October 2009

October was a good month for an anniversary, wedding, and a new birth. Not too much happened at the beginning of the month. On the 20, Jon and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. We were going to go out of town without the kids, but we couldn’t get away. So instead we went to dinner and a movie.

On the 23, my youngest sister, Valayne got married. I wasn’t able to go to the wedding, but did make it to the reception. It was fun to see most of my family there and just hang for the night.

On the 25, our boy rabbit, Goose had 5 babies. I was sleeping when Austin woke me up. “Mom, there is a mouse in our bunnies pen. Come see, come see.” I wasn’t very happy to be woken up for something that wasn’t possible. When I got to the pen, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were six babies, daddy sleeping and mom cleaning up. (Just like a man to be sleeping during all this.) We lost one baby. We will have them until Christmas, when they are done nursing; they will go to new homes.

On the 31, we celebrated Halloween. Austin was a Dragon and Coy was Frankenstein. We went to my friend Rick’s house and trick or treated in his neighborhood. The older the boys get, the better Halloween is. They had so much fun this year.

At Valayne's Wedding

Riley, Coy, Darin, Austin at the wedding.

Halloween

All of us on halloween.

Jon & Austin with 2 of our babies.

September 2009

In September, the boys both started soccer. Austin only has three kids on his team and Coy has 6. Coy played last year and he couldn’t wait to get playing again.

Jon had another month with weekends off, so we camped and visited friends all month. This will be the last month of weekends off this year.

I got a promotion at work. I’m now the vet tech assistant. Once a week a vet comes to the shelter to spay and neuter the animals. It’s my job to help him. Its great experience and I love it. I just wish it was more than once a week.

We added two new pets to our home, this month. The boys have wanted a cat ever since our rabbit died. But one of our dogs would hurt; possibly kill a cat, so we got two boy rabbits. Austin named his Maverick and Coy named his Goose. If you’ve seen Top Gun, you may remember those names. I didn’t get any pictures yet. I’ll explain in October’s post.

Austin at his first game.

Coy with his friend Hailey, in Snowflake.

Austin playing with our friends cat.

Austin tring not to wake the cat, while he napped.

August 2009

Our August was full of firsts, good times and sad. Coy started kindergarten on the 5th. Hooray! Coy has been looking forward to this for two years. He now rides the bus and gets to eat in the cafeteria. He loves it and can’t wait to tell me all about his day.

I had an exciting first at work. I got to assist in a spay and neuter, with the vet that comes in to the shelter. I was really nervous because the thought of blood makes me faint. I prayed a few times before I got started, but to my surprise I not only did well, I loved it. I didn’t get to do too much but it was fun. I don’t get to help on a regular basis yet, but hopefully in the future I will be.

Jon has had weekends off this month, so we have gone camping and gone out of town to see friends, we haven’t seen in a long time. I love when Jon is home on the same days as me. We never just sit around the house. We always have something planned.

Now for the sad part, our rabbit Toby died this month. I thought we’d have him for 15 years but he only made it 5. He got a cold and I thought he’d get better, but instead he died 3 days after getting sick. We had a big talk about death and had a little funeral for him. The boys took it pretty well.

On the 28th, my Granny past away. It wasn’t too much of a shock, because she had not been doing well for about a month. She was a wonderful Granny and always had a way of making me feel special. We got very close while she lived near me for 6 years, right after I married Jon. I saw her often and built a great relationship with her. She moved back to Phoenix a few years ago, so I didn’t get to see her as often. I feel fortunate that I had those six years with her. But I feel sad that the boys will never know her, the way I do.

Coy on his first day of school.

Camping.

July 2009

July was full of family. We kicked off the month by going to Phoenix for the 4th of July. We met up with my sister Bethany and two of her kids, Vanity and Riley. We stayed in a hotel and the kids swam all weekend.

Then on the 5th, Jon and the boys got on a plane for Pennsylvania to see his family. They were in Pennsylvania/ New York for 2 weeks. They stayed with Jon’s parents for a few days, and then headed off to a Dexter family reunion. After the reunion, they went to Little Falls, NY for 2 days, to see Jon’s grandma and grandpa Quinn, his sister Bethany and his aunt, uncle and cousins. They had so much fun! This was the longest I’ve ever been away from the boys and I missed them so much! I had to stay home because I didn’t have any time off with my new job.

The weekend after they got home, the boys and I went to Safford to see my family. (Jon was working.) My brother Curtis and sister Amber, who I haven’t seen in two years, were both in town. My Mom had a family breakfast, Sunday morning and most of my family attended. It was fun to get together and hang out, but it went by too fast and soon it was time to head home.

