Kaybrie Loimata Rae Aumua....

Isn't she a BEAUTY!!?!!

Where are the Pics of that Cutie Kaybrie?

Why we live in the desert......

.......Or as Steven would say, "the sand box"! We love it, especially this time of year. This was just a little hike right outside or front door. What a beautiful.......

.......I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Headin' out.

Just look at that view!!

And the color of the sky!!

Almost done, it was a good day on the trail.

The "Turkey"

So Kevin decided that to keep up with tradition of a different cooking method for the turkey, that we should do a pit turkey. It was a totally new experience. We learned a lot. Kevin dug the pit and lined it with rocks. We took turns watching and tending the fire until it was time to put the turkey in. Lois did that because all the guys had gone to work by then.

Jaba was a great resource. We had to keep the fire in the pit for about 10 hours before we could put the turkey in. It was a really windy night. Then the turkey had to stay buried in the pit for about 6 hours.

We were worried because we couldn't smell it when we pulled it out of the pit.
We had it wrapped in so many layers of foil the aromas couldn't get out. Once we started to unwrap it, mmmmm mmmmm mmmm. We knew it was done.
It was one of the best turkeys that we have ever cooked.

Gilbert Parade Fun

I am finally getting around to posting some pictures from the parade. It was a beautiful day and the kids were so excited to be there. They couldn't wait for their turn to hand out flowers.
Halia and Abby just hangin out. Abby slept for the entire parade, Halia waved at all the people. She thought the parade was for her. ;)

Handing out the flowers is the best part. Sadie thought this was just as good as riding on the float last year.

Jon must have run 5 miles on the one mile parade route. Those are beautiful alstromeria.

Isaiah wnated to ride in the "boogy" with Uncle Dean. He thought that was pretty great.

Girls Night Out... and Donald

New Moon! We all got dressed up in twilight t-shirts and went to see New Moon on Saturday night when Dixie came into town. Only actually mom was the only one who dressed up. She's the DIE HARD fan :) We had a girls night, and Donald, while the boys watched the kids. I think the funnest part was before the movie. We were laughing so hard about... nothing? I don't know, it was just a fun time. And then afterward we got desserts and had some more laughs. It's good to be with sisters, and Donald. We had a much needed night out.

Donald took the picture of all of us and managed to GET all of us! Then he had to snap a shot of himself. But I made it into ONE!

Marie-Nancy-Megan-Christi-Dixie-Susie-Shannon-(Donald)-Mom

{We missed you Coleen!}

I smashed on their laps. Hee.
Marie-Nancy

Nancy-Megan
Megan-Christi
Christi-Dixie

Dixie-Susie (doesn't Susie look EXACTLY like Zayah)
Donald- Shannon

Shannon- Mom (Hahahaha She was mad because she didn't know about 2 flashes and she looks silly. But she's just so cute)

Shannon- Mom

What a good night! I only wish we could do that more often.

The Cousins Gift Exchange

It sounds like everyone is in! Thats great! We decided to throw in a twist this year to make it fun. For the cousin that you are buying a gift for, choose a gift that starts with the same letter as their first name. For example, Halia could send Brock a ball or a book. We thought this might help the kids really get into giving and thinking about what to give their cousin. It is meant to be fun, so if its too hard you can get creative or bend the rules of course. We were thinking you could pick something out for your cousin that is around $5-$10.
Tallie and I drew names form a hat and here is how it ended up:

Lenard has Kolton
Jon has Brooklyn
Sadie has Halia
Brooklyn has Tallie
Macy has Brigger
Steven has Sadie
Joshua has Kaden
Kaden has Lenard
Bryton has Jon
Kolton has Steven
Brody has Baby girl
Tallie has Zayah
Brock has Joshua
Zayah has Macy
Halia has Brock
Baby girl has Bryton
Brigger has Brody

Any Questions?

3 new posts on my blog....

We finally found our USB cable for the video camera, so we can upload video's again....check out our blog for some long overdue videos posted.

Cousin Gift Exchange?

