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!