Arizona Trip - Zoe's Baptism

We took off for Arizona on Thursday, June 11th to go and visit my sister, Penni, and her family. Her daughter Zoe was getting baptized the coming Saturday and so many of the Hansen family decided to attend and then stay for a week. Jodi and Ben had planned to go but because of her cancer diagnosis and surgery their plans obviously changed but they still sent Kaylee and Carson. Jed also wasn't able to come with us because he was at his National Guard annual training for two weeks and couldn't get out of it. It was really hard for him not to be able to go on the trip with us. I never would of gone if my mom and dad hadn't of gone too...the thought of a 10 day, over 2,000 mile trip with just me, 3 kids, and a baby would of been enough to keep me home. Luckily, my dad was willing to drive the whole time so I could just concentrate on the kids. Thanks dad for everything you did! I really appreciate it! Oh, and while I 'm at it, "Happy Father's Day" too!

So anyway, Zoe got baptized on June 14th, Saturday. My sister, Penni, and her family live in Mesa, Arizona but our condo was in Scottsdale so we were actually about 30 minutes away from them. I posted a few photos of the baptism but I am sure the Pickett's will get their photos up soon. They can do the completed version of the day. We ate afterwards at Penni and Todd's house, it was a lot of fun. It was nice to finally see where they live and what their daily life is like for them. I was surprised to see my cousin, Riley, and her husband, John. I guess I had forgotten that they also live in Arizona. It was great to see them and hang out a little.

Congratulations, Zoe! I am so glad that we could come and see you get baptized!

Zoe with her cousins who showed up that day.

At the church - Drewe, Kaylee, and Aubrey.

Apparently the boys weren't in the mood for photos.

Arizona - Swimming & Tennis, June 14th

The weekend that we arrived at the condo in Scottsdale, the kids wasted no time getting in the swimming pool. That is where they all spent the majority of their time during the first few days of the trip. Rigdon began getting feverish and sick about the 3rd day into our trip. The week was a hard one on him and yet his was still a pleasant baby most of the time.

I believe this was Rigdon's first time ever in a swimming pool. He didn't know what to think of it at first and preferred to be out instead of in. But after awhile he started enjoying himself.

Grandpa Carl always seems to be the funnest target when the kids are in the pool. Here, Ronin is getting a big kick out of squirtting Grandpa in the bottom.

Grandpa kept a close eye on Rigdon for me. Notice the tongue action going on - it seems to come out alot when he's concentrating during any activity.

Having fun in the pool.

Ronin playing in the fountains.

Penni came up with a game where the kids had alkaseltzer tablets hanging around their necks and everybody tried to dissolve the others' tablets with squirt guns before their own tablet dissolved.

Connor and Carson took to the tennis courts for awhile. Eventually, Ronin and Rigdon came to help play as well.

May I have my racket back, please? Again, notice the tongue action goin' on.

Arizona - Rollerskating! June 16th

We all went rollerskating and boy I haven't done that in ages! I was glad that Ronin needed to be taught because I really needed some practice before going out on the skating rink. Connor needed some practice too since he hadn't done it for years as well. Aubrey has skates at home so she went skating right out of the chute. Some of my pictures turned out too dark but some came out ok.

From left: Kaylee, Penni, Nicole, and Drewe.

Ronin didn't like the rollerskating at first and it took some persistant pressure to keep him trying. However, by the end he was enjoying himself. Rigdon, again sick, but toughing it out because he had to.

There was a tug-of-war match at the end of the skating session - boys against girls. The poor guys, they were terribly outnumbered by the girls.

The girls had an easy win.

Nicole and Aubrey.

Connor eventually caught onto with the skating after practicing for awhile on the carpet. He wasn't too thrilled in the beginning as well but he seemed to enjoy himself once he was more confident.

Arizona - Mesa Temple, June 16th

June 16th- we visited the Mesa Temple. The temple was apparently designed after Solomon's temple, or at least something similar to what the architecture was like back in the biblical times. It is a very beautiful temple. The grounds were fun to walk around in. We also visited the Visitors center, they had a lot of great stuff to see and learn.

Lewis family - Connor, Rigdon with Mindy, Aubrey, and Ronin.

Beginning our walk around the temple grounds.

All the girls: Nicole, Aubrey, Drewe, Kristine, Zoe, and Kaylee.

From left: My older sister, Penni, my parents, Carl and Judy, and me. So much for the tan I was really hoping to get while in sunny Arizona. I think I may have gotten a shade darker, but what does it matter if you can't tell?

My kids each got a picture in front of Jesus, in this one, it's Ronin.
I had many wonderful helpers during my stay - thanks girls for all of your help! I'm sure they'll all run away the next time they see me walking up to them with the baby in my arms.

(Rigdon's still sick and feverish. What I put this poor baby through!)

Connor with his cousins, Carson and Zoe.

I like this picture alot. I'm glad my kids got to see some of their cousins and strengthen those relationships. Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my cousins and loved it...I hope the bonds stay strong with them as well.

