On our drive from Utah to Arizona, we drove by the Grand Canyon and crossed the Navajo Bridge. We HAD to get out and walk across the mighty Colorado River. Amazing how far down it is.
A little preview of what the Grand Canyon is like. If you've never been there, this is definitely the small part. You should go!
It was good to get to Duncan and see everyone. Uncle Scott and Aunt Mindy are always fun. They are the game King and Queen. They are always so good to play games with the kids.
In the evenings it was good to get outside. During the day it was too darn HOT.
The lawn is doing great and everyone loved playing out there.
Riding Grandpa's ATV is always a bonus! Glade especially loves it!
We spent a few days at the Old Virden Church with huge trees, a great big room for playing in, and lots of other fun things. The kids loved being boosted up into the trees. Kimberly especially enjoyed staying up there.
We did lots of fun things. This was building towers with spaghetti and marshmallows.
Mason, Lauren, Karleigh, and Uncle JT with their marshmallow towers.
We had a treasure hunt and all the kids got punch balls at the end. Unfortunately, Liberty and Glade also ended up getting sick for a day or two.
Sack Races were fun. Kimberly and Ryan especially enjoyed this activity. This was followed by a 3-legged race, which Ryan and I did really well at, until the handkerchief connecting our legs tore.
We always had a pinata at my Grandpa and Grandma Lunt's house at Christmastime. Jessie found this monster in Mexico and the kids really enjoyed hitting it and loved the prize bags she put together.
We stayed so busy that any down time was gratefully received. Glade sat down to watch the ice cream freezer and unwillingly fell asleep.
Our family took a little side trip up to Catwalk in New Mexico. The drive was great and we were happy to have Emilee go with us. I have great memories of going to the Catwalk when I was younger. They have improved the trail since then.
Liberty and Mom on the last bridge. Bouncy!
We made it to the end!!! Everyone was happy!
We were especially happy to get in the water. It was COLD, but fun. We went back by a waterfall, but couldn't take the camera, since Ryan and I were chest deep to get back there and we had to carry most of the kids.
Emilee was a real trooper and good help. Love you Em!
Almost out! This is where they've added a handicapped trail. It goes 1/2 mile into the canyon.
We had a great time seeing family, playing, meeting JT, and just having a party! Thanks to Calvin and Terra for letting us use one of their vehicles so we wouldn't have to rent one for a whole week! Thanks for everything! We loved seeing all of you!
Warning! Long post with many pictures. Trying to make up for lost time here! :)
We had a great time in Arizona spending a lot of time with family. It is wonderful to be able to see all of my siblings but one when I travel home. Thanks for taking the time to come and visit everyone! We miss you a lot!
Here are some of the things we did, in no particular order.
I made matching skirts for us three girls out of some retro green fabric that was in my Grandma Lunt's stash. I haven't had a twirly skirt since I was a little girl! We had to get a picture by the pink popcorn tree.
We attended Maren's baptism. She is a really special girl and we were very glad to be able to go.
Gabriel, Mason, and Lauren hanging out at Grandma's house.
The poppies were awesome this year! They were everywhere. The kids really enjoyed having a picnic with cousins and then picking huge bouquets of poppies.
Emilee and Glade sliding down a hill at our picnic.
Uncle Armand and Aunt Cheryl are always so generous and fun. Here's something they came up with during our picnic.
The cottonseed is always an attraction. They never used to let us jump in it when we were growing up. I guess that's the difference between kids and grandkids, right?
All the close by grandkids slept over together one night, except little Sarah. As you can see, it was pretty chaotic, but fun with 9 kids around. They had a great time kicking on the air mattress.
Liberty and Grandpa seemed to have a special bond. She LOVED him. He could really make her laugh and he really enjoyed doing it.
We enjoyed Grandma's tent. All three got in it this time. We need to get our tent out more often.
Kimberly and Glade really enjoyed a new selection of stuffed animals at Grandpa and Grandma's house. They had a hard time decided which to sleep with. When in doubt, choose all of them.
I made a trip to the dentist while in Arizona. Glade got to meet one of his namesakes, Glade Smith. Since he was born while in dental school, we named him after our childhood dentists, since Ryan and I both had dentists named Glade. What are the odds?
Glade and Gabriel together at Burger King, where we met them for lunch. Glade enjoyed the crown, but Gabriel wasn't taking off the hat for anything!
Kimberly with a puppy at Uncle Armand's house. The kids really enjoyed the "little butterballs," as they became known.
It was fun to be able to attend a baby shower for my cousin while at home. We were the 4 amigos in high school, each of us a year apart. My sister Tara jumped in for the picture too. Me, Mindy, Sonya, and Stacey on the couch and Tara in front.
Where else but Arizona can you do slip-and-slide in March? I love how wet Glade's shirt is here. His sleeve is like twice as long as normal!
Flying kites!
Cooking with Grandma
Glade enjoying Grandpa's football helmet from when he was a boy.
Kimberly and Brailynn enjoying a story with Grandma.
We helped plant some onion sets with Grandpa. It was great to be able to send the kids out to play every single day.
Liberty getting acquainted with Uncle Calvin and Aunt Terra's dog.
It's amazing how much fun a kid can have with a box.
After 6 weeks of Arizona fun, we went back to Mesa for a night before flying up to Utah.
We got to go to the zoo with my sister-in-law Jessie and her two cute boys. Here are Glade and Clayton hanging out on a bench.
My brother Byron juggling 2 babies (along with school and a job!) Way to go Byron! One more year left. He's holding Liberty and their precious little Darren.
