Tyler's Circus Opera

Our school has an OMA program (Opening Minds through the Arts).

The 1st graders have Opera and they spent the year writing their own opera about the circus.

Tyler was a clown. He painted his own pants.

One song was about their "funny pants."

The audience. The popcorn vendors.Some of the clowns.

It was one of the best programs we have been to at school. So Fun!
Tyler did a great job.

Happy Mother's Day

Brett picked this cactus out a couple weeks ago.
It only blooms for one day.

It bloomed on Mother's Day. Good timing Brett. It's very pretty.

Digging Holes

Because the "wise man built is house upon the rock" - literally . . .

we have to rent a jack hammer to dig holes.Tyler knew we were going to be doing this project. We had been planning it for awhile. He wanted to help so bad, he had picked out a shovel just right for his size at Home Depot, and was saving his money to buy it! When Brett rented the jack hammer, he picked up the shovel, and brought it home for Tyler as a surprise. Tyler really worked hard with his new shovel.I love this picture for many reasons. It speaks volumns. What you may not notice right away is that Brett is wearing tan shorts, a white shirt, no show socks, and blue Nikies. Tyler is wearing tan shorts, a white shirt, no show socks, and blue tennis shoes. I love it.

No pressure Brett - you have a shadow!
Brett would break up the dirt with the jack hammer and me and the kids would come along and dig out the broken rocks. Then Brett would come back for another layer and we would dig out more rocks. I feel bad I didn't get a picture of Rebecca and Meagan digging. They worked hard as well. We had that process going for 4 1/2 hours for 15 holes.Let the planting begin!

Random Happenings Around Our House

Watching early morning cartoons.Tyler is never this happy in the morning.

Sweet Smiles

Tyler's hangout spot in the backyard.

Homework (Meagan included!)

Reading logs take the fun out of reading.

Possession of the remote - a coveted thing.
We train them young.

Erin graduated from her highchair to the table.

She is a big girl now.The kids playing Legos.Too tired to go to bed - the hallway works just fine.

Lead Climbing

After a year and a half of climbing, I finally took the opportunity to lead. Up to this point, I have top-roped everything I have climbed. Top-roping is when the rope is already attached to the anchors at the top of the climb, and both ends of the rope are at the ground. The climber ties in to one end, and the belayer has the other end. When top-roping any fall that you take is only as far as the amount of slack that your belayer allows you to have. When lead climbing, the climber takes the rope with him to the top, clipping in to protection points along the way. When a lead climber falls, he falls twice the distance between him and the last place he clipped in. Leading a route can often be a lot more difficult than top-roping the same route. Some of that difficulty comes from the games that your mind plays on you, knowing that there is no protection above you.

Rik and I went to Prison Camp. It seems that anytime it is just the two of us, that is where we end up. It is close to the bottom of Mt. Lemmon, has an easy approach, and there are a lot of climbs in all abilities. We started the day on the route Cell Block 6. Rik led it first and set up a top-rope. I top-roped it once to get a feel for the climb. When I came down, I left all of the quickdraws in the bolts. Then I led the climb, not having to worry about clipping the quickdraw to the bolt. I only had to worry about clipping the rope into the quickdraw. On the way down, I cleaned the quickdraws from the bolts. Then, I led it for a second time, having to clip the quickdraw to the bolt and the rope into the quickdraw.

It was a great rush. I thought that I would be more nervous than I actually was. It is a relatively easy climb (5.6) and has a lot of good holds and ledges for feet. It is where a lot of people first lead climb.

Here I am tying into the rope to get ready to lead this climb.


I am half way up the route. Notice the good ledge that I have to stand on? This was a great place to stand on my own and have my belayer free up his hands to get a picture.




This is the full route Cell Block 6.


After leading Cell Block 6 twice we went around the corner to lead two other routes. This is Solitary (5.7). Rik led it and I watched him. He cleaned it all on his way down, except for the first bolt. We left the rope through the quickdraw on the first bolt.


Then I did Machine Gun (5.7).


Here I am at the anchors of Machine Gun.


I had such a great time that day. After leading those three routes we stuck around and I top-roped four others. I came home that day with one of those grins that just wouldn't stop.

Easter Morning

The Easter Bunny hid plastic eggs filled with candy and

the kid's baskets around the family room and kitchen this year.

Meagan turned out to be our expert finder. The tough finds this year were a tan egg hidden in the middle of the bunny rolls and Tyler's basket in the hall closet behind the vacuum. Meagan found both. Way to go Meagan!

Rebecca pleased with her basket.

Erin

Easter Bunny brought flip flops, sunglasses, swimming goggles, and Gatorade.

Easter Breakfast: Grandma Joyce's Bunny Rolls and candy, of course!

Easter Eve at Wendi's

The festivities began with an Easter Egg Hunt with Wendi's ward.

Tyler pleased with his efforts!

Brett dragging Erin along.

Wendi checking out Meagan's loot.

After the egg hunt, Brett and I went to the temple.
Then we came back to Wendi's to make Grandma Joyce's bunny rolls.
The kids dyed eggs.

Rebecca, Mitchell, Garrett, Meagan, and Tyler.

We ended our day at the Mesa Temple Pagent.
I didn't get any pictures.
I spent most of the time with Erin going up and down some steps near the visitor center.
It was a fun day!