Such an Example

I love my mother with all my heart!

She truly is an amazing example to me in so many ways!

I am beyond blessed to be her daughter!

She is kind hearted, the most giving person I know, she is thoughtful, she serves those around her constantly, she looks for people to serve, she loves me unconditionally, she loves my children even more.  She tells me about the lessons she is learning from her daily scripture studies and how all our problems can be solved by reading the scriptures and staying close to the spirit.  

One of her strongest examples is her love for attending the temple!

She has been going weekly to the Gila Valley Temple since it opened.  During the time she was fighting breast cancer, her greatest sorrow was that she didn't have enough energy to attend the temple.  She typically goes every Friday morning, every week!

I love her so much for the ways in which she has helped to build and strengthen my testimony.

I too am grateful for the temple!

In Case You Wondered....

...what a babies face looks like after eating a cue chalk here it is....

She was pretty upset at first.  I am guessing it doesn't taste very good?

But then once the kids all started laughing at her she thought it was pretty funny herself!

This little lady is a mess!!!

But we sure are enjoying her messy self!

1st Mud Bath

I was busy this morning doing laundry for these 8 crazy people that live at my house.  While I was doing that the two youngest crazies took it upon themselves to have some fun.

There was no way I could be mad or upset because seeing Ella's face filled with such thrill was worth a stained shirt.

I realized that this was Ella's first time playing in mud!

In case you can't tell from the pictures, she is a pretty big fan of playing in mud!!!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!

Ella's probably thinking...... "Grant you are my favorite brother now!!"

Yep it was a good day!  Once I got over the initial shock of the mud mess, I thoroughly enjoyed watching these too playing in the mud!  Gonna have to make a mud mess again soon.

Junior High Crush

This is Kiersten's crush this year, Porter Sherwood.

He is a good kid and we've enjoy the few times he's been over for one of Kiersten's "parties."

This year has been great for Kiersten.  Her group of friends seemed to have matured and there isn't as much drama.  Kiersten isn't high drama herself and she hates it when people talk behind one another back.  She has a tender heart and had a hard time when girls were mean to each other.  So grateful she has good friends!  They come support her at some of her dance performances and I know it means the world to her!

It's hard to see my sweet Kiersten growing up but I am so proud of the woman she is becoming!

Her friends are so fun.......their nickname for Kiersten and Porter is "Piersten"

"You Gotta Take My Picture Mom!"

When this cute boy comes to me and tells me that, I have to comply.

He said, "I am just going to bed and I look this good Mom!"

Yes you do look pretty amazing Mr. Grant!

Love this boy!

Reaping The Benefits

Well there were no fish to fry up but we did have a few crawfish.  So the boys were dying to boil them up to eat.  

It wasn't enough to make a meal but it was enough to make a fun memory!

This was Silvio's first time eating crawfish....

He was even brave enough to suck the juice from it's head!!!! Woot Woot! Way to go Italian boy!

Of course Grant had to try that too.  I love the expression in his eyebrows.  He was really trying to suck out all the juice!

We dipped the crawfish in butter so of course it was fairly good.  I had seasoned the boil nicely so the juice from the head was salty in a good way.  So yes this means I sucked the juice from a head as well!!!  Hey I can't let the kids have all the fun!

FRYE MESA FUN

One afternoon during Spring Break Justin can home early from work and we took the kids to Frye Mesa.

From this picture you can see the trip wasn't "prefect."  But it was fun, even though Hunter did not appreciate me taking this picture of him with his line caught in the tree.

This was Silvio's first time fishing while with us.  Unfortunately he didn't even get a bite.  He said he wasn't a fan of fishing to begin with.  

We did catch a few of these little guys!

It was a fun afternoon with great cool weather.  Thanks to my mom for keeping Ella so we didn't have to worry about her and the dam.  She would have enjoyed coming but I was too worried about being so close to the dam with her and didn't want to only spend my time following her around.  So Ella stayed home and got her 3 hour nap in and we got to relax a little.

