November 2011

There are new babies born in my family every year. The newest arrival is from my sister Valayne and Peirce. Her name is Gema and she was born in September. I didn't get a chance to meet her until October and got to see her again in November. She is the sweetest baby and so cute. I got to babysit for a few hours while Valayne and Peirce when to a neighbors for a party. Even though she slept the entire time I was there, I was happy Valayne let me spend a little one on one time with her.

For Thanksgiving this year Jon and I both had the whole weekend off. That is the first time in our marriage that we both had all four days off. Jon's sister Kari and her husband Mike came up for the holiday. They used our camper and camped at a state park not too far from our house. We spent Thanksgiving dinner at our house and it was so nice to be together all four days. Here is a picture of Coy with Mike.

One of the things we did Thanksgiving weekend was visit Kari's and Mike at their camp site. We grilled hot dogs, and hung out in front of the camp fire. Austin played with the hot wheels Kari bought him and Coy learned to jump rope. It took all of us to show him how; he got better but still needs to practice.

We bowled in the Turkey Doodle Tournament on the 26. Coy and Jon were on a team. Austin and I were on another. If you bowled three strikes in a row you got a turkey. Jon got his in the first game. That was the only turkey won in our family. We all had so much fun and the boys are bowling better all the time. Next year they just might win their own turkey.

October 2011

The boys started another season of bowling. They are on the same team this year and with other kids their age. Better than last year because they were both with older kids. Here they are with their trophies from last season, trophies didn't come in until after the season ended. So they got them on the first day this year. Austin placed second last year and Coy 5th. Not to bad since they were the yongest on the league.

We said goodbye to our foster puppies this month. It was harder for me to let them go because I'm not at the shelter to see the homes they end up in. The boys are so used to the fosters, they have no problem when it is time for the puppies to leave. They were good puppies and Sardine, ( in Coy's arms) was the favorite.

Our tenth wedding aniversary was this month. It was Jon's year to plan our big date; he took me to Lake Tahoe. It was where we went for our honeymoon. We stayed for a week and left the boys at home. It was so much fun getting away; just the two of us. We stayed in a beautiful resort, went on a cruise of the lake, stayed out late every night and slept in every morning. Although we missed the boys, we had a had time leaving.

We went to a castle while in Lake Tahoe. It was shut down for the winter so we couldn't go inside; but we got to walk around the grounds. It was built in the early 1900's out of all natural material. What I thought was cool was, there were no nails used.

For Halloween we went to my friend Ric and Leslie's and trick or treated in their neighborhood. We stayed out for about two hours and got a lot of candy. Coy was a pirate and Austin the breakfast of champions. Both boys had a good time and everyone complemented them of their costumes. They are already talking about what they want to be next year.

Austin as the Wheaties Box.

All of us on Halloween.

September 2011

The boys started soccer this month. This is the first time they have been on the same team. I'm so happy! They have both been doing very well and listing to their coach better this year.

Coy lost both his front teeth. He loves to smile and show everyone he has no teeth.

Jon has been doing some work around the house. We have a new driveway and he has also been working on our road. He has done a great job! Here Jon is giving Austin a ride while he works.

The boys and I went to Las Vegas for a weekend to see my sister Bethany and her family. We had so much fun! We just hung out at her house most of the weekend, but we got to meet her boyfriend, Rob and his two kids. Coy and Austin are already calling both boys their new cousins. Here are the boys with Nash, (Bethany's youngest).

Here is a picture of puppies at 1 month. Can't believe how big they got. We think the one Coy is holding is a Jack Russell Terrier and the other an American Bulldog. We will be keeping them for a few more weeks before returning to the shelter.

I have some exciting news; I'm leaving the shelter to work with a vet. We used to work together at the shelter. He is opening his own practice and taking me with him. I'm sad to leave the shelter but excited to be with the vet 5 days a week.

August 2011

The boys started school this month. Coy is in second grade and Austin is in 1st. Its seems like just yesterday they were babies. Both boys love their new teachers. Here they are on the first day.

We are fostering another set of puppies. 5 puppies came into the shelter but we only took two. They are 10 days old, boys and two very different types of dogs. Sardine is very small, brown and white. Champ is twice the size and black and white. Not sure what breed yet. Here is Coy with Sardine.

