Yummy peaches

 Fifty pounds of peaches  .....turns into yummy peach crisps and a couple gallon size bags of frozen peaches!  I do love a delicious dessert....

Peach Pickin' at the Orchard!

We spent a great morning picking peaches at Apple Annie's Orchard, thanks for coming along Grandma Diane!  The boys had fun on the tractor ride out to the trees and were little helpers carrying the buckets and taste testing the peaches.  There is nothing better than a juicy, fuzzy peach right off the tree, it was hard to taste test just one....pretty sure the boys taste tested a handful.   Now what to do with about fifty pounds of fresh peaches.....

taste testing is half the fun!

Proud of his giant peach

Random pics

Looking good in his swim gear, too bad he'd rather just sit on the steps.....still!

That's right, Mason is my brave little guy.  Someone loves the water!

Loves to wear the goggles on dry land, not in the water, go figure!!!

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Until next time Greer!

We decided that we needed to expend a little energy before we spent the next four hours making the trek back home, to hotter weather.  Mason demanded he be the leader on this hike, that is until he decided he didn't want to walk anymore....good thing Daddy was there to carry him out.  Neither Brandon or Mason wanted to smile for the camera but that didn't stop me, these are memories after all!

Greer day-3

The Thome Family, our camping buddies

 We decided to go for a little hike at Sheep's Crossing this am, but got stormed out before we could get too far!  That's the price we pay for planning our trip during the monsoon season (which we love to do every year). 

Here are the boys, riding out the storm in the car as we drove around trying to find a place to have a picnic lunch!  All smiles this afternoon....

Greer-day 2

looking for treasures

cousin Chole, assists with making the boys fishing poles

our family

We spent the mid-day at one of the Greer lakes after eating a delicious breakfast of baked french toast.  The kiddos spent most of their time "fishing" with the poles that Chloe made for them (using the parts they found on the shoreline) and trying not to get too wet.  The evening was spent hiking. relaxing, putting together a puzzle, and playing cards! 

Greer-day1

Our first afternoon at the Cowley cabin in Greer, AZ.  

This year we opted for "cabining" over camping since we were limited to a four day trip and it was worth every penny!  We stayed in an amazing log cabin and I have decided it will be hard to return to camping....next year.  I am already planning our next trip back! 

 

Brandon loves his new sleeping bag!

A monsoon kind of evening

using the dogs water to make mud....

Don't we look handsome with our buzz cuts!

I love this time of year in the desert, thanks to the arrival of the monsoon season (and having AC)!!!!  There is nothing better than the smell of the desert after a rain storm.  Tonight the boys were having fun playing in the dirt pile while we trimmed the mesquite tree and enjoyed a great desert sunset and the beauty of a building storm. 

Things to remember....

It's been a while since I jotted down little memories of the kiddos....

Brandon:
Knows his ABC's, is learning to write the letters in the alphabet, and loves to write his name! (Thanks to Aunt Gail for the workbooks and to the Letter Factory DVD)
Is going most nights without wetting the bed!!!!
Is really good at navigating Momma's kindle (Where's my water) and using the computer(learning website only)
favorite foods: cheese crisp (thanks to grandpa's favorite restaurant, Las Margarita's)
favorite toy: anything he can be creative with.....his wooden marble set and his legos!!!
favorite book: Insect Book

Mason:
"I hear the ericas!" (picture his little hand cupped to his ear, listening for the cicada's)
"I'm big Mason!" (when asked his name, thanks to daycare having three boys with his name)
"I love you Momma" (he is quite the Momma's boy, melt my heart)
Wearing his wubby on his head
Is working hard on potty-training and doing without the pacy (which he dearly loves)
favorite foods: pasta & strawberries
favorite toys: his tractors (of course) and anything with wheels
favorite book: Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Curious George

That's all I can remember at the moment!

Daddy's little helpers

This weekend I took advantage of a little free time and put the Hubby to work hanging pictures around the house.  After all, we have lived here for two years and the walls need more than a coat of paint on them! 
The boys, especially Brandon, were fascinated with Daddy's tool belt so we found our Home Depot smocks and started filling the pockets!!!  

Happy 4th!

Brandon opted out of swimming today, he'd rather hang out with Grandpa Bill

Mason loves the water! 

Mason loves to play around in the sprinklers....a new discovery for him

Happy 4th of July.....Thanks to the "rents" for letting us crash your holiday and play in the water!