Photos from the Cellphone

So this last weekend, my cellphone took a shower when the skies opened up at the Pickin' in the Pines bluegrass festival in Flagstaff. The phone finally began working again 2 days later but is really acting up so I emailed the photos in my phone to myself (a new trick for me that the helpful AT&T dude talked me through) to make sure I didn't loose them. This allows me to now share with everyone some archival pictures of Galen from the last year. I hope you like them; they were fun for me to look at again too. I tried to put the photos in chronological order as best I could. The last picture was taken Saturday morning, just before the phone got soaked.

Our pumpkins, Halloween 2008

Galen's 3rd birthday cake. This cake was so good!

Galen hugging our Christmas Tree, 2008.

"Whacha lookin' at?"

Mr. Dreamy

"I see you"

New way of eating pizza

The masked crusader needs to nap too. Like the Hawaiian shirt?

Too cool in our shades

Now THIS is how you eat pizza!

Being silly with Mommy's cowboy hat at the Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music Folk Festival.

Adventures with exploring the inside of a tailpipe...

On the air slide at the Coconino Count fair, Sept. 2009.

First rollercoaster ride at the county fair, Sept. 2009.

Happy camper with "Tag" at the Pickin' in the Pines bluegrass festival, Sept. 2009

Our August trip to California

I last reported under sad and shocking circumstances. Galen and I were fortunate enough to be able to drive to San Luis Obispo and join the family for Larry's service. It was grounding, moving and inspiring to attend his service and honor such a wonderful person. Larry was an avid gunsman and loved western heritage and his service was a tribute to this passion. We all dressed in western wear. Of course I thought Galen looked particularily adorable in his western outfit.

They look too cute together

Crashed out

Galen and I took a couple of extra days before and after to catch up with everyone around and play with Kaitlyn, Uncle Ben, Auntie Karen and Grandma and Grandpa. We even got to see Sarah, Jennie and Grandma Bev. Here are some photos and video of our wonderful time with everyone.

Experiments in hair design

The sun is too bright!!!

Wild man in the sun!!!!

Many hours of beach play make for a tired pre-schooler on the way home.

Galen has now begun a new year of pre-school and is embracing it. He seems more independent everyday. Thankfully he still needs me sometimes...

Galen's First School Performance and Other Cuteness

It's with a heavy heart that I write this entry. Since this blog is for family and friends, I felt it was an appropriate forum to express my sadness over loosing a close friend of our family. During the last 3 decades Larry had become a member of our family along with his wife and children. I always referred to Larry, Molly, Gene and Andrea as our "best friend family" because all the members were close to the point of being family. I feel blessed to have backpacked with Larry through mosquito infested forests, to have celebrated holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and marriages with Larry, to have watched Larry and my Dad play softball when I was a kid and moreover, to just have known Larry. He was a kind, funny and loving husband, father and friend. He will be very missed. What I wouldn't give to hear him sing "Ring of Fire" one more time in his wild tone-deaf style.

Galen's blog is a celebration of his accomplishments and growth. I think if Larry could see the first video, he would be smiling. Galen had his first school performance ever to celebrate the end of his summer pre-school. All summer the children in his class have been learning about camping, hiking, leave-no-trace outdoor ethics, animals and songs/poems about the great outdoors. All the kids practiced various songs and poems to share with their parents in an end-of-the-school performance. I was so excited; my first school performance! A milestone in any parent's life. The children came out and while the music started and everyone began singing, Galen proceeded to growl and make faces at the audience. I was surprised to say the least and a touched embarrassed and then I thought how funny it was and in the grand scheme of life's events, it was minor thing and humorous at that! The performance was about 30 minutes long and I narrowed the footage to about 9 1/2 minutes, so I know it seems a little long but I did cut it down to the best faces and growls.

The other video is just some cuteness on Galen's part last Friday night.




These last photos are just some random cute shots I've taken in the last couple of weeks.

First time Camping (in the yard)

Galen and I "camped out" on Friday night outside the front of our house. He has never camped before and he's getting old enough now where I want to start taking him on little camping trips. He's never slept in a tent and a sleeping bag so I thought we would do a trial run to see if he liked it...and now I wonder why I ever thought he might not. He wanted to do everything and he was squealing with joy the whole time. I wish I started camping with him ages ago. The timing was good too because at summer pre-school, last week and this week coming, the kids are learning about camping and the outdoors. Here are some photos of our excursion.

Pumping up the mattress

Eating roasted marshmallows (strawberry flavor, yum...)

Learning to use the headlamp...around the neck of course


Having Fun in the Tent

Finally figured out the headlamp thing, the next morning.

So all this was practice for more camping in August and September. We got a bigger tent that has 2 rooms so that we are all in the same tent, just in separate areas. There are lots of beautiful areas near here so I think we'll do some real camping in a couple of weeks. More squeals of joy to come I hope and next time I'll be ready with the video camera so you can see it in all its glory!!

Fourth of July Weekend

So Fred and celebrated our 1 year of being together this weekend. It was a blast. I had a 3 day weekend because of the holiday. We celebrated on Friday because I found tickets to see Dwight Yoakam in Camp Verde (about 1 hour south of us). We went to Sedona and had a lovely snack and then jammed with Dwight. Afterwards, there was an incredible fireworks display. I actually can't remember the last time I saw fireworks. I think it was before I moved to Arizona! My friend Allison watched Galen that evening-overnight, and since Galen did not nap at school that day, he slept for her almost the entire time.


Me and Fred at the concert

On Sunday I realized that my child was developing quite the mop head. It took months and months, but finally Galen's hair was getting wild! See before photo.

Mop Head

And after his hair cut, he looks like his mother actually grooms him without chopping it all off.

Mister Handsome

Then me, Galen and Fred went to the horse races that they have at a county park every Fourth-of-July weekend. Afterwards, we went to a local tavern and listened to a friend of ours play bluegrass. It was a lovely day.

Thinking about a bet....

We're winning!

Being silly with Fred

My new favorite photo with Galen