Rim to Rim 2012 - Grand Canyon

May 26, 2012

About a week ago my dad called me up and invited me to hike the Grand Canyon again. I jumped at the challenge. When I asked Rob if he was okay with me hiking the canyon again - Rob surprised me with his own desire to hike the canyon too. So that is just what happened - This was my dad's 16th time hiking, my 4th time, and the 1st time for everyone else.

Hunter Kennedy (1st), My dad (16th), Troy (1st), Me (4th), Segi (1st), and Rob (1st).

Everyone we went with did AMAZING!!! This time around was totally a different experience for me - it was fun to experience the canyon through so the perspective of so many others. Rob, my brother Troy and his wife Segi all did Awesome!!!!

I can never get over the massive size of the Grand Canyon. It is just so MASSIVE yet so beautiful.

Love it! On the bridge crossing the Colorado River.

I love this picture of my dad, myself and Rob. My Dad is so Amazing! This being his 16th time through the canyon. Such a good example of staying fit and taking care of your health. Thanks Dad for being so AMAZING!!!!

Only 2.7 miles to go. We are AMAZING!!!

It was so fun to hike the canyon with so much family. Fun to spend time together while pushing our bodies to the extreme!!! I know sounds wierd huh. Oh well just being honest!



Almost to the top!

Rob did AMAZING. When I told Rob that I had been thinking about doing the canyon again - he jumped right in on the idea too. Rob flew down the South Rim and just before he hit the bridge that crosses the Colorado River he tweaked his right knee. Darn it! So with somewhat of a bummed knee he had to finish the remaining 14.5 miles. He did awesome - Way to go Rob!!! I am so proud of him!!!

----  ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  ----

While we were all out hiking the canyon my mom was so lucky to be spending time with some of the most adorable kids. My mom watched my brother's kids and our Karlee. They made cookies, had a tea party, played games, watched a movie, and had story time from grandma. What could be any better than that.

Tea Party Time: Karlee, Teni, Jordyn, Alyia.

Baby Lincoln (10 months old)

Fun in Spanish Fork!!!

Austin (8) Karlee (4) Abbey (11) Sydney (21 mo) Taylor (6)

This past week Karlee and I spent some time in Spanish Fork watching my brothers kids and Karlee playing with her cousins. We love Spanish Fork! My brother Tom and his wife Hayley had a work convention back East and had asked us if we would be able to watch their kids while they were gone. We jumped at the opportunity! We watched the kids from Thursday night to Tuesday night. Karlee was in heaven and by the end of it I was ready for a nap.haha. Just don't know how my sisters and sisters-in-law do it! They make motherhood look like a breeze! haha.

We started our time with Taylor's Kindergarten Graduation. It was really cute - Taylor and all the other Kindergartners sang super cute songs and then their school year was over. While we waited for the program to start Karlee wanted to take my camera and take pictures. She did a pretty good job.

Me and Sydney!

But sadly shortly after the program was over I broke the screen on my new camera - put it in my back pocket and the LCD screen cracked. So now I m back to my old camera that just isn't super convenient to carry around. Oh well accidents happen. Just super ticked!

Friday night Rob surprised all the kids by coming down after work - we met him at my brother Troy's home. The kids loved Rob as they always do.

Super Normal sight when Rob's in the room!

The weekend was a lot of fun. We had a water fight, played hopscotch, played monopoly, ate yummy food. I don't know honestly had more fun, Rob or the kids. Karlee was excited to have her dad come down for a short weekend visit.

Hopscotch Anyone?

 

Monopoly - I opted out since this game goes on FOREVER!

Here is a super cute picture of Sydney getting ready for the water gun fight -

Taylor and Karlee had a lot of quality cousin time while Abbey and Austin were finishing up their last week of school and while Sydney took her daily nap. They both took turns playing Taylors' leapster and Karlees' leap pad. Couldn't pass up on a picture.

Quality Cousin Time.

