Rah, Rah, Rah Rah Rah!

When we were in Utah over the summer, we visited BYU and were singing the Cougar Fight Song. Since then, its one of Miranda's favorites to sing...

We're missing a few lines, but the emotion is there:) Now Steve has someone to sing with when he watches the games.

Dancing Queen

Here's our dancing queen before her dance class she just started. Its a Parks and Rec class called 'We Can Dance Two.' I love it because its all two year olds so they are all at the same level (i.e. throw tantrums together, refuse to take turns together, etc.). After all the screaming involved with swimming lessons, I was a little nervous, but Miranda is enjoying it so far. First of all she was excited that she finally got to put her dress ups (leotard and dancing skirt from grandma and grandpa) to good use. In class they stretch, tumble, dance like different animals (frogs, bunnies, elephants), etc. Fun stuff! Oh, and don't you love the crocs with the dancing outfit?

Weird Arizona--Hobo Joe

As a housewarming gift, Suzie and Michael gave us a book called 'Weird Arizona'. Its full of all the odd people, places and stories having to do with AZ. Who knew that one of them was a short 30 minute drive from our house. Here is Hobo Joe who was once a beacon for the Hobo Joe Coffee Shops in the area (kind of like a really big 'Big Boy').

He now stands in a vacant lot in Buckeye. We decided pay him a visit yesterday morning, and unfortunately, I'm aftaid we looked like hobos ourselves (maybe you can't tell from the picture that Steve and Miranda are wearing pjs). Stay tuned for more Weird Arizona posts as we continue to explore our new home in the desert.

Guess Who?

Who does this look like?

It is Miranda, but as she was playing dress-up the other day, I kept laughing and laughing because I thought her lower half looked just like Grandma Lindsey (no, not Julie, but Helen)...the shoes, the length of the dress, the bag, body shape...

Getting Away

A few pictures of our trip to Utah, which was a month ago already (pathetic, I know that I am just now posting this). We had a blast with all the 4th of July activities happening in Provo and a nice relaxing time with Steve's family! This was our first road trip since our move (3 1/2 day drive across the country) to Phoenix a year ago. We actually live close enough now that we can drive to visit grandparents, woohoo!

Cousin Collin rode with us and spent the week at Derek & Marsha's--he is a good little travler. Don't you love how Collin and Miranda are watching two seperate movies?!

Steve, Miranda and I after the Freedom Run. Steve's sister Richelle and her family also all ran in the race. They staked out great seats for everyone at the parade, which is going on in the background.

We hope we can all do it again next year

The hot air balloons going up!

Grandma Sumpter made 4th of July sweatshirts for the kids so they wouldn't get cold during the fireworks!

A little karoke with the cousins.

BYU Botnay pond with Marsha and kids

Kent's new restaurant, La Jolla Groves at the Riverwoods--delicious. Beautiful restaurant with a lemon tree theme. Can't wait to go back!

Also at the Riverwoods is a fun toy store...

Freedom Run

Here area two shots from our 5K and 10K races on July 5th in Provo's Freedom Run.

Steve's time for the 10K was 54:14. Doesn't he look like he's working hard!

When asked by someone what my goal for the race was, I said, "Um...to finish?" Actually, my goal was to RUN the whole race (i.e. no walking) which I accomplished. My time was 36:55, in which time one could conceivably walk 3.2 miles, but none-the-less, I did run the whole way.

Yay! We did it!!

From Bachelor Pad, to Our Pad

After a long and winding road, we finally closed on our first home yesterday!! Here are a few pictures of the home as it looked when we first saw it back in March.

FROM BACHELOR PAD...

...complete with neon sign, pool table, George Straight cut-out...

...foose ball table, ping pong table, bar, full-sized video game...

...TO OUR PAD

Dining room

Entry/Living Room


Entry

Kitchen


Family Room

It may look a little boring right now with nothing in it, but to us it's beautiful:) As soon as we get our lovely furniture in it, it will probably look like a college dormitory, but hey its ours!!

Pretty, Pretty Princess

A few years ago, before Steve and I were married, we visited Janet and Steve's family in Wisconsin. While there, Steve somehow got roped into playing a game called 'Pretty, Pretty Princess' with Emily. As this game proceeds players put on items of jewelry, crowns, etc. and eventually win if they are the first to put on all the items. I laughed at the time...and am still laughing. Its not just a game now though...its our life with a 2 year little girl. Here are the kids in our babysitting group playing dress-up with Steve! Our 4 Pretty, Pretty Princesses!

Happy Father's Day

My two cuties on Father's Day.

I think I'm the luckiest wife and mom there is!

Training with Miranda

Since we are training for a 10K and a 5K, this week Steve and I went running-shoe shopping. To be fitted for and to try out shoes, a treadmill is available in the store for customers to use. Miranda was enthralled with this. Since the shopping trip, she has been trying on our new shoes and doing a little training of her own. Looking at her run, you get an idea of my running skills...

