End Of Summer - Update

This is the last of the summer picture that I have, Joel has more but he can post his on his blog. Sorry this is kind of backwards too....

The kids went back to school this last week and not a moment to soon for some, me! They enjoy their teachers and Jonas actually told me he wanted to get back to school 2 week before it started because he missed his school friends. Jonas is a 5th grader this year and Carson is a 2nd grader, both got awesome teachers too!

Jonas 5th Grade & Carson 2nd Grade 2011/2012

One of our last trips was to Catalina Island off of the CA coast. The kids had never been and it has been years since Joel or I had gone so we figured it would be fun. We did something i swore i would never do too, we flew and over water! EEEEEEEEEE. I think it is the thought that if you go down you are really going down and drowning alive to boot. Joel being the loving husband that he is thought it best to give us all a pep talk as we went over the water too. Lets see it went somethings like this, so when (not if) we hit the water brace yourself and try to hold on. If you are awake when we slam into the water then try to get out as quick as possible and I will try and get the kids out before the wreckage drops like a stone to the water grave better known as the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Just lovely! I felt so safe and not at all worried, did I happen to mention that there are also sharks near Catalina, big ones that eat people. Bonus!

We had a great time once we landed on the nice hard ground. It is a bit of a tourist trap over there, no cars are there and so you walk, bike or rent a golf cart for $40 per hours and limit 4 people per cart. So we walked....we got some ice cream, walked some more and then took a fun semi-submersible boat ride. The kids got a big kick out of it and so that was fun a bit expensive for lots of brown fish but fun none the less. Joel and I might go back by ourselves and stay at the Wrigley Mansion B&B there, it looks like a fun day or so trip.

Jonas and Carson as we wait for the boat ride

Marin totally excited to be about to see Nemo fishes

So another bonus this summer has been reconnecting with old friends. I got a chance to get in touch with one of my dearest high school friends, Missy. We use to be stuck together at the hip all though high school and then after during college too. I watched her first daughter be born and enjoyed all those experiences with them. In fact i was on the committee of 2 that helped name her daughter. She is a dear friend and I am so excited that our paths crossed again. She has 2 more kiddos and so we have spent lots of fun time with them on our trips to CA this summer. Joel has also gotten a chance to visit with some old high school friends too and catch up and he tells me he has really enjoyed that too. I am excited to get to play catch up with such great friends this summer and look forward to all our families getting to know each other again.

Marin and Caswell (Missy's son) at Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana

Marin and Olivia (Missy's daughter, so cute) at Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana

So this summer we got a chance to spend more time in CA since Joel has been working out there so much. With that comes time for me to spend with my sister and her daughter, Isla. We went to the beach one Saturday and it was so much fun. It was just Marin and I and then my sister and their family. The boys had a fencing class they did which I hope that Joel blogs about, cause those pictures are so much fun. So I have done my fill of beach life and sand in funny places really doesn't get me excited any more. I love the beach and it is fun but the sand is a HUGE turn off for me. Luckily enough all my boys have felt the same way and so we haven't spent much time at the beach. However Marin on the other hand LOVES the beach and all the sandy parts too. It was so cold this morning in the water but she was out in it 100%. I was amazed! Here are some fun pictures of her in the water and in the sand playing.

Marin making a sandcastle

Marin loving the wet sticky cold sand

It was overcast that morning but Marin's face was full of sunshine!

Katie my sister and her daughter Isla enjoying the beach with us

Our last trip to CA included the long awaited LA Galaxy Elite Player Soccer Camp. He was SOOO excited to have this experience. It was out in Carson, CA (near Long Beach) and it was held at the Home Depot Center. Jonas had a great time and he learned a ton and even got to meet a few Galaxy players and attend a game. It was a fun week for him and I got reacquainted with the lovely LA traffic that I grew up in too. Win - Win I suppose.

Jonas on day 2 of the soccer camp

Jonas with his Galaxy camp coach on the last day, sun burnt and exhausted!

We attended a Galaxy game as well and have a blast!

Early Summer Happenings - Update

So here are a few things that happened at the end of the school year and also first few weeks of summer of 2011.

Jonas had his FINAL assignment due it was the culmination of months of research and reports. His assignment was the report and do a oral presentation of a famous Arizonan, he chose Kit Carson. He had to pretend to be Kit Carson and give a synopsis of the life of Kit Carson while dressed up in character. He did an awesome job and that was only possible with such a great teacher he had. We loved Mrs.Kunz!

Jonas as Kit Carson with Mrs. Kunz

We have made it an annual tradition to take a Staycation each year at the Arizona Grand here in town. They have a fun resort with big slides, wave pools and fruity drinks to sip on. We stay a night and play both days in the water just when it is getting hot. It never seems to work that the dads go with us so it is usually the DelFosse Kids and the Votaw Kids involved with mom's of course. We have a fun time and this year was no exception. So much so that I wasn't even to get the older kids to stand still long enough to take a picture. So all we have are the ones that are to slow to escape the picture taking. Although I must say they are a cute thing to take pictures of. Oh did I happen to mention that I did the BIG drop out slide and Alison TOTALLY wimped out! I was walking sideways the rest of the day but totally worth the 1 and only try.

