Moab, Spring 2012

MOAB!
Because right now my time is theirs:)

Last minute, spontaneous, fun. A trip for the kids:  lizards, bats, and sand everywhere.
First stop: Giant sand hill. You would think it would have a more creative name, in a place where trails are called 'potato salad' and 'lions back,' but i guess sandpit works.
   We arrive just before sundown, so when the bats come out, we can climb the hill and watch them flap about at eye level. They all love the sand and Carson loves the bats.  And there is still red sand in my dryer lint collector thingee. arg.
    The next day we hiked a family favorite, Corona Arch. We caught lizards, one, which I may have accidentally knocked out- they do play dead right? Carson had a very cool net he got from his birthday from Andy and Camille, along with a little cage to carry small creatures in.  He got to carry another little lizard along with him and was so proud of it.
    Once at the arch, there were people rope swinging from the top. So fun! It was entertaining just to watch. The guy screamed like a howler monkey when he dropped down.
   We spent the rest of the day at the pool and had an early dinner at the Peace Tree restaurant -gotta be the best place to eat in Moab.
    On Saturday, Morgan jumped out of bed, made breakfast for everyone and then made sandwiches for the day. He was sooo excited-Wes was taking him on the slickrock practice loop.
Wes did an early morning run then I got to go ride and met them up at the trailhead.  I knew Malia and Carson would want to ride too, so while Wes and Morgan were out I let them ride a bit on the slickrock till they'd had enough (about 10 minutes:) then we explored the trail for more lizards till they returned and we all had lunch on the rocks.
       Then spent the rest of the day at the pool.
After dinner we headed up moonflower canyon, a very easy hike to a pretty and somewhat sacred area.
Love the rocks and surrounding canyon of echoes.

Did I mention I completely forgot the boys luggage. Yeah, I had to buy them an extra outfit, underwear and swimsuit. So that is why they are wearing the same thing in most of the photos.
Morgan mentioned he wanted to live there because, as he stated, "I am going to be a scientist one day and work in an office all day. So I am going to need to get out and go mountain biking a lot. I have plans Mom, Big plans."

 sandy face

 Like Father

 Like son...

 and daughter

 Morgan going for the desert survivor look.

 Corona Arch

 Morgan

Malia's expression--she might as well be on a bullet bike

 Malia runs and hides anytime a stranger takes our picture.

 slickrock bound! (Obviously not recommended for kids-but fun to explore a little)

 Carson LOVED the motorcyclists

 this makes me smile

 A hunting we will go

 Honey sticks

 "...and here we have some biocryptonic soil, at milllions of years old it is highly advisable that you do not walk on it..."

 lunch

 love this

moonflower canyon

Carson turns Six!

For one reason or another, Carson loves to chase leprechauns. He hasn't caught one yet, but the other day we found out why when it started to rain.

Carson: "Oh goody! When it rains, a rainbow comes and at the end of the rainbow is a pot of gold with a leprechaun by it! I'm gonna get his pot of gold today! 

And all because it started to rain.  

Morgan's response: "So when do we get to tell him they don't exist?

So, for Carson's birthday, we let him chase leprechauns and get his pot of gold. (in other words, find paper leprechauns hidden in the grass, play games with gold coins, and eat an awesome cake made by gramma Julie).He said it was the best day ever.  I thought so, I attempted to make my Mom's rainbow Jell-O and it turned out. Served it with clouds and golden nuggets. Life is good.

Birthday

My birthday follows right after Malia's and was such a welcome getaway. Wes decided that he was going to 'get me back' for all the great birthdays I've given him-- not sure about that, but I'll take it!
He took me to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse where they threw big confettis on the table, kept it crumb free with thier little spoons, and never let my water glass drop more than an inch below the rim.  Oh, and the steak and molten lava cake could not have been better.  It's one of those meals that put dinner on slow motion, commanding every minute to the flavors melding in your mouth...ya it was really good.
We then carried on to meet friends, matt and Kara and watched the Banff Film festival.  They had some good shows about a man trekking on horse from mongolia to hungary and all his adventures in between.
After that, we headed up to Hotel Park City, slept in, got massages, and hung out at the pool in warm weather in the middle of February. It was such a much needed day!  Every now and then I feel like I get completely buried in housewife motherland. It's days like my birthday that peel that away, enabling me to see clearly again, feel rested once more, and almost ready to do another load of laundry.

Malia Birthday 3

I love any excuse to take the family skiing, so when Malia said that's what she wanted to do for her birthday, we made it happen.  Wes's family came over in the morning to celebrate and Julie made a fun barbie cake that was not easy to take a knife to.  It was amazing. I love when people share their talents. After opening some presents, we headed up to Snowbasin.  When it's a family ski day, you just have to know that you won't be doing much skiing(the type you WANT to do) you'll never be on time to anything, bring extra everything because it will be forgotten, and expect the occasional meltdown.  With Malia getting three runs in all smiles, and the family all there, it was a success.  I wish I had taken more photos, but I know someone did and will get them posted soon.

The next day we went to Gramma Ruth's for more presents and fun cupcakes. Happy Birthday Little Girl!

Happy Valentines 2012

About Malia:
Wes bought her her very own bouquet of flowers for Valentines Day. When I came upstairs this morning she was dancing in the kitchen with a princess dress on holding her bouquet.  She makes me laugh. I always ask her what she's going to be when she grows up and I never got an answer till the other day when we were watching the halftime super bowl show.  Madonna was the the singer and as she came out in all her glory, Malia excitedly exclaimed, "That's what I want to be when I grow up!"(Ugh)
She loves dancing and dresses and changes her clothes 30 times a day.

The other day Malia said as she left her wings home to walk to church, "It's a lot harder to fly without my wings!"
She's such a joy to us all and she will be three in three days!

I was taking a picture when Carson ran up and kissed her.

jenn drawing

A huge bummer of a day, I lost my iphone to the potty. All my pics from January were on the phone. Pictures from the hikes we took by the utah museum in slc, the rollerskating rink where all three and Wes were cruising around having a great time, and some random fun.  We spent New Years with Michael and Abbie and had a wonderful time. We celebrated Wes's birthday, went skiing with the family and listened sadly as Wes told us how he borrowed his phone to someone in D.C. and they ran off with it. I drew jenn a picture for her birthday, I felt bad I couldn't tag along with Wes to see her, but it just didn't work out.  I did just leave the kids for eight days and the sitter situation didn't work either.  But everything is fine.  Wes eventually got a new phone, after Fedex lost the first one they shipped, we're thinking of getting a little doggy, and the kids are healthy and happy.  Morgan had his first cub scout meeting and got to decorate a cake. And I didn't take  picture of it! argg It was a gameboy cake and the attention getter of the night. So far he has won a trophy in piano and a certificate in cake decorating.  Two things he loves to do and that I had no idea there were awards for.  I also attempted to put Malia in gymnastics but may hold off til the summer when there aren't a million things going on. She is quite good at it and loves to show off the full splits she can do. Her little rubber legs are quite unreal.
Anyway I wished I had blogged earlier, and I would have the pics I lost, but now I know!

 Morgan loves to be pulled around behind the four wheeler, the goal being able to hang on!

Here is the drawing I did for Jenn.