And this is what happens when you go to public school

I have had a bump in my leg for as long as I can remamber that has always hurt. Over the years it grew bigger until about two years ago it hurt so bad I went to the Dr. He made a small incision and drained black liquid from it. The bump has been growing again these past two years and it has been hurting so much that it was keeping me awake at night. I decided to go to the Dr. again. This time the Dr. sliced the whole scar tissue lump out of my leg and when he opened it up a piece of pencil led came out. After asking my mom about this she said "Oh I guess it was you tht got stabbed by another kid in your class with a pencil in grade school...yeah that makes sense now". So, I have had the piece of led in my leg for 20 years! I guess that was the risk I took by going to public school in Mesa! :)

November recap

Okay, November recap of what went on...
While we were gone on our awesome cruise my sister Christa was finding out that she has breast cancer. A small lump turned out to be way more than she ever excpected and she had to come down to the valley two weeks ago to have major surgery. She will start chemo and radiation which will go on for months and months. I really hope the best for her and am glad that she has a great hubby to help her. She is a super blogger and I love the fact that she is. Between coming down to the valley where all of her doctors are and her blog I get to stay up to date with everything.
Our cruise was fun, but I did worry about her while we were gone because I got a text right before leaving...that stuff stays on your mind.
The boys relaxing poolside

Going out on a smaller boat taking us out to an island

Brody LOVED the "airplane boat"

Jeff is so in love with the ocean that he couldn't resist going snorkeling out into the ocean on a cold day; by himself...isn't he weird?!

The boys loved looking over the ship for seagulls, fish, or dolphins

Saying goodbye to the boat

Once we were off the boat we made our way to SeaWorld for some more fun

I really don't understand what that pose that child is doing

Shark exhibit

We had a great week of nonstop fun.

What's been happening in October

I'm folding laundry while blogging...now that is SUPER TALENT. Alright, we are still alive and doing well. Recently we went to Schnepf Farms with the family and had a blast...
The bikes are so much fun and I so want one. How cool would that be?

I got to go with Averi on the cool bumble bee ride. She didn't get scared at all! What a cutie she is...

Jeff and the Brodsters being silly. Jeff sure likes being goofy with Brody. They are each other's best friends.

Alright, now about the most important event of the month...the Half Ironman. 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and a 13 mile run. Jeff completed it in 7 hours. But, poor guy is already signed up for the full Ironman in May 2010. Way more training is coming his way!

After the race; all cooled down:

Jeff did the race with his older sister Heather. She did a great job too. What an accomplishment.

Happy Birthday Christa

Just wanted to wish my sister Christa a Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Christa has always been a peacemaker to everyone. She is a super sweet and is always fun to hang out with!
Growing up with Christa was so easy because she was and still is super easy going...nothing seems to bother her. (I SO wish I would have gotten that trait)
She is incredibly athletic and seems to master every sport she tries-um except maybe not tennis like all the rest of us girls in the family. :)


Christa is a great mother and has a super nice husband. WHat more could you ask for?!?

Watch out Christa-don't be such a perfect family or your husband might stay Bishop forever!

Yo Gabba Gabba show

Brody is obsessed with a TV show on Noggin called Yo Gabba Gabba. It is so cheezy and he eats every minute of it up. There was a Kids Expo this past weekend at the Cardinals Stadium so, and I can't believe we did this, we drove all the way from Queen Creek to Glendale.
Here he is waiting for them to come out:

Here is after DJ Lance Rock and Brodee come out:


The only problem was that it was too far for him to see and they did a few songs and left the stage. Only two of the characters were there and he kept on asking where "Tootie" was. We had some meltdowns when he realized they were gone...

Oh what a fun week it has been...

I have not posted in forever!!! My camera broke and I just need to go get a new one. For my Birthday way back in July my parents gave me cash to go buy a new one and can you believe it...I haven't got to it yet. Today I had to run to my mother-in-laws house to borrow her camera because my wonderful husband backed into a parked car. Oh well, it happens to everyone, right? It's not fun because we are trying to save up to buy a house and this is not going to help the cause. I sold my beautiful Dodge Nitro this week and no longer have a car. I almost cried when I had to give the keys over to a couple in Scottsdale who is having their 16 year old drive it around. The banks are so strict on giving home loans that we are doing everything we can to get one. Our fingers are crossed that we get a home loan!!!

Beach trip 09

Summer time at the beach...ahhhh...
Every year the Rogers side does a July 4th Beach trip. Camping, laying out on the beach, and campfires.
Brody got hurt and so I put a bandaid on him. Jeff thinks that bandaids make a boy into a woosie. The next day we got busy packing up to head on down to the beach and we look over and Jeff's dad had put bandaids all over the little kid to mock Jeff.
I love to read magazines, so Brody decided to join me to do a little coloring.

All of the boys went out into the freezing cold water to body surf. They stay out there for hours catching as many waves as possible.

Jeff and Ricky digging in the sand with their boys

Steve and Ellen took Brody and Raiden out into the water. They had the time of their lives. Brody would pull my hand after that and beg me to go in with him. His lips would turn blue, but he loved it.

Sleeping on the beach-it was COLD this year!

Heather and her girls hanging out:

Rick and Kristi:

June and July catch up

Father's Day-had the family over for some BBQ and cousin play time...
Newman kiddos posing with grandpa

Alisha and I just goofing around with dad...

Brody loving on cousin Kade. He loves that little guy and constantly asks where he is.

Had to throw this one in there-happens way too often

Brodsters is 2!

I am a little late on this post...our Brody turned 2. We talked up his Birthday with him so much that we had him saying "I'm 2". What a cutie! Holly blessed her twins on Brody's B-day, so we decided to have a combined party for all three of them.



Showing the other kids his new treasures.


Brody could not have had a better day. He was too excited after the first present to open more, so we kind of had to force him to open them. What a mean mom, huh?!
Other things that have been happening:
Jeff's work is going great and he continues to get new patients. Preferred is taking him and some other staff to Disneyland on Friday! Fun for him! To help dad out we like to take the trash out for him. Brody always says "I HELP" and loves to do anything you ask him to do:

I have been staying busy watching my sister's kiddos three days a week while her business continues to pick up. Her kids are great and Brody cannot wait to see them. As you can see, I put them to WORK!!!


Her youngest daughter is a great dancer and had a dance recital a few weeks ago:



I know I am winning the worst blogger award, but I really need to do better for myself. Hopefully make a book out of our memories someday!

Our fun new toy

Recently we got a fun toy...a golf cart. Because Jeff's parents, his sister, and my sister all live in the Cortina neighborhood we thought it would be a fun thing to have. It really has been. One afternoon we went and picked up the Newman gang...

I love this picture. Aunt Holly is always so nice to Brody and gave him a chocolate pop...


As you can see, we are having a blast!

Yesturday Brody was eating some sloppy spaghetti-o's. He said to me "Mamma" and then a little softer so I got really close because I thought he was going to tell me a secret. He planted a big tomatoey kiss right on my nose...

You can't see the red too well, but it is there. What a cutie!