Spring Break

Since we spend our lives in the car between, school, basketball, band and church, I didn't want to go ANYWHERE for Spring Break.

We called our friends, Shayla and Josh and invited them to go to the Zoo with us one day.  It was the nicest experience I've had at the zoo.  No stroller and all the kids just stuck together and we all enjoyed the nice weather and all the animals.  No diapers, no crying, no kids running away.  No issues whatsoever.  So nice!

Alexa's favorite animal is a giraffe so we had to get a picture of her being one.  Does she look like the one behind her?

The peacocks were everywhere and McKenna wanted to take a picture of one.  I think she did a pretty good job.

The girls found this little play area and ALL wanted to be a turtle.  AND get their picture taken.

After the zoo we brought lunch to eat at the park next door.  I think the kids enjoyed the park more than the zoo.  Did I mention the weather was perfect?  We found a little hill to sit on to eat lunch with a little stream surrounded by rocks that curved around and down into a nice lake (man made, of course.)  The kids started taking goldfish and floating them down the stream to see whose would make it to the lake first.  It kept them busy for a long time.  They didn't want to leave.  I'd call that a successful trip.

Even the big girls wanted to play.

McKenna was thrilled with herself that she jumped from a rock that was in the stream onto another rock.  Which meant we had to video tape it.  She is so fun.

I have to be the worst photographer ever.  I love to capture moments and experiences with my kids but I get so involved I forget about the pics.  My mom and dad came down to spend a few days with us during our spring break (since I told them I was refusing to drive anywhere.)  I tried to make it enjoyable for my dad and so we all decided to go to see the missile silo here in Tucson.  It was pretty interesting.  The girls thought it was pretty neat going inside and I was amazed at how much technology and smarts went into it that many years ago.  Olivia and Maya got to be the captain and co-captain and sit in their chairs.  Then they got to turn the keys that would have set off the missile if it was still functioning.  They felt pretty important.

 McKenna being so patient and good.  Love that face.

 The missile.  Can you believe that I forgot to bring my camera and all I had was my phone, and then I didn't even get one picture with my parents.  I really need to take some photography lessons or something.

Another highlight of the grandparents being here was that Grandma had just gotten a new Vitamix so the girls wanted to use it for every meal. (The sample guy at Costco really sold the girls on it when they had the samples - only my budget wasn't sold on it.)  We're just glad the sample guy convinced Grandma and that she was willing to bring it down and share with us.

I Spy!

The girls love to play Spy's.  One day Alexa was so cute and played with McKenna all afternoon.  They were spying on their other sisters.

I got a little footage of McKenna on the walkie talkie letting Alexa know that she sees Maya on her bike.  She told her that she was going to draw her a picture.  Alexa told me that she told McKenna to draw pictures of what she saw since she can't spell yet.  I love when my girls play together.  And I love that Alexa isn't too old to still pretend.

Taking a Break!

Since we've been in Tucson, life has been pretty busy.  Between school with the girls and Tim's busy work schedule we have been trying to cherish our family time.  One day Tim was home a little early from work so we decided to take a little hike.  Sombrero Peak is just about 5 min. from our house.  The weather was just perfect.

Alexa was looking for our house - it's out there somewhere.

Even being desert, the view was so nice.



On another night, we were talking to the girls about indian leg wrestling.  They had never played it before so of course we had to have some challenges.  Not to toot my own horn but I did pretty good.

Alexa and Daddy

McKenna wanted a turn - somehow I think she was at a disadvantage.

And after beating Alexa, she decided she needed to dress the part to be able to beat me.

A Few School highlights!

Starting at a new school has never slowed my girls down.  They make friends well and actually enjoy learning (I don't know if they would say that but they sure show it.)  This year they started at Legacy Traditional School.  It's a charter school here in Tucson.  I have loved it although I don't love the driving every day.  (I'm hoping to have someone to carpool with next year.)  I have loved that the girls have been able to develop new talents that I don't know if they ever would have developed some place else.  They have made such good friends and they have ALL had EXCELLENT teachers. 

Here are a few pictures of Alexa playing basketball.  It was a fun season and she had a great coach.  The girls on the team really grew close and played well together.  Alexa is behind the girl in the white. 

 Here she is taking the ball down.  She was picked to play in the all star tournament also.  She is hoping to make the team next year.

 This year McKenna went to preschool (the last semester.)  None of my kids have done preschool and they were all a little jealous.  I just always want to keep them home for as long as possible with me.  We found out that at the high school they taught a class about teaching preschool the first semester of the year and then they try to find kids to come and participate for them to teach the second semester.  So the high school kids are the actual teachers.  It was only  1 1/2 hours a day 4 days a week and only cost $35 for the whole semester.  Since this girl is home alone with me with no sisters to play with I have felt a little bad for her.  So we signed her up and she thought she was as big as her sisters. 

