Colorado River

Every summer we look forward to going to the Colorado River in Arizona just our family. We avoid the crowds of people by going during the weekdays. It's truly one of my favorite places to go to make memories as a family. The warm water, the hot dry air, just beautiful and peaceful. I love the stillness of the water, and the echoing of our kids laughter up and down the river. This is how we do summer.

Uncle Everett's Desert Ranch

I'd thought to give the kids a great start on their summer this year by visiting Everett's ranch in the desert. This place has everything possible to entertain the kids all day. This is the first summer which I feel like I can enjoy all the kids swimming without having to chase a baby. Now that Chad is turning 3, he's just is one the older kids. All I have to do is sit there with a book and make sure everyone has plenty of sunblock. We invited some of our neighbor friends to come with us and all the kids swam all day in the lake and pool. There's was no other sound other than that of the kids laughing and having a great time. The only thing that was missing was John. We will have to come back with him before summer is over.

Cabo

Been married for 10 years.

Me paddle boarding around this giant floating city to the arch.

Lunch at Zipper's

Father-n-Son Campout

Teaching Chad to fish
On the way home they saw a tank museum and had to stop to check it out.

Healthy breakfast, potato chips...yummy and Mommy is not here to take it away.

A moment of stillness, Chad and Curtis waiting for the catch of the day.

First father-n-son campout was successful. Chad had so much fun and he was wiped out by the end of the day.

Lake Mary at Sunset

Olivia and Chloe

Ellie and Buffy

Swinging monkeys

Chad already to go

John working the waves. Gotta surf even in flat water.

Our beautiful Piper

FEBRUARY Piper's Birthday

Celebrating at pre-school Playing dress up Our beautiful and most confident child, Piper, turned 5 this month. I think I spend about 2 hours watching videos of her as a baby I couldn't get enough of her. I don't remember her as a baby except when watching old videos. Piper has so much energy and is so amazingly articulate and I love that she tells us all the time that she knows what she wants to be when she grows up. She told us that she wants to be a "kid dentist." Maybe by me telling her that she brushes her teeth so clean like a dentist would makes her believe that she is. Anyhow, she had it all planned out. She will hire her dad to build her office for her, me to "let everyone where her office is" (I knew my marketing degree will be useful someday. ) Now, the problem with working for Piper is that if John and I discipline her at anytime, she will let us know that we are fired. I think we both get fired about 3-4 times a day. I told her one day that I can't work for her anymore, the emotional roller coaster of being fired is just to much for me to handle. She told me that I can always be her mommy because she will never fire her mommy. I love Piper and her vibrant spirit.

JANUARY 2011 Staycation

Chloe getting some air

Piper

Buffy and Chad

Ah...hot soapy tub

We had to stay in a hotel for a couple of days while the pipes were being re-routed at our house. Although the hotel was only 2 miles from our house, the kids thought it was the best mini vacation. This was the highlight of the month. I loved that I did not have to clean, do the laundry, cook and clean. I did feel like we were on vacation somewhere in the tropics, not quite tropically but it was definitely a vacation from the everyday chores for me.