Havasupai 2013

We decided to take another trip to Havasupai this year.  It gets harder and harder the more kids we have - mostly because it's hard to find someone who will watch all our crazies.  Anyway, a few of Josh's siblings really wanted to go so we  went ahead with the plans.  It ended being a great trip - one of the best we've had.  We had an awesome group and mostly just had a great time together.  Our group: Josh and I, Daniel and Sidnee, Betsy, Andy and a few of his friends, and Bryson and Jordan Hammer who are in our new ward.  Fun times.

Hiking down is always a little tough.  After driving all night to get to the hilltop, we were all pretty tired.  So a 10 mile hike ends up seeming like forever.  But we all made it!

 And of course it's worth it!  Look at this amazing water.  We spent the rest of that day just hanging out at camp and playing in the water - so refreshing and so nice on sore muscles!

 Josh and all the boys immediately starting climbing the wall by the waterfall and jumping into it.  They make me a little crazy sometimes being so daring!

 Our camp - viewed from Sid's tent.

 The next day we got up and headed down to Beaver Falls for the day.  Daniel told us after the hike the first day that "there is no way I'm going on a day hike tomorrow.  No way."  Well I guess a good night's sleep helped change his mind cause he tagged along with us!

 The view from the top of Mooney Falls.  So beautiful.  

 Then the hike 200 feet down the side of the mountain.  I didn't realize until afterward that Betsy and Sidnee were super nervous about going down.  They both seemed so calm and collected, but Bets told me after that her heart was pounding.  They fooled me!  And did great!

 The day hike to Beaver is always my favorite part of the trip.  The hike is so fun with so much different scenery.  

 Looking down at Beaver Falls.

Beaver Falls.  Love this place!  We spent a few hours just climbing up and jumping down into these little pools.

 Taking a lunch break - and taking a break from the sun.
As we were getting ready to head back someone told us about some cliff jumps just 100 feet past Beaver Falls.  In all the years we've been to Havasu we have never seen the cliffs to jump off.  But we were not disappointed!  The cliff was perfect with a deep pool of water just below.  There was a 50 foot jump and a 60 foot jump.  Of course Josh and Andy jumped right away of the 60 footer.  Bryson and I took some coaxing but we both did the 50 foot jump.  I'll admit I was nervous about it but it ended up being super fun!  We'll add that to our yearly agenda for sure.

 On the way back to camp at the bottom of Mooney Falls.

 The morning we hiked out we stopped at Little Navajo Falls for one last jump. Josh, Andy Bryson and I all jumped in.  We couldn't resist one more time in this amazing water!

 The rest of the group went on ahead of us while we changed into dry clothes.  Josh was sitting by this river changing his shoes and his clothes and told me to keep an eye out for anyone while he hurried and jumped into the water to rinse off.  So he stripped down to just his shoes and socks and just then the mule train started coming around the path.  I yelled to him that someone was coming so he slid down the bank and hid under this bridge (butt naked) while the donkeys and their riders went by.  I couldn't stop laughing about it.

 I stepped on my glasses just before we left for the hike so Josh loaned me his hat.

 And he had to make do with a wet shirt to cover his head.  

We had such a fun few days together and are already planning our trip back next year!

Shopping Cart Fun

I took Rease and Keen with me to the store today and snapped this cute picture of the two of them.  Rease is such a fun older sister and is so sweet to Baby Keen.  And he just loves her too as you can tell!  So fun to have older siblings!

In the Bath

Our kids don't take many baths - its just easier for us to put them in the shower.  But when they do get baths they think it's the best!  Cute Keen is just enjoying himself!

Shooting a gun

Liev has been on a "shooting" kick lately.  Anything he finds, he pretends to shoot it like a gun.  He found this long walking stick and thought it was a perfect gun.  

On the trail

Rease and Rhen love to play on the dirt piles near our house.  There are a bunch of houses being built so there is lots of fun dirt hills around.  One morning I woke up to find that Rease and Rhen were all ready to go on a hike.  They had packed their backpacks, filled up their water bottles and were ready to hit the trail.  They jumped on their scooters and were off down the road to play on the dirt hills.  I was ok with it since I can easily see them from our front porch.  They are such fun girls and so creative!  I'm glad they are happy to play on the dirt hills!

Dad's 60th Birthday

This year is my dad's 60th birthday.  We decided as a family that it would be really great to throw a big party and invite lots of friends and family to come celebrate dad and his life.  So a few months ago, we started getting plans together.  

