Jumping on Beds..........

Zion Adventures part 2

Well, a trip to the Ponderosa just wouldn't be complete without a horse ride right? 

Cara and Mannie went on a trail ride.....

Cami, Charlie and I checked out some of the animals (chickens, goats and bunnies).....

Then we went to the pool....I was all set to go in when we noticed dead lizard looking things in the jacuzzi.  The kids and I went, "Ewwwwwwww" which was followed by complete fascination on their part. But they jumped into the higher pool (2 tier pool) and swam and hit the waterslide.  Then one of the kids noticed more lizard looking things in the lower tier pool.....and they were swimming!! We all gathered around the lower pool to investigate.  There were 4 little guys swimming away all around the pool.  It completely ruined our intent to swim but we had a great time watching them and Charlie made a little movie about them using my iphone.  

Turns out they are tiger salamanders.  

So, we met up with Cara and Mannie and had breakfast at the restaurant and then packed up "Nugget" (Mannie's new truck) and headed over to Zion to check out somemore of the park.

We stopped in the visitors center to get the gist on the Jr. Ranger badges...hit weeping rock, hit a creek for some water fun....
and checked out Zion lodge.....we also attended a Ranger led presentation on the history of Zion at the Museum.  The only reason why we did that was because we HAD to in order for the kids to earn their Jr. Ranger badges and I have to say, it was VERY interesting.  It helped us all to understand all the different stages that Zion has been through and the kids got to see some fossils too.

 

We went apple picking on our way out of Zion area.....

We also stopped at a Trading Post....cute.

Then we made it to Cedar City in time for some dinner at the Pizza Factory then up the hill to the cabin in to drop off Cam and Charlie for a sleepover and the rest of us checked into the hotel down the "block".  On our way to the hotel we came across a herd of sheep....never been "stuck" in the middle of a herd of sheep before...it was very cool! You never know what you will come across on a roadtrip! 

Time to go for the day.....today is our "Back to school Blitz"....dentist, doctor, school supplies...and would love to squeeze in a back to school outfit or 2 but Charlie seems to have come down with something, a little stomach ache....not sure what that is all about.   Cami had some sort of allergic reaction that started on Sat. and has continued on....hives coming and going....not as bad as Cara had when she had the allergic reaction to v-cillin but a reaction none the less.  We can't figure out what happened, no different foods....maybe she came across a plant in Zion or at the cabin but it is a lingering allergy.  Allergy meds help.   Luckily we have the doc appt. today and I will discuss but I have a feeling the doctor won't know either.  Cami is the biggest trooper I have ever seen though.  The first night it bugged her really badly and she came into my room  in the middle of the night and said, "Mom, I need help!".....so sad.  But since that first night, she doesn't seem to complain, just treats like more of a nuisance.  

Anyway, that is the medical news from here. 

Time to go check on Charlie.

Have a good one!

Zion National Park

Hi there!

We have been in Utah for the past 5 days or so and we missed alot of the east coast drama! Thank goodness for Facebook so I could keep up with what was going on with my east coast friends! 

My family still has no power but other than that, all was well in their neck of the woods.  Poor Vermont!! I love Vermont and I am so sad for the beautiful state.  I am sure beautiful covered bridges and historic buildings are now ruined.  

We went to Utah to visit Gia and Gramps' cabin up in Brianhead.  First we all decided to check out Zion National Park for a couple of days. We had never been so I was excited to see what the park was all about!! 

We drove straight through in one day.  We left here around 10:30 or 11 am and got to the Zion area around 8:30pm.  We made a lot of stops along the way.....bathroom and stretching breaks!  

We checked into our "hotel"....it was an amazing ranch filled with every outdoor family activity you could ever dream of!! We stayed in a covered wagon our first night!!!!!  Very clean.

After our pioneer studies back in May/June, I had to try it out!! The cost was $45 for the night! Our cheapest room to date! It was cozy and cute.  I loved it!

 

We woke up to the sun rising! We got our stuff packed up and headed out to meet up with Gia and Gramps in Zion and explore.

We all ate breakfast at a delicious and air conditioned restaurant!! It was HOT in Zion!!!! 

Then we decided that we would explore "the Narrows".  So, we boarded the shuttle and headed to the last stop on it, The Narrows.  

It was so hot and after just a few steps, we were dying! But we were walking right along the Virgin River so we stopped and went swimming every time we got hot.

It was AMAZING!!! The water was so clear and refreshing.  I loved every second of our hike.  The canyon is gorgeous.....beautiful red/brown rock towering over you and providing lovely shade in spots.  Green trees against the rock looked so pretty.   

Cami made a friend.....

We did a lot of floating.....

Don't feed the squirrels...we didn't but I caught one eating..

More canyoneering! 

Mannie is a sweet son....I like this picture:

pretty waterfalls..

