Family Pics 'Sneak Peek.

Love, Love, LOVE!

Photos taken by Chelsea Bevans, Shutterlissphotography.blogspot.com.

While the HOA President's Away, The Residents Will Play...

It rarely rains here in Arizona. But when it does, it's a party. The retention basins fill up like swimming pools. We decided to whip out the surfboards and motorcycles and have a little surfy sesh. And even though we got a nasty little email from the HOA secretary, it was all worth it. We have to liven things up a little now and then.

Powell. Again.

Love this annual trip. Love this group even more. Thanks Fishbecks.

I was actually in a little better shape this time around. Climbing the 'beast wasn't as bad.

Jason, totally cheating to win the big race down. But what's new??

Precious.

We decided to bring paddleboards this time. Best idea ever.

I'll spare you the picture with the makeout sesh.

Montana

Wow, I am so unbelievably behind. This was our trip to Montana back in August. The lovely Tanners invited us to their "Neverland." We had a great time once again. Unfortunately, I forgot our cameral, so this stolen picture from Google will have to do. I absolutely love this place. It is beyond stunning. What wasn't stunning, though, was Tommy's and my bikeride that was supposed to be "leisurely." Not so much. What was supposed to be a 30 minute bike ride turned into a 3 hour ride because we got majorly lost. Tommy was too stubborn to ask the Schwan's man for directions. I even flashed him a little cleavage and asked for a popsicle because I was DYING, but that didn't seem to work. Boo.

Thanks again, Dallas and Krista. xoxo's

Nice.

"Your muscles are getting squishier."

- Swayze

That's just great. I've been working my tail off on my bike and at the gym. Not exactly what I wanted to hear this morning (insert major frowny face).

"Look Ma, No Training Wheels!"

Just like everything else in the Stapes' household, a little bribery goes a long way. Swiggles learned how to ride her bike without training wheels last weekend.

Our Quiet, Labor Day Weekend

We decided to take the kids swimming at Grandma Stapes' on Saturday. We even got a wild and crazy hair to bring Nash and his best buddy, B Roy (we're quite the basketball fans in our neck of the woods) from next door. His parents were out of town and we were doing a little doggy- sitting.

I am such a lousy photographer, it took like 6 tries to get this one picture.

Grandma's crazy "Gnash." We officially have 3 Nash's in the Stapley family.

Someone should call PETA on us. The kids thought it would be funny to send the dogs down the tube. The poor thing was so water logged.

Getting roped into going down the slide, again and again.

Swiggles is ever so slowly learning how to swim.

"Graham Cracker"

You might be wondering what that monstrous bandage is doing on her leg. Yep, I dropped my curling iron on it. Poor baby.

Back To the Grind.

The kids started school a few weeks ago. So far, so good. I am thoroughly enjoying the peace and quiet, at least for 6 hours.

Powell.

I'm not too sure what more can be said about Lake Powell, we seem to be here quite a lot - in fact, we're going again next month. Lake Powell has been a Stapley family tradition long before I joined the family. This is by far, our most favorite vacation as a family.

Luckily, no one was injured this trip. No broken noses, stitches or broken arms like last year, thank goodness.

However... we managed to get pulled over not once, but twice by the same sheriff, for undisclosed reaasons. It was the same sheriff we met last year when one of the kids got ran over by a rental boat. I think we're making buddies with him.

Our usual spot, out by Lone Rock. I think they reserve it for us every year.

The crew on the blasted sandhill. Have I mentioned how much I hate climbing this thing and how I get talked into it every stinkin' year?!

Our trip wouldn't be complete without endless hours of surfing.

Meet our newest couple, Cam and Mitch - oops, I mean Rusty and Craig. I think Tommy was a little jealous.

"How Do You Like THEM Apples?!"

"Damnit! Stop doing that!!"

- Swayze

She was playing a game with the babysitter the other day, and things weren't going her way. Yet another word added to her new vocabulary. She clearly doesn't get it from her mother. I have my own list of words and damnit isn't one of them. Example:

"What the Hill (Hell) just happened?!"

- Swayze (again)

Now, technically, she really didn't swear here, but case in point... Tommy, Swiggles and I were at the gas station the other day. Swayze was playing on my iPhone and Tommy was out pumping the gas. My phone has been having technical difficulties lately and unexpectedly shut off during an intense game of Animatch. Hence, the profanity coming out of my 4 year old's lips. So, Tommy gets back in the car while talking on his phone, and would you believe the first words coming out of his mouth were,

"Well, what the Hell's wrong with these people?!"

Who 'woulda thought someone so cute and little would have such a big potty mouth? (I'm not talking about Tommy). I think I will be investing in larger bottles of Palmolive.