Jay, Brynn and Chicas visit St. George!

Jay, Brynn and the chicas came down for a quick visit and we filled the our Saturday with as much fun as we could tuck into it.  We started at the duck pond.  The ducks were so happy to have a visit that pretty soon it became a mob attack and the girls retreated to a rock and behind Brynn! No children were eaten after all!  Paul made a willow whistle which the girls enjoyed trying out. 

 

Next we went down to see if we could visit the DSU Art Museum, but it was closed, so we just visited the outdoor statue garden and had fun posing there!

Then we headed down to the Towne Square for some fun in the sun/water.  The girls loved it.  Juge and Lance arrived while we were there and we took a ride on the carousel too.

After that we were pretty tired out so we headed back to the house for some popicles and playing/laying in the yard.  Somewhere in here we ate lunch and took naps and got ready for the next and final round of fun.

 Dinner was a bring your own picnic to the park affair.  Then we played on the toys and had a family soccer game until the lights went out and it was time to call it a day...a very good, fun day!

Essie #4

Jay, Brynn and chicas came down for a visit and since it was so close to Essie's birthday, we went ahead and celebrated it just a week early.  So fun!  She's so enthusiastic about every present not matter what!  She's such a fun little girl, so ready to share what she knows and just excited about life!  Happy Birthday Essie!  We love you tons!

Teacher Appreciation Week 2018

Even though I'm not THE teacher, the sweet moms and kids in our class included me in the appreciation given for this week.  I love my job and that is enough, but it is nice to be thanked too.  Fun stuff!

So this week has been Teacher appreciation week. I'm not the teacher, but our kids have such nice moms that I get the cutest handmade cards and other fun stuff. They asked to know what school supply I wanted. I need magic sponges! They are a great clean up item. So today a little girl brought me some (with my favorite candy bar, etc to boot)! I opened it in front of the class so they could all see what she brought. When I showed them the magic sponges and said how happy i was to get them one girl called out the Mr. Clean was "in his underwear!" We talked about how he gets things so clean that he could wear his white CLOTHES and not get dirty! I love the things these kids say! After a hard day of trying to get the job done sometimes these little add ins can bring a smile to your tired, sagging face. (One of them made the word sag today in a game we played and didn't know what it meant. I told them it was kind of like how old people's faces look when they get wrinkled. The same girl told me quietly that my face was just about to sag!) They crack me up with their honest, forthcoming words!

More school fun.  We brought fruit roll-ups for our last day of OEK and took their picture.  And this is one of my favorite bulletin boards we do each year.

Grand Edventure Xmas Date - Tavin and Kaebri

It was so fun to spend the evening with these two wonderful people!  They are both smart, good looking, nice, fun, etc.!  And it was time for us to give them their Christmas edventure date with us.  David Archuleta was awesome!  What a beautiful voice and such a very nice person as well.  It was a fun evening with good folks, great music, good treats and perfect weather!  So glad we live close enough to spend a little time with these grand kids.  They have very busy lives and we do too, so it is a treat when we can find a time to hang out.  

Pine Valley picnic with Grandma Kurtz and more

Grandma Kurtz (Anna Lou) has been so involved with the Utah Jazz basketball play offs that she hasn't wanted to come to dinner on Sundays.  We try to have one get together with her each week, so we went up to Pine Valley during a time when they weren't playing for a really nice picnic and walk.  Being in the mountains with the trees, plants, clean air and water is just plain good for the soul...and sharing it with those you love makes it even better!  

When it's finally spring enough to get to the mountains...almost...we start by heading to Pine Valley for walks and picnics.  It's gets us through until we can head to the hills for sure!  If you look close you can see the firelight across the lake in one picture.  The camp hosts were there getting things ready to open up and the smoke smelled delicious!

Evening waterfalls...I know I feel better just looking at them, listening to them and breathing that almost Spring cool, clean air!

Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch adventure with Supe and Beacher

Supe and Beacher invited Paul, Bean and I to join them on a hike a couple of Saturday's ago.  It turned out to be a really good time for that particular hike.  We started at Wire Pass and went on to Buckskin Gulch.  Paul, Bean and I stayed with them through about 4 miles of it.  They continued on and did the full 21 miles ending up coming out through Paria Canyon through the last section.  Paul, Bean and I turned back and then visited Glen Canyon Dam for a bit and then picked Supe and Beacher up at the White House trail head where they exited.  It was such an adventure through the amazing, carved walls and some water in these slot canyons.  It is supposed to be the longest slot canyon in the US (disputed by some).  The sandy parts were packed because of some recent rain.  That also made for some water for us to wade through in narrow spots, but it didn't get past our waists and was still pretty fresh and non stinky.  It was just the right weather and we also got to get out of St. George for a crazy Ironman day.  All in all it was GREAT!  So glad they invited us!

When the water started we wondered if it would go on.  Then as we kept going, we wondered how deep the water would get.  We knew we had to decided whether to keep going or to stop and turn back, so we decided if it got above out waists we would turn back...luckily it didn't.  It was so amazing we did not want to turn back!  We just got really wet, thick muddy water in out boots and up to our thighs.  It was worth every thick, slippery, cold muddy puddle we waded through!

Columbines in my yard - blogworthy!

We were shopping at Lowe's the other night and I saw a potted columbine in the yard shop.  I bought it knowing that it may not survive the heat, but planted in the best spot I could find and am loving it while it lasts!  I did see one of the same variety up at the desert garden the other day, so I'm hoping this hybrid type is hardy enough to last after all.  They are such a beautiful, delicate looking flower.  I love them!

Kaebri #16, Trigg #6, Zade #10 + family dinner fun

The Smith's hosted the family dinner and the birthday party all in one!  The 3 birthdays celebrated all belonged to them, so that worked out really well!  We had a good turnout just missing Ryan and Beacher and the Randalls had to beg off at the last minute to attend a special event in Bryan's family up north.  It's an exciting birthday for Kaebri especially since she will soon be driving and is now old enough to date.  She's a smart, beautiful, kind, young lady and reminds me of her mom in her many selfless ways.  Trigg has grown up so much the last little bit and will be in school all day starting in the Fall.  Zade has grown up too and is learning how to be more physically as well as intellectually active.  I would say all of them have made lots of positive growth through the last little bit even as they have weathered the hardship of losing their mom.  Derek has worked hard to help them and now Colony is helping so much too.  I always miss Weed on special days in her family, but hope she is looking down pleased with their progress and working hard where she is too.  Love to all the birthday kids!  You are all awesome and we love you so much!