Donut Arch and Brookside Trail with Supe and Bean

Supe was down for the week end from his class up north and we had the chance to get out with him and Bean on a couple of nice little hikes.  We had never been to Donut Arch and Supe and Bean had never been to the Brookside Trail, so we all got to see some new territory on a beautiful, sunny afternoon!

We love the Piano Guys...with Bean!

Bean (and us) got tickets to the Piano Guys concert in Cedar City for Christmas.  After being patient for a bit the day arrived and we were not disappointed!  They were awesome as always...maybe even more awesome!  It was a such a fun evening for all of us!

Kennis - #14!

We got to enjoy a wonderful birthday dinner with Kennis for her 14th.  She's a beautiful, smart, talented, sweet, nice...etc. young lady. After the celebrating she played the piano for us and she is amazing at that too!  Love you Kennis!  Happy 14th!

And it's February - family dinner!

Got our family dinners for the year started off at Moss and Christie's.  We actually changed it to a Saturday evening to make it so Supe could come.  (He has been up north at a coding school for the past few months and comes down some week ends.)  It was a fun evening and no one was dying for dinner the way they are when we have it on Fast Sunday.  We had a good food and a good time!  Thanks for hosting Moss and Christie!  Kai let me get a little bit close to him without crying!  He almost smiled!

Saved by the bike ride!

It was Martin Luther King day and I was off work and not looking forward to a day of paperwork...then the Weavers texted to let me know they were coming down for a bike ride and asked if I would like to join them. Would I ever!  So the paperwork was postponed and we enjoyed the ride on the trail that leaves from Sullivan Park.  The final challenge was to ride up the Dog Town Wash/Hell Hole section. It's a steep 12% grade through such a pretty carved stone canyon.  We made it and then the ride down was fast and fun!  Afterwards we played on the crazy toys at the park and then came back to the house and visited a bit more before we had to take off to our YSA FHE.  So happy they rescued me!  It was a fun in the winter sun afternoon!  

Trigg - Grand Xmas Edventure Xmas Duck Derby Date

We started off our Christmas dates with Trigg.  We went to the Red Hills Desert Garden Duck Derby.  We got there pretty early and got our 5 ducks all decorated and into the bucket.  Then we had some time to spare before the derby began, so we went to enjoy the rocks next door at Pioneer Park.  Trigg was excited to go up the "crack canyon" as he dubbed it.  We were feeling a little too thick for that, but he really wanted to do it, so we let him go up.  Paul went up to meet him at the top.  I went up too and Trigg decided he wanted to go back down too!  I was so pleased that he was so brave to do this and all by himself.  He loved it!  After that it was time for the derby.  We saw Moss, Christie and family there too.  And then the ducks were off down the stream.  They got a little tangled up at the end, but eventually the 450 or so little quackers made it out.  We did not have lucky, prize-winning ducks, but we did find them among the masses and were glad to get them back!  After that we lunched at Burger King.  Trigg was so fascinated with "crack canyon" that we decided to take him out to Snow Canyon to check out Jenny's Canyon.  It's not so narrow, but has really cool carved pockets and shelves to climb around on.  Trigg was brave again and tried them out.  And then it was time to head back  home.  It was a fun day and I think we pretty much wore him out!

The January birthdays - Eden, Bryan, Brady, Afton & Brenden

There are lots of those after Christmas birthdays to keep you on your toes!  Eden's popped up so fast that she had to get it via Amazon Prime right to her house...only a little late!  She seemed pleased to turn "one-teen" #11.  Sarai was feeling pretty sad and green about her sister's gift...such cute little play things.  Happy Birthday Eden!  We love you!

Next up were Bryan, and since it was a go together gift, Brady got jammed in there too.  It's a really fun wait for it gift - a guided fishing trip to Flaming Gorge in June to catch the "BIG" ones.  I think Lou may have been even more excited than they were to come up with such a surprise for them! It is also exciting because Paul and Bryan's dad have been invited to fish too and the rest of us are coming along for the camping!  Can't wait for this fun trip!  Happy Birthday guys!  We love you!

 Next we celebrated our sweet Afton's 7th!  She got her amazing cake on the day of.  We had to come up a little later, but she was patient for her present!  Should have, but didn't, get a picture of her on her brand new pink bike!  Love you Sweet Afton!

Brenden is the last of the month.  He turned 9 and celebrated all day with his family.  That evening there was a meet up cup cake party at Sweet Tooth Fairy for any who could make it.  We joined with some of the Key family to wish him a Happy #9!  Love you Brenden!

A beautiful drive through Zion with Bean

It was Bean's weekend to come down.  We didn't have any great plans for things to do, but he mentioned that he would like to do a drive through Zion...and that sounded good to us too.  Paul still isn't feeling the greatest, so it was a good way to get out, but not too strenuous.  We stopped at a couple of spots to enjoy some of the beautiful stonework from the past and checked out a little wall of petroglyphs too.  It was a lovely drive and took us all afternoon.  Later in the evening things turned rather bad with Paul having a bloody nose that refused to stop.  We ended up at the emergency room for several hours getting everything settled down.  So glad we enjoyed the afternoon at least. 

New Year's Day 2018 - Red Cliffs rappelling

New Year's Day - we were feeling kind of crumby with the latest disease going around, but Juge and Lance said they weren't afraid of our germiness and let us come and join their family rappelling activity at Red Cliffs.  It was so good to get out into the beautiful red rocks and sun for a little while.  Bean had come down with them and was joining the fun, so that made it even better.  I'm not and never will be good at or have beautiful form, but that I do it at all is something for me.  It was good to see their little kids,clear down to 5 year old Sarai, learning to have confidence in their ability to do hard things.  Once the sun started down it started getting cold, so we took Bean back up to Cedar and to dinner and then drove home.  It was a great way to spend New Year's day!  

Top left to right - Lance getting Eden and Noah strarted, Bean, Zion in the cave, Me, Juge and Noah, Lance and Paul, Me hunching my way down.

Left to right - Lance and Sarai, Saria bouncing, Juge & Sarai.

Below - Eden is actually very confident, has a good time and makes it look fun!  

A Nutcracker and pretzels grand edventure!

They waited patiently all year, probably wondering if it would ever be their turn for their promised Christmas date adventure.  They didn't know that we just had to wait for the right time before it could happen.  Finally the time came and we picked up these two sweeties, Afton and Sarai, for their date.  They both looked so cute in their chosen outfits.  And then we were off to see the Nutcracker Ballet!  It was beautiful in every way and they were so attentive.  Grandpa sweetened things up by getting us some Bit-O-Honey to snack on while we waited for it to start and a few more for during the show.  This is a pretty long performance, but the girls did just great!  There were so many other little girls about their age there too!  No little boys except on stage.  It was actually my first time to see it too.  It did not disappoint.  After that we headed off to the Mall for some fresh, warm pretzels to eat on our way back up to Enoch/Cedar to drop the girls off!  Such a special evening!  I think they have been trying to "dance on their toes" ever since!