Kids' Quotes

Marie (using a music stand): Quiet, everyone, I am giving a speech!
Tessa: What is a speech?
Marie: It's where you give a talk. Outside.
Allie: Did you learn that from Mrs. Lynch?
Marie: Yep. It was in a book, about black people and white people.

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Marie: Mom, can we buy donuts at the store?
Allie: No, we need to use this week's grocery money to buy more food storage items.
Marie: Yeah, because one day we will go to the store and there will be a sign that says, "CLOSED."
Tessa: And because one day the store will be shooted down. That's why we follow the prophet.

Denver Temple

Allie and I made it to the Denver temple (thanks, Grandma Jane). Please vote for your favorite picture.

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Rocky Mountain High

We decided to spend the afternoon in Rocky Mountain National Park. We saw a coyote, two deer, chipmunks, squirrels, ducks, and other birds. Also skunk roadkill.

This is Marie at Aspenglen.


Allie was resting in the car with altitude/motion sickness, and Tessa and Ben were asleep, so Marie, Grace, and I walked around the lake.

Next time, I'll bring a rod.

Marie saw a family of ducks.


Grace enjoyed hiking (or, being hiked...).

Tessa after our first little hike (254 feet, according to GPS).

Spirits were high at the beginning of the day.

We ended the day with dinner at a little restaurant in Estes Park. It's a cute, touristy spot about an hour from our house.

The Price of Rice

The kids helped us rotate our food storage.

4th of July

Sitting in the back yard during the picnic.

Who, me?

James and Marie doing fireworks in the front yard.

Allie or Marie?

Grace and her infamous tongue.


James and Allie laughing about the Paley-Weiner Theorem

Allie, Marie, James and Tess playing waterballoon volleyball.

Happy Birthday, Tessa!

Tessa loves the dolls she got from her Grandmas. Maybe one of these years we'll throw her a real party.

Potty Training

Ben has stayed dry for three whole days! We contribute his success to 1) a homemade [pot]ty chair, pictured above and 2) having his bottom hosed off after pooping in his underwear. We are so proud of him! Not bad for a two-year-old (and a boy for that matter).

Company Picnic

This weekend Numerica had a company picnic in the park. The BBQ was catered and the afternoon was complete with face-painting and balloon-tying.

Guess who got the pretty, dark skin?

Grace and a Cookie

Happy Birthday, James!

James turned 32 yesterday! We celebrated the day by purchasing a king-sized bed, eating dinner with plenty of gravy, and opening a stack of presents from the kids (art work wrapped in home-made wrapping paper). His birthday cake was stuffed with chocolate mousse, whipping cream and Oreo cookies. In the evening, we all went to the church for Enrichment night. I hadn't planned on attending since it was his birthday, but apparently he had already signed up to baby-sit. What a guy!

Front Porch in Firestone

This is the view from our front porch (can I say how great it is to have a porch?). It was a great privilege for James to mow a real lawn with a real mower.

Road Trip

Here are some pictures taken during rest stops on our drive from Arizona to Colorado.

Ben is a Babe Magnet

Ben spent his time at our farewell picnic chasing the girls. I guess they saw past the snotty nose and the chocolate all over his face.

This is Allie with Liz from Payson, Utah. Allie's great-grandfather, Alvie Henline, was her family's home teacher for years while she was growing up.

Getting Settled

We have moved in and are pretty much unpacked. Tonight we are going to finish putting up pictures and then we will be ready to go. I'll post some pictures soon.

I don't know how we ever managed without a basement, or a three-car garage for that matter. We will never be able to go back, that is for sure.

Our favorite attraction so far: the rec center. It is much better than the splash park in Sahuarita because it is in-doors and heated to 97 degrees. We encourage all cousins to visit!

Here is a quote from Tessa:

Mom, which side of the sink has the exploder?

Carlie's Wedding

Allie's cousin got married so it was a perfect opportunity to get the kids out of the house while James stayed home to pack. (A huge thanks goes to James.) It was sad to say good-bye to the Mesa Temple!