Grand Canyon + Camping

Fall break means sleeping in, hanging out in jammies, and this year the kids' first camping trip! It's been long overdue. We packed up our car, with no room to spare and drove up to the Grand Canyon. It was, in a word, perfect. The weather was gorgeous, the campsite was great, and the canyon is stunning. No matter how many times you see it, it is always just stunning! 
There were so many highlights I am not even sure which ones to point out. One had to be when we pulled into our campsite and there were 3 elk just hanging out. The kids were so excited. We set up our tent, unloaded the ridiculously overpacked car and set off to view the canyon. The kids just kept saying things like, "Camping is FUN!" and "The Grand Canyon is just sooo beautiful." It's so fun to hear them thoroughly enjoying themselves.

5 minutes in-elk in the background!

The kids loved exploring the canyon. We walked and walked and walked to get lots of different views. Peter showed them all of the different trails he's hiked over the years and we heard lots of "wows". I think they're pretty impressed with him! The beauty of the canyon is just purely overwhelming. You can't help but praise God for the enormous display in front of you.

Showing the kids all of the trails he's hiked!

Just hanging around the campsite was one of my faves. Campfires, smores, hot chocolate, and just relaxing with the people you love most. Yes, it was fantastic!

Peter took us to a "secret trail" that is not marked. We hiked in and had an amazing spot to have our own, private picnic. This did make me nervous in the most fundamental way, but it was amazing too. We had the whole canyon to ourselves for an hour!!!

We gave the kids a disposable camera so that they could capture the trip in their own way. If I can find a place to develop it we will get to see what they captured! Ha! I can't wait to see what's on there:) 

We were so thankful to have such a fun family vacation. And we can't wait to go camping again!!!

Pretty Little Dancer

This is our pretty, little dancer. She is gorgeous and dances with such heart. We love watching every minute. Good job at your recital Samantha! 

Father's Day

It has been a while since we've been down to see Grammie and Grandpa so we packed up and headed south for Father's day. While we were there we also celebrated Grammie's birthday.  We had such a great time, even though it was such a short visit. Yummy dinner, cupcakes, playing cowboys and Indians, church, water play and popsicles. So fun. Highlight of the trip was definitely the water balloon/squirt gun fights!!!
Thanks Grammie and Grandpa-we love you!

Kinder Graduation

Ok, I realize it has been THREE months since I have blogged, but we have been kind of busy! We've moved! So here we go on catching up on the blog...


At the end of May Samantha graduated from Kindergarten! I can't hardly believe that a whole year of Kindergarten has passed us by. Where does the time go? 

We are so proud of our sweet, little daughter. Samantha, you are so smart. You are reading above grade level, math is a breeze for you, you are a beautiful artist and let's not forget that you are a poet! Winning the poetry contest for your grade level!!! Kindergarten was so much fun. Miss. Klein was such an amazing teacher making learning so exciting. Highlights of the year...you got to ride a school bus for the first time going on a field trip, the rodeo show, the Christmas program-so cute, and making lots of new friends. We can not wait to see what fun you will have in first grade. We love you so much!

SIX

Another year has flown by and our girlie is SIX!!! This year was extra special because our friends, the Wests, were in town from Baltimore. Which meant that Maura was here for Sammer's party. This year we were going to have a party at a park by our house but in a random act of nature it was stormy. So we decided to have a bowling party. Samantha had been saying for a while that she wanted to try out bowling so we did! It was so great. The kids had a blast. It was a little tough for Cole but he hung in. He had so much fun watching I don't even think he cared that he wasn't really playing. And the adults had some fun too:)
Samantha told me the next morning, "Mommy, I was having so much fun last night that I almost forgot that it was my birthday party!" Guess it was a hit.
We are so proud of you Samantha.  We love your generous heart, how you love to laugh at your brother, how smart you are, how well you read, how you dance, your songs that you make up, and mostly we just love that God let us be your mommy & daddy. It is SO fun watching you grow up! -xoxo-

Spring Break Retreat

We have had so much going on lately and a trip up to the cabin was just what we needed. The pictures really speak for themselves, but here are some of the highlights...
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Aaron, Christina, Camille and Diego came up with us Saturday afternoon. The rest of that day was filled with outdoor play, frisbee catch, football, driving the big wheel jeep and smores.

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Sunday we got up and went for a little walk to some ruins, went in to town to window shop, walked around town square and headed back to enjoy Aaron's famous Sonoran dogs (hot dogs wrapped in bacon, served with onions, tomatoes, salsa and mexican crema.) SO good. The rest of Sunday was filled with relaxing indoors and out.

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Monday we walked down to the creek. The kids had so much fun exploring and making "bark boats" and racing them down the stream. I have so many memories at this creek and am happy to add this one to my bank:)

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Monday afternoon the Avila's went home and Peter decided to dig a trail for the kids up to the fort. I played on this mountain when I was little and to see Peter building a trail to my old fort was a bit surreal.  

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And this morning when we woke up we looked out the front window and saw 15-20 deer walking right through the property! A great end to a great trip.
Driving home we asked the kids what their favorite part of the trip was. Cole's was driving the jeep. Samntha's were: doing crafts, playing the creek and bilding the fort with Peter. :)