Spring Break

Beware. This is going to be a long post. So save yourself some time and just make up your own story about our spring break by looking at the pictures! For my journaling purposes, I'm going to tell all the stories- and if you want to read them, grab a snack!
We had a fun and very eventful spring break this year. Not that we planned it that way- it just all ended up that way. Friday afternoon we left Mesa with our dynamic-duo friends, Ellen and Josh and drove up to my parents cabin. The cabin had been hit with A TON of snow over the last month so for the first hour we were there Josh and Ryan took turns getting their vehicle stuck in the snow and having the other pull them out. I guess that's why we have a 4 wheel drive Tahoe. Saturday we spent most of the day outside in the snow. It was awesome. The sun was out, it was warm enough to stay out in it for a few hours and tons of snow on the sledding hill. Here's some pics of Saturday:

This is Ellen just about to hit the " Bum Buster" jump. I was a little early with the camera, so you don't get to see her catch some wicked air.

Here's Josh getting a little crazy on the sled. I think he fell off in fear more times that he made it over the jump.

This is what Kate did the whole time we were sledding. She lasted about 5 minutes and then sat on the porch the rest of the time.

Clark had the time of his life. He was making snow balls, snow angels and had fun watching the adults make fools of themselves.

Ok- this needs some explaining. Ellen is having a Peeps contest on her blog- so we each bought a bunch of peeps to do random things with and take pictures to enter her contest. If you want to check it out, go to her blog at wizardofhaws.blogspot.com

This is the pile of all the peeps we had before we did our funny things with them. I'm not going to tell you what- you'll have to check out her blog to see my entry.

On to the next part of our spring break- Thursday we went to the Phoenix Zoo with my sister Nancy and her son Jack and my friend Erin with her kids Ide and Grady. Here's Clark, Kate, Ide and Grady in the back climbing the fence trying to get to the giraffes.

Kate and Clark petting a goat in the petting zoo.

Ide and Kate were best of buds by the end of the day.

The kids had a great time together, although they didn't get to see all the animals, as Erin, Nancy and I talk too much and didn't walk very fast! So I guess we will have to make another trip soon to see the other half of the zoo!

Friday my Mom took some of her grand kids bowling. Here is Kate with my niece Hannah.

Clark and his favorite cousin, Jacob.

Bowling now a days is awesome for kids! They had these ramps the kids just line up and let the ball roll down. That with the bumper rails- my kids scored higher than I ever do!

Here's the whole clan from left to right on the top: Caleb, Nana, Conner, Hannah and Ella. Bottom: Jacob, Eden, Nicki, Clark, Kate, Haylee and Leah.

Thanks Nana!

During the week of spring break the City of Mesa has their WSI (Water Safety Instructor) classes. Basically it's teenagers getting certified to teach swim lessons. So on Wednesday through Friday they have free lessons for the people in the class to practice teaching lessons. You usually have to sign up, but when your sister is the head of the aquatics program- you get hooked up! Although I have taught Kate and Clark how to swim, it is always good for them to get in the water and swim!

The first day was awful. I didn't prepare Kate and Clark and when we got there and they realized that I was not getting in, they freaked. So after lots of talks about how we act at swim lessons and a little bribery, they did great Thursday and Friday.

Here's Kate doing a back float- kind of.

Here's Clark doing freestyle or what we call 'big arms'.

Saturday was Jack's first birthday! Here he is with his daddy Rusty.

Jack came over to our house Saturday morning so Nancy and Rusty could clean out their garage. I took him and my kids back to Nancy's about noon for Jack's 'party'. We just came over to eat the cake and ice cream!

Kate is like me and only ate the ice cream.

Here's all the kids helping Jack open his presents.

PHEW! I made it through. That was our spring break!