For all the Moms:

Do we want to have the cousins "draw" names for a gift exchange this year? I am up for it...it has been fun in past years for the kids to have a specific cousin in mind to send something to. I also am welcoming new fun ideas...let me know...

Coleen

Oh, Happy Day...

Last week it was exactly 3 years since Lennie's last cancer surgery.Thursday, Lennie had a PET/CT scan.he has them once or twice a year to keep an eye on things and make sure it stays gone.Today we got the official word...100% CANCER FREE!!! YES!!! We are truly grateful for all the help we have received and the prayers that have gone up (and continue to go up) in our behalf. We are also grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who has answered those prayers and was ever mindful of us...especially during the hardest times.

The Maiden Voyage

Kevin called up and said his boat was finally fixed! And asked if we wanted to go on the maiden voyage to try her out on the water. I thought "well this aughta be good." So me and Donald hopped aboard. And Oh it was such a good time ;)
For the record the boat runs.
It was filling up will water and I told Kevin. He said that there is always water in the back. Donald looked back there and said "Is there always a hole right there, where water comes in?" There is about a dime size hole in the bottom of the boat. So Kev goes to turn her around and the power cuts out. Not a BIG problem ??? So he tells Donald to flip a switch and the boat starts again. Kev again starts to turn towards the doc and... nothing. The boat doesn't turn right. No steering. The boat can only turn left. So we are in the middle of the lake, sinking, turning in circles. So Kevin, genius, sits on the back of the boat, sticks his hand down and steers the boat engine with his strength. Then when we are close enough to the doc we cut the engine and he jumped out and swam us in. Donald did all the hard work, he had to back the trailer down!
The boat needed a name a Donald suggested "The Condor" because it has Condorman colors. And I thought that was a good idea until I found out The Condor wasn't an ambi-turner. I suggest The Zoolander.

The Camping Trip

We went camping and I never posted about it. I know Mom posted about it and I put up pictures on Facebook but I never updated the blog about it so I gotta do that before it gets too late...

Me and Donald went up on the rim and joined in for the hunting/camp out fun with the family in October. It was a lot of fun. The days were cool and the nights were COLD. We took Honey. Not because we wanted to torture her. (She doesn't LOVE camping, she would prefer her couch and bed to roughing it.) But because we didn't really have anyone to watch her while we were gone. And she needs to get out. We got SO dirty. We had fun campfire games. We went on a long run together, that was fun until tragedy struck. The family murdered some animals, which I am not so much into but to each his own. It was fun the whole time and I didn't want to leave. I'm glad I did when we did because I ended up getting really sick the night we got home and I don't think I could have made it to the make shift bathroom from our tent that night in the freezing cold. Everything happens for a reason.

Here is the DIRTIEST kid in camp. And he loved it.

Cousins.

Burger.
We love camping and we are dirty.
Two mothers and their babies.

Dad's stylish "hunting bonnet"

The face Donald usually makes for pictures.
Not quite the straw that broke the camels back.

She thinks she's people.

She totally hates dirt.

That's a glare if you can't tell.

Marlee finally got Honey in the mood to play after pestering her nonstop for hours. In this picture it looks like Marlee has rabies but I assure you it was a fun romp.
And it looked like this for the most part. Honey likes to be on top.

Running tragedy. I took a tumble after twisting my ankle pretty good. It is 3 weeks later and my shin where I landed on the rocks is still numb and bruised underneath. It's really bizarre. It was really very painful. But it didn't ruin the weekend.

Donald thought this dead rotting elk carcass made a comfy camp chair.

Look where Kevin put his foot. Aw have some respect man.

Loading the goods while the little ones look. Ew.

Steve's kill.

Get your shoes on! Work your butt off! Then EAT EAT EAT!!!

We are going to do the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning at Red Mountain Park in Mesa! We did it last year and it was really fun! They have a 10K, a 2mile fun run/walk, and a 1mile fun run/walk so everyone from the family can come out with their kids and have a part in it. Here is a link to get registered

http://www.raceplaceevents.com/event.php?event=401002
But you if you want to avoid paying more the day of the race, you have to register online by November 17th.

Let me know if you have any questions.

All you FMXers... you BETTER be doin the 10K.

;)