Family Gathering 2012

Just some of the Peeps at the Stott House today:

Pops with Brian, & Mum with Beckam

This little sweet thing is Rhea

her big brother Lucas

and the youngest grandchild, Beckam

A Family gathering

It isn't often that all of us Stott kids find our way back home, let alone all at the same time. Colton is excused, he is serving a mission in Brazil. Caleb is excused, he is at Boot Camp, in TX for 6 weeks. Brandie and her clan even came home from Taiwan for a month and we are so happy to get to spend time with them!

One of the neighbors has a horse and said that he'd love to have the kids come ride and they were so excited to do that:

Holt, El and Taryn

Holt and Torrie

Elis Smith-no relation, just friend, and El

Can you tell how Ki felt about this??

If it wasn't clear before, she was scared but did have an OK time.

A pile of cousins-Tye, Oakley, El, and Ki

Taryn, Tye, El, and Ainsley-she enjoyed the horse ridding the most!!!

For some reason I was handed the lead rope and took El for a little walk.

I just have to say the horses are not my favorite. My mother and my father grew up with horses and are very comfortable around them. Most of my siblings are okay with them too. I will ride a horse if I have to, but I was not standing in line waiting for a turn, and I am certain that Ki shares my opinion.

A proud father

I think that Steve kinda likes his kiddos and I know that they love him!

He is an excellent papa. The girls think he is the greatest and I think they always will, and should. I know it won't be long and Brian will look forward to doing boy things with dad, but for know he is still a mama's boy.

Swimming Lessons Start

Ki and El have been busy, school is almost out and they are starting swim lessons that will go through the summer.

Ki will be learning the different strokes and kicks that go along with them.

El will be practicing front and back strong with kicks too .

Practice makes perfect!

Ki was very funny about her instructor. One day she said, " I like the way he smells."

I am thinking oh no, she likes older boys-she then surprised me,

 " he smells like bacon and mints!"

That girl cracks me up.

Waiting during Ki's lesson was hard for Brian. He wanted to play in the water

Arizona Study Program

Ki had the opportunity to participate in the Arizona State Music Teachers Association's Music study program this year. She has to memorize 4 songs and take a music theory test. She was very nervous about it, but the judge was very nice and she performed well.

She actually did really well.

She received a "Superior" score and got a fancy ribbon.

We are so proud of Ki. She practiced and worked hard for this Honor.

Field Day 2012

You'd never believe it but you can get rained out of a field day in April here in AZ. The rain only lasted for 15 minutes but it was a lot of rain and the kids got cold, so they had to try it again a few days later. 

Our field days used to be about running and track type of activities, as far as I can remember.

Ki's activities:

Here they play with water balloons, jump ropes, do sack races, kick soccer balls, tug-o-war, play basketball and tether ball, gymnastics, and kick the giant ball-a childhood favorite, along with the parachute. 

El's Activities

The little ones didn't know what to do with the sacks, so Mr. Kerr, the Principa,l showed them

The ball makes these little kids look really small

El was doing some tumbling

No Need to Fuss

Another year of marriage has passed, making it 11. Ki and El went to San Tan Valley to hang out with cousins for the weekend-Thank you Becky!!! Instead of going out to a nice dinner, we just grilled steaks at home. On Saturday morning we went to help a scout in the ward with his Eagle Scout project. It was a cold and windy day. Brian got a cold from all the wind.

We had a nice time working together and just being with each other.

Don't we look like a couple of love birds?

Love you Dude!!!

Tolmachoff Farms

Even in the desert we still have farms, and even a dairy or two-they are on the East side of town so I don't have to smell them. The Rancho Kindergarten classes get to go on a field trip to a family owned vegetable farm, Tolmachoff Farms. It is so nice to have access to a great farm like this in the city. The kids got to pick some veggies and plant some corn. We garden so El has some idea that you can grow food, but some of the kids in her class were blown away at this. Farmer Bill had lots of information for the kids and told them about each veggie.

A big carrot

 A tiny radish

A "train" ride

a Kidd on the loose

El in the little house, like the 3 little pigs-

it's made of straw

A new baby goat

Old Fashion Alarm clock

They had cute little activities that the kids could do, there where rubber ducks for pump and gutter races, a corn pit with tons of corn seeds to play in, a rope swing, petal cars and big trikes, and a slide-it was so fun!

Come One, Come All

In most parts of the country, it is Spring Break week. When my family was here in December I planted a seed in Hailey's head that she should come visit the babies for Spring Break. So she did. Jordan the kind older brother-to Hailey, said that he'd drive, and he brought a lovely young lady with him for a week of sun and fun. Oh, did I say fun? I meant sleep in the garage-I love our spare room, and babysit while I go to a movie and till my back yard for my garden spot, and fix some stuff over at Caleb's house too. By the way Thanks Bro!

We made our way out to hike the Waterfall Trail at the White Tanks.

Ki, Hailey, Brian and El

Ki, El Hailey, Jordan, Diana, and Steve

He's usually smiling. And why not? Hiking is easy when you are the baby.

Diana and Jordan

Has the boy not learned yet that I will take pictures and use them at my discretion and you may not like them???

El likes to climb up this rock. Can you see the band aid on her chin? She had an accident the other day, her chin met the tile first when she fell. Nothing a few stitches won't fix.

Jordan-long legs, made it up to the upper pond. This is the end of the water fall trail. I am sure that the out of towners think there is really water falling when they get to the end. I am sure that if it rains a ton there could be small falls. But usually it is just two little ponds in the rocks. Still it's a great  little hike.

Hailey, Brian, Diana, Jordan, and I went to the Wildlife Zoo also. I haven't been in a few years and it is even better now. They have an awesome aquarium. We got to touch star fish and manta rays. I was a bit scared to touch the manta ray but I did it felt like chicken- just kidding it was slimy but rubbery at the same time.

You have to stop and feed the Giraffes their nasty tongue is so gross but cool.

This little monkey thought that we were pretty cool. He put out his hand and touched Jordan and Hailey. We also got to see hamster babies. I think that the hamster was giving birth to them because they were so tiny and she was still looking like she was birthing. In the petting zoo they had five day old goats-they were so cute.

We had a great time with the family and we are so glad you guys came to visit!!!