Bits of May

:: Traveled to Casa Grande and hiked around a bit. There wasn't a ton to do once you arrived, but the ruins were pretty impressive.

:: Celebrated 6 wonderful years of marriage (date night at Cafe Poca Cosa)!

:: Went camping with the Bloods to Lake Patagonia

Friends lent us their boat and we all took turns floating around

The trip was perfect except Ashley realized her wedding fell out of Aaron's pocket while we were swimming around. We never found it.

:: Colby's last day of preschool

:: We hiked Signal Hill with the Bloods

I didn't realize almost all cacti bloom until we moved to Arizona. The saguaro pop out little green buds once a year which open into little white flowers.

:: Random things:

Colby's explanation of his nasal congestion: "Darth Vader's in my nose. Sad."

Colby pretending to be Olaf

Trying to teach our kids the BYU fight song

Easter Weekend

My parents flew down to spend Easter weekend with us. It was wonderful. Holidays always seem a little incomplete without family around (and most of our adoptive Arizona family have their own families nearby, so we tend to be alone unless we make the trek up north to visit). General Conference fell on the same weekend, so we packed in the fun between sessions.              

We dyed Easter eggs for the first time with kids. 80% of the eggs were cracked by the end because Colby liked to plop them in (in retrospect, tin cans weren't the best idea).

I love Dad's facial expressions in the next pictures: 

Colby loved it and so did Alice (although she wasn't allowed within a two foot radius on the dye, for obvious reasons).

We all went swimming on Saturday. Unfortunately we picked a chilly afternoon to go and both kids were less than excited (Colby kept asking to go the bathroom and Alice tried climbing up and over me to get out).

The Easter Bunny came and left a few gifts

and kindly hid our beautiful Easter eggs

Alice grabbed two eggs and refused to put them down (notice they're plastic? She figured out where the chocolate was really quick).

Alice's method of collecting eggs: grunt and point until someone picks it up.

The Hays men bonding over Legos

The rest of the day was spent listening to inspiring messages, eating, and snuggling our kids. 

We are so richly blessed.

Helen Campbell

My great-grandmother will be buried today and even though I can't make it to Oregon to commemorate her life, my thoughts are full of her. I was asked if I had any stories to share. I don't really. Not the traditional kind of story with rising action, a climax, and a resolution. More like a string of memories: of watching her bustle around the kitchen, and then as she got older, sitting by her on the couch while the rest of us did the bustling; of crouching next to her china hutch and listening to her tell about all the places she's seen. Grandma Campbell was a traveler and each item had a story.

My favorite memory happened on our last visit. Robb, Colby, and I came to Medford for the wedding of a wonderful friend and then stayed a bit longer for some family time. Grandma and Grandpa Rigby took my parents for the night and my little family bunked down at Grandma Campbell's (their houses are on connecting pieces of property).  She came up for the weekend from her nursing home after a serious hip injury and I was in constant dread that she'd hurt herself again. Grandma Rigby had everything ready, but my sweet great-grandmother had to be sure. So she wandered around the house, pulling out extra blankets and double checking soap and towels, while I followed a few nervous steps behind her. She was the ultimate host.

I am grateful for the lessons she taught my grandmother, who then passed them on to my dad, who taught them to me. Until we meet again, Grandma.

Bits of January and February

:: I got a nursing job in January at Santa Rita Nursing and Rehab. I work every other weekend from 6:00am to 2:30pm while Robb enjoys some quality time with the kids--like building an awesome X-wing with Colby. It's a really great fit for our family. I spent nearly a year and half waffling, wondering if working was the right thing for us, and it is (just in really small quantities :) ).

::We found new ways of entertaining ourselves:

 Colby and I like to stalk/photograph the rare, and slightly wild, piggit (or rabbig, we're still trying to decide).

and we go speed racing in the mop bucket.

Basically, I have failed to document our lives for the past...well, awhile. So the following is just a smattering of my favorite pictures from this year: 

I got over my fear of play-doh (I didn't think eating an entire container would be that great for your body) and the kids love it.

Colby continues to melt my heart with his big blue eyes and his love of cuddling, He likes to tap on the leg while I'm washing dishes and ask for snuggles on the couch. I usually give in. I'm sure one day I will be the one asking to cuddle and I don't want those missed opportunities to haunt me.

Alice eats a banana every morning. Double-fist style.

She likes to accessorize and anything with an opening is fair game (like Colby's underwear)

We learned about mustaches after Colby couldn't identify Mr. Potatohead's facial hair. Note my attempts to match Colby's faux-stache with his natural hair color.

Alice likes to grab all of her stuffed animals and blankets before getting out of the crib.

My little boy loves the rain, it's his Oregonian heritage.

Alice tolerates it

Chalk drawings in the backyard:

Colby thoroughly approved of my picture of Baymax

and Alice kept trying to eat the chalk

Another fear I overcame this year: paint. So far, no regrets and I'm impressed with Colby's ability to paint within the lines.

Our orange blossoms make the whole yard (and house when I remember to open the windows) smell heavenly. Life is good in Arizona.