Emalee is on to High School ! No more Jr High DRAMA!

Emalee had her 8th grade graduation. It was a nice ceramony. It was held at the new High School that she will attend. She enjoyed picking out her dress and getting all dressed up. Of, course she had to add a splash of purple to her wardrobe. This is her favorite color. My sister Ally made her a pretty purple flower for her hair. It was fun doing a phot shoot of her before the graduatation

We didnt' get the best of seat so I was not able to take pictures. There was so many heads in the way.

Proud Mom

Proud Dad

Proud Cousin Briana and cousin Blake

Proud Sissy

These are some of Emalee's Young Women Friends.

Emzzz was pampered with gifts from her aunties and friends.

Good Job Emalee we know you will be a great FRESHMAN NEXT YEAR!

CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS!

Look at these happy girls with their #1 fingers up.

WOW, What a great season and what a great game. We played a great game on Saturday. In the middle of a 105 degree weather. The girls pulled in off. We won the Softball game 6-0. THe first 3 innings remained 0-0. THe 4th inning we loaded the bases and a grand slam was hit by Jenna.

Great Job Jenna. We are off to play San Tan League and Gilbert Leage. If we keep winning we go to the WORLD SERIES of Little League... This is all great practice for the high school teams..

I was so proud of my girls. They worked so hard at fielding practice and then batting practice 3 days a week and games on the weekends since February. Not to add, because Mike and I are board members they stayed at the ball park selling concessions and doing home work under a tree.. Now that they are on to Championship. They will practice intensly for 2 weeks straight with a tournament games 4 days in a row. WOW......

I can't wait...

Manager and Coach Gail. She is so sweet. She loves these girls and she loves SOFTBALL. She nicked names Ashlee "Smiley" Why you ask?

We love you Gail.

Emalee's 1st Stake Dance

She turned 14 and wanted to go to her 1st stake dance. I was excited for her and she was even more excited. Remember those days?
The girls she would have gone with could not go and she was still wanting to go. So, ME being the Mom that I am called our Sweet Young Women's President Jorgie, and asked her what one of the girls in Young Women who she thought she could pair up with. She gave me a few names. Emalee was shy and didn't want to call them. So she then decided not to go to the dance. With in just a few minutes. One of the Laurell's Ashley Farrin called Emalee on her cell phone and told her to please come to the dance and that she would look for her and she could hang around with her and her friends. This made Emalee so happy ( and me the mom in tears) and so she decided to go to the dance. Allison my sister came over to help her get ready and give her pointers about boys. I guess, Im the Mom and the Younger Hip Sister Allison knows more than me. (LOL, Whatever). So Allison, Ashlee and I drove her to the church. We parked and Emalee suddenly became Shy, She didn't want to go in. She saw everyone walking in with people and she was alone. She didn't like that. So we kept trying to persuade her to go in for at least 30 minutes. She got out of the car and then back in the car. We all laughed and giggled with her. However, she was soooo nervous.. ( It was funny) So I told her go inside and we will wait here. Look around and if you see friends text me to leave. I told her she looked so pretty and to walk in with confidence. I will wait here until you text me. Emalee was still hesitant. So Ashlee her little sister was so annoyed and said, " Geeeez, Emalee come on. She grabbed her hand and ran with her barefoot into the church and checked her in and then out came Ashlee shaking her head.. Allison and I laughed at her.

With in 5 minutes. She text, " OMG, All my friends from school are here!" Of course, I did a " I told you" She saw Ashlee Farrin and they looked at each other and waved, I think Ashley Farrin knew that Emalee found her friends and they made that consumption through a hand wave. So, Jorgie and Ashley if you ever read this. Thank you for helping Emalee get to the dance. Your act of kindness got her there.

She had a great time. She said she prefers church dances over school activities. I love the thought that you don't need a dance card or you don't need to wear Church dress to go to the dances. They invite all youth and except you as you are. They all know the rules that they are to abide by and the youth are respectful. Something about a dance in a church I guess.

Ashlee, her little sister said, I'm glad Emalee is older, This way I know that she will be with me and help me when it's my turn. I said, That, is right. Sisters will always be there for each other.

Just had too journal this. I don't want to forget it.

ARIZONA STATE GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM GAME AND TOUR

This was one of the most memorable days that we have had as a family since living in Arizona! The Queen Creek Heat Softball Little League of over 400 girls was invited to the ASU girls softball game as special guest. This was a great way for the younger girls to realize what they can aspire to. We had so much fun take a look at the fun things we got to do besided watch the game. !

