Little climber

So Savannah has a lot of good friends that she likes to play with. I think one of the reason she loves to play with Tommy is because he's older and he teaches her neat tricks like this one:

One time David (Tommy's dad) comes over to play Halo 3 or Halo Wars and brings Tommy over to play with Savannah. They are having a grand ole time and on one of the times I peeked in on them, here's what I found!! The both of them in her crib.


And as I watch them, I see how they got in! Here's a few photos

Now since this time, during naps and nighttime, she would climb out and fall back asleep at the door (cause we'd keep it close & she wouldn't climb back into bed). So I mentioned this to my good friend and neighbor (Roshelle Moore) and she told me that they were gonna throw away the toddler bed her daughter used, but we could have it. That was so nice of her, so I got it all set up and she's been sleeping in it all by herself! We've had to keep the door open a crack, just so she doesn't freak out. Well at least this way we're not awakened by cries anymore, just her patting on our bed in the middle of the night, or wandering out into the Living Room during her nap times!!!!

I can't believe how grown up she is getting to be!!! She'll be 2 yrs next month! Wow, time goes so fast!

She totes around either her pink Little Tikes chair, or our little wooden stepstool so that she can climb up on it and get to things on the counter or the light switches or anything that is out of reach. She starts to throw little tantrums when she doesn't get her way. She imitates us and she wants to help me out so much with dishes, sweeping, picking up. But one thing that I don't want to EVER go away is how she loves to be cuddled in my arms. That's my favorite part of being a mom!!

Can't wait.....

for lots of things.....

.....a house-probably out in the direction of Buckeye.......

....where I can have a desk for my laptop/computer (which means I can post more often)......

.....for J to be done with school--but that won't be until later next year.....

....then hopefully a better job, that he likes, that is closer to Buckeye......

....to watch Savannah at Christmas this year! I'm so excited for that.....

....to have another baby, sometime next year......(no that's not an announcement)

....a 2nd car-a 4runner?......

....for J to go into Currency Trading......

.....to have enough $$$ -but will that ever happen?.....

.....for pantyhose to not be so uncomfortable-or is it just me?......

.......to have Savannah say more words......

Back to the Future.......

So I've got TONS and TONS of posting to do and it dates back to over a month ago......(not near 30 yrs but still....)

MY BIRTHDAY (October 8th)

Since I LOVE steak, and we don't get to eat it often, we went out to a Steak Restaurant. We'd heard it had great steak and delicious bread. Monti's was wonderful. It is across the street from Tempe Marketplace, on Rio Salado.

Here I am enjoying my juicy, delicious steak. (writing this and seeing this is making me want steak!!)

Savannah was such a good girl when we were in there! I'm so lucky to have a good-natured, fun, funny, little girl in my life!

Here she is up to one of her antics...Peek-A-Boo with Daddy!

After our delicious Steak dinner, we went to Deseret Bookstore. I got the DVD, Errand of Angels, about sister missionaries, and then we got a picture book for Savannah, so that hopefully during Sacrament meetings, she'll sit more quietly.......it works for about 5 minutes!!


Savannah loved sitting at the little table and chair in the childrens section. She'd go find books and then come sit down at the table with them!! It was so darn cute!

QUICK TRIP TO DUNCAN, AZ (Oct 9th & 10th)

So my mom called me, the day we got back from camping. She tells me that she is in Duncan, for her brother's funeral. "WHAT! When did this happen?" I ask her. She assures me that he is actually still alive and well---so why the funeral? He wanted to hear the nice things being said about him, while he was alive!! He wanted to see his family gathered around, while he was still Alive!!! It was a combination of his birthday celebration and funeral! How funny!

My Uncle Son (Warner Foote) and Aunt Ada Mae Foote

So Friday night, (Oct 9th) after J got off of work, we drove to Duncan and stayed at my Aunt Louise's house. Saturday, we have a yummy breakfast of biscuits and gravy!! Thanks to my Aunt Suggie and Aunt Louise. My mom comes from a family of 8 siblings, and four of them are at the breakfast table. As I look around, I notice that they are all wearing these black shirts.

