Last week was spring break. I love it when the kids are home and life just kinda pauses for a minute to let you catch your breath and enjoy the time together. I used to dread spring and summer breaks, but of the last couple of years I have started to realize how fast time is going by. It just seems like every time I blink my kids are growing up. Maybe it's because last year for the whole break, I was in the hospital with my new baby. When Karly was born she appeared to everyone to be perfectly healthy. We were elated with the news and cried tears of joy for a healthy baby.
It wasn't long before our tears of joy turned to tears of sorrow as our baby started wheezing and was struggling to breath. I will never forget that moment when the doctors came in and told us that she had situs inversis. This is when all the organs are mirrored of each other. To the doctor it wasn't such a big deal, but to us we knew that this meant our little girl had PCD.
It wasn't long before our tears of joy turned to tears of sorrow as our baby started wheezing and was struggling to breath. I will never forget that moment when the doctors came in and told us that she had situs inversis. This is when all the organs are mirrored of each other. To the doctor it wasn't such a big deal, but to us we knew that this meant our little girl had PCD. 
She spent the next week in the NICU and was finally able to come home after a week in oxygen. Unfortunately, within days she developed pnemonia and we had to go back to the hospital for 4 more days. Thankfully though, since then her health has been great.
This break I was determined to spend as much time with my kids and just enjoy them. The first part of the week was the Birthday Party. On Wednesday Clarence tool Ethan to Roosevelt Lake to fish and hunt to their hearts desire. I took the opportinuty to take my girls to Flagstaff for a girls day out. I left Karly with my sister though, because she was just too little to enjoy the day with us. We brought along Sharon and Mary and watched Mars Needs Moms. I thought it was a cute movie, and my girls loved it! Afterward we ate at Cocoa's Restaurant before heading back home. of course we had to stop at a couple of stores to shop.... that's what girls do! But all in all it was a great day to spend with my girls.
On Friday we went to Phx. for Kaitlyn and Karly's check up. We meet with the docs there every 6 months or so to refill meds and keep their health in check. We brought along the whole family so we could do other stuff as well. OF course we had to stop at Bass Pro Shop.... There's no way we could go to Mesa and not stop there. I just wish I brought my stinkin' camera! My family loves that place. Shooting range, fishing games, and every hunting thing you can think of to touch, smell, and salivate over. As soon as we get into the store I turn em' loose and watch them run around the store trying to see everything possible before it's time to go... Clarence included! After about an hour or so I start the hunt to track em all down and get them out of the store. For lunch we ate at Famous Dave's BBQ place. One of the best BBQ places you'll find on that side of the state! We have been trying to get our kids to keep their rooms clean, so this waas their reward for having their rooms clean for 3 weeks!
After that we had a special surprise for them. We told them we had to go downtown to pick up something for the office. What we really did is take them to the Science Museum in Phx. They have been wanting to do this for a long time, so after scouring th internet and finding 1/2 price tickets, we agreed to go. Again, my camera!!! I actually brought it but left it in the van. I was so mad. There were so many fun things to see and do! They loved going through the stomach and sliding down while the tummy made gurggly noises and tooted when you went through. It was kinda gross, but kinda cool! They layed on a bed of nails, learned about static electricity, watched a tornado, played mind games, and SO MANY other things! This was defianetly a cool place to take kids. I think we will go back some time. We didn't stay as long as they would have liked to on account that I wasn't feeling well. After a year of nursing a baby I had weened the little one. For whatever reason my body decided that on that day I needed to develop mastitis on both sides. I started feeling fluish and just worn down so we left.
On our way home we stopped in Flag to get some ice cream and to visit the REAL house of death. We had 2 elk waiting at the taxidermist for us to pick up. Of course there was no way we were going to be able to bring them home... not with 4 kids and us in the minivan, but we had to stop anwyay and at least look at all the animals. My kids couldn't believe how many animals were in this building. Lions chasing a warthog, buffalo, mountain lions, and javalena littered the floor. The walls were filled with majestic elk, deer, bobcats, and even a few foxes and other animals. 
