Spring Break in Arizona

We were so fortunate to be able to make a trip down to Arizona over spring break.  Typically we go towards the end of the school year, but with a few vacations already this year, we didn't want Carter to miss any more school.  We found great deals on flights and the kids and I were able to go for the entire week.  It was the perfect time for a visit to Arizona.  The weather was sunny and beautiful, but not too hot, so we were able to do a lot of fun things outside.  My mom had to work a few of the days that we were there, but it was still a very relaxing, rejuvenating time.  Kyle flew down late Wednesday night, so he got a good bit of vacation too.  I don't think any of us wanted to leave!!!

Always a favorite past time ~ picking grapefruits in the backyard.

We enjoyed fresh grapefruit each morning and the kids had a lot of fun searching for the biggest ones to pick!

Carter, Tony, Cindy and Kennedy

My brother and his family came over the first night that we were there and we had a belated Easter celebration.  The kids loved spending time with Cindy and Tony and it was great to catch up with Kyle and Nallely.

First full day in the sun and we were off to Tumbleweed park!

This is such a fabulous park and the kids had a lot of fun.

Pops came with us and we had a nice little picnic lunch.

Even though it was sunny and warm, the pool was still quite chilly.  The kids didn't seem to mind, though and insisted on going for a dip.

They didn't really last too long but they had fun playing and splashing!

Nana had given Carter and Kennedy Easter baskets when we arrived and then set up an egg hunt, as well.  Such sweet and thoughtful gestures that made our vacation extra special.

a little photo before heading out for the afternoon

The kids had been asking to go to Amazing Jakes again, and Tuesday happened to be "discount" day.  They had an absolute ball ~ a fun way to spend the evening!

Carter challenged me to a game of air hockey (he won).

Pops was a good sport and went on the spinney rides with Kennedy

Both kids were smiling from ear to ear the entire time

Carter and I bowled a few games

And we tried our hand at laser tag

Carter was quite nervous about it at first and practically had to be coerced to play...but once he got started he had a blast!

We played several rounds and all had some good laughs

more spinning

bumper cars!

Kennedy was tall enough to go on the bumper cars this year and she couldn't get enough. 

She was crazy!!!

I can't get enough of her face in this picture, she is such an adrenaline junkie and was having so much fun!

Carter liked them too

One more quick round of laser tag ~ we had the whole arena to ourselves, which was a lot of fun.

The next day, Daddy was here and Nana didn't go to work so we all went to the zoo.  We hadn't been to the zoo since I was pregnant with Kennedy.  When it's over 100 degrees in the summer, the last place you want to be is walking on concrete without much shade.  But the spring is the perfect time to go and explore.

taking a ride on some large lizard statue, of course

my little joey

now she's a spider

The zoo is quite large and has a lot of fun, extra things for kids to do. 

Carter and Kennedy had a ball.

Carter tried his hand at milking a cow (simulated of course), but it was very life like and a great way to get an idea of what it would really feel like.

Carter was so pumped to get out on the golf course with Daddy and Pops.

They had a wonderful day and he did so well that they went back again on Sunday.

he definitely looks the part

nice swing, Carter-Man!

Pops and Carter

a highlight of any round is getting to drive the golf cart!

Definitely a great start to a fabulous vacation

**more posts to come from Arizona**

Celebrating Easter!

Unfortunately, I came down with the flu on Easter weekend...so some of the special things that I had wanted to do were tabled but we were still very capable of celebrating the grace and gifts of Jesus.  The Easter season is one of redemption and salvation, rebirth and renewal and we did our best to emphasize these important aspects to the kids.  It's all too easy to get caught up in the eggs and bunnies ~ and while we enjoy those things very much, we talked a lot about the true meanings of this season.

We colored a few eggs on Saturday night...

Kyle and I managed to get a few things together before the Easter bunny made an appearance!

oh, we had two very excited little ones rushing down in the morning.

I think Kennedy was up well before 6:00, anxious to see if the Easter bunny had made it!

Rapunzel pajamas

a little fun with Bertie Botts, Every Flavor Beans

Carter liked the grass flavor but drew a line at eating ear wax.  A nibble of the soap one had him gagging for a bit!

lots of fun little treasures

Carter, on his own, had decided to give up playing the Wii for Lent.  And he did such an awesome job.  Not that he plays every day, but it was never an issue and he could verbalize why his was making that sacrifice.  I was really proud of him.  So, on Easter morning, as I was getting breakfast ready, he played a quick game of bowling.

Happy Easter!

my loves

of course we had to take a ton of pictures before we left for church!  Thankfully the kids had enough sugar that they were willing participants.

The weather was gorgeous (nearly 80 and beautiful sunshine!), so we stopped along Dawson's Creek on our way out to Hillsboro.

The cherry blossom trees were in bloom and it was just too pretty and springy to pass up!

my little man is getting so big

the boys

Jake is getting so old and grey, he's such a good dog and we're lucky to have him

my sweet girl

Happy Easter!

He is Risen!!!

Easter Egg Hunt!

For the second year in a row, we had a beautiful, sun shiny day for our neighborhood's Easter egg hunt.  Unfortunately, I got the flu a day or two before, but I managed to pull myself out of bed and torture the kids with pictures! 

(Thankfully it was a short lived bug and I was feeling much better by Easter morning)

Spring!

It was a clear, crisp, sunny morning ~ perfect for hunting eggs!

I had to include this one, too, because it's such a testament to what we go through in our attempts to get one good picture.  One child is smiling and looks great while the other is being goofy.  No matter, this is a great "real life" shot, as the kids are always being silly!

Kennedy and her friends, Kaitlin and Gracie

serious conversations were had, I'm sure

Carter with Nate and Jacob

Kennedy searching for eggs

We are so fortunate to have neighbors who are good friends, too.

