Field Trip to Zion National Park

Madi & Kailan

Kailan went with her school, NPA, to Zion National Park.

On the way they stopped at Hoover Dam.

Hiking to Hidden Canyon

This is a hole between two rocks that we climbed up.  It actually went up really high!

These pictures are taken on the hike, Angel's Landing.

On this hike, we had to hold on to chains as we climbed steep sections

of the cliff.  It was very steep and narrow!

Lots of fun!

Carina, Madi & Kailan

This is the top of Angel's Landing looking down.

Another hike we did was called The Narrows.  I don't

have pictures of this hike because there were places that we

were neck deep in water! I forgot my water shoes so I did this

hike barefoot!

Dance trip to DISNEYLAND!

 Kailan with Britney Hebits

 Kailan went with her dance class from NPA to Disneyland and

California Adventures! Of course she had the time of her life! She

was able to participate in 2 different dance workshops while she was there.

Her favorite and "one of the best experiences of her life" was with the

Young Americans.

Ian, Kailan & Britney

Long Beach, CA

Isabelle's family moved to Long Beach, CA just this month! Kailan is so sad.  Isabelle has been one of Kailan's very best friends since moving to Flagstaff.  We will really miss having her around!

Kailan and Tyler were able to stay with Isabelle and her family while Cristine and I went to 2 different auctions representing 'Hughes Heavy'!

I didn't think I'd ever be able to pull Kailan away from Isabelle! Leaving is always so hard.  Especially when you're not sure when you'll be together again.

Tyler, Isabelle and Kailan

Kailan and Mom

Cristine and Tyler

Tyler and Kailan

Conversations with our 4 year old.....

Yesterday, Hallie pointed out to Mark that he has white hair and is getting old.  Then she started crying because she doesn't want him to get old and die.  She obviously continued to ponder it, because first thing this morning she came into my room and said, "I don't want daddy to get old!".
Today Hallie announced that Quinn Mickelson has a crush on her.  Mark asked her what that means.  Hallie said it means he likes me and follows me around everywhere!  Mark asked her if he needed to have a talk with Quinn.  Hallie said, 'No, I don't care that he has a crush on me'!  In past conversations she has let us know that she and Quinn are 'dating'.  We had to explain to her that she doesn't date before she's 16! She told us she was going to break up with him. 
This conversation just took place after church today.  On our drive home from church she was telling all of us that all she wants for her birthday is an Ipod touch with a Justin Bieber case and a cell phone with a Justin Bieber case with the ringer that sings, (at this point she breaks out into song), 'Baby, baby, baby, oh!' and also one that rings (singing), 'Never say never'! Of course both of these are Justin Bieber songs.  My 4 year old wants to be 16!

Tough Guy!

My brother Cody is a super tough, cool guy who is on the SWAT team down in the Phoenix/Mesa area.  Tonight he sent me this picture.  He was participating in a PR event.  He said some people thought he was clenching his teeth because it was going to hurt, but others realized he was growling and snarling/taunting the dog to encourage a good bite.  He ended up doing about 30 bites over several hours! I would have been absolutely terrified!

BEARIZONA

 For Preschool, Jen Strand and I went to Bearizona just about 30 miles away in Williams.  We drove through and saw wolves, long horn sheep, bison, etc.  The next section of the park we drove through was all bears.  This one pictured above was sound asleep in the middle of the road - we had to carefully drive around it.

 This is a little 2 1/2 month old baby bear that they rescued.  It's name is Itty Bitty.  It only weighs 2 1/2 lbs. 

 We enjoyed a picnic lunch!

 Hallie & Claire Strand

 We came back at feeding time to watch Itty Bitty be fed with its bottle.

Super cute! The kids had a great time.  I think the only thing that could have made this day better for Hallie, would have been to bring Itty Bitty home with us!

Grandpa Shumway

We were fortunate to live in Grandpa Shumway's home and help care for him in Cheyenne.  He was extremely self sufficient and always amazed us how he never allowed his sight to slow him down.  He would tell us that we were the ones who were handicapped because we needed our eyes so much! He taught Brooklyn how to walk.  He would hold her hands and walk her back and forth in the living room.  When I was in the kitchen fixing dinner, he would hold the babies (I had 3 under the age of 3 while we lived there) and play his harmonica for them.  He taught my 7 year old and 5 year old to sing a round with him.  He would also take them with him to his magic shows to be his little assistant.  He loved it when I would play hymns on the piano and he would join in with either his harmonica or violin.  He loved music and participated in several bands and played often in nursing homes.  He introduced me and the kids to the snoot flute! We had a lot of fun with that one.  Last month my 10 year old son Taige played me a song with his recorder using his nose instead of mouth to blow the air needed to make the music.  It was a nice clear sound and I immediately thought of Grandpa Shumway and his snoot flutes!
He swam approximately 4 x's a week and always went out with the missionaries.  In fact the missionaries is why he owned a car! He was always available for them to go and teach.  He would run errands with me so I wouldn't have to take the kids out of the car when I would go to the Post Office, etc.  He even went Trick-or-Treating with Jodi Wilson and I one year.  Talk about the blind leading the blind! We were trying to find a specific nursing home to Trick-or-Treat at, and we were completely lost.  He was sure of the direction we should go.......  He's without sight and Jodi and I can get completely turned around in a shopping mall! We were quite the trio.  I think it took us an hour before we finally found our destination.  We were all laughing so hard by the time we actually figured out where we were and where we were going!

He had such a strong testimony and was such a wonderful example to us in so many ways.  I remember going to church (Mark was in the Bishopric at the time & already there), and walking in with Grandpa Shumway along with 2 little ones that couldn't yet walk, a toddler and my preschooler and 1st grader.  It was sometimes quite the act with grandpa on one arm, holding onto the hand of the toddler (Chase) and me trying to hold Brooklyn and then Taige in the carrier.  Because of his hearing, we always sat in the 4th row from the front.  I never liked to be late - I always felt like we made quite an entrance! One time Chase was on the other side of Grandpa (age 2 or 3), we had a couple of my children in between us and I was at the end of the bench.  During the Sacrament I passed the tray of bread to Grandpa and he continued to pass it down the row to Chase who after he took a piece, took another and then another as Grandpa patiently held the tray waiting for someone to take it.  I was out of arm's reach, so Jodi Wilson who was sitting right behind us quickly reached over the bench and helped out before Chase had completely gotten his fill!
He was always so complimentary and would tell me how nice I looked even when I was in my robe with mascara under my eyes.  He would compliment me on the house and make me feel like a gourmet cook no matter what I served.  I was proud of the fact that we were able to get his cholesterol level way down!
I remember cheering him on as he carried the torch during the time of the Olympics.  He never stopped learning or achieving spiritually as well as academically.  He faithfully attended the Temple.  When he moved to St. Louis, my Uncle Ray and Aunt Linda were Temple workers and enjoyed seeing him there weekly.  Grandpa Shumway was from the same place my Uncle Ray's father was from in WY, and was able to share stories with my Uncle about his dad that he had never heard.  He was a blessing to all who knew him.

 Grandpa Shumway
November 27, 1921– March 26, 2011