Christmas 2007

We were able to stay home this year (sorta) which was great. We had a great Christmas and we all walked away very satisfied. Owen was not nearly as excited about the whole Christmas morning as we had hoped maybe next year. Shannan had to keep asking him to open another gift when all he wanted to do was play with what he had just opened. He would in a funny voice while opening each gift say "what could it be what could it be what could it beee!" I think he was making fun of us. Clay just sat on the sofa satisfied with the barn animals his brother had picked out for him. After Christmas morning at our house we went down to Tuscon where Shannan's grandpa and parents were. We had a good time flying the Havoc Heli and eating too much with them.

These are the Stockings Grandma Ohlson made for us (after 4 years and we think $10k)

The only picture of the boys I could get (how pathetic)

"What could it be what could it be what could it beee!

His favorite gift he sits in it to watch a digger video

Still wearing the hat form the morning and his second favorite gift the Havoc Heli

Christmas Eve 2007

We visited the LDS Temple grounds in Mesa Christmas Eve for beautiful lights, wonderful music, and images from the birth of Christ. It was wonderful! We went into the visitors center to view the movie of the account of Christ's birth from Luke 2 and to view a replica of the Christos that is in Denmark. Owen was so respectful and reverent. He just sat there and stared at Christ. I love that he is beginning to form a love and respect for our Savior.



We don't know how Clay avoids major injuries sometimes we are so neglectful to him

When we got home Owen put out cookies and tissues for santa and carrots and ranch for the reindeer

We love Clay Too

dirty face and all he is too cute for words

Why I love Owen Reason #287

Don't worry cousins Jack and Leah with Owen around you will have plenty of presents this Christmas. . .

So this afternoon as I was wrapping Owen's presents he awoke and this is the conversation that transpired

O "What are you doing mom?"
M "Just wrapping some presents that you get to open on Christmas"
O "But I already have a present under the tree"
M "I know but you get a few more"
O "More than one present? Maybe we should share with Jack and Leah so they have presents too"

I love that boy . . . so thoughtful so kind so pure and so genuine.

The Christmas Spirit Arrived

Grandma and Grandpa Ohlson arrived for a four day visit and we had so much fun. We love them for the fun and all the love they bring every time they visit.

Owen has become obsessed with Care Bears ever since his friend Kennedy became obsessed

And Clay has to have one too

Cookie Cottage complete with bathroom vent from Grandpa Ohlson

At Santa's Castle a fun holiday adventure place

Frosty and Owen

Mickey and Owen - oh how we miss disneyland

And a little love for the cinnamon roll Care Bear

I HATE Christmas Cards

I know that is a strong word but seriously why does it have to be so hard. The photo is never what you hope, the printed version is not what you envisioned, and then your home printer won't do the address so you are writing by hand all those addresses PLUS your return address. Kill me now! Brock tells me each year we are not doing a Christmas card but I love love love receiving them so I think I should send one out too. But this is the year I can't take it anymore. I had such high hopes quick and easy was the moto but after Brock again not being supportive of the card thing, not getting a great photo of the boys, Costco printing the cards up 3 shades too dark, and realizing I could return them AFTER I had already sealed them into their envelopes I think I want to end it all. Please don't judge me when you get your card my intentions were well. And next year if you don't get one don't think you've been X'd it's just that I needed a year off. Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving '07 - Utah

Thanksgiving was in Utah this year with all the Ohlson's. We met the two new babies Jack and Leah they are so precious I miss them already. Owen was very possessive of Leah throwing a fit when others wanted to take a pic with her on her blessing day. He is such a sweet little boy. The boys and I stayed an extra day to hang out with my old roommate and dear friend Heather Gay and her 3 girls. Heather by the way is the coolest girl I know.

This post was ment to be

can you believe it blogger is letting me post some pictures . . . After the Grand Canyon we headed to Vegas to get Brock's Jeep (it has been there for the last 5 months while we've been traveling between CA, AZ and AL). Anyway Brock surprised me with a night away for my 30th B-day (still having issues saying I'm 30). It was so nice and fun to have some "alone time" (thanks to G&G Ohlson for watching the boys) and we went to this Lodge up in Mt. Charleston just about 30 minutes outside of Vegas it was super cool. In the morning we wanted to take a photo to catalog our adventure the photos were too funny, Brock and I almost wet ourselves from laughing so hard after the last one

Ah the first is never the best so you gotta take another

Now this one Brock thinks he looks retarded

Now he thinks it looks like he has a lazy eye

Well HELLO! Now that fixes the eye issue doesn't it

The Grand Canyon too!

I wanted to post about this but blogger is HATEIN' what is up! So no pictures but the weekend we went to Fort Tut Hill and The Polar Express we also went to the Grand Canyon which I had never done and have wanted to do for so long and it was totally great! I must admit though it is just a Grand Canyon the name really does describe it perfectly. I thought when I saw it I would just, I don't know what I thought I would feel like maybe some spiritual experience or something but no I just thought "hey this is one Grand Canyon all right". It was great but I think it would be better to be able to hike down it so Brock and I are going to try to do that together sometime soon. Anyway that is my post about Grand Canyon it sure is Grand!

