Knudsen Clan

Oh, Mexico...

2011-06-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

We look forward to our vacation to Mexico every year. We haven't had the opportunity to go in a while so we were especially excited this year. It was also Scout's first time at the beach! For this trip we bought our first tent and a cargo carrier for the roof of our van. The drive down went... well (it's not a family vacation until someone pukes, right?). As soon as we arrived, Rufus met a new friend, Audrey, and they were inseparable! Good thing we camped near them or I don't think we would've seen him the entire time. As usual, we were beach bums for the four days we were there. Rufus, Albert and friends went to an estuary where they caught a blue crab and a bunch of little pink crabs. We also had fun building a sand castle, which I didn't get a picture of fast enough! Scout did not like the texture of the sand. Needless to say she played on a towel while on the beach; but she did manage to eat her first handful of sand, YUCK! We also unexpectedly met up with our friends the Winter's while we were there! Good times! After we had all the mangos, potato tacos, and burritos we could eat it was time to go... but we know we have many more memories to make the next time.

Our Family 2010

2010-12-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

We spent this Thanksgiving with the Knudsen Family. Steve & Amiee were able to come and visit for a couple days so we took the opportunity to have a family picture taken while they were here.

Rufus (3-years-old) & Scout (6-months-old)

Time-Out for Sisters

2010-12-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

Each year all of the Knudsen sisters (and sister-in-laws) get together for a Girls Weekend. We all wanted to go to Time-Out for Women since it came to Phoenix this year, but the price tag was a little steep. So we had our own Tim-Out for Sisters! We ate, shopped, and crafted! What more could a woman want? Oh... yeah, there was chocolate too!

Our Thanksgiving Wreaths (just clip on what you're thankful for!)

Pomp and Circumstance

2010-12-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

YEAH!!! He finally made it! Really... he finished his MBA 6 months ago, but it didn't seem like is was over until he walked across that stage. His brother, Andrew, also graduated with his BA the same day. So it was a big family affair!!! Congrats boys!

Halloween Pumpkins

2010-12-03T10:10:00.001-08:00

This year was a fun Halloween! Rufus really got into the spirit of it all and even had a preference of what he wanted to be. I tried to talk up being a pirate, or a knight, or a ghost... but all he wanted to be was a pumpkin. Which really worked out perfect because I already had a hand-me-down pumpkin costume for Scout. So, I made a trip to JoAnn's Fabrics, bought a yard of orange fleece, some ribbon, and felt and VOILA! A PUMPKIN! Halloween night we walked to our ward building where they were having a Trunk-or-Treat. Most of the cars had spooky decorations and they had blocked off a section of the parking lot with bails of hay and a movie projector for the kids to watch Michael Jackson's "Thriller". There was even hot chocolate, homemade root beer, popcorn balls, and hotdogs! Needless to say, we had a blast!

Grandma's Halloween Party

2010-12-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

A few weeks before Halloween, Grandma Knudsen had a Halloween party at her house for all the grandkids. Truthfully, I thought it was going to be lame (sorry Mom...), but it was so much fun! The kids dug in Grandma's dress-up box to make their costumes, Aunt Dawn, Chelsi, and I painted faces, and kids walked down the run way for a costume fashion show!

Rufus didn't really want to dress-up, but after he saw all the other kids getting into it he decided to join in and be a cowboy like his favorite cousin Wyatt. Then Aunt Jenn had made cookies for the kids to decorate with frosting and candy. In the meantime, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Trisha, Michael (Jeff's old mission companion), Uncle Andrew, and a few others decorated the bedroom doors in preparation for the trick-or-treaters.

After the the cookies we decorated and eaten, Grandma gave each child their own bag and the kids took turns trick-or-treating to each of the bedroom doors. I think the adult had just as much fun scaring the kids as the kids did trick-or-treating!

NASCAR

2010-12-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

Rufus loves anything to do with cars. In fact our neighbor across the street, Paul (who's an electrician by trade), built Rufus a miniature electric car that is powered by a car battery. Anyway, while we were grabbing a bite to eat one afternoon we saw a Dale Jr.'s trailer drive by and I couldn't resist the photo opportunity. We scarfed the rest of our lunch, made a dash for the car, and chased it down in a Safeway parking lot. Rufus was so excited he could hardly stand still for the picture. Oh... and come to find out Dale Jr. is Paul's favorite driver.

Scout's Blessing

2010-12-03T09:25:00.000-08:00

We were going to bless Scout on July 3rd, but the week before she came down with croup. So we had to post pone the blessing until July 17th when she was well again. July seems to be like December in a lot of ways; everyone is so busy! So, it was a small circle consisting of Albert, Grandpa Frost, our bishop, a one of the counselors. Grandma Knudsen made her dress and I sewed the flowers and the ribbon on the front. It was simple and so very elegant... she was truly sent from Heaven above!

Five Little Ducklings

2010-06-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

"Five little ducks that I once knew..."

"... but the one little duck with the feather on his back..."

"... he led the others with a quack, quack, quack!"

Knudsen Kids

2010-06-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

Our friend, Rejli, offered to take our little girls first pictures as a baby gift. I hadn't had Rufus' 3-year pictures taken yet so I asked if she could take his picture too. She of course said, "yes"... so yesterday we drove out to her house in Phoenix to get them done. What I didn't realize is that she is a professional photographer!!! These are just a few of the pictures she took of the kids. Enjoy!

Photography by Rejli

Creative Quality Portraits

Call for an appointment

(602)703-8531

rejli@hotmail.com

www.photographybyrejli.blogspot.com

It's A Girl!

2010-06-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

Weighing in at 9 lbs. 9.4 oz. and 21.7 in. long! Welcome Baby Knudsen!

Dr. John Holmes delivered her at 12:16pm on May 28, 2010.

Proud Daddy!

