The Grand Vacation

My cousin got engaged on St. Patrick's day 2012.  She announced that they would get married in April 2013 in Arizona and I new right away I wanted the whole family to make the trip. I have been to Arizona a few times and I lived in Utah for a semester in college, but I never made it to the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon was beautiful. And you know what, there's water down there.

Dave and I saw the most beautiful sunset.

And a wonderful sunrise with my mom, brother and sister in-law. Shar and I were in big time camera mode. Dave made a rule, no moving our feet while we were in the lens.

It was a good rule.

We went on a bus ride to get the boys close to the rim without having to hold them tightly. And some points it was a struggle to convince Eli he HAD to hold our hand. I wouldn't really recommend the Grand Canyon for anyone with small children, but if you're going during the off season with three grandparents it can be done.

One of my favorite memories from Hermit's Cove were we got off the bus for lunch. Adam and Eli walked up to the huge fire place and started asking where Santa Claus was.

The day wore the boys out and on the bus ride back to our car we had two sleeping boys in our arms.

Here's an awesome family shot my mother in-law captured. Adam and Eli were not interested in pictures. Notice the substantial fence besides them. This fence was only in a very small section by the main visitor center. Everywhere else the fence was either three horizontal bars that the boys could sneak under or a few weak large rocks. But I promise both boys survived and made it back to Phoenix with us.

I wish we had got out for a hike, but we couldn't do it with the boys and had very little opportunity. We did a the tiniest section of the Bright Angel trail after the sunrise our last morning in the Grand Canyon.  The views from below the rim were even more beautiful. 

Easter Eggs

The Easter Bunny hid a bunch of eggs in Hibbing at my Grandma and Grandpa's house. Eli found one egg and was happy eating it and being done. Adam on the other hand wanted to find them all and not put them down. Every pocket had several eggs before grandma Rose finally convinced him to hand several order to continue the search. 

Uncle Henry got Adam and Eli a Playmobil sports guys. The two guy guys can play hockey, soccer, baseball and football and it's pretty much Adam's favorite toy now.

It Just Won't Stop

Longest winter ever!  These pictures were taken back in March and I thought I was looking at the last of the snow, but it just keeps coming back. So much for April Showers- we are dealing with April Snow Storms.

 Easter snow showers in Hibbing.

A few weeks ago we went to Arizona and I didn't think it was to escape the snow, but April 11th it snowed in Minnesota.  And then last Thursday we got 10 inches before we went to bed and another 2 inches over the night.

 The boys had fun putting on their snow gear and helping us shovel. Dave and I were sore the next morning from the heavy wet snow.

My favorite thing about my driveway- Friday I waited and waited for the plow to take care of our neighborhood. And once they came through and plowed the snow into the center drainage ditch instead of my driveway so I could pull right out of my driveway and be on my merry way. The other streets besides ours had to shovel the icky snow chunks before they could get out of their driveways.

Tonight it snowed again we colored pictures of Frosty the Snowman and made up new words to the song, "I'm dreaming of a white 4th of July." Adam asked the hard question of where Santa hides presents. Not sure if he was getting the Easter Bunny and Christmas confused, but can you blame the kid.  This spring snow shower thing is just beyond bizarre and I went to school in the UP!