Happy Trees

Greer, AZ

I've got a list of a thousand things to do, but I'm going to stop for one minute and share to everyone how much I love my family and friends right now.

Here's why:

· He loves to eat waffles at least twice a week, and plan fun outings, and drink soda late at night, and watch scary TV shows, and listen to music all the day long, and plant luscious green winter grass, and go for walks to look at holiday lawn decorations, and record an a m a z i n g album that I am so proud of.

· She has cute pigtails and curly hair, and loves "bubbus" and "doggies", and loves to chase around a ball, and give kisses with delayed 'smack' sounds, and obsess over new shoes, and push grocery carts, and eat an entire apple on a stick, and have dance parties.

· They invite us over for Sunday dinner every Sunday, and prepare us 72 hour kits so we don't have to, and take June to the carousel to ride at least 6 times, and they sew us curtains and blankets, and buy ten different kinds of cheeses, and challenge me to Tetris to which I win triumphantly or lose terribly.

· They throw parties at the last minute that look like it took weeks to prepare for, and serve soup in bread bowls, they recommend good music and TV because I'm so out of the loop, and they have pizza ovens in their backyard with every pizza topping you can dream of, and they are talented and help me to remember to push myself and, most importantly, they make me laugh.

This is terribly written, but it's true.

Greer 2012

Greer was tops this year. There is just too much to say and too many photos to share, but I'll be brief.  

We did pretty much everything I said in this post. The following are a few more highlights:

· My mom had the famous "Dana Cabin Bear" shipped from Utah to tell the amazing story of Grandpa Joe killing the bear. I think every Dana has heard the famous words: "... In one ear and out the other...." But it was fun sharing that story with the great-grandkids of Grandpa Joe.

· The cabin was amazing. But the best part was the game room. Many tears were shed in that room (because I didn't win a single game of pool). 

· Each night, my family prepared a mini devotional. I loved hearing the testimonies of my siblings.

· William's birthday celebration (I'm WAY behind on posting, but more on that later).

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for creating so many great memories for us. 

Original Coombs:

New Coombs + Dana Bear:

We are nowhere and it's now...

I'm spending the next four days in the White Mountains with my family. There will be treats, games, hikes, picnics, awkward family photos, matching t-shirts, s'mores, and plenty of teasing.

Meanwhile, I'll be listening to this album over and over, reading a few books (if June will let me), collecting wood for holiday decorating, photographing nature, and just taking in the beauty of what is called Greer, AZ.

A Book for June

I've been wanting to make a family book for June so she can start learning names with faces. I received a coupon for a free 8X8 photo book on my birthday from Shutterfly, and I figured this was the perfect opportunity to finally make one: 

Click here to view this photo book larger
(Click the rectangles to turn the pages)

The only reason June seems to like it is because she thinks it's a game to find Chubbs in the book.

So basically, Chubbs wins.

It's time to step it up, Bradfords and Coombs'.

A Day of Laziness and Close Calls.

(My Dback hot dog (they lost) and the only Fourth of July decor in my house was a drawing of fireworks on our chalkboard.)

Our 4th was pretty spectacular, to say the least. Of course, I planned several things to do on William's day off. But plans changed after we went to Walmart and Barros, then took a very long nap (because nothing says 'America' like Walmart, pizza, and laziness). 


This was probably the most exciting thing that happened for June:

Probably the best fifty cents we've ever spent.

Lucky for us, my mom planned a great evening of hot dogs, chips and salsa, pies, cupcakes, neighborhood rides (the weather was a m a z i n g, right?), and of course fireworks. 

June clapped after each firework. It was the best. 


We also had a horrifying moment when we lit what was supposed to be a "tame" firework. Instead of peacefully spinning itself on the ground, it flew up, barely missing the top of our heads, and went over the neighbor's house. 


My life flashed before my eyes and all I saw were delicious hot dogs.


And of course, June applauded.

Scott H. Coombs, Esquire

Happy (early) Father's Day!

Don't let this short tie fool you:

My dad is actually one of the coolest around.

Don't know much about him? I'll direct you to the "About" page on his Law Office Website. 

Dad, there are a couple things you forgot to add to your short Bio: You're smart, funny, handsome, and the life of the party. You can sing really loud and quote the entire President's speech from alien blockbuster movie, "Independence Day". Oh and you kind of look like Mitt Romney. 

I'll be sure to add those things to your Bio later... it'll up your cred. (I also noticed under 'Education', you failed to mention BYU... hmmmmm.)

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

I love you.

Celebrate

35 years ago today, my dad wore a white tuxedo and married my mom.

Look at 'em. Their kids are gonna be so good-lookin'.

Thanks for being the greatest parents ever!

I love you guys... Happy Anniversary!

Hunt

It was another pleasant Easter Sunday.

My mom's house is perfect for Easter Sunday. So bright and cheery:

The highlight is always the adult Easter egg hunt. This year, we added a little bit more pushing and jostling. I would have taken pictures, but I was too busy unsuccessfully trying to steal other people's stashes.

