51st State

Did you know we now have 51 states in the United States of America? Yep, that's right Jay has come up with a new state and capital. One would think he would name it something cool and give it an awesome capital name but no, the new state's name is New Vermont with the capital city of Player, not Players, but single, Player. Jay is learning all the states and capitals and knows most of them and decided there needed to be a New Vermont state so when I quiz him on the capitals I need to include New Vermont. He has also decided he will name his son Trenton so the capital of New Jersey is "my son Trenton." I just wanted to let you all know in case you get quizzed on this at school. It is important to know all 51 states not just the 50 you thought there were.

On another note we started baseball, here is Jay playing catcher. He only got hit in the arm once and says he needs a cup. He looks so small playing catcher but he liked it okay. We will see what the season brings. I hope my boys like baseball. I will be posting about Jack soon.

Spring Break Friday

After we left the Grand Canyon on Thursday we drove to Flagstaff to our hotel. We woke up Friday morning with really no sure plan. Do we go to Walnut Creek or to Sedona? Well Sedona won out so we took the drive from Flagstaff through Oak Creek Canyon on down to Sedona. It is one of the prettiest drives out there. Even my kids stopped asking to watch the movie and enjoyed the scenery. They kept saying Big Foot could live out in the woods and kept their eyes open for him. They never found him but they know he is out there somewhere. On our way to Sedona we stopped at Slide Rock. I had never been there and was awed by the beauty. I love the red rocks with the green trees coming out. The contrast amazes me. We loved Slide Rock and we want to go back in the summer when the water and the temperature is a little warmer.

Although the water was freezing it didn't stop Jack from getting in. He loves the water. Jay only got in when this nice old man bribed him with a quarter. Jay jumped in and got right out then went back to the man to collect. I was laughing and then Jack had to get back in because he couldn't get shown up by his brother. We had a great time and enjoyed seeing different parts of Arizona. Next year I think it's Tombstone and down South.

Spring Break Thursday

Spring Break Thursday took us from Prescott Valley to Williams then onto the Grand Canyon. Ryan and I had talked about going to Bearizona with the kids but we weren't sure if we should. I am very happy we did. It was more than I expected. We got there just as the bird show was starting so we watched that and learned all about falcons, hawks, and owls. The birds flew right over our heads and I swear I even got hit by one. It was cool. Then we walked around the zoo part of the park and saw wolves and the bears. The animals were so active. The bears were all climbing the trees and fighting and totally showing off and the wolves woke up and started howling. I was amazed at how active the animals were. Once we were done walking we got in our car and drove through the park. There was more bears, wolves but also bison, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. Again the animals were active and very fun to watch. My kids loved it and wanted to go back. 

Jay and Jack watching the bears. We watched them along time, they were so much fun to watch. 

 Kate, Jay and Jack watching and listening to the wolves.

 Kate, Jack and Jay stealing the bear's honey.

 Once we left Bearizona we headed to the Grand Canyon. I have been to the Grand Canyon a few times but when I get done hiking on the South Rim I never look back into the Canyon so I was amazed when I could see Indian Gardens from the top. Indian Gardens is 4.5 miles down and when you are hiking out of the canyon it is a long 4.5 miles to get out but from the top it didn't seem too far. We hiked down to the first sign that says "do not attempt to go to the river and back in one day." So many people do this I always laugh when I read the signs. My kids loved the Canyon and I told them when they are 12 I will hike rim to rim with them. They seemed to be on board with that.

  Sitting at the top of the canyon with my family.

We met up with my cousin Kelli and her family at the Grand Canyon. I hiked the Canyon last year with Kelli and her husband Ryan so it was fun to meet up with them and enjoy the Canyon when we weren't so sore.

Kate, Rowen, Jay, Easton, Jack, Afton, and Barrett

When we were heading back to the car we saw all these deer. There were a bunch and they just hung out and ate the grass. We stayed around and watched them for awhile and my kids thought it was so cool. As we were driving out of the park we saw about five elk off the side of the road so my kids were very happy with all the animals we saw that day.

Spring Break Wednesday

I have no pictures to show for Wednesday but the kids all had so much fun. They woke up to their cousins at their house and donuts. What else did they need. I sent all the kids outside and and tried to clean up my house but no such luck. Joe picked up Keelie and Hadlie around 10 and then I took my kids and Karrie's kids to my parents. I then came home cleaned my house, showered, and packed my kids for our trip to see Arizona.
While at my parents house Kelli's kids all came over and they got to play with their second cousins. They went swimming at my Uncle Steve's and Aunt Cindy's house, played whifffle ball, caught ladybugs and just had a great time. I love that there are cousins so close and that my kids know them, even their second cousins.
Finally around 3:30 we were ready to leave so we loaded up the car and all of the kids, Jack, Jay, Kate, Jacob, Abby, Hannah, and Annie and headed up to Prescott Valley. My kids love going there and it was so fun to see Karrie, Jeremy and baby Claire. Karrie is a great host and we had a great time hanging out there for a night. And it was a perfect start of our seeing Arizona vacation.

Spring Break Tuesday

Spring Break was busy busy so I am posting about it day by day. Tuesday started without any kids. Joe and I made a deal. He would take Jay and Kate, Jack was spending the night and Julie's, and Hannah and Annie on Monday night, which left me without kids, and I would then take the kids on Tuesday night and give him and Cassie a break. So Tuesday morning was nice to wake up to a very quiet house. Ryan and I each got up and worked out. I went running he went biking and we didn't have to worry about who was watching the kids. But later in the morning I got a text from Joe to meet at the Arizona Museum of Natural History. Since he had four free passes and I have a year membership we were able to get everyone in for free. We had Jay, Kate, Keelie, Hadlie, Hannah, Annie, Joe, Cassie and myself. We had a great time. It has been awhile since I have been and I could have spent a lot longer there but the kids all got hungry and tired. Good thing I have a year pass and can go unlimited number of times.

