Going For A Hike

We were supposed to go see the Rockies play a spring training game Friday after Zhara got out of school but we couldn't due to some conflicts at David's work so we did the next best thing. We went "hunting" or at least that's what Alyssa called it.
Me: "No Lys we are hiking"
Lys: "no we are hunting"
Me: "Hunting what"
Lys: "Cactus"
And she was right. We hiked a mountain called Pinnacle Peak & we were looking at all the cacti that had fallen over from all the rain. Did you know that Saguaro's (the ones with the arms for those of you who don't know) only grow arms after they are 60 years old? That is just amazing to me. Here is Dad taking some pictures of the blooms for his mom

It got a little dark so we had our "picnic" in the car on the way to ice cream. We ended our night with our Friday night movie ritual. I have to say that although I would have like to have seen the baseball game, I enjoyed our evening together as a family.

A Day With Friends

Valentines day weekend (I know this is a month later but I don't have a good camera so I have to take them with my phone & I forget to send them to myself) our friends the Krainocks took the girls overnight so David could take me on a date & we met them at a Frisbee Golf course Saturday afternoon, had lunch & enjoyed the sun Zhara always has to make a silly face, but at least this way I get her to look at the camera

Don't take the helmet off....it protects your head even in the sand!

Zhara played some golf with her dad & even got one in the basket. She keeps asking when she is going to go again. We had a great time.

Yearly Family Photos

We have family pictures taken ever year & these were taken back in January. It's always fun for me to put the new pictures in the frames because I look through all the old ones & see our family grow. Time goes so fast, but there is nothing in this world that brings me more joy than these beautiful people & I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for blessing me with all 4 of them.

P is for pajama's, pancakes, pizza & princess

Last week Zhara had "P" week. Each week they focus on one letter of the alphabet & they bring an object every day that they share with everyone. On Friday they got to wear their pajama's to school, which Zhara just thought was totally awesome & I agree because who gets to wear a nightgown to school? They had pancakes for morning snack & then they had a picnic with pizza. I'm sad that Zhara's teacher has been gone for so long & for what she is going through with her cancer, but I have enjoyed every minute of being so involved at school. Alyssa enjoys it even more & I think Zhara does too. It's funny because before I had Zhara, my parents were actually worried about me being a mother because I disliked children so much & now I enjoy these kids, their hugs, the way they hold my hand & want to walk next to me, the way they yell out the window from their car to tell me goodbye. The soul of a child is so precious & I have gained a testimony that our children are who we are, they are who they see us be.

I thought this picture went with "P" because on Thursday we went for a bike ride with some friends & Alyssa was riding in her princess dress. She wanted to wear her shoes but I told her you can't ride a bike in heels.

Happy 50th birthday mom!

My mom turned 50 last Wed & she was coming down on Friday for a meeting she had in Phoenix. We decided to have a little surprise party for her since we couldn't make her Disneyland trip over Valentines. Alyssa & I made a cheesecake Friday morning.She was surprised when Aimee & Glenn showed up & we had a little party for her. I wish I had the video because when she tried to blow out her candles....there were 2....she couldn't do it. I guess 50 takes the wind out of you :)

It was some really good cheesecake

Alyssa wanted to buy Grandma a barbie, but settled for some well loved toys instead, which Grandma enjoyed (she's a good sport)

Happy birthday mom. I am so thankful you are my mother & I'm thankful that we have had these two years living so close, for all the time that we have been able to spend together & the time the girls have had with you. Here's to another happy 50 years (you could make it!) I love you.