The weekend.

Its the weekend again. The weeks fly. I mean fly! I can't believe its been 9 days since I posted. It felt like yesterday. 

Drew is in the mist of what people call "hell week": working 72 hours over 7 days. He is on his last day today. He has Sunday off then works 3 nights. Its probably gonna be the change to nights that really gets him. 

I am on my last week at the school. Summer break is almost here. That scares me!! What am I going to do with myself? I am trying to work up my home caseload through Horizon and opened up to Graham county kids, but I am at about 10 kids per week. I'm gonna go nuts! (I'm sure you are thinking poor Elizabeth with so much free time on her hands....barf! but living in a 35 ft trailer...can't really do your typical "things around the house"). But don't worry, I'll probably blog more and may actually start working out again. And hang out with two of my favorite little boys a lot! Not to mention their awesome momma! *Pending they don't get sick of me showing up!! 

Since I posted, Mother's day has come and gone. Happy Belated Mother's day to all you out there!  That was a hard day for me. Drew was working nights so sleeping all day. I am not complaining about it but that is hard for me. To have him right there (literally sleeping on the couch because it gets so hot up in the "bedroom") but not be able to say anything to him or bug him about stupid stuff. It was hot that day too. And I was just grumpy. I was so tired of living in the trailer (the shower had gone out at that point and the fridge still smelled like 15000 racoons that had just eaten 10 buckets of garbage had died in it and laid out in the sun) and felt so completely useless and trapped. Out in the sticks there aren't a lot of home options to escape to. In all of Greenlee county (which for you non-Arizonians...counties out here are HUGE! Indiana has 92...Arizona has 13-I think), there are only about 10 "houses" on a listing. And some of those are just plots of land. Most are manufactured homes. One is about the same square foot as the trailer. One is occupied by about 30 workers with beds all over including the closets. The options aren't abundant. Plus all my family were out celebrating moms in Evansville. I was a jealous, grumpy, hot mess!!! Poor Drew had to deal with that after waking up then had to leave me in the hot trailer as he went off to work. I had a few great phone calls that helped cheer me up. The biggest thing that made it all better (and I don't know if I should be sharing this willingly and openly) was the Survivor season finale. I had really liked one girl on the show until towards the end when she made some bad/what-I-thought-were-dumb choices. But she got blindsided a few weeks back. While sitting on the jury, she seemed to be so upset and just getting all this fuel for her fire. So on the finale when the jury gets to address the final 3 people, the grumpy, hot mess me was so fired up to hear what she had to say. I was totally prepared for a long rant like so often they hear from the jury. I actually might have been on the edge of the couch getting my fist ready to pump in delight (remember, grouchy me, not me me). What came out of her mouth shocked me to tears. She was born with heart troubles, needing surgeries when she was younger and one in the near future in order for her to have children. I don't recall her exact words but she said its all about forgiveness and not holding grudges and just being happy with life. All these things are a choice. We can't take the time we have for granted. Live life. Here all day I had been a grumpy, hot mess and I have some of the best people in my life. I have a roof (which yes at times does leak) over my head. An awesome husband willing to work long, various hours for our family. A great family and extended family. A wonderful job which I get to help kids be the best they can be and even change some lives. I am lucky. And for the whole day I wasted it on a pity party for myself. Ugh. Not the best of moments. But I am extremely grateful to have been watching that show to pull me out of my funk. I had a great chat with my Mother-in-law that night. :) 

On to my favorite part of blogs: pictures! 

Cade, a touch out of it I think. I had fun baby sitting them that night! Discovered a possible fear of the dark in this guy that night. Camden wanted us all to camp out in the living room that night to watch a show. He got everyone blankets and pillows to lay down in the front room.

OOO he is prolly gonna be mad about this one! My little day sleeper. :)

The garden is growing!

I like to see the progress as the weeks go by!

This is from the 12th.

 These next few pictures have become a saving grace in the trailer. As well as making us look a little more white trash. Its our stand alone a/c unit! However, it has to have a vent out the window. We have slat windows that are connected to each other...however open one is, they all are. So if we open one window for the a/c to vent out, the other window is open letting hot air in. The trailer park solution??? Cardboard and duck tape. :) We leave the blind down so we aren't reminded every time we see it...

