Landscaping

I love the desert.
Saguaros are everywhere here.
They are protected by law.
They live up to 200 years.
They are home to many birds and critters.
They are the state flower of Arizona.
They are amazing and gorgeous.

May to June they are in bloom.
Holding little wedding bouquets
on the tops of their arms.

We took a little drive today to count the Saguaros.
And lost count when we spotted a Taco Bell.

After a chicken gordita and cheesy nachos
We ended up here..
(any guesses what this is?)

A state of the art Library

where you can check out 50 books at a time
where you can eat your lunch at the cafeteria
where you can see panoramic views of the White Tanks National Park
where your can kids sit around and watch tushes all the live long day....;)

This place is awesome.

So and But

SO

Moving my little family 1,313 miles
Taking a HUGE pay cut
Leaving behind beautiful wonderful friends
Having 2 house payments
and so on...

Isnt exactly what Id call fun.

BUT

Being able to drive home on Easter weekend
to these people

And letting my kids run wild in this field

Hunting for eggs to their little hearts desire
Plus shopping for wedding dresses with my newly engaged
sister in law....

MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT I TELL YOU.

dirty laundry

Sometimes,
we have more than just soiled clothes to to air out.

Yesterday we had a
nail clawing
teeth biting
blood curdling
scream fest going on in the back seat of the van
driving home from school.

It was all about a toy lady bug
and who's grimy little hands were holding it.

So I recited a few choice phrases
grabbed the damn toy
and threw it to its grave
out the drivers side window
in the middle of road on Acacia Way.

We haven't seen it since.

{momma hates toys}

Here's the after math, this went on for a good hour.

He still boils with anger when he thinks of the missing bug and how mean I was.
But hopefully learned a lesson.

Next time- it will be Woody.



(please tell me my kids are not the only hoodlums out there)

twenty eight crazy M's.

Meet the newest Mr and Mrs Melessa
Jace and Erin
Their union marked the end of the 10 year dry spell of Melessa weddings.
Hallelujah!
(paul and i were the last marriage in the fam up until March 5)

In honor of these 2 beautiful people,
The whole Melessa gang made their way from different parts of the country;
North Carolina, Missouri, Arizona/Nebraska, Northern Utah
And for the first time in over 7 years we snapped a photo.
All 28 crazies.
(the most fun crazies in the whole entire world, I might add)
2 parents, 9 kids, 4 spouses and 13 grandkids

My kids have never had so much fun in their life.
They were in heaven with their cousins at their fingertips.
And Nana loved every single minute.
And those minutes went by way too fast.
waaaaaaa.

Grandpa Steve, Nana Pat,
Dan, April, Kaelin, Kobe, Jake, Drew, Garrett
Sam, Cherin, Jalen, Christian, Brooklyn, Mariah
Ryan, Skye, Sean, Tia, Kauri
Jace, Erin

WE LOVE YOU SO DANG MUCH.
Love- us.

please lets do this again, like next month.
okay? okay.