Bryce Canyon

So my kids hiked 2.5 miles yesterday, and did great! I love hiking with them.
The path was mostly smooth the whole way, so we took Sylas in the umbrella stroller. Thats a ton easier than a backpack!
Someone, I suspect boy scouts, made hundreds of these mini hoodoos. (Hoodoos are the crazy rock formations). They were everywhere, in the crooks of tree branches,on rock ledges, on boulders. They put a lot of hours into it.
A friend of mine once said that when they think of Utah, they think of rainbows and crystal clear rivers. Well, in Southern Utah, there is no rain thus no rainbows, and the rivers all seem to run muddy red from the red dirt. But it is a beautiful state, and the mountains here are amazing.
Once again, my kids got sucked into a rock cavity. It's inevitable. And when they stood up, they were all dusted red. Gotta love it!

Ruby's Inn for ice cream

We stopped here after Bryce for ice cream cones. they had Huckleberry! Yum!

We think Ruby owned the whole street. Everything was Ruby's.

What Lohn gets to do every Friday Morning

So despite the pathetic 4.5 dollars an hour, there are some good perks. (Isn't he cute?)

10 things I love about you...

I love how you take care of me every time I have a baby. Or get sick and Lohn is gone... What would I have done without you???
I love how you love me. Remember waiting up until 2 am when I got home from work? Just so you knew I was safe? And then we would chat while I got ready for bed. Good times...
I love how you love Dad. You two are a great example of marital bliss. It always made me feel good as a kid to see you two hug. It made me feel secure.
I love how you love my kids. And I love how they know that you love them. And I love how you still get on the floor and wrestle with them.
I love that you gave me confidence and a self esteem. You taught me how to be happy.

I love how you passed your great love of reading on to me. It all started with you volunteering in the PTA and showing me the good books to read.
I love how you always keep an immaculate home. You taught me the value of cleanliness, and because of you, I detest crumbs on the floor and dishes in the sink.
I love calling you on the phone and talking away, filling in some of the lonely hours of my day. You always provide a sympathetic ear.
I love how patient you were with me. Remember teaching me how to drive? I am so sorry you had to put up with my hormonal irritability.
I love that you taught me by example. Because of you, I have a great love of Christ and I want to be just like you when I grow up. I love you, Mom. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

2 bedroom apt. 4 kids. No toys. Need I say more?

95 degrees and getting HOTTER!

Since we have no air conditioning, we have been forced to leave our apartment every day around 5, when the heat gets unbearable. In a way, this has been a blessing, because it has forced us to go explore Cedar City, and do fun things. Yesterday, we took the kids to see Shrek 4 in 3d (42 bucks!). It was fun though, cause we were the only ones in the whole theater, and me and Tamsyn got to dance in front of the whole theater to the closing credits (I've always wanted to do that!). And it was okay if Sylas squealed every time he saw Puss in Boots. We are going to go see the twisted trees next, one of the oldest forests in the world. So despite the heat, we are surviving and I would even say we are having fun :)

Zion's National Park

It was free parks day and we took the opportunity to go to Zions. Turns out our children are desended from mountain goats, not apes.There are lots of nooks in the red rock. My kids were practically sucked into each one.
This was taken on our hike to emerald pools. (And taken before my face turned beet red from heat and exhaustion, see how I am still smiling?)
The cactus's were all flowering. We bought some homemade pear cactus jelly before we left.
The reward at the top of the hike! In all, our kids hiked about 3 miles. Seriously, how many kids can do that? I was super impressed, and they hardly complained at all!
Another reward at the top of the hike. He was such a good baby, and many many thanks to my cousin who let me borrow her baby backpack so we could enjoy the hike!

Sylas LOVED playing in the pool. And since it was impossible to keep him out, we just tried to keep him from drowning. He HATED us holding his hand.

The Grand Tour!

The apartment isn't that wonderful, but I thought some of you would like to see where we are living. We are going to Zions Saturday (just one hour away!) and will post more pictures soon.

What did you do for Memorial Weekend?

We visited family. Here the kids are with their Great Grandma Johnson.
We played with the Dahle cousins. I am SO proud of this sign. (Or rather of my grand parents who donated the land for the school.)
We visited the cemeteries. I have always loved this tradition.
We had a birthday party and lots of fun with the McKee cousins. (All 17 of them!)
We took a free Zumba class from Aunt Whitney. Who knew it could be so much fun to shake your booty?!