When We are Sick of Winter

So when we are sick of winter around here in the arctic - we have to think of some ways to fill the time until our beautiful summer arrives. 
Brady thought . . .

Hey!  Maybe you could still practice some chipping on top of the snow!  He and his buddy Seth had a fun afternoon of snow golf.  They used orange golf balls and practiced chipping into a sled!  Smart!

 Bran and I enjoyed a walk one morning on top of the snow.  Cold nights make for some good crust - and we decided to embrace the last few days of winter with some crust stomping.  Fun fun!! That baby had a great time tromping anywhere he wanted. (Yes - notice that there is still easily 2 feet of snow on my front lawn!  This picture is dated April 9!)

And when you just can't take it anymore - you head out of town for the weekend and enjoy a less snowy location.  

We were off to Logan for the weekend - boys wanted to golf - and the rest of us found a GREAT park to play at and enjoy a sunny afternoon. 

We had a fun day playing with cousins and enjoying the sunshine.

 Ice cream too!  It must be a fun trip!

Star Valley finally saw a couple of sunny days and our snow has melted rapidly!  Finally!  We got home from our weekend trip, and as I was unloading the car I hear what sounded like our snow blower.  Yep.  Kelly was excited by the patches of lawn he saw and he just had to help along the process.

So the last thing we do when we are sick of winter is try to get rid of the stuff anyway we can!!  Brady had to be tough and take a final run through bare footed.  One last frolic - because there may be summer at the end of the tunnel!  YAHOO!

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS???

 Rae made our high school's drill team!  She had tryouts all last week - and just found out that she made the team!  She is officially a Brave Cadet!  Way to go Rae!  Something else to keep our busy body busy!!  Now we just have to keep up with her!

THIS IS ONE HAPPY GIRL!!

 

Goin' Home

It was Kelly's turn to teach Sunday School yesterday.  The lesson was on the wandering of the children of Israel in the wilderness - and Moses as their leader for MANY years.  He talked a lot about how the Lord kept blessing them, even though they murmured much and kept questioning Moses's ability to lead them.  At the end of his lesson, Kelly mentioned that we had just gone to AZ for Spring Break and he had spent 14 hours in the car -each way- with our family of four kids.  The baby cried frequently - Reese and Brady kept asking when would we get there - and Rae kept telling Kelly which way to go (because you see, she is 14 now and knows much more than him).  He laughed that ours wasn't a long trip in comparison -but he kinda knew how Moses musta' felt.
All I can say is ------ Moses needed some ear protection!!  Kelly style!  

Can you imagine passing him on the freeway?!? 
What a crazy man!
I think I shoulda' put a sign in the window that said --- Long drive ---frazzled dad!!
He is so darn funny!  I am so glad that he makes me laugh frequently!

Boys and Bikes

All right!  Now the trip can be complete!  Uncle Adam got his bike out to give Bran a little ride - and the boys life was made!  He had SUCH A GOOD TIME!  He always wants me to turn on iphoto and let him look at pictures of himself on the motorcycle!  He loves it!  Thanks uncle Adam!!

 The head tipping might be tragic here!  I think he's gonna fall right off that bike!  I once again holler in my darn-that-girl tone --- RAAAAAE!  Sheesh!

Hold on tight Bran!
Bekki comes in from outside and asks - "So, uh - you think Kelly has motorcycle insurance?!?"  He he he he!  Yea, Kelly managed to keep it on the road.  Monkey bars to steer with and everything!

Easter Eggs and Ducks

Dying eggs with cousins!  Yea!  Fun stuff!

Bran and Mookie had a great time - and wore matching pink bibs.  Brannen liked his so much he wouldn't take it off for the whole afternoon.  I think Maura's dressing up ways rubbed off on him a little bit!  Brady played like the Easter Bunny and hid some candy filled eggs in the backyard and they had a great time finding them.

Later that afternoon we walked to the park and fed the ducks.  Happy boy once again!  We had a fun time watching Brannen chase the pigeons in the park.  The sunshine just made us all very happy!

Easter Pagent

On our trip, we also got to see the Easter Pagent at the Mesa temple.  What a production!  It was wonderful!  So glad we got the chance to see it - haven't seen it since I was little. 
The best part of the night for me was who we got to see it with!  My wonderful cousins and families were there and we got to sit and visit and eat with them before the production started.  Jonathan, Jordan and Nate and families were there.  So fun to see everyone!  What a great night!

