Tis the Season

Page didn't like sitting still for a minute during the parade

Here she is playing with the road sign... she played with it for a long time.. Steve supervised

Here is Page and me at the Parade. We had a great time!

Page and Aunt Lydia at the parade. Page made her rounds.

My first turkey EVER... it was pretty yummy, too!

Page at South Mountain... Doesn't she look like an angel with the light hitting her..

Page is leading Steve around the mountain

What a cool new seat she found... if only she didn't keep trying to jump out!

Page, Maison, and Taylor enjoying the snow!

Page and Maison in the snow!

Page enjoying the snow at Glendale Glitters - yes they brought in real

snow for the kids to play in - it was great!

Page and her Aunt Lydia at Glendale Glitters

Page and Daddy on the shuttle bus coming back from Glendale Glitters... She's such a cheeser!

Here is the house finished with all the decorations! Page loved it!

Wow... it's been a while since I've been on here. Alot has happened in the last couple of weeks. First of all... Miss Tricia's Daycare is FULL!!!! WOOHOO!!!!! I actually had to turn someone away today! What a great feeling! Then, Steve's sister, Lydia, and her family, Paul, Maison, and Taylor, came out to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. We had a great time spending the holiday with family. We went to the ONLY Thanksgiving Day parade in AZ, in Fountain Hills, again this year. We then came back to the house and I cooked and labored in the kitchen all day. The dinner was yummy and a success. I even made my first turkey. I may be biased, but it was delicious! On Friday, we took the Burrows to South Mountain. They all enjoyed the view and we got many pictures while we were there. That evening, we attended Glendale Glitters. This is a weekend festival that has been going on for 16 years here in Glendale. We went on opening night and attended the Grand Lighting Ceremony. It was a lot of fun and Page loved it! Even though Page loved the Shuttle bus that took us to and from the fair, her favorite part was the lights. We left with her asking for lights and trees... How could we disappoint her? After Steve brought Lydia and her family to the airport at 4:30 in the morning, we later decorated the house! Page was thrilled when we took her outside for the grand lighting of our house. She loves the tree and the lights outside. We love this time of the year and we can't wait to get to spend it together and with our families. We leave for IL in 15 days!!!!

I'm trying...

Wow... this last week has been a rough one. With all of the stuff with Steve's sister, Christi, and now I find out my Grandpa is in the hospital and his cancer tumor has grown. I'm usually the person who would take these opportunities to feel sorry for myself. I'm trying a different approach now. Steve has been telling me for years to be more positive and let the negativity go. So, that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to be strong for Steve and for his family. I'm trying to be strong for my Mom and my family. I'm trying to be strong for Page and for myself. Things were doing OK... I was succeeding most of the time, but it just seems to keep getting harder. I'm trying to make a change and God isn't allowing me practice, he's throwing me in. I guess I should be thankful for that. There are SO many things to be thankful for right now. My daycare is finally full, which means we should be financially set for a little while; I've had a great week with the daycare kids; my daycare parents are awesome and I couldn't ask for any better; I get to stay home with my daughter - what I've always wanted to do; I have a couple more days/nights to spend with Steve before he leaves on his business trip; Christi is alive and we have a second chance to help her; my Grandpa is 87 years old and has lived a full and enriched life; and so much more. I'm trying to focus on all of that. I have such amazing family and friends who supports me and my family and everything that we are dealing with. I am very lucky and have so much to be thankful for this year. It helps to get these feelings and thoughts out of my head. It helps me to really think about all I have. Even though there are some tough times right now... and even very tough times, we are lucky to have what we have and should not take that for granted and utilize every day that God gives us as a gift to help and serve others. I need to stay strong and stay positive. I have to remind myself of my oldest and most favorite quote: "God won't give me anything that I can't handle." I can handle this. I will get through this and I will be the support that my family needs. I am blessed to be a part of such an amazing family and extended family. I am proud to be both a Rolves and a Hustedt. I know I am biased, but I think they are two of the best families anyone could ask for. So please, continue with the prayers and please understand if I have a momentary lapse of positivity, but I am trying... I will keep trying... God is good.

Getting Closer

Well, the time is almost here. Next week is Thanksgiving and then we move into the Christmas holiday! We will be leaving for home one month from tomorrow. We are so excited. The events with Steve's sister this past week have really made us realize and appreciate all we have and how much we have to be thankful for. We can't wait to spend Thanksgiving together like last year and then move into Christmas!!! We have our Black Friday tradtion that we are all looking forward to. Every year on Black Friday, we avoid the stores at all costs!!!! But, we do put up our Christmas tree, all of our decorations, and give Page her Black Friday gift (it's an ornament). She gets to put her new "gift" on the tree first and then we decorate and have fun together all while listening to Christmas music. We can't wait. I think Page will really enjoy it this year as she is older and can relate to more. Then, starts the baking season. The brownies, the cookies, the candies... yum yum.... We'll be sure to take LOTS of pictures and plenty of video to share with everyone. This is our favorite time of year and just knowing that it is quickly approaching brings joy to my heart!

