Spring Break Trip to AZ

Spring Break took us to warm & sunny Arizona this year. We decided it was high time we go see the Grand Canyon, plus my parents are playing hooky there in the winter months. It turned into quite an adventure!

To start out, we had to get 4 new tires in Beaver, UT. The service guy at the Chevron saved us from any possible catastrophes that might have ruined the adventure. Later in the week we polished off the job by replacing some wheel parts and getting it all aligned.

We met my parents in Cameron, AZ. Cam was pretty excited to find out there is a town with his name! From there we toured the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It was GRAND! One of my favorite parts about being there was hearing so many different languages. I told my kids they were pretty lucky to be seeing such a well known natural landmark.

Cameron in Cameron, AZ

The rest of the week took us all over the central part of Arizona. We started by visiting a "feeding zoo" where some of the animals were quite unique; ostriches, ground hogs and lorakeets, in addition to the usual donkeys, goats and ducks.

Feeding the ducks

Feeding the ostriches - very feisty!

Jess with two lorakeets

We saw several ruins of the indigenous people of AZ, the Pima Air & Space Museum, copper mines and the Phoenix Zoo.

Tonto Basin cliff dwelling hike

Tonto Basin cliff dwelling

At the Pima Air & Space Museum - with Pa in from of the plain he flew

Casa Grande ruins

Phoenix Zoo

On the way home, we went through Las Vegas, Nevada to see some good friends. We got to see the Hoover Dam from the new Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Both features are pretty amazing engineering feats!

Before returning home, we spent a day hiking & scrambling in Red Rock Canyon, swimming in a freezing cold hotel pool, having a belated Easter egg hunt and playing with good friends.

Learning to Sail

As many of you know, Brian has had a dream of owning a sailboat and sailing around the world for some time. It is always on his brain. He researches every detail required to undertake such an endeavor any chance he gets. As you can imagine, there is a lot involved and so much we don't know, but he has a "master plan"! This trip was the first step in his master plan. We had to determine whether or not this was something we could actually learn how to do, and whether or not we would enjoy it and want to pursue it.

Brian made all the arrangements for us to fly to St. Vincent in the Eastern Caribbean, where we were to get on a catamaran for a week-long learn-to-sail course. The course did require that we purchase and study some sailing books prior to arriving. It felt like being back in school again, which I quite enjoyed! It also felt like being back in a driver's ed course, only this time for boats. We know lots of sailing jargon now!

The catamaran we sailed on was called Inordinate. It was 42' in length. It had a table and seating area in the rear by the helm and a galley & seating area inside, plus four cabins, each with it's own head. See the photos below. Our crew consisted of the Captain who was our instructor for the week, Brian & I, and another couple from Canada.

Each day went something like this. We woke up around 6:30-7:00am with the sun. We would jump into the ocean for a few laps swim around the boat; the temperature was perfect! Then we'd have breakfast, talk sailing, sometimes take a test, then take up anchor and sail to another island. Along the way we would talk more sailing and everyone had a chance to practice all the things we were learning. Once we arrived at the new island, we'd set the anchor, then jump in the ocean again. At several of the islands we went ashore in a dinghy to get supplies, eat dinner or to explore.

Some of the activities we did at the different islands were snorkeling, swimming with sea turtles in a nature preserve area and taking an intro to scuba diving course.

The crew of Inordinate

The feeling of sailing was amazing! We learned tons during the week and passed 3 tests, certifying us as sailors with the American Sailing Association. We still need lots of practice, but at least we learned the basics of sailing and we determined that this was something we could do and would love. We even tried sushimi (not sure of the spelling, but it's fresh tuna slightly seared) and any of you who know me, know that was a huge step because I HATE eating fish! I could actually live off it if I had to, so now we know we can do the sailing gig!

This was probably the best trip I've ever been on; a truly amazing experience! We had lots of views like the ones in the photos below during our week in St, Vincent & the Grenadines.

Jr. Jazz

Cam & Jess were able to participate in the local Jr. Jazz league this winter. Both seemed quite timid at the beginning, but got more comfortable with their teams as the weeks went by. Overall, I think they enjoyed the comradery with their teammates and the treats after each game didn't hurt! ;)

Yellowstone

I enjoy the winter season and I want the kids to enjoy it as well. So, back in January we took a quick trip to Yellowstone when the kids had an extra day out of school. This was the kids' first visit to Yellowstone and the first time I had been during the winter. I had heard about tours into the park and thought this would be the perfect activity to help the kids enjoy the winter season.

We spent the first day snowmobiling outside the park. The kids had a great time, as did Brian & I! Since we needed 2 & 3 person sleds, we had to rent the biggest & nicest ones available.

The second day we took a semi-private coach tour of Yellowstone National Park. We got to see lots of wildlife, a waterfall, some of the hotpots and Old Faithful.

We saw lots of dog-sleds while we were snowmobiling.

Brian with the girls

Cam - Whistler Geese in the river

Buffalo along the road

Steam coming off the river

Waiting for Old Faithful

Rebecca's 5th Birthday

It's hard to believe she is already five years old. She is such a joy to have in our family, always happy, positive, willing to share and a great helper!

A new, bigger, big-girl bike

Legos and a sea turtle Dream Lite

Enchiladas for birthday dinner

She still loves the princesses

Annual Christmas Card

You may have been a recipient of one of these annual cards, but if not, don't fret; we've posted it here on the blog with the bonus version as well!

Christmas 2012

For our Christmas trip this year we stayed in a condo at Bear Lake. It is amazing how much quality time you can spend together when you are not at your own home, where there are endless distractions! We did all the traditional Christmas activities like making sugar cookies, decorating gingerbread people, playing games, sledding, skiing, movie watching and more! It was another memorable season spent together as a family.

Decorating sugar cookies

Painting nails Christmas colors

Christmas Eve pajamas

Jessica's new coat - I love this color on her!

Becca with new dress up clothes

Cam got a ukulele

Skiing at Beaver Mountain

Swimming pools are always a hit

Games and coloring

Dinner with the Armstrong clan

Sledding

Decorating gingerbread people