Peralta Trail

The end of January we attempted to hike Peralta Trail but only made it about half way. We got a late start because of the Pinewood Derby and underestimated how long it would take. 

This time (March 5th) we were prepared and got an early start. 

It was very windy and sunny at the top. Overall the weather was great. 

The kids did really well. Its not an easy hike. Maeley had a bad attitude for a little while. She kept wanting to stop and turn around. She finally just gave up and went for it. Other hikers were impressed with our kids. We haven't hiked since because of our schedule has. We are all anxious for our next hike! 

Random Happenings in February

Zoe woke up one day with her eye red and swollen. Turns out it's just seasonal allergies. The following day her other eye was swollen. 

I came downstairs and found this. Her Beanie Boos keeping her company.

On Presidents Day we hiked Butcher Jones trail.  Zoe stayed with my parents because she was getting over her eye issues and we didn't want to risk another allergy flair up.

Derek's parents came with us but somehow we missed taking a picture with them. 

We finally bought a patio set for our backyard. Now we eat outside more often than inside. 

Zoe received these scriptures from her Primary teachers. Since that day she has really been interested in reading on her own. Because she's only 7 and there are so many difficult words for her, we read together. This is us reading before school one day. 

Maeley and a friend typically run to school but Chase and Zoe still let me walk them to school. 

I finally got the haircut I've been considering for yeas. I should have cut it long ago. I love it! 

The school had literacy night. This is Maeley with a school friend. 

Valentine's 2016

I really need to work on getting more pictures of my kids. Even on holidays I hardly take any. 

A few days before I made Valentine's themed sugar cookies. 

Derek and I kept with tradition and heart attacked their doors. They love this and remind us the days leading up. 

Derek made the kids breakfast which was actually lunch because we have 8am church. 

At least I got one great picture of one of the kids. 

Kids Bathroom project

We took out the towel bar shortly after moving in because hooks just work better with kids. There was one hook that despite having an anchor it had pulled through the dry wall twice. We needed to address the problem. Derek and I both wanted to do some kind of wall treatment so we chose ship-lap.  

Derek using one of his Christmas presents. 

Ready to be primed and painted. 

There bathroom is small but this helped brighten up the space. 

Those hooks aren't going anywhere now! 

Pinewood Derby

Chase had his first pinewood Derby race on January 30th. I totally slacked and didn't take pictures as Chase and Derek made the car or even while he raced. 

He didn't win but he had a great time through the whole process.

I'm also a slacker because I have yet to sew his badges on his shirt. 

January school stuff

I went on a fields trip with Chase to the MIM (Musical Instrument Museum) on January 12th. Great time spent with Chase. That is a huge museum! We only saw a small fraction of what's there.

School Fun Run! 

All of them ran more laps than they needed to. 

Man even as an old lady Zoe is still cute! Love the cheeks! 

I went on a field trip with Maeley to the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. 

Maeley's class with her teacher Mrs. Taylor

This was my group. Maeley and her friends. 

Awards assembly

I missed taking pictures of Maeley and Chase but they both got awards too.

Zoe was thrilled to receive the SNAP award. Only 1 kid per class gets one each quarter. Plus this year the shirt is blue and last year it was green. Now she has both.

Here is Zoe with some friends from class. Katelyn in the blue next to her is her "best friend".

Not school related but Zoe has started taking piano lessons from Tama (Derek's mom).  

She was so excited to start. I love listening to her practice because she almost always is singing the words while she plays. 

Fun in the snow

During Christmas break we didn't make it up north to play in the snow. Luckily the next weekend we got a chance to drive up to Payson and play in it.

It was a wonderful day spent together as a family. We all had a great time.