Flag Staff

After a wonderful day at the Canyon and an adventurous dinner we headed back to the hotel with some sleepy kids (no matter how much they tried to convince us they weren't).
Mister D in his bed with his new Grand Canyon animal. He got the bed to himself since Colby slept in my parents room with my brother.
The girls in their bed ready to go night night. The next day we woke up and met up with one of my cousins (I have more than I can count) and had breakfast. There was a Scottish Festival in town that day that my cousin was participating in a tug of war, so we headed up to watch.
The festival was entertaining and we had the opportunity to watch my cousin and his rugby team get their rears kicked in the tug of war. My cousin is the anchor (the back one). After witnessing his defeat we walked around and enjoyed some ice cream and the girls getting their faces painted.
As this picture well shows, after 2 very full days right off the bat, we had some wore out kids.

A Grand Canyon Adventure

Saturday the 18th we got up early in the morning and headed up north in AZ. to see the Grand Canyon. In all the years I have ever lived in Arizona I never went to the Grand Canyon so here was my opportunity. It was amazing! God's beauty was so in our faces and I loved every minute of it. What a wonder He has given us to enjoy.





It was surprising how close to the edge you could actually get, like I mean if you wanted to jump.... yea you could cause there is nothing stopping you. We actually took this opportunity to tease my mom (Theresa) and make her yell at us. I know people might not understand why we would want to make her yell at us, but it's actually really funny. We walked quite a bit this day and we were on the South Rim. We managed to find our way into what was called the Canyon Village for some souvenir shopping then onto the area where they have a hotel and you can see the canyon some more.They had been waiting a few weeks to see this and they enjoyed it.
Me and my hubby.

The fam.The kids with grandma, grandpa and uncle RJ.
Mom, Me, Dad and RJ (isn't he a cute "big" little brother, I love him so much).
This was an amazing day and the kids were fantastic with all the walking we did and in the heat that we weren't real used to. At the end of the day we headed south a bit to Flag Staff where we had dinner at a funky restaurant that had singing waiters. It was so much fun.

Some Beachy Fun!

This past Sunday after church and lunch, we packed up our kids as well as Kim and her girls and headed for some much needed water fun at the beach at the lake. Now by this time last year, we lived near the water but this year has seemed to be cooler and just not swim worthy so when the weather was hot and sunny we were all about it.

Dakotah and Bre goofing off and this is the beginning of a game of chicken.
Go guys go!!! This was so much fun to watch and Dakotah made sure to warn me not to drop my camera in the lake since I am floating in a tube taking pictures in the middle of the water. It was funny!
Chelsea enjoying some much needed male figure time with her uncle Hot Rod.
Of coarse between Dakotah and Rodney the time is bound to come when kids start flying. Dakotah loves this!

Bre had no choice, but enjoyed it just as much as D did.I love this one, he was coming right for me when he got tossed.
My beach baby, she doesn't spend too much time in the water. She is more about getting some sun and playing in some sand.
Yea, when I bought these goggles for her my intent was for the purpose of water play, Madi's intent is to just look goofy sitting in the middle of the sand making castles while wearing them.
Even Autumn joined in on the beach goggle action (another one who doesn't go in the water).

This was what was a fun time watching! Autumn and Dakotah had a water fight for about 5 minutes that was so entertaining to Rodney, Kim and I. He started it as I plainly caught on camera.......and she ended it with him tucking tail and running for the water since he knew she wouldn't go in. Good escape plan on his part.
Now we head for vacation in good, hot o'l Arizona. We have plans for family, Grand Canyon, water parks and much more, so stay tuned in a couple weeks. I'm outta here!!!! :)

Some Summer Tid Bits and Quick Garden Update

Here are a few things that make up our summer......


These are called Watermelon Pops and the kids and I made these the other day. These were so much fun to make, so kids friendly as far as the kitchen goes and the hubby LOVES them. They are lime and strawberry gelatine, cream cheese and cool whip, and chocolate chips. Such a frosty, tasty treat.
This is what I found on my kitchen floor the other day. I ran outside to get my husband to come in and save me since I don't care for things that crawl. By the time we came in Kim (my sis in law) had already scooped this guy up in a cup. I have never seen a salamander before now.


Now for a garden update from your local rookie gardener who is just having a blast....

I went into the garden fro 2 reasons.... first to see if there was anything I could incorporate into dinner so Kim could enjoy some yummy fresh veggies. Second to make sure I harvested anything that would be ready to harvest since I won't be around next week to do so. Here is the bountiful harvest. 4 zucchini, 3 crooked neck squashes and below is Rodney's banana pepper.

