Our Yard

Our yard consists of light and dark colored rocks. The dark rocks are located around these very tall palm trees. James and Tira think it is a blast to throw the rocks all over the yard and driveway while mixing the light and dark. Mom doesn't like this because I'm the one who gets to seperate them. The palm trees are the eye candy of every arborist in the city. At least once a week we get someone at the door wanting to trim our trees for us. They know that we pay an HOA fee and so we are required to keep the yard maintained and would therefore be more likely to give them business. But I think I'll wait until money starts growing on the trees before I accept.

Arizona House

This is our house on the day we first saw it with the realtor. Notice the antennas on the bush to the left. It is a martian. And then if you look very closely in the middle of the picture, there is a bush that is a smaller version of the left one. I have since trimmed it a lot. In fact, Dan thinks I almost killed it because I trimmed it so much. I felt very compulsive that day (which was a year ago) and I couldn't stop trimming. So it is still trying to grow back. Our home is called a patio home. It has two common walls with our neighbors on each side. There is 120 patio homes in Paseo Place and there is only one more couple who lives here that is a member of the church. I was in shock when we moved here because no one wanted to recognize their new neighbors. But since I was raised in Happy Valley I decided to make a plate full of Christmas goodies for my neighbors at Christmas time. It was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I will never do that again. I received some of the scariest and most confusing looks I've had in a long time. I just wish that someone would've told me that you don't do nice things for neighbors in AZ. People here are very uncomfortable being the least bit sociable and friendly. I'm guessing that the mormon culture really doesn't leave the Wasatch front? Anyways, I'm sure everyone wanted to know all that.....

James has never been camera shy due to his Aunt Amy photo shooting him since nearly the day he was born. December 2006

Aren't cinnamon rolls delicious? We lived in Dan's Aunt Joyce's home while we waited to move into our home in Glendale. (August 2006)

Here is James taking a turn in the stroller while holding his beloved "Lion". The dinosaur museum was fun but tiring for him.

We visited the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point in Utah. We dressed in prehistoric bug costumes which James wouldn't wear. Tira still sucks her binky to this day.

Tira got a rocking horse for her 2 year old birthday. At first she would only ride if the song was playing. The song would play once you pushed a button on its ear.

Here is the beautiful Snow White eating skittles on Halloween 2007. She protested wearing the costume but I wasn't about to let all the time spent sewing go to waste.

(November 2007) Tira is almost 2 years old and darling in every way. It is amazing how quickly they grow up!

Upcoming Adventures

Dan graduates from Pharmacy school in June 2009. A series of six (5 week long) rotations start the end of October. Maryland, Kansas, Provo, and Payson UT are the first four locations. The last two are in AZ near our home in Glendale. I must admit I am already dreading the 34 hour drive out to Maryland. I insist that we break it up into a 3 day drive stopping at hotels along the way.

James and Tira Growing Up

I bet all of you thought I would never get on this blog again but here I am! I actually forgot our address for blogspot and so I created a new one. By doing that I was able to see our original one.

The past months have been quite eventful for us. Halloween in 2007 was a parade when James' marched around the church gym with a homemade Thomas The Train costume on. Tira was a very pretty Snow White, of whom she didn't know at the time.
Christmas was cold but not snowy here in AZ. James and Tira had plenty of presents to open plus the nervousness that comes with sitting on Santa's lap. Unfortuneately Santa forgot to be friendly and so that didn't help any.
James officially finished his first year of 3 year old preschool at a local elementary school on May 21st. He will start the 4 year old class in September. His teacher is amazed at his fine motor skills when he cuts with scissors.
Tira started scooting around on her bottom sometime last August and has since learned how to walk and soon after run. She delights in telling me, "I fast!", as she runs down the hallway.
Their pediatrician was impressed at Tira's coordination for so young a child.
James and Tira awake every day with tons of energy. I'm sure before I know it I will be yanking their covers off trying to get them out of bed in the morning.