Easter Easter Time!

Well Easter this year for us was probably more adverterous than Christmas. For some reason, we were just in the mood for fun. We dyed eggs 2 days in a row in preparation for the big day. Then on Easter my mom came over to bring baskets, and they got baskets from Grammie Shobe too. It makes it so nice because we didn't have to buy one thing for Easter. We did an Easter egg hunt with just us, then one with the cousins. I hope in the midst of all the fun, we were able to instill the real purpose of Easter. Here is a snapshot of our Easter................

Vance was so proud of the eggs he dyed. He wanted to take them everywhere, even to bed. I had draw the line there.

Madison had her first jelly beans of Easter morning - I guess she liked them!

I thought our adorable flowers were the perfect place to take an Easter pic. Now I just need a really nice camera and a photographer to take better pictures for me.

Off to the canyon for an Easter egg hunt with the cousins.

Vance's favorite find?.....money of course. He is obsessed with money. Both Grandma's forked out some change and even "a doller cash" as Vance described.

This was Madison sneaking candy away from her brother's basket. Doesn't she look like trouble? She is giving Vance a run for his money.


Easter evening was at my mom's house and she got the boys these super silly glasses. We had a ball with them.

The last 6 months in a nutshell......

I am such a slacker and I admit it. We have had 2 computers crash on us, so now my pictures are all spread out and I can't even access them til we fix the hard drives. So all I can say is use your external hard drive! Other than that, life is good. Darren graduated in December (woo hoo!) and will be taking his boards in April. We had a minor set back the first time with the boards, but we have been so blessed and I know he's going to succeed this time around. I have been working for about a month is Show Low and it's going great. The drive is a little long, but I'm only working 1 - 2 days a week, which is so nice. It's good to get out of the house because it makes me appreciate my time at home more. Madison turned a year on February 9th. Her life has just gone by so fast. I'm beginning to understand how some families can have lots of kids. The 1st year is hard, but by the end you don't really have a baby any more. It makes me sad, but I look forward to enjoying life with 2 toddlers for a while. Vance is definitely a terrible 3's kid. He's insane, but still manages to be very sweet at times. He is enjoying having Madison more upright now and looks at her as a playmate as well as a punching bag. He Adores his local cousins, Brayden and Trevor, and drives them crazy too. We are all looking forward to the beautiful summer weather here in Holbrook and to enjoying our yard. Here's a few pics of the kids from the last 6 months...........

Vance was so sick the other day and Madison couldn't stop loving on him. She is such a hugger.

This boy just plays hard then plays harder

Vance and his cousins going "snowboarding" in the first snow.

Trevor, Brayden, Gabe and Vance (in other words, trouble)

Orange is for sure Vance's color

Or maybe green is................?? I guess I think he looks good in anything.

Madison and the girls a Christmas (Bella, Madison and Ari)

Madison and her cousin Kedrick are 5 months appart and they adore each other. Madison thinks she's just one of her baby dolls. It's so fun to see the react to each other.

All the girls at Kedrick's blessing

Madison LOVES the swings - she'd be happy in there for hours!

Madison 1 year! Do you think she likes the doll she got for her birthday? I can't tell.

Madison 11 months

Madison 10 months

Madison 9 months

Madison 8 months

Madison 8 months (I had to put both because they were so cute)

We're back...................

So it's been a while. Madison is already 7 months old and doing great. She is so full of life and just a pure joy. Life is so much easier now than it was even just a month ago. Vance is coming up on his 3rd birthday and is having a ball. We have moved from Vegas to Holbrook and it has been a hard move, but we're doing good. Vance especially loves it here since he has experienced the thrill of the outdoors (at least until the weather permits). Darren is nearing the end of his graduation and is just trying to keep his sanity. He will be done in November - woo hoo! I'm so proud of him and it's gone quite fast. And me, I'm really enjoying having my family so close. My brother and his wife are here with their two boys and new baby girl, which works out so nicely for my kids. And of course my parents are right next door. I know this is going to be a great place to raise my kids. I feel so lucky to have this new life.

Here are some pictures to highlight a few events in the kids lives............

They say not to put Bumbo's on raised surfaces, and I found out why the hard way. Yeah, Madison somehow fell off the counter. I didn't see it happen, I just saw her there then next thing she was on the ground. It was horrible, but she was amazingly okay. She cried, but didn't even have tears. I will never do that again.

See - who needs a public pool?? This is just a small sample of the mischief Vance gets into up here in Holbrook. It truly is a child's playground up here!

Vance discovered mascara and he actually did okay. There was alot on his right lashes. He obviously spends way too much time with his mom!


Poor kid got all scraped up from falling off a table at the park. He has more bumps and bruises than ever from living up here.


He actually looks cute in mommies glasses


Vance with his cousins Brayden and Trevor. If only they were always this still.

Vance's first 3rd birthday party. We did one early since family was in town (he'll have another on his real birthday Sept. 20!!) Courtney, his sister in law had this amazing cake made for him and it was even allergen free just for him. Such a lucky boy.

Just relaxing in my briefs

She LOVES to eat! I have never seen a baby so into food as she is. Every time I eat, she just cries because she wants some. So far no sign of food allergies and I am so happy!

So cute!

Trouble waiting to happen

Madison 5 months old

Madison 6 months old
Madison 7 months old

Madison is 3 months old.............

We have had a busy month! I can't touch on it all, but here is some of what Madison has experienced this month...........................

She had her first Easter, which we celebrated with the Shobe's at our house in Las Vegas
She started standing up on us a lot more

She became a little more aware of her crazy and loving brother. Whenever Vance sits by her like this he says "2 babies!" He is so sweet to her.

She became a little more attached to her mom

She started smiling a lot more

She met her Grandpa Taylor for the first time while we are up in Holbrook for the month. Darren is doing one of his clinical rotations up here.

We had her blessed up in Holbrook and she was the Belle of the Ball. We had almost all of the Shobe's and 2 of my brother's there with their families. It was a special day. We are falling more and more in love with our little Madison every day!

Madison at 2 months

Madison at 3 months (I forgot her little pony this time!)