Do I have the best friend EVER or what? Heather organized three, yes three, baby showers for me. One for all the ladies I work with at school, one for our class, and one at her house for all my friends and family. The one at her house was also thrown by my other BFF, Aliki. I wanted to get all the pic from their cameras as well as my sisters, but who knows when we'll have the time to get those together. So here are just a few from my Camera that I've put together in a slideshow for ya'll. The only bummer is I don't have ANY pictures with Aliki :(

Baby Showers!!

The New House

Here we are in Arizona and we have been working our butts off to get the house together and get all the painting done before the baby gets here. The weather has been very nice so far - we haven't turned on the AC yet!! It does get CRAZY windy which Elijah hates cuz it is really loud.

The boys have started school and are very happy there. Marcus has already made a fast friend. They are frighteningly alike and go to the local high school to prepare for Freshman football next year. Yikes - High School next year!!! it has been great for Marcus to be back in a sport program. He has also started going to youth group on Wednesday nights. Now we just need to get Elijah into something and find a church for him to get involved in as well. He is doing very well academically and is making friends. He takes more time to get close to people so hopefully by next year school, he will have one or two best buds. Joseph can't wait to go back to preschool in August. We have already found a neat little Christian preschool for him to attend and he talks about it all the time. Poor guy does get a little bored being stuck at home with just me all day waiting for his brothers to get home. I think that when his little sister gets here, he is going to be so happy to have someone else in the house other than me.

Marcus and I are adjusting well to being under the same roof again, even though he is working a lot so he can take a little time off when the baby comes. I am a tad lonely from time to time, but it has been good because it keeps me focused on my responsibilities here. dad, you would be so happy at how well things are being organized and how clean, well at least the downstairs, stays allthe time. I guess the time I spent with my sweet OCD dad has made me a better housekeeper - thanks, Dad. I get tired soooo fast, but I think that I have accomplished a lot in the past month.


Thank you, Heather, for coming out here with me and being the best friend EVER. I really mean that from the bottom of my heart. You made the transition that much easier and having you and your kids here was such a blessing to my children as well. I CAN"T WAIT for you guys to come visit again and this time we will have fun instead of just working the whole time. Life is not the same without you just down the street and I pray that our friendship will stay as close and as special as it has become in the last 3 years. You are my precious gift from God that was key in helping me and my children get through so much drama - and you helped us come out better people. I miss you so much my heart hurts.

Thank you, Aliki, for all your prayers and support. My sweet best friend that God gave me 7 years ago when I was at my lowest. For always spoiling me when we come visit and for clothing my daughter well for the next year and a half of her life. Thank you for blessing me with just about every baby item my little one will need. You have saved us about $1000!!!! I have loved the time that we have spent together over the past few months and I can't wait for you and the girls to come see our home. I will definitely need to get a gate before your little climber, Belle, comes over.

Thank you to my sisters who made my boys and me feel so unbelievably loved and so special with all your efforts into giving us a loving goodbye. I miss you guys so much and appreciate all the chances that you give me and all your patience with me as I have gone through my adult life.I love you and I am so glad that you will be there to welcome this baby into the world. I can't imagine her not meeting you on her birthday.

Thank you to my amazing, wonderful, loving, patient, forgiving, and godly parents for being more and doing more for me and my boys than any parents anywhere have done. There are not enough words to express my love, gratitude and respect for you both. My house is not my home until you come and see it and have been here to make memories.

Our First Visitors from California

As you all know, Heather and her kids came out with me and my boys to help us get moved it in, but we actually had our first Cali visitors since we are all moved in this week. My dear friend Erika (we met in 1993 while we were both working at Ruby's in Costa Mesa) ironically had already planned a family trip to Scottsdale when I told her the date that we were moving. She was very faithful and contacted me as soon as they arrived and we had her, her husband Justin and their boys Chance and Jett over for dinner on Thursday night. It was so nice to have a friend here and the boys couldn't have been more excited to have some one to play with. JoJo and Jett clicked especially well. We got together with them at their hotel on Saturday to go swimming and we went to historical downtown Scottsdale to ride the trolley and had lunch t the HUGE mall there. JoJo and Jett sat next to each other and held hands and I think are forever friends now. JoJo can't wait to see him again on one of our trips out to Cali this summer.

JoJo feeding his "dolphin" Chance some fishy crackers




On the trolley