Paria trip

 This week we went backpacking in Paria canyon and Buckskin Gulch.  The canyon is in between Kanab and Lake Powell.  If you follow it all the way to the end you end up at Lee's Ferry, just below the dam.  A big thank you to my parents and Robby and Kyle for watching the boys for us so that we could get away.

 Because of the cold, wet Spring there was a lot of silty run off.  Usually it is all spring fed and clear, but this year it was muddy.

 We camped near a spring that came right out of the rock wall.

We hiked through this mud most of the way, it was like an expensive spa treatment.

Our camp.  We slept without tents, which was good for all of us except for Jimmy who had a mouse run across his face.  Maybe next time he'll take the Tylenol PM we offer him. :)  Our group was Dan's dad Tim, my brother Jimmy and his friend Skye, one of Tim's friends and one of his scouts and his dad.

Memorial Day

 For Memorial Day Dan and I actually both had the holiday off, which is unusual.  We went to Logan and met up with the cousins who had spent the night at a hotel and went swimming with them.  It was super fun and the boys are getting more confident in the water.  Seth pretty much refuses to swim on his stomach, but is getting pretty good at water running.

 Sweet Ellie always has a smile on her face.

 The Fairview cemetery where Dan's brother Brad is buried.

 Brad standing next to his namesake's headstone.

After we came home we played outside.  The boys returned their friend's bike and Seth told Brad to "get on the back and not freak out!"

Happy Fourth Birthday

 Happy Birthday my beautiful boys!!  Their birthday is Wednesday, but today was their party.  They had to rest up for the big day, so this is how I found them this morning.

 We had all the family over for dinner and then the kids decorated binoculars to use on their treasure hunt.

 Luckily Maya is a superb reader and read all the clues for the hunt.

 We tried to recreate the excitement of last year's pin the tail on the donkey.  The boys didn't disappoint and blatantly cheated again.

 Ellie had one of the better hits on the pinata.

 The boys specifically requested a blue cake, so that's what they got.  They also wanted one big one instead of two smaller ones, but at least they had their own candles.

 I substituted Brad's Sunbeam class today, so was there when the boys were sung to for their birthday.  Brad was super excited, but Seth refused to go up front, even when Brad said "It's OK, I'll be with you". So Seth just stood on his bench and Brad stood in front with a big smile.  Seth's preschool teacher told me that he will now do show and tell and will only start when everyone is giving him attention, while at the beginning of the year he refused to participate.

They got some pretty awesome gifts, thanks everyone!  Their big gift was two wheel bikes.  Seth got the hang of it pretty quick, Brad was much more timid, but excited.

Uncle Dan's annual trip

 The past three years we've gone on an extended family weekend trip that I am now calling "Uncle Dan's annual trip"  because when all the cousins are older I think they're going to describe Dan as the uncle that took them on ambitious hikes.  Our first adventure was Arches/Moab, last year was Goblin Valley, and this year was Escalante to do the slot canyon "Spooky".  Dan absolutely loves slot canyons, and I think when he describes the short slot canyon he forgets to include the mile and a half to get there with six little kids.  But, it was freaking awesome.

 Seth with cousin Aaron enjoying some shade.  The boys got to use their backpacks for real.  I loaded up their lunches and Seth promptly put it in my backpack.  They did carry their water, though.

 Maya has found here voice "I'm not going a step farther" and with that she wouldn't finish the canyon.

 Entering "Spooky"

 Beautiful!  So, who is going to come with us on the next one?

 Sophie

 The two Tims.  Timmy was the best hiker of all the kids.

 The state camp site was really nice.  The boys saw some kids fishing and quickly found some sticks so that they could do their own fishing.  The actual fisherman weren't too excited with all their splashing fish technique.

In the tent

 The hogback- the road from Escalante National Monument to Boulder, Utah goes along the top of the mountain, cliffs on both sides and miles of slick rock, crazy.  

It was a beautiful drive home.

Easter Weekend

 The boys are expert egg hunters.  For weeks before hand they practiced by hiding eggs around our house.  Our neighbors hosted a hunt to kick off the festivities.

Neighbor kids from Barley Way

Great grandma Brown's assisted living had their annual hunt.  Our nieces were super cute bunnies. 

 We made monster eggs.

Pop quiz- which twin am I?? 

Grandma Ogilvie's annual Easter egg hunt.  The boys were super excited that they were the only kids and that they got all the eggs.

Random Pictures

 So, after an eight year absence I hit the slopes skiing.  Dan kindly stayed home with the boys and my brother Jimmy and I went to the Canyons, complements of his free day pass.  We had awesome snow and a great time.

 After we go to Costco it has become tradition to get the boys a drink; I make them share.

 We had company over for dinner and the boys had just learned how to butter their toast, completely coat is probably a better description.

 I got Waldo books at the library and they have been a huge hit.

 We detoured to a neighboring city's Smiths because they have these little kid carts.  The boys kept yelling at me when I would help push their cart because "We are big boys!!!!"

 We bought the boys backpacks as an early birthday party and they absolutely love them.  They went for a naked hike after their bath.

These may be hard to read, but their answers are pretty cute. 

 Dan's birthday, his mom made him a memory quilt out of his old T-shirts.

The boys love birthdays and helped open all of his gifts.  They ask me almost daily when their birthday will be.