I’m glad that we had the chance to see so much of our families this month. I wish we could see more of them and didn’t live so far away.

Dexter family reunion.

In front of race car in Hershey, PA.

With G & G Quinn.

Jon, Austin, Aunt Shelly, Natalia, Coy, Uncle Dom.

The boys with Jon's parents at the zoo.

June 2009

I didn’t take many pictures in June because it went by so fast. We celebrated father’s day by staying home. The boys made Jon a card and magnet at school; they picked out a new NASCAR t-shirt. He also got a new watch, since his old one was broken.

My nephew Riley came for a week visit. He went to an animal camp at my job and had a good time. The boys love to see Riley and they always cry when it’s time to say good- bye.

I put on a picture of my Dad and Coy because of Father's Day.

My 3 boys on father's day.

My Dad and Coy, July 2006.

Austin with an ice cream face.

May 2009

On May 6, we celebrated our 3rd year as a family. It was very hard the first year and I wasn’t sure we were going to make it as a family, but I’m happy that we are united! Nothing can change that now. I posted pictures from our past. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Coy April 2006

Jon and Austin Nov. 2007

The first time we met the boys. Dec. 2005

Coy took this picture of me at the petting zoo. Jan. 2009

Austin March 2006

April 2009

April was a wonderful month for us. The first week, I got a job offer to work with the humane society in Sedona. I’m now a kennel associate that means I clean up after the animals and help with adoptions. I’m so happy to be done with being an office manager. I’ve been trying to quit for two years and now I finally have!

We celebrated Easter. We went to the towns Easter egg hunt, went to see a monster truck called big foot, crush some cars. The boys both loved it but Austin is bothered by loud noises, he covered his ears and asked to leave just before it was over. Then we headed home to dye Easter eggs. This is the first year the boys got to do this. They loved it and didn’t make too much of a mess.

We also went on vacation to San Antonio. We decided at the last minute to take my niece Vanity. We headed through Safford on our way to pick her up. It was a super long drive, 16 hours to be exact. The boys did so well, that’s big because Austin hates being in the car. We stayed in a town called Bandera, just outside of San Antonio. We went to see my brother Darin in Austin, had a really good time with him. We went on a bike ride to the river so the boys could swim and just hung out for the day. Went to the river walk boat tour, everyone loved that. We went to the natural bridge caverns. Since Jon pretty much grew up at Kartchner Caverns it was nice to see another cave. Natural bridge caverns were not nearly as cool as Kartchner. We went to sea world, Coy’s favorite part was seeing Shamu and Austin’s least favorite was seeing Shamu. He splashed us and Austin didn’t like getting wet. Austin liked the penguins. We ended the week by seeing my sister in law, Tracy and my nieces, my brother Curtis was out of town doing training for work. I haven’t seen him in a few years and was bummed we didn’t get to see him. But the boys and my nieces had a good time playing.

Hope you had as good an April as we did!

Darin and Austin

Vanity, me, Coy, Darin, Alanna.

The boys at the river walk.

Austin and Coy at the Alamo.

Vacation pictures

Coy, Jon, Austin am Vanity at the caverns.

Vanity and Coy after the Shamu show.

Jon and the boys in front of a race car at Sea World.

Austin, Halee, Coy, McKayela, Nora, Vanity

March 2009

Spring is here and March was a good month to be outdoors. The boys got to try flying kites for the first time. They both needed a little help getting the kites in the air, but no help after that. It was good practice, because the breeze wasn’t strong enough that day. We’ll try again on a windier day. We also went to the park and had a picnic.

My niece Vanity came to visit for her spring break. She is 13 and a lot of fun to hang out with. We did a lot of shopping and went to the movies. The boys love Vanity; Austin even calls her his girlfriend. He chased her all week calling, “girlfriend, girlfriend, don’t leave me.” Vanity was a good sport and carried Austin around all week. We were all sad to have her go home.

We also went to see my friend Cathy. She has 2 boys Logan and Quinton, they are a little younger than Coy and Austin, but they all play well together. We went to the Phoenix zoo. Their favorite part was seeing the monkeys because you get to walk into their habitat and monkeys are everywhere. After the zoo we got some lunch then headed to Cathy’s house where the boys played and played. We stayed for dinner and left about 7:30. It was late when we got home, but it was a very fun day.

The boys flying their kites.

Coy playing under a mushroom.

Vanity, Austin, and Coy

Coy and the giraffes at the zoo.