But on the backs of them is written: "I'm Warner Foote's favorite Sister/Brother"

Aunt Pat (representing my Aunt Jessie who couldn't make it), Aunt Louise, Uncle Son, my mom-Sally, Uncle Charles, and Aunt Sandra

Here are all the daughters of my Uncle, he has 9 children, 8 of them were daughters!!!
Bonnie, Deanne, Francie, Chloene, Gwen, Sunny, Fairlene, and Donna Mae
Here's Savannah with her Granny (my mom)

Camping--Part 2

This time at Airplane Flats was really windy. We had to put up a tarp as a windbreaker for our tent-cuz it kept collapsing. (It's a pop-up tent, which is REALLY easy to put up, but also REALLY easy to take down-by hand or wind!!) Luckily for us, Jason's mom gave us her HUMONGOUS tarp. It was so huge, I don't think they make them this huge anymore. We were able to fold it in half and hang it over a rope and string it around 3 trees. I wish we had our camera to take a picture, and I didn't think of having anyone else (Julie) take one of it to show it.

We had our mattress inflated and laying by the car (had to use the car to plug in the air pump). Savannah was in the car, so I got her out and closed the door-unfortunately the mattress was attacked by the corner of the door and tore a big hole in it! We couldn't fix it then, so Lynn and Roger let us use one of theirs.
Most of the time, it was so windy, we couldn't do too much. We enjoyed walks, swinging on the swing, (where I had a crash landing and a good scare!!! My butt was sore 2 days later!) and Savannah loved being with her cousins, Sammy and Bobbie Jo. We also went to the Fish Hatchery. Since Julie and her kids left on Sunday evening (she had a test at ASU West on Monday she couldn't miss) we didn't have a camera to use.
But on Tuesday, we were packing up to leave and Jason cleaned out the car and he found the missing camera battery!!!!! YAY!!!
We left late morning instead of afternoon, so that we could go to the Sinkhole at another campground. We got lots of pictures that day!!!
So here are some pictures from the last day.

Lynn and Roger's van towing their camper trailer

Here is the front seat of the car. We made it so that I sat in the back with Savannah for 3 reasons. I'm next to her. She can see out a window. I can feed her.

Here's the backseat behind driver. Yes, we did use the trunk too!!

On the walk/hike to the Sinkhole, Savannah wanted to touch these markers on the trees!

Here's me, at the gate

Here's Jason

Here's the whole crew in the Sinkhole!

Back: Roger, Lynn, Mandy, Jason

Front: Marcus, Sammy, Lexi, Bobbie Jo, Dessy, Savannah

Marcus, Lexi, Dessy. Jason, Savannah and I took a short cut out of the Sinkhole. You can see J already halfway up the mountainside with Vannah. At the tree, Roger and Lynn would take the younger girls on the trail out, but I would go left and up the steep side, following Jason out.

Camping again!!! Part 1

We must be a glutton for punishment.............We wanted to go camping again. This time we went with my cousin and her family (Julie, Sabrina, Frankie, & Ana), as well as with my sister and her family (Lynn & Roger with their 6 kids and grandbaby). My sister and her husband have a little camper trailer, up by Heber, and since they've never been to Airplane Flats, we thought we'd show them that little campground.
The kids had their Fall Break and so we decided to go at the beginning of their Break, which fell on General Conference Weekend. We all left on Saturday morning, though Lynn and Roger (my sis and bro-in-law) left much earlier than we did. Julie and her crew followed us, since they didin't know where we were going.
The last time we came, we used my other sister's van, but this time we didn't-we should've because our car was SSSOOOO PACKED!! {{{here's where our camera could've been useful!}}Poor Savannah had no windows to see out of on either side of her-which could've been a reason that she cried, the whole way to Payson. She'd NEVER cried this long on a long car trip before. We stopped at Walmart and made arrangements to open up a window view for her. She was better, but ended up falling asleep after about 20 min of the ride--go figure!!!
What's funny is that Lynn called and they were leaving Heber to head to the campground, as we were leaving Payson.......when we got to the turnoff to Young, there they were, in the turning lane, from opposite direction, to turn onto the road too!!! How funny that was! But Jason lost them when we made a turn down the road, and had to come back around. We went down a road and were about to give up and started to turn around, when they come around the corner to us, just in time to follow us---AGAIN! None of this was coordinated--amazing!
Our camera battery was dying, so I bought a new one, and charged it before coming. I didn't put it in the camera right away though, so needless to say, it got lost, and so we didn't have any pictures for most of the trip. I've copied my cousin's pictures and put them on my blog--hope you don't mind Julie!!
She took some really good photos of the kids at the swing. My favorite one (and Jason's) is the last one of him and Savannah walking away.

Here's J letting Savannah try out the swing-kinda!

Here's me handing out marshmellows on the first night there. My bro-in-law, Roger, on the left, J behind me, Frankie on the right, the ponytail of Sammy, and Bobbie Jo in the chair enjoying a marshmellow.

Since we're on the subject of birthdays......

Here are some pictures at the little get together I had for Jason on his birthday, Sept 21st. We had RootBeer Floats!!!