The ASU campus is so neat. This is the official stadium just for the ASU Girls Softball Players

The girls stood in line as they were waiting to tour the locker room of the ASU players.

In the hall way wall of their locker room is clippings of thier great accomplishments. Along with the word " BELIEVE" this word as so much meaning.

w

LOOK AT THESE GIRLS. National Champions for 2008. Hopefully 2009

More great history in this hall of fame. Ashlee is like her Mom, Must take pictures.

History is awesome

Look at this fun locker room. This is where Emalee and Ashlee just sat on the couches and pretend that this is thier locker room. They were invisioning and it was so sweet. The ASU players had notes from friends on their lockers and little motivational quotes taped on their locker doors and walls.

No matter what Girls will be Girls. You gotta have curls for softball !

player lockers, I know, I know bras and all.

a smelly sock? I guess for luck?

This is painted on the ceiling leading into the dug out.

The game was even on tv

My girls watching the players warm up.

GO ASU!

All the girls from the league went on the field for the national anthem!

Last team huddle before the game

After the game the girls got the players autographes on cups and shirts.

My girls love Katie (katleyn) Cochran. She is from Yorba Linda California.

14 home runs and 51 RBI's, in 2008 The Best hitter Orange County ever produced.

What I love about her is that she play outfield. The positions that most girls don't want to play.

However, she is the best at it and is the best hitter on her team. We love you Katie,

Go KATIE !

Ashlee added purple and silver to her wardrobe!

Here is my Ashlee. Yep, She is still smiling. She smiles now because she wants everyone to know she is wearing purple and silver this spring BRACES that is... Mike and I thought it was time to get her to the Orthodontist. We told her as soon as we see that she is a good teeth brusher we will get her braces on. Even though she needed them several years ago. It wasn't until now that we seen that she is a consistant brusher. Her nic name is SMILEY and so with the braces she glows even more. If you know Ashlee she is always smiling and laughing. That is a good thing to be known by. So 100.00 bucks a month and 2 years later. She will have perfect teeth... Good thing Emalee and Haylee don't need braces... I can only afford 3 kids and that is pushing it...

HONOR ROLL STUDENT AND STAR STUDENT

Haylee was chosen as Star Student in her class for the 2nd time this year. She also recieved an award for Being on the Honor Roll. She was recognized at a school asembly for her hard work. Haylee's teacher is the best. She is such a positive Roll model for her students. If you need to know who is a great 4th grade Teacher at her school ask me I will tell you. Haylee inspires me and makes big things seam so small. She takes on big challenges and they seam so little to her. For such a small child that is huge. Her teachers have told me that she is a huge example in her class of a go getter. She is a non comformist and doesn't follow others and is not afraid to be different. This year her teacher said she did very well on her AIMS testing and is soooooo ready for the 5th grade.. I still can't believe my baby is a 5th grader.. I wish she was still little. Now, if we can get her to clean her room.... We love you Haylee, thanks for being a positive roll model to your friends.

Creative Sister Hands

Today, The weather in Arizona was cold and rainy. Well, it is cold for us. We decided to make a day of staying home and let the girls decorate the eggs and we would watch movies all day. This was a good day because I'm also not feeling the best. Can't tell if I have some new Arizona allergies or a pretty bad head cold. Having a fever and chills all day is no fun either. The best thing is that now that my girls are older they let me sleep all day Saturday and they pampered me so I would feel better.. Thank you girls. Today they did a HELP YOUR SELF EASTER! It was pretty neat to see them doing all the things that I normally do for them every year. The way the set everything up to prepare the eggs for decorating si what I did for them. When your kids are little it was fun to do everything for them. Now as they are getting older it is neat to see them do what you taught them. It is a proud moment to see such little girls turning into sweet young women. We usually celebrate Easter fun stuff on Saturday and on Easter Sunday we talk about the Meaning of Easter. I'm so glad I can start to see the traditions they are carrying on. It makes me feel good as a parent.



Sister hands decorating together.





The eggs turned out pretty. I love the colors of Easter !

This Egg is for EDWARD CULLEN... From the girls.

