Happy St. Patrick's Day

Did you know that we are Irish at our house?!!

Well, now you DO!!

Spring Break Camp-out

This year for sping break we put the ScOuT MaStEr to work for his family and went camping. It was the first stress free campout this mom has ever had! He really knows all the ins and outs of camping now...and with his dutch oven cooking every day I swear I gained 5 pounds in 3 days!!

We invited along our friends the Reidheads. Funny thing about the Reidheads - they have kids our exact same ages! 8-6-3 but they are all girls!!

Jack and Josie

Did I mention or first day out was St Patties Day?

(that's why you're seeing all of this green!)

It was cold and we had brought enough bedding to sink a ship but we sure had fun and slept well in our tent. Here's MB reading. A common sight wherever we are.

the Hike

The kids were out and about hiking for about 45 minutes when we decided to go and find them. They were fearless and having a great time. The older ones really impressed me by helping out the more timid hikers along the way. They held tree branches out of the way and everything. Seth dropped his stuffed animal at one point and Monte and Darby backtracked almost all the way back to camp to find it.

Clyde, Emery, Monte Birk, Seth, Jackson & Darby

Waterfall Hike

It really wasn't too much of a hike and the waterfall really wasn't too big but it was perfect for my guys! (Sorry the picture is cropped in too tight so you can't see the pretty fall below us!)

MB and Mom with wet feet!

Seth and Clyde feeling timid but getting there.

Last Day

We're still happy by day #3. Actually couldn't be happier!! Today we...

...said goodbye to the Reidheads-who were heading back down the mountain without us. ..made our own huge fire and breakfast...

...cuddled in the warmth of the tent and read a few chapters of 'Percy Jackson'...

...drove on up to the fish hatchery to feed the fish... (it was so funny to see them pop up out of no where to get the food!) ...and took our time loading up our own gear before heading back down the mountain ourselves.

3! 3! 3!

He's done it! He's gotten there!

My baby boy is 3 YeaRs OlD!

Where has the time gone?

Happy Birthday sweet Jackson. You are my perfect "all american" boy!

You love cars, trucks, 'diggers', the sandbox, dogs, wrestling, balls, fire and anything else to do with fire (candles="hots")

Your Mom, Dad, Grandpa and "brudders" love you like crazy!!

We are so grateful to have you as part of our family.

HaPpY BirThDaY
to our sweet Jack, Jack-et, Jack rabbit, Jack-ster, Jackson and then some!!

busy busy

It was an incredibly busy weekend with Basketball, Scouting, and Church & School Carnivals (keep scrolling for details) but we still eeked out enough time for a few hours at the park with our cousin! This is truly the best time of year in Arizona.

Clyde

Seth

Walter and MB

Jack

Season End

The Basketball season came to and end for the brethren yesterday. In the Greyhawks last game they were playing against the first team they played in the tournament. In game one they were wasted by the Sharks but yesterday they came out ahead by 4 points!! Each team showed so much improvement this season. I am especially proud of our guys!

We are participating in a neighborhood program, PR Youth Sports. It is by our old house so we get to play with friends from our old neighborhood. What a great money and time saver for these boys to learn many different sports at a fraction of league costs.

The Greyhawks

Spencer Hawkins, Carter Marshall, Seth Gardiner, Clyde Gardiner

Tristan Vinal, Tyler Jones & Monte Gardiner

Monte's 3 pointer. Can you see the ball high in the tree? This kid really catches air-in this shot he is on his way down!

Clyde is learning to be a team player and made some great passes this season.

Seth has got the hustle down! He moves quick to get himself open and move from one side of the court to the other fast! He's a bullet!!

Bring on the Baseball Season PR Youth Sports we are excited and we LOVE IT!!!

Married to the Scout Master

Being married to the Scout Master has it's ups and downs.

This weekend it was up up up!!
When a fundraising dinner is as successful as this

you can't help but be a little bit proud of the

Scout Master.

Every last detail was planned to the -enth degree. He had contingency plans for the "just in cases" His Deacons sold more tickets than the Teachers and Priests combined. He had his Deacons call through the ward list during set up to remind people of the dinner that night. This ward has never seen such a turn out for an activity. It was laid back, well planned and highly entertaining.

A Real Production!!!

The Silent Auction was creative and smart with fence replacement, garbage can cleaning, pigeon removal, 4 hours of weed pulling, 4 weeks of lawn maintenance...the auction alone revenued upwards of $500 for the scouts.

His boys lashed the wood for the easels and flag poll and he made the signs. The troop will be enjoying these for years to come.

He brought out his own cooker for the pancake eating contest as to not disturb the large griddles and cookers doing the bacon, eggs, pancakes and sausages...yum.

The kids thoroughly enjoyed the contest...especially Red.


To top it all off Grandpa came and showed his support for the Scout Master. A hard one to impress at a ward function he left in awe.

the brethren

Aren't they cute?

I LOVE scouts

Tonight at Pack Meeting he was awarded his Bobcat Badge, Outdoor Activity Patch and bicycling and computer belt loops. AWESOME!!