Logan, Quinton, Austin and Coy at the zoo

February 2009

February was a good month for a birthday and to visit with family. Coy turned 5 on the 16. It seems like just yesterday he was a chubby little toddler, now he’s getting ready to start school in August. Due to Jon and I working on Coy’s birthday he got to celebrate before and after his birthday. We had out little family party on the 15, with cake, ice cream and presents. Then on the 27 we headed to Tucson to see Jon’s sister and have the rest of Coy’s birthday. He wanted to go to build a bear workshop and bowling. Build a bear workshop was a lot of fun. The boy’s started by picking out the stuffed animal they wanted, then they picked out the sound they wanted their animals to make, then they got stuffed, and clothes picked out. When we were all done a birth certificate was made. Coy picked a Lamb, named him Lambert, and dressed like a football player. Austin picked a Frog, named him Coffee, and dressed like a rock star. After build a bear was all done we headed to lunch, then bowling. This was the first time the boys have been bowling and they had a blast. Only problem was I forgot my camera. Coy had a very fun birthday and it’s always fun to get together with Kari and Mike.

We also headed down to Safford to see my family. We just went for the weekend; it was fun to see almost everyone. I missed one of my sister’s because she was out of town. When we visit family the time just flies. It doesn’t seem like we ever have enough time.

Coy with the Frog towel my Mom made him for his birthday.

Not wasting anytime on opening his presents.

Blowing out candles.

The boys with their animals from build a bear workshop.

Our first snow of the year, it melted before the end of the day.

January 2009

Austin doesn’t have the best balance and he falls a lot. At preschool his teacher was having him walk on a balance beam, but he was having problems staying on. She told me we should have his eyes checked, that was the easiest place to start in pinpointing the problem. At his eye exam they told us he needed glasses. The first day he started wearing them, he looked at books for hours, talking about everything he saw. I can tell he sees better by the things he talks about, but he still doesn’t run around like Coy does. I guess that just one of the differences in the boys that hasn’t changed.

Austin’s 4th birthday was on the 8th. Jon and I were both working so he had a little party at the preschool with all his school friends. We planned to celebrate at home the next day. Jon was working but would be home in time for dinner. Well dinner, cake and presents were ready and Jon still wasn’t home. At 7:45pm Jon calls to say he is tied up and won’t be able to make it home. I gave Austin a choice, have the party right now with out Daddy or have dinner now and the rest of the party the next day. All he said is “I want my Daddy.” Coy is telling him no, he wants to have his presents, but Austin wouldn’t budge, he wanted his Daddy. I explained that this was a very big boy decision he was making. I know I wouldn’t have made the same one when I was a kid. So we ate dinner, macaroni and cheese with hotdogs and chips. (My family may remember I picked this same dinner for my 8th birthday.) Then went to bed. For breakfast the next morning we ate cake and ice cream and opened presents. It was very different but fun.

On the 16th we met up with Jon’s sister Kari and her husband Mike, to go to the world wildlife zoo for the last part of Austin’s birthday. Instead of having a party we do what ever the boys want to do and Austin wanted to pet some animals. Kari and Mike have been able to make it to all of the boy’s birthdays. We saw all the animals, went on a train ride, pet the animals at the petting zoo, and rode the merry-go-round. The only problem was Austin didn’t like petting the animals. Kari had him try feeding a goat, as soon as the goat touched Austin’s hand he dropped all the food on the ground. Coy was petting and hugging any animal that he could get his hands on. It was a long day, but we had fun and the boys stayed happy all day.

Austin at his birthday breakfast party

Austin at the petting zoo





Coy hugging a goat

Austin on the merry-go-round

Coy and Aunt Kari

December 2008

I can't believe 2008 is over. We started off December with Jon finishing his training and coming home. It is so nice to feel like a normal family again. He is now working 5 days a week, 8 hour shifts. It's a big change from his 12 hour shifts with Sedona.

I finished my vet tech course and can start looking for a new job.

The boys were in a Christmas program at their preschool. Coy was Joseph and Austin was a star. They both knew all their lines and songs and where so excited. Then the program starts, Coy looked at the crowd and didn't move, didn't sing, and didn't say any of his lines. The girl that played Mary took Coy's hand and walked him through the play. Austin started jumping and throwing his star, so they had him leave the stage. At the end Coy asked if he was the best Joseph ever.

For Christmas the boys got bikes. They where so excited to ride them, but it was cold and raining. We moved the cars out of the garage and let them ride in there.

We ended the month with New Years Eve/ Jon's birthday. Jon had to work, so the boys and I ate finger foods and watched movies. We celebrated Jon's birthday the next day.

This picture is from Jon's graduation.

This is what Jon does with the boys while I'm working.

Austin on his new bike.

Coy riding his bike.

The boys with their gingerbread house.