This and That

This post is all about how we have be doing a little bit of this.....

This hike is only five minutes from our house and we have been going about once a week.  This particular time there was still some ice in the pond so the kids were breaking it over each others heads and throwing it at each other.  One of those things you should probably put a stop to but instead you laugh, no limits I tell you.

 

A little bit of that.....

 

Spencer in his last Pinewood Derby and rounding the corner to becoming a Boy Scout by receiving his last Cub Scout rank, Webelos.

 

 

A lot of this .....

 

The kids love riding with My LB on his motorcycle.  They will take any excuse they can get to take a ride, long or short.  This particular time while we were on a family walk our dog Toby left a present that we were not prepared for.  The kids fought over who would get to go back with dad on his motorcycle to pick up the poop.  Go figure!  Matthew lost the battle because he has had more rides than any of us.  He even go to ride down to the valley with his dad on the Motorcycle to meet his grandpa for the Priesthood session of conference, LUCKY!

 

Any who, this little princess won the POOPIE war, geared up and took her ride.

 

 

 



 And a WHOLE lot of that.....

I adore this man!  Even if he did "force" me to move back to my hometown which is going just about as smoothly as I thought it would.  He backs me up, supports me and keeps me happy.  What more could the "Luckiest" girl in the world ask for?

Welcome Spring....I Think.....

We think Spring has finally sprung!  However, we will not be surprised if it snows again.  It seems that as soon as we think we can put away the heavy jackets and snow pants the white fluffy stuff returns.  Not that we are complaining, our snowy days have been some of the best since we have moved here.

Even so, we are looking forward to the Earth turning green again, one of our teaser Spring days we took Matthew's kayak out to the lake and had a great time.   The water was still and the air was warm, we lost track of time and almost missed piano lessons. 

Easter ended up being a beautiful Spring day as well.  The sky was beautiful, trees blooming, sun shining and it even smelled like Spring time.  We are really looking forward to our first Spring up north and already have many outdoor adventures planned.

Oh yes!  And this guy is very excited about the weather change because now he can do this.....

Still Cubbing!

Once again I find myself happily Cub Scouting with terrific boys.  I really think it is in my blood, I LOVE IT!  I just planned my fourth Blue and Gold and we had the best time.  There is something comforting about setting up for an event for eight to ten year old boys, it is probably the fact they just don't really care.  Give them food, awards, games and prizes and they are as happy as ever.  I guess that goes for adults too, especially the "food" but also money.

Here are a few pictures of some pretty spooky looking outlaws we came across at our banquet.  The one cub scout with the attitude and his mom won second place in the cornbread competition, nothing like some sweet cornbread with bacon and cheese, yummy!

I love making memories with my boys, sadly this was the last Blue and Gold Banquet that I will have a son participating in.  Spencer will be a Boy Scout in July and he is busily working towards getting all 20 of his Webelos activity pins.  I am so proud of him!

SNOW

It has been a wonderful winter up north, we are enjoying the cool weather more than we thought that we would.  The first day we had snow the kids were outside with snow suits on by 8a.m. It was a good thing because snow does not stay long here.  You will wake to beautiful white snow and light snow drifts in the morning and by evening it is all melted.

I love opening all of my curtains and watching the snow fall, Jeremiah describes it best by saying it is beautiful and quiet.  The flakes can be so big and wonderful!  On snowy days like this, the kids and I like to sit around the fireplace with their school work and fill our minds with knowledge and our bodies with warmth. 

Some of my favorite snow moments are when the kids put on their water shoes (better for snow, so they say) and jump on the trampoline together.  It cracks me up to watch them slip and slide!  I also love watching Matthew (I can't say play anymore) hang out with his friends in the backyard on snowy days.  Teenage boys are seriously a crack up, once again the trampoline is a hit.  Most of all I love the blanket of white that covers everything, it radiates clean and new.

This is the kids on one of the snowy mornings that they just couldn't wait to get outside.

Forgive their sorry excuse for a snowman, they are beginners.

This is my sister and I Christmas shopping downtown at the Courthouse Square.  I picked myself up the cutest scarf!

This is one of the beautiful snowy Sundays that we have experienced.

They can't help it, they have to play in it!

Can you see the snow in my hair?

This picture was taken right outside of our church building after an evening meeting, so beautiful.

Nope that's not what happened.....

Just in case you were wondering.....

It's not like we were lost in space!

Lowell's Observatory

Homeschool Group Rocket Project Day!

 Homeschooling is still going strong.  We started a group when we moved and we are loving it.  We have made so many wonderful friends and are learning so much.  Having a community is a beautiful thing!

Not even lost somewhere in the backwoods!

Our cousins came to visit and we took them on our favorite hike.

Homeschool group explorers project.

Cub Scout day hike.

We just can't get enough of the beautiful nature that surrounds us up here in the mountains.  The seasons have been so wonderful and watching all of the colors change has made us so happy!  We have already had a few friends come and visit us and we hope to have many more.

We certainly didn't get eaten by monsters!

What a Halloween fright.

No matter where we go trunk or treat follows.  We are loving our new church family and also having family close to join us in our haunted adventures has been quite the "treat".

Some freaky alternate universe?  Nope not even!

Disney Land

Can't you just feel the love?

RIDES!

To be little again and dream big.

We love family vacation!  Disney Land and California Adventure were a blast.  The kids were brave enough to go on "LOTS" of rides.  Kendal even braved Space Mountain twice.  Matthew loved California Screamin and The Tower of Terror, he wanted to go back for more.  It is so wonderful watching our family grow and our experiences change.  

However, we do have a little girl that is still wishing upon stars and loving princesses.  I stood in line with her for hours listening to all of the things she was going to say to the beautiful princesses, what great memories.  It does appear that are children are going to grow out of the Disney experience (thank goodness), we are glad that we have been able to share in this wonderful happiest place on Earth with them.

Off in music Land?

Acker Night in AZ's Christmas City.

This was truly a fantastic night!  The kids are still going strong on the piano and improving so much.  They were invited to play in one of the retail shops on the Court House Plaza on Acker Night (not sure why they call it that).  All of the shops are open late and have musicians performing in their place of business.  The kids took turns with other piano students and played at a little coffee shop.  You can't tell from the picture but the place was packed full of people.  

Before the concert we walked around and explored the lights, walked through the shops and made smores on the side of the road.  What a fun little city we live in.  Mr. Mahaney is their current teacher and he is wonderful.  He guided Matthew in winning third place in a county wide competition.  Sadly, we have to change teachers with the new year, but I know the kids will adjust and continue to improve.

No fear my dear friends and family we have not fallen off the face of the Earth......

We are trucking along as usual, doing all of those things that we crazy people do.  

AND LOVING IT!