Old Tucson Studios

Last week we took the kids on a little day trip to Old Tucson Studios. We had so much fun. We got there when the park opened and stayed until they kicked us out. It was a fun adventure. :)

Here, Kevin and the kids are panning for gold. $2 got you a pan and a tube to put your gold chunks in. Troy, Annie and Taylor each filled their tubes...Tyson decided it was more fun to splash around in the water and get us all wet.
In the Cemetary there were lots of grave markers that were funny...this one was the funniest of them all and I couldn't resist taking a picture.

The little cemetary next to the church.

Annie playing the old organ in the church.

The little white church on the hill. (Yes the pictures are out of order...I'm tired of trying to figure it out) :)

This is the "Reno". It was in several movies and now is an exhibit. We even got to go into the engine and look around at the controls.

These coffins were lined up next to a building and each of the kids wanted to "try one out". This is Baby Face Tyson, the famous hobby horse thief.

Eagle eyed Troy, the fastest gun slinger in the west.

Annie Bananie, the best poker face in town.

Taylor the laughing bandit...he held up more trains than any other outlaw.

Eagle Eyed Troy in jail awaiting his sentence.

What a bunch of criminals...it was tempting to just walk away and leave them all locked up. :)

There was a little train that took you around the entire set. Tyson loved it and so we rode it several times. Here are the kids with the conductor.

The little Engine car.

One of the funner activities were the cars. Annie was excited to drive her own.

Troy having fun driving his own car.

Tyson got to drive as well. I just sat back and pushed the gas for him and he got to steer. Thank goodness for the guide...there was about two feet of leeway, so we bounced around a lot. Most of the ride he spent giggling and squealing when he would almost send us into the trees. :)

I tried to get my video option up and going so I could video the ride with Tyson from the passenger point of view, but it wasn't working right. I did catch a couple of pictures though. We spent most of the ride bouncing from one side of that metal bar to the other and laughing.

Finally, the Carousel. I think the kids rode it 3 or 4 times...there wasn't a crowd there, so we got to do everthing more than once which is good when your two year old is yelling "ride, ride" all the time.

Kevin and I rode the carousel twice and that was it for our equilibrium. It was more fun to sit back and watch the kids.

I have so many other pictures, but these were my favorite. I would highly recommend a trip there if you've never been. Take your camera, take lots of water, and be ready to have a lot of fun. :)

Ummm...you want me to do what?

Two weeks ago I found out that I would be released as the Secretary to the Relief Society Presidency in our ward. I was really upset and cried for days...I have come to love Relief Society and the sisters in our ward.

Last Sunday Kevin and I met with Bishop Coleman and he asked me to serve as the new Relief Society President. *****gasp!***** I cried for days (again...you'd think as much water as I have leaked out these last two weeks that I'd have lost 50 pounds). :)

Now that the initial shock is over and I've been sustained and set apart, I am getting excited. There is lots to do but I am ready to do it. There goes my free time though, so if I haven't updated for a while, that's why. :)

There is NO contest....

...I have THE BEST husband in the whole world! :)

Friday was my 35th birthday and we took the day off and went to Old Tucson Studios (I'll get those pics posted soon) and spent the day then had dinner out. It was a nice day and lots of fun and I thought that was the end of my birthday celebration.

Tonight we had Steve and Stephi over for dinner and Kevin insisted we eat outside. After dinner we are sitting around the fire pit and talking and friends and family start showing up. Imagine my surprise when I found out that Kevin had contacted everyone two weeks ago and invited them to a party for me. He told the kids, but not me and they were able to keep the secret! Amazing...especially if you know my kids. :)

Karalee was gracious enough to make my cake(s) and they were delicious...a white cake with coconut and a chocolate cake with oreos...YUM!

Blowing out my candles...thank goodness for numbers instead of 35 actual candles.
Part of the cakes...Karalee did a beautiful job and I wish we had gotten a better picture before they were eaten.

I'm the birthday girl...so I got a little taste of both. :)

It was so much fun laughing and visiting with all the wonderful people that we count as friends and family. I feel so blessed and thankful for where we live and who we are surrounded by. Each of these good friends and family members make life heaven on earth. :)

Is it a law or something...

...that the first week of any break from school is spent being sick?

For the past year my children, who are relatively healthy, have been getting sick right at the beginning of every break. Fall break they started the stomach flu. Christmas break we all had colds, and now Spring break brings the croup and chest colds.

What is the deal? I haven't figured out if their body knows it's a break and uses it for down time, or if it's just plain bad luck. Whatever the cause we aren't letting it stop us.

