Spring Break!!

we had been looking forward to spring break for months...finally some much needed arizona sun. our shorts and flip flops were a sight for sore eyes as i packed everyone up for the trip. we surprised the kids the day before we left and told them they wouldn't have to endure a long boring 12 hour drive and that we would be flying! (we love our flight rewards!)

they did pretty good on the plane..maybe next time we'll let maggie and lucas sit by each other so they won't be yelling across the isle that they are flying above all the clouds and that lucas can see texas.

 i was satisfied with actually being in arizona for spring break but i thought i'd better do something fun with the kids so with charlon and cade and cole we ventured to the historical museum downtown mesa. in the 29 years of my life i have not once gone to this museum! it was sooo fun and the kids have already asked when we can go back.

a very intense lesson on how the indians ground up their corn for cornmeal and whatnot...lol.

these little munchkins were deathly afraid to go into the old jail cells...

after we went in i couldn't blame them... 

don't ask me about my claw, dinosaur hand..what the?

lucas decided to pose like the horse in the picture.

i hope this is a scene from years to come. so many of the grandkids are old enough to get a game of softball going and it was so fun watching them play together.

 derek and summer's kids left their bikes over at grandma kennedys and as i was finishing getting ready for the day lucas came in and informed me that he could ride a bike. say what?!

sure enough i go outside and he's riding like a champ. he has never rode a bike before this day. grandpa tried helping him at first but he insisted that he could do it and off he went. that was the sum of lucas' spring break, he rode that bike every free second he could get!

then after two years of not riding a bike, maggie remembered that she could do it still.

 even though royal doesn't turn one until next month, i thought it would be fun to celebrate with all the family while we were there. the party was a hit! good food and good company is all you need.

and one cute baby.

thanks to everyone who came and we missed you aaron and heidi! living away from our family has made me realize how much we love and miss them. russell and i have both been blessed with such wonderful family members and we can't wait to be back in the valley of the sun!