Happy Birthday Dallin!

Dallin turned 2!  We had a very entertaining birthday celebration.  This kid loves anything to do with the Cars movie.  So he was very excited to get his "car-car" (as he calls it) pajamas, and even more thrilled when he actually opened the Cars movie.  He was ready to stop right there.  When we tried to get him to open his last gift he said "no" and ran away, so he could stare at his "car-car mo-mo" in peace.  When he finally came back, the gift bag got knocked over and toy cars of Lightning McQueen and Mater tumbled out.  He could hardly contain his excitement!  He couldn't let them out of his sight the rest of the night, preferring to zoom them around on his high chair tray around his cake, instead of eating the cake.  He is a very funny kid and we all got a kick out of his enthusiasm.  Happy Birthday Dallin!

26.2 miles

Over the last few months Sienna ran a marathon.  She ran a mile at a time, usually with Dad.  Her last mile was on a course in downtown Nashville with thousands of other kids, on the eve of the Country Music Marathon.  Way to go, Sienna!

Mini-golf

Thanks to Groupon we spent a fun afternoon at a nearby Fun Center, playing mini-golf, riding go-karts, trying out the batting cage, and playing arcade games.  We all had a lot of fun.  Dallin quickly caught on to the idea of mini-golf.  I think we found Grandpa's next golf partner.

Fashion Statement

Wow.  Watch out fashion world.  Here comes Ashley.

Spring Break

For Spring Break we usually stick around town, but this year we went to Mesa, AZ.  One of the highlights for the kids was going in the airplane, since it had been 4 years since we flew with any of them.  Bryan met us there, so I was on my own.  The three older kids sat on one side and did great.  Dallin was a lap child, on my ever decreasing lap.  He did as well as expected, but I was glad when the four hour flight was over!  The way back wasn't as exciting, and since it left early in the morning Colby and Ashley slept half the time.

 

Dallin got attached to three toy cars form the Cars movie throughout the trip and would hardly let go of them.

The day after we arrived we borrowed some camping stuff from cousins and made a two day trip up to the Grand Canyon.  It was freezing!  And it was beautiful.

In contrast, a few days later with did a desert hike closer to Grandma's house.  We started late and didn't bring enough water. Too hot!

Any activity was a favorite with the kids if it involved cousins, like the Easter Egg hunt in Grandma's backyard.  And the putting green was a big hit with the boys, little and big.

Trying out the bikes.

 

We visited a nearby ghost town, took a train ride and watched a mock gunfight.  The kids liked seeing the tall cacti.

The Phoenix Zoo was a hit, especially since it was with cousins.

Of course we took too many pictures to post, but had a great time.  Thanks for hosting Grandma!

March Randomness

Other activities and pictures from March.

We love warmer weather. (Dallin and Ashley help Sienna with her homework.)

Dallin loves "mo-mos."  He rarely ever watches them (movies), but he loves looking at them, carrying them around, and reorganizing them.

Dallin and Ashley love puzzles.

Colby loves basketball.

Dallin loves bubbles.

We all love friends and the playground.

 

Ashley loves hair accessories.

 

Bryan loves the newspaper.

We all love candy.

Bryan loves his job (and opportunities to travel, like to Greece.)

 

We love these kids.

Ashley recently finished a year long tap and ballet dance class that was held at a friend's house.  They have a basement room with laminate flooring and a wall mirror, and we all pitched in to pay for a dance teacher.  Ashley is a very cute, graceful dancer.