Escape...

This last week we packed up the car and headed up to Pinetop. We got up there Monday afternoon and got to see my brother's family before they headed home. Love these kids. They have such a blast when they play together, even if it is just for an afternoon, they have fun.

We spent the week having fun, making messes, and most importantly playing outside.

Growing up I spent my summers outside. We had such a fun neighborhood and all us kids would play from sun up to sun down. We have made good friends down in the valley and have plenty of friends to play with. But I always feel like my kids are getting a little jipped in their summer experiences. Summers are for climbing trees, making forts and riding bikes. Not in the good old valley of the sun. Summers for for 100*+ weather, being couped up in the AC and short sweaty outside excursions.  I am so grateful we are able to escape the heat and drive up to my parents house so the kids can play. And play they did! They jumped on the trampoline, rode bikes, helping in the garden and ate outside. It was wonderful. Bode didn't want to come home.

 But all good things come to an end and we were missing our dad. So we packed up and headed out on Friday morning. The kids were exhausted from all the playing. Please notice Bode's dirty feet from all the outside playing. Bode even slept in the car for a bit, something he never does. Now back the heat. Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us come up and play! p.s. I am really starting to look like my Dad.

nooooo.....

That is what Laine calls the snow. She just yells,"nooooo".

We haven't been up north for a while and last weekend seemed like the perfect time to get away. Bode has been dying to go sledding and we saw that there was going to be a storm. So we left late Friday night to go up to my parents house. Saturday morning we where hoping the snow would start to fall, but no "no". Just bitter cold, wind and dark clouds. The kids didn't seem to mind that there was only a small patch of snow to play in. They enjoyed pulling each other around in the sled and going down a small little hill Jeremiah built up for them to go down.

Luckily for us the storm came in overnight and didn't disappoint. There were at least 6 inches when we woke up and anther 3 or 4 after we went to sacrament that morning. Since we were packing up and leaving in the afternoon we snuck in a little snow time before we headed home.   

Bode was very happy to make a snow angel.

Laine would have been happier if she could have put her arms down ;) and kept her boots on.

We found a small enough hill close to my parents house. It was just the right size for them to have fun, and the right size for Jer and me to not get too worn out lugging them up the hill.

I love Laine's faces. I am sure Bode's were just as good but he was hiding behind Laine.

No matter how much snow you get to play in there must always be toast and cocoa.

Good thing Grandma Trish spoiled us and we got homemade toast, yummy!

 It was a short trip but was a fun one. It is hard to leave the beautiful winter weather here in the desert to visit the real winter weather in the mountains. I have fully transitioned to a thin blooded, flat lander. Although I absolutely LOVE my home town and the people there, I have really come to love the valley. The weather, people and convinces here. Although I know in a few months when the temperatures are off the charts I will be singing a different tune. I have already warned my parents I will be packing my bags and living with them in July :D. 

This is a special "note to self" for Jeremiah:

When you are driving down the highway at 65 mph and decide to empty your cup of all ready been chewed sunflower seeds, please, for the sake of your passengers, turn the cup the proper way. If held the wrong way every passenger in the car will get pelted by sunflower seeds as the whole contense of the cup will fly throughout the car and not out the window as intended.

Bode really, really wanted to bring some snow home with us. Grandma Trish let us borrow an ice chest. Bode packed it full of snow so he could bring some home. You think they are excited to have a snow ball fight?

Thanks Dad and Mom for letting us come up and play!!

We going up to the mountains yet...

That is the question I heard over and over until we actually got in the car to go to Pinetop last weekend.

Little Boder was so excited to go up to Grandpa Dave's and Grandma Trish's house.

We were going up to go to my little sisters baby shower and to get a pumpkin out of Grandma Trish's pumpkin patch.

Bode said this was the hugest pumpkin of them all.

Actually it is a big pumpkin, congrats mom, you grow some great pumpkins this year.

I love these 2 little kids!

I also love my silly little family.

Bode has been such a good big brother these days. (well some days...)

He has become very protective of her.



Now for the real reason we made the trip up to Pinetop was for my little sister, Lee's, baby shower. Actually we called it a sprinkle because we didn't invite a ton of people. It turned out just prefect.

Lee is well on her way to welcoming this new little girl in to her and Aaron's life. I am excited for them to become parents. Although it makes me feel old.

Your little sister isn't supposed to be married and be having a baby!

Pete and Brittany came up as well. It is always fun to visit with family.

I also love when the cousins are able to play together.

I didn't get a picture of the much loved "Gogan" aka Megan.

Bode talks about her for days after we visit with the Tucson Merrill's

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us come up and play!