Love and Marriage

Congratulations!!!!

Our June Bride...

Aren't they so stinkin' cute?

We love you Aunt Lexy and Uncle Riley!!!

Congrats!

Just wanted to give a big shout out to "Aunt Lexy"...she is now officially engaged to Riley Richards! Congrats, we love you both!

Grand Canyon Slide Show

I will admit this is more for me- this was such a fun trip!

Our marathon Road Trip (Part 3)

Back tracking just a little, I have to include a comment made by Ashley a little earlier in the day. She asked, "Why can't we find Utah?" I about died laughing! I guess that's what you get when you tell your kids 'we are driving to Utah' and then go anywhere but!

So, we leave Williams, Arizona at about 10pm- wave at a couple of deer on the side of the road, and set out for "finding" Utah. (Let me just mention that Chad has been driving since 9:30 in the morning-I took the first leg from Tucson to Mesa. Granted, there were extended stops along the way, but still a lot of driving for one man). We decided to drive through Vegas hoping to avoid the snow that was already falling on the Flagstaff/Kanab route... Yeah that didn't work. After a very windy adventure we cross the Hoover dam and note the time change-here is where we think we have just gained an extra hour of time for our trip-blasted daylight savings time!. We stop in Vegas for gas and some more DDP and corn nuts, and shortly there after, Chad finally let Alexis take the wheel. Chad climbed in the back seat to get some rest, and then the craziness began.

The wind that we had hoped to leave behind us picked up again and then started the rain! Alexis ended up taking the wheel as soon as the weather went crazy. It was major windy and the rain was coming down so hard the wipers needed to be on high to even attempt a clear windshield, but that just made it hard to see for the dizzying affect it created.

Now the original plan was to take shifts so we could all get some sleep, but then there is the guilty feelings. Feeling the need to keep the driver company, and help them stay awake!

Well, Chad did rest a little while; right up until we were coming into St. George, Utah. He woke up to the sound of rain on the window and hysteria in the front seat. Now this isn't what you may think, we weren't going crazy, it was just that the delirium was starting to catch up with us and everything was funny. The kind of funny where you don't know why you are laughing, but trying to stop just makes you laugh harder. So Chad tells Alexis to take the next exit, which she misses, because she can't see it? He dramatically points out the next off ramp which we then take, but we are now laughing hard enough that the oxygen supply to our brains is almost completely cut off. I know my throat was closing up with the constant pressure and we almost went over the side of the off ramp and over a small cliff type structure! Alexis is instructed to pull into a Chevron (our Gas station of choice for the trip) and tries to turn a grassy embankment into a driveway! (I know this is so much funnier to me because I was there, but this has to be recorded for posterity)! We switch drivers and Chad is again in the drivers seat. He uses the actual exit for the gas station, and then pulls back onto the highway. Within moment the rain transforms into snow. I know we took measures to avoid it, but what can you do. I was so grateful at that moment that we had pulled over in St. George, for Chad is the only one of us who has spent a significant amount of time driving in snow.

So at this point we are going 30-45mph versus 75-90mph, and how grateful was I for that "extra hour" we picked up in Nevada! (yeah there was no extra hour, we figured out shortly thereafter, that we lost it again when we entered Utah). So we crept along, at some points we were in front of the snowplows and at others behind. I don't know how many summits we crossed, at least four. There was a point were Chad started yelling at some guy for driving down the middle of the road, asking him why he couldn't stay in his own lane...we burst into fits of laughter when we realized it was Chad who was in fact driving down the middle of the road. I am sure the driver in the other car was yelling at us too!

There was some point during the night when we decided to have a contest to see who could stay awake the longest, I'm not sure that the winner would really be the looser or what, but the idea kept us occupied. We start to see signs of the snow letting up and then it would start again. Eventually it did stop, and we started to see signs of civilization. We also began to realize that we were running out of time. We called my parents to find out where the hotel was so we could follow them to the church building were we were leaving the kids. We stayed on the phone with them as we worked our way through the ciaos that is Provo Utah. When we finally had the hotel in our sights it was almost too late to turn. There may have been screeching of tires and a cool slide maneuver involved, but I will neither confirm nor deny. The best (or worst) part, depending on who you ask, was when we passed in front of this little white car as we careened into the parking lot and we all thought/ said, wouldn't it be funny if that was my parents! It totally was and Chad was mortified.

By this time it is about 8:00am. The sealing was to begin at 9:00am, so we were supposed to be there half an hour early!

We continue to driving around the ciaos of Provo until we finally find the church building about 10 minutes later. We deposit the kids to eat breakfast while we run to the restrooms to change and freshen up as best we can. We look pretty good for 27 hours+ without sleep. Then we jump back into the cars, tell the kids we will be back to get them soon, and go looking for the temple. It has been raining again, so when we finally get to the temple (darn map quest directions) Chad drops us off at the entrance so he can go and park. We are just in time and there is a definite feeling of peace as we enter the temple doors. The sealing was beautiful as were Tara and Rob. I am so happy for them, with all that they have been through to finally be sealed together forever.

Our marathon Road Trip (Part 2)

So we were at the Grand Canyon until sunset but that was not the end of our day. We stopped for dinner where we received a local discount (weird story) then headed back to Williams for the next adventure on our trip.

~The kids have loved the movie "The Polar Express" since its debut.



