What a kid!

Today as part of Grant's home work it was talking about the Golden Rule.  It said to draw a picture of a time when you used the golden rule.  After I told him what to do, he just sat there.  I explained again what he needed to do.  After about a minute, Grant looks at me and says, "Mom I don't understand? This doesn't make sense to me.  There shouldn't be a time when I didn't use the golden rule.  So really I should be able to draw any time in my life?  Like I never don't treat others kind, seems like a silly thing to have to think about and draw."

It was so cute because he really was concerned why he would have to think about one specific time he had treated others the way he wanted to be treated.  He just assumed that's the way you always treat people, like there was no alternative way to treat people.  It was pretty sweet and sincere!  Oh how I wish I could keep him 6 years old, cause I really love him and I don't want him to grow up!

Renaissance Festival

We decided to take Aubrey to the Renaissance Festival to see what it's like.

Grant was lucky enough to get picked to go up on stage.  He LOVED it! He did a great job holding his plate up!  Look at his smile....

Grant also added to our dragon collection.  He bought a mini dragon.  Thank goodness that was the one he decided on....those things aren't cheap.

My two turkey's chowing on turkey legs! 

I love how Grant wants to make sure you can still see his dragon in the picture.

I LOVE all the creatures and people dressed up at the Renaissance Festival!  Aubrey was freaked out by this one and we had to take a picture with it.

My other favorite thing is the yummy food.  Honestly I would go each year just for some nipples of their yummy foods.  Chocolate dipped frozen cheesecake, and chocolate drizzled strawberries.  I just want a few bites of everything....hehehe!

Grant sure loves Aubrey.  He loves on her any chance he gets!

This is a fun act to watch....

It's funny and entertaining.

Hunter decided the one thing he wanted was to get a waxed hand.

Not surprising he did the ASU fork sign.

This kid loves ASU!  I think because Justin and I both graduated from ASU makes him love it.  Several of the worker commented to Hunter how well his turned out.  He really, really made sure not to move his fingers.

The jousting show was fun and a must when at the festival.

Hunter was so bummed when he saw there was a 50 lbs weight limit for the lama rides.  He was excited that at least Grant was able to ride it.  Hunter had to send a picture to his buddy Tim.  They are so funny when it comes to lamas.

Aubrey is so funny.  She is such a character......always making us laugh.

Aubrey and Kirsten's signature pose.  Pretty sure Aubrey is the one that started this.  I love these two girls!  Kiersten is having a wonderful time with Aubrey staying with us.

This girl wasn't part of the festival she was just dressed up for fun.  Crazy how much she looks like Meredith from Brave.  

You can eat like this all day when you have 5 people sharing.  

The new mermaid exhibit was cool!  They even have a mermaid swimming in a huge tank of water.  From the looks of these kids smiles I'd say they had a great day.  We missed Logan, he got invited to go to the lake with the Smart's for 4 days.  Justin had just gotten home from California about 4 in the morning so he wasn't up for coming with us.  Between Justin and my mom I was able to leave Ella with them, just to make the short day trip easier.  

Justin made a trip to California to go to the Amen Clinic to have some brain scans done.  We have to see what's going on with his brain and get his depression under control.  He is so shut down around the kids and I, it's hard to handle.  He does amaze me because no matter what he is determined to never miss work because of it.  Some of it comes down to a choice.........you can feel like crap and still go to work.  Justin is loving proof of that.  He amazes me in the aspect.  

Aubs and Kiersten's henna tattoos....

it was a good day!

Salt River Rafting

This spring break we kind of laid low.  Kiersten and Aubrey were going on Trek at the end of the week, so we didn't plan much.

But I did manage to plan a river rafting trip down the upper Salt River!  And boy oh boy was it a fantastic trip!!

We loved every second of this adventure! 

As you can tell from these pictures, the trip was totally AWESOME!

