Sunday, August 10, 2014

Last Year of School

Monday, August 4th was the last "first day of school" for this family.  Grant started his senior year.  He was forced to get his picture taken that morning because tradition dictated that he could not skip out of it.  Plus, he had to have a picture with his mom.


It's going to be a great school year Grant!  (I'm hoping that he will want to continue this tradition when he goes off to college.  So far I'm doubtful he will comply.)

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Grey is so Smart!

Grey has been practicing putting this puzzle together.  She is so proud of herself when she gets it done!

Grandma's 82nd Birthday Bash!

It's hard to believe it is time for another installment of Grandma's Birthday Lunch!  This year we went to Texas Roadhouse.  Grandma loves her steak.

This year's party guests included:  Ethan, Maeleigh, Natalie, Logan, Julie, Grayson, Robby, Madison, Marshall, Haley, the birthday girl, and our surprise guest, Mom! 
 Grandma Sweeney got in the saddle with her ice cream so we could give her a big birthday "Yee Haw!"
Grandma, Grayson and I.
Another fun birthday lunch came to an end!
See you all next year for the 83rd birthday.

Annual Utah Trip

Our annual trip to Utah to visit Brent's family began on July 3rd.  The biggest difference about this trip is that our granddaughter, Grey,came with us.  She is such a happy little girl; however, the 11 hour car ride was challenging for us all.

 Grey slept for a total of 50 minutes on the drive.  The problem was that it wasn't all at one time.
 She did a great job playing with toys, listening to music and playing peek-a-boo with her blanket.
Grey celebrated the 4th of July in style!

Her Grammy (Perry's Mom) picked out this special outfit.
 While Grey was learning to slide down the slide, we noticed a deer grazing in the neighbor's yard.
 I think it is so cool that random wildlife hang out by the house.
 With the help of her Chamber's cousins, Grey mastered going down the slide.
 She loved it and wanted to do this every day we were there.
 Grey also loved playing with all of the big dogs.  She would pet them, put her head on them, and chase them around.  In this picture she is sitting with Fergus.
 The first night we arrived in Utah, Grey was given this balloon from the local grocery store.  She would not let the balloon go.  I figured the balloon would be dead by the following day.  Not only did the balloon last the entire week we were in Utah, it stayed afloat another 2 weeks after we came home.
 She is eating Deviled Eggs and a croissant.
The reason we came to Utah this year was to celebrate Brent's Dad's 80th birthday.  6 out of the 7 kids in Brent's family were in town for this celebration.  Brent's Dad gave the kids a ride around the block with his tractor.  Grey wasn't too sure about it, but Amanda made sure she was safe.
 One morning I heard the piano being banged on.  I knew Grey was the culprit.  I ran up the stairs from the basement to save the piano from her pounding and this is what I found.  Her great-grandma Jensen and put her on the bench.  Grey had perfect posture and knew what to do.  
 On July 8th Brent, Grey and I hiked up to Timpanogus Cave.  We didn't tour the cave we just wanted to get out of the house, enjoy nature and have some fun together.

 At the top of the mountain near the cave entrance, Grey was able to run around and stretch her legs.

 Grey fell asleep on the way down.  She is so darn cute!
At the bottom of the mountain we showed her the fast moving creek.
 It was a wonderful trip. Brent and I are glad we could share our adventure with little Grey!

Monday, June 9, 2014

Family Fun in Flagstaff

The Robles Family Camp-Out was held June 5th - 7th.  Unfortunately, not all of us were able to make it to the camp-out and some of us came up for just the day.  We will have to figure out how to do this better in the future so more of us can make it.  My family wants to go again this summer when we can have a campfire.  Once the fire restrictions are lifted, I'm planning another trip.

David and Daniel found this great camping site outside of Flagstaff.  The trees were a mix of Ponderosa Pine and Aspen.  There were hiking trails (mountain biking trails) and back roads to ride ATVs and Dirt Bikes.  Jacob brought his bow and arrow set and we all wished the fire restrictions weren't in place so we could do target practice with guns.  Despite the restrictions, it was great to be able to visit with everyone who was able to come.

 Camber, Payten,and Mom pose among the Aspen trees during their short hike. 
 Grey enjoyed the hike in her super back pack :)
 Perry, Grey, Jana, Adam and Denny (friends of Jana) enjoyed chatting in the shade.
 Grey is trying to figure out how to see with this floppy hat on her head.


 The first time I put Grey in the grass barefoot, she cried.  Here she is walking around in the dirt and it's not bothering her at all.
 How much dirt can Macy add to her face and shirt?
 
 This is Macy's cousin Laura.  She wins for having more dirt on her face than Macy!

 This is the first time Grey has had enough hair to put it in a rubber band!  There is hope for her hair! 
 Jacque's craft table was a HUGE HIT with all of the kids.  They were able to paint pinecones, sticks, wooden snakes, and create colorful beaded necklaces.   
 Shelby wanted to compete in the dirtiest face contest. 
 Do you think she won?
 The well prepared Jacque had Popsicles for everyone!  Jacob and Logan are enjoying them!
 David road one of the ATVs behind Daniel as they went out for a ride.  Daniel's face was perfectly clean when they returned.  David looks like he spent the entire ride eating Daniel's dust!

 Grey and her Daddy.
 Grey LOVES to play with balls.  It's a good thing that Natalie brought some fun "boy" toys!
 Ethan isn't so sure he wants his picture taken...
 Grant slept like this with a bag of Chips Ahoy cookies tucked into his side for a few hours. 
 Grey didn't need a nap.  She just kept playing with everyone else's toys and she was a happy camper.
 Finally, a picture of Heidi
 I think Macy enjoys getting her picture taken.  I love the pig tails!

 Snack time!  Gatorade and Pringles.
 Macy's cousin Laura wanted to pose for this shot in between the two trees.
 No matter how much I asked Cyrene to smile, this is all she would give me.  I'm glad Taylor was ready to show me her beautiful smile!
 Grey found some more "boy" toys to play with.

 Ethan still doesn't trust the camera.
 Grey found someone's beaded necklace.
 Grey took over Logan's bike. She is wondering how it works.

 Grey is working on her submission to the dirtiest face contest.
 Logan was thrilled to get his bike back from Grey!
 After riding the dirt bikes for a while, Brent relaxed in the shade.
 This picture has Rachel & the back of Ben's head (both are Macy's cousins).  Camber is singing a song about her cobra snake.
 Ethan with the dog's water bowl.  Still no smiles.
 David was in trouble.  He lost his wedding ring "again."  He recruited everyone to help him find it.
 Jacque found it (earlier in the day) :)
 Heidi, Rachel and Ben waiting for another ride on the ATV.
 Grey loves Grant, even when he is sleeping.
 The kids found this tepee style fort in the forest.  The added to it while they were there.
Cyrene, Camber, Taylor, Logan, Ben, Payten, and Rachel
 The other side of the fort.
This was a great place for a family camp-out and day trip.  Thank you Jacque and David for letting all the ladies use the bathroom in your awesome camper.  I really want to get one of those now!  We have to do this again sometime soon.  We want more family members to be able to make it.  How about in September:  Labor Day weekend or the weekend after?  Maybe there won't be any fire restrictions by then...