Moving forward with 2009 one day at a time

To say that 2009 has seemed like an uphill battle so far would not be too far off. It has been one challenge after another. Bill (my father in law) died a few days after Christmas and then I got a concussion that I kept re-injuring, I was on the job hunt because...well the kids have to eat... I started a new job very part time, got sick lost my voice, the kids all got LICE from somewhere while I was sick as ... mom has a growth that is going to require surgery and that ugly "C" word was thrown around in the Dr visits.... it has been an uphill battle.

As January came to a close I had high hopes for February! So high that I almost felt bad for it in some ways, in others, I thought as long as no ones dies or the plagues of the earth are not unleashed it has to be better right???

I did however keep saying to myself, things will work out...they ALWAYS do. My girlfriend Patty reassured me of this...telling me, Amy you have had all kinds of crap thrown at you in your life and it does always work out...and always for the best...

So far February is been an okay kind of month, Max and I go to "work" together everyday. What started out as something to put a little bit of food on the table has turned into more. I must say I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I am!

Mom had an old friend visit and it was a fun distraction to have her here. We enoyed the Desert Botanical Gardens her last night here..

Sandra called excited that we got a reservation at the camp grounds at Havasupia Falls in the grand canyon. So the next step is to get in better shape these last few month have been a physical setback as well and it is great motivation to loss some pounds and enjoy the beautiful hike with good friends.

Tim is starting baseball and I do love to watch him play, it is his passion and he makes me proud of how he has grown since he started.

Abbey has decided she needs an "E" in her name! She is growing into quite the pre teen. She is playing volleyball and enjoying time with her friends selling girl scout cookies and playing with Max.

Nothing like snow in the desert!

The kids had a half day on Wednesday and a friend said to me at school "Did you see the snow on 4 peaks?" Now 4 peaks doesn't get snow often but when you are in the desert and you can see snow off in the distance it is a thing of beauty! So we drove off to see how long it would take up to reach snow on the side of the road...we found it here, just past sunflower where my Dad worked on the Arizona Trail. Every new mountain that came into view had more snow than the last.

Max was amazed by the "icebergs" that were breaking off the melting snow...

Busy bees....

This has been a busy month!
Max has invented his own form of transportation... just find a kids with a rolling backpack and hop on! Here he is with Ben and mooching a kid off of Abby...he will not ride out the school like this the other kids think it is very funny! I am just thankful he is not darting around the cars so it is a win win!

Tiny took a ride on of Max's cars...

Max has started to go to "work" with mom when she is working at the daycare! He is loving it!

Abby has started up volleyball again! They moved up to the 10-12 year old bracket! There is some serious players they are coming up against!

Max also found a way to stow away! Who wants to take him on their next trip???

I refinished the patio furniture.... Here is the before
and the after!

Not sure...

I am really not sure what to write about today but I fell like I should update something here so lets see where this goes....OH wait I have some pictures!

Every New Years day Tom's mom has a big party, each year it has a theme this year was Chinese New Year.

Max ate a ton of food using kid chop sticks...(note must pick some up)

Here is the Dragon I made with Sue- the head is a kite head hte rest I made....
They had noise makers- not so great when you have a concussion!
Here are the kdis walking down the street with it. They were a little embarssed taking it out on the street they are that age now...but they did it!

Here is Abby with her loot bag, an abacus chinesse jump ropes Po from kung fu panda and lots of fun things....