Even prouder Big Brother!

Our happy family!

Visitors: (Left to Right) Aunt Trisha, Adopted Aunt Chelsie, Uncle Jeff.

Visitors: (Left to Right) Brother Rufus, Grandma Frost, Cousin Krysta, Aunt Muff, Papa Frost.

Visitors: (Left to Right) Grandma Anna, Aunt Dawn, Adopted Aunt Sarah.

My first outfit! I love having a little girl to dress up!

Thank you to all who have given gifts, brought us meals, and wished us well. We are doing great and will keep you updated! Loves!

38 Weeks and 5 Days

2010-05-24T21:34:00.001-07:00

Let the count down begin! We are impatiently waiting for our daughter to arrive! I'm not sure there's any more room for her to grow in there... COME OUT BABY!

21 Weeks 4 Days

2010-01-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

Okay... it has been requested that I put a picture of my pregnant self on the blog. I want you to know that I avoid taking pictures of myself pregnant. There were only a handful taken when I was pregnant with Rufus, and I don't plan on breaking that trend. I just don't feel attractive and I don't want to remember my unattractiveness. Anyway... here it is.

P.F. Chang's Rock & Roll Marathon

2010-01-19T20:16:00.000-08:00

Kudos to our brother Jeff who bravely ran the P.F. Chang's Marathon in 5 hrs. 28 min. 14 sec. this past Sunday. JEFF, YOU ROCK!

Jeff crossing the finish line!

Jeff after crossing the finish line... somebody give that guy a hug!

Good call Mom!

We're here for you man!

Everclear was performing as participants were completing the marathon.

The Verdict

2010-01-19T17:55:00.000-08:00

We went to the 20 week appointment and the ultrasound this afternoon. Getting there was half the battle with all the construction on Greenfield and Baseline but we all made it in one piece. I was so excited I wanted to scream, but our ultrasound technician was less than enthusiastic and did not share our sentiment at all. She was all business... taking measurements and recording data. Me? I couldn't stand silence so I chatted up a storm and asked a dozen questions. Then she calmly asked, "Were you wanting to know the sex?" I didn't even have to stop to think before I blurted out, "YES! I need to know!" I even explained how my school kids and fellow teachers were all waiting for an answer. We were holding our breath as she angled around trying to find an indisputable view. Rufus, of course, didn't really know what was happening. Finally I piped up, "What are we looking at? Because I'm lost? If that's suppose to be the part it does not look boyish." The technician showed her first ounce of emotion, grinned, and confirmed that it was indeed a girl.

A foot and part of an arm.

Front view of face (eyes, nose, chin)

The girlie parts!

Christmas Cards

2010-01-02T17:08:00.001-08:00

We had every intention of sending out Christmas cards this year (like we do every year). So... they're a little late, but they are in the mail. And in the spirit of downsizing, we downsized our mailing list and decided to post it electronically for all of our blogger friends/family.

As the economy took a dive, enrollment at University of Phoenix Online climbed and thankfully that meant Albert was much needed in his position. He is still taking classes towards his MBA and has a new graduation date set for May 2010! Albert was drawn for antlerless elk in October, but unfortunately was unsuccessful. This past year he was called to teach Valiant 8 in primary, but as of the New Year we will be team teaching CTR 7.

Midway through her 5th year with Gilbert Public Schools, Rafaelle again finds her services split between two great places. She is teaching music at both Val Vista and Gilbert Elementary. She is highly anticipating the end of this school year, as she will be delivering our 2nd child on or around June 2nd. She has also been working in the primary with the CTR 5 class.

Rufus will be turning 3-years-old in February and is just a wonderful boy. He has become an excellent helper around the house and loves to ask, “What you doing?” May the great inquisition begin! He enjoys counting to 12, saying ABC’s, singing, playing with cars, and is learning to ride the bike he got for Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas... more pictures and posts from Christmas Day to come! Stay tuned!

All Aboard!

2009-12-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we took Rufus to see what is believed to be the third-largest garden railroad layout in the United States. There are 3,500 feet of track, 300 model locomotives, 4,000 freight cars and 400 passenger cars on what the owner calls the "Palo Verde & Southwestern Railroad." To say this is a small hobby would be an understatement! Rufus was in awe... no screaming, no running, no jumping up and down... he just couldn't believe what he was seeing. He spent most of the time perched on Albert's shoulders so he could see all the trains that were running on the tracks. I think this may have renewed his love for Thomas the tank engine. Since we went at night I found a few pictures from www.azbigtrains.org of the trains during the daytime. Enjoy! They do this every year at Christmas so take your family next year... you won't regret it!

The Bump

2009-12-21T14:36:00.000-08:00

Since I'm starting to show... there's no hiding it any longer! We are expected to have a new member of our family on or around June 2nd. Besides the 3 months of morning sickness and the flu, the baby and I are doing great! We are scheduled for an ultrasound on January 19th and if all goes well we should know the sex of the baby at that time. Until then... we will be practicing our breatheing!

We Are a Happy Family!

2009-08-15T23:52:00.000-07:00

This was the Knudsen Family as of November 2008!

Drive by licking...

2009-08-15T23:47:00.001-07:00

Okay... I found this picture on my Dad's camera from when Rufus was 10-months-old. He was just trying to take a picture of our baby's first Christmas when one of my brother's new puppies decided he needed a kiss. Hee! Hee! I had to laugh out loud when I saw it!

Aunt Muffie Visits

2009-08-15T23:20:00.000-07:00

Over Spring Break last school year my sister came to visit us for a week. Thinking we had all the time in the world we were just lazy and took it easy most of the week. Then time caught up with us and we crammed a bunch of stuff in one day.

We went to the toy store and let Rufus play with the "choo-choo's" and ride the "horsey."

Then we had a picnic at the park.

