tree burning

We went up with Paul's parents and sister to burn their Christmas tree and go on the traditional yearly hike.  They do this every year and I have been a few times. The last time we went, Hawken was a newborn, and Paul's grandparents and my dad also came with. They were all in town for Hawken's baby blessing.  We went for the hike first.

It was sprinkling a little bit, but it didn't bother anyone.  Hawken ran and climbed up and jumped off of every rock on the way up. Really, it was exhausting watching him.

This was Lullaby's first time on the hike, and I think she really enjoyed it. She loves exploring.

Matix was a crazy climber boy and was climbing up really high, all by himself. It was impressive and scary at the same time.

Can you see Paul?

How about now?

Paul, Colleen, Matix and Hawken hiked up super high! The boys loved it.

Look for Paul's yellow shirt. All four were there, but Paul's shirt was the brightest.

Zoomed in... I want a better zooming lens. :)

More pictures from the hike:

Group shot! Every person is looking AND SMILING?!!

We started back down just before it got dark. Perfect timing. All the boys set up the fire and tossed in branches.  Lee was pretending to be camera shy (again)... He is holding that branch in front of his face on purpose.

The fire started out HUGE, and Matix and Hawken just stared. :)

Once it died down a bit, we roasted hotdogs.

The onto s'mores, YUM! It was the perfect night.

Cholla visit!

I went to visit the preschool I used to teach at to visit some old friends... Debbi and Vicky still read my blog (hi girls!) and Debbi sent me an email the day we arrived in Phoenix suggesting I come see them. Little did she know that I was already plotting and planning. :) It was so good to see everyone (that was still there).  Vicky got to meet her "grand-daughter" for the first time. :) And it was love.

Debbi got in a few snuggles too, and showed her some cute computer thing, you can tell she has a billion grandkids already.

No one at Cholla had met Lullaby yet, so it was really fun to show her off. Grandma Stacy stayed at home with the boys, since I told them I was going to my old work, and they said, "WORK?!, I don't want to go to WORK!"... Silly. Gretchen got Lullaby just before we left and it was nearing nap time, so she saw her pretty cranky.

When I went back to the classrooms, I stopped in Karin's first. She and I worked together at this job AND another one and we never got sick of each other. She is so sweet and Lullaby LOVED her room. She played with everything and snuggled right up to Karin. They were best friends, it was so cute.  Karin didn't know I was coming and cried when I walked in. That is the type of welcome a girl needs every once in a while. I felt like a celebrity. I posed for a billion pictures and ate up the time I got spend with her. Lullaby made herself at home and made a huge mess of her snacks... Of course.

Megan was there subbing. She taught in the room next to me when I worked there but has since moved on to bigger and better things. She was my sanity on all the crazy days and I will always love her. It was SO lucky that I got to see her and spend a bit of time with her.

I got to see and chat with a few others too, but didn't get pictures. So many people I worked with have left, either to other schools, or they're just gone. Sad. I wish I could have seen everyone.  Also, I didn't realize how much I missed teaching until I was back there. I really do miss it. Maybe one day I will go back to it. I still like the mommy thing more, so for now, it's just visits. :) Here's to the next one. Love you girls!

mornings

Mornings with Grandma Stacy in Arizona were fun. Lullaby would eat her own breakfast, then she would eat Grandma's. Check out her birdie mouth. So funny. Even Matix would steal a couple bites. Poor Grandma, hardly got to eat any of her own food. By the end of our stay there, she would make two bowls of oatmeal, in preparation for all the sharing. :)

Hawken wanted his picture taken too. First is his typical stare down, sort of annoyed with how long it was taking me to get the camera on. Second is his typical cheeser face, happy, lovable Hawky.

Matix always has the best morning hair. I had to document it this particular morning. Front view and profile... Wow.

books

Grandpa was chosen for bedtime book reading (what an honor!) several of the nights we stayed in Arizona. The boys just eat up grandparent attention.

bad parenting

While we were in Arizona, Paul and I spent an entire day outside in the garage, going through each box that we put into storage when we left for the island in 2009... It was shocking how much CRAP we were saving. We donated a ton of it, and trashed/recycled another ton.  While we were sorting and working, Stacy watched the kids, literally all day.  We only stopped for lunch and to put them down for naps. It was so helpful, thanks Stacy!  Then later that day after everything was repacked and sorted, we were in and out of the house getting settled. While I was setting up the computer, Stacy was looking for new sheets for our bed, and neither of us were watching Matix.  Lullaby and Hawken were both in with me, and I assumed Stacy had Matix. Meanwhile she was assuming that I had Matix, since I had the other two... Anyway, he snuck outside and was riding his bike on the sidewalk. He was perfectly safe and remembered the rule about not going into the road (although he forgot the rule about informing an adult he is going outside)... BUT, a police officer happened to be driving through the neighborhood. He spotted Matix and waited a couple minutes to see if an adult was with him.  There wasn't.  Matix came running into my room where I was still setting up the computer and showed me his cool new bracelet. He said, "The police man gave it to me. It's so cool, huh?"

I looked at Stacy and she seemed just as puzzled as I was, so we both just figured he found it on the ground or something...?  A minute or two later, there was a knock at the door.  It was the police officer. A very intimidating, covered in tattoos and huge muscles, officer. He was not very happy with us (he wanted to talk to both mom and grandma) and lectured us on the importance of watching our children/grandchildren... He had only the best intentions, but he really thought we just let Matix run free, and I felt bad.  I swore I was a more attentive momma than that, but he took my information down anyway. Yikes! Bad parenting moment for sure!  At least Matix loves his bracelet and now KNOWS the rule about going outside alone really well... He got a lecture too when we went back inside. :)