A great day for Gaige!

It was so great to join lots of family and friends on Saturday, January 4th, to attend Gaige's baptism.  We are so happy that he made the choice to be baptized and become a member of the Church.  Nothing makes us happier than to see our family making good choices.  Congratulations Gaige!  We love you.

Happy 2014!

We spent New Year's Eve putting away Christmas...not too exciting.  For New Year's Day we did better.  We decided to go and see Water Canyon in its' winter dress.  We had heard that it has some beautiful icicles then.  We should have gone a few weeks earlier, but there were a few left and it didn't matter because everything else was so beautiful we were perfectly happy.  We didn't plan to go clear to the top, so we spent more time checking out some of the areas along the trail that we don't usually take time for.  It was a beautiful day and we totally enjoyed it!  

These are pictures of some of the cold spots.  There were a few icicles left and we even heard one fall as we were walking up. When the trail started getting really iced over, we decided that was a good stopping spot and came back down and explored a bit.  We stopped on a sunny beach and ate lunch.

The arch, a canyon we shinnied down into, and the beautiful grotto.

On the way over we drove the Cane Beds Road and saw the Coral Pink Sand Dunes with a little snow.  We drove home through Zion and no one was in the tunnel, so we stopped for a quick shot out the window there and at a few other spots.  It felt a little gruesome, but we stopped in Springdale to look at the smashed house.  It was completely smashed.  I can see why the two people inside were killed. So very sad.  Other than that, it was a wonderful way to start the new year!  

Last Rock Trip of 2013

We had been needing rock for quite a while but with so much going on we hadn't been able to go and get it. After Christmas and the new grand baby we decided it was time to just go and get it.  I love making these trips.  It is so fun to just leave it all behind and spend time together seeing beautiful scenery, relaxing and at the same time getting some work done.  We made our cookie stop at Jacob Lake as usual on the way there. Had quite a bit of trouble finding a motel.  Gobs of people where over there for winter break going to the Grand Canyon and riding the "Polar Express" train over to the canyon.  We finally found one just before they filled up.  The next morning we got our load and headed back home via Jacob Lake for a late lunch.  We got lucky on that one.  They had a lot more people there than usual too and ran out of food and had to close the counter just after we finished.  I'm so glad we ordered dessert (a cookie and hot chocolate) first while we waited for our food or we would have missed that treat!  It was a great time and I am so thankful that the U-joint that went out on our truck the other day didn't happen while we were on our trip!  

These wonderful Vermillion Cliffs are one of the most beautiful things to see on this drive.  I love them with the sun shining on them in the late afternoon.

This was our destination.  The really nice guy that always comes in on Saturday to load us is named "Boy". He had another name as a kid, but worked for someone who couldn't say it and just called him "Boy".  It stuck and he has used it as his name ever since.  Dunbar Stone is not what you would call a place of great neatness - I have seen some very neat stone yards - but I love just wandering around looking at all the beautiful rock that is just laying everywhere.  

Petroglyph discoveries

A few weeks ago a friend told me about some petroglyphs pretty close to some others that we have seen.   She gave me directions that were as good as directions can be to a pretty boonies type place.  Paul and I had a few hours and decided to go and see if we could find them...and amazingly, we did.  It is a cool panel.  The area around it is really carved and beautiful too.  There is a very deep wash nearby and we wanted to get down into it and walk it.  We did get into it, but then came to a chokestone that we just couldn't manage to get up and over safely and it was getting dark, so we headed home.  I was a little disappointed that we couldn't see the rest of the wash.  

The other day a guy Paul works with told him about some more glyphs out in the same general area...with a similar, sort of vague description as to how to find them.  My friend also told me that there were more out there too.  So today, we had a few hours when our planned bike ride didn't work out due to a flat tire, so we decided to go and see if we could find these other glyphs.  We were having no luck and wandered back over to the area where the others were and decided to try going down the wash above the chokestone and see it from that end.  When we were checking out the best way down I saw that there were glyphs down in the wash on a wall.  That settled it. Even though it was a bit of a stretch going down, we made it.  Pretty cool glyphs down there...and we got to finish the wash!  

Some of the cool stuff we saw while wandering around hunting glyphs.

Glyphs down in the wash

As we headed back to the car we went over the guy from work's description of where the other glyphs were and tried one more time and found them!  Fun stuff!  They may also be the other ones my friend was telling me about.  Now we just need to take some of the family out to see them.

Welcome to baby boy Randall!

At 7:04 AM on December 26th ...... came to join the Randall family! He was 8 lbs. and 19 inches and has some nice red hair.  I hope it stays red.  This makes 21 grand children for us!  We are so excited that Brady got a little brother!  When Afton woke up as Lou and Bryan were leaving for the hospital and Paul told her that they were going to the hospital to get their new baby she told him she didn't want them to get a new baby...she's the baby.  I'm sure it will be an adjustment for her, but she was pretty excited to meet and hold him when we took the kids down to see him at the hospital.  What a lucky little guy to come to such a wonderful home where he will be so loved and taught the Gospel.  We are so thankful that everything went well! Now we are just waiting to hear what this cute little guy's name will be.  And now he has a name worth waiting for...Joel Dennis Randall!

Christmas 2013

We had a great Christmas this year!  Jay and Brynn and girls came down and joined us at the house and added the excitement of little children to our household of adults.  We also got to see all of the rest of the family on Christmas too! We are so blessed to have everyone in state. 

On the 23rd we decided to get out and enjoy the beautiful day.  We took a little hike on the Temple Quarry Trail.   The kids were such great little hikers and and loved climbing on the rocks!  