It makes activities like these so much fun!

a basket full of eggs!

This is Carter's last year with the younger kids.  He'll move up to the last area for 7-9 year olds next year.  I vividly remember our first egg hunt when he was just two years old ~ time flies!

Even though I was feeling awful, I love this picture of Carter and me...he was having so much fun out there and was so filled with joy.  I love times like these and hope that I don't forget them when days are challenging.

couldn't resist trying to get a cute picture with the spring flowers

A fun and festive tradition that we all really enjoyed!

ballet ~ viewing day

We had our last parent viewing day at ballet back in March and I must admit I absolutely love these type of things.  I could watch Kennedy all day, a mix of free spirit and serious, passionate little one.  And she's just darling in her pink ballet "suit"! 

We got to see the first bits of their recital dances ~ they've got a long way to go, but it's sure to be a cute show no matter what!

tapping around

see what I mean, cute

out came the ribbons and free dancing ~ the room was bursting with cuteness, I assure you!

Kennedy and Kaitlin got to dance together during ballet and it was very sweet.  These two have a fun relationship that is challenging at times (two strong personalities make for fire works every once in awhile).

But they love one another and do have a lot of fun!

see, we have photographic proof!

sweet girls

concentrating on getting the steps just right!

a few of the other dancers in Kennedy's class

Sweet Kennedy, oh how I love to watch you dance and enjoy your class.  I hope you always feel free to dance in life!

Tae Kwon Do

One of the local Tae Kwon Do studios offered a four week after school program as a fund raiser for the PTA.  For $20, I figured it would be a fun thing for Carter to try out.  And since the sign up form touted "respect" and "character building", I figured we'd be fools to let the opportunity slip by. 

While I am doubtful that Carter learned anything too ground breaking, he really enjoyed his time in the class!

For the fourth and final class, they hosted a little "graduation" and invited the parents to come and watch.

The kids got to break boards, so Carter was thrilled.

It took several attempts, but he was successful and so proud of himself!

The teachers were really good and all of the children would say "yes sir".  Lots of loud shouting and "kung fu", Carter was in heaven!

Getting his certificate at graduation

A fun little program and a great introduction to Tae Kwon Do

Unfortunately, it's a pretty big commitment, so it's not something we felt like we could keep up with.  Since Carter enjoys so many sports, it would be hard to dedicate six months to one activity.  But it was fun while it lasted!

when life is hard, God is there ~ saying goodbye

If I ever had doubts of God's presence in my life, they were squashed by this experience...

God was in every detail.  Although death is never easy, I found such great comfort in God during this difficult time.  

Less than 48 hours after we returned from Mexico, I got a phone call that my grandmother had suffered a massive stroke.  My parents had been with her the previous week (because it was my mom's spring break and we were in Cabo, my parents made the trip to Boise).  My grandmother, who would have been 94 in May still lived alone but had started to have some health concerns.  Thankfully my parents were there and were able to get the proper care and also got in contact with my aunt who flew up that weekend and got my grandmother settled into a respite care facility while she healed and recovered from two surgeries.

Kyle just happened to be in Boise that week for a regional work meeting (he had just been there a few weeks earlier, so if not for the meeting, he would not have had reason to return so soon).  He was able to visit her Monday afternoon, before her stroke.  Bless his heart, as soon as I called him with the news, he drove to the nearest hospital and found my grandmother.  He stayed with her for hours that evening, talking with doctors, holding her hand and communicating with me and my family.

I was going back and forth as to whether I should try to fly over to Boise...I waited until my dad had arrived Tuesday morning to get an update and then decided that I should definitely make the trip.  My grandmother had very specific instructions and did not want any extraordinary measures taken to prolong her life.  

Within an hour, I had booked my ticket, packed my bag, made six phone calls to arrange transportation and care for the kids and was on my way to the airport.  I am so grateful for my sweet friends who dropped what they were doing to help me and for my mother in law who drove over and stayed with the kids for the night.

I immediately went to the hospital and sat at my grandmother's bedside, so thankful that I had come.  Death is so hard, seeing someone suffer is harder.  My grandmother looked so frail and I'm not certain that she even knew I was there.  But I stayed, sat there while crying and prayed.  That side of my family isn't the most emotional, and I felt self conscience as I cried....I'm a crier and even though I was not extremely close to my grandmother, it was so hard to see her like that.  I felt lonely and just asked God to be there with us, for us.

A few minutes later, a very sweet, kind nurses assistant came in to care for my grandmother.  She was informative and loving and showed me how to work everything, what buttons to push if I needed help, etc.  She showed me how to open the electronically controlled curtains...and as she adjusted them, I saw in the distance, on top of a barren hillside, I white cross.  And I literally felt God's presence.  It was amazing.  

Here is a picture of the cross for my grandmother's room.  It's just a cell phone picture so the quality is poor, but you can see it way up on the top of that hill.  Had her room been anywhere else - on a lower floor, on another side of the hospital or facing a different angle - I wouldn't have seen this cross.  

I didn't feel alone anymore.

Saying goodbye

In the twenty four hours that I was there, I just did a lot of sitting and praying, holding her hand and rubbing her arm.  I believe in my heart that she knew I was there....she did open her eye at one point and I was able to tell her that I was there.

My grandmother lived a good, full life and I take comfort in knowing that she was probably ready to go.  She would have hated being immobile or dependent on others.  

She was a mover and shaker, she was sharp, she was intelligent and involved in many organizations, she lived a long life and is now in a better place.

Mary Louise Bowl Rathbun 

1919-2013

(another poor quality cell phone picture)

This was the site that welcomed me home as I stepped outside at the airport.  

Just another reminder that God was with me.

I felt at peace and prayed that my grandmother was now free to rest in peace.