Roughing it....

This past weekend we took a much anticipated trip that we had been planning for months. We rented a cabin with some friends for the weekend. Greer, AZ is about 4-5 hours NE of Phoenix halfway between Flagstaff and Albuquerque. It is about 8500 feet in the Pine trees and is beautiful. But most importantly this time of year it is about 20-30 degrees cooler than Phoenix.

We had a great time enjoying the weather, each others company and letting the kids wear themselves out running around and chasing the local ducks. The cabins were very nice, from the hot tub to the leather sofas to the jacuzzi tub, we were definitely roughing it.



A view from the lodge of the trout ponds. We never did fly fish, maybe next trip.


Rowen, Payton and Beau.


Wende and Chyler


Wende and Macie


The kids checking out the ducks. They chased them all over the property and back.


Macie and her Daddy.


Macie telling Beau to focus on what's important, her!




Macie, Beau and Payton.


The Hamblins.


On Saturday afternoon I decided to take a little nature walk while the girls were napping. I was hoping it would rain so I could enjoy the weather. I was NOT planning on a huge hail storm with marble size hail. After being soaked through, I finally took refuge from the hail under a cabin porch. It was cold, but still a lot of fun. Kind of reminded me of being a kid again, playing in the rain.

March 13, 2009

Happy Birthday Grandmas

July is birthday month for both my mom and Wende's mom. We wanted to share some pics of them with their favorite grandchild. Ok so Macie is the only grandchild on my side, but that is a minor detail. Anyone that knows them knows how much they love their grand kids and how great they are as grandmas. We love you both! Happy birthdays!

Weeble Wobble

About three years ago when we first got our dog Tiki, my dad gave us a little toy for her called a weeble wobble. It is a small oval plastic toy that she is obsessed with. To this day when you give it to her, she will bug you to play catch with it until you take it away from her. Macie has learned how much Tiki loves her weeble wobble and will keep it from her. While playing the other day it got tossed under the TV stand. I had to snap a couple of pics of the two of them trying to figure out how they were going to get it out.







Wende bought this cute hat for Macie and she loves to wear it around the house. I think she is starting to like the camera.

Baby steps

An update on the swimming. Macie has officially graduated from the splash mat to a kiddie pool. She loved it. Probably because it was as warm as bathwater.





As you can see it is so hot here we add ice cubes to our pools. Funny thing was, it melted in about 2-3 minutes.

Holt Family Reunion

Last weekend while in Salt Lake we went to Wende's family reunion. The Holt's got together for some food, visiting and fun. The location was in the mountains above Heber. It was beautiful and the weather could not have been better. Enjoy the pics!



Crystal, Ashley, Susan, Wende, Macie, Sariah, and Kayvon


Ashley and Macie


Uncle Jim and Macie


Marie and Gavin


Jim, Mari, Grandma Holt and Crystal


Me and my brother-in-laws: Chad, Evan, Kayvon and Ben


Kathryn, Kayvon and Stockton Motiee


Macie, Wende, Susan, Stockton and Kathryn


Macie and Grandma Holt


Liz showing her best side


Evan and Boo


Wende and Liz, note the only way Wende could get her to smile was to cop a feel.

Happy Belated 4th of July

We have lived in Arizona for 3 years now and we have yet to spend a 4th of July here. Every year we try to escape the heat for the weekend and enjoy some cooler weather.

This year we headed north to our homeland of the Salt Lake Valley. Wende's sister Kathryn and her husband Kayvon were nice enough to let us stay at their home. We got to spend a little time with Stockton, Macie's cousin.

For the 4th we hit up the local park for some games, pizza and fun. That night Wende and I enjoyed some fireworks in the front yard while Macie slept.

Kayvon always being the good sport and host watching some movies with the nieces and nephews.

Wende and her sisters playing some cards.

Grandpa and Macie feeding the fish in the pond behind their house.

We have to be the luckiest parents. Macie slept both ways on the flight to and from Salt Lake. As you can see here we were all pooped after a long, very fun weekend.