In this pic: Lucie, Savannah, Tommy, Kylie, and Alice (standing) they are all enjoying the treat-especially Kylie! In all 4 of the pics, she's either looking in her cup getting a bite, or she's taking a bite!!!! Hilarious! Jason and me

Here are the Guys! David, Jason, Paul, Ben, and Jeremy. Later, we had DJ and Sara Stapley also come over with their little baby boy, Joseph.

I'm just not much of a picture person, so I missed out on some of the important pics, like the RB Floats, or when he opened the one present I got him! I was actually planning to get him another, but didn't get to by this time and was gonna get it for him the next day, but then we decided we'd get a better TV entertainment center, that would keep Savannah from playing with the Xbox/DVD, and getting her fingerprints all over the TV.

The one we wanted, we've seen at Costco, but unfortunately, when we got there the day after his birthday, they've stopped selling them in the stores-we went to 2 Costcos to be sure! Bummer. So we're on the lookout still for a good TV stand/console.

Another favorite

This month is one of my favorites, though it won't be for very long!!!

Not because of Halloween

Not because the weather cools down

Not because Christmas is just around the corner

b
u
t

b
e
c
a
u
s
e

i
t

i
s

m
y

birthday!!!! (on the 8th--tomorrow)

I figure, since J will most likely NOT announce it for my behalf on the blog, I'd better do it for myself, and since I'm getting up there in age, I won't be able to enjoy it for too much longer!!!
Hope I'm not being to self-absorbing by announcing my own birthday!!!

Favorite

This is one of Jason's favorite funny pictures.

Women's Conference

I had the opportunity to attend the Women's Broadcast last weekend with some friends of mine. It was very uplifting and comforting to be there and listen to the messages. One of the biggest things that struck me was a reminder of my calling as a mother, by Sis Thompson.
I didn't know much about her and found out that she had some goals that were not met. When she was a teenager she had some goals about motherhood. The only goal that she has been able to meet, was the goal of being an active member of the church. She hasn't married, thus she hasn't had any kids of her own either.
It made me realize that on those days that Savannah seems to be on my every nerve, and I get exasperated by her, I need to remind myself that this is what I wanted (to be a mother) when I was younger (which wasn't that long ago). I married later in life and I'm finding that I forget that all those years I was single, all I wanted was to be married and have babies. Well here I am, doing just that, so I must remember, this was and is a goal for me.
This week has actually been different for me. I have not let myself get frustrated with Savannah as I might've in the previous days, and find that I'm letting her be explorative and creative, and a tiny bit mischievous-even if it is a little bit at my cost! For example, she has watched me do dishes and has pushed over a little stool to the sink so that she can "help" me. Previously, I would keep her from doing so, cuz I know she'd make a bigger mess for me to clean up. These past few days, I've let her stand next to me playing with the dishes and the "baboos" (bubbles), enjoying the joy it gives her. Water gets all over her, me and the floor-oh well!!
What a huge blessing in our lives she is. She is learning so much each day, and it is marvelous to see the growth in her. I am constantly in amazement at her and in wonderment at how fast she's growing and missing those days when she was a baby in my arms.
What a wonderful opportunity it is for us mothers to spend time with our little ones, to teach them, care for them, and watch the fruits of our labors as they grow. I am so grateful for my husband, Jason, who works hard, and makes it possible for me to stay home with Savannah. He is so loving and patient with me. I love you Jason!!!
I love being a mother!!!! What a great calling we are given, to be mothers! I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for this opportunity. I know He lives and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. It brings me peace and happiness to know this.

What's with the Frogs theme you ask?

Since it's Jason's birthday on Monday, I figured I'd do a theme of Frogs, since he's taken to favor them, due to his name "PRINCE", and he LOVES the color GREEN too!! So it works out for both of his favorites, do use this theme for a while!!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU JASON! I LOVE YOU!!!

Labor Day camping pictures

So, as I've mentioned in my previous camping post, my family has a tradition of camping every Labor Day weekend at this one obscure place in the mountains between Roosevelt Lake, and Payson-we call it The Apple Orchard.
Here are a few of my favorite pictures:

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Jason's mom, Wendy, has a GMC Denali XL (Suburban) and we loaded it to the hilt! The 3rd row seats were taken out and we filled it clear full-up to the 2nd row seats!!
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When we got off the main road and more than halfway on the dirt road up the mountain, we let Savannah out for a bit. She liked roaming around the SUV more than the scenery!!

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Here are some cousins that found a foam camping pad and started playing on it and having a good ole time at it too! Savannah's with Jackson (one of my Great Nephew's) and he's only 9 days older than Vannah. The other kiddo, who you can't see her face, is Jackson's sister, Brooklyn.

