Oak Grove & Birthday girl

Sometimes we would catch a whiff of pine on the breeze...heavenly!  We saw lots of  turkey tracks along the way and even saw where one probably became turkey dinner for a coyote.

Saturday we slept in too long and had afternoon obligations so we opted to go for a short outing to Oak Grove.  We had hoped to be able to drive to the gate by the campground and then hike up to see a waterfall we have heard about but never been to...but there were two gates...the first one about 4 or 5 miles from the campground.  So we just decided that if we could make it to the campground, eat our lunch and then get back to the truck and home in time that would be the plan.  We did.  It was a beautiful day and we ended up shedding jackets and layers along the trail.  We tramped through quite a bit of mud and then snow near the top - some of the snow in the shade was about a foot deep.  We didn't see anyone else; it was very peaceful.  We always jump the gun on heading to the mountains when we should still be enjoying the desert. 

Unwrapping presents and wrapping up children!

 Today we took B-day presents over to Weed.  It was already past the day and the upcoming week's schedule isn't leaving any room for b-day get togetherness, so we decided to just get on with it.  It was fun.  Derek gave us good suggestions...thanks Derek.  Happy Birthday Weed!  So glad you joined our family those short few years ago.  We love you!!!

Off the beaten path...and back

Monday we finished up our President's Day holiday wanderings.  We decided to head back up to Red Cliffs area to see some of the stuff we didn't have time for on Saturday.  We parked at the Red Cliffs recreation area and then set off...off the beaten path. (Sometimes its just not as fun to stay on the "designated" trails.)  We explored a really beautiful box canyon, saw several dinosaur tracks, and old rusty, bullet-ridden car, some exceptional waterfalls, Indian ruins and lots and lots of beautiful scenery.  We ate lunch overlooking Quail Creek lake before we started.  After we got home Moss and Christie joined us for biscuits and gravy.  It was a very relaxing and enjoyable day off. 
 

President's Day weekend fun

Parade home

Quail Creek Reservoir

 Yea!!! A three-day weekend and good weather...what a great combination.  We started out Friday afternoon by visiting the Parade house that we did work on - it's a very pretty house with a great view.  We took the evening easy by watching Midnight in Paris - it's a fun show - a little strange, but with the Owen Wilson/Woodie Allen combination what can you expect?  Paul went to decorate for a dance this morning and then we did Chinese lunch.  After that we took in the art show at Dixie College.  It is full of beautiful things as usual.  We had the rest of the afternoon to do as we pleased before Paul had to head to the dance, so we went out to hike the new White Reef Trail in the Red Cliffs Reserve.  We aren't too good at just staying on trails when you can look over there and see things that need to be seen, so there was quite a bit of "wicked wandering" off the trail too.  We saw an old stone dwelling and what may have been an old mine, an old mining structure that looked like some sort of loading dock along with lots of other beautiful stuff.  It was a nice walk/hike.  After that it was hurry home and get Paul off to the dance. 

Valentine's Day - a departure from the usual

Today was the most unusual Valentine's Day I have and probably ever will spend.  Paul and I attended the funeral of a good friend who died too soon.  It's sad to see someone go who seems to have so much more of life to live for.  From the sound of the talks, he ended at peace with the early departure.  A poem on the back of the program gives good advice on how to look at it I thought.

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray
that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes
and see all that he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow
and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow
because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind
be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want:
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

David Harkins 1959

Though it wasn't your usual Valentine's Day, it was a day overflowing with love of family and friends, a day filled with the hope of the continuation of that love for times past these because of Heavenly Father's plan of happiness.  I'm going to call it a very good Valentine's Day...one I can remember and learn from.  I hope his family will be able to smile, open their eyes, love and go on.  

Happy #8 Kennis

In the top picture Kennis receives advice from Grandpa on how to keep her brains from leaking out of the holes created by her birthday ear piercing.  Below - There were some crazy people at this party...some crazier than others!

Tonight some of the family was able to get together to celebrate #8 with Kennis.  We are looking forward to coming together with her for her baptism soon too.  We love you Kennis.  You are a sweetie and we are so glad you are part of our family.  Happy #8!!!  Presents, brownies, ice cream and strawberries sweetened up the celebration even more.

Fun with old friends

L to R - At the arch (too bad William hid in the bushes), White Rocks overlook, on the trail, the men went up there - we waited at the bottom!

What a delightful visit we had on Saturday.  The Pipkins were passing through on their way to CA and were kind enough to stop in route and hang out and treat us to dinner.  We all enjoyed (I hope they did) a hike in Snow Canyon and catching up on life's happenings.  Then we had some great food and more time to visit over dinner at Benja's.  So fun to share time with such grand people. Makes me think what a grand reunion it will be in heaven some day when hopefully we meet up with all the people that have impacted our lives and then have gotten out of touch with for one reason or another.  It's nice that we can still touch base with some of them in the here and now and not have to wait for that grand reunion...will we be able to go out to dinner there?

