Zion National Park

We made it to our first destination, St. George, UT late Friday night.  We checked into our hotel, got settled, and slept in until the kiddies woke us up Saturday morning.

Saturday was kind of a hang-out day.  We took the kids swimming at our hotel's pool, ran some errands, and went running.  Later on Jim's sister, Adrienne took me out to a delish Indian/Asian restaurant.  My mouth waters every time I think about it.  I need to go back to St. George, just so I can eat there again -- the company was fantastic too! 

Sunday we all piled into Adrienne's car and drove to Zion National Park.  It was stunning.  We drove through some tunnels, went on some hikes, and ended our night at a yummy pizza place and then candy/ice cream shop for dessert.  I even found some candy cigarettes I used to get on road trips when I was a kid.  I totally bought them, then offered my nieces some ciggies - the bubblegum variety.  I felt like such a rebel!  Next thing you know, I'll need a bubblegum patch to wear to stop my cravings for blowing bubbles. 

All in all, our day in Zion was heavenly!

Just about to drive through a mountain

You can't tell me that that's not beautiful!

The start of our hike

Heading up the trail

Hunter makes a weird face when we tell him to smile for a picture.  Everyone tried to copy it -- even Hunter.

This is the end of the Narrows hike.  Jim has done this hike a few times with friends.  I would be too afraid of flash floods to hike between two mountains, but I'm glad I got to see a bit of it.

Tandra and Cassi, some of my favorite gals in the whole world!  

Tralee was playing Rapunzel in the picture on the left.  She's just being a dare-devil in the one on the right.

Jim skipping rocks, Cassi by the water, and a branch/root Adrienne found that looks like a woman.  Anyone else see it?

Tandra, Jim, Tralee, and Hunter at Weeping Rock

Hunter watching the drops of water fall

drip drip drip

Family photo

She smiles!

Adrienne, Tralee (being forced to smile - she was hungry at this point), Hunter, Jim, Cassi, and Tandra

Yummy ice cream and candy shop.  I bought some salted chocolate covered caramels that blew my pants right off they were so amazing!

"Hey kids, fancy a Lucky Light?  All the cool Aunts nostalgic for their days of youth are chewing them!"

Fall Family Fun Night

A few weekends ago Tralee's school hosted a fall family fun night.  Kids wore their costumes, there was a haunted hallway, book fair, games, snacks, crafts, and more.  It was a fun night!

Tralee went as a black cat.  She's wanted to be a black cat since last Halloween.  It was a super easy costume to put together - HOORAY!

Hissing

Jim found a superman costume at a friend's garage sale this summer.  We've been talking up Superman to Hunter every since.  So, when Halloween came around when we asked, "What do YOU want to be for Halloween?"  Hunter would (almost) always answer "SUPERMAN!!"  He's a cute little superhero if you ask me!

The kids had a blast at Tralee's school.  Tralee saw friends, both kids played games, did the craft, and when it came time for the haunted hallway I was a bit worried since other kids were coming out in tears.  I explained to my wee ones, "This is all pretend, ok?"  Tralee said she already knew it was pretend.  I held Hunter through the hallway, and he didn't really react.  Tralee went up to the scare-ers and told them, "I know you're just pretending!"  Everything that was supposed to be scary Tralee just turned her nose up and said, "That's just pretend!"  I wonder how she would react if we took her through a REAL haunted house/maze.  Would it scare her?  Or would she go up to a zombie and say, "You're just fake!"  I probably won't do that, anytime soon, but it would be fun to see.

Since the school fun night we've been keeping busy with lots of activities-- birthday parties, playgroups, after school activities, get-togethers with friends, family, and neighbors, just to name a few.  We've been busy, but I really have no complaints.  We absolutely love our new surroundings/situation.  I feel VERY blessed.

Fall Leaves

Our new place has some pretty landscaping around the grounds.  The kids love it.  They call the rock formations behind our place their secret hideout.  If they're not climbing around on the rocks, they're picking flowers, or (as of late) playing in the leaves.  I love the leaves.  I love the fall.  I love my kids.  All this love had to be captured in some photos.

Hunter ALWAYS  (always!!!) has a wicked hairdo happening in the back.  Even if I brush it, and slather some goop in it, by the end of the day the back hairs on his head are standing at a messy attention.  I call it his Russel Brand hair-do.  Not the newer more polished Russel Brand, the Russel Brand from a few years ago whose rat-nest hair in the back looked like a good hiding place for whatnots and whatchamacallits.  Hunter's hair-do likes to hide bits of fall leaves.  Crazy hair!   