It was a heavenly day.  

We hiked the Narrows the whole day and then took the shuttle back to the restaurant where we had left our car and had a fantastic dinner.....a huge salad and baked potato for me! 

The we said good bye to Gia and Gramps who were headed to the cabin.  We all drove thru the park towards the east side which is where the Ranch was and that was the direction to get to the cabin.  We loved the 1.1 mile tunnel through the mountain! 

We checked back into the ranch and this night we rented a cabin! It had a/c thank goodness!!! It also had a bathroom,  queen size bunk beds, a t.v., couch, and kitchen.  

The kids had been dying to check out the pool because they had 2 waterslides so we went night swimming!

They play great music at the pool so Mannie and I hung out while the kids swam.  I don't know what it is about seeing your kids happy and having the time of their life that fills a parent with such joy ! But I could have sat there all night watching them swim and have the best night!!!  Amazing how priorities change once you become a parent.  

Then we all went back to the cabin to shower and get cozy in our pj's.  We watched the 911 documentary.  I was glad to have seen it.  

Still can't believe that happened and that it has been 10 years.  

Anyway, don't mean to leave it on that note but I am going to get moving.  I need to get some groceries.  

Have a nice day!!!! 

Back to School Project #3...

Can you tell I am working on my mantel? 

This little canvas is going on there and then I am just about complete!

Will post a picture of the whole thing soon.

Fun, Fun, Fun.....been having lots of fun working away on projects!!! 

We enjoyed a gorgeous day at the beach!!! (Summer)

Then home here to make this back to school project (Fall).....slowly easing into the end of summer/back to school...depending on how you look at!

Project Life!

So, the past week or so, I have been working hard to get all caught up on PL. 

I am sort of caught up but you never really are, as I have said in the past. Hi Krista, if you are out there! I didn't give up!!

Maddening Project! 

Here is the project so far.....
you are looking at 2011 right there, all documented! 

I will have 3 albums for 2011 when it is all said and done.

Here are a few glimpses of the past month that I have been working on.

I did an overview calendar LO....

And then the vacation pictures took over....but the good news is that I have the whole vacation documented now so that is cool.

A few more...... some wallets:

some of memorabilia:

I mixed in the layouts I have made recently and then some of the things I collected on the trip and the kids Jr. Ranger booklets.  

It is all good but as I have been moaning about, really hard to live life and keep this up!  But priceless as well so it is a matter of what do you value more......pain in the rear vs. memories saved? 

I will be interested to see if I decide to do it again in 2012!  But I can say, as I have been working on catching up, I have enjoyed looking over all the hard work and so has Mannie.

Off to the beach....have a great day!

Back to School Project #2

Made a burlap banner for my fireplace! 

Now I am organizing the mantel.  Looks cute! 

Will post when I get it finished!

And NO, SUMMER!! Don't get jealous because I am enjoying these back to school crafts!!! I still like you the BEST!!!!!

Back to School Project!

I started to get my mindset ready for back to school....just a little bit.  

The crafting ritual has begun!

A little fabric wreath is project #1! 

TGIF!!! 

Watermelon Wednesday!

IT just wouldn't be summer without.........WATERMELON!! 
Yesterday we had "Watermelon Wednesday".

It is something I planned at the beginning of the summer but never quite got around to and yesterday, with our "Week of No Plans" seemed to be the perfect time for it.

We went on a watermelon tour of Tanaka Farms.  It was good.  I had been on their strawberry tour which is the same thing except with one obvious difference.  The kids enjoyed collecting the veggies and fruit that they pass out on the 100 degree wagon ride.  They need to get a cover on that thing, I had flashbacks of feeling overheated  on that one other time.

Have you ever tasted a yellow watermelon? I hadn't until yesterday....still like the red one best.

The kids were disappointed that you don't actually pick your own watermelon.....seems like it should be sort of a major disclaimer on a "watermelon picking tour".....

But we collected our watermelons and headed home to do some watermelon related activities! 

Math related. By the way....don't bother asking the question of how many seeds are in a watermelon......just don't.

This is Cami trying to prove that her prediction that a watermelon will sink in water was in fact true! 

Nope. It floats Cam.

We made watermelon popsicles which we are going to try out today. 

We also made a little craft and then today we are going to plant an indoor watermelon! 

That was our little day! 
Nice, fun, simple.

Then Cara hit her first soccer practice...she was happy to be back!!!

It was sloppy joe/taco night and we cooked up the veggies that Charlie collected!! (not the melon)
He was thrilled.

Another great summer day! 

Just Wouldn't Be Summer......

without a trip to the BIG A!!!!!

Mannie got free tickets to the game from the baseball league he plays in so we got to hangout with the Whales at Angel stadium last night!! We were so lucky to get free tickets for all 5 of us!

I love Angel stadium. 

It just feels like summer going to a game! 

