P.S.

We stayed at Colby's aunt and uncle's house in St. George on the way to drop the kids off before our Oregon trip. It was like we were staying at a very fancy private resort. Thanks, Sunny and Jim!

What a view!

Newport, Oregon!

Okay, while I'm going strong, I thought I would add one more post because Colby and I actually did something Post-Worthy: we went to Oregon WITHOUT CHILDREN. Thank you to Colby's parents for watching our children, and thank you to Colby's uncle for letting us stay in his beach house (again). (We actually went there on our honeymoon almost 8 years ago so we thought it was time to go back). It was SO FUN! I got to spend 4 straight days with my best friend!






Inside the beach house (Notice the ocean view)





View from the deck




Outside view of beach houses



Yes, it was July and never made it above the 50s. Thus, the hoodies came in handy.

Devil's Churn

Seal Rock

You know what was so fun about this trip? I remembered how lucky (I should say blessed) I was to be married to such an incredible person. I hit the JACKPOT when I married him.

Fun with the Fam

WARNING: do not expect daily blogs from me in the future! Two days in a row is very unlikely to happen ever again. It is currently possible only because I have a great nanny at my house right now so I seem to have a lot more time on my hands (thanks, Doug!). Colby's dad and sister and brother-in-law came to visit us this week and we have had a PARTY. It's so fun to have visitors! (Hint, hint, for anyone considering it, we will try to make it worth your while).

Tessa and Grandpa looking at a flower

Karleigh at Montezuma's well (this ended up being a very cool place to visit, minus the giganto spider sighting on the wall across from Karleigh)

Montezuma's castle

Lynx Creek Ruins (not nearly as cool as Montezuma's, but it was a fun little hike)

Glow-in-the-dark badmitton in our backyard (this is actually a very fun game, which I would recommend even for those of you who are not normally into badmitton).

Lincoln and Tessa

Kids with Grandpa at Lynx Lake

Karleigh, Tessa, and Jake at Goldwater Lake

Funny Tessa

Tessa's new favorite song is on a CD called "Blue Moo." The song is "Singing in the Shower" and she just learned how to make microphones with her thumbs (before this she would hold up her index and middle fingers and sing into them). If there was ever a magical song, this is it. It can get her to stop mid-tantrum and start singing into her thumbs, and bopping her head to the beat. I need to get a video of it. She requests it over and over (and over and over). Thanks to her, we all have the words memorized.




I love chocolate chip cookies!




She kind of has this bitter beer smile where it looks like she needs dentures, also evidenced in the next picture, which Colby has labled as her CCR look-alike picture (due to the hair and spaghetti handlebar mustach).

Showing off her muscles

Goodbye Summer and Hello Kindergarten!

Lincoln started kindergarten on Aug 9, which I feel is so EARLY in the year to be starting school. It makes it feel like our summer was extra short. Here are my "Ode to Summer" pictures:

Goldwater Lake, Prescott, AZ

Our extremely huge pool in our extremely huge backyard

At least we have grass, right?

I love this picture!

Here is Lincoln on the first day at his new school. He is wearing his favorite shirt: Tom and Jerry (thanks to you, Amy, he is now a huge Tom and Jerry fan).

new year's resolutions gone bad

Well, so much for ambition and goal setting. But I guess I am improving somewhat, since the last absence of posting lasted 8 months and this was only 3. I haven't started violin lessons yet, either! Oh, well. I'm not giving up entirely.
So a couple weeks ago we visited Colby's grandparents who live in the middle of nowhere (south of Globe, AZ) across from a hippie compound. A couple came over to visit with their son and they were all wearing these wreaths in their hair. It was pretty classic. It wasn't our first encounter with the residents over there and I'm sure it won't be the last!



One thing about living here is there are tons of hiking trails so we finally got us a baby carrier and Tessa seems to like it as long as she's got food. She is definitely an eater!



Lincoln has been getting into tennis these days (we got him a raquet for Christmas) and as you can see, he is trying to perfect his form.



My aunt and uncle live in Wickenburg, AZ for the winter and they bring their horses down so we get to ride when we visit. Lincoln LOVED it. Tessa didn't like it initially, but once the horse started moving, she was stoked.


You know you're not posting enough when you forget how to do it in between posts. Someday I will be better...

What?! A post from the Dobsons?!

I'm sorry to post this most lovely picture after 8 months of no posts at all, but I can't resist. Colby was so kind to get Lincoln and me matching PJs for Christmas. Not just any pjs, but sleepers! Turns out I fit in the extra large size for boys so Lincoln gets the XS and I get the XL! I wore them all Christmas day but that night I found out I couldn't really sleep in them, my feet were too claustrophobic.

So my new year's resolution is to be a more consistent blogger! For those who don't know, we moved to Prescott Valley, Arizona, in November and Colby started his job in orthopedics, which he is really loving. Lincoln is in preschool and Tessa is just learning how to walk. She is signing lots of things and saying a few words, but mostly just does animal noises (she does a great pig). Colby got me a violin for Christmas (I don't know how to play but I have always wanted to learn) so I will hopefully be signing up for lessons soon and I am so EXCITED.

Here's to a new year with new ambitions!