Rufus enjoyed going down the slide. He would laugh so hard when I would grab his feet on the swing and stop him. When we left the park he had the hiccups!
While Muffie and I went to get a pedicure our friend Mrs. Diane let Rufus hang out with her pet turtles. Rufus just thought they were the coolest things since sliced bread!

Chalk Drawings

2009-08-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

I love to draw on the sidewalk with chalk! May be it's because it reminds me of when I use to decorate my Grandma's car porch with scrawly kid drawings... Anyway, I think Rufus likes it too! He pretends to write and then draws big circles with lines around the edge (kinda like a sun). I wanted to show him how big he was so we got him to lay down while I outlined his body.

Then he wanted a turn and Daddy was a good sport!

Zooboomafoo

2009-04-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

In January over MLK weekend we (Chris, Mollie, and I) decided it was high time for Rufus to go to the Phoenix Zoo. It was a GORGEOUS day and hardly any crowd! I can't really say he was way into the animals but I think he enjoyed being outside and seeing all the little things the zoo had to offer (and, of course, anything with wheels). He really enjoyed the wallabies... but by then my camera had died so I didn't get a picture.

Afterward, we decided to eat lunch at Pita Jungle in Tempe. Delish!!! I would recommend it to anyone! At least try their hummus and warm pita bread. Unfortunately, Rufus was all tuckered out and napped during lunch.

Christmas in April?

2009-04-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

Here it is April and I'm posting Christmas pictures. Anyway, we had a modest Christmas full of the most important thing... Family, of course! What were you thinkin'? We stayed up way too late one night trying to put up the Christmas tree and then little by little spent the rest of the week decorating it. Once school let out for Winter Break I went Martha Stewart on my house and started baking up a storm! It was so severe that on Christmas Eve I was sewing new stockings for the three of us. I think they turned out pretty cute though.

Ahh... then Christmas Day. I don't know if Rufus really understood what was happening, but he sure enjoyed himself. He wasn't sure what to play with... the cars... the trike... the coloring book... thank goodness he was easy to please.

After opening presents we quickly ate breakfast, packed our bags, and headed for Safford, AZ where Albert's sister and her family live. They invited the whole Knudsen Clan over for a visit and while we were there it snowed! Everyone loaded in their 4x4 and took a drive up Mt. Graham to go tubing. The kids wanted so badly to build a snowman, but the snow was too powdery. (It looked more like a snow boob to me!) We didn't even get to go tubing because one of the trucks got stuck in the deep snow, so we went back down the mountain. More adventures to follow... but for now enjoy the pix!

Disappearing Act

2009-02-16T08:23:00.001-08:00

I know many of you like to visit our blog and are probably wondering whether or not we've fallen off the face of the earth. Well... yes, we have. However, we are climbing our way out and will soon return to civilization. December is crazy for everyone, but it seems like that craziness leaked over into January and February for us this year. I have loads of pictures to post for Christmas and our adventures in Safford. I also have recent pictures of Rufus and his second birthday! So, don't give up on us!

I Work Hard for the Money!

2008-11-28T20:15:00.000-08:00

It seems like each time my parents come to visit we eat at the Golden Coral. The last time they visited and we ate there and ended up sitting in a sea of elderly men and women. I'm guessing they bussed a bunch of them over from the nursing home a few blocks away. Anyway, Rufus was just being his well-behaved, cute self, eating anything and everything on his plate. After we finished our meal an older women commented on what a good child he was and offered to give him a dollar. Rufus curiously took the dollar and we found a photo opportunity.

Sing... Sing A Song...

2008-11-28T19:59:00.000-08:00

Any time Albert receives a call on his cell phone you'll hear John William's "Summon the Heros." Rufus has learned to recognize this particular cell phone ringtone, and now tries to sing the first half and direct the second half of the ring. "Ba-ba-ba----! Ba--ba--ba--ba-ba-ba," he starts to sing, then finishes with rapid up and down motions with his arms. It was no surprise to us when he pulled out my music stand and pretended it was a microphone. He was also pretending to read music out of a book (like the hymnals at church).

It's Halloween Time!

2008-11-28T19:24:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm a little behind on my blogging... get ready to be caught up.

We had a hard time deciding what Rufus should be for Halloween. Our two options were either a skeleton (because he had black pajamas with a full skeleton on the front) or a shark (because the costume he wore last year still fit somewhat). WELL! The week before Halloween he hit a growth spurt and out grew both! Right... so, now what. Rufus had a few ideas:
"The Love Guru"
... and the ever so original "Casper the Friendly Ghost."
We found this camouflage outfit in the bottom of one of his drawers and thought, "Hmmm... G.I. Dane!"

We went to two parties that night. One at Matt and Holly Winters where Rufus mostly played with Jordan's toys. Then we drove over to Dave and Darcey Cook's where they were watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" projected on their garage door and handing out candy in their driveway. Sam and Sarah were there with their little one too!
G.I Dane here with Tigger and Charlie Brown.

Rewards Night

2008-09-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

I keep meaning to post these pictures! Back in July, Albert and I (mostly me though) went through an "As You Wish" extravaganza! Here are our creations...

A mug I painted to hold pencils/pens on my desk at school. Fitting isn't it?

Albert made us an art deco butter dish.

Who stole the apple from the cookie jar?

Garden of Weedin'

2008-09-17T22:51:00.000-07:00

These are photos I took while visiting with my parents on and off this summer. This year the flowers seemed exceptionally beautiful! May be because this year I realized that a part of me still, and will always, live in Holbrook. Enjoy...

