Fun and HOT Field Trip!

Before I start this post I am going to do a warning of picture overload. I don't know why I put so many on I just feel I need to so that I can let you get the feel of our trip. I am also not the best photog but HECK I like em so there:) I was able to go with Riley and the 4th graders to Tucson Desert Museum today on their field trip. I love going with my kids on their field trips!! I have noticed that all of Riley's field trips seem to take place either the end of April or beginning of May and they are always on the HOTTEST days of the year, I swear! Even so we had a great time. The girls in my group were very well behaved and I think that we totally wore them out. Grandma Junie was able to meet us and it was nice to have her as our tour guide. Riley and I have been there a few times before but not enough to know exactly how to do it so we can see everything. Thanks Grandma Junie!! We love the Desert Museum there so if you haven't been you need to go.

What cute girls don't ya think:)

The flowers were so very pretty.

This quail was being a stinker about getting it's picture taken.

Grandma Junie!

My little rock climber

Can you spot the girls?:)

Riley's teacher Mrs. Driscoll and I

Nice shot taken by Riley

WARNING!!!! If you don't like seeing nature in action stop here. They fed the snakes just before we came in and of course I couldn't resist taking pictures. It was so very cool to watch the snakes get those mice into their mouths!!

Easter Weekend

This Easter weekend turned out to be such a nice family weekend. We went on bike rides, watched a few movies together, decorated eggs, Kristina made blue pancakes, and had yummy Easter candy. Of course today we celebrated the real reason for Easter, the Atonement of our Savior. It was such a beautiful program at church today and the Nursery kids were so willing to listen to the lesson. We made pictures to tell the story of the resurrection and I'm pretty sure the kids were going to tell their families what they learned because they were so excited! I absolutely loved this weekend and I'm so very grateful for all mine and my family's many blessings.

Matt

I just thought I should write a post about what a good guy Matt is. He is such a great husband and father and sometimes I just do not tell him enough. He always helps around the house without being asked and the kids just adore him. He takes them on bike rides, build things with them and is so helpful in all that the ask him to do. Today to give you an example went like this. Since it was Saturday Matt is always so good to let me sleep in. He started a new Sat. tradition of taking Riley and Sam (Kristina is like me and likes her Sat. sleep) to go yard selling. They take their bikes and scooters and head off for treasures. He even did Riley's hair this morning. How about that?! After I woke up I had a headache. I thought no big deal but within a half hour it had turned into a full blown, knock me on my butt, migraine. I made it upstairs without being sick thank heavens and had to go straight back to bed. Mind you I always have some sort of headache but this was one of the few that was HORRIBLE!!! Matt didn't say a word and did the laundry and took the kids to the neighbors for their BBQ while I slept and got rid of my headache. I didn't even have to ask him!! Thanks so much Matt for all you do! You are AWESOME and I love you tons!!

Book Signing!

This Saturday Matt and the kids went to Changing Hands bookstore (we love this store and wished we lived closer) for a book signing of F Minus. Matt loves Tony Carrillo's work and I do have to say the comics are rather amusing. I did have to warm up to them at first. This past summer Kristina took drawing and comic making classes from him and loved it! She brought along a picture she made for him and he had her sign it. She thought that was pretty awesome. They had a fun day.

PS Riley was being a stinker and wouldn't be in the picture:)

Hiking at the Superstition Mountains

Today I went hiking with my most awesome big bro Richard, my nephew Marcus, my sweet co-worker/friend Mandi, and my brother's physical therapist Tina on the Superstition Mountain to the Flat Iron. Richard has been inviting me for the past 10 years or so to do this and I thought gee I'll wait until I'm old, fat, and out of shape to do this. We started out about 7:30am ish, I know I was up that early on a Saturday. Richard warned me that it was a hard hike and boy he wasn't kidding. I must of ticked him off some when I was little:) After some falls and a little bit of blood I was doing okay but then I hurt my hip. I opted out of going all the way up to Flat Iron because I was hurting pretty bad and I know coming down was going to be a doosie! After about an hour and a half they finally came back and it was down we went. Thank you so much Richard for waiting for your poor spazy sister with absolutely no grace what's so ever. I did manage to do a mighty terrifically embarrassing fall on my hiney but alls well that ends well. I can say that I made it up the mountain pretty far and I am slightly impressed with myself. Granted I can't walk now but the scenery was absolutely breathtaking! Thanks for the invite but sorry that will be the last time I attend that hike:)

This is Mandi...isn't she cute!

My awesome brother Richard! That's Tina in the background.

This was in the beginning because I'm still smiling!

Richard, Marcus, and Mandi. Yay we are done!

Puzzles

Check out the puzzle that Sam and his dad (mostly Matt did) together! What an awesome view of the NYC!

I totally thought I flipped this pic. Sorry!

Zoo Trip!

Yesterday I took the kids to the zoo. Matt was suppose to go but thankfully he was able to work!! I know that sounds funny for me to say that but work hasn't been what it used to be so any work that gets passed his way he takes them up on it. It was a warm day to say the least but I do believe that the kids had fun. I know I did. Later my mom had called and wanted Riley and Sam to stay the night so Kristina and I decided to go see Twilight in the dollar theater one last time before it came out on video. I tell you my teen is totally obsessed!!! I called a couple of friends, thanks Tia and Jeni for coming, and Kristina called Ryleigh and off we went to a late movie. Nice ending to a fun day! (Sorry for all the pictures. I always say not too many but then there are so many to choose from.)

We finally went to Stingray Bay and the kids loved it!

Kristina is almost a Thoroughbred!

Of course you must take time to smell the flowers!

Check out my fabulous pearls!!

Run for your lives!!

Happy 17 years of Marriage!

Okay, so I really wanted to put some pics of Matt and I dating, wedding, and pics over the years but it didn't quite happen. Our scanner gave out a couple of months ago and I tried other tactics to get them on but I failed miserably. Sorry. We celebrated our anniversary on Sat., yes the same day as Matt's birthday. (Long story on why that is the date) It is hard to believe that it has been 17 years. Sometimes it seems like yesterday and others it does not:) I am glad that I have Matt in my life and I am thankful for the wonderful father and husband he is! Thanks for the good times and I'm glad we've learned from the not so good times. Love ya dear!

Poor Sam

Poor Sam! Today when we were getting ready for church Sam kept complaining about his eyes hurting. When he turned around to look at us his poor eyes were just about swollen shut. At first we thought pink eye but then decided he had an allergic reaction to something. I tried to give him some of my allergy drops but he wasn't going for it. We decided a dose of Benadryl would be good. It did work like a charm but he had to miss church. Now his eyes look so much better.

He wanted a cold wash cloth over his eyes.

Happy Birthday Matt!

Yesterday was Matt's birthday! (It was also our anniversary but I will post about that later when I can find a scanner to use since ours gave out.) I think he had a good day. We spent time as a family then Matt and I went shopping and out to eat. As for all his birthdays Matt had a theme going on. This year was Hannah Montana! Granted it wasn't planned out as well as it should have been but it was still fun! I still think the Wiggles bday was by far his best and most surprising:) ha ha Happy Birthday dear! Hope you had a good one!!

Matt and his Hannah Montana badge he wore all day!