This beauty is Nick's science project. This year with so many students they opted to do something simpler. They had to make a model of a mammals body structure. He chose a red kangaroos foot, dissected in the middle to see the bone and muscle. Lovely! 
Life in the Gardner home is never dull. Michael has been making the rounds and the photo ops are always on my mind. Some with cooperation, others, not so much. In the coming months you will probably see a bit more of Michael. Sorry?
Melody and Erik scared by MJ. Who isn't?
Alene getting it on with MJ.
Cole getting a massage by our favorite masseuse, Amy. Cole isn't thrilled with this pic.
As Spring Break came to an end, Nicholas and I spent 3 days (sort of) backpacking in the Supersition Mountains. We left late Thursday afternoon and drove 13 miles of rough rounds winding our way up to the Rogers Trough Trailhead. It was dark by the time we arrived. Our first camp site was only 1 - 1 1/2 miles up the trail. Headlamps on, hiked along a narrow path cris-crossing Roger's Creek until we settled down for freeze dried meals and an evening sleep.
Friday morning we picked up camp and hiked another mile or so up the canyon to see some very undisturbed 600 year old cliff dwellings. The Superstitions always seem like a rough dry desert, which most of it is. But there are lots of spring and streams running through the canyons, especially at this time of year. This was fortunate as we were able to refill our water as needed most of the time.
The cliff dwellings are amazing and well worth a day hike if you are willing to walk the 4 mile there and back. Some look as though they'd been built only a few years before.
After lunch at the ruins, we began our next leg. This portion of the trail was mostly uphill (2+ miles) and not recently maintained. Shorts and short sleeves was not a good decision. It was plenty hot, but the result was scrathes up my arms and legs from the brush. Jason Dalton was leading the group and stumbled upon a Gila Monster in the trail. This elusive lizard usually stays hidden and have never seen one in all my years of hiking as a Scout or Scout Leader. That was a treat.
The view from the top was great and the breeze was wonderful. 
We thought of setting camp here at a small clearing. The boys were exhasted from the climb and the 5 hours we'd been hiking. I was as well. However, we were a bit low on water and I figure there'd be a stream and place to camp at the bottom. Also, it was only 4:30 or 5:00 in the after noon. Scouts usually don't fall asleep until 10 or so, even when they are tired. Spending another 4 to 5 hours with bored scouts did not appeal to me. I suggested we hike down the mountain where I was sure we could find another campsite near a season stream. This would also mean less hiking the next day to our final destination. The boys voted 5 - 3 to move on. I led the boys down the trail (until I got to slow from some anke issues). We stumbled on two rattle snakes along the trail. At the bottom, we found a great stream, but no place to camp. We stopped for a rest, some of us ate dinner. Others were eager to find a campsite futher up the trail, up another mountain. Off we went with headlamps again. It was only another mile and we found a place next to a watering trough and a windmill by 8 pm. That day we hiked, according to the GPS, 8 1/2 miles.
We'd hiked the bulk of our hike on Friday and it turned out we were only 1/2 mile from the Trailhead and our pick-up point. I believe the boys were happy about that.
This was one of the best hike we've been on thus far and would highly recommend the first portion to the ruins for anyone interested in a good day hike, providing it is spring or fall. I never have anyone try any Superstion hike in the summer.
--Coleman
Erik was honored as the student of the month for February. The theme was "loyalty". He was thrilled as he had to sit through many others over the years as his brother's were honored. Now it was his turn and we are so proud of him!
Cole's family has had this cardboard cut out of Michael for at least 17 years. The other day the grandparents called and wanted to know if we wanted it. Heck yeah! I just thought of all the fun we can have with him, like our own "Flat Stanley". Where could we take him and what could we do with him?. One of the kids made a comment about how creepy it would be to wake up and see Michael looking at him. Well, I took that idea and ran with it and here are some of the pictures. All the kids were asleep and did not know that we took these pictures till morning and I want everyone to know that they thought they were funny. But just in case, yes I'm already saving for the therapy my children will need for our latest stunt. 
Michael peeking around the corner.
We actually got MJ in the bed and Trevor didn't even wake up. I admit this one is a little more cringe worthy than the others.
Jason woke up when we came in and promptly fell back asleep. He didn't believe us till we showed him the pics in the morning.
Nick making the most with Michael.
Kids make life much more interesting and entertaining. Yesterday Trevor lost his tooth at school and he brought it home in a little yellow "treasure box". I had a full house yesterday with all 4 of my nieces and my 5 running amok. Trevor left his tooth down on the table and went to play. Later Amy came to pick up my nieces and we finally got all of them out to the car and I went back to making dinner. A knock came at the door and Jason went to get it. He came in to the kitchen and handed me a tooth, Trevor's tooth, with no treasure box. He told me Amy had strapped Hailey (23 months old) in her car seat and saw her chewing on something. Yes, it was Trevor's tooth! GAG! Well that a new one in my books.
So we FINALLY got to go to the cabin during winter again. It has been two years since we got to play in the heavenly Colorado snow. These pictures say it all.
Cole, PopPop, and Nana with the cabin in the back.
My cute "babies". They had so much fun up there.
I LOVE this pic of Nick and yes I took it.
Our outfitted boys.
Jason had just gone down a huge hill and paved the way for his brothers to follow.
Me entertaining the kids sliding down the hill. I still got it! (maybe not in the hat department.)
Ryan getting a icicle for his pop with the help of PopPop.
Trevor and his ugly yellow hat. We always could find him. What is up with the Gardner's and ugly hats?
We are getting ready to start making "Jakey's Blankies!" (The soft white one under Jake's head). Jake had 2 of these. One for his blessing and one that was brown with a giraffe print that we held him with while he died. He was buried with the white one so he would be extra comfy! These blankies mean a lot to the Dennison family. They are made out of a special material called Minky and it is SOOOOOO soft!! You can't help but want to snuggle with it!! We think that every child should have one of these to snuggle with so we want to make a BUNCH of these for the heart unit up at St. Joseph's hospital in memory of Jake. We are needing donations to make these, so if you were wanting to donate, but haven't, please send your donation BY MARCH 8TH at 8:43pm!!!! We really want to make a lot of these, and possibly make a bunch every year, but we need more funds, even $5 would be GREAT!! Thank you all for your generosity and THANK YOU to those that have already donated!!
To donate you can go to Tyler and Liz's Blog (link under my friends and family) and
donate via PayPal
or
You can send the donations to:
Bishop Anderson
Summerfield Ward (Jakey's Blankies)
2791 E Los Alamos Ct
Gilbert, AZ 85295
Make checks payable to: Summerfield Ward
