Dan's birthday

Dan thinks he's 40.  He tells everyone he's 40.  I'm actually not even sure how old he is because he's got me so confused about it all.  He says 40 is when life really begins.  I haven't a clue in heck what that actually means, so don't ask...   Ok... but I'm pretty sure he's not 40 yet.  For his birthday he wanted black forest cake.  So I trifled black forest cake because A) I don't have time to make a real black forest cake.. and B) Trifle is easier and I think its better. 
 He loved it, to say the least.  That entire pot of cake you see right there was devoured by early the next morning.  The kids and I may have helped out with that... just a tad.  He wanted butterscoth, vanilla,  and chocolate pudding, lots of cherries and heath bar.  With LOADS of whip cream.  I think I'll be making this again sometime... You know... for his next 40th birthday.  :)

 Lucky us.. Dan's annual Frito Lay party at the Grand Resort happened to be on the same weekend as his birthday.  I LOVE the Grand Resort with a capital L.  It is so beautiful and fun and luxourius.  This is the last year we get to go because Dan resigned from Frito Lay right after.  Now that he owns two businesses he is leaving the trucking life behind for good.  And hopefully never turning back.

Love the scenery and greenery here.  What little Arizona has to offer, you can find most of it here.

I could float along a lazy river all the day long.  Sometimes a mother of 5 deserves to be slothful...!

I got Dan some housebuilding books for his gift because he is starting two huge projects in Queen Creek this month.  Wish him luck, because these will be his first new builds.  I'm excited about it, house flipping may be a thing of the past, we'll see!

Easter..

The Easter bunny still comes to our house every year.  I keep telling him not to, but somehow he shows up anyway.  This year he hid lots and lots of eggs all over the house.  The kids sure enjoyed looking and searching.  Its a month later and I am still finding eggs once and a while in little nooks and crannies.  The twins sure caught on fast to this finding candy business.  

Dan made a ride for the twins out of diaper boxes.You would think all the toddler cars and 4wheelers and tricycles and ride on toys lined up all over our living room would be sufficient...  Cheap thrills I suppose.

Spring Break- Emerald Cove

This year for spring break we went to Emerald Cove RV resort.  As usual.  We do love coming here.  Was it relaxing and peaceful......  Not quite, but the kids had a blast, they absolutely love coming here.

Jasper trying his hand at mini golf.  I think they got the swing of it after a while but eventually  they just started poking their sticks in the pond and then trying to get in the pond themselves, thats when I decided enough golf for the day...

Ah the beach... Need I say more.  

Jayden and Jasper really enjoyed the sand and getting as dirty as humanly possible.  At least this year they didnt eat the sand and rocks.  The water was simply too cold for them to venture out, but I know at least once, I think when we first arrived, (under Dan's watchful care) Jayden ran right into the water and tripped and landed face down.  It was a nice refreshing blow for him and he decided to stay clear away from the water from that point on.

 The pool was much warmer.  Night swimming was especially fun because the sun wasnt blaring on our heads and we didnt have to worry about sunscreen.  Dan has always claimed he is half fish.  So I guess that makes my kids quarter fish.  They all REALLY love to swim.  I am certain the twins will be swimming on their own in no time.

 Early morning beach, I guess they just couldn't get enough of it.  There is a serious problem with mussels on the Colorado river so the kids collect hundreds of mussel shells every time we come.

It was a fun trip.  They slept the whole way home.  The girls did not... :)  They wanted to go back as soon as we got home..

Visitors

We love having family come visit our Arizona home.  Steve and Sherron and kids came in February for a few days and we had a fun time with them.  Their kids really badly wanted to go swimming but it was rainy and cold the whole time.  Evy and Micah actually did try to get in the pool, but quickly jumped out due to the fact it was probably only 40 degrees inside and out.

We really just love the ostrich ranch.  Anyone who comes here has such a fun time.  These lorikeet birds are always a hit.  The twins just love them, and the girls too.  I really enjoy them landing on my head, it feels just like a massage.  Until you feel sliminess running down the side of your face- then you change your mind. It happens. 

Blake seemed to like the birds, Micah on the other hand wanted out of the cage as soon as he got in and birds started landing all over him.  A person either loves it or hates it here, theres no middle ground.

Dont know where or who took this picture, but its just too cute.

Uncle Steve and Jayden. The twins sure loved Steve, I think he reminded them of Dan.

Maren and Elena had a good time together.

These ostriches can sure be nasty.  I think one of them bit little Jasper's finger- Dan's fault. :)

Always fun to have cousins visit.  Wish we could see them more often...  :(