4 Corners Vacation 2014

We had planned to take a trip to the Oregon Coast while the kids were on Spring Break. But when I looked at the weather report and it was going to rain the whole time we were there I decided that I wasn't going to pay for us to sit in a hotel room all day. So 2 days before we were going to leave I was trying to come up with new ideas. My mom had said that she heard the 4 Corners was really neat, so I looked into it. I looked beautiful and it was where none of us had ever been. So we started to play it with the hopes that my Grandpa Messick wouldn't die while we were gone and have to come home early.
We had hoped to take our own mini van but when we had the oil changed and the transmission checked they told us that the transmission was going out. So the night before we were trying to rent a mini-van to take. We found one at Budget. When Delwyn went to pick it up he went out to the parking spot and it was a Ford Explorer. He went back into talk to them and they said that we were given a free up grade because they had no more mini-vans. He was so excited to be driving a Ford. I wasn't very excited about how much more it was going to cost us in gas, but I hope them Memories will be worth the extra money.
We left on Wednesday afternoon as soon a the kids got home from school. We pulled Jessie out of school an hour early so we could leave at 3 pm. We drove to Provo to stay the first night to break up the long trip down to Arches National Park.  The kids were all excited about swimming at the hotel. They swam for about 30 minutes. They had a blast. Aleeya loved the hot tub and was happy she could reach the bottom and walk around all by herself.

My 2 little fishes

Fun in the Hot Tub

March 27, 2014
We left early to head to Arches National Park. It was a 3 hour drive, but due to some bad weather between Provo and Price it took us a little longer. We hit snow and had ended up following a semi-truck most of the way. Delwyn was a great driver and got us through it safely. He did cuss the Ford a little bit because the washer fluid was plugged on the drivers side and it was hard to keep the window clean.

Welcome to Spring

We arrived at Arches around 10:30, and stopped at the visitors center to learn a little more about the park and how it was made. It is amazing that the wind and water is what has created all this amazing beauty.  Some of the Arches we could walk right up to while others like Delicate Arch was a much longer and more difficult hike that we couldn't take the kids on. We were able to see it from a distance and thanks to my binocular camera I was able to get some closer pictures.We spent until about 3 pm driving around and exploring the park.

Family at the Visitor center

Arches National Park

Going into Sand Dune Arch. Matt loved to climb this rock

Sand Dune Arch, The kids loved playing in the red sand

 

Kids at Balanced Rock

The next stop was "Dead Horse Point State Park". This was a beautiful place with a spectacular view of the Colorado River and it side canyons. I learned that this place has been used in films to represent the Grand Canyon.  We didn't spend much time here because it was getting late and we needed to get to Monticello where are hotel was that night.

Dead Horse Point

We arrive at the hotel about 7:30 and then went to find something to eat. The town was really small and not may options for dinner. We ended up stopping a Taco Time and taking it back to the hotel to eat. While driving around we did locate the Monticello, UT Temple. It was pretty all lite up. It was a small temple but had many cars. so I assume it is busy. The kids had hoped to swim again tonight but it was so late by the time we ate we couldn't.

Monticello Utah Temple

 March 28, 2014
This morning we headed down to the 4 Corners Monument, this is where Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico all meet. We got there around 10 am. The kids loved running around from state to state. It was a fun little place. We then walked around to all the little shops and each kid got a souvenir.

Four corners plaque

Jessie in Arizona, Aleeya in Utah, Matt in Colorado, &Ky in New Mexico

Next it was back  into the car for a drive to Mesa Verde National Park. The entrance to park is a 20 mile drive up to the top of the mountain. It was a cool drive but one I would not want to take in the winter. From the top you could see forever in the valley, it was gorgeous.
After arriving at the Museum we were able to take a walk down to Spruce Tree House and were able to walk through this amazing structure made by the Pueblo people. It has been protected for hundreds of years by the cliff over head. We even got to take a ladder down into one of the little rooms. I'm just glad that I have stairs and don't have to use ladders to go up and down floors in my house. We then did the driving tour and saw may other structures. It is truly an amazing place to visit.