Jay, Hannah, Keelie, Hadlie, Annie and Kate in front of the museum, with one of the many dinosaurs.

 Jay making his ape face, Cassie told him there was his twin. He didn't get it.

Panning for gold. The kids thought they were so rich.

Uncovering the T-Rex. The kids could have stayed and and unburied the dinosaur for hours but there were other kids who wanted to play and we needed to share.

At the museum they have a section that tells about what movies have been filmed in AZ there are a lot. Jay and Hannah

After the museum we went back to my house and for the second day in a row I heated the jacuzzi and the kids all swam. We were outside the entire afternoon. The kids all loved swimming. They would jump into the swimming pool that is not heated then jump back into the jacuzzi to get warm. It was good fun and now I know I need to get a lot more towels, pool toys, and goggles. It was also nice to have everyone swimming because they were warn out and slept very good that night when I had nine kids sleeping at my house. It was worth it though and I hope Joe and I swap kids often.

Maddix Hall, Abby, Jack, Hannah, and Kate

Spring Break Monday

I love the tradition of getting up early and heading out to Usery Pass on the first Monday of Spring Break. This year was great, no cooking, just donuts, juice, bagels, and fruit. My kids love playing with their cousins and hanging out. I love talking with my brothers and sisters and mom and dad. Plus Taylor and Kyley are now old enough to hang with the adults.  We were few on numbers since Laura's father-in-law is sick, Karrie just had a baby and lives in Prescott Valley, although my dad picked up the Platt kids and we got to hang out with them all week, and Mark was in California, but we still laughed and had great conversation.

 Jack, Jay, Abby, Hadlie, Hannah, Kyley, Keelie, MacGregor, Annie and Kate

 The boys showing off their muscles, Jay, Jacob, Ty, Jack and Wyatt. I love that they are such great friends and enjoy hanging out.

Half of the grandkids with my mom and dad. 

Jacob, Jay and Ty.

My weekend

I had a great weekend. I have no pictures to show for it but it was wonderful.

Friday was great. I went on a date with Ryan to see "Wicked." I bought the ticket about a year ago and had been looking forward to March 2, 2012 for a long time. Before "Wicked" Ryan and I went to dinner and enjoyed some nice adult conversaion. I love going to dinner with Ryan. But back to "Wicked" it is my most favorite play out there. I could go and see it tomorrow if I had tickets and money to buy unlimited tickets. Ryan even said he liked it and would go every other year. Which says a lot about the play.
Saturday started nice and early at 4:30, Ryan had signed us up for a half marathon. Ryan was not able to run it because he hurt his calf and needs to have it heal. But I ran it. I kept thinking I don't want to run it and I knew Saturday was coming but I chose to ignore it. Well it came and before I left for the race I said a prayer for help. My Great Aunt Sybil had passed away and my mom was speaking at the funeral. The funeral started at 10am and the race started at 7am. So I prayed saying I know I am being selfish but I want to run and go to the funeral, please give me strength to run and finish the half marathon in time to get to the funeral. So I went and ran not really excited about it and I finished with a PR, 2:14:22, my previous PR was 2:14:44. I know my prayer was answered because I finished the race gave Ryan, who was volunteering and gave me my medal, a huge hug, grabbed some water, an apple, a jamba juice, changed my clothes, washed my face and made it to the funeral with about five minutes to spare.
The funeral was good. Again prayers were answered because my mom, who doesn't like to speak in public since her stroke almost three years ago, did an amazing job. I learned a lot about my great Aunt Sybil who was the youngest of 12 children and was the last to die. I learned that the piano I learned to play on and now my Jack is learning on came from her. My mom bought it from her for $125.00 and now I have it. I learned that when my dad finished officer's training for the Marine Corps my Aunt Sybil pinned his bars on him since my mom could not be there. When my mom was able to join my dad in Virginia my Aunt Sybil showed her around and helped my mom out. Aunt Sybil was a school teacher and supported her husband through school and was able to have only one child and then adopted two more. She served many missions with her husband and was so faithful.  She lived a life of love, service, charity and kindness. I know she has been welcomed into heaven.
After the funeral, still no shower, we had the last of Jack and Jay's basketball games. I went to Jay's two and then met Ryan for Jack's last of three games. Jay's team was "undefeatable" as Jay says and really did win all of their games.He had a fun team to watch and Jay improved. Jack's teams did pretty good. Ryan had so many people request him as a coach that he had two teams to coach. Ryan was great and Jack really improved.
The weekend ended on Sunday with a quick trip up to Prescott Valley to meet my new niece Claire, to see Karrie, and the rest of the Platts. I instantly fell in love with little Claire and my kids had so much fun playing with their Platt cousins. In fact Karrie made Jay cry when she jokingly said her kids went to St. Johns with her in-laws and not to church like they thought. Thankfully Jay realized she was kidding once all the kids showed up and then I didn't see my kids until lunch was served and then when my dad said it was time to go.
It was a great weekend and I need to do better at taking pictures not just writing the words. I know I am truly blessed and I am grateful for all I have.

newest niece

My newest niece, Emma Claire Platt. Born on February 28, 2012 weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces and 20 inches long. Karrie says Claire is perfect and has the cutest dimples. I can't wait to meet her and see how Karrie is doing. I can't believe Karrie has four girls. Yikes that's a lot of hormones in later years.