It is wonderful!

This confirmed that the best seat in the place is the couch. It blows right on the couch.

Cynthia had her piano recital for her piano students on the 17th. So I watched the boys so they weren't a distraction at the show (or became the show hehe). Every time Cade sees my phone now he says "CHEESE!" The therapist in me cannot deny the language reinforcement and the pseudo-aunt (we are really 2nd cousin-in-laws...I think??) in me cannot deny these adorable pictures. I don't know what to call this face but he made it every time I tried to take the picture.   

The boys. Together. Both looking. Both mostly smiling. This is rare.

 So Cade didn't nap the day of the recital. The following is a video of Cade fighting the good fight (as Creston says). Food v. Sleep. Which will win??? (no scrolling down to see)

Sorry about the view. I don't know how to change it.

His was out cold! Camden requested what was left of his chicken nuggets.

So cute.

Camden and I finishing up dinner with some fruit.

He finally put the apple in his mouth like I had it long enough for me to get a picture.

Cade and more self portraits. A typical Cade face.

I can hear him yelling CHEESE in his one!

And his newer thing....SHHHHHHHHH

Suppose to be outside helping his daddy water plants. Instead he is posing for the camera.

This kid can't get enough!

 Some garden updated pictures from today. When I go out to water it, I always feel like the plants aren't getting bigger. But I notice a difference from the pictures above. So I feel better about our possible crops later in the summer.

Corn for sure bigger!

From the other side. My shadow was getting in the way from the other angle.

Well, that about sums up the past week and change. Off to Safford to hopefully get some stuff for a certain someone's baby shower in 2 weeks. Looking forward to my mini vacation in Indiana!! Leaving Friday from PHX and going to stay with my grandma. I have two weddings and a baby shower to attend/throw/be in while I am there!! Its going to be so much fun!! Just have to get through the last two days of school, an eval for Horizon, and 6 or 7 treats and I'll be a free bird!! Have a great weekend everyone!!
 Thanks for stopping by!

Oh nights.

So tonight is Drew's first night working. He left around 5:45 pm and will get home tomorrow morning probably around 8 am. I kinda don't know what to do with myself. I drove up to Morenci, went to Bashas and the post office. There was construction so that took a while. And now I'm home. Why is it that when Drew isn't here, everything seems a little more sketch? I'm keeping the door closed tonight when I have no problem keeping it open any other time. I am hearing every noise.

Last night he tried to stay up late so he could sleep during the day today. I have totally thought the whole time we have been married that I would love a night by myself in our bed to spread out and get a solid night's sleep...it took me forever to fall asleep last night!!

On to something a little more fun. The past two days is has RAINED!! That's right, here in Arizona, it rained. And not just a light rain...it poured, hailed, lightninged (thats really a word?), and thundered! I would have soaked this up and enjoyed it if our trailer wasn't soaking it up instead...there were leaks in the roof, door, and window. Life just gets sweeter. :)

Looks like a storm coming!

If you look really close, you can see that is hail on the ground. God did not salt the trailer park.

Closer picture of the hail.

Cooler set up to catch the roof leak, towels on the ground, and towels in the window. **the cardboard in the window is a normal feature of our trailer. That is not the window that is leaking.

 So judge me or call me a sissy, but I didn't see my kids yesterday. The rain was way too much and then it was Drew's last day off. People here understand that so well. I have some awesome parents up here (but still miss so many of mine back in the valley!!). Another plus, I got to hang out with Creston and the boys. Always an adventure!!

Happy boys in the back of the truck!

Love how when Cade gets excited, his legs lock out in full extension.

Proof that Camden was sucking his thumb!!

Cade checking himself out in my phone.

BAHHHAHAHA!! Tired boys.

Camden was so sad on his way home because he wanted the sun to be back out. He didn't like the dark. He kept asking me where the sun went when it was dark. And that he wanted to go home.

Not sure how videos work on the blog, but this one makes me laugh every time!! We made one stop in Safford yesterday and the boys stayed in the truck with Drew and me. Cade kept yelling and pointing. I thought it wanted the window down so I told Drew to put it down. If that kid wasn't strapped into his car seat, he probably would have hit the ceiling he jumped so high. But then...he would not stop yelling for it to go up or down (in not those exact words). Check it out if you can!