This is my version of an Easter basket. Cute little gift bags with out the Easter Grass. I can't stand Easter grass it stick everywhere and you find it a year later on your pant leg. I have been through 11 Easters grass experiences and still don't like it. I think one year I found edible grass. That was fun. These bags are easy and cute and I can re-cycle them. I filled the bags with easy stuff like lip gloss, hair clips, glitter stuffs, blank cd's to make music on, cute thought books, I shopped using coupons and sale items and spent a total of 30 bucks. These bags were full to the top. with items not candy. I forced my self to go out and go shopping even though I was sick. I'm so glad I didn't run into anyone. You would have been afraid of me. I could tell the ladies at Ulta were afraid to help me. (ha ha) I looked horrible. The girls were happy and it showed on thier face. Since we stayed home all day today we decided to give Easter treats today (saturday) This was fun it gave them stuff to do and play with.

We hope you and enjoyable Easter Weekend! Can't wait to read about your traditions.

Easter Weekend

This is Haylee and her Egg Demonstration.. To cute had to post...

What Can I say It's Softball Season

No Time to Blog, Don't you know its Softball Season?

I thought I should go to the blog world and see what is going on. I can't believe that it has been a month since I have blogged or even looked at another blog. I have had my California friends email me and say " UPDATE PLEASE" Even my friends in my church ward have asked if I was bloggin anymore. There is so much to say. I don't know where to start. We have been so busy with school Science Fair Project, Young Women Stuff, Activity Day Stuff, Softball Stuff and Finally getting our back yard done. Ohh yeah. and WORKING FULL TIME

I think the best part is being involved in Softball in the QC.. ( Queen Creek) It's funny that people call it that. The QC.. They make it look like we live in Orange County when there are Cows outside my bedroom window. I just call in QC for short.. ( laugh laugh,) anyway. The QC softball Little League is GInormous out here. Mike and I decided to just jump in and start volunteering. We wanted to make new friends and get acquainted with other parents. I can not tell you how many people are from California out here. They all moved her for different reasons but It is cool to talk to people from your home town area. We talk about landmarks and other places. It's been fun. Mike and I are Junior Representative for the League. We were voted in and have taken our title and just ran with it. We have 5 teams that we are over and have met with the coaches. We are to make sure that they have all their equipment and use the safety equipment and obey the softball rules. THERE ARE SO MANY ! Things have changed since I played softball. We started with tryouts and a draft. It was cool to see the coaches out on the field taking notes on their players they wanted to draft. Mike had to step in and draft a team as well. One of the coaches hadn't been chosen yet. We had tons of girls sign up last minute and had to create a team. Once the draft was over practices begin. We practice for 4 weeks and then the season begins. We are now on our 1st week of games. We have 415 girls playing on the league and 46 teams. This is the 2nd year for QC Heat LL. We are excited about this year and the parent participation is amazing. I think it is great to live in a newer city where people are excited to be here. They all put in allot of effort to making it a NEW tradition. It is neat to be apart of that.

Mike and I at opening day. In our RED board shirts.. We are proud to be able to put in the time into making our community a great place for kids. What is great about being on the board is the friends we are making and that we get to be here on the field as a family. We are all here 3-4 times a week and just hanging out. If one of the girls don't have a game they are selling concessions. You walk on the field and you instantly know someone. It feels like home. This is Haylee's team. the Wildcats. I design her banner and had it made. I'm also team mom for her team. She plays in the Minor Division. This is the first year for the girls to pitch. So they are learning skills this level. Even after 1 week we are seeing improvement. Now that I have seen other team banners. I thought next year I want to do something different. I think the girls should design them. Some of the teams had glittered softballs hanging on the bottom of the banners. It was pretty neat some of the different banners.

Emalee and Ashlee play on the Wildcats Junior Division. TONS of Competition. Stealing bases, sliding, pickles and fast, fast, fast pitch. This is surely a thinking sport

I LOVE this picture. On opening day we had a parade of teams. They all walked out to the field holding their banners and cheering for their teams. The announcer was there to introduce them. We had at least 1,000 in attendance and had a DJ and a BBQ going with different vendors. Just a great day. As Board Members we had allot to do. We spent 12 hours on the field. This was Emalee and Ashlee's first game. They won and it made them CONFIDENT... You can tell my girls in the crowd. The ones with the dark hair.. (smile) They have made so many new friends. I love it.

Mr. Board Member of Duty. Getting ready to chalk the fields.



The parents as spectators watching the parade..
I guess I could have zoomed in. All 415 girls and their coaches in the outfield. After the announcing of the teams. We did the Little League Pledge" the girls had to repeat the words. The parents and coaches had to repeat their pledge.We raised the flag and did the pledge of allegiance and sang the national anthem. We had the littlest player and the oldest player throw in the first ball to each other. The announcer yelled. "Let the games begin" The season has begun.