BIG BEAR, CALIFORNIA

2008-08-31T17:22:00.000-07:00

During the months of May, June, and July I qualified to take myself and Albert on a 4 day-3 night, all expense paid trip to Big Bear, CA with the Saladmaster crew. It was a bitter sweet trip... Albert and I definitely needed some time to ourselves; however, that meant we had to leave Rufus behind. Thank goodness he has a loving Aunt Shelley and Grandma Knudsen that watched him while we were away.
After an 8 hr. bus ride we arrived ready for fun! We stayed at the Best Western Big Bear Chateau and met up with other Saladmaster friends. That night we had a pizza party by the pool, which was too cold to swim in, so played freeze tag and Frisbee in the grassy area next to the pool. On the other hand, the jacuzzi was delightful and we spent quite a bit of time relaxing in it's bubbly water!
The next morning the bus took us to to the marina to board the Big Bear Queen for our tour around the lake.

This is the Saladmaster crew from AZ!

One of the first sights we saw as we circled the lake was the Big Bear Solar Observatory. If you'd like to read more about it check it out at http://www.bbso.njit.edu/.

There were hundreds of multimillion dollar homes just like these along the lake front. Albert and I had fun deciding which one we would buy when we became rich and famous.

Of course Big Bear Lake is a man-made lake because of the Eastwood Dam. The fountain is pretty but is really meant to aerate the water.

We even made a pit stop at the S.S. Relief (with much gratitude from many of the passengers). The S.S. Relief is a floating port-a-potty, if you will, that they tote in periodically to dump. Vanna there is my friend Renae with whom I work.
After the grand tour of the lake our group divided. Some went to the spa, others shopping, we went to the Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain. There they had water slides, a dry luge, and arcade that kept us entertained for hours. After realizing how sunburned we were getting, we walked to a local Italian restaurant where we enjoyed pizza and salad. Needless to say, we were pooped when we got back to the hotel that evening. But that's not all!!! We revived ourselves with a shower and went cosmic bowling that night! Crazy, I know.

The next day, Albert and I decided to take it easy and go see a movie since we hadn't seen one in the theater in awhile. We decided on "The Dark Knight," which most of you know is phenomenal. After the movie we browsed a few shops for souvenirs then took a taxi back to the hotel. That night Tracy & Tiana (my bosses) treated us to fancy dinner at the Evergreen, a restaurant that overlooks the lake.

This is my manager, Valerie, and I being silly after dinner!

It was a much needed vacation and a good experience for the two of us. I'm grateful I was able to get to know those I work with a little better too. Rufus had fun with his Aunt, Grandma, and cousins swimming and playing hard the whole day long. May be he's the one that really got the vacation?

Smithson Reunion 2008

2008-08-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

We made it back to the Smithson Reunion this year. That makes two years in a row... man, we're on a roll! Instead of wimping out and driving back into Vernon everyday, we tented it with my sister, Mashell, and her daughter, Krysta. Rufus loved being in the great outdoors; and despite all the rain we all had a good time too.

If for nothing else, it was worth attending the reunion for the biscuits and gravy breakfast on Saturday morning.

Good times!

Even Grandpa and Grandma Frost made an appearance! Rufus loves playing with Grandpa's pen.

Mashell and Krysta walked to the Minerale and back; making for one long Saturday afternoon.

As we drove out on Sunday we stopped to pay our respects to my Grandparents. They sure are missed.

A Little Dab Here... And There...

2008-07-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

A close friend of mine, Diana (who I used to work with at another school), babysat Rufus last week while I attended an educational training class. Her daughter, Emily, works at As You Wish and gets to keep any slightly damaged pieces they can't otherwise sell. She had recently acquired this heart-shaped plate and thought it would be a fun activity for Rufus to paint it. He indeed had loads of fun! Of course, Emily added a few finishing touches and below is what the finished product looks like. I can't wait to hang it on his wall in his room!

Getting Dirty

2008-07-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

The first day we were in Holbrook Rufus & I went out in the garden to help Grandma. Little did we know that she had a family of sneaky snakes living in the grass and insects galore! At one point we went squash bug hunting. She and I would find the squash bugs and Rufus would step on them for us. It was a fun morning...

Finding a big "stick."

Relaxing with an old friend.

Getting dirty.

Playing in the water.

Watering Grandpa & Grandma's grass.

Singin' In The Rain

2008-07-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

Rufus and I made the trek back to Holbrook this week so I could cook a few Saladmaster dinner shows. Like most of Arizona, Holbrook got a few sprinkles and it sure felt good! Grandma & Grandpa let him splash in the puddles while I was away at a show. Like Bill Cosby said, "they're just old people trying to make it to heaven!"

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

2008-07-10T13:20:00.001-07:00

I couldn't resist posting this picture. He just looks so cute! The tie and corduroy pants are courtesy of my sister, the shoes are from Grandpa and Grandma Frost, and the shirt I borrowed from a sister-in-law to complete the ensemble. Doesn't he look like a smaller version of Albert?

For it's 1, 2, 3 Strikes Your Out...

2008-07-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

I got a smokin' deal on a set of group tickets to the Diamondbacks game on the 4th of July. We played a lousy game against the San Diego Padres and lost by 4. Rufus was obviously dreaming in this picture...

It was Rufus' first baseball game!

My parents drove down to attend their first NBL game ever, too! You can see my mom modeling the free 4th of July D-backs t-shirts we earned by being one of the first 25,000 in the gate.

Albert's mom and sister came along as well. (His mom tends to throw things as the game intensifies, so we put her at the end!)

Our seats were on the bottom level in left field. They opened the retractable roof and after the game they shot off fireworks from the parking garage next door. We were told we wouldn't be able to see them from our seats and would have to walk out to Jefferson St. if we wanted to watch the show. Thinking we were going to beat the heat, we climbed to the 3rd level (above our seats) to get a better view of the night sky. Unfortunately, we were still at the wrong angle to see the firework show.

"...Livin' in a Van Down By the Riviera!"

