Lost Dutchman State Park

A few weeks ago, Laura was looking in her Faith in God book (goal setting program for the young girls in church), and came across a goal to plan something for her family to do. A hike was a suggestion, and we'd been talking about going on a hike because the weather has been SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! So, she started researching for a hike over Spring Break. Ethan headed off to Mountain Man Rendezvous for Scouts, so he wasn't with us, but Aunt Cathy and Helen came!

Laura, with a few suggestions from Mom and Dad, decided on Lost Dutchman's State Park. It was a nice hike - just hard enough for a challenge, and just easy enough to enjoy the surroundings and the day. This is Erin, Jamie, Helen, Kelcie, Laura, and Talin in front of the trail that Laura picked.

Resting on the "up" - Kelcie is the yellow shirt way up there. She was in the lead for the longest time - I found out later that she thought we were going to actually climb the mountain - like the straight up part. So, she was a little disappointed, but still ok.

Jamie and Kelcie with the beautiful valley behind them.

I had to get this view! Isn't it pretty? I loved all the yellow flowers with the cool mountain formations and the beautiful blue sky - Arizona is pretty like this......when it's cool :)

It was a fun activity and it was even more fun that Laura researched it and planned it!

Spring Break

So........it was Spring Break last week. We decided to just hang out here since we just went to Disneyland, and so we tried to make it fun....

We made "Glurch", or homemade silly putty/ slime/ flarp. It was SO FUN!!!!!!!! The kids, all ages, played with that for 3 days for hours at a time!!! Definitely worth finding the Borax at Walmart!
This is Tuff Talin while the girls are being "girly"
While I was gone one day, I came home to learn that Jamie had created a "Spa Day" for Kelcie and her cousin, Helen! I found these pictures and it looks like they had a great time! Cucumbers and all!
They got cute new hairstyles....
And a dip in the.........hot springs? When I got home they were watching a girly movie with popcorn - what a fun sister!

Sadie Hawkin's Dance

Our Stake decided to put on a Sadie Hawkins Dance, so Erin asked a boy in one of the other wards to go with her and then made a group with one of her friends. She asked him with a big pile of hay in his yard, and a sign that said "Hay, do you want to go to the dance with me" (or something like that). (It was a cowboy theme) He answered with a cute bullseye with the arrow on "yes".

Before the dance, they came to our house and blindfolded the boys. They led them all around our street, which is mostly empty fields, while we set up their dinner in the field next to our house.

Then, they ate bread with oil and Taco Soup. The other kids had a great time serving them. We even sprinkled the table with peanuts and pistachios like the restaurants!
They had a great time - great kids! They came inside and messed around and played the Wii before they headed to the dance, which sounded like a BLAST! So fun.........

WICKED!!!!!!!!

So...........

Lafe took me to see WICKED!!!!!!!!! For our Anniversary, he surprised me with AWESOME tickets to see Wicked..... on my birthday!!! We've wanted to see it for a long time - actually, he wanted to take me to it several years ago, and I wasn't interested. Then, I found the music, fell in love with it, and we've wanted to go ever since. The kids were dying that they couldn't come - hopefully next time we can take them because it's just SO AWESOME!!!!!!!

Disneyland!!!

For Christmas, we gave the kids a trip to Disneyland - we made it!

Waiting for the park to open. We got SO MANY comments on our shirt! We LOVE Phineus and Ferb, and this way we can find everyone!

Talin and Kelcie with their "First Time" buttons.

We ran right to Space Mountian! Probably not the best ride to go on first with your 4 yr. old who hasn't been on a roller coaster before :) He did fine, but was nervous the rest of the time.

We found Mickey!

Talin's one request - the Ferris Wheel! Not even on our list because most of us can stand being up so high for so long, but we did it for Talin (well, some of us).

Tower of Terror! Only Kelcie and Talin would do it with Lafe. (Talin didn't like it)

Because of our shirts, one of the workers told us to catch the Phineus and Ferb Dance Party. It was really fun. They pulled in the three girls to dance with them and they had a blast!

California Screamin' - They're posing! Kelcie LOVED this ride and would have gone on it over and over......

