Adam's Birthday Adventure...a few weeks ago

We went away for 24 hours for Adam's birthday and this is one of the places we went. Isn't it beautiful? These colors don't last long in Utah...and as we speak they have faded into yellow, then grey.

AW and the Idol

As some of you may not know...AW really likes to watch American Idol...we Tivo it and such...which is not all that unsual, considering many people do, but I reached a new understanding of his IDOL thoughts just the other night...

We were driving and suddenly he asked, "If you had to choose a song to sing from Motown on American Idol, what would it be?"

Me: "What?"
AW: "What song would you sing from Motown?"
Me: "I have no idea. The thought has never crossed my mind..."
AW: "REally? I ask myself what I would sing every week..."

AW has his songs all picked out?

W
O
W

REally?
So, he's a closet American Idol contestant. Too bad he's a little over the age limit because I know he'd be there waiting in line.

Personally, I think he should try out for Survivor...he'd win. I'm sure of it. :)

Viva Mexico!

So we spent some time with Adam's company in Playa del Carmen, Mexico! We had soooo much fun!

There were a million mexican trinkets to buy...on every corner... and from every native...(at least that's what it felt like). Our hotel was teaming with monkeys, peacocks, swans, turtles, and these little muskrat type things....thank goodness no crocodiles in the hotel! :)

We climbed to the top of the temple in Coba, after riding these 1950's looking bikes through the jungle to get there. (I need to find the accent marks on my keyboard, but I don't know where they are :) Adam raced his friend to the top...I mean after looking at this steep climb, I have to ask, 'really, is that necessary?'"


We went to the local Cenote's (which are underground caverns with fresh water lakes)...Adam always wanted to jump first...and the highest (I'm sensing a trend here...) And I jumped too! Some had weird little blind, black fish swimming around. The underground tunnels go for miles and miles.

As you can see the water was AMAZING...and our favorite archeological site was Tulum...just beautiful! We also went snorkeling and took numerous trips out on the Hobie-Cat.

Here we are enjoying local Mexican fare...and of course the monumental Chichenitza...Adam will have to tell you about that day...A long ride in a van, a torn(?) miniscus=a hobbling Adam, and an nonperscribed percocet=Adam throwing-up in the jungle. Hmmm. It was quite a day. But, we're glad we went. And the Cenote afterwards certainly cheered him up.





Our maid service created animals and such out of our towels...we were always interested in what we would find sitting on our bed after our fun adventures...this was the most unusual. Do you know what it is? We still haven't decided, but the sticker eyes and mouth crack us up.

You might be a redneck if...your ward has a Ward Rodeo

This past weekend our ward held an old traditional rodeo. We had sooo much fun. The night before we had a square dance and line dancing, along with a cakewalk and a hayride. We could not drag Sophie off the hayride. She even sat on the truck when it wasn't going.

The next day we had a fun run, a parade, old fashioned carnival games and an old time fair. Spence entered his Star Wars lego creations (and then sat and guarded it almost the whole time), Grace displayed two skirts she made with Grandma Char and her American Girl Doll modeling one (which was kidnapped by a four-year-old, and AW rescued her...thank goodness), and Sophie made cupcakes (of course!). They all won ribbons and were very happy.

Then they held a real hometown-get-down-on-the-ground-rodeo. Our second counselor got bucked off Queenie, (the oldest and nearly dead horse) and broke 4 ribs! Ouch! Grace did the Mutton Busten, and rode that ferocious sheep for quite a while, until she got thrown off and trampled. She said it was, and I quote, "the worst day of my life getting kicked in the head by a sheep." Seriously, it was good fun.

Adam was the MC for the dance and the rodeo and told a plethora of redneck jokes...like:
1. You might be a redneck if you've been married three times and still have the same in-laws. OR
2. You might be a redneck if your family tree has no forks in it.
3. You might be a redneck if you go to your family reunion looking for a date.

Any others? AW had a whole list.

Kung Fu Flower Baby

Grace's Baptism

Grace had a great day with her family and friends supporting her decision to join the church. She sang a beautiful song, When I am Baptized, with three other children who were baptized that day. And both sets of Grandparents (and Great Grandma Jane) were able to attend.
We're so proud of you Gracie!

Flying HIgh with Kite Fun!

We had some family fun behind our house flying kites! Sophie has had a beautiful fairy kite sitting in my closet for quite some time, and we FINALLY took it out for a spin. For her...it was magical. And it required serious concentration.

Spence got stuck flying strawberry shortcake. At first he said, "No thanks." And brought along his football. But after watching the girls fly their kites for a while he deceided to forgo his prejudices against "girly kites" and joined in the fun.

It was fun. We need to do that more often. The wind was perfect, a spring storm was blowing in...you can tell by the dark clouds. And Lucy had a great time just being outside.

Adam was great showing everyone how to "kite". Even me. Now, we just need to get a pirates of the carribean kite, or a batman kite for Spence!

Spring Break!

We had a great time at Zions National Park. We hiked to Hidden Valley...an extremely steep hike. We got a little nervous when at the beginning of the trail a sign cautioned us that people had fallen and died while on this hike! Hmmm.

But, we deceided we could turn around at any time. And we made it the whole way. But, it was a good thing that Spence, Grace and Sophie were with their Grandma's because there is no way we would've taken them up!

The kids had a blast as well. I took them to a different place each day. Here's the Children's Museum.








We also went to the dinosaur museum, hiked to Bridal Veil Falls, and enjoyed a crazy afternoon at Kangaroo Zoo! Whew! What a week. But we needed the break. 7 more weeks and school's out! Yipee!

Just wanted to also show you how much Lucy is growing. Like a bee-utiful little flower. 3 months and counting.