Will's 7th Birthday

Will had a baseball tournament this weekend so we partied around his tournament schedule. On Saturday he had 3 school friends over to play on the waterslide. 

MJ, Nile, Will and Cam

He chose Red Lobster for his birthday dinner because he loves the "delicious cod."

The neighborhood kids were here all weekend!

Part with the family on Sunday night.

He wanted his team picture on his birthday cake.

Pitcher's mound present!

Will’s Seven-Year-Old Birthday Interview

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: Red

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Pizza. Actually, fish. Bluegill.

Q: Who is your best friend?

A: Nile, Cam and MJ

Q: What is your favorite thing to do?

A: Play baseball with Graham

Q: What is your favorite song?

A: 100 Bad Days by AJR.

Q: What is your favorite treat?

A: Strawberry Ice Cream

Q: What is your favorite drink?

A: Chocolate Milk

Q: What is your favorite show or movie?

A: I don’t have one.

(He really doesn’t watch TV)

Q: What is your favorite toy?

A: Legos.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

A: Go on trips.

Q: Where is your favorite place to go?

A: Arizona

Q: What is your favorite book?

A: I don’t have a favorite.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A baseball player.

 

Dance Recital - Back on Stage

 

After a year off due to COVID Charlie was able to get back on the stage for her dance recital. In an effort to keep capacity down to allow for distancing we were only allowed 3 tickets so it was a small group cheering her on in the audience this year. 

Charlie and her friend Julia.

First Boat Outing of the Year

Our super mable fell apart at the end of last season so we broke in a new one today on our first ride of the year. The weather was spotty and of course, as soon as we got out on the lake it started raining. It appeared that the storm was going to stay south so we took off to the north end of the lake and let the kids ski and tube. Then we jetted back south and made it into the dock just in time for the rain to start. An exciting first outing for sure!

 

Evy's Pencil Sketches

Evy has really been into pencil sketching this spring.

Her friend Sophia.

Her friend Laela.

 

Easter in Keo

 

A rare Easter gathering in Keosauqua.

Williams, AZ and Grand Canyon

After a 3 hour drive from Chandler, we arrived in Williams, AZ. It was an amazing change of scenery as we transitioned from the cactus thick desert in Phoenix to snow-covered forests of pine trees in the mountains in Northern Arizona. The temperature also dropped and we had 4 inches of new snow overnight! 

We ate at Pine Country Restaurant twice. How can you pass up a diner that offers breakfast all day long?

Williams is located on Route 66. Lots of shops and restaurants in the area however with temperatures in the 30s we did not spend a lot of time walking around.  

Our hotel in Williams had 2 queen beds and a rollaway. It made for a very cramped stay. 

Just outside of our hotel is the depot for the Grand Canyon Railway. We hopped aboard the train at 9 a.m. for the just over 2-hour ride to the Grand Canyon. 

So cold and so snowy. We had lots of layers on but the scenery was beautiful!

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon. So impressive! Our timing was bad as the temperature was in the 20s and there was fresh snow. So, we spent an hour dining inside at El Tovar to warm ourselves up!

All aboard! We ordered sack breakfasts to take aboard the train.

Winter weather advisory on our spring break trip. Of course!

After sprinting back to the hotel through the snow we warmed up by the lobby fireplace. 

Sedona, AZ

 

We stopped in Sedona for the scenery and lunch on our way to Williams from Chandler. The red rocks are stunning!

Lunch at Mesa Grill Sedona right next to the Sedona airport. One of the best meals of the trip. We sat on the patio and the weather was quite cool so we bundled up in blankets.

The kids were shoved together in our small SUV for a 3-hour ride and there was plenty of "commotion" going on.