Mesa Verde

Kids with Spruce Tree House behind

Family at Mesa Verde

Delwyn and I with Spruce Tree House behind

Cliff  Dwellings

Down inside one of the rooms in Spruce Tree House

We then drove the 40 minutes into Durango Colorado where we planned to stay tonight. It was a much bigger town. We were all sick of hamburger and fries by this time so we decided to eat at Pizza Hut instead.
Our hotel room was amazing. It had 3 bed  in 2 different rooms. The kids actually slept a lot better here. Delwyn had to call the front test to have them tell the people next to us that they needed to be quiet so that we could sleep. This was really the only draw back to this hotel, that and no pool if you asked the kids.

Kids room

Parents room, best night sleep of the trip

March 29, 2014
Today we were off to New Mexico and the Aztec Ruin National Memorial. It was a 40 minute drive. It amazed me how different the landscape has been in all 3 states but similar also. We arrived around 10 AM. The kids each got to fill out a Junior Range pack about the Ruins and loved it. We took a self guided tour through the ruins. Ky reported this was her favorite stop. On the tour we got to walk through some of the connecting rooms. Delwyn commented that the Pueblo people must have been small because the door ways were so short, he have to get down on his hands and knees to get through. Aleeya just walked through without a problem. Once we finished the kids each got a Junior Range badge to take home. I wish I would have known about them at the other National parks we went to so they could have got a badge from them also.

Jessie and Ky grinding corn

Aleeya and Matt grinding Corn

Rebuilt Great Kiva

Inside the Great Kiva, still a sacred place for the Pueblo people

Original ceiling over 600 years old

Next we were off for a long drive back to Utah and "Natural Bridges National Monument", west of Blanding. This was a nine mile loop drive were you could see 3 bridges that were formed from streams that cut through the canyon walls. You could take hikes down to each one but with Aleeya it would have been difficult so we settled for seeing them from the overlooks. Sometimes you had to look hard to see them because they blended into the background so well.

Canyon at Natural Bridges National Park

Such Cute kids

Owachomo Bridge

Owachomo bridge with the family

We then drove back up to Monticello to stay in the same hotel. This time we let the kids swim, Matt and Aleeya almost missed out  because they wouldn't stop running around in A&W  while eating dinner. I finally let them go after they ran down to the pool. I sat and watch the family swimming, when suddenly I looked up and Aleeya was going underwater. I yelled at Delwyn to grab her. She was scared after that we had a hard time getting her to get back in the water. What I think happened was she was sitting on the step and didn't realize that she wasn't able to touch the bottom. She thought she could walk around near the steps just like at the first hotel. I was just glad I saw her go under and we were able to pull her out quickly. I will definitely have to get her into swimming lessons.

March 30, 2014
Today was nothing but traveling back home. We left about 7:30 AM and got home about 5 PM. This was a really long drive, which seemed even longer with the heavy rains we had to drive in all through northern Utah. My mom had warned me that we would have Snow from Malad north. I was a little worried but the roads were just wet, so it didn't slow us down much.
Once we got home we all worked together to clean out the Explorer and Delwyn and I took  it back. I let the kids stay home, I didn't have the heart, nor patients to put them in a car for another hour. They were really good and had the laundry sorted all before we got home. I was proud of them.

Dare Graduation

Last night we celebrated with Jessica and the other 450 5th graders in completing the DARE program. This program is designed to teach the youth how to handle stress, stay drug and alcohol free, along with reporting bullying. Each of them had to make the commitment to graduate.

  

Jessica was able to take the class the first trimester of the school year. She learned a lot and really enjoyed the teacher Officer Scott. She was always excited for her encore class on the day it was DARE.  In the class each student had to write a report about what they learned, they each read them in class and then the best report in each class was chosen and given an award at the graduation. They had 2 of the winners read there reports and they were very good.

