A New Coat of Paint

In June we had our house painted. The "before" picture has a pair of ducks in it that like to swim in our frontyard when we have flood irrigation. The "after" picture is taken on July 4th.

Olivia's first birthday celebration!

For Christmas, Rob gave Laurie a plane ticket to go to Olivia's first birthday party in Salt Lake. So in January Laurie joined the rest of the family for Olivia's one year celebration on January 26th. It was alot of fun. She was a joy to watch. Laurie also had fun being with all her kids, even though it was a bit colder than Arizona. Erika, Jessica, Olivia and Laurie braved a snowstorm a few days later to go to Laurie's favorite Mexican restaurant "La Puente." She was a little unused to riding in a car in the snow and had a few more gray hairs on her head by the time she got home.

Our baby's coming to town!

At the end of March, Erika and Olivia visited us. We had a great time playing, swimming, napping, shopping, and playing some more. It was a delight spending time with our oldest baby, Erika and our youngest baby, Olivia. Actually Olivia is Erika's baby and our grandbaby. She almost walked solo at our house, but not quite. Olivia loved to "tickle" us and make us laugh. My favorite time was when we were all laying on my bed and Olivia picked up a pillow, dropped it back down on the bed and then threw herself onto the pillow. She would laugh and laugh. Then she would do it all over again. She did this for about 30 minutes. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I laughed so hard I cried.

April showers bring May flowers-oh yeah-I live in the desert!

Jessica and AJ visited us in April during AJ's spring break. We had a great time visiting, playing games, swimming, exercising, and attending the Mesa temple to do some family names for the Wilcox's.

St. George retreat and Salt Lake trip

Laurie went to her Sister's Retreat in St. George, Utah, May 30th to June 4th. We had a great time talking, eating, shopping, book reviewing, going to movies, and sitting by the pool. Denise brought her twin girls, so we had plenty of mothering as well. On Sunday, Laurie and her mom, Zenna, visited Rob's parents, Dan and Katie. We had a nice visit sitting on the back patio.

Laurie drove to Salt Lake on the 4th and stayed with her kids for the weekend. On Thursday, the 5th, she drove to Eagle Mountain with Erika and Olivia to see the Cardon's new house site. We went to a nearby playground and let Olivia swing for awhile. Her face is pure joy! Unfortunately Rob did not experience pure joy during those 10 days as he remained at home in hot Mesa working, working, and working some more.

Hangin' with the kids

On Saturday, June 7th, we all went to Brick Oven for dinner and then went to Monica and Johnny's home to visit and play games.