Cousins!

We love living by our cousins!

Miranda has a ball with them

Miranda calls baby Meghan her 'baby sister.'

I think she's a little confused:)

Training

I am not, nor have I ever been a runner. However, I am becoming a runner to a small degree. I am currently training for a 5K race, the Freedom Run, in Provo on July 5th. If I manage to run the whole way (3.2 miles), that will be the longest continuous run I've ever completed!

So, to train for this unprecedented event, I run several times a week outside. This has to be early in the mornings because here in AZ the summer is rapidly descending upon us. Also, as part of my training, I've been going to the YMCA several times a week. I don't know if fun is the right word, but its been exciting having this goal to work toward. Steve is also training, but for the 10K on the same day. We'll see the fruits of our labors in just 4 1/2 short weeks!

House Hunters!

We began our house hunt about 3 months ago. After seeing and immediately falling in love with this house, we made an offer began the wait. That's because this house, like the majority of the homes for sale in the Phoenix area are short sales. That means that the owner owes more on the home than he can sell it for, thus the bank, or in this case, banks have to approve the sale before it can go through. And they definitely take their own sweet time.

Well, today we got the approval from the second bank!! Now the real fun begins; inspections, appraisals, paperwork, etc. Hopefully in about 30 days it will finally be OUR home!

It looks rather unassuming from the outside, but we love it; the layout, location, yard (or possibilities with the yard) and best of all its 6 minutes from Steve's office! Its in the Palm Valley area of Goodyear, a little west of Phoenix. I wish I had interior pictures to post, but here's the link to the floorplan if you want to take a look!

http://x.uis.net/nharchive/ppicture.php?modelid=33603402

Easter Weekend

Here are a few pictures from our busy Easter Weekend.

Egg dying started out a little sad (too many rules).

Things started looking up when we let Mirnada destroy her

Easter Eggs instead of coloring them

You may know that I am not a jam fan.

Even so, I made strawberry jam on Saturday...my first-ever attempt.

Steve says it came out well!

The Stimpsons came over on to watch Conference,

have Easter dinner and an egg hunt...

(Isn't she a doll!?!)

...and to Celebrate Steve and Suzie's birthdays!

Sooner or later everone goes to the Zoo

Miranda's favorite part of the Zoo last week...

Ragnar

Steve has been training for the past several months for the Ragnar. This is a 204 mile relay that is run over a period of about 30 hours by a team of 12 people. (sounds fun, huh?) Being a relay, each member of the team runs 3 legs ranging from 4-8 miles each. The others drive in a van, rest, etc, when not running. It started in Prescott and ended in Tempe.

Here he is at the finish line with Miranda (Miranda did not run, but likes to wear Steve's medal...even wore it to church last Sunday).

Here's his team.

They were all pretty dead here at the end. Steve's only casualty was a black toenail...not sure how that happened. Good job Steve!!

The Grass is Not Always Greener

Since moving to Arizona, I've discovered that the grass is not always greener...it was much greener in Michigan. However, I've discovered that it is not impossible to have green grass here. It does take some work (and luck) though. During the summer when it is 110+ degrees during the day, the only thing that will grow is bermuda grass which is pretty much indestructable.

During the winter the bermuda grass goes dormant/turns brown so if you want a green lawn during the winter, you have to plant it every fall. We decided to try it. Here's what you do:

1. mow your bermuda grass really short
2. put down winter grass seed (and hope it doesn't get eaten by birds)
3. cover it with dirt

It has taken some time, a lot of 'tending,' getting rid of some pesky gophers (knock on wood) and a really good week of rain, but we finally have a nice green lawn in our backyard (nevermind that the yard is totally devoid of other trees or shrubs...those will come when we own a house). There are still some bald spots and yellow patches, but I'm pretty proud of our work.

The Cake Question

For Miranda's 2nd birthday, I decided to make an Elmo cake. Now, Miranda really likes Sesame Street and Elmo, but she still doesn't really know what a birthday is, nor did she ask for an Elmo cake. But, for some reason I decided I'd make one (without the Elmo cake pan, I might add). It turned out pretty cute and wasn't too hard, it just took longer than I wanted it to. Miranda would have been just as pleased with a plain cake with plain, chocolate frosting, or even a store-bought cake, for that matter. Now don't get me wrong, she enjoyed the Elmo cake for the whole 1 minute before she blew out the candles and we cut it into pieces, but I was just wondering why I (and probably many other mothers) felt the need to make fancy cakes for their toddlers...


Maybe its to use those mad cake-decorating skills I learned at young women's activities many years ago. Maybe its just the thing stay-at-home moms feel they need to do. I decided the best answer (although the other answers may be true too) is...I love Miranda!!! We'll see if next year brings more cake decorating, or just a plain, boring, but equally as yummy cake:)

Happy Birthday to my Baby!

2 Years!

Miranda then...

...Miranda now!

Pretty much the cutest girl you ever saw!