Out West! July 15, 2022

 Out west day 4: petrified forest national park

We found lots and lots of pretty rocks. Lots of beautiful scenery. Fossilized tree trunks (they are large, smooth, heavy and beautiful!). Lots of them. Reds and browns and blacks with hints of blue and white. Amazing stuff.

We managed to call it a day and start to drive to the next thing when we got hit by a massive thunderstorm. Complete with heavy rains and hail.

We finished the day by completing the kids junior ranger packets, lovely soup, and a relaxing bit at the pool.

Out West! July 14, 2022

 Out west day 3: Williams to Holbrook

After a relaxed morning (or as relaxed as you can be with two kids) we packed up and headed to Montezuma’s castle, an unbelievable 5 story structure built into the cliffs.

Then we visited Meteor Crater. A meteor hit 50,000 years ago. One of their advertising lines is, this is where space meets the earth. We learned a lot about space, layers of the earth, and NASA training. On the road to the meteor site it had a speed limit sign ”cars 50 miles per hour, meteors 26,000 miles per hour.”

Out West! July 13, 2022

 Out west day 2:  Grand Canyon 

Upon a suggestion from a friend we took the Grand Canyon railway from Williams to the park.  The day started with a Wild West show, the train ride, and getting serenaded by cowboys.  

The canyon was amazing!  We hiked just a bit of the southern rim trail.

On the way home on the train, the cowboy actors rode up beside the train and pretended to rob the train.  It was so funny and fun!

Sarsaparilla floats are also amazing.

We explored Route 66.  We made sure to watch Cars before we left, who knew that we would find the characters there.

Grace with the cowboy and his horse before the show.

The cowboys also serenaded us while we were on the train going to the Grand Canyon.

The Wild West marshal caught the kids.

We were tired!  But it was worth it.

Relaxing on the train back to our hotel.

Out West! July 12, 2022

Out west, day 1:  arrival to Williams, AZ

Our flights went pretty well.  The only really stressful things was that one of our flights was supposed to arrive at the same time that our next flight was supposed to start boarding (who planned this?  Oh it was me…).  And all this required a long run through the Chicago O’Hare airport.  Our first flight landed 15 minutes early, I limped/ran and we made it 10 minutes before boarding started!

Once in Las Vegas we had a 3 hour drive that was filled with Disney’s Robin Hood, audiobooks, and pot holes.

We are here, let the adventure begin!

My flight buddy

We found a cute bunny statue in the Las Vegas Airport

Grace's Baptism June 19, 2022

For a long time, Grace has had questions about religion, church, teachings in the Bible.

Around January or February she started to talk about wanting to be baptised.

So she went to baptism classes at church.

She also wrote a faith statement.

Then at our campout with the church at Highland Retreat, she was baptised in the creek.

It was cold!  Here she is in her special towel and in a sunbeam trying to warm up.

Her towel has her name and the date of her baptism on it.  We were able to celebrate with grandparents, aunts, cousins, and lots of church family.  What a special day!
 

Reading June 13-14

 It is the beginning of summer vacation, and the kids still have to read.

However, that does not mean that they can not make reading a little more interesting than it usually is.

The first day they wanted to read outside so they got a blanket, pillows, and umbrella for shade.

The next day they decided to convert the back of our car to a little reading nook with blanket, pillows, and snacks.

I like how creative they are being.

Picnic At The Park June 12, 2022

Great day for a picnic at the park (and a lovely picture opportunity).

 

June Jam June 8, 2022

Fourth Grade June Jam for Glen.

There was lots of dancing.

Such a great day to celebrate the end of the school year with him.

 

Middle School Dance June 3, 2022

Grace was so excited to be able to go to her very first middle school dance.  It was held during the school day as a celebration of 6th grade almost being over.  She had a great time and I was glad that I got to peek into the gym to see her dancing like crazy with her friends.

 

Memorial Day Camping May 27, 2022

 Grace was off camping with the Scouts this weekend.  So it was Matt, Glen and I for a camping adventure at Highland.  We had a great time, but it did feel strange not having Grace around.

We did a few hikes.  Here is Matt's favorite hike, Tabernacle Ridge.

Late in the evening Glen found a turtle in the field close to where we are camping.  Here I am taking a picture of Glen, as Glen is trying to take a picture of the turtle, while we are both trying to keep some kind of distance away from it.

Friends in 6th Grade May 26, 2022

 We have been so lucky that Grace has found a great group of friends to be with in middle school.

These are three of her closest friends at school.  They (and other students) were chosen to go on a field trip to release trout that they were raising in the classroom.  I was fortunate enough to be one of the drivers,

I hope that she is able to keep these friendships going strong.

This last picture was right before Grace, or her friend....or maybe both...

Fell right into the river.  It was hilarious!

Worship Team May 8, 2022

 Grace has a good friend at church.  The mother of that friend sometimes leads worship music at our church.  She has been trying to get her daughter to sing with her for awhile.  She did not want to, but was willing to if Grace sang with her.

So Grace practiced with the group.  Then she got up and sang about 5 songs with the worship team.  I am glad that she has these opportunities to try new things.

Fraction Celebration April 25, 2022

 In Glen's 4th grade class they were learning about fractions.  To put that knowledge to use, they invited the parents in for a nice breakfast.  The kids had to use their fractions to make punch, mixed fruit, and waffles.  I love that I work next door to Glen's school so that I can stop by for events like this.

All City Choir April 20, 2022

One day a week, Glen stays after school and sings with his elementary school choir.

In the spring, all of the choirs from all of the elementary schools get together and sing a few songs.  I know that singing is not his favorite thing, but I am proud of him for doing this and moving a little out of his comfort zone and learning something new.

Good job Glen!
 

Easter April 17, 2022

 Happy Easter!