Marin and Christian pool side, with Marin in her "kennie" so she calls her bikini.


Christian and Marin who are all bundled up because the 90 degree temps made them chilly

So Carson wanted to try out for Club Soccer this year. He loves baseball mind you but at this age it is SOOOO hard to enjoy them playing baseball as a parent. He was so excited to try out and he made a team. Carson is on the Arsenal 2004 Premier Boys team and so excited! He love to play goalie and he is great in the midfield as well. He has great ball control and is always in the right place to be an asset to the team. He will do great this Fall and I am so excited to watch him play.

Carson in his Arsenal gear!

The kids love to skate and play and so we have taken full advantage of the new indoor skate and jump place in Chandler. It is so much for and Marin loves to go jump too. Here is a cute picture of the boys at play.

Colter, Sawyer, Jonas and Carson

KC Day Trip - Update

Ok so after the Bad Religion concert we had a little bit of time to do some sigh seeing before our plane left later that day. So we decided to take a small tour of Liberty and a few other church sites.

We left the hotel and headed out in search of yummy breakfast (best meal of the day). I love little hole in the wall super good food restaurants. I won't just try any place mind you I need reviews and lots of good ones. I fancy myself the type like Guy on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. So we found this little hole in the wall place that was well, in a very sketchy part of town. It was so stinking good. It is funny because I am not the hippy type of gal at all but it seems like most these places that I adore and love are just that, hippy divey places. Look at my organic pecan creme bruele french toast it was to die for! I ate every last bite and I even shared 1 bit with Joel.

MMMMMMMMMMM

Next we went off to see Liberty Jail and the FLDS (Fundamental LDS) temple and see Adamondaion (sp?). Any ways all our LDs friends will know what I am trying to spell. Anyways, it was very interesting for sure. Not much at FLDS site or Adamondaion really to speak about other than it was fun to pretend to be investigators for the sisters missionaries at the LDS visitors center there. The FLDS temple was well weird, my mother in law called it when she said it looked like the emerald city castle on Wizard of Oz.

Off to Liberty Jail, OK that was neat! I can go off on all the feelings I had while I was here and tell you how cramped the quarters looked and such but I won't. What I will say is that it is well worth a visit and that seeing it in person will strengthen your testimony of latter day prophets. We are blessed to have such men on this earth today that have fought so hard to bring about the restoration of the gospel. Amazing in every way!

Liberty Jail, recreated to exact standards using the old foundation and rocks and stone on the site. Below is the basement of the jail and top level was for the jailer.

This is a view of the basement and the men of God that are represented here my these mannequins that stayed in the Liberty Jail for so long.

Bad Religion Concert - Update

Ok so I have been super bad about blogging the last few months but once school ends and summer ends my life goes into a tail spin so I will attempt to put up a ton of blog updates and I will title them all with an Update so you know it is an older post that I am newly posting.

So my favorite band is Bad Religion and I love their music. I think I like it because for the most part the music is clean and they actually sounds like they sound on their CD's in person. I HATE, absolutely HATE singers that sound TOTALLY different and horrid in a live setting. This is exactly what Gwen from No Doubt is like, hate it!

Anyway sorry about the detour, but for Mother's Day Joel planned me a trip to go so Bad Religion. He listened to me and booked us a concert that had set seats. We have braved shows in the past and I don't enjoy standing for hours on end watching a band play as I get my toes stepped on by those jumping up and down around me while they spill their beer on me. I have put my time in when I was younger and I just don't need to do that any more. I wanted to see Bad Religion but under my old person terms. I need a soft seat and I would like to be served a fruity drink or a coke.

So Joel booked 2 tickets for us to go to Kansas City, MO to see Bad Religion. (the only tour stop with assigned soft seats, no standing required). So off we went to Kansas City with first class tickets (used the miles Joel has) and we left the kids at home. (thanks to Joel's mom Karrie for watching the kiddos for the next 36 hours). We left from Phoenix and then headed to MO. We got in and got a car and then headed to the Marriott to drop off our things. We watched TV for a few minutes in the room and then headed to dinner. Yummy dinner and then off to the show.

The show was in what Joel liked to call an "old timey" theater, basically an old school balcony and velvet walls type of place, it was very old timey. The one bad thing about those place is that the acoustics are HORRIBLE! So mix in an old timey place with bad acoustics and bands that primarily yell A LOT it was well....a loud show!

The first band was SUPER bad and that isn't their band name either. I can do some yelling bands but there has to be a melody or something along the way, this band had nothing! So sad for them. Then came on Bad Religion, Ok I know I like this band but WOW they are so awesome and so much better live than most bands too. I am a snob when it comes to bands that play live shows. It has to be better live than their recorded album for me to like them and Bad Religion doesn't disappoint at all. I think I was singing along (although nobody could hear me) the entire time. Their new album is so great and they played tons of old stuff and new stuff and things all the way back to the 80-85 album and it was so much fun!

