Goodbye WA

Saying good bye to friends tried and true,

Is never ever easy, not easy to do.

We’ve been through it all, through thick and through thin.

Even when it poured, a dear friend you have been.

We’ve laughed and joked, eaten ice cream and such.

Played games, been silly…I’m going to miss you so much.

I’ll try to hold back on all of those tears.

I’ll think of you often so a great smile appears.

So even though I’m sad, and terribly so,

You’ve made me so happy, more than you know.

Through those dark clouds you’ve made the sun shine

Because of your sweet friendship, I know I’ll be fine.

Saying good bye to friends tried and true,

Is so much easier when you just say, I love you!

Abby and Lexi with their head in the clouds!

Zane and Caleb...friends till the end.

Oh, Dedra...I will miss you.

Blake and Zane

Lovely ladies.

Celeste and Lexi

Picture perfect girls!!

Our dear friends the Turners

Nixon with preschool teachers Ms. Marie and Ms. Donna.

Miss Melissa!!!!

Coach Rico

Coach Lisa

Last day of school and friend farewell!

Lexi and 1st grade teacher Ms. Benson

Zane and 4th grade teacher Mr. Wildrick

Girls Rule!

Dear Nicki friend..

My lovely Laurels!

Zane and Luke...his first friend in WA

Max and Nixon...silly boys.

Zana, Maddie, Lexi and Abby.  Watch out boys!

Chillin with his homies.

Dear dear Carie

Home, Home on the Range

Well, after months of saving, planning and trying to contain our abundance of enthusiasm and excitement, we finally were able to head out to AZ last week. Our kids were so stoked to see their cousins, play in Grandma and Grandpa's pool, see some of our ol' stomping grounds an friends!

Getting ready for take off.  I was so glad I had a hubby behind the camera, ready to fly out with me and the kiddos this time!

When was the last time you remember the pilot of an airplane letting kids up front?  Well, our pilot invited Zane up to the front of the airplane before we took off.  He showed him the route we would be taking and all of the fancy gadgets.  After the flight, the pilot invited the rest of the Hills crew up to take pictures and shake his hand. 

Captain Lexi and her navigator Nixon!!

Nixon took being in the "wild west" pretty seriously.  He was very curious about the cactus and kinda flipped out when he saw his first lizard.  Sometimes I forget that Nixon really has never known AZ as home.

It was great being able to hang out with Nana and Grandpa Barney!

I was surprised that our kiddos weren't water logged after the first day.  They LOVED being in the pool!!

So on Sunday, we decided to go to the first ward that Chad and I went to when we were married.  We saw a lot of our old friends and were amazed that people actually remembered us.  Of all places, we bumped into one a my old buddies from high school while we were there.  The next evening, we had a mini reunion with a few friends (The Gannons, Palmers, an Engels) at Golfland...that's right, ghetto Golfland!  It was a blast reacquainting with old friends and seeing all our kids together.  I felt a little old, but mostly just grown up :)

Nice form Nixon!!

Zane was so excited to have finally been able to go to Golfland with Chad.  He has been wanting to for the past 3 years!!

All smiles...until she hit that stupid volcano hole.  I think she honestly attempted it 30 times before she crossed her arms in frustration and called it quits.

Fun at the LAKE!! 

Lexi was a speed demon on the jet ski...takes after her momma!!

I hate bees...

Chad and I had a blast trying to "dump" each other on the jet ski.  That's love baby!

Love my boys!!

One of my favorite things about AZ is visiting my two best friends...we may not see each other or even talk with one another very often, but we sure know how to pound a chocolate cake when we do!  Love ya Callie and Jackie!!

So Chad and I were married at the Mesa, AZ temple a little over 12 years ago...it seems like yesterday...

...but yesterday we didn't have this awesome crew!  Life has been good.

Gotta love AZ!!