What a great day

As many of you probably already know... I know my husband knows.... I can be a pretty negative person sometimes. So, with that said, I wanted to make sure everyone knew how great of a day I had. Nothing special happened. Today was day 2 of 3 of my full days with the daycare this week. This isn't a regular thing, I'm usually only full 2 days a week, but I'm definately not complaining. Today, one of my regular Tuesday and Thursday girls, came with her older (5) sister for the day while Mom worked in Maricopa (a city about 40 miles south of Glendale). Anyway, the 5 year old attends Pre-K on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Allison is here. Today, Madison (the 5 year old) brought her homework along from Pre-K. She was so excited to work on it and she was so smart. When she was done working, she wanted to keep going. I made some worksheets for her and we worked together on them. She was so excited when she learned how to do soemthing new. I loved it! I guess I didn't realize how much I missed teaching. But then I thought about it and remembered... I still get to teach these wonderful, innocent kids that I work with everyday. I get to teach them before they end up hating learning and while it's still fun. I have the best job in the world.

Also, Allison and Madison's mom brought me an unopened complete set of Your Baby Can Read. She had a couple at her house and thought we might enjoy them. The kids loved it! Page was amazing. She was already interacting with it and amazing me with how much she could do. I am an advocate for the program now... after only one day. I can't wait for Steve to get home from work so Page can show off her new skills. I am so thankful for getting the opportunity to stay home and raise my beautiful daughter, and still get to do what I love... teach! Thanks to all of my friends and family for their continuous and amazing support and love!!!

Thanksgiving Visitors

We just found out that Steve's sister, Lydia, and her family may be making the trip from OK to AZ for Thanksgiving. What a nice surprise that would be. We always miss spending Thanksgiving with our family, but with only a couple days off work, it just doesn't make sense to make the drive... and we're trying to save money for our December trip, so flights are out of the question. So, we hope it works out and that we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with family. If not, we understand and will have fun like we did last year. We are always happy to have family and friends visit. If you know of some time off and you're wanting to visit... let us know!

The Holiday Season is here - so much to do!

So, October is in the past now. Only 25 more days until Thanksgiving. Today, while I let the girls (Page and Maia) play outside and sidewalk chalk, I will be taking down the Halloween decorations and putting up the Thanksgiving decorations. As of right now, it will be another low key Thanksgiving for the AZ Hustedts (unless someone wants to visit us!) We will probably do the same as last year, wake up EARLY, grab a quick granola bar out the door and drive the hour (hour and a halfish) to Fountain Hills for the ONLY Thanksgiving parade in AZ. Let's hope it doesn't rain this year! Page had fun last year, but didn't really get it. I think she'll have alot more fun this year. Then, we'll make the drive back home, have a nice yummy brunch and watch the Christmas Parades on TV. Steve and Page will hang out in the Living Room and I will begin making WAY too much food for the three of us! The holidays are our favorite time of year. We can't wait.

There seems to be so much that still needs to be dine by then. It would be great if I were full by Christmas, but that just might be a Christmas miracle. I do have two little babies starting in January and March, so those will help in the new year! Then I will be full! Steve is still working alot and will be gone some more this month. We need to work on helping him relax and enjoy the time he is home and prepare for our wonderful holidays here and of course... our trip back home. Right now, it looks like we are either leaving on Thursday, December 17 or Friday, December 18. It all depends on Steve's work schedule. We'd like to make it home for the Rolves Christmas at Mom and Dad's this year, but we'll have to see how that works out! So, thus begins a very busy time of year. We can't wait to spend Thanksgiving here in AZ - low key and then spending the other holidays at home with all of our friends and family!

Halloween Fun

WOOF, WOOF... Page barking for the camera

Full view of Page's Dalmation Dog costume. Notice the orange pumpkin socks!

Page decorating her cookie

The yummy treats I sent home with the kids.

MMMM... Pumpkin Heads - made and bought by a Grandma of one of the kids.