2008-07-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

So, um... yeah we bought a mini van. It's a 2003 Mazda MPV LX with a fold away third row seat. I know what you're all thinking, we didn't think we'd ever by a mini van either. However, I have to say it's so nice when you have children... even if it's only one child. Not only were we thinking futuristic (more children down the road, no pun intended) but we're also looking forward to vacations where we can actually tote everything we need (e.g. tent, chairs, coolers, etc.) It looks sorta greenish-blue in the photo, but it's really a light blue. Oh! And it's gets decent gas mileage 19/25 mpg. Anyway, we hope you understand and can forgive us. Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!

Goodbye, Old Friend...

2008-07-01T00:45:00.001-07:00

We found a vehicle on Auto Trader that peaked our interest, so this past Saturday we drove to Paradise Valley to test drive it. Surprisingly, we both felt it would be beneficial to purchase the vehicle and sell our Nissan Stanza. Sunday evening we posted the Stanza on Craigslist and by Monday evening we had cash in hand. Albert and I were both sad to see it go (I'm tearing up just thinking about it!). I'm having a hard time understanding why I am emotionally attached to this car! I know change is the only constant in our lives. However, this change makes me feel like we're saying "goodbye" to our years as a young, newly married, couple and "hello" to 30-something, debt, and parenthood. We purchased the Nissan Stanza 6 years ago at a steal of a deal; and it saw us through our remaining years at EAC, the blistering heat and monsoon season in Mesa, and the bitter cold and snow while we attended NAU. More importantly it was a constant, reliable mode of transportation while everything around us changed. May be seeing it drive down the road with its new owners made me feel like we were losing the last piece of memorabilia from our college years. Who knows! Crying over a car is just ridiculous [sniff, sniff]. Goodbye, old friend... our little silver bullet.

Home Again, Home Again, Riggity Jig Jig!

2008-06-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

While our stay in Holbrook was adventurous [ha! ha!] and exhausting, it's nice to be home. Let the laundry commence! I'm also scheduled to finish my Stock Program with Saladmaster tonight! Some of you may not know what that means, but in a nutshell in just three short months I'm getting 100% return on my investment in Saladmaster. I'd also like to send a shout out to the lovely town of Star Valley. Not only did they welcome me to their town by taking my picture but I've also been given the opportunity to donate $120.00 and 4 hrs. of my time to the community. Gotta love photo radar.

Bon Appetit!

2008-06-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

I have been affectionately dubbed "the cook." In short, my Mom and Dad do not cook anymore and if we (Rufus and I) want to eat we've gotta cook it ourselves. Anyway, off the topic... I've reunited with a friend of mine from high school during our visit to Holbrook. She let me look through her Pampered Chef cook book and write down a few recipes. Here's the only recipe I've tried so far, and will be making many more times in the future! YUMMO!

Chicken and Broccoli Wreath

2 c. chopped cooked chicken

1 1/2 c. chopped fresh broccoli

1/2 c. diced red bell pepper

1 c. (4 oz.) shredded cheese

1/3 c. mayonnaise

2 tsp. dried dill weed

1/4 tsp. salt

1 garlic clove, minced

2 pkg. crescent rolls

1 egg white, beaten

1/4 c. slivered almonds

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Combine chicken, broccoli, red bell pepper, cheese, mayonnaise, dill weed, salt, and garlic in bowl; mix well. Unroll packages of crescent rolls; separate into 16 triangles. Arrange 8 triangles in circle on pan with wide ends 3 inches from edge of pan and points toward outside. (Points will extend off pan.) Arrange 8 more triangles in center matching wide ends with triangles already in place. Seal wide ends, do not seal center. Scoop filling over sealed seams. Beginning with last triangle placed in center of pan, bring point of triangle straight across filling. Next bring point of opposite outside triangle diagonally across filling covering point of previous triangle. Repeat. Tuck last end under first. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with almonds. Bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

Just Keep Swimmin', Swimmin'...

2008-06-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

This morning I decided to take Rufus swimming at the public pool. I wanted to go early because he usually takes a nap around 11am. We arrived at the pool at 9:30am and there was no one at the front desk to take our fee. The restroom doors were open so we walked in, through the showers, and into the pool area. There were guards at their post and instructors giving swim lessons in the big pool. No one seemed to mind we were there so we walked over to the baby pool to check it out. Empty. Rufus had the whole pool to himself! The water only came up to his chest so he loved just walking around and splashing. He took a few face dives, I'd pull him up, he'd sputter, and laugh! He also learned to jump in unassisted! Aw... our little polliwog.

All The Pretty Horses

2008-06-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel so isolated up here and my blog is my only connection to the outside world. Therefore my goal while I'm away is to post a little note everyday. This is the palomino (along with a few other horses) that live across the street from my parents. Anytime Rufus is outside he makes a beeline for the horse coral! You think he has the makings of a cowboy?

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

I booked quite a few Saladmaster dinner shows up North this week, so Rufus and I left Albert behind to hold down the fort. That makes for a lonely Father's Day for him... so I thought I would post some pictures of our trip to cheer him up! My parents have a good sized garden in their back yard and spend a lot of time in it. If you think Rufus looks drenched in this picture you'd be correct! My mom was spraying her flowers with the garden hose and Rufus took advantage of the situation by sticking his head in the stream of spraying water. Not just once, mind you, numerous times! Whadda FISH! Looks like he's taking after dear old dad, huh? Rufus loves fixing things too... or at least he thinks he's fixing it!

Four-year-old McCheeseburger

2008-05-27T21:30:00.001-07:00

You've heard of the seven year itch, right? Well, check out the four year cheeseburger! I currently work for a health and nutrition company called Saladmaster. I know, strange title... but fabulous opportunity. Albert has unintentionally lost 25 pounds! Really! He can't find it anywhere! [Ha! Ha!] It has literally changed the way I think about cooking. In short it has changed our lives. I encourage you to check out their website if you're ready for a life changing experience: http://qhs.saladmaster.com. Oh yeah, and check out the cheeseburger video too! Uggh!