They have the book which they have read over and over. And last year they received bells from Santa under the tree. They have been asking us if they could watch for the Polar Express to go by our house on Christmas Eve....~

We pulled into the parking lot of the Grand Canyon Railroad Station. There were lights everywhere and the wind was blowing like crazy! We told the kids that we were there to see one of Aunt Alexis' friends and they needed to change into their pajamas so they'd be ready to go when we were done.

We walked into the station and Allen started asking questions. He kept saying "This looks like the Polar Express" We kept playing it down, building up his excitement. The time for departure we coming closer, so we went to stand out on our designated platform. Allen and now Wesley knew something was going on. (Ashley and Madison kept asking where Alexis' friend was!)

Then the moment came the train was pulling into the station! Allen and Wesley's faces were just beaming, and as the cars began to pull in front of us they read the sign on the side. I was almost crying I was smiling so hard! The conductor asked for our tickets and then let us on the train! There were lights and music playing in the background. When the train pulled away from the station, elves and chefs served us cookies and hot chocolate. We went through a time warp tunnel so that we could get to the North Pole faster. Then, the story was read to us as the pictures were each displayed(we are going to make sure and bring our copy of the book to follow along next time). Before we new it, we were slowing down...the lights were dimmed inside the car so we could more easily see what was going on outside. That's when we saw him- Santa Claus was waiting for us. He was there with his elf and we chanted his name so we made sure he knew we wanted him on the train with us! When we pulled away from the North Pole Santa was gone from his place outside, so we knew he was somewhere on the train with us. The kids were beside themselves. As we waited for Santa to get to our car we began to sing Christmas carols. We each received a book of carols and the kids competed with the adults(did I mention there were more adults than children in our car?) to see who could sing the loudest! (There are a surprising number of tone deaf people in the world! -j/k) Before we knew it, the kids had spotted someone wearing a red coat just outside the doors to the car. They were giddy with excitement, and I was having a blast just watching their reactions to each new element. We were at the back of the car so the kids were able to watch Santa and let their excitement build and grow! Ashley was practically vibrating in place she was chanting "It's Santa, its really him!"
When he finally got to the back of the car the kids just stared! He handed them each a bell from his reindeer's sleigh and wished them a Merry Christmas.
That was one of those moments that I will cherish. They were all happy at the same time and just loving every moment. Drinking in every sensory experience.
After Santa left our train car, we sang a few more Christmas carols. Then it was time to go back through the time warp tunnel, and a few minutes later we were back at the station.
It was getting late and I could tell the kids were tired, but they were so happy!
Side note: Madison is still asking were Aunt Alexis' friend is-I think we confused her a little.
Stay tuned for more-because there is so much more!(and I have so many pictures-they're coming I promise.)

The Polar Express™
Experience the magic of The Polar Express™, the classic children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. The Polar Express comes to life when the train departs the Williams Depot for a journey through the dark and quiet wilderness for a special visit to the "North Pole." Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while listening to the magical story. Watch the joy on the children's faces when the train arrives at the North Pole, where Santa Claus and his reindeer are waiting! Santa will board The Polar Express and hand each child their own special gift. Make this a family holiday tradition. Call today to make your reservations because space is limited to those who truly believe in the spirit of Christmas!(http://www.thetrain.com/polarexpress/)

Our marathon road trip...(pictures to come)!Part 1

It seems like we have been waiting for my brother-Rob's wedding forever. (I'm sure that he and Tara would second that motion!) So when it finally got here it was over before we knew it. Isn't that the way it always goes?

So we decided that if we were going to drive all the way to Northern Utah, we were going to pack in a few adventures along the way. Alexis came with us and definitely raised the entertainment value a notch or two (maybe even three-she is quite witty!) We left Tucson grabbed Alexis in Mesa and then headed for Williams Arizona. -Side note: we told the kids nothing but that we were going to Uncle Rob's wedding, so everything was a surprise.- There we spent some time at the Grand Canyon Deer Farm were the kids were able to be mauled by a heard of deer. Okay so they had food in their possession and the deer wanted it. Can you blame them? I don't know, maybe that is the only food the deer receive all day-don't worry they looked anything but malnourished! There were donkeys and buffaloes, pigs and goats, monkeys and reindeer. It really was a lot of fun and once the food was gone, the animals left the kids alone to wander and have fun.

Our next stop was the Grand Canyon. I know, I'm 28(oh scary), I've lived in Arizona my entire life, and I have never been to the Grand Canyon. I'm not even going to attempt and explanation at the awe I felt when we pulled up to the first lookout. I can just say I felt ashamed for using the word amazing at any other point in my life when it should have been reserved for that moment. Thoughts of "There is beauty all around..." "I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world,..." there were others, you know where I'm going with this! It was definitely a great moment to step back, both literally and figuratively, and reflect on each detail that were are blessed with, even beautiful things to make us happy! I must also mention the lack of English spoken at the Canyon-many foreign tourists help support our national park system, let me tell you! Also, there weren't any other children there...weird I know, but my mother did comment on the fact that there was a reason I had never been to the Grand Canyon, let me see if I can get this right 'There is no way I was going to take 9 kids to the edge of a mile deep drop off'. Okay I know that isn't exact, but that is the general idea. It seems as if that is the way that most people feel. There were a couple of 'are you crazy' looks and even one older lady totally freaking out because Ashley was touching the wall, not on it or leaning precariously over it, but touching it! The kids were excited about the canyon for a little while, but then took up a great fascination with the piles of snow. We distracted them with the visitors center and a gift shop, but they still ended up playing in the snow a little bit.