Page had a great time at Miss Tricia's Daycare Spooktacular Halloween Party yesterday. I think all the kids did, actually. I had fun, too. We were all exhausted by the end of the day. Some of the activties that Page participated in were decorating cookies, coloring pumpkin pictures, making picture frames, making door hangers, dressing up for the Halloween Parade (just around the house) and eating all the yummy treats. It was a busy but fun day. All of the kids looked so cute, especially Page. Being the non creative person I am... I dressed as a Bears player (Dick Butkus to be exact). It was a fun time for all. We are now looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday and to the Gobbling Good Times Thanksgiving Party! Yes, Page and I are already planning. So, enjoy the pictures and we can't wait to see you all! We are working on finalizing our Holiday Travel schedule. Once we have it, you'll have it!

Family Time

Daddy and Page sidewalk chalking Steve is trying to draw pictures for Page.

Page sidewalk chalking.

She's so cute.

Page coloring next to her name so we know how did it!

Pure Bliss!

She loves to color

Well, Fall has finally hit Arizona. The weather is great and our little outdoor baby loves being outside. We take our nightly walks around the neighborhood and the park, but Page still begs for more. She is quite the artist, so we've recently taken up driveway coloring. Page has tons of fun and it allows for some great family time. So, enjoy the wonderful pictures of Page's masterpieces and just Page in general!

Pumpkin Time

Here I am helping Page carry her new pumpkin!

I love this picture. She looks so content hanging out in the straw!

Again... such a cute picture. It reminds me of the farm!

Papa, you need to get one of these!

She's having so much fun!

She loved the straw bales. She's a little farm girl, just like her Mommy

Happy Family

Page and me in the cow tire

Page showing her Daddy how to drive the tractor

"Trust me, Daddy. Papa showed me how to work this thing!"

"Just let me do it!"

Page refusing to look at the camera

WEEEEEEE.... I love slides

Page loves petting goats

What's up with that face?

Which one... which one?

Steve, Page, and I visited a Pumpkin farm today. It was Page and Steve's first time ever. I tried to share my memories of childhood of going to pick pumpins and the fun we had has kids at pumpkin patches. It couldn't even match the fun we had today. Page was tired and "a little" grumpy. Steve tried to convince me that letting Page nap and then go might have been a good idea, but my excitement won out and we went before nap time. She was a little grumpy, but you can't tell from the pictures. She had a great time. However, that is why she is not looking at camera in any of the shots. Page loved the animals (especially the goats). She even saw a cow, that scared the heck out of her when it came right over to her and mooed in her face. Shhhh... don't tell Papa! She did however, LOVE the tractor. She had fun showing Daddy all the parts of the tractor and how it works. She told him that Papa taught her how to drive the tractor, so she would show him. :) It was VERY cute. Page also enjoyed the corn box. This is a large sandbox filled with corn kernals. Papa really needs to get one of these, it could have been hours of fun for Page. I'm sure her cousins would love it, too. Anyway, as you can see through the pictures, even though Page was a little grumpy at times, she had a great time and I think Page and Steve's first visit to a Pumpkin Patch was a great one. We may just have to go back again when she's in a better mood for some more pictures. Here are some of the adventures of Page.

Beaming with Pride

Let me brag about my honey! Steve is out of town at a Conference for work. It is the United Methodist Communicator's Conference - a world wide event held in Nashville, TN every year. Steve (or someone from his team) has been attending this conference for the last three years, since Steve has been here. The first year, they won 2 awards. Last year they won four awards. I just talked to Steve and they won 6 awards this year!!!! One of the articles that he wrote (and was the winner of one of the 6 awards) was directly quoted by the Secretary during a Conference address. How exciting. I am so proud of Steve and his team. Keep in mind that when Steve got this job three years ago, he was the youngest Director of Communications in the United Methodist Church by almost 20 years. He has accomplished so much and made huge strides not only for himself but for the Desert Southwest Conference as well. He is nationally known and has been invited all over the nation to do seminars on communication and much more. Steve is doing amazing things and I'm so proud to be by his side during this all.

Fun List of Adventures

The starred items, I've accomplished. These are my answers - Steve's would be much different
1. Started your own blog**
2. Slept under the stars**
3. Played in a band**
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower**
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/Disney World**
8. Climbed a mountain**
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo**
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning**
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight**
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill**
24. Built a snow fort**
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping**
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse**
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset**
31. Hit a home run**
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community**
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing**
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke**
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight**
46. Been transported in an ambulance**
47. Had your portrait painted (charactature)**
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain**
53. Played in the mud**
54. Gone to a drive-in theater**
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business**
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies**
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason**
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma**
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check**
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (Reduction in Force)**
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person**
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car**
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper**
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox twice
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous**
92. Joined a book club**
93. Lost a loved one**
94. Had a baby**
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone**
99. Been stung by a bee**