Sunday, February 21, 2010

President's Day at Zions

Treyson is "bear hunting". Glad he was there to keep us safe!
Emerald pools hike. It was chilly in the mornings, perfect in the afternoons and chilly in the evenings. Worked out quite nicely!

Here is a family picture - it just might be our Christmas card this year - if we end up sending Christmas cards this year. :) (The walking sticks are hand carved from AF Canyon)

This is "Walter's Wiggles" that you have to climb up to get to Angel's Landing. TJay & the girls braved it - as well as slid down it. They did awesome!
Below you'll see our intrepid explorer with his handy binoculars! Trey loves those things.


School is out for a holiday and TJay has the day off too . . . what to do? Go to a national park! We had the best time! We rented a mini-suite 2 miles from the entrance to the park (off season = great rates!). We explored in the car, hiked, read, ate, played! We had the greatest time! Trey did quite a good job hiking around. When TJay & the girls went on the long hike - to Angel's Landing, Trey & I hiked about half way, and then we stopped along the trail. He played Nintendo DS & I read Goose Girl to him. :) People on the hike giggled at that site.

Another favorite hike was to Emerald Pools. There are 3 total and we hiked to 2. They are beautiful! On the lower one you walk underneath a waterfall, which was pretty neat. We also saw the weeping wall. It is amazing to see the water coming off of the rock and it looks like it is raining!
Starting to plan spring break . . . we LOVE family vacations.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Update . . .

Well, it's been quite a while since I've blogged (so much for every Sunday). But, life is on crazy fast speed ahead! The Director (principal) of our school quit in September and I've been on the search committee to find a new one. The hours in January were crazy! We wanted someone hired by February. It worked! We hired someone last weekend and I think it's going to work out well and all be worth it. :)

Treyson has grown like mad this winter! He is taller & skinnier and looks so much older! He has also really began to be able to read. Something has just clicked in the last month and he is able to read better and write better. In Kindergarten, they journal every day and write stories. His stories are so cute. The last one was about him and his friend, TJay. I think it's adorable that Dad is his best bud! He is one fun kid to be around. He is also in the school play! He plays a Spartan warrior - and is loving it.

Alyssa has toned down the activites: dropped dance, hula & volleyball, and is concentrating on her musical career: piano & band. She loves participating in these activities. She is also becoming quite the little girl friend. She is talking on the phone with her best buddies, planning activities and just all around having fun. She went skiing on Saturday with TJay & Kylie and loved it! She is getting so much better - and tries to keep up with her big sister. Apparently they tried going through the trees and on jumps. This from the girl who wanted to learn to jump her motorcycle. I've never seen anyone practice so much. :) Love her!

Kylie is growing up and I want it to STOP! She is going to parties and texting like a maniac. She loves to babisit and is so good with kids. Too bad we have 60 YW in our ward! :) She is making more friends at school and having a good time. The past couple of months at school, the 7th & 8th graders have been practicing for the cotillion. They've been learning the swing, cha-cha and (ok, I forgot the other dance). They've learned ettiquette and practiced for the big day: Thursday. We went shopping and Kylie got a beautiful dress for the occasion. We are getting her hair done all fancy. It's pretty exciting. Hopefully next week I'll have some fun pictures to post.

TJay has been working hard. He's always busy with something. Besides taking the girls skiing, we've taken the family sledding and built our annual snow thing (this year it was a giant pig!). He's also building a desk and some shelves for a neighbor. Along with working on his volunteer work for a work organization. He also writes presentations and gets paid to travel to Arizona a couple of times a year to give the presentations on-line.

We are currently planning to go to Zion's for Presidents Day weekend. The kids have never been there and it's been a looooong time since TJay or I have been. We are excited. It'll be fun to get away. For spring break we're going to be motorcycling in the desert, as per our tradition.

There is a quick update. Hopefully, I'll post more often. If only to remember how much fun our family is having as we learn and grow! :)