Saint George in July

......is a really HOT place to be.....but still so much fun. We went down to Saint George and Sheri and Jim flew into Vegas and drove up and met us there. Paul and I both worked on Wednesday morning but got out early and left at noon. This worked out perfectly. The kids fell asleep shortly after getting in the car and slept for 3 of the 4 hour drive. We got in, had dinner and were able to get to the pool before bedtime. Jim found a condo to rent that was just perfect. It was right next door to where we stayed last time(which means really close to a fun bike trail). And, it was 4 bedrooms so we all got our own rooms. To top it off....the view was to die for.










On Thursday we got up early and headed to Zion National Park. We hadn't been there in years and Jim and Sheri have never been to southern Utah. We were excited to go back and to take them there.

On the Zion bus


Hiking with Mommy on the way to the Narrows.


Colin using the hiking poles


Audrey feeling the water falling off the cliffs


Audrey wanted to climb EVERYTHING. We have lots of pics of her climbing.




So, we decided to take the kids and go hiking in the Zion Narrows. I was nervous about the idea and told Paul that I reserved the right to turn back at any time. The water was freezing. We hit a deep part early on and I thought the hike was over. However, everyone said it was the only deep part so we knew that if we made it through there that we'd be good. We decided to go for it. We all had a great time. It was beautiful and so much fun for us and the kids.

Paul and Jim carried the kids. I was glad we had Jim because I wouldn't have been comfortable doing the hike without him.


Heading into the COLD water


This is where it got deep


Obviously, I'm the shortest so it was the deepest on me. I was up to my neck.


Neither Colin nor Audrey liked the coldness of the water but this was the only spot they got wet.





Audrey enjoying the hike


Cute shots














After the Narrows we went to this little dive restaurant outside the park. It was so yummy and beautiful weather and scenery to sit outside.

Pretty dress

I love this dress that Aunt Jen got Audrey for her birthday.  However....of course Audrey wouldn't let us get a picture of her.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to Paul who is an amazing daddy to Colin and Audrey.

First pictures with Colin




First Father's Day


Father and son at work


First pictures with Audrey




Daddy of two


Father's Day 2010


Summer 2011






I don't actually have any new pictures from today though. We got up early and went to breakfast and then church. We realized after we got home that Colin was sick with a fever and felt awful so we just got in pajamas and hung out all day. I didn't think about a picture until it was too late.

Colin update

I feel like there has been so much lately that Colin has been saying or doing that I want to write down and I just don't get the chance to do it. So, I'm going to give it a try and see what I remember.

At the park he can climb up all of these fancy ladders and steps and things that I wouldn't expect are made for 2 1/2 yr olds. He then goes down all the slides by himself and then climbs back up the slides. There is a bar hanging over one of the slides and he reaches up, grabs it and then swings from it. It totally freaked me out. I thought he was going to fall and had no idea where he learned it from.

He likes to randomly come up to me and say "Mommy, I like you." And then he'll add "mom, I like your eyes", "Mom, I like your shirt." A couple minutes later "I like your pants."

He loves Mickey Mouse and has some character stuffed animals that he sleeps with. Paul's mom sent out one of his old stuffed animal Mickeys that he had when he was a kid. Colin was excited to show it to me. He then had to go put it in daddy's bed for daddy to sleep with. It was so cute and he placed it so nicely on the pillow. When Paul went to bed he set Mickey on the nightstand. The next day Colin ran in to get "daddy's Mickey" and was all confused. "mommy, why's Mickey on the table?" I told him it was because Mickey got up out of bed in the morning when daddy did. He said "but my Mickey stays in my bed all day."

Last night we went to a neighborhood ice cream social. The neighbor's whose house we were at had a beautiful yard. They have waterfalls and ponds, chickens ducks and fish. The kids had so much fun playing around. As we left Colin said "can we go back there next week?" That night I asked him if he had fun at the party and he said "yes, but I was scared of the chicken"

Whenever I ask him to do something he'll answer by saying "yeah, sure."

He is in the middle of a major "why" phase. He asks why to everything. And no matter how many answers you give him, he'll keep asking why. It's cute, but can be so difficult to find an answer that satisfies him sometimes.

He is very cuddly lately also. He will just come over and sit on my lap, give me a hug and say "mommy, I love you".

If you ask him "how is it?" Instead of saying "good", he'll say "nice".

The other day I was home sick with a migraine and spent most of the day in bed. I heard Paul and the kids playing in Colin's room and called for Colin to come see me. He came in and jumped on the bed and cuddled me for about 15 seconds and then said "Mommy, I go play with daddy and Audrey, you go back to sleep."

I know Paul taught him this but it's still cute. Every time Colin sees an American flag he chants "USA USA USA". It's so cute.

