Arizona Trip #2

I didn't take many pictures on my return trip to Arizona, but here are a few... it's hard not to take pictures of baby X every two seconds! He is so dang cute!!!

Tirscha, Xavier and their cousin, Nico, from San Francisco

The Gomez Family
The Gomez family plus one random white girl...One of these things is not like the others...The closest I'll ever get to a brother and sister:Oh, that sweet baby smell!!!Jeremi and Sara

Pictures from Arizona

This has been an incredibly hard post for me to organize and get online. These are the pictures from our trip to Arizona for Uncle Bud's funeral back in August. These are the last two days that I spent with Trenda.

The trip in itself was for a very sad occasion, but, despite the circumstances, our family was glad to be together. It was the first time Mandy and our little Texas family got to meet baby Xavier, and it was the first time Marshall and his cousin Knolan played together!

The kids enjoying Knolan's slide!Molly in one of my favorite places to be - Aunt JoAnn's pool!

This picture shows just how much Trenda adored her new little grandson!
Krista gettin' a little chunka with a side of monka!Of course, a visit to Arizona wouldn't be complete without a stop at Grandpa Benny and Grandma Geneva's house! Here Molly is playing with her favorite toy - "Stinky" a silly little bird who repeats everything you say in a really, REALLY annoying voice. Molly and Grandpa always have so much fun with that thing!

Molly and her orange tree...

Great-Grandparents

Back at Aunt JoAnn's the day we were heading back to Houston.

Nana's kids

About an hour after we took this shot, Tren walked me and the kids out to my rental car. We said our good-byes as Tren buckled Molly and Marshall into their car seats and gave them hugs and kisses. Tren and I were both excited because I was set to return the following Friday for a visit over Labor Day weekend... my first trip to Arizona without the kids! Trenda and I were excited to spend some good girl time together without being on the kids' schedule for once.

I wish I had been given some hint of what was to come so that I could have spent a few minutes that day telling Trenda how much I love her and how much joy and love she brought into my life.

Tea for Two

While we were in Arizona for Uncle Bud's funeral back in August, Paul took the kids to Shannon's parent's house while the rest of the family went to the reception at the church after the services. Marshall was in need of a nap and while he slept, Paul and Molly decided to have a tea party, but instead of just raiding the Matwick's kitchen for supplies, they decided to make all the tea necessities out of paper.

I am always amazed at Paul's patience and creativity. Stuff like this always blows me away and makes me so happy he's my baby daddy ;o)

The Tea PotMolly and Daddy's cupsMarshall's place-mat :
Molly said it's decorated with "stinky toots"cookiesThe table is set:It's tea time!

Another Tooth Bites the Dust

Molly had a very wiggly tooth for several weeks that had been driving both of us nuts. Aunt Dana tried to pull it while we were in Florida at the beginning of August, but Molly just wasn't having it. Finally I bribed Molly with a new beanie baby if she'd let me yank the tooth once and for all.

Second tooth lost: August 23rd
(Molly's first day of Kindergarten)

I am so grossed out at the idea of pulling teeth, but that wiggly tooth had to go! Molly with her "bribery bear" and her tooth box.
She got another $2 bill from the tooth fairy