Remembering Dad

2008-05-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we celebrated Memorial Day by briefly visiting the site where Albert's dad was laid to rest two years ago. We go there often (i.e. Veteran's Day, the anniversary of the day of his passing, Memorial Day, Father's Day, etc.) and tell stories remembering him. It's a tradition I believe is good for Rufus. By visiting often and hearing all the fun stories he can become more familiar with him even though he will not meet him in this life. Albert will not often say aloud, "I miss my Dad," but I know he misses him more than he lets on. I feel a part of Albert's dad is alive in him and each one of his brothers and sisters; and because of that he will never be forgotten.

Black Widow

2008-05-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had opened the back door to let in some fresh air. Later that afternoon Albert came home from work and asked, "What's on the screen door?" I had not seen this "lady" hanging on the screen when I opened the door earlier, and now wonder how long she'd made our home her home! Needless to say, she's gone home to meet her maker!

"It's a... nice day for a... white wedding."

2008-05-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

On Mother's Day my brother-in-law and his wife-to-be ask me to take their engagement pictures. This is the one I thought turned out the best! Although, there were a quite a few that look great (if I do say so myself)! Anyway, they're to be wed on Saturday, May 24th with a reception to follow. We're so happy to have Larinda and her son Kelton as the newest members of our family! Sing with me now:

The Knudsen Family!
Da-da-da-dum [snap! snap!]
Da-da-da-dum [snap! snap!]
Da-da-da-dum, da-da-da-dum,
Da-da-da-dum [snap! snap!]

Ukulele Hawaiian Style

2008-05-14T15:26:00.001-07:00

My friend Alonna (and fellow music teacher) posted this on YouTube and won a free Ukalele! For those of you who know her know what a talented, wonderful musician she is. CONGRATULATIONS ALONNA!

Where's Rufus?

2008-04-29T00:08:00.000-07:00

I just went to COSTCO last week to pick up a few items, including diapers. Before I could take the box out to the recycle bin Rufus turned it into his play pen. He would squat down inside and wait for me to ask "Where's Rufus?" then...

... he'd pop up and squeal with laughter! I love this kid!

Hippty! Hoppity! Easter's on it's way...

2008-04-28T23:44:00.000-07:00

I know it's a little late to post Easter stuff, but I'm trying to bring you up to speed since our computer crashed. Grandpa & Grandma came to visit us on Easter weekend and I decided I wanted to take Rufus to meet the Easter Bunny. Now I don't know why we parents are fascinated with taking our children to see giant fictional characters around the holidays, but we are. I found a store (Once Upon a Child) where the Easter Bunny was to make an appearance and parents could take pictures for FREE (my favorite 4-letter word!) Well, I think the picture says it all. Obviously not a pleasant experience. Although, I did find a couple pairs of shoes on sale for him at the store; so in all it wasn't a wasted trip!

"Git yer motor runnin'... head out on the highway!"

2008-04-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

Just before leaving Holbrook (back in February) Grandpa took Rufus for a ride on his new ATV. They're like two peas in a quad! Grandpa said Rufus took in all the sights and sounds and didn't make a peep.

Well, now that he's had a taste of that Rufus sits on everything pretending it's Grandpa's quad. Here he lifted up the seat (that's the yellow plastic he's leaning against) and sat down in the hidden storage part getting his bum stuck!

Like I said, Rufus and Grandpa are BFF's! Anything Grandpa does, Rufus does!

As a side note, we have finally joined ya'll in the 21st century and now have high-speed internet! Our computer crashed earlier this month which forced us to erase everything and start from scratch. But we're now back up and running so I hope to keep our blog updated as often as I can.

Happy Birthday Rufus!

2008-02-18T12:03:00.000-08:00

We're in the process of choosing a fast, reliable internet service so I haven't been able to regularly update our website. My brother and his two sons flew in for the long weekend to go rabbit hunting with my dad here in Holbrook. We've been looking for a reason to take a weekend vacation, so here we are in Holbrook enjoy some time away from home.

Rufus turned one year old this past Friday. We had a small celebration where he was able to opened a few gifts...

... and tore into a piece of birthday cake.

Rufus is learning to walk by leaps and bounds... literally! He went from taking 2 or 3 steps to walking across the living room!

Hope everything is going well where you are. Feel free to leave us a comment to let us know how you're doing.

Le Cookie Galleria

2007-12-23T22:32:00.000-08:00

We've flown to Texas for Christmas this year to visit my brother, sister, and the whole clan. It's becoming a tradition for us to make cookies and decorate them for Santa Claus to eat during his nightly excursion. Unfortunately for St. Nick, these cookies do contain trans fats and are not recommended for those who are watching their weight. Anyway, feast you eyes upon these great works of art and have a Merry Christmas!

Le Cookie Galleria

"Home, Sweet Arizona Home"

"Rufus' First Christmas"

"I love you thiiiiis much!"

"Ho, Ho, Hola!"

"O Tannenbaum"

Turkey Coma

2007-11-23T14:21:00.000-08:00

It was a pot-luck Thanksgiving with Albert's mom and my mom and dad this year. Rufus even ate some turkey and mashed potatoes on his own! Unfortunately, Thursday morning he started this cough and it's gradually getting worse. We took him to the doctor today and discovered he has an ear infection in his right ear and mild bronchial infection. He's on medicine now and will hopefully recover soon. What a tough kid! Anyway, it's leftover weekend... which means I don't have to cook! Hooray! That's my kind of vacation! We're thankful for y'all and hope you had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Bashas' and Blueberry Muffins

2007-11-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, while I was cleaning the kitchen I received a call from Albert's mom. While asking me to go to her house and wait for the Sears repair man to fix her washing machine she casually mentioned she was sitting in the ER. Craving blueberry muffins earlier that morning, she had decided to go to Bashas' on her way to work to avoid the rush at Fry's Marketplace. After paying for her muffins she made her way to the exit, tripping over the edge of the rug near the door, and gracefully landing on the floor. Standing up quickly (thinking she only had bruised her pride) a nearby employee pointed out she was bleeding from her chin. Taking it like a champ she drove to work anyway! She asked a fellow employee to butterfly her wound after which the employee quickly refused and advised her to go to the hospital. Three hours and three stitches later she's as good as new! Just goes to show you when your mother says, "Pick up your feet!" ya better do it! Moral of the story: Do as I say, not as I do.

