Arizona Trip 2010

It has been a long time, four years to be exact since we have taken a trip home to Arizona. It is a long 12 hour drive but every time we reach the desert it just feels like home. I love the smells of the desert and the beauty of the cactus. We just missed the desert in bloom which is AmAzInG but the saguaro's were still in bloom. We had a great time doing all our favorite things to do when we go there. Hiking, Organ stop pizza, Swimming and most of all spending time with my wonderful family. This is Kai, Kamden and Jeffy enjoying the music at Organ stop.

Yes this is one of my all time favorite places I still love it to this day!

My brothers Jeff and Ron, Angie, Mom, Dad, Hailie and John.

We stopped to walk over the dam at Lake Powell and do a little dreaming....

Jeffy couldn't get enough of all the different cactus...that will be a blog of it's own!

On our hike at Usery park. What a beautiful trail and an amazing view of the entire Phoenix valley from the top.

Jeff, Melanie, Angie and Dad.

Almost to the top. This is my kids favorite place to stop and pose for photos!

Heading up the mountain.

Thanks mom and dad for a wonderful trip and all you did to keep us entertained and happy. Also a big thank you to Angie and her family for letting us crash with them.

Rockin' the talent show

So my kids rocked at the talent show and took home 2nd place. They were awarded $50 bucks and a bunch of candy (of course). I am so proud of them for having the courage to do it and all the hard work they put into it! Thank you to John for taking the time and working with them as well. They had some really great choreography to go along with their sweet moves. Congrats kiddos.

ELA's (Early Light Academy) got Talent....

The kids school is having a talent show and Jason, Kelsie ad Trent wanted to try out. John worked with them for an afternoon helping them with chorigraphing their 1 minute try out. There were over 100 kids that tried out and they made it into the final 12 that will perform next week. We are so proud of them. They put alot of hard work and time into this. Enjoy the show!

Anyone tired of puppies yet?

Maybe a little, they are getting to be more work but I can never get tired of this....It just might be one of the cutest things I have found my kids doing. He just sat there for a long time watching those little girls play with each other. This is Jeffy looking in on 'puppytraz' as John calls it. I know it looks like quite a contraption. Our neighbors added the sweet cardboard the weekend they watched them for us. It just also happened to be the weekend they started getting out of their indoor 'playpen'.

Bella has been a great mom and it not very tolerant of letting them nurse anymore. But for this moment she allowed it and I love the leg up in the back I didn't even notice until I uploaded the pics.

They love to chase her all around the yard.

Johnny lovin on Pixie.

Hailie taking her time with them.

And yes, Puppies like slippers......

I loved this one of Roxie with her little tongue after a drink.

Foxie munchin on the bushes

Little Lola.....Awwww

Pixie Layin low.

Caution puppies at play

A little fun with the puppies...they love being outside!

Some days you just need a little CHOCOLATE!

Hey all this is John, I have commandeered Melly's blog against her will tonight.

The kids and I were all out playing in the backyard for a couple hours. When we came in this is how I found Melly... She had mentioned earlier that she was craving some chocolate popcorn... You may notice that the chocolate landed on more than just popcorn tonight.

What we have here is chocolate popcorn in her hands, a frozen hot cocoa on the counter, the chocolate dipped pretzels drying under her watchful eye. The bowl for the home made Oreo cookies in the foreground and just out of the picture are the jug of chocolate chips and a keg of Swiss Miss hot cocoa. I may have missed something but you get the idea...

As we zoom in on the situation please notice the left had smudged with delicious melted chocolate and the cute little chocolate goatee.

GOT CHOCOLATE?

Great Grandpa Egbert's 90th Birthday!

We had a great weekend in Twin Falls to celebrate John's Grandpa's 90th birthday. This is not a great picture but here he is...what a cutie! This is at the dinner at Golden Corral, his favorite restaurant. Then Saturday there was an open house party for family and friends and on Saturday we all did a temple session with family names. What a great time. Saturday morning we went and spent the day in Kimberly at Amy's house and the Kings (in-laws) invited the kids over to hike the canyon and ride horses. All of the kids were in heaven. Nick got a new bike so John got to ride his old one and the two of them and Hailie had a great ride! I like a man in Chaps especially if they have fringe!

Grandma Carol and Jeffy down in the canyon behind Kings house.

Jeffy and cousin Sara enjoying a little one on one time.

Hailie was so in her element here! Horses and motorcycles. Can you say heaven!!Hailie and Kelsie crossing the creek.

Trent 'fishing'

Hailie and cousin Emily. Hailie was galloping that horse all over the mountain side as though she'd been riding all her life! I couldn't believe it!

Kelsie and Jason

Jason loved to ride as well.

I couldn't believe Kelsie either....she was a natural!

Thanks Kings and Raigers for hosting a great day for all of us!