Thursday, December 12, 2013

Arizona

We took a road trip to see the Bradfords in October.  It was no small potatoes with our bunch of yahoos, but we made it.  We drove all the way to Tombstone the first day.  Spent the next morning exploring and then drove the rest of the way to Jeremiah and Kenan's.  Tombstone wasn't my favorite.  Maybe it was the insanely long drive the day before or a crazy night (meaning not restful) at the hotel or just wanting to see my friend or the fact that "Tombstoners" are a little  strange... probably a little of everything.

The boys were showing this cowboy their little carved daggers, he pulled his out to show them what a real knife looked like.

They were having a car show the day we were there.  A little weird with all the gun slingers and Corvettes in the same picture.


The boys got shoot some paint bullets from six shooters.  Their FAVORITE.

Nate was a little apprehensive, but he ended up taking a go at it.

We went to a place called Rawhide with the Bradfords.  Kind of a cowboy amusement park of sorts.  This place was great.  The kids could have stayed forever.  It wasn't crowded when we went either so no lines or crowds to contend with.  Gold digging, shoot outs with the sheriff,  gun shows were a highlight.

George in the paddy wagon.

After the gunfight show they all wanted autographs on their playbills.

Petting Zoo.

Mule rides.

George and Kesed were friends most of the time . ;)

Self explanatory

Have to have cactus pictures after visiting AZ!






We took Emleigh in exchange for George one morning and went on a hike.


  
The boys favorite part was finding lizards.  I think we saw 6.

Who knows.

Wrapped up the hike with a stop at perhaps one of the best donut places ever.  If you're ever through Casa Grande, stop off at Bosa Donuts.

Mark and Jeremiah took Emsleigh, Hudson and Nathanael to an air museum and graveyard.  
They loved it.  And Kenan and I kept the other 4 back at the house.  We loved it.  
Don't get enough of those opportunities to hang out!  





Love all of Emsleigh's poses.

We went to the Desert Museum, which was more like a zoo than a museum.  We didn't know what we were in for really, but it was amazing.  It was a cool day too, so we really enjoyed our time there.

Mark with his snake tricks.  There was glass between him and that ginormous rattler.

However, this guy was not behind glass.  
We waited for him to cross before we continued on.

This guy saw us out of the parking lot.  
Plenty of wildlife both IN and OUT of the museum! 


We love this family and I think they still like us after letting us take over their house for 5 days!


I'd be remiss without driving pictures, because we did spend a lot of time doing that.  
Don't we all look so happy?  I'm being funny, but they really did pretty well.  I was the one that probably had the hardest time being in the car that long.  Ask Mark, he'll tell you. ;)



Sleep is better.




The rocks are really big in AZ.  But I guess they still realize that everything is bigger in Texas because this was called Texas Canyon.






Monday, December 9, 2013

Mainstay Farm's Homeschool Day

Last year we went by ourselves, but not this time!  Everything is more fun with friends, right?!?






Saw this fantastic barn spider.  Of course, always better from a distance.



Maze


Roasted marshmallows




Hay ride.