Our Christmas card included our newest addition this year:  Emma!

Cooper was baptized last Saturday.  I could hardly believe my baby is old enough to be baptized!  Where did the past 8 years go?  His cousins and grandparents participated in the program and it was really nice.  He wore his suit coat for the first time and looked so handsome in it.  We were so proud of him! 

Baby Blues

Those blue eyes...

Halloween 2011

The Pirate, Obi Wan Kenobi, and the Fairy Princess

Emma's first Halloween!

Brothers and best friends

Mike

My brother, Mike, passed away 2 weeks ago on October 6, 2011. He was 47 years old. Mike fought a very couragious fight against brain cancer. He survived 21 months from the date of his diagnosis in January 2010. He leaves behind his wife and 5 children. It's still very hard for me to believe. He came to the hospital on his way home from work the day I had my baby girl in May. He came into the room with a big, pink teddy bear. We thought many times that he was actually going to win this fight. So many blessings given, so may prayers. He suffered through debilitating pain from the tumors and the chemo and never complained. He was a warrior, fighting until the very end. I've looked up to him my entire life. He was the only sibling I ever really had a relationship with, and he taught me so much about life. It was an honor to be his younger sister and I will miss him immensely.

Mike and I were the last surviving children of my parents, and now it's just me. I have lost my dad and all three siblings within the past six years.

Emma at 3 months

Here is a picture of Emma I took a couple of months ago. She is such a little lady and is so fun to dress up. She loves to giggle at her silly brothers!

Emma's first tutu

Emma Elizabeth

A few hours old...

Our little girl


Heaven...


Emma Elizabeth arrived May 18th at 12:03 p.m. at Chandler Regional Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. She is our smallest baby and was born with the most hair. She is so precious and so beautiful - I'm so happy to finally have my baby girl! It's been such a change to have everything in pink and purple, and so much fun. Her brothers came to see her a few hours after she was born and they each had a chance to hold her. The look on Cooper's face was priceless as he held his little sister for the first time. They adore their baby sister and we are having so much fun with her. She is such a sweetheart and hardly ever cries. (but her brothers are very concerned if she does) She was named after my grandmother, Mary Elizabeth, after whom I was named as well. I wish so much that I could see my dad hold her, but I know he has already had a presence in her life. We feel so blessed to have her in our lives!

Spring Break 2011

Cooper at the water park

Caden at the water park

Cooper still wearing his Indiana Jones hat


Sno cones!

We took the boys to the Phoenix Zoo during spring break this year. It was pretty warm the day we went and I think they had more fun at the water parks than they did seeing the animals. Of course, it was another opportunity for Manti to practice his mad photography skills, lol. He is pretty good, though. We found out the lions were brother and sister who were rescued from illegal ownership here in AZ. They were found in a baby crib when they were cubs. That was pretty interesting. I had forgotten how hilly the Phoenix Zoo is and what a workout it can be, since we've been going to the Tucson zoo for the past few years. It was fun to go back, though. We drove past ASU and I loved showing the boys where I went to college, and the buildings I spent many hours in.

We also took the boys to Golfland this past week to go mini golfing. I think they enjoyed it, but it was more fun for us to watch them!

Snow!

A very nervous mommy at the Grand Canyon

Snow on the Canyon


Me and my boys


Cooper

Caden

(this picture says it all)

~~~

We took the boys up to Flagstaff again this year for my birthday/snow trip. It was really cold and a lot of fun. They couldn't get enough of snowball fights and sledding. We also ended up going to the Grand Canyon since it was close. I had never been in the winter before and the snow was really pretty. I think the boys were too young to understand the significance of being there, but at least now they can say that they have. As for me, I started getting dizzy just walking up to the railing. I'm surprised Manti was even able to get me to go with my fear of heights... (must have been the 2 new pairs of shoes bribe). Anyway, we loved the snow, and in spite of the slippery ice, I think we all would still love to live in it someday!