 See what I mean?

Moving on. . . the lass below is my little artist/photographer.  Every time I whip out my camera, she wants to take over and snap some pics of her own.  I put one of her masterpieces in this blog post below.

These are MY masterpieces below:

 Corky is there too!!

The picture below is Tralee's.  Not too shabby!

The pictures below of Hunter just scream:  BOY!!!  He looks like such a little boy in them.  As I was snapping away, Hunter decided to throw leaves at me.  One landed on my shoulder and he thought it was the most hilarious thing in the world.

Tralee wanted to take pictures using my camera.  I wouldn't let her.  She was mad. . . .

 . . .But she got over it and threw more leaves in the air.

The weather has become a little more crisp lately.  I kinda love it, but the kids haven't been to their secret hideout as much lately.  When they do venture over, I make them bundle up with sweaters, jackets, hats, and mittens.  They like it, not-so-much.  If it were up to Tralee she would be playing barefoot in the rain wearing a sleeveless dress in near-freezing weather -- something she's done within the last week.  Once I discovered her crazy rain-dance antics, I made her come in and put on some weather appropriate clothes, much to her dismay.  A few days later, I'M the one that caught a cold!  Stinks is still as healthy as can be.  She's such a winter baby.  So much so, that she told me I can call her Snowflake if I want.

Snow for short.

It's Gonna Be a Good Year!

My birthday was on a fun day this year -- 10/11/12.  I turned 31.  I'm almost positive this will be an amazing year.  Not only did I have a cool birthday, but I think all numbers that end in one are lucky.  Always have.  I read a few years ago that another culture -- I think it was Indian, but I could be wrong -- also believe numbers that end in one are lucky.  I'm pretty sure I must be part Indian (or whatever culture that was that I read about).

On 10/11/12 I woke up to Tralee handing me her gift.  She made me a necklace out of fall leaves, and tried her darnedest the night before to keep it a secret.  Sweet girl.  She asked me to help her tie the string she used for the necklace, but I had to tie it with my eyes closed so I couldn't see what it was.  I heard the leaves crinkling next to each other as my fingers made the knot.  I also helped her find some paper to wrap my gift in, but the rest was all Stinks.  She even drew pictures on the wrapping paper.  I loved it!  When I saw the perfect red leaves she chose, carefully placed on the string, my heart melted.  I told Tralee a few days before how much I love fall.  I love it!  I love the smells, colors, weather, tastes, sounds, everything about it!  We had a conversation about how pretty the fall leaves are, especially the bright red ones, and wouldn't you know it, I got a handmade necklace with the prettiest red leaves!  Thoughtful girl!  I wore it most of the day, and by the end all the leaves had fallen off.  Tralee told me each leaf that fell meant another one of my birthday wishes came true.

The second awesome part of my birthday included a bath.  I got out the bath salts and essential oils for this one.  My moment of solitude lasted a good five minutes or so before Hunty sniffed out the oils.  It took about 1.4 second flat for him to strip down and hop in the tub with me.  It wasn't quite as relaxing as having the tub to myself, but I didn't mind.  As far as bath company goes, he's a favorite.  Another few minutes after Hunty joined me, Tralee discovered us.  She wanted in too.  At this point, I decided to forfeit and let the kiddies take over the tub.

  

After bath time my friend and neighbor came over.  We packed some lunch, and took the kids to a nearby park.  Tralee didn't have school, so we got to spend the whole day together.  Both of my babies had a great time running around the park with their friends.

After picnicking and parking it up for a bit, we came home, baked a cake, and Tralee decorated it for me all by herself.  She picked out decorations earlier from the store, and I decided to let her have full control over the proceedings.  I, once again, wasn't aloud to look at her creation until I got the say-so.

My friend/neighbor took the follow pics of Tralee decorating and surprising me  with her cake creation.

The cake turned out beautifully, and not only that, but my friend Janessa, also brought me over a cake.  Two cakes on one birthday!  It can't get any better than that!  Also, did you know that calories don't count on your birthday?  I had no problem eating a slice (or two) of each cake.  They were both yummy!

Later on that night Tralee and I made some veggie soup and rolls.  Both were delish. 

So, to sum it up, my day was exactly wonderful!  The only thing that could have made it perfect-o would be Jim's presence.  He was away on business, but I still spent my day with my favorite littles, I talked to family and friends, I blew out candles on--not one, but two--cakes, and it all ended snuggling on the couch with my favorite peeps.  The only thing missing was my hubster.  I know we'll catch up on celebrating when he makes it home.

So. . . . 31 

It's going to be an amazing year!!