Kennecott Copper Mine(part 2)

We wanted to take the kids to do something different this weekend. I had hoped to take them hiking. However, Paul and I both did house projects this weekend and didn't quite have the energy for hiking. My dad mentioned going out to the mine. Paul and I had never been there and we knew Colin would like seeing the trucks again, so we went. It's a long drive straight across the valley. You're literally almost exactly across the valley from our house, on the opposite mountain bench.


The mine


The tires on the trucks that work in the mine are huge(and expensive). Here are the stats and some pictures of Colin with the tire.








Pictures from the day


Paul pulled this hat out for Colin to wear the other day. He hasn't taken it off since. He loves it and it practically fits him.







Audrey had a lot of fun while we were there. She just loves to run around everywhere. She climbed up these stairs and ran down this ramp 5 times before she moved onto something new.

Smile for the Camera

Audrey is in that stage where it is impossible to get a picture of her. She either won't look at you or won't stay still. I thought she looked so cute the other day in her little skirt and how the girls at daycare had done her hair. I just wanted a picture of her. She wasn't having it.

You'd love running too.....

....if these were the views you saw on your running trail.









I often think how happy I am that we ended up in the house that we did. I am reminded often that I really think it was a perfect choice for us. I could go on and on about all the reasons but everytime I go on this run I am thankful and happy about where we live.

Sunny Days

We finally had some nice weather this weekend and we made sure to make the most of it.
We took the kids to the park a couple of times and they had a lot of fun playing in water on the deck. Paul and I each went mountain biking a couple of times.

My kids are so daring at the park. It is hard to keep an eye on both of them by myself. I'll be with Colin making sure he's safe climbing up something and Audrey will run to the other side of the park and start climbing something.

Last time we went to the park, I turned around to Colin saying "Mommy, look at me" and this is what he was doing. I don't know how they learn these things.


They are such climbers! I can't believe Audrey makes it up to this slide by herself.


I've posted before how we never got a formal "water table", we just made our own. I think the kids like it though.







Paul and I each managed to get out biking twice this weekend. We went separately with friends on Saturday and then went together after the kids went to bed on Sunday night.

Ice Cream Social

The other night we had a neighborhood ice cream social. We have finally had some nice weather but it was a pretty chilly night. Dad thought we should be having hot dogs and smores instead of ice cream. It was fun though. It was at a neighbor's house that has a beautiful backyard, however, very non toddler friendly. It is on a big hill with rock steps and waterfalls and ponds. They had a chicken that the kids all chased around and ducks.

Enjoying their ice cream.




Remember that big hill I was talking about earlier? The bigger kids were all having fun rolling down it. Colin was scared but Audrey just had to join in.

Almost 14 months

I figured I was due for a little update of what the kids have been up to. I'll start with Audrey and will need to get Colin's up soon.

Audrey has kind of been in a difficult phase. She is very clingy and has separation anxiety really bad. She hates any strangers. She likes her teachers at daycare but they told me that if another teacher comes in the room that she throws a fit. She also isn't sleeping very well. She has been getting up most nights crying. She'll stop immediately if I go in there but cry the minute I leave. I don't understand what is going on or why she won't consistently sleep all night. I wish we could get it figured out.

She is so daring. She climbs on everything which means she is falling all of the time. She tries to follow Colin with everything that he does. She keeps up a lot better than I would have ever guessed she could but it's still not good enough for her and she gets frustrated and she gets so mad if you stop her from following him. She loves to climb up stairs and jumps out of my arms everyday when we get home so she can go up them herself.

She's done with her bottles during the day but still taking one at night before bed. And, boy does she savor that one bottle. She drinks it so slow and I have the hardest time getting it away from her. She wants to suck on it forever, even if it's empty.

She loves her "lovies". Her bear is kind of taking a back seat to her blanket right now. I like the bear better because it is small enough that she can carry it around without it dragging all over the floor. That blanket has to be so dirty after this week of her dragging it everywhere. Hopefully this phase passes also.

She loves to be on the go. She loves taking walks in the stroller or being at the store. However, she hates her carseat.

She is eating really well but prefers finger foods and won't eat much that she has to take from a spoon. I think the only thing she'll take from me on a spoon right now is yogurt.

She hates having her diaper changed and it is a huge challenge to keep her in one place long enough to do it.

She still doesn't really have much to say. She will "growl" at just about every animal she sees. She's been saying "uhoh" again lately. She seems to say "da" sometimes to mean dad and dog but it isn't very regular. Even though she doesn't talk, she definitely knows what you are saying. Tonight I asked her to go get a book and she walked over, picked one out, and brought it to me.

She loves greeting her daddy when he gets home from work. She'll go running from anywhere in the house the minute she hears him coming in.