Arizona - Thorpe Park in Flagstaff

We traveled to Flagstaff the day before our Grand Canyon visit because it was only 40 minutes from where we would need to catch the train the next day. For dinner, we had a cookout at Thorpe Park, where not only were there swings and outdoor junglegym playsets, but a forest to go and romp around in. The weather was much cooler here than in Scottsdale and Mesa. So we pulled out the long pants and jackets.

I am not sure why Drewe looks unhappy here. Nicole was cold. Rigdon snuggling up to his Grandma Judy.

Enjoying the forest - Connor, Carson, and Aubrey.

While dinner was still getting ready, we played a game of hide-n-seek in the forest. Here's Ronin and Grandma Judy hiding behind the garbage, real sneaky I must say. :) Nicole got a great picture of my mom's bottom from the back end and we told mom it was going on the blog, she didn't think that was very funny....but we did.

Aah, dinner is ready. Yummy! It was very good. Mom kept spilling everything throughout the course of dinner - we asked her if she was a little tipsy.

Peek-a-boo!

Arizona Trip - More to come

Well, I was up at 1 AM this morning because of Rigdon's ear infection and fever. Since he wouldn't go back to bed, I started bloggin our Arizona trip. Now it is 5 AM and I guess I had better go get some sleep before he wakes back up in an hour. I will post some more on the trip later today, hopefully.

Arizona - The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon trip was a lot of fun. We rode on the Grand Canyon Train Express from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon. The train ride took a little over 2 hours through the untouched Arizona wilderness, including desert and forest. We saw a lot of deer, elk, and of course when closer to civilization, cows and horses. We had visitors on the train that entertained us - a Navajo Indian who sang native songs, a cowboy that came and visited with everyone - even let us take pictures of him.

Aubrey and Rigdon with the funny cowboy. Ronin chickened out and wouldn't get in the picture.

We are finally at the Grand Canyon! Once the train let us off, we had three hours to look around. So here are tons of pictures - after all, what else do you do at the Grand Canyon besides look at it? You just gotta take pictures! For my kids and some of the other cousins, this was their first time seeing it and they were awstruck at the scope, size, and wonder of it all. They kept asking on the way up what the Grand Canyon was and even though it was explained to them several times, I don't think they really understood until they actually saw it. It was fun to watch their reactions. I saw it once before when I went to Penni and Todd's wedding reception about 15 years ago - but to see it again was still just as awesome as the first time. Photos just don't do it justice, it's something everone should see first hand.

Todd was kind enough to offer to stand in as the "husband" and then I could "photoshop" my own husband's face later. Thanks Todd, that was very thoughtful of you, even though I passed it up.

My little family with my parents.

Aubrey, Connor, and Ronin with their cousins, Kaylee and Carson.
Grandma Judy with Carson and Aubrey.

Kristine with her cousin, Rigdon. Rigdon was sick a lot of the time during our vacation. Even though his temperature on this day was 103.4 degrees he was such a trooper and was very good throughout the whole day. (I later found out the fever was due to a severe ear infection.)

Sweet boy, Rigdon. Too bad he won't ever remember seeing the Grand Canyon. Good thing for cameras so that there's proof and you can show them when their older.

Ok, so Rigdon did have a few moments of fussiness, but they were very few. I think he just didn't want his picture taken.

Ronin checking out the telescope.

See that black blob on the right? That's wasn't an accidental spot, it was a huge horse-fly thingy. The kids were freaking out when they saw it. I stood there and told the kids to just smile and ignore it...some could, some couldn't. Huge, huge fly thingy!

Grandma Jusdy with Carson and Aubrey.

Aubrey petting one of the mules that just got back from taking tourists down a trail through the Grand Canyon. Notice Aubrey holding a book in every picture? She didn't want to leave the Harry Potter book on the train because her dad told her to take very good care of it. Aubrey explained that is now valuable because it is a first edition and so she didn't want anyone to steal it. (Good eyes, Lisa!)
The squirrels there weren't too scared of humans. In fact, this one came right up to Ronin who reached out to touch it until Carson warned him not to.

Poor little guy, just sick, tired, and nowhere else to go but Grandpa's shoulder.
On the ride home, we got train robbed by outlaw cowboys. The kids loved this. We gave the kids some coins to give to the robbers. They even had robbers on horses ride along side the train and hop on, just like in the movies. Funny how the robber looks alot like the nice cowboy at the beginning of the ride....hmmm.
Connor was so worried about the robbers stealing the book he brought along because it was his dad's. So here he is asking the robber if he reads. The robber replied, "Read! We don't read! All we care about is money!"

I thought the train ride really helped make the whole Grand Canyon experience come alive. We learned and saw alot. It was great. I don't think the kids will ever forget this one.

Arizona - On our way home!

I saw this rock on the way to Arizona and thought it would be great to get some pictures of it on the way back home. I don't know the name of it but it is located in the south Utah border area, close to Lake Powell. I loved the fact that it had a tunnel that went right through it. So here are Aubrey, Connor, and Ronin with their cousins, Drewe and Kristine.

Coming out the other side of the rock tunnel.

Our family - or at least most of us.

This rock is covered in etched names so everyone decided to give it a try. After a few short minutes, we found out it would take longer than we really had time for.

Now for a crazy shot.

Close-up of all the kids.

Ronin & his cousin, Drewe, peaking out of the hole.