You had to be 8 years old in order to go on this rafting trip so Grant couldn't come.  And Logan was camping at Roosevelt with Cade (Tuddy) Smart so he didn't come either.

We sereously had the greatest time!

There were about 12 level three rapids and boy did they get your heart pumping!

I was so happy Justin was able to take a day off and come with us.  He loved it!

Our guide was Grace and then "T" was a guide too.  He was there in case Grace needed him to step in.  This was Grace's first time taking people down the Salt River.  She had been down it in a raft by herself several times but as a guide.

It really was gorgeous terrain!  

Getting ready for an unforgettable day!

Nothing beats a day with your kids away from cell phones and technology!  It was so refreshing for everyone.  I think we need more days like today!

Aubrey and I

We are enjoying having Aubrey, my niece from Chicago, come stay with us.  She is living with us and finishing her last semester of high school here.  She is super fun!  We love her! 

"T" let Hunter have a turn at the ores.  As you can see Hunter loved it!

It is quite the work out helping to row the raft.  Sure glad we had these strong kids to help us!

I love this boy of mine!  He is super fun and is growing in to a wonderful young man.  His spirit is way stronger and bigger than his frame, we love our "Fun Size" Hunter!

See what a fun kid Hunter is..... Love that cute face of his!

We opted for the full day trip.  We began rafting at 9:30 and ended at 4:30.  They served us a grilled steak lunch with lots of sides.  It was so good!  Then to get back to our vehicles we got to have a jeep ride.  Which ends up being super fun itself.  The road you take back hugs the river so you get to see a birds eye view of all the rapids you just went over.  It really is a fun part of the trip!  Mild to Wild rafting company is wonderful.  Not all companies have the jeep tour along with the rafting.  It was way better than riding in a bus to get back to our vehicles!

Aren't these girls gorgeous!

It was a fun day of the river!

These two are so funny!

This is their staple pose, if you will.  No matter the situation they aways want to take a picture like this.....lol!

The pictures do not do the scenery justice.  It was so pretty.  

On the way home we tried to eat at the steak house at the Apache casino but it wasn't opened.  We just couldn't make it home, we were all starving.  So we stopped at the Apache Burger, for what I hope is our first and LAST stop there.

These faces are actually adequate in this case.  The indian taco I ordered was anything but good.  The fry bread was okay but the beans were so old this was all I could eat of it.  Made me super sad because I really was hungry.

In case some of you don't know, this cute guy does one heck of an apache indian impersonation!  The kids ask him all the time to do it.  And when he does we all can't help but crack up!!!  I had to get a picture of my "little indian" by the Apache Burger sign.  I told him to pose like an indian and he started palming his mouth making "Ahhhhh-Ahhhhh-Ahhhhh!"

Such a fun guy!  I about peed my pants when he started doing that!

Even if the Apace Burger was a let down; it was a funny way to end our fabulous spring break day!

Thanks to my mom for keeping Grant and Ella so we could take this trip.

Chiricachua National Monument

To finish off Spring break we took a little day trip to the Chiricachua Mountains for some hiking. 

Ella had it easy!

It was a great day for a hike!

Logan was off with the Smart's camping at the lake so we were missing one today.  All the kids did great hiking.

Grant loved finding caves to climb into.

These girls sure have fun together!

Hunter is the adventurous one! King of the mountain!

We all love having Aubrey living with us!  Kiersten especially loves having "an older sister"!

I love taking day trips with the family!

These girls and their 

We ended up hiking around 6 plus miles!  No one complained about the long hike....well maybe Justin, but he had a reason, he was carrying Ella the whole time.  I kept telling him I would take a turn but he insisted on doing it.  Thanks babe for being so good to me!

I love my family!  Wish Logan were with us.  He would have enjoyed the hike too!

Great day breaking a sweat the fun way!

Ella did give Justin a break when she hiked a little on the way back.

It was a good day and we ended with a Dairy Queen treat in Wilcox.