Grand Canyon - better really late then never!

Okay so this post is about 5 months late but I didn't forget. I think I might try and catch up on some of the bigger highlights I have forgotten. Probably the BIGGEST is the much anticipated Grand Canyon Trip - and by much anticipated I mean Kyle has been on a waiting list for about 16 years for the family to get to do this again. And before I show how wonderful the trip was you all need to know the story behind me NOT being there.

About 11 years ago while we were engaged Kyle took me to dinner and told me he needed me to promise him something. He wouldn't tell me what, he just said there is something very important he wants to do with me and he needs me to promise I will do it before he tells me what it is. After much persuasion I gave in and promised. He then told me his family is on a waiting list to go on the Grand Canyon again (Kyle did this with his family when he was young) and he so badly wants to have that experience with me. After 10 years of marriage and 4 more kids when the time came for the trip he never mentioned me going. One day I said "Maybe I should go too just to see Adia have this experience"... I was quickly told "No. You wouldn't like it and not only would you ruin it for me you would probably ruin it for everyone." So I was uninvited and Adia took my place - WHATEVER!

But I was still SO HAPPY for them to have this opportunity and here are some pictures of the fun they had.

Getting read to go... hair station. Notice there are 2 people working on Adia. :)

Adia and Kyle ready to go!

Finally after years and years of waiting they are ON THE WATER! and they don't get to get off of it for 14 days!!!

The group was Kyle, Adia, his parents, 3 of his sisters (2 brought spouses), 2 brothers and their wives, 1 cousin, 1 nephew and 1 really old guy that is a long time rafting buddy of the family... he has done this trip I think like 30ish times.

Here are the guides - each responsible for one of the boats.

Group shot - when Adia got home she mentioned several times how lucky she is to have such a fun family...

but mostly she mentioned her love of UNCLE TY &

UNCLE BEN who kept her more entertained than the river.

And here she is with her wonderful Grandpa who pulled the whole thing together for everyone for a second time. Our family has so many amazing memories due to this man and his love of travel and water and nature and family!

The fun group again.

Here is what it looks like to set up a kitchen in a canyon.

Even chopping tomatoes is fun in there.

And what would they have done without all the card games???

Shaving is a mandate in our family... I was so proud of her for this picture. Kyle don't me that she probably wouldn't shave the whole time but I knew my girl would and I love that she did!

There is so much I could tell you about the trip and all the cool hikes they went on, the beautiful things they saw, the crazy rapids, the entertaining fights (yep, they are a real family) and more but I will just end with a bunch of adorable father daughter shots. If you can look past my two cuties than you will notice that yes indeed God is a marvelous Creator and his artwork in that canyon is truly awe inspiring. I'm so grateful Kyle and Adia had this opportunity!

The End!

Daddy Adventures #1 - Lost Lake

Due to the recent realization that I will never be an outdoorsy kind of lady (no matter how hard I try) and that I tend to ruin trips to nature that the kids would otherwise LOVE (as well as my husband) we have come to the conclusion that 1 or 2 times a month the kids get to have a "Daddy Adventure". We marked it on the calendar as such and when the 1st one came dad told them what to wear, dad packed a picnic and dad went on a 2 hour drive to go explore some lake he had heard of. All the while mom stayed clean, didn't have to fight to defend herself from vicious bugs and was nice and cool in her air conditioned home! The kids had a blast, I got stuff done, Adia gets to practice photography skills, Kyle and I didn't fight and when they come home they get to relive the day all over when they share with me and show me all the cool pictures. Here are some of the highlights of our wonderful new idea!

What a perfect way to explore nature. The kids were so proud of themselves and loved telling me how much I would have been scared of the car ride (and how mad at dad I would have been), freaked out by the snake, I wouldn't have been daring enough to climb out on the rocks and I LOVED nodding my head in agreement and making them think I am beyond impressed with the ADVENTUROUS spirit all of them have!

Thanks for going without me guys! I can't wait for the the next one!

Worlds Greatest Dad

First, let me apologize for not keeping up with blogging lately... I must admit I am a bit in over my head with rearranging my house and prepping school for the fall... I should be caught up soon so hopefully I can catch up.

We had a wonderful Fathers Day celebrating Kyle - The World's Greatest Dad (Avery has asked him at least monthly for the last year to wear that shirt and he finally put it on for Father's Day )! Every year I seem to be more amazed at the wonderful father he is and want to do more and more and yet I also seem to be more aware that we are on a budget and have a harder time thinking of creative ways to spoil him and show our appreciation for all he does. Here is a photo re-cap of our day.


5:30 - I wake up to begin getting ready to be sure I can do everything without Kyle's help and have all of us out the door for church at 8:30. Below is all the kids who joined us in bed that night (oops - I'm sure he would have preferred to not have Adison cramping his space).
7:45 - Gift #1 We wake dad up singing "Happy Father's Day to You", give him a gift bag full of wrapped cards and serve him Breakast in bed.

8:40 - We leave for church.... no pictures of that miracle!

11:30 - Gift #2 We give dad a Northern CA plant guide and animal guide - then Avery announces that they get to go use them on the hike mom ruined on Mother's Day. We also let him know that mom and the 2 babies will be staying home to insure they ENJOY it this time around.

5:30 - Gift #3 Mom gives him a new pillow and tells him to relax while she finishes dinner... the goal was for him to get a nap at this point but they got home too late. ( I do have pictures of this part but this is a bit long so we will skip those).

7:00 - Gift #4 Everyone had to be showered and ready for bed before the final gift -Star Wars DVD's. Then after a mini talent show we spread out on the sofa to watch Star Wars Episode I.

It was a great day for a GREAT DAD!