Science Center

We took a trip to Anaheim last weekend for a conference. We had a wonderful time and stayed with the greatest couple. After the last meeting on Sunday, we took the kids into Santa Ana to the Science Museum. They had the Sesame Street Body Exhibit there. It was so much fun. They had little areas just for kids under 5. Lance and I took turns watching the younger two in there and walking around exploring with the older ones. It was so crowded because it was the weekend. We bought the year membership and will be able to visit the museum in Phoenix as well as this one when we go back to Anaheim. The kids did not want to leave, but fell asleep immediately after getting into the car. Bert was sitting on the bench when we arrived and didn't have a line. Elmo's line was entirely too long so we just waved as he walked by. I think Launa liked that better. She would not even get close to Bert when we were taking pictures.

Launa jumping in the Super Grover obstacle course.

He did it!!!

The kids sat in these seats and had to pull themselves up to the top. This one was pulling 1/6 of your weight.

Lukas was pulling 1/4 of his weight and Drue 1/3. They were racing and Drue won.

Climbing the rock wall. Launa didn't make it too far.

Chewing some food.

With Bert.

A change of heart

So not too long ago I was complaining about her not wanting to have her picture taken. Well, when I pulled out the camera to take pictures of the plane flying, Launa decided she was ready for some closeups. I am not sure what she is doing and why she was making such weird faces, but I thought they were cute and wanted to share.

Schooling

Why, do you ask, are my youngest two children sitting on the part of the wall made for a plant? Well, my oldest two children were being the Wright Brothers (flying airplanes after learning about the Wright Brothers) and didn't want to be interrupted. I was in the school room with door shut, to keep out destruction makers, and realized that no one was crying or yelling or complaining or any of the such. This is odd because usually when paper airplanes are thrown by the older two, the younger two try to capture the planes and crumple them up as fast as they can. This induces yelling and crying from the older two, which then produces yelling and crying from the younger two. Oh, the memories!! Anyway, wondering why all was so calm, I came out of the room to find these two sitting, happily, on the wall. They stayed there a good 10 minutes and the older two flew their planes until I was ready for the next lesson. I was a proud Mama to see the kids working together and all getting along.

My little "Wright Brothers"

Sledding--part 2

This is a picture from inside the truck as we were driving up the mountain.

Even Papa joined in the fun.

He was going down front ways but turned just as I was taking the picture.
Mom and Launa

Launa. I think she was the warmest one out there.

I did go down the hill, on a sled, with Lance. He was very shocked that I said I would go down. Honestly, I was too. It was very scary as there was so much snow flying in my face that I could not see. (I'm not a very adventurous person.) It was fun (I guess), but I am not sure if I will ever do it again.

Sledding-part 1

I guess I used my maximum allowance of pictures, so I have to do this in two parts.

We went up to Prescott this weekend to do some sledding. The kids (at least the older two) had a blast. It was so beautiful up there.

Drue at the end of her trip.

Drue and Lukas racing down the hill. I think Lukas is winning.

Drue sledding in a different position.

Lukas, thinking he might throw that at me.

Almost to the bottom.

I think he had his mouth open the whole time.

Samuel trying to look as if he is enjoying himself.

Samuel's one and only trip down. He said it was scared, so he didn't want to do it anymore.

Daddy and Samuel

Headed Home

Still Smiling
Just a few more hours
Launa got to play on the top section over the cab for about 10 minutes. One of her few bouts of freedom while in the motor home.

After visiting the Wiggly Play Center, we headed back to Bedford for dinner with our friends. We left for home when it was bedtime (they have two kids). We decided we would drive straight through to avoid the storms that were coming on Friday. We made it home around 7am on Thursday. We were so glad to see our house and to sleep and shower in our own home.

Wiggly Play Center

Being a Wiggle.
Samuel didn't quite figure it out.
Drue on the zip line
Even Dad had fun
Launa sliding down

During out second visit to Texas, this time to stay with friends in Bedford, we visited the Wiggly Play Center in Frisco, TX. The kids had a blast. They were so worn out and hungry that they asked us if they could leave. It was an indoor playcenter decorated with more Wiggles colors and murals than you could even imagine. Each room had a different Wiggles scene painted on the wall.

Papa Larry's Plane

These pictures are a little out of order.

We went to Uncle Larry's (Lance's uncle) and the boys flew on his plane. They had so much fun. Launie and I hung out on the trampoline and played with the dog.

The kids call him Papa Larry, I guess because he is their Papa's brother.

In the air.
All loaded up and ready to go.

Getting everyone strapped in for the ride.

Mema's

Slinky time.
My baby is not so little anymore.
Time with Granddaddy.
I wonder what they are talking about?

We spent Christmas day at Mema's house. It was great to see (almost) the whole family. I rained the majority of the day so we moved the whole shabang into the garage. The kids played in the rain and entertained us all. One more thing they don't get a whole lot of out here.

The Freitags

These are June's grandchildren. She has a few more but they were either unable to make it or had already left before picture time.

Tina, Hannah, Logan, Victoria, Isabel, Lisa and Lance (counter clockwise)

Launa with Larry's first grandbaby.

This is Les's (Lance's dad) mom and brothers and sister.

Front: June and Gwen

Back: Cindy, Rusty, Gary and Larry

We spent December 24th with Lance's family in Orlando. Most everyone was able to make it and the kids enjoyed playing with their cousins. June (Lance's grandmother) is now living in Prescott, AZ but was visiting at the same time we were.

FLORIDA

The guys, Stash, Dad and Stephen, (Lance participated occassionaly) stayed up way too late one night singing while Stephen played Lukas's guitar. It was absolutely hilarious (I mean wonderful!) Seth (Stash's son) and Lukas wrestling.

Sydney (Stash's daughter) and Lukas

This is my parents back yard. The kids rode the jeep and motorcycle (in the ditch) down this hill the whole time we were there. They don't get the opportunity to play in grassy areas that much out here.

Too much football on TV.

Opening her first Barbie doll.

Could they get any closer to that tree?!

We spent two weeks with my parents in Florida. My older brother, Stash and his wife, Krys, and their two kids, Sydney and Seth joined us for a few days and my younger brother, Stephen and his girlfriend, Erica also joined us. I really don't remember how long each was there as the days kind of ran together. All I know is that when we were all together there were 14 of us, 6 of which were kids (5 of them six or under) and there were a million different things going on and I ate entirely too much food. We had a wonderful time. Too bad we don't live closer and could do that more often.