Friday we plan to head to Old Tucson Studios for a day of family fun and as soon as the coughing quits we will be headed to the pool to enjoy this beautiful weather.

Stay tuned for pics of Old Tucson and for some exciting news that I can't share until Sunday. :)

Fun with Friends

Saturday night a group of us met for our friend Shelli's birthday party. We had so much fun. I love my date nights with Kevin and the one on one time we have together, but going out in a group has it's advantages too. :)

We all met at San Tan Flats...a local restaurant that has a live band and dancing. While we waited for the band we got to sit and visit and laugh and just have a great time.

This is my friend Shelli and her husband Craig (or Craigbert as he is referred to sometimes). There were a lot of pictures taken of them that night, but this one is my favorite pictures of them...they are so fun and a really cute couple.
San Tan Flats is mostly outdoors. There are picnic tables and fire pits and lots of wood to keep the fires burning. You can buy dinner there, or just come and buy a soda or a bag of marshmallows to roast and enjoy the atmosphere. In this picture you can see part of our little group. In the back, Craigbert, Kevin and Caleb, in front, Esther, Caleb's wife, me (don't look too much...it's scary) and Dave and Amy DeWidt.

Caleb, was in charge of the fire since he just returned from Woodbadge, but we still got a little cold. Here is Esther, me, Kevin and Caleb. We look like we are snuggling, but Shelli made us scrunch together for this picture. (she was a little camera happy that night) :)

Finally the band came up and we listed to music and danced the two-step and just had a blast. I really didn't want to go home, but it got late and we do have children, so it was time to be responsible. We are definitely going to have to go back and do it again. :)

Will the crying ever end???

I got such sad news on Saturday. Sister Hatch who is our Relief Society President was called to be in the Stake Relief Society presidency and I think she'll do a super great job, but since she is the president, it means that I'm getting released.

I left the Bishop's office in tears and have been crying sporadically ever since. My sweet hubby tried to comfort me, but being a guy he keeps sticking his foot in his mouth and making me mad. I think he has given up and just decided to let me bawl it out. :) My friend Shelli who is one of the counselors has cried along with me and understands so we commiserate together.

I can't explain very well why I love serving in the RS so much. Maybe it's the spirit that is there, or the chance to serve the sisters, or that since I'm so focused on others, it takes my mind off of the "me" issues. Maybe it's because this calling has forced me out of my shell and helped me to realize how much I do love the sisters in my ward. It could be the friendships that have developed among our little group and the chatting at the meetings I will miss. I don't know, but I do know that I'll miss it terribly.

Kevin and the kids have mixed feelings on the matter...Troy thinks that since I'm the ward "DEX" people will start getting confused, Annie and Taylor will miss the chance to play in the nursery while I make the hundreds of copies I make, Tyson won't miss anything...he doesn't have a clue and I think that once I stop crying, Kevin will be glad that I have more time.

I'll just be glad when the waterworks stop and I'm waiting on pins and needles to find out what I get to do next. :)

9*1*1

I can't tell you how many times I've heard a story about a child dialing 911 just by messing around and pushing buttons. I've always laughed and I'll admit that I felt a little smug that I've never had to go through that. Until now.......

I had a leadership meeting tonight and Troy was in charge. I called when I left to make sure everything was ok and I was informed that Tyson got a hold of the phone while Troy was in the bathroom and sure enough called 911. (how is that they dial that number? The buttons are on opposite ends of the keypad!)

Troy tried to reassure the operator that all was ok and that it was a 2 year old that had called, but 5 minutes after I got home and very nice deputy was knocking on the door to check everything out. He took a good look at each kid to make sure they weren't being mistreated and went on his way. I tried to get him to arrest Tyson and take him with, but no such luck.

So, the phones are put up high and I'm appropriately humbled. :)

High School

On Saturday, Troy and I headed over to pre-register him for high school (*sigh and sniff*). He'll be attending Poston Butte High School which is in the process of being built and will open just in time for school to start in July.

We had a chance to talk with his football coaches and meet the teachers that have been hired. It's kind of exciting to be a part of opening a new school. Troy's class will be the first class to graduate having gone there all four years, and this is a technology based school. Each student gets a laptop instead of books and everything is done electronically which is kind of cool.

I had the chance to sign up for the Booster Club. I remember my folks doing that and it's hard to see myself as being old enough to be a part of it but it will be fun to do what I can to help the boys on the team out. Last I checked I was the only one signed up...hopefully other parents will sign up too. :)

So anyway...my kids just keep getting older and older and now we have a new adventure to go on. It makes me a little nervous, but as all good parents say....GO BRONCOS! :)