Spring Break in Moab

Last week was spring break. John was lucky enough to get 2 weeks off from work so we headed to Moab with 4 other families. We had a great time even if it was a little colder that we thought it would be. I must say; however, that I was a little out of my comfort zone! This was definately a "boys" vacation!! Since I do have boys I will have to become a little less chicken! Yes, I am a chicken!! I don't mind watching my children ride motorcycles or do other crazy things but when I am the driver or passenger...I fear for my life! What can I say? I have NEVER driven a dirt bike, four wheeler, etc. In fact, until I met John I had never been on a motorcycle! Before we had kids we rode to Yellowstone on his street bike. Then, when I was pregnant with Jaxon we rode to Sturgis. I had a blast and loved going on motorcycle trips! I am thinking that riding a dirt bike or four wheeler (even a Jeep!)off or up steep inclines whether in rock or sand dunes is totally different! I will admit to being chicken!

Now, I did end up having a great time and hopefully will overcome by irrational fears! ha! After seeing Jen ride her motorcycle it gave me new inspiration! I told John that I want to be riding something...I have not decided on 2 or 4 wheels yet...but if my boys are going to do it, I may as well join them!! (eventually)!

Here are some pictures of the trip. Monday we went for a hike through a beautiful canon and then went to Goblin Valley. Tuesday each family rented a Jeep which ended up being really fun after I initially peed my pants! ha! We went on a trail called "Hell's Revenge"...need I say more? After Hell's Revenge we rode on another trail that eventually had us riding through the water. Fun!! Wednesday we went to some sand dunes. The boys were having a blast!! Jaxon tried to ride his motorcycle but the sand was way too soft and deep for his little 50 so he stuck with the little 4-wheelers. Little 4-wheelers may be our next investment! They also really loved riding in the Johnson's Razor, on John's motorcycle, and the bigger 4-wheelers. After some convincing, I took the Fleming's 4-wheeler out where I proceeded to dump poor Dallen right off the back! That's what happens when you don't know what you are doing! ha ha! Thursday we headed home...in the blizzard!! Friday John had to literally chisel away the ice and snow from the motorcycles to get them unlocked and off the back of the car! What an adventure!



Dallen's monster tumbleweed!






Jaxon jumping from "goblin" to "goblin" at Goblin Valley




This is where I almost peed my pants! Notice either side of the Jeep...






Here ya go, Shelley...Megan came with us of course. Here she is taking a break from the Jeep at lunch time! She was so patient and really didn't complain about anything!





Beautiful!


Tamzen, you are my hero!






Ethan's philosophy...when ya gotta go, ya gotta go!










Welcome Home!!

Happy Birthday, Jaxon!

I can't believe it has been 8 years since Jaxon was born! It seems like yesterday that he was this tiny little baby. Now, he is this big, active, reading, adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing, sometimes sassy, always sweet boy! He was so excited for his 8th birthday. We had the family over on his actual birthday (March 1) to surprise him! (Does that sound familiar to my previous post? John is in to surprises lately)! Jaxon had no idea anyone was coming over or that we were celebrating his birthday that day in any way. His favorite food is pizza so I picked up some Papa Murphy's pizza on Saturday along with his Spiderman III cake. John took Jaxon out for a walk around the neighborhood while I quickly decorated the house and started cooking the pizza. We had my parents, John's mom, and my sister-in-law, Kayla, park up the street. When Jaxon came home he was very surprised and happy everyone came over to celebrate his birthday. The following Thursday we took the boys to ITZ. The boys had a blast and I was thankful for a decent salad bar!

For his birthday, Jaxon got a bigger bike, a new set of scriptures, and some money for his birthday. Papa even surprised him again by hiding more cash in the pages of the scriptures! He loved his pizza and cake. However, beware of blue frosting!! That stuff is potent! Just a little bit and EVERYTHING turns blue! All of our mouths were bright blue. The next day Ethan demonstrated evidence that his insides were also blue...you get the picture...

I love my kids birthdays! I am always a little sad they are a year older but I also love how excited and happy they are about a day devoted only to them! Each age brings new milestones and all new adventures! I am looking forward to see what age 8 brings! First and foremost, Jaxon gets baptized this month. March 28! He is really looking forward to it!

Jaxon's first week home. He was so tiny!!


I think he kind of looks like Megan here! He loved to be outside...still does!


Jaxon at the Air Force football game eating kettle corn when he was 4. He still LOVES to go to the games with papa. He still loves the kettle corn there. I think he eats the whole bag!


It just doesn't seem right. It seems like yesterday Jaxon was riding his mini bicycle now....


he has graduated to this, AND...


this!!! The older they get the bigger, faster, and more dangerous the toys. Oh, well...such is life with little boys!


The infamous blue frosting!


Always a ham! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAXON! We love you!

Playing Catch Up

I have been a blog procrastinator lately. I haven't found the time to sit down and post anything or ready any other blogs lately! Bummer!! Here's a snippet of the last month's occurrences in the Havenar household. Nothing too interesting but things that made me laugh anyway...


Ethan has been napping again lately. I guess he is really tuckered out lately. Maybe it's the really nice weather and he has been wearing himself out! Well, this is how I found him. He must have been really tuckered out from scaling the kitchen counter, lifting the giant bag of M&Ms, pouring them without spilling into his cup, and climbing down again. Whew! That's hard work!


John is really old! He turned 35 on February 12. John kind of planned his own surprise. A few days before his birthday he said, "I think it would be really fun for the boys to decorate the house, turn off the lights, and jump out to surprise me when I came home from work..." We always decorate the house for birthdays but I thought it was funny that he was all excited about a "surprise"! Of course, we did it. The boys did love it...all 4 of them! ha ha!





Ummmm, how many kids do we have? How many times have we (me and John) dressed a child? I asked John to put on Megan's pajamas...poor girl!


I was unloading groceries from the car and Ethan was playing with sidewalk chalk on the driveway. He runs in the house saying something about bugs buzzing his ears. He HATES bugs! I told him that bugs live outside and if he left them alone the bugs would not bother him. Well, he took matters into his own hands and brought out the fly swatter! That'll teach those bugs!!


Jaxon is such a good helper around dinner time. Megan was extremely tired and fussy. I was right in the middle of making dinner and so Jaxon offered to hold Megan. He was able to calm her down and he loved the fact that she fell asleep on him. He has actually offered to hold her every night while I make dinner in hopes that she will fall asleep on him again. Can you blame him? I love holding sweet, cuddly, sleeping babies!


YUCK!!! Megan started cereal last week. All the boys ate it without a problem. Not Megan! I put the first spoonful in (of course I had the camera ready) and I got pouty face, then this sweet screaming face! She HATED it!!! So funny!!