Lions, Tigers and BOBCATS!

We back up to the desert and have really enjoyed watching all of the adorable wildlife...baby bunnies, mommy and daddy quail with their tiny babies trailing after them, and of course the doves and songbirds. We heard from our neighbors there are bobcats and mountain lions in the hills behind us, but they have been here 8 years and never seen any real close. So last week, the bobcat showed himself to our neighborhood and used our backyard (the girls saw him, I did not) as a way to the neighbor's roof. It was dusk and we couldn't see him all that well but admired our view of his sillohuette from afar. We figured we'd never see one again. A couple of days ago we were all inside reading with Hannah and I looked up and saw a BOBCAT looking in our big sliding glass door at us! He just stared at us! My stomach did a few flips and we all froze. I thought maybe he was looking for Brynlee. She loves to sit in front of that window and look at the birds and bunnies while she plays with her toys. What a great snack she would be for him! Ew! He sauntered over to our fence and jumped on it. We all scrambeld to find BJ and the camera. And this is what he got:

Tell me that doesn't give you a chill down your spine! BJ went out front with the video camera and tried to get some shots but luckily this bobcat still fears people and he ran off. They are amazing animals, but man am I glad we were INSIDE when we saw him!

BJ's Beauty Salon

BJ has been cutting his own hair for around 6 years now and has tried his hand at the girls' hair, an occurence I nixed because I would just have to go to a salon to get it straightened out anyway. Why not get it right the first time, right? When Hannah asked last week for the 15th time to get her hair cut short I said we'd go the next available Saturday. Don't ask why, but when BJ said he could do it, I let him at it. And dang it all if he didn't do a really good job too! Now I am eating crow and you all are my witnesses so be prepared to back me up! Here's the pictures:

Before


The first cut

After (Hannah LOVES her hair and that her Daddy cut it)

Back view just to prove it was really ok that BJ cut it!

There you have it. Thank you for helping me out!

We're Here!

So the reason I haven't posted anything since February is because we've been busy moving, but now that we're finally in Arizona, we have some fun things to share. It has been a time for starting fresh and we've enjoyed many "firsts". The night after we moved in Hannah lost her first tooth! It was so loose and I tried to pull it out, but she kept panicking so I told her to wiggle it around some more and as she did it popped right out! She has been waiting for this since Kindergarten when her friend lost her first tooth. So we had to get a picture and share with you all...she made me promise!

Another exciting "first" is that Brynlee started sitting up on her own. She also started sucking her finger, which is so adorable. None of her sisters did that...it is so endearing and she is SO happy! I'll go in her room and find her sucking that finger, staring at the ceiling, content as can be. She may wish she hadn't found her finger!

After the first few days of settling in to our new home, all of us were ready to get out into the warmth and sunshine that is Arizona and do some exploring. We found a family favorite, a dirt trail into the wild desert that we see from our backyard. We see lizards, coyotes and lots of cactus in many varieties. The desert is actually a very beautiful place and it blooms! Many of the cactus actually get flowers on them in the early spring. Who knew ( probably everyone, but it was new to us)!

The landscape on our new favorite hiking trail standing by some very tall, very old Saguaro cacti. It takes one year for them to grow one inch! The girls are fascinated with all of the types of cacti, although they are most in awe of the "jumping" cholla as we've heard them called. When touched their needles actually stick to your skin. OUCH! We've been talking to the kids about not touching the cactus becasue of their pokey needles and as we were driving, Addie saw a Saguaro up close and said, "Momma, you can't touch that. It has noodles on it. It will poke you." Now all the girls call the needles "Noodles"! We don't have a picture of it, but Janessa and I have started reading time every day, so she could be reading in 3-4 months on her own. She is so eager to learn and be able to read. She begs for the next lesson before we've even finished the one we're working on!

We stay busy, learn something new everyday, and look forward to many more adventures and "firsts" here.

Cousin Time

Shawn and Cami won a cruise through Shawn's work and I was lucky enough to be able to help them out for a couple days and watch their adorable kids, Annie, 3, and Ethan 15 months. It was quite the sight too! I had under my roof 6 kids all 6 years and under! It was only crazy at bath and bedtime. The rest of the time we had a blast. The girls would all run off and play in their imaginary wonderland and Ethan ("E") and I would talk trucks and balls and play hide and seek. I would highly recommend watching nieces and nephews to anyone. It gives you quite an insight into their unique and wonderful personalities and now when I see them, they don't run and hide!

"E" with his "ruck" and "Socca boll"

All the kids had to take turns holding Brynlee

Brynlee with Cousin Annie...what an adorable, sweet Miss Independece

What a face!

At four months, you'd think she'd be used to my goofy face by now! She's probably thinking, "Wow, I think I'd better smile so my weirdo mom will leave me alone!" In all seriousness, she does this face everytime she sees something interesting (aka weird/strange). She's so stinking cute! She must get it from BJ's side of the family! No offense, Nana and Papa!

Yucky RSV

Before you look at this and think, "Tami and BJ are so cruel! What are they doing to that poor baby?" Please read on.

As most of you know, we are still in the thick of RSV season. With three older sisters always loving on her, it was almost inevitable Brynlee was going to get at least one cold this season. After two weeks of a runny nose, I took her in thinking she may have a sinus or ear infection. I was shocked to hear she had RSV because I had not heard any wheezing. But with the Dr's trusty stethoscope (why don't they give out these and the ear scopes, you know like one per household) it was evident Brynlee had RSV and needed the neb. BJ took this during one of the treatments because he thought it was amusing. It really was too! She'd hold her mouth wide open the entire time! Sweet little Brynlee, she was such a trooper and even smiled for us as she sat there with the horribly uncomfortable mask on her face.

Sledding with the cousins

For the New Year (yes, I am just getting to it, give me a break Tiff!), we accompanied BJ on a business trip to Utah and while there we stayed with his awesome brother and sister-in-law and enjoyed the snow. We made a snow man with all the kids (eight to be exact!) and enjoyed some sledding (if you count being pulled behind an ATV as sledding-all the fun without the effort!) as well. It was so fun to be around family we don't see as much as we'd like. The kids disappeared during the day to playand us adults lived on junk food and Settlers at night. Thanks Jen and Trav...it was a blast! Here's some memories we have to share:

Driving with Dad is a real treat




Run, Mason, Run! Tami, you throw like a girl!

The Cutest four year olds ever...


The cutest toddlers ever!

The most patient, tame kitten I've ever seen

Cute girl cousins