The guest speaker for the night was Jason Buck, a super bowl champion that graduated from South Fremont High school. He talked about all the trials her went through and how important it is to have a dream and continue to work  towards it, even when no one believes in you. It was a good speech but lasted a really long time. The whole program was support to be an hour long but it lasted almost 2 hours.

Jason Buck

The end of the program was the 5th graders singing a song about what the learned in DARE. The lines that stood out to me were: "D" I won't do drugs,  "A"  won't have an attitude, " R"  I will respect myself,  "E" I will educate me.

Jessica's team singing

 After it was over we had the opportunity to meet Jason Buck and get his autograph. Kylynn ran right over to him and Aleeya followed so I went after them. They had a table setup in the lobby for this. Ky handed him the program as he was walking out to the table and was the first to get an autograph, crazy . Jessica finally joined us and she and Matt also were able to also get an autograph.

Jessica getting Jason Bucks autograph

We are proud of Jessica for making this commitment and enjoyed celebrating with her.

Dr. Seuss Week March 3-7

Each year at the school they celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday with a week of activities. The kids look forward to it each year, because they get to dress up. I on the other hand am not so excited because I have to come up with ideas and costumes, which I'm not so good at.
Monday was  "The Cat in the Hat" the kids got to wear hat to school. My chose to wear her ball cap from MT. Rushmore, and Matt wore a cowboy hat.
Tuesday was "The Foot Book", so they wrote crazy socks. This is the easiest day, they each chose mismatched socks to ware.
Wednesday brought us to "The Lorax". It was crazy hair day. I couldn't figure out what to do with Matt's hair since it is so short, so I used the hair chalk and made it green. Ky was so picky about her hair, I had to redo it 3 times before so was satisfied. I put 2 ponytail in and then braided the right side and put purple and green chalk on it. The left side we put pink and purple chalk. It was definitely crazy.
Thursday was "Oh the Places You'll Go" and they were to wear there favorite travel t-shirt. They both wore MT Rushmore shirts. Aleeya wanted to wear her also and made me wear mine too.
Friday is my last favorite of the days. The kids have to dress up as their favorite Dr. Seuss character. Matt wanted to be "Thing 1" since he was "Thing 2" last year. This was easy but I couldn't find the signs from last year so at 7:15 am I was on the computer trying to find a sign to print off. I then colored his hair blue with the chalk. Ky wanted to be "Cindy Lou Who" again this year. Doing her hair was so much fun.  She did look cute when it was done.

Ky as "Cindy Lou Who"

Matt as "THING 1"

  I was glad that the week was finally over.

Christmas 2013

The Klingler family had a great Christmas. It started out earlier than Mom or Dad would have liked but the kids were to excited to sleep any longer. I had told Jessie and Ky that they couldn't not get up before 6 AM so they set there alarm clocks for 5:50 am, so they would have time to make their beds and clean up their room. I could hear noise out in the family room about 6:00 so I went to investigate an found the girls had already taken the gifts out from under the tree and put them in stacks for each person. They wanted to get started but I told them they had to wait until everyone else was awake. Matt and Dad woke up a little bit later but Aleeya was still sleeping, so Ky and Jessie went and woke her up. Aleeya wasn't happy at first but was soon alright when she saw the presents.
Grandpa and Grandma Erikson came out and watched the kids open Christmas. It was fun to have them there to help celebrate.
The kids all got more then they needed but we always seem to go overboard on gifts.  Santa brought Jessica an I-Pod touch, Kylynn got the Easy Bake Oven she asked Santa for last year. This year she wanted a dog but Mom and Dad had told Santa "No". Matthew got a remote controlled Robot, and Aleeya got a remote control Train.
The kids also go a new outfit and a new church outfit, along with a pair of boots.

Jessica and her Christmas loot

Kylynn's and her Christmas gifts

Matthews Christmas presents

Aleeya with her gifts.