Champ

Austin with Champ.

I celebrated my birthday on the 31. Jon is the best when it comes to my birthday. We celebrate it for 21 days and call it the 21 days of Malyn. He doesn't buy me something everyday; but he will cook, clean, help the boys with their homework and yes buy me presents. Here is a picture of my new anniversary band. October will be our 10 year anniversary. I was so surprised to get my ring early!

July 2011

It was vacation time for the Dexter family this month. Jon got three weeks off, I only got a week. We decided to go to New York to see Jon's family. We did so many things that I couldn't fit everything into my post. So here are a few highlights. Here we are at the Statue of Liberty. You can't go inside any more with out a reservation. And since we didn't know that, we were unable to go in. So we walked around outside, ate lunch and went to the gift shop. I think the boys liked the gift shop best.

We rode a ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Here are my boys with NYC in the back ground.

We went into NYC and saw so many things. We took a double decker bus tour, we saw time square, the 9/11 memorial, Wall street, and the Empire State Building. It was a lot to see in one day, but so much fun. The boys were so good and couldn't wait to see what we did next. Here we are at the top of the Empire State Building.

When we were visiting Jon's parents, we went to a Mets game. Jon loves the Mets and we see them play every year in AZ, so it was fun to see their home game. Too bad my favorite player was injured and they lost the game. Guess that gives us an excuse to go back someday for another game. Here we are at the game with Jon's mom.

While visiting Jon's parents we went to Bushkill falls in PA. We went on a 2 hour hike to see some waterfalls, then had a picinic. It was a hot day with lots of walking for the kids, but it was so beautiful to see all the falls that it was worth it. Here is Jon and Austin on the hike.

One of our stops is in Little Falls, New York to see Jon's mother's family. We don't do too much other than visit and eat lots of good food. It is so laid back with the Quinn's that time flys. I always hate when it's time to leave. Here is Jon and the boys with Grandpa, Grandma, sister Kari, cousin Natalia, and his aunt Shelly.

Our reason for going to New York was to see Jon's cousin Rob, get married. The wedding was so much fun. Lots of family, good food, and lots of dancing. Here are boys with their cousin Connor, Rob and his beautiful bride Kelsey.

At the wedding, Austin was a dancing machine and danced with all the ladies. He didn't care if they were dancing with someone else; He'd just tap them on the shoulder and start dancing. It was so much fun watching him pick who he'd dance with next. Here he is with his favorite bridesmaid. He picked her the most. We did a lot in the week I was there. Jon and the boys did tons of other fun things while there. It was so nice to see everyone and can't wait until we can do it again.

June 2011

We don't always do fun things at the Dexter house. The boys have been doing more chores around the house this month; and they actully like their new jobs. Coy was so excited to vacuum for the first time. I don't think he'll always feel this way for I had to take a picture.

We went to visit two of my sisters, Valayne and Shirine, for a day. It was fun to hang out and get the kids together to play. The boys love that they had lots of cousins. They even brag about it to their friends. Here are the boys with Hazel, Jackson and baby Ammon. I'm not very good at getting down to visit my family very often. But I promise I'll do better.

Austin, Hazel and Ammon.

We did some shopping while hanging out with Valayne and Shirine. Here is Ausitn and Jackson at Old Navy. The kids had more fun taking this picture than they did shopping.

May 2011

We celebrated our 5th year as a family. It seems like just yesterday we were standing in front of the judge, adopting the boys. I'm so happy the boys are ours! Here we are on our adoption day.

I went to Florida for work training this month. I was there with another girl from work for 5 days. We stayed at one of the Disney Resorts. While there, I learned a lot for work but we also headed to Disney World one day and I also had a chance to see Jon's Aunt Maureen and Uncle Steve. We went out for dinner to Fulton's crab house. We had so much fun! I also ate a lot of good sea food. Here I am with Maureen at the crab house.

Jon had weekends off this month so we went camping most weekends. Here is Coy after catching his first fish. He tried for 5 days and didn't catch anything, but he didn't give up. Jon took him out on the last day we were there and he finally got one.