We walked over to the waterfalls.

The kids were really hoping to slide down them but the water was FREEZING and we couldn't see the path that led to the top of them.  Maybe during the summer when the watering isn't like ice we can come back up for that adventure!

The boys of course had to at least get in a little.  They were so tough and went all the way under.  And froze every second.  They didn't last long but longer then I would have.

Cool shot of the falls!

It was refreshing to hear the boys yelping as they played a little in the cold water.  It was funny to watch them and their expressions!

I love these people and am so blessed to call them my family!

Even these crazy boys in their undies!

Kiersten and Silvio opted not to get in the water.  Had they wore swim suits I think they would have.

I remember having some fun times up here as a teenager sliding down these, cliff jumping in the pond and making tin foil dinners.

We brought a crawfish trap and they kids were able to catch a few that way.  But the best way to catch them was to let Hunter try.

When he named Hunter I had no idea his name would be so fitting!  This kid can catch ANYTHING!

Since the fish weren't biting I told Kiersten and Silvio that they should at least make it look like they were for my picture!

They were being so silly but finally got REALL into it!

Wow that is one HUGE fish on the other end of their lines.

Look at how much they are straining to reel them in!

I think Silvio might have peed his pants......hahaha!  I know I about did taking their pictures.  These two were hilarious!

This is the view from the landing down the side of the dam.  The ladder/stairs are kind of creepy to get down but we did it!

It's worth the creepy walk to see the waterfall!  Even though the landing sort of feels like it might just calapse at any time. We had so much fun at Frye Mesa!  So glad Justin could take the afternoon off to join us. It was a fun drive in the Ranger and Rhino to get up there.  I'm enjoying this stay home spring break.  

Red Knolls

Today Justin decided to take the morning off, he NEVER does that, but to make the kids Soring Break fun he agreed to do it. But I was anxious about taking the kids by myself to explore Red Knolls. 

Everyone was so excited to check this place out. And I was sure glad to have Justin there and that my mom came out to watch Ella so we didn't have her to worry about. 

This is where you enter the cave. It's kind of a scary thing to climb up. 

Cool view through one of the holes in the cave. It's like a little look out! I like the perspective it gives. 

Now the cave exploring begins. You have to hunch down to walk through this area. 

This is a look down the cave. It's pretty narrow and short to walk through but that's all part of the thrill!  

The kids were all amazing by the cave exploring! 

This is the hole we climb out to get on top of Red Knolls. It's just an opening in the cave ceiling. Pretty cool! 

On top of Red Knolls is a beautiful view of the desert and farm fields. 

Once on top we hiked over to what we call The Arch. 

So grateful to be married to someone who accepts my crazy ideas. 

It really was a fun morning exploring and I was so happy to have this guy by my side. He more then made up the hours he missed this morning though. He is such a hard worker!! 

I love that even if we did go on a big Speing Break trip, that we were still able to have a great time close to home. 

This kids loves to talk!  He will carry on a conversation with anyone!  I does not matter their age. He can chat it up with 80 year old man. Or entertain a two year old. 

Look at the pretty view from the top!!!

This is where we climbed down from to get half way down the Knoll. 

Then we had to hike a tiny trail to get back down to our ranger and rhino. I have to admit watching the kids so close to drop off did cause me lots of anxiety. Plus at the top there are lots of openings that drop at least 100 feet down or probably more in some. 

Red Knolls really is a cool place. So glad it's only 10 minutes from us. It made for a great morning. 

I pretty much love any day that involves taking these toys out for a spin! 

Here is a look at Red Knolls from the bottom. 

I sure got lucky when I got this one! And when I got that photobombing Kiersten in the back ground! 

We ended our adventures with lunch at the Taylor Freeze. Then Justin headed on to work. The weather was perfect!  Nice and overcast and cool!