Had to get a picture with the Ferris Wheel all lit up.

"It's a Small World" - Ethan was so excited for this one :)

Mickey at the Entry

Waiting for the Parade

Talin's new hat (he had to get them, all the other kids got them 6 yrs. ago) and his Buzz Lightyear gun.

Dinner at 10pm at Denny's - we're a little tired.

We had so much fun and never stopped! I think we're all still recovering even now! World of Color was really, really cool and the Parade was so fun and awesome! It was so different this time from when we went 6 years ago!!! Everyone could go on almost every ride, and we didn't have a stroller - yeah!!!!!!!!!!! We really took advantage of the Fast Pass system - so much so that we ended up at the end with a stack of them that we didn't even have time to use. But, they were so helpful and great on Friday when it was so busy (in February? Lafe kept asking). And, our favorite ride all around - "Soarin' Over California" - we ALL loved that one! We went so many times we could cue the next thing coming. And, I still LOVE Space Mountain........., and Thunder Mountain.........., and California Screamin'..........., and Splash Mountain (Talin's favorite).......and Peter Pan....................., so many!!!

Happy 100th Birthday, Arizona!!!!!!!!!!

Valentine's Day is always special here in Arizona because it's also the day we joined the Union in 1912 - so we usually doubly celebrate at school ( or at least mention it). BUT, I've been SO excited for this year because it's our 100th birthday!!!!!!!!!!!! How cool!!! I even bought a shirt! ($7 at Walmart, fits horribly and probably won't wear it ever again, but it will look cool in my t-shirt quilt someday) The State invited the Mormon Tabernacle Choir down for part of the celebration, and Lafe and I took my parents to see it (for Christmas) - it was amazing and such a variety! The school had a special Flag Ceremony that was so much fun! The FPAC (PTA) bought every kid an Arizona Flag to keep and to wave while they sang our state song.

Laura

Kelcie

Portion of the kids - I think they liked it.

If you look you can see the janitor on the roof trying to get a picture from above - I can't wait to see it, I bet it's cool! Not huge or extravagant, but fun. More than the high school did - absolutely nothing. I wish we could have done more, but everything was in downtown Phoenix, and not really advertised very well. Happy Birthday, Arizona! 48th State in the Union.

Citrus Trees

Last year we got our hard-pit fruit trees, and this year we wanted to get our citrus trees. We did get a Gala Apple (yeah!) and 2 Pecan trees as well.

Our Nectarine starting to bloom.

The first three - we went back and got two more because we were so excited!

The kids "helping" dig the holes.

They're all in!!!

So, in all we have a Lemon (from 2 years ago, we're hoping it's still alive), a Tangerine, a Ruby Red Grapefruit, a Minneola Tangelo, a Cara Cara Navel, and a Washington Navel - woohoo! Our Cara Cara had two oranges on it when we bought it and they were SOOOOOO yummy!!! Can't wait! Arent's they pretty? We just love looking at them from the kitchen window!

Preschool Field Trip

Talin's preschool went to the Fire Station yesterday - and I got to go too! I think I've gone to all of their preschool trips to the Fire Station, if they went, so I had to go, of course! Talin loved it, but was restless to get out to the Fire Trucks. He really wanted to get on that neat red one, but it's just for parades, now.

Cute little group of kids! We had a good time, and they were so good!

100 Days of School!!!

Wednesday was the 100th day of school, and this year we had all three that hadn't missed any days of school so far!!! Those who haven't missed get to release a balloon at Flag Raising on the 100th day - so fun!!!!!!

Jamie - 7th grade

Kelcie - 2nd grade

Laura - 4th grade

Lift off!!!!!

There they go.........

Great Job, girls!!!!!

Doctor, Doctor!

For January, the Preschool was learning about Community Helpers, and so they asked if Lafe would go in for the Doctor. I think he loves doing it and it was fun to see Talin just beam that his Dad was there!

Checking ears...

Checking mouth.....

Dr. Talin listening to the heart...

Checking Blood Pressure

Dr. Talin - he let each kid dress up in his white coat.