Thinking about Arizona

I have been thinking a lot about some of the things I have observed in Arizona. I hope you don't mind my musing!!

1. I have never been in a place with so many personalized license plates! I thought perhaps they were free, but Jason said no way, since they have photo radar everywhere in attempts to raise money!

2. It is actually possible to have a Costco TOO close to your house. I think we have learned that the past few weeks (I feel like I have a love-hate relationship with that store!).

3. Warm winters are actually a really nice thing. I used to think winter grass and summer grass were the dumbest things ever, now I am all in favor of winter grass! My kids are outside every day, some days for hours. I am interested to see how the summer goes though...

4. I wonder who thought it was a good idea to landscape yards with cactus. We walk the girls to school everyday and I am a little tired of telling Tyler "Don't touch that!" Whoever had the idea, obviously didn't have multiple children under 5.

5. There is something to be said about multiple freeways! I love having options when driving across town! We can get to Mesa at least three different ways. I just remember hating the drive to Colorado Springs when we lived in Denver and to Salt Lake when we were at BYU.

I think that is all my musings for now. We really are enjoying Arizona, though we miss Denver a lot! There's an open invitation for friends and family to come stay with us! We'd love to see you!

Our girls

Ashley enjoying some ice cream that her sister shared with her. She actually looks like this with most anything that she eats these days. (Oh we love this stage, don't we?)

This is Andrea and Kara on their first day at their new school!!! They both got haircuts from their cousin Ashley (another Ashley Judd). Kara LOVED her haircut, but they are enjoying school here now (except all day kindergarten, though I am enjoying that).

House in Arizona

So here are a few pictures of our house in Arizona. Jason did a great job finding this one without me!! I love the covered cement patio in the back yard. Ashley and Tyler spend many hours with me back there when the girls are at school.

This has a part in the living room area meant for a formal dining. We got a table that was Jason's mom's so it was nice to be able to use it.

My girls love their purple room, fairy border and all.

The pool looks nice, but it is not heated. I hear we may be able to swim as early as March, but I am not sure I will want to get in myself! Funny conversation with Tyler:
Tyler: Can I go swimming now?
Dad: The pool isn't warm enough right now.
Tyler: How about in 20 minutes?
Dad: No, it isn't going to be warm enough to go swimming today.
Tyler: OK, we can go tomorrow then.
We finally took the kids out and let them put their feet in. The conversation went like this:
Dad: How does that feel kids? Do you think you could swim in that?
Tyler: Dad, it's cold!
Girls: It feels ok.
Mom: YEAH RIGHT!!

Tyler loves his blue room with the race car border.

This is the kitchen and dining area. It is a pretty big area (much bigger than our house in Denver), and I like the little desk area by the fridge. I didn't post pictures of what Jason calls my "scrapbook room" (which really is our office), but my kids use Jason's old dental school laptop in the kitchen (at least they will once internet is hooked up there again).

Ashley

I haven't been able to get smiles like these from Ashley on camera ever! So I was really excited to get a few. In the top one, she is on daddy's lap (no surprise that she is smiling like that there!). And lately, she has loved her baths. It must be the big tub.

On Saturday, the kids will play!

Our Trip To Chuck E Cheese Saturday
Kara sure loves to be silly!

This is a great ride--3 kids, one token!

Ashley loved just following Andrea around everywhere. She was fascinated with everything around her.

The tunnels are my favorite part, actually--the kids are entertained for free!

Graduation

This is Jason's class at the end of the night.

This is the cake my friend made for him so we could celebrate with the kids since they couldn't come to the graduation dinner.

Jason with the dean getting his certificate.

Jason and I just before the dinner began.

All I want for Christmas....

....is my two front teeth. Andrea is very excited about losing her 2nd front tooth, so she has been singing that song all day long. She is sure growing up quickly. Kara was quite a little coach for her all day as she wiggled and twisted, but finally, she gave me one chance to pull it out, and I did it the first try (it did help that it was hanging by just the front). It has been a fun day at our house today!