Here is my Ashlee at tryouts. As Mike and I sat in the bleachers watching Emalee and Ashlee practice. I got a flash back when they were in T-ball. I just teared up because there has not been a season that they have not played softball. We have always played. In California they played year round. They just finished up a few months ago on the Junior High Team. As I was watching Ashlee I pictured her being that little girl out of the field. Now she is 13 and Emalee is 14. Where did the time go. I have enjoyed this part of their life so much. I'm so glad I introduced them to softball. I don't think I would have ever had done it if it wasn't for their cousin Breanna Lortie who has a deep passion for softball. She played her entire life as well and even for college. Just the other day Ashlee says she wants to try and hit the ball off of one of Breanna's change up pitches.. BRING IT ON BREEZY !

Happy Birthday Ashlee ! 13 years old

Ashlee turned 13 years old. I wish I could say it seams like yesterday when we brought her home from the hospital as a new born baby and post her baby pictures like everyone else blogs about however, we can't. Ashlee was 3 years old when we first learned that we were going to be her parents. Ever since that day she has looked up to her Dad as being her HERO! She is a Daddy's girl all the way. As her Mom, I love that. It is so cute to look at them be together and hang out doing the silliest things. Like walking along the canals behind our house. Jumping on the trampoline in the back yard. Talking about alternative and classic Rock music and looking at each other while they are singing the words together... It is so funny. Throwing the softball around, Ashlee bring allot of joy to our home and laughter. Her personality is always happy and she smiles ear to ear all the time. I'm so glad that I get to be her Mom. She is full of life and has achieved so much in her young life. She sets high standards for herself and sets high goals for herself as well. She makes us proud.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER !

I have always loved Ashlee's eyes. When she was a little girl I told her all the time her eyes remind me of chocolate kisses. She has become a beautiful young women.

Ok, SO this is Ashlee on her birthday morning. I dragged her out of bed and made her a stack of pancakes for her birthday. As you can see she is smiling this is something she always does. She loves to be happy. When I asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday she said she wanted to go to dinner with her family and she wanted her own camera. So we went to Applebees's and we bought her a new camera. She has been taking pictures of HERSELF ever since.

One of the things I love about Ash is she has her own style. She puts on clothes and makes them look so cute. Before you know it girls at school are asking her where she shops at. She is not ashamed to say Walmart or Target or even Ross. She has her own style and people love that about her. SHE IS REAL. I love that about her as well.

One of my proud moment of Ashlee is when she was chosen to give the farewell speech at her 6th grade graduation. I was so proud of her because she was so nervous. She did a great job and she looked so cute.

Happy Brithday Ashlee.. We all love you. !

GOOD DAY'S AND BAD DAY'S

Today was a real good day !.. It has been a long time since I can say that I had a good day !. We spent the day at the ball park as a family. Mike and I are involved on the Board of Directors for the Little League QC Heat Softball Team. We had over 400 girls sign up for softball. It was amazing to see this.. We had 15 teams of 8-10 years old girls alone Each one of those girls had to be evaluated and tried out in front of the team managers and then a draft took place. My girls had a great day selling concessions, teaching kids how to swing the bat, throw balls and meeting new friends after the tried out. We were there for 11 hours today. There is nothing like being at a ball park all day. ' I LOVE IT" I guess I get it from my Dad. The weather was awesome. the people were great, the sounds of bats HITTING at balls, the sounds of proud parents, the cheering comments being made. IS AWESOME....

The reason why I say it's been a long time since I had a great day is because learning to be a full time working Mom has been challenging for me. I don't know exactly why maybe because I drive 30 minutes from home to work. With traffic I'm gone out of the house 10-11 hours a day. This has been hard for me physically and mentally. I don't see my kids leave for school in the mornings. I don't get to see what they are wearing. I don't get to be the last face they see when they are off to school. I don't get to kiss them goodbye at the door and give them last words of encouragement that I have done for years. I was always able to do that for the last 11 years that I have been a Mom. There are times that I drive to work crying either I'm so tierd from 5 hours of sleep or I'm sad to be going to work. It is very hard to have to turn your kids off of your mind all day and think about how you can make a hospital more money.

Now, I turn my crown over to my husband. He does a fabulous job as being the stay at home Dad. However, it's not meeeeeee... I want it to be me... I know that the field of work that he is in has taken a down turn and jobs are hard to come by. He is in the job search mode everyday. The last thing I want to do is make my BEST FRIEND feel bad that he can not find a job. So I have to except his way of running our home is the best way RIGHT NOW. Until the situation changes..