Austin's first fish. He was so proud of himself. He was quite the little fisherman.

Austin graduated from kindergarden this month. He said his lines, that he practiced, perfectly and sang every song.

Austin's big smile after getting his diploma.

April 2011

My sister M'Lee's daughter, Brinlee got married in April. The boys and I made a trip to see my family and see Brinlee at the reception. She looked so beautiful and happy. I'm glad that we were able to make it. We only stayed for the weekend but we had so much fun visiting with everyone. Here is Austin and Brinlee.

Here I am with my sister Shirine's kids, Jackson and Hazel. Jackson loves to smile!

We had a fun Easter. We started off the morning looking for the boy's Easter baskets. They found them too easy this year. I guess that means the Easter Bunny needs to try harder at hiding them. After the baskets, we went to church. I joined the choir at our church and was singing that Sunday. I love that Jon and the boys were there to listen. The picture is the boys in their new outfits. After church we grilled a big lunch and rested. Later it was time for the Easter egg hunt. This year I hide two special eggs with money in them. Both the boys found one.

Austin hunting for Easter eggs.

Jax and Juice where finally old enough to go to their new homes. I wish they could have gone together but at least they both went to very good homes. As you can see they turned out to look more like a lab and less like a pit bull.

March 2011

We finally made it to Tucson so we could celebrate Coy's 7th birthday. We went to see Jon's sister Kair and her husband Mike. We went to the park and fed ducks and had a cake that night. The next day we headed to the Children's Museum. We all had fun and want to go back soon. Here is Coy taking a slide on the firepole.

Austin checking out his future career at the museum.

Here are the boys outside of the museum.

The boys and I went with my friend, Cathy and her kids to the Luke Airforce base airshow. The line was so long to get in it took more than an hour to get in for the show. All the kids had a good time. They even got to sit on a few differnet planes.

Jon was awarded Dirstrict Officer of the year for 2010. The award ceremony was this month and I was so happy that I could get the day off work so I could be there. He looked so handsome.

February 2011

We started February off with a trip to Urgent Care. I got a call from Austin's school that he turned too fast into a wall and cut his eye. When I got to the school to pick him up, he was covered in blood. We headed to the Dr. and 30min later he had 4 stitches. He was so excited to show his friends that he asked to go back to school. He thought it looked really cool.

For Valentines day, we never go out. Jon makes dinner. This year he sent me flowers at work, then when I came home, the kids were feed and homework was done. The boys watched a movie, while Jon and I had a romantic dinner. He made stuffed shells and greenbeans. He is turning into a good cook. We had a fun night together.

On the 16th, Coy turned 7. He picked bean burrito casserole and broccoli for dinner. A Ben 10 cake and ice cream for dessert. We are planning a weekend in Tucson to finish celebrating. Due to Jon's work schedule we were unable to go in February. Coy was really good about waiting because he wanted all of us there.

Our foster puppies have been keeping us extra busy. They no longer sleep as much as they did and they want to eat all the time. We all help with the bottle feeding and the boys love it. In a few weeks we can start giving them more solid food. That will be nice because I really need some sleep. Jax got very sick and we almost lost him. One night he was very cold, hadn't eatten all day and he was having a hard time breathing. When Jon and I went to bed that night we took little Jax with us. Jon rubbed him all night and at 4 in the morning, Jax was finally ready to eat. This really has stunted his growth and he is now the smallest puppy out of the litter. I'm just glad we were able to save him.

We got to see some of my family for a weekend. M'Lee's son Mitchell was playing in the state championship for high school basketball. The nice thing was he was playing in Prescott. That's not too far from us so we saw him play twice. In the end, his team took second place. M'Lee and family came, my Mom, Valayne and Rusty. It was fun to hang out and watch Mitchell play. He is a really good player, and I'm not just saying that because he is my nephew.

We found out that Jon was awarded district officer of the year for 2010. The award will be given March 10 at an award ceremony in Flagstaff. Jon is the first Camp Verde officer in ten years to get the award.

Austin happy with stitches.

Austin smelling my valentine flowers.

Coy's 7th birthday.

Jon feeding Juice.

The boys with Jax and Juice.