Saguaro Lake kayaking

"Scenic Views" just in case you didn't know.

Salt river

Canadiangeese need to go home

Hiking and Shooting and Kayaking... OH MY

I love Loren and his sense of adventure, he finds places and ways to enjoy this beautiful state of ours.  He had a few days off, and it was spring break for some of us (Taylor's is not until next week and she is in Flagstaff and Ty's was suppose to be this week but his school opened late so they took this week away from him, I didn't feel guilty when I pulled him out early one day for an "appointment") which means perfect weather to get out...

We headed out to "our" shooting area, Loren needed to sight-in Ty's 30.06 he got for Christmas and it is just fun to shoot.  Ty and Kyley both shot the 30.06 since Loren put in for elk hunting this fall, I hope one of them gets drawn, it will be a good time for sure.  I am a bit of a sissy when it comes to guns so I like to shoot the 22 - but it is fun and I am becoming a better shot.  We made peanut butter and honey sandwiches, man those taste so good when you are hungry and we drove to the "creek" I put quotes since there was not water but we hiked a bit of the Arizona trial  - 760 miles through AZ from Mexico to Utah, how fun it would be to hike it all one year, camp a bit, sleep in hotels see all this state has to offer.  We have been going to Picket post since 2008, we have several pictures of us exploring this area,

so of course when I get home I have to to go find them,  I can't believe how fast time has flies...

I wish Taylor was here and we had a tripod so Loren could be in the picture, perfect family picture spot.

 After recovering from shooting we headed out to Canyon Lake to try out our new kayak.  We got a good one, big enough for two of us.  I haven't been to Canyon Lake in probably 8 years, (when we had our boat we went all the time) - I had forgotten how beautiful it is.  I enjoyed the drive down to the lake, the little spot by the brushes and just hanging out with Kyley, Loren and Wyatt.  It was windy and it looked like rain so we cut our trip short, we are going out again Lorens next day off.  I didn't  think I would like kayaking as much as I did, Loren and I went out in the ocean and believe it or not I got sea-sick, even puking over the side of the kayak, but the lake was so nice I could paddle out to the middle of the lake, close my eyes and just bask in the moment - I love Loren and his love of Arizona!

Monday Loren had to work (someone has to ...) so I called my sister Dyan and we made plans to hike Usery Pass - Wind Caves.  I grew up doing his hike but we have been "south-siders" for the better part of 20 years and Usery Pass was not close, so it had been at least 20 years since I have made the trip.  It was St. Patrick's Day and at noon Fountain Hills turns the fountain green, so we planned our hike accordingly.  I was surprised when I got to Dyan's house to see my dad, I shouldn't have been he loves to hike  - it was so fun to spend some time on the trail visiting with my Dad, Matt and Dyan.  It was low key, Kate set the pace,  and I can definitely keep up with a 6-year old.  The boys, Ty, Wyatt, Jack and Jay immediately took off their shirts and wrapped them around their head to be ninjas.  I am pretty sure we made everyone on the trail laugh.   There are a lot of twist and turns on the trail Wyatt was ahead and found this little nook and was just sitting in it  when I walked up, it looks like it was carved out just for him.   Dyan comments how Dad talks to everyone on the trail, well Dyan is just like Dad and she talked to everyone coming down, I laughed and laughed.  I love hiking and being outside I love this time of year because we can be outside, in a few short months we would never be outside at noon on purpose...

 

 

Culture Celebration

Kyley is on the left hand side, in the black rain jacket, Ty is in the front right hand side.

Our ward provided us a CD with pictures of our kids at the culture celebration, I was so excited I came right home and scrolled through the pictures looking for my kids...  I found a few, I was hoping there was one of Kyley and Ty together acting like they love each other, no such luck, but there were a few and  I will take what ever I can get to document this event. (see earlier post for more)

Kyley - Megan Moore, and Maquel Chapman (I have Maquel in my zero hour class - cool kids)

The celebration had a little bit of everything, it started with...

•  The Children of Abraham and an Israelite Folk Dance
• "We'll find Zion in the midst of Babylon, *'Courage Strong!' will be our guide* The light of promise will shines upon us* We trust our God, we're in His hands* For we're the Children of Abraham"
• Let This Be Known - Fiery Furnace and Fire Dance
• This dance celebrated the heroes Shadrach, Meshach and Abendnego   - they didn't compromise their values, even with the threat of being thrown into a fire, they stayed "true to the faith"
• True to the Faith was Kyley and Ty's dance here they are, well the back of Ty's head as they donned  their costumes and waited for their part. Captain Moroni rallied his people with the Title of Liberty,  each had their own title of liberties that they wrote their
  
  "personal declarations to Live True to the Faith".   Ty's said "keep the commandments"  Kyley's said "Tune my heart to sing thy grace".
• Pima Basket Dance celebrated our Native American Heritage.
• Pioneers and a Hoedown  - talked about when Brigham Young sent them to Arizona and they sang "This can't be the start of something good."  I'm sure it felt that way 100 years ago with no a/c and running water but it was the start of something good.
• Toma Mi Mano - (Take my Hand) celebrating our Latin American Heritage
• The Lucky Ones - "Their banners on Mt. Zion are shining like the sun- We're built upon their dreams, we're the Lucky Ones."  We are so blessed to have the temple in our mist, we.. me I am so lucky.
• How Can I Be - this was my favorite song,  400 ukulele pose the question  "How can I be like Abinadi, Samuel the Lamanite, Benjamin the Wise, Jesus Christ."
• They ended with I Choose This Day... I hope my children will always choose the right, choose to follow the prophet and Choose to live as Jesus did.  Here is a picture of President Thomas S, Monson and Henry B. Eyring applauding and giving the thumbs up,  how cool that my kids could say they were there...