I think Joel had a great time as well. He always laments that he never got a chance in High School and such to go to lots of shows and such. And me I have been to more than I can count and it seemed like SOMA in San Diego was my home away from home growing up in high school. So I was worried he would not enjoy the show as much as I did. He had such a great time though! So much so I think I even caught him signing along too (he never does that, not even in the car to the radio). I know he was tapping his leg and bouncing around in his seat so I have to assume he had a good time. After the show he even said we have to do that more often and suggested that next time we should take the boys with us too. He wants to take the boys down to the mosh pit he said, I suggested that he needed to take Travis Scott (friends from church) with him if he does that so Travis can bounce anybody that starts to get to rough with the kids.

After Bad Religion played the headliner band played, Rise Against. They are a good band but again I need a small melody every once in a while to keep my interest. They had TOO much lights and smoke machines for me too. Call me old fashioned but I want to see and hear a good band not fire, smoke and flashy lights. They did OK but I think that Joel and I got more entertainment out of the skin head punk rocker that was sitting a row down from us and was standing, yes I said standing on the other side of the railing on the ledge of the balcony and waiving his arms about while singing. It had to have been a 60' drop to the seats below or shall I say mosh pit below. I was cringing every time he almost fell. Ahhhhhhh!!!!!

It was a great show and next time I need to remember to bring the ear plugs so my ears don't ring all night. Such a great gift!!!! Love you Joel, thank you!

Bad Religon playing

Rise Against Playing

Mo-Day 2011

Ok so Mother's Day 2011 is done and over. It was a super great Mo-Day for sure. Jonas made me breakfast (not in bed, we don't eat in bed) and above is the picture of the meal he made for me. Luckily enough he knew not to pour the milk on the cereal. It was yummy! Thank you Jonas!

Also the boys and Joel got me a little Nano iPod so i can do my run/walk routine and not hold onto my iTouch while I run/walk. The little thing is so stinking small that I worry that I lose it in my purse or car. Carson made me a little Drink coaster and Marin made me a little cup at school with her hand prints on it.

So Joel kept telling me that I had another gift but I had to look for it. I looked and looked and then gave up. Finally he told me what it was, a trip to go see Bad Religion one of my favorite bands back in Missouri. We leave this week for a quick 36 hours trip to Missouri. We will watch the show and then hopefully get in a few Church history sites and then head home. Joel was sneaking again and hid this from me like the NYC trip. Thanks to Joel's mom who is coming to watch the kids. He told me she had wanted to come visit the kids for the week and I thought how fun and I had started planning all the things to do this week for her with the kids. Alas she will have to do them by herself as we will be in Missouri. Super excited to have a quick get away and watch a great band!

We had the Jensen's over for dinner and Joel and Jared cooked BBQ with all the goodies and a yummy desert too! Everybody was hurting from eating to much of Joel's yummy BBQ. Thanks Jensen's for sharing your Mo-day with us.

It was a great Mo-Day and I am super lucky to have such an awesome husband and kids. Love you all!

DBacks Opening Game 2011

Joel promised Carson to take him to the opening game for the DBacks this year and he could bring a friend and their dad with them too. Carson has been waiting ever so patiently for the day to come. We didn't even have the season ticket package yet and Carson was on pins and needles to go. Tonight was the night and many moons ago he decided that of course it would be Ryan and his dad Todd that went to the game with them. Carson and Ryan have been best friends since their first year of preschool almost 4 years ago. (wow I just suddenly felt old) Carson was waiting out in front of the house for Ryan and his dad to pick them up since 4:30pm today...the game started at 6:40pm. He wasn't to excited was he? They are at the game right now and I just texted Joel and asked for an update and a picture of the boys and this is what I got back. The boys sure do look like they are having a great time. I am sure glad that Carson has such a great buddy in Ryan we sure do love their family.

Carson 2011 Little League

So just when I think we are almost have a break in our normal sports weekends we get roped into another year of little league baseball. I know that Carson loves it and he is so good at it that we just do it. So this year he is on a team called the Scrappers, it actually is a good uniform set. He has many of the same boys on his team this year and most importantly his very best friend Ryan is on his team and his dad is the coach this year too. Those 2 boys have been buddies since they had their first preschool class together almost 4 years ago now I think. They had their first game 2 weekends ago and they did awesome and this last weekend was the same, the won! They have at least 1-2 games a week and 2 practices a week so we are VERY busy with baseball right now. Carson plays all the way into May so if anybody wants to come out and visit us in AZ and watch a game let me know there are plenty of them to watch! Carson is having a great time playing and he is doing awesome at it. See if favorite position to play below...

Team Picture, Carson is bottom left and Ryan is BFF is middle row 3rd over from left.

Carson at warm ups

Carson's favorite postion to play

He can't get enough of the catcher position

Ok he does infield great too.

Him playing shortstop and throwing one to 1st base for an out.