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On Sunday morning, Jason found a tiny frog, and showed it to Savannah. We were expecting a reaction from her, and as you can see in the pic, she's not interested, nor scared by it!!

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Here's a really sweet photo of her with her Daddy! She just got done eating some Chocolate candies, Reese's cups, and Twixes. She was SSOOOO LOVING that!!!! Poor kid, I don't give her candies, if I can help it-so on the rare occasions she gets a hold of some......she devours it!

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This is what she did whenever she got a chance.....she'd go walking off, looking for adventure, or following her older cousins. She LOVED being around other kids the whole weekend!

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When Grandma Wendy got to our house, Savannah was really shy around her, but after spending a couple of days together, she got to where she was pretty comfortable with her and would let her hold her. It's too bad that Jason's parents live so far away, Savannah doesn't get much chance to be around them!

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This is one of my FAVORITIST (is that even a word??) pictures!!! Samantha (Sammy) is one of two cousins that are closest to Savannah's age. Sammy loves to pick up and carry babies, even if they are not so small! Looking at this pic, you can see that Vannah does not mind one bit, and would let Sammy carry her around-considering that she is miss independant and wants to walk/run on her own and not be carried much. I love Savannah's expression in this photo!!

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Her new favorite thing is ZIPPERS. If she sees one, she'll play with it for about 20-25 minutes-which is a long time for a 20 month's old attention span!!! She kept opening, getting inside the screen door, closing, and then opening, getting out, and closing the zipper on our tent. I got this cute pic of her in action!

I get J's lunch together in a zippered pail to take to him sometimes and if I leave it on the floor while I get my purse, glasses and keys in hand, Savannah will get into it and start taking things out and playing with the zipper on it! It gets exasperating because I am usually in a big hurry and putting the lunch back together slows me down!!!

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We left on Monday morning just before 10 am. It's about an hour and a half drive to get out of the mountains and back onto paved roads. The bumpiest part of the ride is closest to the campsite. She was SSOOOOO exhausted from the whole weekend and gettting up at the crack of dawn, that she somehow managed to fall asleep during the bumpiest part of the ride and slept most of the way out of the mountain!!! I was amazed when I looked over at her head bobbing up and down and saw she was sleeping. I got worried about all the bobbing possible straining her neck, and pulled her out and held her in my arms (my favorite part of motherhood-by the way!!!) while she slept.

We actually had a few family memberes who hesitated due to the weather, but it ended up only being a scare because after Friday night and Saturday morning of rain, there wasn't but a drizzle here and there for the rest of the weekend!!! Good thing too, cause it sure would've made for a miserable weekend!!

For most of the weekend, we just relaxed and visited with one another, and followed Savannah around while she ventured off exploring.

I can't say that the trip went uneventful.......

Jackson, a cousin Vannah's age, got burned from climbing up on the Quad before it cooled down. Poor guy, he cried until he fell asleep-but when he awoke, it seemed as if nothing had happened-thank goodness.

I got a sore throat and runny nose, (I think the rain from Friday night and Saturday morning is to blame) so I was a little miserable starting Sunday morning-which is partly why we left so early Monday morning. We might've stayed another hour or so longer.

On the way home, the Denali had a tire blowout on the Beeline HWY. The tire was shredded bad. On the first attempt at jacking the SUV up, it didn't get it up high enough to take the tire off. HWY patrol stopped, and advised to call Tow truck. Using ONstar, Wendy called, but then my Dad and Brother in law came to us and helped get the car jacked up high enough and we got the tire changed out. PHEW!!

MEMORIES MEMORIES MEMORIES!!!

New Favorite TV show

Savannah has discovered a new favorite TV Show.....She will sit down and watch it, and she has learned to say the name of the TV show--the only TV show name she's learned so far!!

Here she is intently watching it....and she dances to it and mimicks their actions, it's so cute to watch her.I told her to smile and she gives me this cheesy smile!!!

The show's about over and she can tell.....
She also does this look when something is wrong, for example, if an animal is being chased.....she shows empathy....
She gets upset when it's over.....and wants me to start the next one.......
T
The show is none other than "Dora the Explorer". She gets SSSOOOO excited when it comes on, and when she sees products with pictures of Dora (at the stores) she gets excited and repeats, "Da Dora! Da Dora! Da Dora!!!""
We've NEVER seen her get so excited over a show, so quickly. She'd only seen it a few times over a period of 2-3 days....and she got hooked on it!

Now when we turn on the TV, she exlaims, "Da Dora?"