Here she is on her first day.  She had a smile on her face that whole day and couldn't wait for school to start every day. 

 The school also had a daddy daughter dance.  Alexa had a basketball tournament that night so it was just Daddy, Olivia and Maya.  They were so excited.  They had been planning their outfits for days.  Tim was so sweet to stop on his way home and get them corsages.  They were giddy with excitement.

I love this picture.  After the dance he took them out for ice cream. He said they were dancin' fools and danced practically the whole night.  I think they'll remember that night for a long time.

I mentioned before that Maya is my planner.  For Valentine's day she wanted to make her teacher something.  So we looked on pinterest for some ideas.  She decided on this one. I thought it would be easy, which it was, just super time consuming.  We made a heart out of a square piece of Styrofoam.  Then you cut out circles of red fleece and fold them in 1/4's.  Then you just pin them all over the heart.  It turned out pretty cute.  I would love to make one for myself but now I know how long they take - probably won't ever happen.

Then there was teacher appreciation week and of course Maya had to plan on giving something to her teacher again. It's a good thing I love her teacher too or I wouldn't be so willing.  Maya came up with the idea of making flower sugar cookies and then putting them on sticks and sticking them into a pot.  So, we did it.  I think they turned out darling.  I found a recipe for Royal icing and it worked great.  I don't think I'll use any other icing again on sugar cookies. 

It's been a full school year but I don't think I'd change anything.  We'll be glad to be done soon.



Never Ending Maya

My poor Maya can never find enough things to do in her life.  The girl is always thinking, planning, creating and asking the never ending question, "What can I do?"

She usually has her own ideas but I do have to say no to some of them.  One day after school she came and asked if her and McKenna could set up a lemonade stand.  My first thought was, "Uh, no, I have to make dinner, I'm in the middle of folding loads and loads of laundry and I just don't have time to help you."  Then I thought, wait, she can work on making a sign this afternoon to sell it and then maybe in a few days I'll have more time and she can do it.  How about today you make a sign that says lemonade for sale and how much and then you can have the lemonade stand later.  With which she replied, "Oh, I've already made the sign, see?"  So, I gave in but told her she had to clean everything up.  Before I could get the sentence out she had the lemon juice, sugar and pitcher all ready to go.  Within 10 min. she was up and running.  Here they are waiting patiently.  They were out there for a good 2 hours.  Luckily some nice neighbors came over to buy some and even a guy that was out riding his bike stopped to buy some.  They were selling it for 50 cents but because they were both out there the buyers thought that both girls should get paid and was giving them a dollar instead.  McKenna was ecstatic.  Then we had to teach a little bit about capitalism as Livie tried to get in on things and say she should get some of the pay (without really doing anything.) 

 Waiting for a customer.

 A few days later Maya decided she wanted to climb up on top of the patio cover.  As you can see she figured out how to get up.  Alexa had tied her jumproap to a rusty nail that was sticking out of the wood a few days earlier.  So Maya stood on the rocking chair (such a stable and sturdy choice.)  and pulled herself up with the roap.  Look at that proud look on her face.  It must have felt like freedom after having to play within these block walls of our back yard.  The girl needs her space to explore and run.  She is so fun to have around but boy does she wear me out with all of her plans and ideas. 

Good Times!

Sometimes in life you have the rare opportunity to connect with someone that you know will be your friend for life.  I've had that opportunity with my dear friend, Jeannie.  We were in the same ward up in WA and have been friends since Alexa was just a few months old.  They moved to Tucson after us and we LOVED having them close again.  Then we had to up and leave for 7 years.  During that time they moved to Utah and now here we are back in Tucson missing our dear friends.  But in February I was so lucky to have Jeannie come down for the Gem show.  (Did I mention that she is crazy talented and can turn any piece of junk at a yard sale into a treasure and can find the perfect gem to put together to make jewelry?  Seriously the list could go on all the things she can do.)

We had a great time staying up talking until, well, let's just say a little late.  We see eye to eye on so many things, politics, parenting, etc. so we have a lot to talk about.  I only got a few pics but it was so fun to hang out.  It was just like old times.

 McKenna just adored her and acted like she had known her forever.

 Tim - THRILLED that Jeannie and I were going to be hanging out.

(That was just a little sarcasm.)