Splash Park

Our fun trip continued with a stop at a splash park.  Once again Brannen was happy happy happy!  He and Reese really had a fun time.  It was actually a fairly cold day for Arizona spring - so only the very BRAVE were game for all the splashing.  (Or those who live in the arctic - and have to have fun when they can get it!)

Fun stuff!  His face says it all!

Slip and Slide!

Yahoo!!  Finally!  We get to try out Aunt B's slip and slide!  My kids were major excited about this!  Bekki and her friend went in together and bought this HUGE, GI-NORMOUS, VERY LARGE piece of industrial strength plastic from a landscape company and have been setting it up on the hill at their park whenever they are in need of some fun.  Well we needed fun!

Kelly and Bekki were the set r - up -r's  ---- then the fun really began. 
Bek emailed friends from her neighborhood to let them know that it would be set up - so lots of kiddos from her neighborhood enjoyed the afternoon.  But none more than my kids! 
Rae was especially crazy - and had the sore bum and red marks everywhere to prove it.  She seriously sacrificed her body for fun.  She was always making "trains" for all the little kids to go down together.  They had a great time.  Thanks Rae!

Oh wait - not all of my kids were convinced that slipping and sliding was fun stuff.  After going down on a few laps, Bran decided it wasn't for him.  Instead, he thought the far off duck pond offered much more allure.  See!  The pointy finger even to prove his point.  I ended up following him around for a while - we saw the ducks.  But I did finally convince him to come back and watch the kids.  It was my turn on the slide!

 Oh man - it was fun stuff!  Kelly even got into the action.  Reese and Brady loved it that he went down with them a lot.  Dad's are always the most fun!  Before you can slide down - you must be properly soaped up!  The kids all helped Kelly get SOAPY!
I had some designs on my t-shirt that were kinda too much friction for good sliding - and I tried to slide down on my stomach.  Well, Bekki thought she'd give me a push from behind - and I didn't move!  But her finger sure did get crunched - ouch!  Sorry!  Her poor finger was swollen and bruised for the rest of the week.  She couldn't even bend it.  I think I may have cost her her living!  Is it getting better Bek?!?

What a FUN day!  We all had such a blast!  Good thinking Aunt B!!

We're Goin' to the Zoo

On the second day of our trip, we all went to the zoo!  Great fun!  Katie and Kevan came with us and we had a great day.  All of the kids enjoyed it.  Oh yea - congrats Katie and Kevan!!  After the zoo they went to their first ultrasound appointment - and  . . .  IT'S A GIRL!!  Awesome!!  Dave says they should name her Kevleen - he he he!  :  ) We are so happy for you - and so glad that we got to spend the day with you.  You two totally rock! And uh, don't go with Kevleen.  Think harder! :  )

Saw some fun animals - and some yucky ones.  Aunt B loves them all - while I am much more choosy about the animals I get excited over.  The bats are just toooo nasty to even think about!!

Brannen's finger is just now recovering from all the pointing that he did during the week!  That little guy was so darn happy on this trip.  He loved it!  My favorite was to watch him do his happy step-hop-walk-and-giggle on the way to see something really cool.  His whole body celebrated!

Cousins!  Bran and Maura had such a fun time together!  I was surprised a bit - I expected a few more battles - but they did great!  It was so fun to see the differences in them.
Example:  driving to the zoo, Maura sees a cool castle out the car window (Golfland - oh yea!) and proceeds to say - "Mom, I see a castle.  I love castles.  I am a princess so I love castles!"  Bran says, "Maaaam - Duho!!".  Yea well, he tries!  He did point too!  Does he get bonus points for that?!?
I totally get Bekki's frustrations with quiet Garrett who spoke his own language.  Brannen doesn't even seem to try to make the right sounds.  Oh well.  It will come.  But Maura is a talker!  Oh man!  How cute!!
We also noticed how GIRLIE Maura is vs. Brannen's ALL BOY all the time.  He wanted to hit things - she wanted to dress up - he wanted to stay outside - she wanted to watch "Princess and the Froggie!"  They did have fun together though.
Oh yea - cute, and funny Maura story.  Bekki was combing her hair one morning while we were there, trying to get the snarls out and she said, "So who slept in your hair last night?" (You know, the thing all moms say - "look at this rats nest!" )  to which Maura answered very matter of fact, "Cousins".  CUTE!

Anyway, we had a great day!  Much fun at the zoo!  Thanks Aunt B for a great trip to the zoo!