Fort Tuthill and Polar Express

Brock is in charge of JAG recruiting for Luke AFB which requires him to visit the surrounding Universities that have ROTC programs. Last weekend he had to go to NAU in Flagstaff so we made a fun trip out of it. Luke AFB has a recreation area up there in this park with cabins and other stuff called Fort Tuthill we stayed there one night and Grands Ohlson's who are always up for a good time came too. That night we went into Williams, AZ where they have a train thy call Polar Express that runs for about 1hr to the North Pole and back, everyone wears their jammies, they serve hot coco and cookies, sing christmas songs, read the polar express and then Santa comes on board to give each child a Christmas bell. It was so neat Owen loved every minute and was so excited to meet mommy's old friend Santa Claus (not Santa he'll correct you if you don't say his full name). It was awesome for sure something we want to do next year. Clay on the other hand didn't like Santa so much he freaked out when Santa came on board

Funny suckers Grandma got the boys



Our Family on the porch of a Fort Tuthill Cabin


Owen loves his Grandma


All of us on the Polar Express Train


Blogger is hatein' now so I'll post more photos later

We were homeless

for a few days so Owen, Clay, and I went to HB again to use our Disneyland passes one last time. We pulled an all dayer hitting up both sides of D-land and spoiling ourselves with all the totally unhealthy Disney food and candy we could inhale. We had a blast! We also went to our old church ward's trunk or treat. We had so much fun seeing old friends and meeting new babies. We've got some great friends in HB that we miss dearly. We came back on Sunday found a house to rent on Monday and Wednesday started moving in. It has been a crazy time but needless to say we are excited to have a place to call home. No trick or treating this year one because we were moving and two because Owen isn't the biggest fan of strangers and I was sure he would just turn and run from each house which is fine for my waist line but next year watch out we'll be out there!
Our Last Disneyland Visit

Owen loves Teacups he's yelling "GO FASTER"

I love how Clay looks like he is yelling "HOLLA"

Owen and the pumpkin

Owen with the Banks' dog who he loves so much

Our little Airmen on Halloween

Finally a girl!!!

Yeah not what you are thinking. We are just so thrilled Brock's sister had a little girl last week had to post some pics of her, isn't she the cutest we can't wait to meet her in November. Love you Little Lady Leah xoxoxo

(Brock's bro Jordan had a boy too Jack which we are equally excited about but no pics of him so he'll get his own post when we get some hot shots)

Owen is 3!

Almost two weeks late but yes Owen made it to his 3rd Birthday. Wednesday the Third but we delayed until Friday since Brock had court and the kid doesn't know the difference. It also made it possible for The Grand's Ohlson to fly out. We had big plans but after all was said and done we just played as a family and with some kids that were staying the night in TLF.

Owen has grown so much this last year which has made life difficult at times but mostly just filled this year with joyous occasions. He loves people and truly wants to make them happy especially Jesus. He'll do something or say something and ask me "Mommy does that make Jesus happy?" It's said all a kid needs to know they learn in Kindergarten I say Owen's already got life figured out. We love you Wild Child.

Birthday Diet Coke (please note this is NOT a normal occurence)

Birthday Pancakes and eggs

Birthday Nuggets and PlayPlace with Grandpa Ohlson (again please note we don't eat like this on a daily basis)

All the loot

What are we doing here???

So we made it back to Arizona but only after we drove a continuous 31 hours in the car to get from Alabama to Las Vegas to see Grands Ohlson and a Deer hunt. Owen loves his grandparents so much he didn't complain once in the car he just kept saying "I wanna go to Las Vegas". Thanks to Brock and The Office on itunes we made it alive. We had such a great time and were so happy to be around family again. Then to HB to see Grands Mers, good friends, and Disneyland. Now we are back in TLF at Luke AFB and are wondering what the rush was for. Our house that we MIGHT buy isn't ready til October 24th and with no Internet I am getting a bit of cabin fever. We are happy though and realize more and more how much we like Arizona.

Our Family at JASCO Graduation in Alabama


The Boys were in the car seats the whole time . . .


poor things


The hunt was a success, we have plenty of deer meat for anyone who is interested


Sweet Bailey and LIzzy at Disneyland with Owen

HAL-LE-LU-JAH! HAL-LE-LU-JAH!

hallelujah, hallelujah, HAL-LE-LU-JAH! We leave for the West Coast tomorrow (after JASOC graduation) and we couldn't be more excited. I mean really Montgomery wasn't bad . . . but we've done our time and are ready to be around "like minded people". Can't wait to see family and friends in Vegas and HB over the next 2 weeks. Soooo until we get there here are Owen's and Clay's faces to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.