Mt Graham Frye Fire

A strike of lightning sure can do a lot of damage if not contained right away. 

 

Our beautiful Mt. Graham has been engulfed in fire for about 15 days. 

Seeing it at night time is heartbreaking!  

 

I love the contrast of this picture! 

 

 

So grateful for brave fire fighters working hard and long hours to get this fire under control. 

 

Sunday evening we finally received the much needed and much prayed for rain! 

We continue to pray for the moisture necessary for assist the firefighters in containing the fire 100%. 

Going to be very sad when we take a drive with the mountain and see all the fire scars. 

Strong Guardian Angels

So Brody Brown was staying a couple of nights at our house while his dad was at girls camp and his mom works nights.  On Thursday afternoon the boys wanted to go get Brody's 900 4 seater RZR to go out for a ride. I told them if he could get ahold of Blain, his dad, I would be fine with it. Brody reassured me his dad wouldn't care but that he would call him. I said it was fine then. 

They rode a little, then had to go work the consessions at the little league games for student counsel. They called me when they were don't there, around 8:30. I was at the gym and had Grant and Ella playing in a he kids area. Justin was still at work. He's been pulling 18 hour days to make our trips workout. Anyway the Brody and Hunter go out riding. 

Brody is driving and they are headed home, about 1/2 mile from our house and Brody rolls the RZR over 2/3, so not back onto its wheel. Thank heavens the boys were wearing 5 point harnesses. They don't always wear their seat belts. 

Needless to say the boys were scared out of their minds!!! 

They could not get the RZR flipped back over so Hunter ran the 1/2 mile home to get out Ranger and a rope. He got back and pulled Brody's RZR right side up. It was able to drive home but has some obvious bent wheel axes. 

 

When I got home from the gym they were covered in dirt and she left me the whole story. My heart skipped a beat thinking of what could have easily been the outcome. The next day Hunter started finding bruises all over his body. His bicep and inside of his shoulder took some impact. 

 

Nice bruise on his thigh. 

 

Ouch!!!  They look so tender. Hunter feels really sore from the wreck! 

 

He even has bruising across his jaw. Over the past couple of days Hunter keeps finding more bruises. He had several bruises on his lower back and a couple on his hands. 

What a blessing that these boys were protected. They could easily have been hurt bad and even died, especially if they hadn't been wearing seat belts. 

I told them both that their guardian angels worked hard tonight!! 

My heart is full that the outcome was good. 

Hunter plans to earn money to pay for half of the repairs even though he wasn't the one driving. He can up with that all on his own. 

I my Hunter boy and Brody!!  

Bad Timing

I started feeling sick on Wednesday when I was painting Kiersten's bedroom. She was gone with her Grammie Cluff to Mesa for a birthday sleepover and I wanted to get her room all painted as a surprise. 

I worked my butt off! 

 

Woke up the next morning feeling even worse and I knew I needed to go to the doctor. Especially because Justin and I leave for Cancun, Mexico tomorrow for a couples trip with the Rogers and the Earp's. 

Go to the doctor.....

Sure enough I have strep throat and an ear infection. Awww....NOOOOO!  I do not have time to get sick, let alone get well before tomorrow morning at 8:00 when we are leaving from Phoenix to catch a flight. 

Well I had all my packing done for Justin and I, as well as for the kids. They are going to go stay with Grammie Cluff, except for Kiersten she will be going to girls camp as a YCL this year. 

My kids could see how sick I was and Grant insisted on giving me a foot massage!  It was the sweetest thing ever!  Ella had to massage one foot as well. She actually did a good job, minus the part that she used a TON of lotion.....hahaha!  Still the foot massage felt great!  

Tucson Temple Openhouse

I was hoping I could talk Justin in to getting away from the office but it didn't work out. So I ended up taking the kids by myself to the Temple Open House. Kiersten asked if Alec could come with us so I figured why not. I told him he could be in charge of Ella....lol. 

It was nice to have yet another chance to walk through a temple with my kids before it is dedicated. 

 

I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that families can be together forever! 

I sure love my kids!

They are going to grow up to be wonderful adults I already know. 

 

On the way back to the parking lot we got to ride on the top level of a double decker bus. The kids were all excited about that. Grant leaned over to me and said, "Mom thanks for bringing us to see the temple. I loved it!" 

Completely made the trip worth it. That and while in the temple Ella was so reverent on the tour. She was quite and held my hand walking through the temple. It was really a sweet experience! 

 
 

After the temple tour Kiersten requested we eat at Mod Pizza. Great idea to me!! 

 

I let Kiersten and Alec know they have two more months before they will be able to go on dates without the whole family being a part of what they do. Hahaha! 

