Birthday and Spring Break

To finish off the kid's Spirit Week . . .  Carter really got into Denim Day.  He created a top hat, tie and denim handkerchief combo that got him a second place ranking for the whole school.  He was a football player for Sports Day and for Mismatch Day he wore a swimsuit, snow boots, swimming goggles and mittens.

Friday the 7th was my birthday.  My Mom surprised me with a quick visit and tulips.  We went to the Gilbert Temple and then out to eat at Kneaders.  Then it was back to business with a trip to Costco to replace Alex's phone.  It was still malfunctioning from getting wet at the cultural celebration.  The good news is that the new phone will hopefully no longer send out random text messages in Chinese to all our family and friends. Alex got tickets to the Queen Creek rodeo for that night and we had a good time.  Alex's Mom sent me a sweet note which I really appreciated.  I am very blessed in the Mom department.

Saturday the 8th we got to have both our Mulleneaux and Stephenson cousins spend the day.  It looked like a good time was had by all.  They even helped eat my birthday cake.  Carter made a special cake just for me.

The next week was the kid's Spring Break.  The first few days we hung around here and did projects and played with friends and cousins.  On Thursday we headed down to St. David.  The kids asked to stop off at the Casa Grande ruins since we drive by them on our way.  It was a fun visit and they all earned their Junior Ranger badges.

Friday was a fun day with various and sundry ranch and cousin activities.  Karina, Brad and I hauled a cow over to cousin Tim Wilson's while Carter and Grandpa Paul worked in the front yard.  The girls loved riding horses and playing with Duane & Shirley's kids.  In the afternoon Alex, Brad and Carter headed out to the ranch with Grandpa and Karina and I got to visit with a high school friend, Wendy Gooding.  That evening we went wading in the river with Duane and Shirley's bunch, Karina and Grandma and Grandpa.  Let's make that, the kids waded in the river.  It was overcast, windy and the water was downright chilly and personally, I enjoyed just watching.  Jeff and Kelsey came down Friday night and it was fun to see them.  Sophie made the history books by taking her first steps.  She did two one-step routines from the cupboard to Mom but decided that that was more than enough.

Saturday, Alex had a nasty stomach bug that had him down and out all day.  Gratefully, he felt well enough to travel home by evening.  The boys alternated between reading Grandma Sue's Redwall books and helping fill gardening containers and digging a trench for a new water hookup for the garden.  Uncle Devon, Aunt DeeDee and our brand new baby cousin Clay came by.  Clay was voted absolutely adorable.  In the afternoon Aunt Karina took all the kids fishing.  No fish caught but lots of fun had by all.

Carter in his denim attire.

Brad and Sophie had some fun with the camera.  We discovered that Sophie has a pointed callus on her left thumb from due to her exclusive affinity for it.  Maybe she's Alex's long wished for Lefty.

My birthday tulips.  The kids were fascinated with how much water they consumed each day.

The Mesa Temple replica birthday cake Carter made for me.

Mulleneaux and Stephenson cousins helping to celebrate.

Carter, Alex, Sophie, Eve, Lydia, Brad, Camille at Casa Grande ruins.

Camille and Eve liked the pint-sized doorways at Casa Grande.

Camille, Alex & Sophie on Deacon.  Deacon was a little on the frisky side and Sophie wasn't so keen on the trotting.

Camille, Clay, Brad, Sophie.

Sophie found Clay fascinating.  She made sure to give him motherly pats and try to pick him up.