Camping and more Camping!

For our first camping trip this year we went to Canyon Lake with the Nipar's. It was our first time there and the weather was great if you don't count the wind. We borrowed the Debruin's kayak and took turns giving the kids a ride in it. The kids had a great time hunting for "fire wood" aka sticks. They also enjoyed throwing rocks in the water for hours on end.

Logan enjoys his hotdog right off the stick.

Smile for the hotdog...I mean camera.

Beach combers and a dead body washed up on shore. Nope, it's Erica sunbathing. ha

The girls swim in from taking a ride with Deb.

Chris trying out the kayak.

Just a couple weekends later we were invited to join three other families to go camping in Oak Creek Canyon just north of Sedona. This was a beautiful spot to go camping. The kids loved the creek even if it was freezing. They also really enjoyed digging in the dirt. Can you imagine the dirtiness?

Here's Lyle, the mighty camping planner.

It was great to cook over the fire.

Penny LOVES to camp.

Checking out the creek.

Overlooking the canyon.

The beautiful view from our camper.

Brian chillin'

Our cute little camper.

Easter Fun

The Nipar's came over for our annual easter egg coloring. We made tons of eggs for them to color. It was a lot of fun.

The kids showing off their favorite eggs.

Bekki gave me the idea to make nests but I only had white bark to use. It worked out and actually it looks like they are sitting in their shells. I used peeps here but also used those cute little Bakerella cake chicks too but think I accidentally deleted the pics. (Note to anyone trying to make these at home...put parchment down under the balloons for the nests/eggs to harden on. They WILL NOT come off of a plate or baking sheet.)

The Easter Bunny came!

Getting ready to munch on the chocolate duck and chocolate cow.

Painted Ladies

This spring we bought a butterfly habitat. We ordered our larvae and waited. We were pleasantly surprised when we checked the mail and there were 5 caterpillars waiting for us.

They were so tiny and cute.  The brown stuff in the bottom of the jar is all the food they will need until they are fully developed butterflies.

Our caterpillars ate and ate and grew and grew. It took about a week and a half for them to get this big. One cool thing that we learned is that caterpillars can make webs similar to spiders.

Just before they turn into chrysalises they attach themselves upsidedown and hang in a "j" shape.

Within 24 hours they shed their skin and underneath is the beautiful, shiny, chrysalis.

Then you take the paper that they are hanging on an put it into their habitat so that when they hatch they are already in their home. If you move them at all they shake around. They do this to protect themselves from prey.

After waiting another 4 to 5 days, the butterflies emerge. Their wings are crumpled at first but spread out within minutes. The butterfly comes out of its chrysalis in under one minute. They need sugar to survive and love oranges.

We decided that our butterflies should be free. So the kids got to hold them for a second before they flew away. This was an amazing thing to watch and we will definitely order more painted lady caterpillars next year!

In Bloom

After several years of thinking I was going to loose my hibiscus we are having a great year. The plant is so full of blooms and is just beautiful.

Spring Break in AZ

Spring break goes by so quickly. We have been keeping busy with a trip to the park, swimming in the heated water of the public pool, swimming in the freezing water of our back yard pool, going to the Children's Museum and the week's not over yet.

Brian didn't have to be in to work until afternoon today so we decided to take the kids hiking. We went over to South Mountain. What a beautiful day! 

There were lots of little wild flowers and many of the cacti were flowering too.

Crystal clear blue sky.

Then Brian took us to Jason's Deli for lunch. If you haven't tried this place, you really should. The food is amazing and you get free ice cream!!

On Sunday we took the kids to the Ostrich Festival. This was the first time in 20 years that I partook in the horrendous event to "honor" this large two legged bird. Where else can you get your picture taken as an ostrich, watch jockeys ride ostriches in races and get an ostrich burger in the same place?? The kids did have fun. I got my fill of white trash carnival events for the year. 

Who Hair Day

All the Who's down at Santan were to dress in their best and put their hair to the test. In celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday the kids were supposed to wear their hair in a "Who" style. 

Cami Who

Cassi Who

Another Year Older

For Cassi's 9th birthday she wanted to have her party at a rock wall gym. She is so strong and a super natural climber. It was a lot of fun to see all the girls climb up those walls like spiderman. It was even better to see the expression on their mom's faces when they came to pick up their kids and they were 40 feet up on a rock wall!

Cassi had many things on her wish list for her birthday. The most amazing and heart touching was that she wanted all her friends and family together. So we invited all our friends and family to come to our house for a BBQ. The party had to be postponed for a day due to her little brother getting strep throat, but everyone was here today to help her celebrate. For her birthday this year, mom made a 9 layer cake...yum!

The Cake

That's one big cake with sparkler candles.

9 layers of bliss.

Star Student

Calvin was star student this week in his classroom. This means that he gets to do lots of fun activities and bring some of his toys to share. He got to bring home the class pet, "Trumpet". He loves this little elephant. We get to write in the class journal to say what we did with Trumpet all week long. Trumpet enjoyed going out to breakfast, watching Calvin play his DS and going to IKEA. Fun.

GO CARDINALS!!

She just "did it"

I don't know how. She's talented that way. She just got on the bike with no training wheels and off she went. She didn't fall down, she didn't falter, she just flew! Way to go Cami!

Orange

I LOVE orange season. I love that we have an orange tree in our very own back yard that we can go and pick and eat whenever we feel like it. I love fresh squeezed orange juice on the weekend.

Let the squeezing begin.

Fresh squeezed "Pom-Orange Juice" Yum.

Back to Normal

Hi there. It's good to be back to normal. By that I mean back to school and back to work. It is taking me longer and longer to adjust into my semester the older I get. I did have enough energy to make this delicious home made mac n cheese the other night. 

We did have a wonderful break. We went and saw the Garcia's in San Diego, then up to Disneyland for a Magical Christmas, then home for Christmas, then up to Showlow to play in the snow. It was a fun time. Below are the pics to prove it. :) 

Cassi and Starfish @ Seaworld

Up close and personal with a dolphin

Disneyland

The Castle

Tink

My standing crown rib roast for christmas dinner.