I have had to make some huge sacrifices and step it up and show him that I can be an equal partner in this and support our family financially. Having experience in the medical field landed me a job to do this. It is a good feeling that I can provide that for ourf amily like he has done the 21 years we have been married. (Although the pay in not the same)

Yes, I see the Mom's in the neighborhood gathering for Park days, going out to lunch, being involved kids class rooms, and other day time activities while Im at work pushing dead lines. I see Mom's taking walks in the loop ending thier day as I drive in my loop exhausted from the day. I walk in the door with my "play-like smile" That I'm ready to START my 2nd job of being a MOM. This is very hard..

I have seen my girls be the biggest help to our family situation like I have never seen before. They are sensitive to my needs and they are thoughtful. Haylee will go get my slippers and Ashlee and Emalee will have the house straighten up and Mike will have all the laundry done and dinner ready. All the stuff that brought me such great joy when I could do that for him) They know that when Mom gets home that she likes things to be settled and the night belongs to family. We sit, eat dinner, talk, laugh, plan, watch tv, enjoy quality family time together. It is so nice to shut the door on the world and just enjoy our Heaven on Earth. I'm sure you would agree that there is nothing like "quality family time" I think it is important to have that each day.....

I love where I live and thankful that I'm starting to feel at home. My familiar things are becoming familiar again. I'm thankful for a good day. Plain and Simple The situation will change one day but for now I stay busy with what makes my family feel good. Right now,

" IT"S ALL ABOUT SOFTBALL" Mike and I decided that we will loose ourselves in serving our community to make it a better place for our kids and yours...

Haylee mentioned to me on the way home that she had a great day! I asked her what was so great about it? She said, "Being able to help other people have fun" I said, "Well someone has to do it so it might as well be our family"

I guess we can say we have more TIME than MONEY to give.. so why not get out and help others have fun!

Family Home Evening

So tonight, We sat with the girls and explained what the Inauguration means. We went a little over history of how Martin Luther King's speech changed the world. How President Lincoln freed the Black People from Slavery. And the most important how President-Elect Obama will be our New President of the United States. I learned from listening to Anderson Cooper talk today I learned a few facts that I didn't know. Maybe you knew I for one did not. So, sorry if I appear to be naive about History.
1. Every Inauguration takes place on January 20th at 12:00 noon.
2. That Slaves help build the White House from the Foundation up.
3. That every oath that each President repeats in the same Oath. (sorry didn't know that)
4. That every inauguration speech usually has an important quote that is remembered through out out time. ( I wonder what Pres Obama's will be)

So, We talked to the girls about these important facts so they had a clear understanding that they were witnessing History in our Country. That at one time Black people were to sit at the back of the bus and now they have moved to the front of the bus so that we can sit together.

I have to add what a Beautiful Country we live in. We can all stand from different walks of life and be united and call ourselves AMERICANS. We are free to live how we choose, and be proud of that choice.

We should all be so proud of what is about to take place tomorrow at noon.. I add my prayers to everyone elses that President-Elect Obama will be lead by inspiration and that he will remember what his knees are for. Tomorrow will be a great day.

I AM ....

I am

I am... obsessed with a clean house, organized drawers and cabinents.
I think...how excited I'am for my girls to enjoy experiences in thier life
I love my family
.I want...to feel safe everywhere I go
.I have... a kid for a husband
.I miss...My Daddy
I fear...cancer and loosing loved ones
I feel...relaxed from a quiet weekend.
I hear...Mike watching football
I smell...chocolate chip cookings baking in the oven
I crave...sleep
I cry...when I leave for work in the morning. I miss my kids
I search...for funthings to do
I wonder...why people do the things they do.
I regret...not seeing my Dad before he died.
I wish...I could take all my sisters and brother and thier wives and kids on a long vacation
I love...my family
I care...about what my girls are doing at all times.
I always think about walking every night and never do it. grrrrrrrrrrrr.
I worry...about the economy and pray for it.
I am not...going to let other offend me.
I remember...how perfect and simple life was when we were first married.
I believe I have the best husband ever
I sing...Songs from Mama Mia
I don't always...read my Scriptures like I should (I'm working on it)
I argue...when I am passionate about something
I write...on my blog
I lose...my mind all the time.
I listen...music all the time. I don't like a quiet house.
Ican usually be found...at home or at the computer
I need...find joy in everyday living no matter what how I spend the day.
I forget...to call people back.... sorry
(I am happy...with who I am.... I guess you get that way when you are 40 (ish)


Tag! You're it! (Yep! That means you...who ever reads this!)

