Spring break madness to Pito's empty nest

It seems really quiet now without our energetic company here using every waking moment to seek some adventure.  Our other Spring break adventures were quite tame, but very enjoyable.  Paul and I went up one morning and walked the old Temple Quarry Trail to check out the mileage, etc. for a possible stake primary activity.  Seeing the sun coming up over Zion and all of the historical stuff up there made for a nice morning stroll.

We spent Friday getting Paul ready for the stake camporee. They camped out and then helped at the Thunder Over Utah airshow.  Saturday Ferf and kids and Bean and I went to the airshow.  It was a really cool event despite the quirky weather and crowds.  Pretty amazing stuff.

The 6 Angels at rest

Gaige trying out some of the static display stuff

The F22 Raptor

The Osprey hovering

That thing on top of the wings is a lady!

Angels in flight patterns

USAF F-22 Raptor with P-51 Mustang flying the "Heritage Flight" celebrating 50 year spread of USAF aircraft, "classic and current".

More Angels

Acrobatic show  (not my picture)

Here she is up close.  (Not my picture)

Loved this stunt - right in front of my face!  Scaaaary! (Not my picture)

On the down side - we also spent time in Las Vegas at the Trauma center visiting a sweet friend of Supe's.  She is an outstanding young lady with a wonderful family. Such a bad way to meet such good people. We are praying for her full recovery from some very serious injuries.  It's one of those things that makes you wish you could just turn back the clock for everyone involved.

Spring Break...zip off those pant legs at last!

View of the crag from the trail head

Pine Valley Mountain view from the trail

Zion view from the trail

The crag from the upper trail

Cool stuff along the trail

Paul and a view of the crag

More close ups

More Zion Views

Tree's reservoir view from the trail

Supe and all of his buds arrived Friday night and we all stayed up too late.  After a bit of a sleep in, they went off to their climbing adventures and Paul and I went off to ours.  We decided to finally go and do the Eagle Crag hike.  We always love looking at those cool little peaks on our way to Zion and we were not disappointed.  We hiked for about 9 miles, a little past the end of the designated hike.  It was a beautiful, zip off the pant legs day.  (We zipped off about a quarter of the way up.)  We did encounter some patches of snow at the upper elevations.  The views from this hike are simply spectacular although they were hard to capture by camera.  It was a little hazy and very sunny.  It's a really nice hike that's not too extreme in ups and downs.  So glad we got out and enjoyed all that scenery.  Afterwards we drove on up to Springdale and visited an art gallery that we both like and then headed for home and dinner (left chalupas cooking in the crock-pot) with Supe and friends.  It was a great way to spend the first day of Spring Break!

Benja birthday surprise & baptism and family dinner...all in one weekend!

Friday night Ryan took Ferf to dinner for her birthday...and found the rest of us there waiting.  It was fun to have an adult get together to celebrate that great day when we added Ferf to our little (then) family.  She has been such a wonderful addition.  I even ate (and pretty much liked) some sushi as part of the fun.  Happy Birthday Ferf!  We love you!!!

All ready to get baptized!

Check out that Zader boy's funny face!

Isn't she a cutie!

Oops...blurry, but beautiful!

On Saturday we got together again for another grand "shout for joy" occasion.  Kennis (and her cousin Madi) were baptized.  It's the kind of thing that can make a grandma feel teary-eyed and proud.  Kennis is a sweetie.  We are so proud of her. It's so good to see her heading down the right path.  We love you Kennis.  Keep on CingTR. After the baptism we all went over to Ryan's sister's house for lunch.  What a fun gang to eat and visit with.

Didn't get too many pictures - just these few.

On to the next eating/visiting/celebrating get together - the family "feast of the fast over".  It was at Ferf and Ryan's this time.  We were missing Paul since he is up visiting the northern herd.  We had good food, a little more birthday for Ferf, and the little kids were so busy playing with the new little chicks outside or being Super Heroes that the older set had quite a nice (quiet) time visiting for a spell.  It was good food and good company all in one place.  Thanks for the grub and fun everybody.  See you next month.

Fun stuff along the road from Ashfork

We saw about 8 of these things in all different sizes.

Not my photograph of course.  It is a cool bridge.  

Just needed to add a few of the latest activities - Have been to two Blue & Gold Banquets for Cub Scouts and am going to one more tonight.  I'm liking this part of my calling...don't have to cook dinner!  Wished Grandma Kurtz a happy birthday Sunday evening since we would be out of town on her birthday - she's 80!.  She hadn't felt well that day and couldn't come to dinner, so we went to her later with her present.  No pictures since she wasn't looking her usual stylish self.  She was looking forward to spending the next day (her birthday) at home fielding phone calls from well wishers.  Went to Ashfork via Jacob's Lake/Flagstaff on Monday/Tuesday.  Got the last two chocolate chip cookies for dessert with our lunch at Jacob's Lake - couldn't wait for them to cook up a new batch so we could have more.  Spent the night in Williams and woke up to snow and the weather report saying we would be better off not to go back home the way we came.  We got our stone and then took the Las Vegas route home.  Had a first on the road a little way from Kingman - we saw a bunch of wild pigs - peccary - along side the road.  Wish we could have stopped and taken photos, but it wasn't a good place to pull over.  Then we got to cross the finally finished bridge for our first time at Hoover Dam on the way into Las Vegas.  We treated ourselves to lunch at Macaroni Grill and then took our rocks home so that Paul could get back for the final night of the Scout Merit Badge Pow Wow.  It's always restful to go on a rock trip and listen to #1 Ladies Detective Agency books (or others), snooze while Paul does the driving and get away from the housework that I really should have stayed home to do. 

