the BEST doctor

The BEST doctor...is a nurse practitioner. Once upon a time I met a new friend at a random church function. We got to talking about Pediatricians and who we use. She told me that she didn't know, "what (she) was going to do living so far east now. (She) just LOVED the Chandler office of Mesa Peds but it was so far away now." I asked who she saw and she replied, "Oh, I don't go to a doctor there. I make sure my appointment is with Leslie Sezate, she's the nurse practitioner, she's the best."

It's worth the drive...I go there too.

This is my Aunt Leslie Arnett Sezate at Williams last appointment

I'm sad to admit that it took me 6 years of Dr's appointments to figure out to make ours her last appointment of the day so we can sit and chat endlessly. She's my dad's older sister and she's not allowed to go anywhere as long as I have children...I told her so at this appointment. She informed me that I had to keep having babies then. What kind of deal have I made?!

busy busy

It was an incredibly busy weekend with Basketball, Scouting, and Church & School Carnivals (keep scrolling for details) but we still eeked out enough time for a few hours at the park with our cousin! This is truly the best time of year in Arizona.

Clyde

Seth

Walter and MB

Jack

the brethren

Aren't they cute?

should've-would've

long story-short

13 years ago when we were newlyweds Monte built me an entertainment center while we lived in Wymount. It has followed us through countless moves, been added to, fixed and re-varnished more than I can remember. We don't use it anymore. I'm cleaning and un-cluttering the house so we were discussing the entertainment center and wondering who might be in need. (Such a shame to loose such a piece.) Clyde happily suggested, "MOM! Let's get the pick ax out and burn it!" It seemed fitting so we had some good friends over (thanks Stones for the fun company) for grilled pork loin, baked potatoes, salad, brownies and

BON FIRE!!

Those countless layers of varnish made for an awesome fire.

I should've taken pictures-I would've taken pictures

but I forgot.

aside: Monte said it was fun and "therapeutic" to hack it apart...hmm...let's hope that's not a subconscious thought on our 13 years of marriage.

baBy Oh babY

Yes, it'll all there in the post title.

Did you read carefully?

Here let me spell it out for you

baBy Oh babY

We're thinking 3rd times a charm...right?

(Prayers and positive thoughts are always welcome!!)

SaNtA

Almost too cool...but a little reluctant to stop believing.

This one just knew he was with the real Santa

You can see the excitement on this ones face.

It's a little too scary to sit on his lap and yet...

it's totally fine to take his candy and give up a quick "knuckles"

AnNuAL TrEe CutTinG 2010

It seems my blog is getting repetitive...so many yearly traditions!!

The Bill Arnett Jr family Annual Pinetop Lakeside Tree Cutting Party!!
This year twas StUpEnDoUS!! Sunny, warm and bright with plenty of good packing snow!!

The Brethren-A Full SET!!

me and my dad

jonny, shauna, me, cynthia, sara and kathryn

walter, jenet, monte birk, monte sr and rex making hot cocoa and popping corn (the poppers didn't work so well on the bon fire)

jack-et chillin' with grandpa

clyde-ster!!

alison, andrew, jonny, monte birk

4 Peaks!

If you were wondering what it means when I tell you each Thanksgiving we go to 4 Peaks...just count the peaks on the mountain behind us...The Arnett Family Tradition that has been going on since my memories began.

Clyde and Sr

Walter & Monte

Seth, Jack, Sr, Clyde

Mom and Seth

Sr and Clyde

Me and Jack

Our tooth fairy is rich and apparently very, very BLOND!

UMMMM...our tooth fairy (the male version) forgot last night. The female version was up with Jackson all night and didn't even know that the tooth (and the promisary note for the one that had been lost somewhere in the carpet) had been placed under the pillow. Jack is finally doing better around 2am and I'm thinking that sleep for me is coming when Clyde comes in with a bad dream around 3am. By 4am I finally get him settled in bed with me and am drifting into much needed sleep myself when Seth comes in with the dreaded..."Mommy, the tooth fairy forgot!" Oh crap "Oh sweetie," I say, "she was probably just crazy busy last night." By 5am he is done hitting the bed and squirming around, while Clyde and his nasty night breath are snoring next to me, and I drift off into sleep. Ahh sweet sleep. Around 6am, the male tooth fairy emerges from his upstairs sleeping chambers to shower and get ready for work. I mention the tooth fairy scenario and since Seth is still sleeping next to me he goes to take care of it. Around 7am "MOM!! I got $5 for my two teeth!" Seriously? That's all the tooth fairy had in his wallet? I've got quarters stashed all over this house! "Oh baby that is SO AWESOME!" 7:30am "Guys, go make your beds and clean up your rooms it's about time to get to school." "WoW Mom the tooth fairy forgot my tooth and I still got $5!!!!" "What?" "I found it under my bed! She forgot it!" Geesh! So now Monte Birk has given Seth a quarter for the tooth and has it in his own baggie with you guessed it! HIS name on the bag. He's going to put it under his pillow tonight because "Geeze Mom, this tooth fairy isn't too smart. She won't even notice!"

What would you do?

You call your neighbor to have her 3 year olds over to play. She says no, she's going to the AZ State Fair, "It's deodorant day." You say "huh?" Bring in deodorant get in free! Of course it's 1/2 day at school for the kids anyway...SO...what would YOU DO?!

The brethren prefer the games to the rides. (Games and rides all $1 yesterday.) MB won his bear early on in the afternoon and carried him around the fair grounds like this all day.

Ingenious!!

...and I quote "TWAINS mom TWAINS!" He would have been happy at this stop all day long.

Jack was too short for most of the rides...including this one. I've learned that if I carry him into the ride they never actually see his height!! Is that sneaky or smart?

They have an exibit this year of life sized dinosaurs. Very loud, pretty darn scary and not for the faint of heart child. I'd roll Jacks stroller close to the ones with big ol teeth and he'd scream until I'd roll him away again. Back and forth, back and forth...I've got it on video.


The animals won by the end of the evening!

OH! Did mention the fact that the mini van's radiator cracked just after picking up the boys from school on the way to the fair? We were crammed in the van with our friends the Hamms. Monte saved us from the freeway on ramp, we transfered all of the strollers and car seats to his car, left him with a few kids, transfered everything into the Hams Jeep, went back to pick up the rest of the kids, left Monte with the Mess of a mini-van on the side of the road (not stranded, he had his car back.)...and were on our way! We could've stayed home after the hour long delay on the side of the road. But...life's what you make it...right?

school party-round 1

I was a bit of a Scrooge for the trunk or treat. Today I made up for it by donning a sporting costume and surpising the kids at their school parties.

'Barefoot and in the kitchen'...frightening!

it's a custume people...don't get any ideas

Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest!

We've hosted this at our home for the nieghborhood for 9 years now. Doesn't matter where we live, we invite our neighbors and a few other friends and carve! Home made caramel apples for category prizes and T-shirts of the Over-All best in each age group.

This is serious business!

The Judds were the only representatives from the neighborhood this year. Hmmmm, maybe we're scary neighbors?

Monte's best friend Jonah came as well as the Judds, the Reidheads and the Simmons families

OK...he couldn't have been happier cutting away on his own! No wait, when we lit up the fire pit and brought out the marshmellows that added a bit.

trunk or treat

Don't get me wrong, I love Halloween, I really do, I'm just wondering when it became the biggest and busiest of all of the holidays in the year! Ward parties, School parties, Work parties, Neighborhood parties...with costumes and make-up at each one!

Fall Break

The Park, the Zoo, cousins, play dates, hangin' with nothin' to do...PerFeCt!

Seth

JackMB

Clyde