Shark Bait, Ooo-Ha-Ha!

2007-11-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

Since no one invited us to anymore parties [wink], we stayed home and greeted trick-or-treaters while watching "Pan's Labyrinth." Unfortunately, we still have about one-third of our candy... so if you're interested in doing any late trick-or-treating you know where to come. Our friends Evan & Paula handed down a shark costume for Rufus to wear on Halloween. We dressed him up, took a few pictures, and let him crawl around for a while.

I can't say he enjoyed being in costume for very long, but we found it humorous to have a shark swimming around our house.

I dressed as an orange M&M again this year and Albert dressed as a University of Phoenix graduate (he wore a sign that said, "University of... if ya ain't first, your last!"). You'll thank me later for not showing you those pictures! Hope you and yours had a happy and safe Halloween! On to Thanksgiving, yah!

How they grow...

2007-10-31T14:32:00.000-07:00

Every month since Rufus was born I've taken a picture of him next to this teddy bear to document his growth. Each month without fail I'd get out my camera, take the picture, upload it, file it, and never bother to look back at the other pictures from previous months. Well... after taking his 8 month picture I took the time to go back and look at his 1 month picture to compare, and this was the result! I can't believe my baby has grown that much! He almost doesn't look like the same kid! Ya know, sometimes I'd just like to stop time and enjoy each stage a little bit longer.

“Robin, to the Bat Cave!”

2007-10-30T23:09:00.001-07:00

Monday night we went to a Pumpkin Carving Party at the Davis’ (a family in our ward). They provided tables, chairs, the use of their driveway, front yard, and garage; and those invited brought a treat, pumpkin to carve, and carving tools. There were a lot of families there with kids all dressed in costume, carving pumpkins, and eating treats. Rufus was so tired I didn’t bother to get him dressed up, but I did bake a cake for the event. Albert and I took turns gutting and carving the pumpkin until we molded it into the fabulous masterpiece you see here. Martha Stewart, eat your heart out! Anyway, we had to fix the bat’s tail with a toothpick when we got home as it was amputated in the process of carving. We also spread Vaseline around the cut edges to prevent “puckering” not that it’s really going to last that long anyway. We plan on dressing Rufus up in his shark costume and handing out candy Halloween night. More Halloween pictures to come!

Viva la Mexico!

2007-10-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

Over Fall Break we tagged along with the Cook family on yet another fun filled trip to Rocky Point! It would also be the last opportunity to cross the border without needing passports. After setting up camp in the hot sun we headed for the beach. You can see Rufus enjoyed cooling off in the ocean!

He just enjoyed being outside and around all the new mommies-to-be! On the far left is my friend Sarah (due April 2008) and on the far right is her friend Jamie (due March 2008). Aren't we just a cute bunch of beach bunnies?

We cleaned up Saturday evening for a family picture on the rocks. Sam took a lot more pictures on his camera that turned out equally, if not better, than this one!

We look forward to this trip every year and are sure sad when we have to go home. Now to scrounge up over $200.00 for passports so we can go again in June next year!

Shave and a haircut, two bits!

2007-10-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I felt it was time for Rufus to receive his first haircut. It was long and dark on top but shorter and blonde on the sides. He happily sat on my lap as I made the first cut with the scissors (ha... ha...). After the photo opportunity I used clippers to even it all out. Surprisingly his hair looks lighter! May be that's because there's less of it!

Back to work...

2007-09-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been a while since I last posted. I decided to go ahead and take the part-time teaching position at GPS, and have been teaching for over a month. Most mornings I leave Rufus with my sister-in-law around 8:00am, I do my business, and I'm back to get him around 10:30am. It has been a blessing to work and be a mom. I truly have the best of both worlds.

Rufus is now a speedster on his hands and knees! He's figured out how to pull himself up to standing. He leans against any furniture, wall, leg... pretty much anything he can find that will support him. He loves all different flavors of baby food (haven't found one he won't eat). He has also cut two teeth on the bottom and will eat small bits of banana, apple, Kix, Chex, and cereal stars. Grandpa thinks it's fun to feed him Ranch Dressing and chocolate when I'm not watching. He's already turning the kid against me!

Creepy Crawler

2007-08-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

Rufus has officially started crawling as of August 22nd! It's interesting how he gets around, he uses his hands and right knee and pushes off with is left foot. Anyhow, he loves exploring new areas in the house... and has discovered that he has no traction on the kitchen floor! (Hee! Hee!) Now I have to keep at least one eye on him at all times or he'll be gone before I know it!He's almost ready to move from a crawling position to sitting up on his own, but he sticks his arm out to far to do it.
A friend of mine let us borrow a bouncer that fits in a doorway. Rufus could entertain himself for hours jumping around in it!
This means we need to baby proof our house soon! Any suggestions from the veteran parents out there?

Good news... and more good news!

