I hAve hEaRd yOuR cAll

Every spring Moab calls us back to enjoy its wealth of outdoor fun. We love to go jeeping, hiking, biking, and my favorite, climbing. We have done it every year for about six years now and look forward to many more. My parents and siblings have also made it a tradition along with Josh's parents (who opted out this year to go on a cruise).

Atta Girl.
Maddy cruised up this climb so she could have bragging rights
over the teenage girl to her right.
Maddy also let the other girl know that a six year old beat her.

The girls found their own little "house" to keep them busy
while the rest of us climbed.

Here's Josh leading a killer climb.

Then I get to top rope that killer climb.
Which I guess makes it not so killer.

Keeping the Peace.
Maddy is in time out, the boys are making sure she stays there.

Grandpa and Gracy

Roasting mallows.

Our campfire entertainment. Josh changed Jack Johnson's song
'Mother, mother ocean,' to 'Mother, mother Moab', and
we now have our tribute song to Moab.

The kids formed their own group about 20 feet from all the adults.

Little Gracy and her big hot dog

We try to find a different hike to do every Moab trip.
We missed Rick this year, he usually comes up with an awesome hike.
We fared well though and hiked up a little stream.

Sunny dayz.
Maddy would not open her eyes for the picture.
So I said, "one, two, three, open them big!!"
...and she listened.
Posing with a lizard she caught all by herself.

Gracy has her lizard tucked away.

The Crew.

Hand stand contest.
I won.

Hot+water=naked boys.

The last day we played at a park.

Grandpa Kevin and the kids.
Marshal's always ready with the, "Cheeeeese."

There were a lot of dandelions at the park.

Spring Break April 2010

For Maddy's spring break we headed to California to spend the week with Robyn and Carleton. It was an extremely cold and wet spring in Utah and it felt so nice to feel the sun. Rob and Carleton always have fun plans for us and we got to see and do some fun things.

Here we are in Irvine Park.
Family pictures with the little ones always
turn out awesome.

The kids love to ride horses!

It appears all aboard are super excited to ride the bike boat.
Settle down kids.

Another perk of CA is climbing...on the beach.

The view from the top.

Gracy has skills.

This is Maddy climbing to the top.
She has always been fearless and loves to show off.

Here we are at an outdoor mall.
The 5-kid stroller

How did Rob and I get so lucky?
The guys told us they even managed a high five...
...while catching a wave on their totally cool boogies.

Josh and Carleton did their first triathlon!
It was a mountain triathlon, so they swam in a lake and
than mountain biked and ran on forest trails.
Here is Carleton.

Joshua.

Gracy and Annie waiting for their Dads.

We had a great time! One night a friend of Rob and Carleton's watched all the kids so we could have some grown up time. On our drive home I asked the kids what their favorite part of the trip was. Without a moments hesitation Maddy said, "When Carol babysat us!!" She did an awesome job, they had a garden theme and were doing activities all night and were tucked in bed when we got home. Good times.

Easter in July

So I'm a little behind.......

The kids and I decorated Easter eggs
while Josh was away doing a sales trip.

Here is Gracy's tired little face, early Easter morn.

Marshal was content with his big ball of chocolate.
(I'm content too when I have one of those Lindt chocolates)
yummy

Marshal's putting out the vibe in his new outfit
Grandma Tammy got him.

This was our view Easter morning.