The Grand Canyon

We really had fun this past week taking Grandma to the Grand Canyon! She had never been, so when she decided to come out for a visit Robby decided that it would be a good time to take her to see it. Andra had never been before either so she was excited to plan the trip, and Tommy decided to drive down from Utah and meet us there. All in all, we had a grand family trip!

We arrived about 4pm, checked-in to the lodge, and set up camp. Then we took the shuttle to Hopi Point, one of the look-outs, and watched the sunset with about a hundred or so other on-lookers. Here Grandma poses with Matthew and Robby at Hopi point.

Jenna gets a ride from Dad. (Notice one shoe on, one shoe off -- that's Jenna for you!)

Andra and Matthew (her oldest) pose for a picture!

Here's our little family posing with the setting sun.

That night Grandma, Andra, Matthew, James, Jenna, and I spent a restless night at the lodge (poor Andra spent almost the whole night comforting her children - we thought James was going to be really sick, but fortunately he wasn't.) The rest of the crew which consisted of Robby, Little Robby, Tommy, and his girlfriend Doris, spent a very cold night (25 degrees was the low - Brrrr!) camping. The next day Grandma, Tommy, Doris, Robby, Little Robby, and Matthew decided to hike about a mile down one of the trails that leads to the bottom of the Canyon. Andra (who is expecting in late Sept.) and I opted to walk along the rim pushing James and Jenna in strollers. All of us really enjoyed taking in the scenic views of the Canyon.

Here the trail hikers are ready to take off down into the Canyon. (Robby is taking the picture.)

Taking in the magnificent view!

At the end of their trail they took a little while to enjoy the view from this look-out.

Tommy and Matthew

Apparently Matthew was too tired to hike back up so he got to ride. In the end, many of them had to fight off fatigue to hike back up the trail fast enough for us to get Grandma off to her surprise.

Eventually, they all succeeded!

Overall, it was a truly fun family trip that we will all never forget!

Breakfast in Bed

I must be doing something right because Little Robby loves me enough to make breakfast in bed for me! On Easter morning the family let me sleep in, and as I was getting up Little Robby insisted that I go back to bed. The next thing I knew he was coming in with my breakfast, and Dad was assisting by getting the bed tray for him. Evidently it was all his idea, and so far as Dad knew Little Robby made it all by himself (although I suspect Grandma helped a little!)



Dad did take one more picture of Little Robby and I sitting together on the bed with the tray in front of me, but seeing as my morning appearance might be enough to frighten everyone (even myself!) I will spare you from viewing it.

Watching the Butterflies Fly By

This past weekend my parents flew to visit us over Easter. While here we took them to the Botanical Gardens to see the Spring butterfly exhibit. It consists of screened in portable building that they fill with thousands of flowers and hundreds of butterflies. It was so fun seeing Jenna get excited about the butterflies that were flying all around us.

Here we are waiting for our turn to enter the butterfly house.

My two happy little ones.

One of the pretty butterflies we saw.

Jenna doesn't realize that there is a butterfly friend on Grandpa's shoulder.

"Grandpa, do you see the butterflies!?"

Here Little Robby and Jenna are sitting inside the butterfly house. If you look closely you can see some butterflies on the plants behind them.

And here we have a Chap-apiller.

And here is a Jennafly.

You too can have hair like this!

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