Sorry Chris, I know you will never read this, but I hope you don't mind that I stole, er I mean borrowed, some of your pictures from your website.
It was a beautiful site to a couple of awe struck kids and their hunter dad. The next day Clarence got up early and went and got his fine elk....I stayed in bed all day.... what a way to end a break!
Sorry Chris, I know you will never read this, but I hope you don't mind that I stole, er I mean borrowed, some of your pictures from your website.It was a beautiful site to a couple of awe struck kids and their hunter dad. The next day Clarence got up early and went and got his fine elk....I stayed in bed all day.... what a way to end a break!
These are the newest editions to the family.... these big boys greet you as you walk in the front door. Good job honey, way to keep these critters in check! 
Karly was especially enthralled with all the fish. She just wanted to catch one!
If you look real close in the background you'll see these kid's distant relatives... or should I say not so distant relatives. Seriously, if you knew my family you'd understand!
My kids were diggin' the penguins. They were zooming in and out of the water. They were funny to watch. See that cute little boy Kaitlyn is holding? That's O'rion, Kevin and Chris's eldest.
Feeding the giraffes had to the the highlight of the trip. I love how personal these animals are. 
Seriously, I bet giraffe's would be great at french kissing. One of them wrapped their tongue around Clarissa's arm and woldn't let go. It was funny.
Nothing special here, but this is zebra is in a good position for a kill zone if we were hunting with a bow and arrow.... so I was told.... 
Kaitlyn fell in love with this pygmy alpaca. It was so soft and friendly. 
Of course Ethan loved these little guys. The problem is they loved to chew on everything! If you look closely you can see them eating his shirt. He kept telling me he didn't know they were eating it.... can't you tell by that innocent face? By the time we left the park, Ethan had 2 big ol' holes in his shirt from these deer.
Karly fell in love with the pygmy goats. I think these little guys were my favorite too. A couple of weeks after coming here, we ended up buying some pygmy goats that live in the backyard. they are a lot of fun. 
After a long day at the park it was time to go home. This picture reminded me of the monkeys we saw earlier in the day... what do you think? Any resemblance? It was a long day, but a great day to spend the day with our family. While we were there we ran into some old friends... actually the parents of my best friend growing up, the Stradlings. It was neat to see them after all these years, and they look just the same! I hope I don't age. 
And last, I just had to put this one in here... doesn't this make you wanna go out and multiply just have cute babies? Love my family.
I made an appointment at the hair salon here in town and these girls were giddy with excitement at the prospect of donating their hair. Kaitlyn was first.... chop chop!Can't you tell how happy she was? She has been trying for about 4 years to have her hair long enough. Her hair grows slower than a turtle with a broken leg (don't ask me what that means). 
Next was Clarissa. She's donated her hair twice before, and her hair grows as fast as grass in the monsoon season. This girl has super thick hair and it makes me a little jealous... but don't tell her that!
The finished products....
Can you tell who this is supposed to be? This is my lame interpretation of Harriet Tubman. I will apologize in advance for the hideous costume, and some day I will beg for her forgiveness for allowing my daughter to go out in public like this. The 5th grade class did History Rocks, and as hard as I tried, this was the best I could come up with. Warning, image may not be suitable for some children. 
Yup, that's our boy. We are so proud of him. For his birthday we let him have a couple of buddies over to help him celebtrate. They played Just Dance 2 on the wii and had some killer moves. I think I need to take dance lessons from these boys.. they were awesome! 
We had a little get together with all the family to celebrate not only Ethans, but Karly's AND Aimslee, Emlee's eldest, who just had a birthday as well. Once again I decided on cupcakes because 1, they're easy, and 2) I am a procrastinator. 
Karly loves to eat. I loved this picture of her eating her cupcake and LOVIN" it! 
Watch out fellow citizens of J town. He's got a gun and knows how to use it! 
I love it when they are at the age where they are SO excited to rip paper off the paper. 
Here's to 1 year down, and many, many more to come!