Week After Spring Break

We had to return the school hamster Princess Leia. We kept her for spring break and the kids loved her. They really want a pet....

Austin came down with strep throat! Conveniently it was the same day as Emma's well child check so I brought him along to get taken care of. After one dose of antibiotics he was a new man! 

I bought chalk and Austin Emma and I had a good time. Emma was covered in chalk.

Austin's fish is so cute!

Emma requested I draw Disney princesses. Can you guess who I drew?

I love how this girl dresses. Here she wore her favorite "let it go dress" with a skirt under, her "Daniel sweater (or as she calls it squeter), hat, necklace and princess sandals. 

Saturday was the Women's Broadcast. We were going to go watch at the church but then decided to just stay home. We ended up missing half of it because Emma threw an epic fit and I had to take her to bed. Good thing we can read it later!

Carlsbad Caverns

Saturday morning we woke up early and took down our tent, packed up our car and attempted Carlsbad Caverns again. This time there was no line and we went right in!

As we were waiting for the elevator to go down the park ranger wanted to take our picture. She told us we had quite the herd and referred to us as the herd anytime she saw us.

I love this picture with all the kids lined up! It was a lot of kids to travel with but they did great and have the time of their lives together!

After the cave we found a park to eat lunch before going home. The kids didn't want the trip to end.

Day 2 Desert zoo

Friday we had planned on going to Carlsbad caverns  but once we got there the line was REALLY long. We decided to try for Saturday morning and went to the Desert Zoo and Gardens instead.

It wasn't super impressive. There were several areas where animals should be that said "coming soon".  It was really hot by the end too. The kids just wanted it to be done. We did see a few animals and it killed some time.

When we made it back to the visitors center the kids were wiped out. 

The kids were happy to get back to the campsite to play.

Carlsbad KOA

When we were done at Sitting Bull Falls we headed to Carlsbad KOA where we spent the next two nights. 

The Dahls and Bradshaws had cabins but they were all booked before we decided to come so we ended up camping. It wasn;t a bad set up. Not the most beautiful location though and we were across the campsite from the others.

The kids had a blast at the KOA. They played tetherball, and checkers...

And endless games of foosball and ping pong in the game room.

When I asked my kids what their favorite part of our trip was they said playing at the camp and roasting marshmallows and hearing scary stories around the campfire. It doesn't take much to make them happy. 

Spring Break Trip Day 1

On Thursday the week of spring break we piled in the car and headed to New Mexico for a weekend get away with the Bradshaws and Dahls.

We met up at Sitting Bull falls. We thought there was a hike to the waterfall but it was really just a short walk.

It was a really fun place. The kids had a blast climbing rocks and playing in the water.

The kids made us a little nervous with their rock climbing.

Most of the kids slipped and fell in the water at different times and poor Mindy did too while wearing baby Isaac! The girls were all drying themselves on the warm rocks.

Friends

We had a date night with the Bradshaws and Dahls the week before St. Patrick's day. Marybeth made a delicious Irish meal - corned beef and cabbage. I'd never tried it before but it was really good! Everything Marybeth cooks is amazing! 

One night during Spring break we invited the Short Family over for dinner and to roast marshmallows. Austin and Josh are great friends and Kaylee, Brooke and Abby are great friends as well.

Emma wasn't too impressed with her s'more. She preferred starbursts un roasted. The other kids roasted theirs.