New Friends

Everyday is a new adventure and Keara goes after each one full blast with a smile on her face. She has had a lot of firsts over the last couple of months. Some good and some not so good, but always she is just as cheerful as ever. Fortunately before the new baby arrives, she has really taken to making and playing with new friends.


We caught a Diamondbacks game towards the end of the season with her friend Parker. Keara thought it was great, hot dogs, ice cream, staying up way past her bedtime. We thought we might be lucky to catch a home run from Bonds, but he didn't even play and the D-backs lost.


A couple of weeks later we had a ward camp out. Trysta and Keara enjoyed this cozy two-seater just their size. Finding a bag of Chocolate Chex mix helped sweeten the moment. She loves pointing out Trysta in church and Trysta responds by affectionately nick-naming her carrot because Keara has one too many syllables.

Finally, after almost a year of trying and plans failing or conflicting, we were able to have the Cobos over for dinner. Although this wasn't a new experience she enjoyed sharing it with her friends Rayden and Kenis.

Then, tonight, she had a not so fun first experience. Between 8 and 10 tonight she threw up about 5-6 times. Dinner, lunch, and whatever snacks she had in between. ( I decided not to insert a picture here) At least she warned us. In between each time it happened she would start to cry, even if she was laughing the moment before, and then it would happen. Then the only friend she wanted was Mommy who graciously let her throw up all over her clothes.

(I apologize to our friends if I misspelled any of their children's names)

Keara can't wait for Monday's too!

Keara has hit that stage where she likes to copy or imitate a lot of what we do. I think it makes her feel like a big girl. So, on Monday's she is just as excited as Mommy and Daddy are about finding out what happened over the weekend.

At the same time Daddy is trying hard to get her to like the right team while she is young and impressionable. So, when the Suns had an open practice before the season started we jumped on the last minute opportunity to sit closer than we've ever been. She loved screaming when the crowd cheered and clapping 15 seconds after everyone else had stopped.

Mondays!!!

Tomorrow is Monday! And unlike Garfield and most of this nation. We love Mondays. Why? Well, since you insisted. Because on Mondays we get to find out who won on Sunday. We try not to pay attention to sports on Sunday. A self-imposed rule since I know I enjoy sports a little more than I should. So, on Monday I get to find out if my Bears won. That or if the game was on TV then I get up super early to watch my recording of it before I come across a newspaper/headline/or someone with a big mouth.

And now that Cheri likes to do fantasy football with me in my family's league, she is excited about Monday's to see if her players did well or not. Of course, two weeks ago I wasn't so happy to get up because no matter how good of a year either of us is having, she has beaten me the last two years and she did it to me again this year.

This Monday we are a little nervous because Dice-K was pitching for our Red Sox.

Gordon won the pole and could put more distance between him and Jimmie.

And pretty soon the Suns will start. Anybody else excited to see Grant Hill in a Suns uniform?

So, you see, I love sports, now you know my teams and what Cheri has to put up with.

Summer Travels: Part Three

Like most movies, anything past a third just isn't worth anything so this will be the last of our summer travels. But that doesn't mean it wasn't a great one.

About six or seven months ago we listened to one of those time-share proposals for three hours and in return received free air fair, hotel stay, and tickets to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. So, the only thing we had to cover was the car rental and food for three days. Well, after a little stress we got an upgrade to our hotel. We also got an upgrade to the car as well, though at first I didn't think it was much of an upgrade.

This was our Toyota Prius, a hybrid car. Looks weren't that great but it was better than a Ford Focus:) Even though we couldn't figure out how to turn it on at first.

Of course we went to beach everyday where Keara showed no regard for her personal safety. Once we let her feet touch the sand she would take off running towards the water. She thought it was the greatest thing as the surf would wash up over her feet.

The Double Tree was a nice hotel to be upgraded to and it was in a good location. Keara especially loved the king size bed and thought breakfast in bed should happen everyday. (Zoom in on her if you can)

One of the best parts. The San Diego really is one of the most beautiful temples, inside and out. Right off the freeway but you wouldn't notice it while on the grounds. Keara was good to us as she patiently waited for Mommy and Daddy to take their turns in the Temple since we had no one to watch her.

This was one of the first trips that Cheri and I have taken as our family of three to a place purely for vacation and not to visit family. It was great to get out of the heat and get anothe step closer to our goal of doing work in each temple.

Summer Travels: Part Two

After a week in Utah we had to prepare for the other family reunion. Cheri and I were in charge of directing it and we were a little nervous how the first one would go over. But in the end there was no need for worry. It was a wonderful experience. We chose a cooler part of Arizona to get together in.

Tonto Natural Bridge

I won't bother explaining how it came about but it is a wonder of nature. This is obviously the underbelly. We hiked down one side and then decided to go back up the other.
Our nieces and nephews had no fear in tackling the trail.
And what would a post be without a picture of Keara! Since the womb she has always sat with her feet crossed.

Summer Travels: Part 1

July was a very busy month with lots of planning and some stress to get everything together ontime. It was also the first time we left the store in someone else's hands for more than a night. We started in Utah for Cheri's extended family reunion.

We were all in for a surprise when not two, nor four, but all five sisters announced they were pregnant. (well, everybody already knew about two).

(due to some unwanted exposure of the abdomen the picture was removed)

Keara also had fun and found some new toys she really liked.

Not to mention all the snacks she could get her hands on.

She also got to meet Victoria for the first time. Grant and Kelly happened to be in Utah at the same time so we stopped to say hello. There were other pictures but they accidentally got erased.

Just an average day for Keara

She starts with breakfast and is a very aggressive eater.


















But she is always willing to take time to pose.















Then she goes to work in the afternoon where she tries her best to handle customer calls and schedule appointments for her mom.

















And for all her hard work she gets a tasty treat.

Keara is excited to be 1!!!