Grandpa and Grandma Erikson took the entire family to the movie "Frozen" at 11:00. It was a good movie and it was mostly just are family there.

 After the movie we went back to their house to open Christmas. All the kids like there shirts except Kylynn, but we can take it back and get her a new one she will wear. My favorite moment of the day was watching Grandma Erikson open her gift from Me, Cristy, Vicki. We made her a new blanket for her bed with a top that was made by her Mom. She started to tear up and stroke the top. It was a priceless moment.

Grandma and her new blanket

We then had lunch of sandwiches and salads.
After we finished we went to Grandma and Grandpa Messick to get our Christmas. The kids all got pajama's but they were all to big so I will have to take them back. Aleeya got an Adult 4-5 and was really sad, but it is always the thought that counts.
That night we played games at our house and had a fun time together.

Playing "Battleship" with Dad

Jingle All the Way

Today was Kylynn's Christmas play at school. The play was put on by all the 3rd graders. It was called "Jingle all the Way". It told a story about how Santa had lost his jingle because everyone had lost the Christmas spirit. They sang 4-5 songs during the play. My favorite was called "GPS mess".
 Each one the children had a speaking part. Kylynn was the reindeer Vixen. We went out and got her some antlers to wear and some brown sweat to make her look somewhat like a reindeer.
Kylynn was really sad because her Dad had to work and wasn't able to come to her play. So I recorded it all for Dad to see when he come home tonight.

Cute Kylynn as Vixen

The children trying to find Santa at the north pole

All the reindeer singing

Santa and Mrs Clause

Kylynn did a wonderful job and had her part all memorized and said it so everyone could understand it. Her lines were: "Keep ringing your bells, keep making that sound. And maybe Santa's jingle will come back around."
Everyone did a great job, It was well done.

5th Grade Christmas band concert

Jessica had her first band concert on December 5th. It was scheduled at the Junior High but due to some scheduling mess up it had to be done at the Middle School.

When the school year started Mr. Barton had sent home a note about band and the requirements. In his letter he talked about the concerts and requested that the front row flute player were pants. So I went out and got Jessica some nice black slacks to were. She was really upset with me because she was the only girl not in a dress. But at least no one could see up her dress like some of the other girls sitting on the front row.

Jessica had said the concert wouldn't be long, and she was right. The whole concert lasted 10 minutes, from start to finish. Of that 10 minutes there was about 5 minutes of music. The band played 5 or 6 short numbers including "Good King Wenceslas ", "Jingle Bells", and "Jolly Old St. Nicholas". The band did a great job.  Mr Barton is a wonderful teacher.

Jessica with the other flute players

Mr Barton and the 5th grade band

I was really proud of Jessica and how good she is getting on the flute. I really hope she continues to enjoy it.

Family Christmas Party 2013

We had such a fun Christmas Party on Sunday the 8th of December.  Cristy planned it this year. We each had to come up with "A Minute to Win It" game. It was so fun to watch everyone. We had some really good laughs.

Robin's game, trying to get a pop-pop to stick to the end of your nose

Wendy's game: pencil elevator

Vicki's game: Balance the Christmas bulbs

Jessie and Ky working well as a team

Cristy brought cup stacking. Aleeya wouldn't let anyone help her

Hunter didn't want to do any games afraid he would lose. Uncle Trent said he would play him blindfolded, glove on one hand the the other hand tied behind his back. It was very comical to watch.

After all the games we had dinner. It was very simple this year we had ham or Turkey sandwiches on rolls with salads. It was very yummy.

The last activity was the kids favorite. Cristy made each family a ginger bread house and we got to decorate it with all sorts of candy. My kids ate more candy than they put on the house. It was so much fun, but not something I had patients to do each year.

The Weekes Family

The Jacobsen Family

The Grant Family

The Klingler Family

The Erikson Family. If we would have judged them I think Mom and Dad would have one.

It was a great time had by all. It so much fun getting together as a family.