Fall

So Fall in Phoenix is not quite like the Midwest but we are making our best effort. A little football, a trip to the pumpkin patch and of course the important event - my birthday.

Courtney's new school

Courtney loves her new school. She is in the owl class! Her class pet is a tarantula!

Diamondbacks baseball!

Henkel family day was an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game. Lots of cool mascots, bleacher seats plus the use of the "Diamond Club" and $10 per person to spend on food. A very fun, family outing!


"Baxter" I think he's some sort of bobcat.




The girls loved the free pom poms. Each kid got a free Diamondbacks backpack because they were one of the first 5000 kids to enter the stadium. Gotta love free stuff.


Cool bobblehead baseball guy.

Woot! Woot! First Day of School

Hip Hip Horray! We're off to school today!


With Neighbor Brittany

The Best of Vacation

Two glorious weeks with family and friends - out of the oppressing heat of Arizona. No dishes or cooking or trying to entertain the kids. The first week we spent with Kevin and Mary's gang followed by a quick trip to Ohio so the kids could reunite with missed friends. The second week was just beautiful, cool, Torch Lake surrounded by the people I love.


Bowling was fun with Mary and the kids.


In Ohio, Ryan slept over with Cameron.


Katarina bonded with her peeps at Sarah's house for a sleep over too.


Sophia and Courtney hung with me and we had an abbreviated cousin swap. A little build-a-bear, a little mini-golf, swimming, the park and then off we went to Michigan for a fun night at the Zhenders water park.


Can't visit Grandma and Grandpa without visiting Friske's orchard.


Lot's of cousin love!


Time at the beach. We visited Lake Michigan both in Eastport and in Elk Rapids.





Katarina learned to water ski. She was thrilled with herself.


Our cool castle/ moat/ river at the beach.


Woodworking with Papa Nick was fun too.

Happy Birthday USA!

We celebrated the USA's 224th birthday at a community bbq at our neighborhood clubhouse and a little backyard pool party. Unfortunately I didn't take many pictures.

The neighborhood party had a fun water slide! Courtney must have gone down 25 times.

There was also face painting and balloon animals. Neither held up very well with swimming and hot hot sun shining on the balloons. But neat while they lasted.


Kat in the pool at our house.


Debbie with Wendee and Lizzy watching the kids swim.

We like fish fish!

We like fish, fish,
We like fish, fish,
We like fish, fish
Because they are our friends!

We like Courtney, Courtney,
We like Courtney, Courtney,
We like Courtney, Courtney,
Becuase she is our friend!





Courtney's swim teacher took these fun underwater pictures.