Sorry about the having to turn. Please note the shaking he is so excited at the end of the window going up or down. I think his is something that will always make me smile!

Well, I have less than 12 hours left. :) Have a wonderful night everyone!!!

A long weekend trip.

Welcome back friends and family. Just a little update on our past few days.

We had planned a trip to the valley so I could get my dress altered by my mil. Also, we had to leave the dogs back in the valley because it was getting too hot in our un-air conditioned trailer for the girls to hang out all day.

Vicky falling asleep snuggled into my arm on her last night in the trailer.

Smog makes such a pretty sunset!

Vicky hogs the backseat!

Once in the valley, we picked up our (my) plants from our wonderful friend Michelle who was watching them for us but who is moving back to Kansas soon!! I am so thankful for her help with the plants!! Something you wouldn't really think about when moving. But they all would have been dead if she didn't help us out! Thanks Michelle!!

My plants at Nancy's house. They take over!!

My African violet...my great uncle grew these in his house. Prolly from a linage 80+ years old.

Hello Mr. Brown. He is very social-

-ly awkward...

So I still haven't posted the picture of the truck. Raymond. This weekend we went to get Raymond "fixed". 

Here is Raymond up on the lift. Getting a smaller muffler. Boys and their toys.

 On our ride back to the valley, we found out our friend Adam was graduating from Embry Riddle on Saturday!! We decided to go up for that little celebration. We couldn't make it up for the ceremony but in time to go out on Whiskey Row!! What a night!! We really enjoyed Prescott and both think it could be a wonderful place to live someday! The hotel we stayed at was awesome...wished Cade and Camden were with us at the pool. Check it out!

All the animals sprayed water!!

After our night on Whiskey Row, we were headed to the Snowflake/Show Low area. Our cousin-in-law and dear friend Creston lost his mother earlier in the week at the young age of 53. Drew and I both had the pleasure of meeting her at Cade's birthday (Drew had met her before this a few times). This was a sudden loss and so sad. It was the least we could do to drive up to the area and help in anyway we could. On our drive, we went through Strawberry, a place Drew's family use to have a cabin. A drive down memory lane for Drew. 

Driving over from Prescott to Snowflake. Some of the fire damage.

Drew's cousin Kim was up in Snowflake too helping out. The three of us watched 5 kids for most the night then 10 kids toward the end. I have officially decided we will never have more than 4 kids. More like 3 or under. 


The next day was the funeral. I was on Cade duty. A boy who likes his peace and quiet was not a fan of a packed funeral. She was a very popular lady!! Cade slept nicely for me during the service. I got to sit outside the church in a comfy chair and listen to Creston and his siblings honor their mother. What a wonderful lady!!


Before going to the burial, we stopped by to see Ethan. We had not seen his grave before and had the privilege of going with his mom on our first visit. A few pictures.

Drew had to turn off the sprinkler so we could get next to the stone.

Nice little bush next to his stone. His father's twin brother is buried next to him.

His 8th birthday sign.

We had the pleasure of being in the company of one of the happiest babies I have ever met. Ethan's younger brother Brady. What a cutie!!

Love that tie! And the hair!! (Drew has the same hair!!)

Camden and his cousin at the burial with flowers from the casket.

Finally, we headed home via "the trail"...the Coronado Trail (former highway 666 in Arizona). I have never been carsick in my life. Love roller coasters. And have never felt like this in a car (truck). My belly was aching. I just needed the trip to be over!! We finally made it past the curves when we got to Morenci about 1.5 hours later on that road alone. Crazy. But we can say we have taken that road. 


Poor Creston and Cynthia left their house keys at his dad's house in Snowflake and realized it too late. So they stopped by on their way home to grab our extra key. We told them they didn't need to make up this elaborate story to get their key back...they could just ask for us for the key back and to stop using their house as our own. :) We are so blessed to have such wonderful family so close!! It has been wonderful getting to know them better and enjoying their family with them!! We are truly sorry for your loss.

Let this be a small reminder to take advantage of everyday you have with the ones you love. Take every chance you have to say how you feel. 

Have a great day everyone!!