Viewing my Blog

Just wanted to let everyone that views my blog that I'm going to be setting it to Private invites only. I have had some comments made on my blog by people I do not know. I feel that my blog is my journal. I don't want to have to abbreviate names or give disguise names. I try and print my blog entrees and store them as well. I also feel a little uncomfortable on having others being able to click on a picture and being able to store them in thier computer. I little scary.

If you would still like to view the blog please email me and I will add you to the list of viewers.

Have a good day !

This School District! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I have to share this, Or I should say I have to vent. Not to go into details because I will be up all night. My daughter Emalee has been having the hardest time with this one girl at school. After about the first month of school these group of girls do not like her because she is Hispanic and she acts caucasion. They told here she was stupid that she looks hispanic and dresses like a white girl. Well, this just bugged me to tears. I just don't get how some girls can be so rude and mean. Emalee has been dealing with her all year. Last Friday this girl and her "posey" gave her such a hard time. They were yealling at her in Spanish and telling her she was ugly and they wanted to beat her up. (those are nice words)Ashlee, her sister just pushed her onto the bus and told her to just go. These girls literally tried to pull her off the bus to harrass her. We have reported this behavior before and now were were going back to the school to report it again. I don't understand how this brand new School district can employee such stupid people. I asked the school if they had any type of "Bully"Program and if they had a 0 tolerance for Bullying at school. They said NO.. I said WHAT? So I asked, Do you just keep giving kids chances all the time until they come to school with a weapon and hurt someone. Of course there was no answer to that question. Let me go back one more step. When this bullying started happening at the beginning of the school year. Emalee was told that she and this other girl better not be back in the office for this same reason of they would be suspended.. WHAT? Emalee is the victim here. I later found out that this Girl being the bully has a HUGE behavior problem and takes classes for her anger.. I asked the stupid councilor. So where and who does my daughter go to when she feels scared at school? Who is going to protect her. How many days does she have to come home from school afraid and hurry down the street so she isn't followed. So, I could'nt handle the stupidity anymore and had to let my husband step in. He made a few phone calls and talked with the PRINCIPAL. Well, he basically said I will hold you responsible if my daughter is hurt at school. One more incident and we will call the police. I have to say. I'm not thrilled with this school district here. I feel as if these teacher and administration at the school are there for a pay check and that is it. They don't care about these kids.. I'm exploring other options as soon as I can...

Remember, the saying. It takes a Village to Raise a Child... WRONG.... Like the little blinkie says on my blog.. I've seen the Village I'll raise my own kids... I just want school to be the way it was when I was a young girl. It is sad that my kids have to have experiences like this. How would you deal with thi situation? How do you get the school district to start thinking about student safety here? I just don't get it.

Sorry so Long, I just can't stop thinking about it..

Getting ready to do our back yard !

Our back yard is soooo sad. When we bought our house we had the front landscapeing done and we didn't have the back done. (mistake). If you are ever going to buy a brand new house. Get the yards done before you move in. It is such a headache to try and decide what to do. We have a much smaller back yard than we did in our California house. That yard alone was a half acre. I like a more tailored clean look to keep the yard looking that way took a miracle. It was hard to keep the weeds out. It was a great back yard for the girls when they were little. We had a slab of cement that went around the back yard. They girls could ride thier bikes around and around. It was thier own little park. Now they are getting older they just want to lounge around and listen to music and jump on the trampoline.

This yard is way smaller. I love that we have allot of privacy because we live by a huge farm field. In the mornings it is neat to open up my big windows in my room and see the cows in the fields with the beautiful sunrise behind them. SO PRETTY !. I feel like we live in the country. I will take pictures next time. I love to lay in my bed and look out the window into the field.

Ok, so back to our yard. We have all dirt.. Just a clean canvas. What to do? gravel, grass, We thought about a pool but we don't want the expense and time needed to clean in. Also, its not in the budget. Our cooling bill in the summer is outrageous, can you imagine with a pool. We know we want to do a patio area with a fire pit. (we love outdoor fires) and also a speaker system for music... Living in Arizona, your grass dies in the summer and you have to reseed it all the time. I have heard of people painting their grass green in the winter.. Now, that is weird... So send me some ideas.. ? I can decorate a house, but not a yard...