Finally going to the canyon

We finally got to go to the canyon. Johnny brought Zak. Here they are trying to decide who is actually the tallest....guess that one goes to Johnny.
Grandma is eating a squishy gooey s'more. You go grandma! The canyon wouldn't be the same without a s'more.
Rebbecca brought a cute little Siamese kitten. I don't know who was happier to be in the mountains the kitten or Rebbecca.

Grandpa is letting K'Lee decorate his fingernails with aluminum.

Johnny and Zak climbed to the top of the mountian. Look close along the ridge of the mountian you can see them.

Natalie and Miranda were building a fire. It was a little rough though the wood was all wet but they did it! You go girls!!

Grandma is taking care of a very worn out kitten.

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.... have tons of fun at Blacksmith!

K'Lee and John are enjoying the river and each other.

Benjamin found the greatest necklace.

Kirby and Sara just kept laughing. They reminded me of two little puppies playing with each other. Best friends are awesome!

Zak did poi balls for us. It was very impressive. Great friends, family, and the canyon. You just don't get better than this.

Miranda was showing off her little tiny chair from when she was just itty-bitty. Miranda you are such a BEAUTIFUL person.

Miranda, Me, and Natalie getting starter wood....Paper for the fire.

Dawnell doing the chore we all went up there to do...rake leaves, wet leaves.

Pumpkin Time

I think the best thing about looking for a pumpkin is getting to do it together. Grandpa and Grandma are always so much fun.
It doesn't matter if the pumpkins are big or little they are enjoyable to find.

Looking for pumpkins is one of the things I love about fall. Here, all of my kids are sitting on some bails of hay.... what an awesome picture moment.

John being John got a great deal of humor out of this butt pumpkin.

K'Lee is modeling her pumpkin stand for me.

Mine is the big one. There's a surprise!?

Sometimes we get a little carried away in the thrill of it all and start to get silly....

and camera happy.

We rarely can pick out the pumpkins without harrassing one another.

As you can see what goes around comes around.....

Some of us even try to see if the pumpkins can fit in our mouths,

Natalie explains that only the ones this big will fit.

But for the most part we are serious about our pumpkin hunting.

and we usually get the perfect one!

IT"S DONE

After waiting two years for her room to be finished... it's finally done! A'leese was so excited she had to drop down on the carpet and do a "carpet angel"!

My Birthday

The one thing I wanted to do for my birthday was to go to the canyon and cook a hot dog. So the kids, John. mom, and dad all went with me.
It was fun.
Grandpa is "toasting his buns". This is something he loves to do for just about anyone who will let him.

Johnny is getting the fire going.

Natalie is armed with dinner.

This is a picture of A'leese and I right after she gave me my mothers ring. It is beautiful.

She purchased it and picked it out for me all by herself.... talk about a surprise. I LOVE IT. She sure made me feel special.

A NEW LOOK

A'leese has had her hair the same way since 7th grade, yesterday she went and got it cut. It looks fantastic. Katie is there showing it off with her. You look good too, Katie!

Homecoming 2010

Miranda has purple power going on! We painted a hand print on her face for the homecoming game, which by the way the Bees won....GO BEES!!
Johnny took one of Miranda's best friends, Emily. He said it was the best dance he has been to yet.
There is something pretty awesome about senior year.

Vegas, the beach, Disneyland, and the Grand Canyon

K'Lee had made a count down calendar for Disneyland. So the night before we left Natalie and I snuck into the bathroom and decorated it for her....I think it made her happy.
This is what the sign said above the mirror.
K'Lee was so excited to get going she forgot to shave.

This is one of the first things we saw on the strip.

I have got a new found idea as to why they call this place the Strip. It's not to family friendly.

There were a few things that well, a family would enjoy...

A restaurant set in the middle of the jungle.

and an M&M factory where everything was M&M.

....I think Natalie is trying to decide which color.

there was ice in the middle of the desert.

There was the Coke-a-cola bear...he bit Johnny's head right after this. We had to put him down.

This is the last coke I will ever enjoy....at least this trip.

I LOVE THE BEACH. We spent the entire day at Laguna beach.

It was so awesome. A'leese is taking pictures of the seagulls....I didn't have the heart to tell her we have those in Utah.

We couldn't wait to get our toes into the sand.

Building sand castles until the waves knocked them down...and they did.

Checking out the tide pools where we found crabs.

Even playing with sea weed was a new adventure.

Goodbye beautiful beach..... until next time.

Did we ever meet characters....A'leese wanted her picture with every character she could see. Of course, Mickey is my VERY favorite.

We are here. Last time we stood in this locations A'leese was 11 and K'Lee was 5. Can't tell we are a bit Stoked? This is even after driving from Vegas!

I don't know who is cuter in this pic, Natalie or Minnie!

This was the one thing K'Lee wanted most. To go build a bear at the two story build-a-bear in Downtown Disney. She named the bear Faith.

Johnny and A'leese went "pirate" on us. Johnny wore the earring all day the next day too.

No one is goofing around in this picture.... okay maybe one person.

Daddy went and got K'Lee a button that said Happy Birthday. She was so excited to be the birthday girl, even if it was a week late.

Talk about a fantastic California Adventure, it was super hot, super loud, super fun, it was well.... just SUPER!!!!

I had drove so long I thought I was hallucinating this "Redneck moment" however, I had John snap a picture of this just to prove I wasn't. This ones for you Jon Stanford!

Our trip to the Grand Canyon was the toughest day. Everyone was extremely tired and restless. However, it proved to be worth it.

We had buffalo in the road for a good twenty minutes until the ranger came and herded the off the road.

When we stopped for our picnic K'Lee picked me a bouquet of wildflowers, she is so sweet.

We made it!!!! John has always wanted to see the Grand Canyon so today was the day to take the opportunity to do just that!

The view from the north rim was spectacular!

Pictures can't even began to justify the overwhelming feeling of deity when you gaze over the breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon.

We hiked all over the rim to every point we could see just for a peak.
Look Ma----no hands!!!!!!

No matter who you are you feel small when you peer over the edge of this world wonder.

What a special treat to finish off a wonderful week of family fun.

Wow! What an amazing adventure....This was one of the best trips we have ever taken together. Everyone had such a terrific time. We spent so much time being with each other and really there was little conflict what-so-ever, how cool is that?