Oak Grove & Birthday girl

Sometimes we would catch a whiff of pine on the breeze...heavenly!  We saw lots of  turkey tracks along the way and even saw where one probably became turkey dinner for a coyote.

Saturday we slept in too long and had afternoon obligations so we opted to go for a short outing to Oak Grove.  We had hoped to be able to drive to the gate by the campground and then hike up to see a waterfall we have heard about but never been to...but there were two gates...the first one about 4 or 5 miles from the campground.  So we just decided that if we could make it to the campground, eat our lunch and then get back to the truck and home in time that would be the plan.  We did.  It was a beautiful day and we ended up shedding jackets and layers along the trail.  We tramped through quite a bit of mud and then snow near the top - some of the snow in the shade was about a foot deep.  We didn't see anyone else; it was very peaceful.  We always jump the gun on heading to the mountains when we should still be enjoying the desert. 

Unwrapping presents and wrapping up children!

 Today we took B-day presents over to Weed.  It was already past the day and the upcoming week's schedule isn't leaving any room for b-day get togetherness, so we decided to just get on with it.  It was fun.  Derek gave us good suggestions...thanks Derek.  Happy Birthday Weed!  So glad you joined our family those short few years ago.  We love you!!!

Off the beaten path...and back

Monday we finished up our President's Day holiday wanderings.  We decided to head back up to Red Cliffs area to see some of the stuff we didn't have time for on Saturday.  We parked at the Red Cliffs recreation area and then set off...off the beaten path. (Sometimes its just not as fun to stay on the "designated" trails.)  We explored a really beautiful box canyon, saw several dinosaur tracks, and old rusty, bullet-ridden car, some exceptional waterfalls, Indian ruins and lots and lots of beautiful scenery.  We ate lunch overlooking Quail Creek lake before we started.  After we got home Moss and Christie joined us for biscuits and gravy.  It was a very relaxing and enjoyable day off. 
 

President's Day weekend fun

Parade home

Quail Creek Reservoir

 Yea!!! A three-day weekend and good weather...what a great combination.  We started out Friday afternoon by visiting the Parade house that we did work on - it's a very pretty house with a great view.  We took the evening easy by watching Midnight in Paris - it's a fun show - a little strange, but with the Owen Wilson/Woodie Allen combination what can you expect?  Paul went to decorate for a dance this morning and then we did Chinese lunch.  After that we took in the art show at Dixie College.  It is full of beautiful things as usual.  We had the rest of the afternoon to do as we pleased before Paul had to head to the dance, so we went out to hike the new White Reef Trail in the Red Cliffs Reserve.  We aren't too good at just staying on trails when you can look over there and see things that need to be seen, so there was quite a bit of "wicked wandering" off the trail too.  We saw an old stone dwelling and what may have been an old mine, an old mining structure that looked like some sort of loading dock along with lots of other beautiful stuff.  It was a nice walk/hike.  After that it was hurry home and get Paul off to the dance. 

Valentine's Day - a departure from the usual

Today was the most unusual Valentine's Day I have and probably ever will spend.  Paul and I attended the funeral of a good friend who died too soon.  It's sad to see someone go who seems to have so much more of life to live for.  From the sound of the talks, he ended at peace with the early departure.  A poem on the back of the program gives good advice on how to look at it I thought.

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray
that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes
and see all that he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow
and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow
because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind
be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want:
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

David Harkins 1959

Though it wasn't your usual Valentine's Day, it was a day overflowing with love of family and friends, a day filled with the hope of the continuation of that love for times past these because of Heavenly Father's plan of happiness.  I'm going to call it a very good Valentine's Day...one I can remember and learn from.  I hope his family will be able to smile, open their eyes, love and go on.  

Happy #8 Kennis

In the top picture Kennis receives advice from Grandpa on how to keep her brains from leaking out of the holes created by her birthday ear piercing.  Below - There were some crazy people at this party...some crazier than others!

Tonight some of the family was able to get together to celebrate #8 with Kennis.  We are looking forward to coming together with her for her baptism soon too.  We love you Kennis.  You are a sweetie and we are so glad you are part of our family.  Happy #8!!!  Presents, brownies, ice cream and strawberries sweetened up the celebration even more.