Mama, Mama, Window Down!

We went to visit The Mettees in Phoenix last week, and ended up falling in love with the Sonora desert. Good thing we liked it, because I have a feeling that's where we'll have to go each year if we want to visit family. My in-laws are officially snowbirds.

And why not. I can't tell you how many times I looked up at Red Rock, in awe of what our Creator crafted for this earth. His majesty and beauty was wildly evident. Really, it was breathtaking.

My father in law is always reminding me how much God loves his people and how big He really is. Our talks this past week were about the scenary around us: how we could go from deep, wooded canyons to dusty desert in just hours. How one cactus could grow for hundreds of years on 6 inches of rain each year. Really, he reminded us, it's part of God's great design.

Another gift of His great design: that toddler in the back demanding "Indow Down!" Suddenly, Ben has learned how to speak his mind -- and he too wanted to see the mountains during our rides through the desert. Jack, meanwhile, is still begging to head back to Arizona. It's not the desert he's missing, though. Big cousin Ryan is still there and, well, he's the coolest dude ever.

Anyway, I threw some photos onto Facebook and added some more here (largely for Mom and Papa Don).

Fall Festival

The tiger at today's fall festival. Who would have thought Jack would dare climb it.


Jack, coming down the tiger. He climbed it about 2o times.


Ben, in the bouncy for little kids

Zoo Day

Jack and Ben got their flu shots on Friday. The angst of knowing he was going to get a shot was relieved, somewhat, by the promise of a trip to the zoo afterward.

Jack and John, at zoo's Teton Trek exhibit.

Ben was asleep about 3 minutes after we pulled out of the parking lot. Riding in a stroller will really do you in.

Getting Cooler

Greetings from Memphis. As we settle into fall, I thought I'd share some photos from today -- Jack's first soccer game.

Since I last posted, the Mettees have been on a wild ride. Ben is running. Jack is now tonsil-less and our house is for sell. My mom and Don finally tied the knot, we had a great extended family vacation to Hilton Head and the boys started new schools. And then, I got to help open Memphis' new $340 million children's hospital.

We are getting ready for the most wonderful time of the year, aka football season. John and I both have Fantasy Football leagues, and I'm just dying to teach Ben to say "Go Big Orange" and, of course," Go Titans Go!"

We're also awaiting the arrival of our newest nephew, Mason Hancock. Jack has already asked Aunt Ruby why she can't just take him out already. We did, after all, have a shower for the baby last weekend and he didn't even get to come to the party.

Anyway, thought I'd share some pics from today. Gotta go make cupcakes with my favorite soccer player.

Easter

For the first time in a long time, we had a warm Easter -- started the day with a church breakfast, Easter egg hunt and then church. Some pics from the day:

No, we're not crazy

I've posted a slideshow of our trip to Washington D.C. to see the cherry blossoms. Yes, it is possible to take your 4-year-old and 10-month-old to the "big city," as Jack calls it, without losing your mind.

I have said more than once this week that if I live in a city with sweltering 100-degree summers, I thought I got a break on winter. Not this week. Our city has turned frigid and we've spent a lot of time just hanging out a home.

Since I last posted, Ben has become my BIG baby, nearly weighing 20 pounds and already crawling (I've got video to prove it). Jack loves his new preschool, and I'm reminded daily of what a boy he's becoming.

John got me a Flip camera for Christmas, which I'm still trying to master. This is a video from tonight, right before bedtime. Note the play by play by big brother in the background.

(I can already hear Grammy and Granna watching this video, wondering why I don't pick that poor baby up!)