2007-08-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

First off, it's taken 6 months but I've finally dropped 5 lbs. since having Rufus! Five down and fifteen to go! Secondly, I've inquired about a part-time teaching position at my previous school district. I'm waiting to hear the details of the job and therefore have not accepted it yet. I don't know how much I'll be making, how much child care will cost, or which school(s) I'll be teaching at... However, I'm excited about the idea of being able to work outside the home and still be a stay-at-home mom a majority of the time.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007-08-20T14:54:00.000-07:00

This post does not contain any spoilers to the book.
Like the rest of the world, I've finally gotten around to reading the final installment of Harry Potter. I must say it was difficult to wait this long. I lived in fear for weeks that I would accidentally overhear a conversation or a spoiler on TV that would ruin the ending. Thankfully, I didn't! I don't want to spoil the book for those of you out there who haven't gotten around to reading it yet. There are a few readers I've spoken with who were disappointed with the ending. However, I feel that JK Rowling did an excellent job concluding her epic story. It was detailed, but at the same time she left enough to the imagination of the reader. Whether you liked it or not, post a comment and let me know your opinion! Click here for additional details that were not included in the book.

"Oat-Mobile" Update

2007-08-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

As we were preparing to leave for the mountains, a puddle resurfaced on the floor in the backseat of our car. We also discovered another puddle on the floor of the passenger seat! You may be asking yourself, "where is all this water coming from?" Well, after a few phone calls we pulled the carpet back on the passenger side and sure enough the tube that drains the condensation from the A/C had disconnected; and instead of dripping on the ground underneath the car it was dripping in our car. We simply reconnected the tube and "TAH DAH!" no more puddles! The carpet is still drying but at least we've solved the mystery.

Happy Holbrook

2007-08-01T14:23:00.001-07:00

After the reunion my brother and sister left for Phoenix so they could catch a flight back home Sunday evening. Albert carpooled with them so he could go back to work Monday morning. My sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, Rufus, and I caravaned to Holbrook to spend a few days with my parents. For dinner on Sunday my nephew's helped my dad roast hotdogs over an open fire and we all enjoyed eating them. Monday my dad took my nephew's fishing while the rest of us went swimming at the public pool. Rufus and I forgot our suits so we strolled through the park to visit a friend of mine. Since Rufus didn't get a whole lot of play time while we were camping he had fun rolling around my parents house. Tuesday, my sister-in-law, nieces, and nephews left for home as did we. It rained on us about 80% of the drive but we made it back safe and sound.

"Back to Brady Park..."

2007-08-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

Albert and I attended the Smithson Reunion which was held Friday through Sunday this last weekend. It has been over ten years since I last attended this reunion and this year the family celebrated 30 years holding the reunion at Brady Park (near Vernon, AZ). It was good to see those who I haven't seen in a long time and introduce Albert to the family. My brother and his family were able to attend as well, and surprisingly my sister flew in for the occasion! After quite a long drive, we arrived late Friday evening to a campsite drenched in rain. Needless to say we couldn't set up the tents, so we drove back to Vernon to stay at my Grandma's house. Saturday morning we headed back up the mountain and arrived in time for the biscuit and gravy breakfast. After breakfast they set up the tents and we took family pictures. We spent most of the afternoon playing card/dice games (e.g. Canasta, Farkle, Scum) and riding ATVs. My brother's oldest daughter spent most of her time hunting for bugs and frogs in and around the pond. That evening we enjoyed the traditional Navajo Taco Dinner (they just taste better when you're camping)! Albert and I spent the night back at Grandma's house, and drove back to Brady Park Sunday morning. Unfortunately during the night another storm swept through and one of the tents leaked soaking my sister and my nephew's sleeping bags. We spent the morning packing up camp after which we attended the family memory meeting. Rufus really enjoyed being outdoors which is encouraging as Albert and I would like to go camping more often.Again, despite all the rain we were still able to salvage another fantastic weekend!

"Oat-Mobile"

2007-07-24T23:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Albert and I went to church with the Sullivan's, said our goodbye’s to his sister's family, and headed back to Mesa. When we got to Globe we realized we had a problem. On the floor behind the passenger seat there was a little puddle of water. Sadly there were also two boxes of oatmeal baby cereal on the floor as well. The water had softened the bottom of the cereal boxes; so when Albert picked them up, oatmeal came pouring out mixing with the water on the floor. Now not only were Albert and I completely puzzled at where all this water was coming from, we had a huge mess on our hands. We soaked up as much as we could with Taco Bell napkins and hit the road again. Anyway, to make a long story short, all the rain water that flooded the street in front of his sister's house had entered through a plug underneath our car, and, like a sponge, our carpet soaked it up. We unplugged it, pushed on the carpet, and water came pouring out the bottom of our car! We now lovingly referred to our car as the “oat-mobile.”

Pioneer Day

2007-07-24T23:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went to visit Albert's sister in Safford for the Pioneer Day celebrations. She had a full house so we stayed with the Sullivan's in Pima. This Saturday they celebrated their grand-daughter's first birthday!

We had so much fun swimming in the pool in the backyard! Albert even dunked Rufus under the water for the first time, even though I was against it.

Come to find out their daughter-in-law is our friends' sister-in-law's sister. (Whew! Congratulations if you followed that!) Anyway, we got to play around in the pool with some cool kids!

So, Albert and I joined in on the festivities and then joined up with the family in Safford later that afternoon. Unfortunately, the parade, barbeque, and a few other small events were rained out but the clouds parted momentarily for the firework show to take place.

Despite all the rain we still managed to have a fun filled weekend. As you may know the last Harry Potter book was released this weekend, and there were 4 copies floating around his sister's house. While some read, the rest of us played games and watched T.V. Thinking the barbeque was rained out, we ordered pizza and breadsticks from R&R Pizza Express. Afterward, everyone drove to a nearby baseball field to watch the firework show. It was a nice break from being cooped up all afternoon.

Welcome!

2007-07-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

We've created this blog to keep you updated on our family and share with you some of our adventures along the way. Please keep in touch so that we can do the same with you and yours!