What a difference a year can make.

Tj has spent the last year getting back in shape. Notice any difference?! (This picture has not been photo shopped in any way.)



Here's a reminder of about a year and a half ago:

Notice anything different?! He looks super young huh?!

Visitors

After several weeks of being the visitors we got to HAVE some visitors with us back in Florida. Our good friends the Boyce family came and stayed with us for a few days. We went swimming, wrestled (at least the little boys did), went to the beach, colored, and played some good old fashion boy play. It was a fun time!

The Characters: Joel, Riley, Vance and Tyler (in the back).

My kids being doofs. They're going to regret this
when they're in high school and I show all their dates!

Beach bums.
Can you tell which ones have an overprotective mom?!

This is how I will picture the boys forever.
Always together, helping each other or at least trying to.

The Rest of the Rest of the story.

So for part of the time we were in AZ we went to Yuma to see Angela and her family. We also got a visit from my oldest sister Dana (although I'm kicking myself that we didn't get a partial "sisters" picture!). We also went and saw my brother Landon and his family as we passed through Phoenix.

The boys playing with their cousins.
They loved that they could play on the computer
all by themselves, and Allie was a good teacher!

My cute nephew. He is just so adorable!

We ended our trip in the Phoenix area with my brother and his family. It was a fun week! We had a birthday party for Emma, a trip to Shamrock Farms, sewing with Auntie Kimmie (my cousin), Emma's first dance recital, s'mores and camping in the backyard with Uncle Brody (aka the kid whisperer- he got 4 kids ages 2.5 through 8 to sleep outside ALL night within 15 minutes of being out there!) plus EASTER! It was a super fun time- at least for my boys. lol

The kids at Shamrock Farms Dairy
It was a really fun day.
We got to tour the farm, see the cows get milked,
feed and pet baby calves, and get free milk!

Easter morning!
My boys were so excited that they got so much
candy- and I let them eat it! Thanks Easter Bunny!

Games at the birthday party.
Who knew that Red Light-Green Light and
Freeze Tag are alive and well?!

The Rest of the Story.

Growing up my mom would often listen to Paul Harvey and "The Rest of the Story" while she ran us to piano lessons, gymnastics, doctor appointments etc. So this title is dedicated to her. Here's the rest of our trip to Safford.

The boys with the cat Sobe. Remember she is the anti-social
member of the family. Oh yeah, you can't see her because the kids
are smothering her. She must have realized that resistance
is futile when it comes to these animal lovers. :)

One of our many trips to El Charro.
A trip to Safford is not complete unless you eat there.

My daddy took us back to the ranch where the poppies
were in full bloom! Joel was in heaven!

Joel cleaning Monie's mirror for her.

Auntie Ra Ra took us to the Reid Park Zoo.
This inanimate frog that didn't even spray water
was their favorite part of the zoo! Crazy kids.

The boys and I at the zoo.