Trip to the Grand Canyon

 Over Vetran's Day weekend we were able to finally take a little family trip to the Grand Canyon.  We left Friday morning first thing and Dustin and Bridget drove us there.  We went through Cameron and up around that way.  It was a free day there so there were lots of people.  I guess the only time it bothered us when 1 place we stopped we had a hard time finding a parking place.  The weather was great and it was fun to be together.

Attempting heel kicks with 5 kids and a not great camera this was as good as it got!  But it was sure fun trying!

 It's a good thing we had our "selfie" stick to fit in with everybody else there!! :)

 We hiked down a little ways to this arch.

 On the way back to Flagstaff we stopped at this cute little Flintstone place.

 We stayed at the Wyndymn Resort in Flagstaff.  It was a nice big place with plenty of room.  It was kind of different with walking in the front door and having stairs in front of you that to go the kitchen/dining room/ family room then down stairs was mine and Bruce's room and a bathroom and ground level was the kids room with a bathroom.

 There was pool there.

 And Minature Golf

 And checkers

 and computers

 and ice cream!

 We spent 2 nights there and Sunday went to church in Winslow then headed home for the Night of Sacred Music.  It was great time and much needed family time!

State Volleyball 2016

The night before these amazing girls went to state they had a progressive dinner.  They came to our house for dessert - pazzookies :)

 State this year was at North High School in Phoenix.

 Friday we played at 3:00.  We played Bowie/San Simone.  We beat them in 3 pretty easy.  Bridget's ear hadn't popped from going down the rim so she was all out of whack!  She wasn't feeling very good either. Thankfully this game we had a little room for errors.  Friday night Holli, Kelli, Jill, Angela and kids came to watch.  We played a school from Tucson called Gregory School.  They were super good.  We ended up beating them in 5 close tough games.  Saturday morning we played at 9:00 and played Ft. Thomas.  I think we beat them in 4.  We had to be on our toes but nothing like the night before.  That took us to the championship game against St. David.  They were good!  I have to admit I was a little nervous watching them other games and wondered if we could pull it off.  I knew we could but if we would.  First game - close but we won!  I was excited! Second game - close but we won again!!! By this time I felt like we could do this.  Third game they beat us.  It was pretty close but that was okay because we still had 2 more games to go.  Forth game they beat us.  But the fifth game we were done and they beat us pretty bad to 15.  There were lots of tears shed.  It is so sad with it being Bridget's Senior year so it's over.  It would have been easier if they just got out there and got beat in 3 games and went home but to be so close and lose was very hard.  After the game a St. David parent told one of our parents that their coaches daughter who played last year committed suicide and they were all playing for her.  She said we should have won but they had angels playing with them.  So I guess St. David must have needed it worse then us for some reason because we earned it!  Life goes on but it still hurts me some and I am sure will hurt those girls for along time! Mogollon hasn't ever taken state in Volleyball since we have had our school (1992) and we thought for sure this was the year!

 A rooter bus went down for our Saturday Evening Championship game.  Here they are reading the newspaper when they announced the other team.

Whipple and Bridget love each other.  Took all of these pictures after loosing the championship game.  Kind of priceless.  And man that trophy looks good!  I wanted to get a team picture of them after but none of them were up to it.  And as Whitmer told them any other team except St. David would have loved to have gotten that trophy!

 This was Bridget's fan club the championship game.

 Barr and Noah - Corie went with these two boys to the valley to support Bridget for all the games both days.  They are amazing friends to that girl........that's what friends are for!

Love my Bridget and loved watching her through all her years of volleyball.  I am in tears as I am typing this.  I am not a fan of this growing up thing!  She has been a setter since 7th grade and this year Theresa decided only to have the hitters set and Bridget was back row on her rotation.  She went in to serve and play back row.  She had never played back row like that but decided to be the best back row player she could and get perfect passes!  She did great and was in the top 5 for aces the whole season.  Never 1st place but 2nd place for a while!

Halloween 2016

Apparently I was a slacker in the picture department for Halloween.  Rhett and Kaylee carved pumpkins but for some reason I only got a picture of Tylinn.  We had 2 big pumpkins in our garden the girls carved and lots of little ones we gave away and kids carved.

 Kaylee was our only one that dressed up this year.  Crazy!!  She was a cute little 50's girl!  Halloween was Monday night so I took Kaylee out trick or treating by herself for a little bit then came home and enjoyed a family movie of Hocus Pocus!