In search of sunshine

during spring break we packed up the car and did not stop until the temperature gauge reported above 60 degrees. Then we took a short break.

We took back to the road 60 degrees was certainly not good enough for Spring Break. We did not stop until it was warm enough to drive with the music way up and the windows way down. When I glanced at the temperature is said 75. I knew we had found our destination.


There was lots of swimming, waves, shark reeks, parks, good friends and thank goodness for the sunshine it felt so good! Nothing like a good old road trip with the family! I could already use another one!

sweet cheeks

I just love her sweet little face in this picture.

I could stare at it for a long time.

I also laugh when I look at it.

She is trying to copy Ellie doing the double thumbs up.....

but all the girl gots is double index every time

no matter how hard she tries.

saving the day

Do you ever miss your child looking at you right in the eyes and at that moment you can tell that they love you more than anyone in the whole world. Kind of like they used to do when they were much younger and you were practically the only person in their whole world. Eyes gleaming, filled with adoration and extreme gratitude for you in their life. A little while ago I managed by luck to get Canyon to give me that look once again....

Seconds before he was about to enter his elementary school doors I quickly summoned him back to the car and whispered to him that his pants were on backwards. Then while he quickly changed his pants I shielded him from any curious onlookers. Afterwards he took a deep breath and when he looked at me to say good-bye I got the "I really, really love you look" that any mother longs for. The look I have missed so much, along with a million thank you, thank you, thank yous. It feels good to know he still needs me. Even if it's only a little bit, I'll take it! I love him more than everything in the big blue sky and I love that just once in a while I still get to save the day for him.

hoppy hop

We had such a lovely Easter Weekend.
{Lucy was in ultra excite mode over eggs filled with yummy candy}
{she also said bunny a lot.... but said candy more standing on her head with a chocolate face}
{Ellie loved twirling in her new dress as much as egg hunting she was content with just a few good finds which allowed more time to twirl}
{Canyon was busy looking for those really hard to find eggs and boycotting the camera at all costs}
{Over the weekend he also scaled to the top of a rock climbing wall to get a hold of the grandest of eggs. One that contained a 10 punch pass to the local rock climbing wall. He was stoked!}
{Sunday}
{Easter sunshine}
{Delicious feast}
{cadbury mini eggs}
{peeps galore}
{family I love}
{ lovely}




{my mom drilled holes in some of the plastic eggs and stuck suckers through them. They stuck up out of all the grass and plants....cute.}

hoover craft vs. ripening banana

When the door slams after school and you hear a heart broken voice yell for mom.....well you know things must not be good.

Canyon with the help of his father (extraordinaire) built a fully functional hoover craft for the Science Fair this year. When I was told of the escapade I will admit I was not a believer. In fact I was a sassy skeptical full of jokes of defeat.

But after hours in the garage, some plastic and a leaf blower motor rigged on top of some wood later.... the craft hoovered, and I was proved wrong. Canyon was in heaven and his big toothless smile was here to stay a while. He hoovered and hoovered around and around...so proud...so proud. Then he painted it silver and made a chart up of how it works and then we hauled that big round saucer into the school on the big day.

After school on that big day is when the door slammed... and things really were not good. The hoover craft did not win....not even close. And trying to hold back tears of defeat and disbelief Canyon informed me that his splendid hoover was beat out by a ripening banana and even worse a 2nd grader with bubbles (because he is in 3rd grade what could be worse?). He was beyond disappointed that they did not even call him out of class to start it and "hoover around". I think he had day dreams of hoovering around for those judges happy as could be. I fed him a lot of lines that contained positive reinforcement. Like "it doesn't matter you tried your best" and a bunch of other stuff....none of which worked. Then finally I said at the end of the day would you rather have a hoover craft to bring home and "hoover" on or a ripening banana to bring home and eat? He smiled a little and said my hoover craft. My job was done. (phew)

The next day I went to school to pick up that silver saucer. This was the day the school kids walked around to check out the bubbles, the ripining banana and the hoover craft. When I met up with Canyon his big smile was back along with the words "this is the best day of my life". I guess it just happened that Canyon got a lot of attention from school children for his hoover craft. Contrary to the judges the 5th graders thought it should have won first place. Canyon talked about those big cool 5th graders and how much they loved his hoover craft all day.

His good night words " I'm so happy I made the hoover craft". I guess 5th graders opinions are far more important and superior than the science fair judges at least to a hoover craft building 3rd grader.

So...here is it in all of it's glory during the construction phase.

The beloved hoover craft.





Hopefully soon I will get the finished product on here.