I love that they give out "presents" to everyone!! Last night was free 50th anniversary mugs! 

I love Torii Hunter!
We had a great view of him from our seats! 

I love that Mannie has introduced me to  this baseball world, even though I still don't know much about the game!  

Summer nights!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

 

The Week with No Plans....Day One!

This week is our week with no plans! No camp, no trips, getaways....nothing! Nothing scheduled, just day to day!!! 

Well, sort of.  

Yesterday was errand day....no fun! But after a trip to Costco and then the grocery store, things are looking good on the food front!!  And quite honestly, that is FUN! 

Today started the fun part of   NO PLANS week.  

We headed to the beach and then after an hour and a half, well, how about the pool? Sure why not? We've got no where to be right?

Yikes!! The water is cold!!

Splashing is fun!!! 

Floating by myself is fun!!

Floating with my sister is fun too!

Being pulled around on the boogie board by my sister is fun too!!  Actually....ahhhhhh, it is relaxing!

Eating snacks under a clubhouse umbrella is.......HYSTERICAL!!

So, on that note, we left the beach to get a little pool time and it was heavenly as usual for the kids!

I even shocked the kids by jumping into the pool....I am not a pool person, have I ever said that? Pools gross me out....but when I see the kids having fun and then I am sweltering on a chair, I just had to do it! They grabbed onto me, all 3 of them and squealed with delight, "I love you mom!!" They couldn't believe it! Sort of sad, but not really, I can be fun in other ways.  

Tomorrow, I did plan something....except I planned it today, so that is okay for a week with no plans right? 

Oh and I did forget one detail about our week with NO PLANS!!! Cara starts soccer this week so 2 days she has practice in the afternoon.  A little reminder to enjoy this time while we can because little parts of our school routine are creeping into our lives! 

So, we did enjoy today! 

I LOVE YOU SUMMER AND NO ROUTINE/PLAN DAYS, I DO!!!!  and....we are NOT SQUANDERING our days on the couch in our pj's!!! YIPPEE!

Weekend Review

Our weekend at a glance:

1. bunny cage:  

Mannie (with the help of the kids) started working on a bunny cage for Hopper! It is time to get the bunny outside, she is growing and it is time.

 

2. working...school is right around the corner! 

3. outdoor movie with the Mottas...

4. Mannie played baseball...Whales won!!   I love that Tom, Sheela and the kids wanted to come cheer him on!! You guys are the BEST!! However, the game was at our least favorite field and the kids and I didn't go to the game.  

5. Kids and I watched Rio cuddled up in my bed while Mannie played baseball.

6. Then we BBQ'ed at our friends, Dan and Jen's, place.....swimming at the pool, bbq, watched Rango! Dan and Jen are the reason we have birds so they invited us over with all the birds and Hopper! The kids were in heaven, swimming and then a birdie playdate!!  We may be the reason that they end with a bunny! Jen made everything from scratch....homemade lemonade like I have never tasted....she gave me the recipe....it involves boiling water and sugar the night before....for a non chef or "foodie"  like myself, that sounds groundbreaking! ;)   I realize that there are people who love to cook and there are people like myself that cook because I have to!  I do enjoy trying to make nice meals for the family but I would say most nights I cook because if I didn't, we would eat Twinkies for dinner each night.  I wish I could ENJOY it!  Jen made the most delicious chocolate ganache cupcakes for dessert! We have been spoiled by friends this summer and bbq's.

She inspired Cara to want to make some food from scratch.  SO, we have given ourselves a challenge to make an entire meal from scratch....of course the dessert was the first thing that came to mind.  I looked up a recipe for lemon cake (as per Cara's request)....maybe on Wednesday we will tackle "Homemade Food Day".

That is the gist of our weekend, a really nice one!  Too short though. I felt guilty today knowing that we could sleep in and Mannie had to go to work.  The kids are truly old enough that the whole stay at home mom thing feels like a vacation.  I have never felt that way until this summer.  I have always felt that what I did as a stay at home mom was equally important and "hard work" as what Mannie did.  And although I still feel that having a parent here with the kids is important, I also feel like there needs to be more to it.  I feel bad having so much free time.  I wish I could figure out a way to do it all, be here for the kids, make money and keep the house clean....I suppose that is every mom's dream.  

So, this week is sort of a blank slate for the first time this summer.  It has been a pretty busy summer and for the first time I am facing the week with a big ole question mark....?????.....What to do?  It is the first time all summer that I feel like having some routine would do us good but then I am trying to push that thought away and just go to the pool and forget I ever felt that way!   How silly to be faced with a week with no thought put into it and question it!! What am I thinking? So, I am interested to see if we make the most of it, or squander it by hanging around home all day in our pj's!!  So far pajamas are winning! But it is still early in the week and  the day! 

Here is to a week with no plans!! Happy Monday!