TRAMPOLINE!

2009 ANNIE

One of my favorite memories from Summer 2009 was staying in St. George at Mont and Sue's condo for a weekend and taking Bailey and her cousin Reagan to see Annie at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre. I wanted to make it a special occasion and to teach girls that you dress up when you attend a play so I took them shopping for new dresses and hair bows to wear later that evening.
They were so cute and acted very grown up. In fact quite a few ladies commented on what well behaved children I had. We LOVED the play and were delighted get to meet Annie after the show and have her sign our t-shirts for a memorable souvenir.

2009 PERFORMANCE SEASON

Bailey's was SO excited last year because her solo was from High School Musical:

"Here and now, it's time for celebration. We finally figured it out, yeah, yeah. That all our Dreams, they have no limitations, that's what it's all about!"

Our cousin Reagan came to support Bug and watch her dance.Bug and Saisha

"tRoUbLe"

2009 MOTHER'S DAY

Dear Grandma Faye, I LOVE you so much and I hope we see each other again someday! I really miss you on Thursdays cause that was Grandma Day and we would take you out to lunch and you would let me drink your coke cola. I liked to dance and sing with you and I loved your puffy hair and the smell of your perfume. Thanks for letting me wear your lipstick and make up! You have a pretty smile and I think about you at night when I fall asleep because you make me happy. I know you are watching me from Heaven so I try to real good! I LOVE you Grandma Faye!!! Bug xoxoxox Visiting Grandma Faye on Mother's day.. The kids put Purple flowers on her grave.
Dylan, Bug and Lukie

Ky and the Boys

Grandma Kathy and the grand kids

Bailey giving Gram Faye a Mother's day hug. Even though she is gone she's always on our minds, we keep her in our hearts and are so grateful for all the wonderful memories we have of her. One day while at the mall we walked past the perfume counter and Bailey says to me ,"Mom, heaven must be really close cause I can smell Grandma Faye."
I truly believe that she's watching over us and that she's never far away. We LOVE and Miss you Grams xxOxx!

2009 Soccer Season

I always figured that Luke would be the biggest child out of his playmates his same age because he was such a big baby. Apparently NOT the case.

He was by far the smallest child on his soccer team even the girls stood a head taller than him.

It was Bug's second year of Soccer so she was pretty much a pro at it.

She ended up being quite the little player this year and took after her daddy plaing GOALIE.

GYMNASTICS

The kids took morning classes at the Gymnastics Training Center with a few of their neighborhood friends The big girls did really well and improved on their cartwheels and bar work. Lukie and Aly were mostly interested in jumping in the pit and doing their own thing. Riley, Bailey, Aly, Saydi and Lukie

ST. GEORGE ON THE FLY

Last week Luke had bronchitis and could not get feeling better. We decided last minute to pack the family all up and head down to St. George to get out of the nasty cold and into some sunshine. (Hoping that a bit of fresh air would help clear up his little lungs, my poor boy.) I needed it too, for sanity sake! (I had been cooped up in the house way too long with sick kids!) We kept breathing each other’s air with nowhere to go, probably bouncing the same sickness around and around because we couldn't get outside to play?!?! The first morning there we took the kids on a hike to Red Cliffs, one of my personal favorites.

We couldn't have asked for better weather, it was sunny and not a single cloud in the sky. In College when Russ and I were dating we took a summer Botany class together at UVSC and went on a field trip to Red Cliff's Desert Reserve and Recreation area to see this old cotton wood tree, supposedly the oldest in Utah.

Red Cliffs Recreation Area is located just off of I-15, 15 miles north of St George, Utah near Quail Creek reservoir and is part of the Red Cliffs Reserve.


The camping area is open year round but I like the spring and fall the best when the plants are in bloom and the creeks are running. The fall colors along the creek are spectacular!

There are several marked hiking trails that lead you through amazing red rock formations and to waterfalls and Indian ruins.


Our favorite part is where the trail disappears into the creek bed and you have to scale the walls like Spiderman and use these footholds carved out of the rock, luckily the BLM has anchored a rope for balance but it's steep and wouldn't take much to slip into the water.


Luke was too little to maneuver the steps by himself so here he is balancing precariously on daddy's shoulders. (made my toes curl a bit!)


Bailey and Luke tagged this adventure, “THE COOLEST HIKE EVER!"


Bailey was so excited to see flowers, acting almost like she'd never seen them before.
(I'm sure because it's been such a long winter in Salt Lake)


Some areas are too steep to walk upright so you have to sit down on your bum and slide.

Luke was loving every minute of it!
I did it myself..........in case you are wondering.

Bailey was so brave and did a Great job by herself!

Russ only had to help her a little bit on the way back down.

Bug walked around with my camera for awhile taking pictures of every flower and flowering tree she could find so we could remember how beautiful the flora was on our hike.

It was a PERFECT Day!

It's not unusual for us to run into someone we know down in St. George. I have family that lives there and both Russ and I went to school at Dixie but this weekend we ran into family members from Salt Lake who all had the same idea as us to get out of the winter weather. We met up with

Russell's sister Christine and her husband Reid and their two children Reagan and Cole for dinner. Coincidentally at the Pizza Factory we ran into Russell's other sister Kathryn and her husband John with their five children who were down there for Kathryn tennis tournament and business. It was a bit like a mini family reunion.Bug and Luke posing with their best friends/cousins.

So good to see my kids smiling and feeling better!

Swimming at the hotel with Reagan.

Out to lunch

Visiting the Old fashioned Candy shop off of Main.

Luke was in absolute H E A V E N!

Dinner at Aunt Annie's house.

Two of my uncles were also in town to do a little golfing.

Paul was here from Alaska and Gord flew down from Salt Lake to meet up for the weekend. Russ golfed with the boys one morning while Annie and I spent the day soaking up some Vitamin D at the pool with the kids.

Bug and Luke were in the water that day a good 8 hours! (NOT an exaggeration by any means!)

Bailey was swimming like a FISH and Lukie did a good job doggie paddling in the shallow end.

We had to bribe them out of the pool for dinner!

By the end of the trip everyone was sunburned, waterlogged, windblown and completely hiked out but couldn't be any hApPiEr!!!

The very last night we stayed in Mont and Sue's condo and Russ took the kids (one at a time) on a scooter ride.

Spontaneous family vacations are the B E S T!

Pictures with Santa

We've done a lot of things involving Santa this year but Christmas wouldn't be the same without heading to the local shopping center and getting a picture done with the Mall Santa. Of course the very second that we jump into line "Santa" had to go and feed his reindeer. (I think that's mall code for Santa's gone for lunch) We had to wait over an hour for him to finally return. Luckily we had a lot of dinning options in the food court and a few good friends to help pass the time as quickly as possible. I'm not usually a cheap person, but I'll admit I was a little miffed after waiting in line so long. I asked Santa's helper if I could just use my own camera so I didn't have to pay for one of their pictures and the guy in charge told me that the mall policy is that parents are allowed 3 pictures with their own camera but they don't ever tell you that unless you ask. He was a nice Santa and asked each of the kids what they wanted and if they had been good all year. Luke said yes he's been a good boy but not all year. That sometimes he's been a little bit naughty and mom has to get after him and send him to the naughty chair. (the things kids come up with!) Based on what Lukie told Santa I sure hope I get a present this year!