, Ken & Desi

Aiden is fearless! He loves the water like all his siblings and cousins. (oh and Aunt Mandy)

Brae and Nolan on the boat

This is me skiing! It was so hard to get up and stay up! I was sore for days after this...

Bella and Desi swimming from the tube to the boat

The sunsets are one thing I miss about Arizona! They are breathtaking

This is me finally getting up on my 3rd attempt. Then the boat died and I went down. I loved my day at the lake with my family! I want to go back. 

The Sweatshop and Slavedriver

For many hours this week this is what I turned my sister's house into... A Printshop :) 

I think she felt obligated to HELP ME!! haha

We stayed up late many nights getting the invitations ready to send out. Believe me when I say it was a Celebration this day. (We were on our way to the lake but made one pit stop...)

Woo Hoo!!! My sister can stop calling me a slave-driver now! 

My Dad's 50th Surprise Birthday Party

My dad didn't know the girls and I came into town and he didn't know they were throwing him a birthday party. They brought him home in a blindfold and we were in the garage waiting to surprise him. The DJ played a game where he had to guess the song and the artist. After one song she put me on the mic and I was SUPPOSED to tell a story so he would know it was me. 

However... I was crying before I even started talking and I tried twice to tell the stupid story. I got a few words out the second try and my dad started crying. It was really emotional! 
They decorated the garage (the dj called it a barn haha) and they had music and food and friends and family there! 

This was my favorite. I made so much fun of them for bringing the Huatabampo Hot Dog guy in to cater food. Awesome!!! 

You know you're in the sticks when... hot dogs on wheels rolls in! :) 

This is me, dad, my two cousing, Scott and Cory and my little seester and nephew! Angie just jumped in right as they were taking it! Silly girl. It was a night I'll never forget!!! 

Happy Birthday Dadda!!!

Where I Come From

Where I come from is a little bit country... and a LOT redneck! haha
I love it here!!! As I got back in the car after taking the above picture, there were cows crossing the road. This guy was one of them. My girls came back to my sisters and told my brother in law we saw a "happy cow". No lie. They call them happy cows here. :)
This is my dad's barbeque! It tasted SO good and in fact, we are grilling the same meal again tonight!!! BBQ chicken, corn and frijoles. (and a little bit Mexicano here too)

This is also on my dad's party post but this fits perfectly into my 'redneck' post too! This was the caterer at my dad's party. :) I gave them such a hard time about the hot dog guy coming! I didn't try the Sonoran dogs that night but the hot dog I had was the best hot dog ever! I can now go to the Wal Mart parking lot to get more if I want. haha We loved the Huatabampo guy!

This is my dad's "hot tub" in his front yard. This is what they were all doing when I brought Blake home to meet them. :) It's actually cold water in it. Who would think different in Arizona when it's 110+ degrees outside. 

Redneck? Ummm... yeah! 7 kids and one adult in the cold tub in the front yard!