A Day in the Snow!

We went for the day to the Snow Play Area north of Flagstaff.  Our kids love to sled and play in the snow.  We try to get up there once a year.  They love it.  Here Seth and Jared are zooming down the hill.  Toward the end of the day, Jared was going down backwards.  Crazy Fun!
Samantha decided to brave sledding by herself.  No worries for her.  She spent alot of time throwing snowballs at her mother and building a snowman.
Daddy had alot of fun trying to speed down the hill fast and at the same time make his children scream with terror and excitement.  I think he accomplished this many times.  At the start of the hill my kids had looks of fear and then smiles at the end when the came to a halt.  Here is Tank having one of Dad's Wild Rides.  Whoo EEE  Whoo!
Hello Snowbunny!  If you look carefully Hayley brought her WebKinz Hedgehog with her sledding.  She has it zippered up in her jacket.  Hayley loves adventure, she is up for anything.  I love that about her.
Emilee had a great time, until her clothes were soaked and her feet frozen.  After that she was done and ready for the heat in the truck.   She was fun to watch because she attempted several times to sled down the hill without a sled, just on her tummy.  Fun until she was soaked and frozen.  All and all it was a fantastic day!

Jerome - Ghost Town

We went to Jerome and went to the Ghost Town.  We love Jerome and go pretty often.  Our kids love looking at unusual things and in this case old things.
This is Matt's favorite thing to see. This is an old camper.  Me-I am grateful for our camper thankyou very much.  This camper is definately someone's invention.

Here is proof that my children have a mother.  This is in front of the old mine shaft.
I have pictures of each of my kids playing dead.  For some reason they all love to get into the coffin and pose for the camera.  Here Tank is playing the part.

Happy Valentines Day 2009

Valentines Weekend we decided to go camping.  We parked at the Dead Horse Ranch in Cottonwood.  A really neat place with hiking, parks, lakes etc.  We were 10 minutes from Jerome and about an hour from the snow. My kids love any holiday that they can enjoy candy. Here they are diving into their bags.
We were able to go on a few hikes.  My kids love to be outdoors and hiking is something that we all enjoy.  On this particular hike they found an old abandoned cabin.  Everything abandoned is given the title "Scary Witch House", which just adds to the excitement. 

Monster Truck Jam

This has been a tradition for us.  The Monster Truck Jam is something that we as a family can all enjoy.  This year a friend of ours had a daughter who was racing in the mini trophy truck race they have at half time.  So we made posters and had a blast.  We love Grave Digger like most others, but this year my kids loved watching "Backwards Bob".  It appears as if he is driving backward through the course, in actuality he is not.  But it is so fun to watch the deception.
Matt-Tank-Jared
Seth-Samantha
Kylie-Hayley
Emilee-Madi

Karate Graduation for Seth and Jared 1/24/09

Yes another Karate Graduation, Seth and Jared are now Yellow Belts.  One more belt and they begin sparring with others.  Yipes!  Watch out.  It is so interesting to me how Karate becomes so second nature.  I guess with practice, it trains you to be that way.  It is so fun to watch them. Seth was the first to receive his belt.  His instructor loves him, he is so focused and exact its almost uncanny. 
Here is Jared getting his new belt.  He is a bit wiggley.  So the Karate Master has to get after him from time to time.  But I also see his instructor smile as well at some of his antics.  I am glad someone else enjoys his sense of humor.

Babysitting Gone Wild!

Kylie babysits for us all the time, sometimes at a moments notice.  She also helps us with housework, my kids call her "the maid".  Working on the attitude with my kids, but we love her and its said with humor.  Anyway I had to take this picture because she is so much more to us than just a babysitter.  I joke with her that if anything happens to Matt and I that I hope she is prepared to be mother. Ha Ha!  

Montezuma's Well 1/19/2009

We were invited along with the Geisers by the Pfaffs and went to Montezuma's Well.  Our family loves this area.  Its a great time to get outdoors and have fun.  Jason Pfaff pitched several hundred balls to the kids who took turns hitting.  They had alot of fun!
We decided to make popsicle boats to float in the little stream, but the little stream dried up or was shut off.  It did not take them long to locate the river.  But they all had so much fun building their boats.
The river was a blast.  The kids would send down their boats and run and try to get them before they were lost.  Jared took advantage of this fun and ended up getting thoroughly soaked.  If there is a puddle around you can be sure that Jared will end up wet or muddy.  Emilee sent her boat down one time and it got away from her.  Luckily Josh Pfaff went to her rescue and retrieved it for her.  Truly a KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, at least in her mind.  It was great fun.  We really love both of these families and consider them great friends.  They are truly a positive example to us and to our children.