When the day of the party arrived, we had lots of food and a great turnout from old friends...

Current friends...

and family.  So many family members came from long distances to spend the week with us.  Both mom's house and our house were filled with family.  Chad and Nolan flew in for the weekend and we had a great time with them at our house.  

Us kids presented a special gift to dad halfway through the party.  We had converted all his old home videos to digital format for him to be able to finally watch all our family memories.  We also made a memory book for him with lots of entries from friends and family members and old pictures.  

 Everyone gathered into the family room to watch the highlight video that Josh put together for the party.  

 The grandkids really wanted to help open his gift.

 Our family at the party (we miss you Britt!)

We had such a great day and so many people came to show dad their love and support.  We love you dad!  Happy 60th Birthday!

Hiding

The kids found a perfect hiding place in the new house and thought it was so fun to try and squeeze in together!  

Washing hair

Liev wanted to wash his hair all by himself.  A couple problems he ran into:

1) He was fully dressed instead of in the shower

2) He used lotion instead of shampoo

3) He doesn't even really know how to wash his own hair - obviously.

Ice Cream Social

Dad and his bishopric hosted an ice cream social at their house and invited us to come along.  We couldn't turn down BYU Creamery Ice Cream!  We had a fun time socializing with their ward (and ours from a few months ago) and eating delicous ice cream.  So excited that summer is here!

The Kids

Just a few quick shots of our kids:

Liev showing off his new haircut - he looks so grown up now!

Rease showing off her new earrings - her birthday present this year.

Rhen showing us her dirty face.

Josh made Liev this diaper hat.

And Keen just cute as can be standing up in his crib.

Pile of Clothes

I find Keen with a pile of clothes in his bed at least a few times a week.  Liev thinks it's great to take all the clothes out of the drawers and throw them in with Keen.  I've even moved all the clothes into the closet and in drawers up on the shelf to try and prevent this.  But Liev just climbs up and gets them out anyway.  So, most of the time the boys don't have folded clothes because I'm too impatient to fold them again knowing that they'll be right back in the crib the next day.  What fun!

Climbing

I'm not sure what Liev was thinking, but he was supposed to be napping and this is how I found him instead.  He had emptied out all the clothes (and dumped them into Keen's crib) then climbed all the way to the top drawer and sat down.  Not sure how long he was in there, but he finally started calling for me because he couldn't get down.  This has happened multiple times since.  I finally got smart and moved all the boys' clothes into the closet (high enough that Liev cannot reach them) and turned the dresser toward the window so he could not climb up again.  We now have a non-functioning dresser in the boys room just waiting for Liev to outgrow this climbing phase.  Maybe one day I'll be able to use it again.

Rease turns 6!

Rease's birthday was the day after school ended - what a perfect present!  She made some good friends in her kindergarten class and invited them all to come to her party.  We had a good turnout - about 20 kids.  It was super fun for her to have her friends there!  We did a pool party since the weather was great (and it was an easy clean up for mom afterward!)  The kids loved being in the pool and squirting each other with the guns.  

 And who doesn't love a trip down the slip n slide?

 I made cupcakes this year and had capri sun and ice cream to go along with them.  

 Present time.

 Everyone wanted to be right in the middle of opening gifts and giving their gift to Rease next.  It was a little bit of chaos for a few minutes.  

 I had to throw this picture in.  Isn't he the yummiest baby you've ever seen?

 Aunt Hayley got off work just as the party was winding down and somehow she got in the middle of a water fight.  

 Rease and her friends - she said she had a great birthday!

We love our Rease!

My favorite things about Rease at age 6:

1) She is super smart.  Loves to read, ask questions, and do anything that will help her learn more.

2) Rease is a great friend.  She has made some good friends at school this year and I'm so happy to hear when she makes a new friend.  She is truly concerned about those around her and wants to make everyone happy.

3) She's my helper.  As the oldest sister, Rease is the best I could ever ask for.  She is willing to help out with the other kids whenever I need her.  She loves helping me out in the kitchen or cleaning the house.  Overall, she is a great sister and great daughter to us!

6 year old stats from Dr. Erickson:

Height: 50.5 inches - 97%

Weight: 60.63 pounds - 93%

BMI: 16.7 - 79%

Into Mischief

Keen recently found the pantry and all the goodness that it brings.  He just munched away on these chips until I found him.