Feast of the fast over family dinner

Good food, recuperation, puzzling and finishing the dinner. 

We've started the family dinners back up since the holiday madness is over.  We had to compete with the Super Bowl, but we still had a good turn out. Poor Zade and Koen got sick, and Kennis was in recuperation, but we still had a good time...good food and visiting.  We missed Ryan for work and Derek had a family party he had to be to.  Hope we catch them next time.  Thanks everyone.  See you next month. 

Cabin time with Grandpa, Grandma & Bean

Kaebrin enjoying the pie.  She chose which kind we would get.

The guys at the races.

Tasia's alcove

Zade's alcove

Help, were in jail!

Cozy time by the wood stove.

Kaebri's alcove

Kaebri, Tasia and Zade's mom and dad headed north for a teacher convention/parent get away.  The kids divided their time between Moss and Christie's, our place and their Aunt's house.  The Stucki's offered time at their cabin, so we decided to do an overnighter up there for the fun of it...and fun it was.  Genghis almost threw a monkey wrench in the the plan by sneaking out sometime during the day, but we finally decided he would be able to take care of himself for a night on the town and went anyway.  We had pizza, salad and a Veyo mountain berry pie, played the Camping Game and then watched Dolphin Tales for our evening activities.  Bean also taught everyone how to race cars on the Game-boy.  The kids were all so excited to sleep in the little alcoves that the Stucki's kids had decorated.  There were two girl and one boy one so it worked out perfectly.  In the morning we had French toast with strawberries, bananas and almonds on top.  We had hoped to drive down to see if the lake was frozen, but the truck was having water pump issues, so we decided we had just better head home.  Luckily there were no problems in route.  Kaebri and Tasia wished they could just "live there forever".  It was a grand "edventure" in a cozy, homey place. 

Scout Cave and up and over

Top point along the trail

Tried getting a picture looking back down the slot - hard to do without falling off!

Last time we hiked over here some crows sat high above us on this rock making fun of us!  Where are those sassy birds now? 

Views from the top of the slot

Views in a rain puddle

Beautiful blacks and reds

Views at the end of the hike

Yesterday afternoon Paul and I had a little free time so we decided to check out a hike that a friend told me about.  First you hike to Scout Cave which we had done before.  We left from the Paradise Ridge trail head.  Then you pass the cave and head to the north to a little slot canyon where you can shinny and chimney your way to the top and then continue on up to where you can connect with the Gila Trail.  We had thought about just going up the little slot to the top and then back down and trying out our new GPS skills (we went to a little class that morning at Sportsman's Warehouse) by using the backtracking feature.  After getting up there, we decided we didn't like the idea of going back down very well, so we did keep going and did find the Gila Trail and made our way back over to our car.  It was 9.76 miles.  We did use our GPS to track our miles and speed.  It was a really nice hike through some beautiful areas and we had perfect weather too.  I'm not too keen on the shimmy or chimney up thing, but I made it even if the seat of my favorite hiking pants is a little bit thinner now than before I left!

Lots of January birthdays

The January birthdays came to an end with Brenden turning 3 last Friday.  There have been quite a few.  We took care of Eden early at the end of December.  Next was Bryan.  We didn't get to go to a party with him, but we did send him a perfect card I had found ages ago.  "Do you know what Beethoven is doing for your birthday? ...Decomposing!" So appropriate, don't you think?  After that was Afton - another missed party, but then came Brady and we invited ourselves up and enjoyed a very tasty dinner and joined in eating the rocket/angry birds cake which was very creative as well as tasty.  Brady was gone as soon as he opened Legos.  He could hardly tear himself away long enough to eat his cake.  It was a lot of fun and we gave Afton her presents too.  Unfortunately we were in such a rush to get there (after attending two sets of ward conferences that day) that we left the camera behind.  I'm hoping Lou will share some of her pics with us so that I can add them to this post.  Brenden was the final birthday for January.  We did get to go to his party and it was lots of fun too.  The decorating was great with the Cars theme to the max.  All of our local family came along with all of Christie's.  What a fun group of people to party with!  Pizza, pop and a Barrel of M'n'M's cake filled us up.  Kennis was on a lucky streak and won the prize for guessing how many pieces of candy were in the jar and also pulled the right string to open up the pinata and let the candy out.  Brenden got lots of Cars type gifts. We enjoyed the slide show that Christie made that showed such cute pictures of Brenden growing up.  I never thought I would say this, but kereokee (I don't even know how to spell it) is actually fun.  I was amazed by how much the kids, even the babies, loved singing/dancing along.  I don't have any desire to be the up front singer all by myself, but for a group sing, it is a lot of fun.  (Do you think we could do that at a Primary party?) We have lots of little singer/dancers among the younger set.  Brenden was looking a little beat by the time we all left.  Happy Birthday to all of you January birthday people.  WE LOVE YOU ALL!  Wish we could have made it to all of your parties and had a camera in hand.

Want some bubbles?

Afton loves shoes...even ones made of cake!

Another Randall creative cake!