Flying and a flying horse?

We got to go visit some friends this past weekend.  We'd been trying to get this visit worked out for a long time, and we were so glad it finally happened.  They live a ways away from us in farm country.  He's a pilot.  They have a runway in their front yard.  Kids played all evening and the next morning while they waited for their turns to fly.

Right away Miss F noticed the airplane and was quite excited.  She started signing "horse" or "cow"  (it's the same sign for her since her fingers can't do the details of each one) every time she saw the plane.  We showed her the sign for airplane, but she insisted on excitedly signing "horse" every time the airplane appeared.  What a fun, big, yellow horse. :)

Most of the kids went up.  Mr. R and Mr. S decided they didn't want to go up.  I think Mr. S was just having too much fun playing with his friends.   Miss F seemed content enough to just watch.  Mr. M got to go on the last flight of the morning and help put the airplane away in the hanger.

What a fun adventure!  We're thankful for sweet friends to share adventures and fellowship with.

Blizzard!

I knew snow was in the forecast, but was surprised when I looked closer to find that we were expecting a blizzard.  We were out all day and arrived home just as the snow started.  We settled in to the clean and cozy house with candles lit for dinner and reading Little House in the Big Woods while we waited for daddy to get home.  It took him a couple of hours to make his way home, that snow had started accumulating quickly!

The kids were so excited in the morning.  Out the front of the house the storm was still looking quite impressive.  The drifts were at least a couple of feet high in many places.  We prepared a fun breakfast of waffles, sausage and eggs while daddy prepared to get into work (only delayed for 2 hours).  After working for over an hour to get out of here (with the help of his boys) it was determined that he would not be getting out.  The 4WD truck was stuck about 20 feet from where it had started.

We were needing to pack our Operation Christmas Child boxes so we got that done in the morning.

*She thinks she helped.  In reality she just had a couple of  extra dum-dums

Boys headed out to play in the snow for about an hour before lunch, and then right back out again after.  Miss J joined them in the afternoon once the snow and wind stopped.  Miss A was sure she should be out there too, but we managed to distract her.

*This is where the truck got stuck.  Right in front of the house.  Our neighbor made it a bit further; his car is abandoned halfway down his driveway.

*Yes, they tunneled through the snow drift.  The one at our front step.

A Grand (Canyon) adventure!

We promised the kids that we would go to the Grand Canyon while living in Arizona.  Well, we have under two months left here, and we are just now going.  Nothin' like waiting 'til the last minute, eh?  So we packed up the trailer and hit the road.

We were headed up to a favorite camping spot.  The kids were so excited they almost wanted to skip the big hole in the ground to just stay and play!

The Grand Canyon was absolutely beautiful.  I think it was lost on the kids though.  Mr. K and Miss J were awfully excited about the water (the river...WAY DOWN at the bottom).  Nearly all of the kids were excited about the snake at the first stop.

We (all) managed to climb all the way to the top of the Watch Tower.  What a hike, but what a view!

We enjoyed a nice lunch and a few more stops and then headed back to camp for the day.

Camping, mom style (with a trailer)

We recently purchased a trailer.  It is a gift to our family from my dad.  A fun way for the kids to remember the fun they had with him in his trailer, and an investment in our family.  We enjoy camping, but don't go often since pregnant bellies, babies, and I don't mix well with tents, sleeping bags and cooking in the great outdoors.  This is a way to get us out more with some of the comforts of home (a bed and kitchen for mom).

We've tested it out twice.  Just here in town at a local RV park where we purchased the trailer.  The kids have really been enjoying the "sleep overs" and playing in the pool there.

 

We are looking forward to taking it out on a real trip, and are grateful for a couple of practice nights to help us figure out logistics and such.  It will be exciting to see where we end up taking this!

A Beast feast!

We finally recieved The Beast that I won recently. We were so exicted to get it, that Daddy declaired a "feast day."

It was really just a good excuse to go to Pinacle Peak at Traildust town. Rob has been wanting to take everyone to Pinacle Peak since we moved here. We've been driving by it regularly and even stopped there to check it out with Grandpa and Grandma. The kids were so excited to get to go. The first thing we did was stop in the shooting gallery.

Oh, did you notice the ties that everyone is wearing? Well, it seems that Pinacle Peak has one rule, and that is NO TIES! If you are a "law breaker" and wear a tie they will cut it off. Yea, fun!

Everyone but me and Mr. K was wearing a tie, so they all got in "trouble" and had their ties cut off.

 

Dinner was steak for mom and dad.  The kids had hot dogs, chicken, quesadillas, and beans.  Everyone seemed happy with their meals, though the real appeal was all of the fun was already had, and that we were about to have!

After dinner we wandered around Trail Dust town a bit and went for a train ride.

Then we headed over to the out door theater for the stunt show. Most of the kids had a great time at the stunt show. Mr. K was not so sure about all of the gun shots and even an explosion, but he didn't seem to mind cuddling up close with mommy, so he decided to just sit still and quietly with my hand over his ear.

The have a little farris wheel there too. Four of the older kids went for a ride on it. Mr. R decided to hang out with Mom and Dad on solid ground. I think he is a smart guy. ;)

On our way out it happened to be time for the second stunt show. All of the kids asked if we could please watch the second showing. With that much excitement we figured we may as well stay.

What's with the weather?

Moving around so much with the military has taken us to many areas of the country, which means many climates as well.  We've often marveled at the wonders of God's creation, one of those marvels being weather.

Watching the water go slowly from calm to turbulent showing the signs of the incoming storm before the sky shows any hint of what is coming.  A blizzard that shuts down the city the day after a hot sunny day.  Foggy dreary mornings that turn into warm sunny afternoons.  These are all situations that we have marveled at during past assignments.  This assignment has been no different; in that it too is very different.  ;)

All year we've been mumbling about this supposedly hot desert which we've moved to, one that we had heard rumors about never needing anything heavier than a light jacket a couple of days a year, as we've experienced freeze warnings (and had to wrap our pipes to prevent freezing and bursting), and the need for long johns, heavy coats, hats, mittens and scarves!

This past week took the cake though.  We've been enjoying highs in the 80's for about a week when all of a sudden it all came crashing down.  The high wind told of the impending weather change, so I stopped putting all of those warm winter clothes away.

The clouds rolled in.

 

The hail came down, and it looked like there may have even been snow mixed in!

When the clouds lifted we could see snow on the mountains.  This is the view I would expect to see in March (minus the cactus) while living in Colorado, but NOT in Arizona!

We are back on our way up to 80's again, and despite the ups and downs we are truly enjoying living here!  I guess we all needs ups and downs in our lives anyways.  They keep us on our toes and keep us marveling at God's creation as well as His love for us.

A hike with Daddy!

Rob has been wanting to take the kids out for a hike now that things have settled down around here a bit. I had a big task to handle at home though, so we decided that the best use of our time would be to have me stay home with Mr. K.  Miss E asked if she could stay and help, so Rob left her and Miss C behind as well.

They drove about 1 hour up the mountain to a trail  that had been recommended by a friend.  Miss J was thrilled to be included with the "big kids" and did not seem to mind that she was the only girl going.

I've been enjoying hearing stories of their adventures as they....

Explored the mountain.

Played in snow.

 

Checked out the stream.

And just had a great time with daddy.

I'm looking forward to going on the next hike with them.