Canyon de Chelly

On Saturday we got to go on a tour of Canyon de Chelly. Every year the high school staff does an end of the year trip, and since Devon and one other person were the only ones to volunteer for the committee they got to decide. We have been wanting to go to Canyon de Chelly for a long time, but you cannot go in without a guide, so it was very handy to have the school pay. The drive there and back was a little crazy because there was a bad windstorm. the dust was so thick it was like fog- you couldn't see 20 feet in front of you. In one spot sand dunes were forming on the road!
Canyon de Chelly is a canyon in Arizona where many Navajos lived before "The Long Walk." There were some Spanish raids, but then when the US won that area in the Mexican war they sent Kit Carson to Americanize the Navajo. They drove them to Fort Sumner in New Mexico. Many people died on the way and even more died there because there was not enough food. It is ironic that they were trying to teach them a "better way of life" but ended up starving them and spreading disease. Seven thousand people were driven from the canyon and only 2,000 returned.
It was a beautiful place. Miles and miles of winding Canyons. There were tons of trees, and everything was so green. We rode in some WWII vehicle, it was a very bumpy ride. There were a few times I felt like I might fly out! It was a very windy day, the wind was not as bad in the canyon, but we saw a few lost hats from unexpected wind gusts. We took Spencer's hat off, we couldn't loose that! There were lots of pictographs from Anasazi, Hopi and Navajo. There were also ruins from cliff dwellings. Some Navajo people still have summer homes here. It is a great place to plant things, but there is no running water or electricity. It is pretty enough that I wouldn't mind having a summer home here. It would probably be nice and cool too. We had a wonderful time. Both of the boys somehow fell asleep on the bumpy ride. I guess I found another favorite place.

Moonlight Ranch Tour

Near the High School we have a place called the "Family Center." You can use the internet and check out books and family games. They also hold Literacy Nights. Lately for Literacy Night we have been learning about Navajo culture. We learned to make fry bread. We did not measure at all. Just about this much flour, a two finger scoop of baking powder and a pinch of salt, then water to make it soft. It was really yummy though. Another thing we learned was to make traditional Navajo shirts. We did not use a pattern, or even a measuring tape, we just held the material up to the boys and then tore the material so it would be a straight line. About four fingers for the collar and cuffs. It was quite an adventure to sew like that. Anyway all of this was leading up to the tour that we took on Saturday. We went on an educational tour of Moonlight Ranch, a traditional Navajo sheep ranch. It was about 8 miles southwest of our house. Spencer was so excited because we got to ride on a bus.

Here are the boys in the shirts I made.

The person who taught us to sew brought extra shirts for my friend Julie and I, and lent us her turquoise necklaces, I thought that was so nice.

Spencer and James both loved the bus ride. James liked the bumps (it was mostly dirt road). Spencer spent most of the time looking out the window.


At the ranch they had a traditional octagon building and hogan. These pictures are inside the hogan. We learned a lot about the traditional Navajo lifestyle.


Spencer's favorite part was feeding the sheep. They actually got to go in the pen and drop the hay for the sheep. Spencer kept running around saying "Excuse me, excuse me!" to all of the sheep. I asked him about it last night, "Did the sheep listen to you?" "No, they just said Baa!"



After the tour we got to eat some delicious Navajo tacos. I tell you even the restaurants around here don't make them as well as the people around here, they we so delicious.
It was a great trip.

Spencer's Birthday

Spencer had a great 3rd birthday. I can't believe he has grown up that much. He loved opening his presents. We split it up a little and did the grandparents presents in the morning and our presents in the evening. He was so excited all day long! He kept asking if it was time for his party yet. Here are some present pictures. After every present Spencer gave one of us a hug- it was really cute!



James enjoyed the presents too. He will climb into and on top of anything!

We decided to have a birthday party just to help eat the cake and break the pinata. Spencer chose a Dinosaur pinata, so we tried to go for a dinosaur theme.
First we dug for animals in the sand box. I couldn't find any dinosaurs, so we just dug for some modern day relatives- snakes, lizards and frogs.

Then we did the pinata, it was a real hit! It turned out really fun, although we were a little nervous with kids swinging bats. The pinata was so tough that everyone got one turn, and Spencer and his friend Jackson got a few turns. It finally fell to the ground, but it still didn't break. Finally Devon and our neighbor Lewis broke it open. The kids didn't mind getting to hit it more often.



I also attempted a dinosaur cake. I wished for Catherine and Kelsey's help on this one, but I think it turn out okay. While I was decorating it Spencer said "I love my dinosaur cake mom, thanks for making it!" So I guess he liked it!

This is where James spent the party, in our sand box. Then he couldn't get out, and he likes playing in the sand. Amazingly he doesn't eat it, but he does suck on the toys with sand on them.

Spencer had a great birthday. It was fun to see him so excited and actually knowing what was going on!

Splish splash

James loves to take baths with Spencer. Spencer is not so sure he loves it since James crawls all over and takes all the toys, but it's always fun to make your brother laugh! James has been a much happier baby since he learned to get around on his own, he just needs freedom!

Iron Man

Spencer love super-heroes, so he was pretty excited when Daddy spoiled him and got him a happy meal with Iron Man in it. I really just took this video to record how he says Iron Man because it's so cute!

James is clapping

James learned how to clap!

the hat

I don't know if you can tell from past pictures, but Spencer wears this hat all of the time. He even wears it to bed (we take it of after he goes to sleep). I try not to remind him of his hat when it's not on because it's such a rare occurrence. Maybe that is why his hair doesn't grow so well!

Snowstorm?

We had a snowstorm today. I thought it was May, but I guess we can have Idaho weather here too! Snow on the monuments is pretty though.


Spencer loved playing in the snow. He is a ruthless snowball fighter!

Cowboy

Spencer found Devon's cowboy hat the other day (after James knocked the hat stand onto the floor). He had to get his horse, and binoculars to complete the outfit. Note: he has decided that for now it is okay to smile for pictures- hooray!

Here is cute James. He is getting into EVERYTHING now days. At this very moment Devon is putting child locks on out cupboards. I really hope they work!