 

My original plan was to take the kids the Breakers, a water park in the Tucson area. Oh yeah it's closed on Mondays. Ugh...... so we decided some time jumping at AZ Air Time. 

We ended the day with dinner at Dave and Buster's as well as a couple of hours of video games. 

It was a fun filled day being with my favorite people!!  Bummed that Justin could get away from the office. He has been working 16-18 hour days ever since we got back from Rocky Point. I am grateful for his hard work for our family. 

Families Are Forever! 

Singing Sisters

Ella loves to sing!!

She loves to stand up in Kiersten's truck as she practices driving her truck around Pima. Kiersten jams out and Ella tries her best to sing right along. 

 

These girls are going to be great friends when they grow up!  

Fishing with the Boys at Frye Mesa

Logan and Grant have been talking about craw dad fishing at Frye Mesa for months now. I decided to take them up there one morning. This year we decided to not participate in swim team. Just to give ourselves a nice break, sleep in in the mornings and enjoy more morning adventure like this one. 

 

The boys were in heaven!!  We stayed for about 4 hours. We didn't catch any fish but we probably got 50 crawdads. 

The boys loved setting the traps and going back to check and see how many crawdads were inside. 

They also enjoyed just catching  them using bacon on a fishing pole. 

 

All in all it was a fun time. And in the new RZR even the ride out there was a blast!! 

This is mine and Justin's birthday present to ourselves. We both turn 40 this summer!  

 

 

Days in Rocky Point

 

We went to the gym several days this week. Just trying to help with all the yummy food we are having! 

 

Kiersten, Kallie, and Callie Rogers

Three of my favorite girls! 

Oh how fun this girl is!!

Hunter and Brody giving me the salute! 

 

Hunter is so good with little kids!!  He is always entertaining the Earp's kids while we are in Mexico and anyone else's little old for hat matter. 

 

We love Laethe! 

 

Ella and Laethe getting ready to hit the ocean. 

Ella got splashed in the face by a wave and Laethe was so sweet to hold her hand and walk her back up to the awning. Such a good kid! 

Look at these beautiful girls! 

They were so much fun! 

 

Just being silly at the Fish Market. 

 

Ella is in love with Bodie and she is a huge fan of Shelby's.  They were so sweet to Ella. Love this picture of Ella loving on Bodie! 

Deep Sea Fishing

One day we booked a fishing trip for the whole family. We thought it would be a great morning adventure. Well adventure it was. 

 

The ocean was rough and I mean rough!  

Once we got settled and started fishing it calmed down a little so we got some pictures of the kids smiling. 

 

This was the beginning of the trip. Then the rough waves increased and it wasn't much fun after that. 

Brody started throwing up over the side of the boat. Then it wasn't even 15 minutes later I started throwning up over the side of the boat. It was rough!  

 

The fishing was sparse which put another damper on the trip. Here is Logan with his catch. I think his might have been the biggest of the day. 

 

 

Kallie was the fisherman of the day. First time casting out she caught two fish. 

Hunter got lucky and caught a fish.  

Grant got to captain the boat which made him super happy. 

It was for sure a memorable trip but not super fun. Usually the sea is calm and the boys always catch a ton of fish. Not sure this will be our new tradition in Rocky Point or not. 

When Your Daughter is a Dancer...

Kiersten has me take pictures of her doing dance leaps every year on the beach. 

But man this trip pictures she killing it!!

 

She is one amazing dancer!!!

Look at these gorgeous shots I got....and this is just with my iPhone 6. 

 

What a beautiful young woman I have the pleasure of being mom to. 

Absolutely stunning shots!! 

(Backup) Graffiti of Rocky Point

The graffiti in Rocky Point is killer! 

 

I sure love this family of mine!

 

Not that it isn't a totally exhausting job being a mother to 5 young kids but I am so proud I get to be the mom to these kids!  They really do make me proud. 

 

And I love all the kids I get to be adopted mom to. We love having extra kids around. Especially in Mexico. 

 

Ella is such a stinker and the cutest girl all at the same time. 

Look at that smiling face. 

 

Kiersten and Kallie have become great friends this year in high school. It has been fun and like a breath of fresh air. Kallie is fun, loud, sweet and helpful. 

I tell ya the graffiti does not disappoint around Rocky Point. 

 

Love my Logie Bear! 

 

I love my Hunter boy! 

 

 

 

 

So glad I made everyone drive around and take pictures of the graffiti. No one was very excited about doing it but man I am glad I made them anyways. We rewarded them for having a good attitude with ice cream from Thrify's. I am happy to report everyone received and ice cream!