Grandma Kurtz, Moss and Christie and kids and Beacher joined us for Christmas eve dinner.  Jay and Brynn took charge of the meal and it was very tasty!

After dinner we opened the PJs and a few other gifts.  Grandma made hand-painted bird houses for each family!  Paul made a beautiful painting for his mom.  He refurbished a frame that his dad had made to put it in.  He also wrote a story about the painting and each of our kids got their own copy too.  

Christmas morning stockings!

Around the Christmas tree!  Beacher made Supe the cutest Cheetos chalk bag!  We are really looking forward to when she is an "official" member of the family!

Later in the day the Weavers, Moss and Christie and the Smiths dropped by.  Our kids gave us a gift that we will enjoy all year long - State and Nat'l. Park passes, and movie and dinner gift cards all wrapped very creatively by Juge.  We are so excited to use all of it! 

Kennis was feeling a little sick, so we visited the Borrowmans at their house to exchange gifts.

More Christmas day fun!

In the afternoon we went up do some Christmas with the Randalls.  So fun to see them.  After the festivities, we spent the night so that Lou and Bryan could get up early the next morning to head for the hospital for the birth of the newest addition to their family.  I don't think much sleep went on that night.  Everyone was pretty excited.

We are so thankful for all of our wonderful family.  What a wonderful gift our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given us by making it possible for us to have a forever family!  Merry Christmas to all of you. We love you all so much.  

Crazy snow, Santa and Gaige #8!

Just trying to get caught up here.  We had an crazy snow storm (for St. George) a few Saturdays ago.  It pretty much snowed all day and we got several inches.  Then it got really cold and didn't melt.  I can't remember it ever snowing so much and staying so long in the 26 years since we moved here!  

Weed's kids were over and they made us a snowman!  

 Paul made us some snow ice cream to go with our brownies.  It was really good.

 Indoor fun with the little boys happened too.

Juge, Zion and Noah were down that week end.  Noah went with us to the ward Christmas party.  They said the kids could come up to see Santa alphabetically starting ad the end of the alphabet and Noah ended up being first one up.  He said he was too afraid last year, but this year he was happy to get right up there!

Next fun thing was celebrating Gaige's #8.  He wasn't sure he was real happy to get boring books, but next time we saw him he had 3 of the 4 books read and seemed to have enjoyed them!  We love you Gaige!  (Derek likes to do funny stuff in pictures!)

December birthday celebrations!

The celebration atmosphere continued into the weekend.  On Sunday evening all who could come enjoyed wishing Brynnli (#14) and Paul (#61) a happy birthday.  We had cake and leftover Thanksgiving pie for treats.  We love you buckets Brynnli, Grandpa and Noah!  

I think Brynnli must have been teasing Paul about his candles...so he blew hers out.  We had to light them up again.  Then Trigg wanted to get in on the action!

Eliza enjoyed the party by scooting around smiling at everyone.  Brenden was so excited for Grandpa to open up his handmade present...a note and picture that he made all by himself.  What a smartie!

Presents and grand kids...what could be more fun!

On Monday evening we got to go up to Cedar (so nice to have them close by) and wish Noah a happy #5!  We had the classic macaroni and cheese and hot dogs birthday dinner with some added pizza and veggies.  It was as good as ever! Thanks for letting us join the fun!

Zion even got into the party spirit...even if he was asleep! 

Noah couldn't have been happier...he got trucks, trucks, and more trucks, a watch, backpack, his own markers and lots of other fun stuff!

J.E.M Trail...I made it!

Saturday afternoon Supe, Beacher, and some of her family let us join them on a ride along the J.E.M. Trail. It was my first real mountain biking trail ride.  Here's a brief description:  The J.E.M. Trail is found just west of the town of Virgin near Zion National Park. Named for trailblazers John, Ellen, and Mike, this trail offers high-speed desert cruising and a cliff-side ride along the Virgin River.  Except for a very short but dangerous switchback section (and a half-mile of cliff-side cruising) it's fairly easy technically and aerobically.  Supe was good to hang back and give us directions in the tricky parts including where to just get off, which we were glad to do.  I did better than I thought I would despite the get offs here and there at the rough spots and a couple of spots along the cliff-side that were just a little too narrow for comfort.  The scenery is magnificent, but when you are so busy riding, you can't take pictures.  I just had a borrow a few from the internet to make this collage.  Another day I will do it again and make stops along the way to take my own shots when I am not trying to stay with the group.  

The beginning of the trail and views of Zion and of the river.

Huber and Scoggins Wash and Chinle Trail

Friday Paul and I decided to take advantage of another day off and the beautiful weather to check out more of the area just outside of Zion.  We were not disappointed.  We saw some amazing scenery and only a few people near the end of the hike.  We did about 11 miles starting out by going up Huber Wash until it came to a dryfall where you had to leave the wash and head up to meet the Chinle Trail.  Then we continued on that trail to Scoggins Wash and went out that way to where it joined Coal Pits Wash.  From there we hiked back to the road and back up the road for about 1.3 miles to get back to our car.  We started around 10:30 am and got home around 5:30 pm.  It was a great day!

The beginning of the wash to the dryfall and then Paul up on top after you come out.  

The east wall of the wash just below the dryfall is filled with petrified wood.  Some is still embedded in the wall and sticking out and a lot has fallen to the ground and bits and pieces are laying everywhere.  So cool!

Once you are up out of the wash and hiking along the Chinle Trail there is petrified wood is everywhere.  It ranges in size from little bits to big logs of it.  We saw some that ran along the ground for 50 or 60 feet and then went underground.  The top left picture is of a knot in one of the really big logs.

Shots along the trail and then down into Scoggins wash.  Looking back up the wash the blue skies and majestic rock looked almost fake.