Valley of the Sun

We took off for a week for spring break and headed to the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix). We met Rick, Josephine, Tyler, Tennyson, Paige, and Reece there for some time to relax and enjoy the weather.

It was our first trip to this part of the country so it was a lot of fun. We were mesmerized by the size of the Saguaro cactus and blown away to find out that they can weigh up to 100 lbs per foot! So, like good tourists we took a bunch of pictures of them - even if we had to stick our heads out the sunroof as we drove down the street! It was also interesting to see the "yards" covered in rock - thank goodness for the baseball games or we would have really missed the grass.

We fit in a couple of spring training baseball games and even got to see the Rockies new facility down there. It was fun sitting out on the grassy hill in the outfield - Cayden was set on catching a home run ball but we never did see one close to us.

We also went on a hike on South Mountain with the boys. They did great - made it 3 miles and up 1200 feet to the top of the trail and back down without being carried! We hit the Zoo for a day and spent the remainder of the time in the pool! What a great trip!!

CCV

The boys were excited to see the cactus and maybe catch a ball!

Cayden swimming with Reese, Unc T and Aunt Tenny in the hot tub.

Cayden's action shot.

Dylan's big leap.

Jan and the boys watching the game (and Unc T's giant toe).

Out for a hike

Group shot if front of what the boys called the "King Cactus"

Up on top

We let Jan cook one night and it got out of control! ;)

We went to a train park and took a ride on the little train. We saw our first Roadrunners from the train so the boys were very excited.

This was one of the places we ate and boy were the margaritas gooooooood!

First tooth gone!

Mini Vacation to Duluth

(click on the collage image to see a larger version)

The Grand Finale! We have told the kids all winter as they practiced and practiced on our one little hill out at Elm Creek that we would take them on a ski trip to a bigger place. This weekend we went to Duluth to visit the Vos family and take a little mini vacation. It was fun to see our great friends, Jim, Emily, Nora, Joe, and Luke.

Saturday the conditions were 30+ mph winds, so we decided to bag skiing and go rock climbing at Vertical Endeavors. After a short lesson, Cayden and Dylan were able to make it to the top of a few of the climbs and were so proud to ring that bell before "repelling down".

Saturday night we got to experience The Vos Family sauna for the first time (complete with making the right of passage run from the sauna to the house in swimsuits through the snow). Man did that feel great (the sauna and the run)!

Sunday we went skiing in a nice balmy 30 degrees at Spirit Mountain. It was amazing to see them fly down the hill doing their turns, go through the half pipe and up and over the big jumps in the aerial park. And they finally got to ride the chair lifts we've been telling them about and experience a run that takes longer to get down than to go up. Chris and I were proud of them. It amazes me sometimes how they
just pick something up and run with it. We did give ourselves a little pat on the back too for being good ski instructors...they adapted right away and had no problem upgrading to the bigger hills. They were well prepared. YEAH!

Oh yeah, and Chris and I thought it was so nice to rent "nice" shaped skiis and experience the true beauty of modern ski equipment and POLES! (We haven't bothered with poles all season because they just get in the way when you're trying to teach the kids.) Wow, what a difference skis that are shorter (160's and my antiques are 194's!!) and lighter make. They practically turn themselves!!

Another life sport under their belts...check it off the list! Now it's just time to have fun doing it together. Mountains of the west, here we come! They are ready.

Thank you Vos Family for a fabulous weekend!

Jan

Halloween every day at our house

This is a fun one that I lost for a while. About a month ago Abuelo and Drina (my Dad and Amy) stopped by for a visit. For whatever reason the boys all of a sudden wanted to get dressed up on their Halloween costumes to show them!


CCV