 And this is Jeannie's friend, Gina. (Well, I think I can call her my friend now too.)  She is just as creative as Jeannie and loves to make jewelry also.  It was so amazing to see the stuff they bought and to hear them talk about what they were going to make with all their findings. 

We had to get this picture of Gina and her hot sauce that she found for her husband.  She couldn't leave without something for him and sad that we couldn't find any for a while but it sure made it fun to have to go look for it.  She was so fun to have around andso sweet to my girls.  I sure hope they come again and stay with us - maybe even longer since this trip was just too short.

Oops!  Forgot to mention that we took a trip to Sauce and Frost.  Loved the food and the company.  Some of Jeannies friends from here came also so I was able to get to know more people in our Stake.



Christmas Day

I know all you fans out there have been wondering where I've been.  Well, life has been happening and part of life is having trouble with your computer.  Tim had to reload everything for me and for some reason we can't view any of the videos.  I really wanted to post some videos on here but it will just have to wait as life keeps going and I'm getting farther and farther behind.

So here goes:  Christmas day, if you remember was on Sunday.  We got up, looked at stockings, and went to Tara and Scott's ward to hear Tara sing in the choir.  Nothing better than listening to Christmas music on Christmas in church.  After church the kids were good about letting us take a few pictures - even though they were itching to get inside to open gifts.

Here we are.  It had been a long time since we've been able to be out in short sleeves on Christmas day.  My girls really missed the snow. 

The girls and their grandparents

(notice how they are hanging on to the girls so they don't run away to go inside and open gifts.)

Alexa excited about Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Livie happy about her new scripture case she was asking for.

Look at that face - Maya overjoyed for her new ice cream maker.

(We have enjoyed some yummy ice cream since then.)

McKenna and her pillow pet.

A night doesn't go by that she misses sleeping with it.

On to dinner - Tim made Cornish Game hens.  Look a those beauties.

Sad thing is, I was so good about taking a before picture that I forgot to take the after.  So just imagine - they were delicious.

My assignment - ROLLS!

(according to my family - the most important part of the meal)

Notice Tim's Mile High Apple pie on the stove.  Thanks to Suzanne Flake for the recipe.

Our holidays are so much better with that pie.

Since we were missing NC we thought we'd bring a little to CA. My sister, Maren always has a Christmas music night where the family takes turn performing.  I knew that this family had some skills and I wanted to experience it for myself.  (This is where the videos would come in - sigh!)

Noah played the sax.  I didn't even remember that he played and was so excited to hear him play.  He didn't disappoint.

Kirra has her mother's talent and good looks.  She did a great job (especially after I found out she had been teaching herself.)

Caleb played his electric guitar and I think he got the biggest applause.

I love how Liam is so focused on watching him.

Scott played too.  (See what I mean by all these skills?)

Julia played for us too.  (Don't you love her hat?  She got it for Christmas and I don't think I saw her without it the rest of the time we were there.)

Grumps enjoying the chaos.

Malia had just performed in The Nutcracker and showed us one of her dances.  I loved that she could do it in jeans also.

Like I said, I can't post my videos.  Tara played the bagpipes.  Yes, you read that right.  She plays the bagpipes.  She had been taking lessons and I had been wanting to hear her for a long time.  It was great and the kids all loved it too.  My girls sang "I Want a Hippo. for Christmas" and of course no video, yet.

Does McKenna look a little sugared up?

 I think these kids were enjoying the performances.  I hope that I remembered everyone.  I know it was 5 months ago and so I could have forgotten someone.  Sorry if I did.  After we sang some Christmas carols together.  A great ending to the night.  I hope we can make it a tradition.

The next day we let the grandparent's have some quiet after such a houseful.  We went and filled Tara and Scott's instead.  The cousins love playing together and I think enjoyed every second.  The kids went to the park, played the Wii and we got to sit around and visit.  Later we at pizza and tried out Maya's new ice cream maker.  It was outstanding.

Here are the cousins just before we were leaving.  Liam wasn't too thrilled about the picture taking.

All the parents.  Look how good we are aging!

Such a fun trip.  We can't wait to be back to spend time with them again in July!

So, I have to edit.  I can't believe that I forgot.  After we left CA we drove to my parents in Prescott.  Bart and Marie were there visiting my parents so we stayed with David and Roberta.  It was fun to see my nephew, Brenden.  He had just recently gotten home from his mission.  We spent the day at my parents but I was not feeling well at all (which is probably why there are no pictures.)  So we went back to Dave's and I slept until dinner.  Then we watched The Help (Which I ABSOLUTELY loved.)  The next day we left.  I finally started feeling better when we got home.  Kind of a bummer way to finish a vacation but it was nice to see my family and their growing kids.