California

We were lucky enough to go to California to visit 2 grandmas in April. Devon's mom was visiting his grandma in Upland. Of course we couldn't pass up a chance to go to the beach. It was a little chilly.

We started out just collecting shells along the shore, thinking it was too cold to venture into the water.

But soon the pull of the ocean was too great and all of the kids ended up getting plenty wet.  Spencer found a way to duck under the water and dig up shells.  He stuck to it for quite a while and came up with a lot of great shells and was quite chilly.

Leah liked the beach when I would put her down so she could explore on her own.  I would put her on the towel, but she just pulled it out of the way and got her hands in the sand.

The kids with their shells

there was this weird ramp thing next to the stairs that James thought looked like a slide- a concrete slide.  He actually tried it, and then realized it was made of concrete.  This is a re-creation, we are not that cruel, I didn't see that he was trying to slide down it until it was too late, but since he didn't get hurt it was pretty funny.

We ate some great seafood- fish tacos and fish and chips

Devon's mom was nice enough to watch the little girls so Devon and i could take James and Spencer to Disneyland.  It was perfect because we could all go on all the rides.  WEll almost all, James was about 1 inch too short for Indiana Jones.

Carrie asks me everyday if we can go back to California.

April

 There was a school district fun run/walk in April.  The best part was getting to see our friends the Whitakers.  Devon and I walked with the Lewis and Diana and the little kids and the boys ran with the big girls.  They loved playing.  It is too bad we don't see them more often.

 James and his friend Sam, both classic first graders with no front teeth.  Sam is moving to Oregon- we will miss him.

I never tire of looking at the view here.

other March

 Leah is the cutest and happiest baby ever

 Carrie refuses to take a nap anymore, but sometimes she just gives up the battle long enough that her eyes close.

 Leah knows how to crawl now, but she has been good at getting around for a while now.  She just rolls to where she wants to go.

 Carrie enjoys reading with Daddy, even about the Third Reich

 Sad story, Devon took the boys for a boys only trip to Phoenix to see a spring training baseball game, but he ended up getting food poisoning and then the flu on the way so they didn't get to go to the game and he had to drive back while being very sick.  Devon never gets sick!  No more Cracker Barrel for us!

Easter morning

 Easter morning, don't you love those blue eyes?

 i made the girls matching dresses, mostly by myself.  Carrie did not want to participate.

 This is how photo shoots go at our house, we may get one good shot out of 50- but they are cute kids!

Saturday Easter

 Our Easter Bunny comes on Saturday morning so Carrie ate chocolate bunny for breakfast.

 We colored eggs in the afternoon

 We heard there was an egg hunt at the Bluff Fort, and since everyone was too sore to go hiking again we decided to attend.  There are not very many people in Bluff, but there were a lot of people at the egg hunt.  That was okay because there were tons of eggs.

 They even gave out big prizes so James got a lego set and Spencer a stuffed animal.  Pretty good Easter haul.  I was really proud to see my kids sharing with kids who didn't get as much. Also, it snowed.

 We went to breakfast/lunch and then decided to try the short hike to Wolf Man panel.  The weather did clear up a bit but it was still cold so we didn't get to venture to this ruin.

 We did get to the panel though and it is pretty amazing.

 On the way home we saw people on top of the Mexican Hat- how and why?

Lots of visitors

Devon's cousin and her family and my parents came out for Easter.  It was really fun to see everyone.

 Carrie loved having someone her age to play with

 It was a cold egg hunt

 The slot canyon was fun, although it took a while to get everyone up and down the ladder that many times.  I was very proud of my mom for conquering her fears and joining us.  Also, Oliver was so helpful, if my boys act like that as teenagers I will be more than happy.

 A few pictures from the valley

 Can you see the kids on that rock?  These are probably our first visitors who exceeded Spencer and James in their daring exploration.  We love having company!

st. Patrick's Day

 St. Patrick's Day is a big deal at our house.  Aurora and Spencer made a few extra Leprechaun traps and the Leprechauns left lots of clues and goodies.