One of the best things about the week was being able to spend time with my brother Troy's kids. Love going to Spanish Fork because we are able to get two visits in for the price of one! We spent time at the Splash park, at the local parks, and in the backyard playing in the water.

4 Girlies and 4 different personalities. haha

We had 5 days of lots of fun down in Spanish Fork with family!

My 'Super' Mother's Day

My 'Super Girl' Karlee

I had a super Mother's day. I spent the day with Rob and Karlee (my two most favorite people). They made the day so special. We started the day with a super yummy breakfast of crepes. We spent time together enjoying the beautiful weather. And ended our day with savory steak kabobs - yummy!

I am so grateful for the opportunity my Heavenly Father has given me to be a mother. I have learned so much and have been so lucky to be the mom of this beautiful little girl.

Visiting The Living Planet Aquarium

We haven't heard much about the The Living Planet Aquarium, but thought it would be a fun weekend activity. So we drove down to Sandy and enjoyed seeing lots of amazing animals.

Karlee loved seeing all these amazing animals. Here are some of the animals that we got to see:

At the Penguin Exhibit.

Spotted Sting-Ray

Fish...Fish...and more Fish!!!

Karlee with a Giant Frog!

Rob even got in on the action: He loved the Sting Ray's petting area!

Here is our little photo opt:

Love that Rob was able to Squeeze into this little cave for a picture with Karlee!

  

When Rob says "Say Cheese" this is what we gave him. haha

We loved this little place! We highly recommend going. The penguins exhibit was the highlight of the day!

Where can you find Karlee these days?

To my dismay Karlee has been very much into dirt. Ugh I just hate messes! Now I don't mind the messes that you can just dust off or quickly clean off with a handy little wipe.  But lately Karlee has been really into dirt and mud. I know, I know Karlee is only 4 - so yes I remind myself often of this and haven't let much get to me.

(No pictures of this one) The other day we were at my sisters house, they are building a deck and have a couple large deep holes dug, all the kids were told to steer clear of the holes (2 of which had water soaking in them to soften the ground). So most of the kids did well and listened to the warning to steer clear of the holes, Not Karlee - she had mud splatters on her shirt, her little skirt was pretty dirty - yet not to bad. She wasn't too dirty to be honest - really!

However later in the week completely another story. So here is how the week ended. We love Fridays because Rob usually only works a 10 hour day and is home around 6:30 to start the weekend. Rob and I were inside the house and Karlee and the neighbor kids were out in the circle playing. Cody (Karlee's cousin) came in to inform us that Karlee was playing in the water. We told Cody that it was okay.... 5 minutes later again comes in Cody "Um, Karlee is playing in the dirt and is getting dirty". I knew it wasn't going to be pretty, I tried passing the job onto Rob, but he reminded me that she was 4years old and that she was fine! Okay that's all I needed. haha. (I clearly knew that Karlee was capable of a pretty good mess! and I figured that if I went out I would have to clean her up - and well to be honest I just wasn't up to it. haha). Finally Cody came back into the house and said "Oh No! You gotta come and see Karlee!" So I guess Rob was curious to see how bad it really could be. Before I could make it out of the house I heard Rob yell "You're gonna want to get your camera!" haha. Well okay then!

Take a look for yourself: (okay okay probably not as bad as it sounded.haha)

Covered in Mud

Muddy Close up!

This picture totally does not do justice!!!

And because Rob was the curious one - he also got to be the one to clean her up! Yahoo! Karlee doesn't look like it was too bad.

Rob getting the honors of cleaning Karlee up!!!

Karlee's first Primary talk

Our little 'CTR Hero'

Today Karlee gave her first in Primary as a Sunbeam. She was super super excited and she did a great job. She wanted Rob to help her with her talk so I snuck in to watch the two of them. Her talk was about being a CTR Hero (it was the opening weekend of the "Avengers" after all. haha). She wore her superhero cape to church and had lots of compliments.

Here is her talk:

I am a CTR Hero.

I dress in the Armor of God.

By doing what's right

I keep in His light,

And hold fast to the Iron Rod.

(found this online - but not sure where)