Ryan found the most eggs AGAIN, but he cheats (and I stand by that accusation).

Kent only found three eggs, but he received the coveted egg prize: a $20 bill.

The grandkids had their egg hunt afterwards. June "found" three eggs... (I may have swiped a couple from her cousins' bags.)

Can you spot the fake smiles in this picture?

After all that pushing and shoving and gnashing of teeth, we went inside and had a beautiful lesson about the true meaning of Easter. Actually, THAT was the highlight. I love hearing my family's testimonies.

Now I'm off to train for next year's hunt, but I can't find my bow staff.

Christmas with the Coombs

Here is the Coombs Family Interpretation of the Nativity Scene:

1. Two angels (one is very upset and the other is pre-occupied with Rapunzel's hair)

2. Chubbs playing a sheep (or some sad-looking camel)

3. A capsized Pirate Ship

4. A 20-pound baby Jesus

5. Four Shepards + one Joseph (although no one seems to know which one is Joseph)

6. Festive shoes

We don't know where Mary is either.

Christmas was wonderful. It always is at my mom's house.

It's time for another nonsensical list of my holiday happenings:

Mi Amigos Chimis and Enchiladas

Toffee. Lots of it.

"Single Ladies" London dancing

Grant dancing

Carson dancing and laughing

Easton playing the piano

Mitch playing the piano

Emerson break dancing ASU style

June refusing to dance

Cherries Jubilee

Santa bag on the doorstep

Excitement as gifts are collected

White Elephant

Bathroom jokes brought to you by the Potty Putter (or whatever it was called)

Christmas Story Lamp

Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness

Last Minute Christmas Shopping

Dinner at Sauce

Sacrament Meeting

Mom's Coffee cake & Bacon

Presents

New TV (WEEEEEEEE!!!!)

Watch movies

Flying helicopters

Eating

Eating

Eating

Full Stomachs

Sick

Sleepy

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

Ready to see your Halloween Party get schooled?

Well, we can all stop trying now.

The prettiest, yummiest, and most excellent Halloween party has happened... thanks to the party planning skills of my sister-in-law, Marci.

Here are the highlights:

Kids table (that's a mummy juice box), pretty decor, party favors:

Adult place settings:

Monster eyeballs (oreo truffles), Pumpkin Bones (Puffy Cheetos), Scabs (Beef Jerky), Witch Wands (Chocolate-dipped pretzals):

Vomit (Spinach dip), Cat Bites (cat-shaped sandwiches), Ghoulish Ghost Pops, Ghost Poop (Marshmallows):

Not to mention Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Tortilla Soup & Chili (each served in pumpkin bread bowls), Strawberry Almond Salad (thanks mom), and these cupcakes (you're welcome).

Costumes were so good this year.

1. Kent, a cereal-killer. Tauna, a "news flash". Love them.

2. Ryan, Billy Mays. Sarah, a fairy (I wish you could see her eye makeup. GORGEOUS.)

3. Yours truly. Me, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. June, Octopus' Garden. William, Mr. Kite.

4. Grant, Larry Fitzgerald. Easton, Rocky Balboa. Mitch, a Warrior. Carson, Mario.

This little guy was a cherub. He wouldn't stop moving his legs, he seriously wanted to fly away.

London was an adorable Rapunzel, but I couldn't get a photo of her. (She was too busy with the fairy Sarah.)

I wish I took more pictures.

But here's a spooky tale:

Once upon a time, a man named Joe Rogan hosted a show called Fear Factor and forever changed the way Marci's Halloween parties were planned. Because her in-laws are a bunch of suckers for gift card prizes, we agreed to play her little fear factor game.

Here's a list of the rounds:

1. Drink soda through a baby bottle and burp the loudest.

2. Place pantyhose around your head and eat a banana.

3. Spell words using letters that are buried in a pile of worms.

4. Bobbing for apples... did I say 'apples'? I meant to say sausage, sardines, and pigs feet.

5. Eat various chocolate-covered bugs.

I suspected that Marci's goal is to just get someone to barf.

William barfed.

Mission accomplished.

Read more about Marci's party here. I can't wait to plan the next Halloween Party, only to have our family thoroughly disappointed that I can't live up to Marci's.

P.S. This was my favorite picture taken:

Fly Lincoln FLY!

Prescott

Last weekend, my brother Jay invited us to his in-law's cabin. It was loads of fun, and the weather is mighty perfect right now. I haven't been outside this much in a LONG time.

Here's what we did...

Hung out at the cabin.

(The perfect couch?)

Target practice with BB guns (Jay won the contest, but Easton and Mitch rocked those army men. Oh and William tried to cheat.)

Walked downtown.

Candy Store.

Ate good food. (Not pictured: Mary's oh-so-delicious bean burritos)

Stopped by the lake. (where we were attacked by bees)

Ate ice cream.

And finally, we bit off the heads of bats.

Just kidding. This was taken after Emerson ate ice cream... or had a meeting with the Joker?

Plenty good times.

Thanks Jay and Mary! I'd love to see what your cabin looks like in the snow! (hint hint.)