Quick Garden Update

Monday evening I went out into the garden and was able to harvest 2 very nice zucchini. I am now looking at zucchini bread recipes to make. I also pulled one cherry tomato off the vine and ate it right away. It was so yummy! Everything is growing so good. We have about 5 Buttercup Squash, 10 more zucchini, 10 summer squash and tons of both cherry and regular tomatoes. The corn is growing tall as you can see in the above picture. I think our tallest one is maybe 5 ft or close to it. They are now getting their tassles so I guess that means the corn is soon to follow. I am excited to report, that we have lived in this house for 3 years now and every year it's a new discovery. When we first moved in it was the pear and apple tree. The first year anniversary it was that the tree in the middle of the pear and apple tree was also an apple tree but it just produces fruit every other year and black berry bushes along the pasture fence line. Last year (year 2 anniversary) we found a peach tree of some sort in the pasture. I think they are white peaches, but small like apricots. They make a yummy pie that's for sure. This year, year 3 we found black raspberry bushes amongst some seriously tall grass we have never mowed because there is a pile of bricks over there. Anyhow, Rodney spotted them, weed wacked a nice path for me and then I found that they are everywhere and I even have to go into the bean field to get to more. Everyday I go out to pick newly turned berries and manage to get about 1 to 2 cups. I have enough now to make a batch of jam and a couple pies and the picking isn't even over yet. God has surly blessed us with this house and land. He brought us here to a home that has such peace to it, big land for the kids to grow and all the fruit you can imagine. It's right across the field from our church and the hunting is quite nice as well. It's such an adventure to live here and have the opportunity to live off the land. Our kids seem so happy here with the freedom to run outside, have adventures and be as loud as they can. I know if and when the time comes that God moves us from here we will, but I have such a hard time ever seeing us anywhere else and it would be so hard to leave.
I look forward to see what next year has for us, who knows maybe we will have chickens!

Dakotah's Boyisms (not really a word, but who cares)

Dakotah has been the only boy in the family this summer (except for dad) and he had missed his brother so much. I can't wait to see those two goofing off together again. Until then, I have enjoyed Dakotah's (what I call) boyisms. He has been pushing it a bit more trying to be bigger and both good and some not so good ways. However, some of his acts have been so funny!
He has come a long way on his bike, he actually spend more time on the bike now instead of the ground. He is doing so good that he now does "tricks". One trick is what you see in the above picture, another....standing up while peddling and the other day at the park, yea he was trying to see if he could ride with no hands. Can you feel my heart pounding out of my chest?! According to dad I have to let him do these things to be a boy. That first emergency room visit is going to be a huge test of keeping my mouth shut. :)
This is his muscles he has found this summer. Look close.....can you see them?
This is Dakotah conquering the stump. I love when they can be loud outside, hoping they get it all out before we get back home.
This is what we got to see the other night after Dakotah came downstairs from being told to put on his jammies. Crack me up, and yes, here are his muscles again only this time with the face, oh and you can't hear it but the "GRRRRR".
I hope when Colby comes home he is willing to express his boyisms as well. My boys are so funny and cute no matter how many times they may make my heart stop. There is something special about boys and their moms. I am just blessed to have the opportunity to experience it with 2 of them. They are both very different, but still boys through and through.

"Boys, I thank God that he has given me the opportunity to be your mom. As much as you take my breath away and make my heart stop, you also make me laugh and smile. I look forward to the many years of having both. I pray as you grow up you realize all God has made you to be in His image. I pray you become great warriors for the Lord. Be confident in who you are in the Lord and the love He has for you. I look forward to both of your journeys! I love you both so much! Love, Mom"

5th of July Fun

I don't have pictures of the Fourth, bit we had a great day with grilling in the rain, hanging out with friends, catching a picture or two of two boys on a Barbie Jeep and watching a movie. The fireworks however were postponed due to the rain, for the 5th. We had no intentions of going to the fireworks, but Rodney wanted to take Madi and Dakotah to the park to ride and run around then for some ice cream.











Here are the kids in front of one of the many log cabins they have in the park.













Dakotah got to ride his bike and show off a few "tricks" he has learned and Madi got to learn how to ride a scooter which her daddy ended up carrying really most of the way.













Here is Madi enjoying a big tree stump in the park.

And Dakotah on the stump as well. It's funny to compare how big the stump looks with Madi on it compared to Dakotah.

Here is Dakotah's way of jumping off the stump, acting like King Kong. His little boyisms have been sooo funny lately!
I took a few moments to grab my kids before they ran off to get a picture with them. I at first took one of Madi and I, myself but then Rodney stepped in and helped.
Here's me and D and if you look close you'll see I am having to tickle him to get him to sit a moment longer with me.
Now I couldn't leave with out a picture with my man, so the kids actually took turns taking our picture. I believe this was one of Dakotah's.
Well, as we walked along in the park, Rodney suggested Taco Bell, Ice Cream and Fireworks so that is how we spent the rest of our Sunday evening and it was a really good time! Thanks baby for taking us to see the fireworks even thought you didn't feel good. We had a great time!