A New Animal...

Someone besides Madison gets a bottle around here. Not a normal baby bottle either. One of my Dad's cows on the ranch died and left behind a baby. So... she now is living in my parents backyard. All the Grand kids enjoy feeding her and playing with her.

I looked out the window and what did I see...

Popcorn popping on the apricot trees. My Parents have 5 apricot trees and somebody can't get enough. Madison LOVES them!!! I have to monitor how many she eats because she gets a sore bottom. This is what happens when we don't monitor her....


This is what happens when we have tons of apricots....
Yep, we (Mom, Allison (sis) and I) bottled apricots (55 bottles) and made Jam (40 bottles)

Post overload....

So... as you can see I am trying to catch up with some of the things going on right now in our lives. Go ahead scroll down read the next 7 posts. haha Only if you want... I hate when I do a ton at once. It's almost overwhelming for you guys! I will try hard to keep it updated.

Are you in....

I got the e-mail with information and thought I would pass it on...
It was fun!! (Ask anyone who has done it) I think it would be REALLY fun to get a group together, you can walk or run. It's a new course this year and it's one of the nations top running events. One of the issue of "Runner's world" magazine is going to be all about this race. People come from all over to participate. We could all get bright shirts to stand out during the race so our husbands can take pictures. Let me know if your interested!

What?? 9 months?

That's right folks... Madison is 9 months old! CRAZY!! She is so SO fun! We love seeing her little personality come out more and more.
She has started to put on this little front like she is shy but really she isn't.
She also has started to become a little bit of a Mommy's girl, but she loves people.
She got sick for the first time. Had a fever for 4 days and was not happy about it.
She loves her uncle Jordan... He LOVES her!!
She does NOT sit in one place!!
She is almost standing up alone but enjoys walking going from couch to couch.
She got her first little black eye.
She waves at people.
She Dances all the time! Even to the blender.
She
She is ADORABLE!! WE LOVE HER!!
(I know it's like wow Marlee, is it necessary to have a post every month. Don't worry it will end when she turns 1... 3 months! YIKES)

I'm so happy...

I made a goal that this year I was going to accomplish either an Olympic triathlon or a full marathon. So I found and Olympic triathlon to do, started training, was working hard, then Spencer encouraged me to not do it. (it was in Rocky Point: all the crazy stuff going on) Trying to make me feel better he looked online for one, they are all on Sunday's. I was not a happy girl... I wanted WANTED to do it. I was trying to be a good wife and respect his/our concerns. Anyways, this is NOT the purpose of this post. The purpose of this post is:
So I totally caught Spencer at a weak moment! As many of you may know Spencer HATES running. Yes, he does triathlons but only because he likes to swim and bike. Anyways, we are training for a marathon!! That's the point of this post!! We are signed up and everything, Spencer is doing the half and I am going to do the full. I am so SO HAPPY!! The crazy thing is... Guess where it is at?? The GRAND CANYON!! Talk about a good workout! (it was the only full marathon on a Saturday before the end of the year) It's not until Nov 6th so we have training time but there are limited spots so you have to sign up early.
So the NEXT purpose of this post is.... SIGN UP!!!(everyone is going it)It would be so fun to get a big group! COME ON!!

He is at it AGAIN....

That's right folks... Spencer is hitting the books "one last time." I must be boring so he has to keep busy with school. haha He decided to get his CPA. He had to take a few more classes then had to be excepted to sit for the exams. He got excepted Monday and ordered his stuff to study and has hit the books hard since then. There are 4 different tests he has take, his goal is to pass them all by the end of the year. Some of you may know that this is NOT an easy task. Let's just say... wherever Spencer is the books are too. Good Luck Spencer!!

Perfect Start...

This weekend was the perfect way to start of summer. We spent the weekend at Roosevelt Lake with the Forsberg Family. We.....
Went on many boat rides. (Madison's first)
We had LOTS of fun with cousins. Madison couldn't get enough of her cousin Mallory.
We enjoyed lots of tube rides. This was Madison's first ride and loved it.
This tube was for all ages.
We got to wake board. We were rusty, I was preg last year so it had been a while!
We got to wear life jackets... Madison wasn't to much of a fan. I don't blame her, she couldn't move but looked cute!
Got to go fishing.... didn't catch anything.

WE had a great time at the lake and can't wait for our BIG lake trip coming up!

Many Blessings...

We had a very exciting thing take place the weekend of May 22nd. That Friday night we drove up to Thatcher and stayed with the family at my sister, Amanda's house. We stayed the entire weekend and enjoyed the temple festivities. Saturday morning I have choir rehearsal, then got to meet up with one of me bestest friends Allie Spilsbury for lunch, then headed to the AMAZING Temple Cultural Celebration. I can't even begin describing the experience it was. All the youth in the temple district put on a performance of a life time for the Prophet himself. We were able to have seats that were like 6 rows behind the Prophet and high enough to see the entire stage. Here are some pictures that really don't even give the performances justice. I had many family members (Cousins, Bro, Sister, Nephew, Mom, Sis-in-law) participate and they did a wonderful job. They put a lot of hours in preparing for the event and it paid off. The spirit was so strong it was incredible. It was great preparation for Sunday. Sunday morning/afternoon (12:00 session) Spencer and I were able to go to the temple for the dedication. For the past 3 months, I have been busy every Sunday night singing in the temple choir. It was WOW, the most awesome thing I have EVER experienced. We were a small mixed choir of people from Sierra Vista and St. David for a total of 20 members. I can't really express the feelings I had that day singing directly behind the Prophet in the Celestial room. I never thought I would have such an experience. Singing in that choir and having that experience has changed my life. As we sang the Hosanna Anthem I had goosebumps over my entire body, tears slowly running down my face, a smile from ear to ear, and have never sang with such emotion as President Monson turned around, with tearing coming down his cheeks, and a huge smile. As soon as the dedication was over I got to talk to President Monson, President Eyring, and Elder Holland as they expressed there love. I doubt I will ever be able to have such an experience in my life again. I still thank my Heavenly Father for the experience and for giving me the opportunity to share my testimony through music to the Prophet of God and many other members of the Church.

I Love this picture:
Elder Walker (who called and set apart my bro-in-law as Stake Pres in Glendale)
Pres Monson, Pres Eyring, Sis Holland, (Elder Holland was hiding) Clapping after the show.
A big group of some of the youth doing the ribbon dance, it was awesome!
Greeting the youth, it was an amazing feeling!

If you want to hear more about it and see videos of it you can google LDS Gila Valley Temple Celebrations. It talks about the corner stone, the cultral event, the dedication, and history. I truly was blessed to witness such an event. This temple is very special to us after that weekend.