Labor Day Weekend

This year for Labor Day we were lucky enough to get invited to St. George to spend the weekend at a beautiful house with one of Jim's closest high school friends and his family.  We ended up leaving late on Friday and had some fun in car entertainment with 3D glasses, books, and coloring.

We got to the house just in time to dump Jim, Andrew, V and the luggage off so Ally and I could race up to Tuacahn to see Mary Poppins.  We got there just in time to take a few pictures

grab some drinks and get to our seats right as the play started.  I have to say I LOVED this play!!!  I loved watching it with Ally, listening to her singing the songs, and her excitement for everything.  Jim and I went and saw Mary Poppins a few years ago on Broadway and I liked this one bettter than the one in New York.  The acting was amazing.  I loved that they brought out real horses, drove a real car on stage and could light off fireworks, all things you can't do during an indoor version of a play.  We really enjoyed the show even though we were really tired by the time it ended.  The best part of the night is that I didn't get lost once, even driving back to the house at midnight.  If you know me, you know that's a big deal.  Thank goodness for GPS on my phone.

The next morning Jim and Andrew got up at the crack of dawn (literally) to go golfing so after the girls and I slept in for a bit we got up and hit up the Wally World (Walmart) for some necessities.  The second we walked in the door the girls ran for their swim suits and jumped in the pool.  We spent pretty much the rest of the day there playing in and by the pool.

Jim and the boys did some four-wheeler and motorcycle riding

We then had a barbeque there at the house and started a movie.  Some of us (most of us) were tired and crashed early.

Even I was asleep by 9:30 that night.  It's amazing how tired you are after a day of fun in the sun.

The next day was Sunday.  We didn't pack any church clothes (yep, bad mom) so we hung out at the house while Jeremy's family went to church.  When they came back we had some lunch and headed off for a hike.  We decided that since we wouldn't be in the pool on Sunday it would be best to get the kids out of the house instead of fighting with them all day because I know where my kids would want to be.  We went a little north of St. George to Red Cliffs.  It was a beautiful place!  The kids just took off.

They were all enjoying the hike

They all loved the horse tree

V loved the tree even though her face doesn't look like she does, she didn't want a picture taken.  She's definitely her mother's daughter.

Everybody was having tons of fun until we came to this

This picture doesn't quite show what it was but there are foot holds and hand holds carved into the mountain and a rope to hold on to.  Basically you are rock climbing this rock with water below you.  Ally saw this and panicked.  I'll be honest, I panicked too.  I told Jim that I would stay back with Ally and they could all go ahead and enjoy the rest of the hike.  Everyone talked to Ally and tried convincing her to push on.  Jim took Vanessa and went ahead.  He stood at the top and Jeremy was right behind Ally and she started up the mountain.  My first thought was how proud I was of my little girl.  She was facing a fear and she was doing great!!  Immediately my next thought was, "crap!  Now I have no excuse to not go.  I have to face my fear and be as tough as my 8 year old and climb this mountain."  I did it!  It really wasn't as scary once I started but I was nervous.  I was proud of myself for facing my fear.  We went a little further up and decided it would be best for us to stop cuz the next part was angled, really slippery rock.

 It didn't stop our mountain goat Andrew though.

 He took off and just kept climbing.  Jeremy and a couple of his kids followed and they went a little further up the canyon.  We stayed back and the kids climbed up the other side of the rocks.

You can't see her because she was hiding from the picture again, but V was up there too.  Jim climbed up to help her down but she was having none of it, she wanted to do it all herself.  He walked in front of her really slow so if she slipped he'd catch her.

I love this man!  He is such an amazing Dad with such patience.  He makes me aspire to be a better Mom.

We hung out and played on the rocks some more and then decided we were all too hot and needed to head back.  Back meant climbing down that mountain we had to climb up.

I LOVE this pick up Al.  I can see her trying to psych herself back up to go down.  Didn't work.

I don't love this picture because I can see her fear. Her amazing Dad saw it too and came back to help her out.

After lowering V down

he came back and guided her every step of the way

Just when I thought I couldn't love him anymore than I do. 

It was a lot scarier going down.  Ally cried the whole way but she did it.  I was once again so proud of her!  I told her that she needs to realize that she can do hard things and every time she faces something hard or that scares her she needs to think of that hike and know that she can do hard things!  She was amazing!

After all that emotion we needed to take a break to rehydrate (oh and wait for the others who went further down the canyon)

Then it was time to head back to the cars but not 'til we gathered some mud

One more stop at the horse tree

And a picture of the elephant tree

It was a really fun hike that taught us all a lot about ourselves and about the beautiful place we live.  We are so blessed to live so close to such beautiful and amazing places. 

We went back to the house and ate dinner and watched 'Pitch Perfect.'  I have to admit, I really enjoyed that movie.  I didn't think I would but it was really cute.

The next morning we woke up and the kids wanted to get right in the pool.  I got to go to lunch with a good friend who recently moved to St. George so I sat on the side and took pictures.  There was a lot of jumping, flipping, diving and sliding.

It was a fantastic way to end a really fun weekend.  After I got back from lunch we cleaned things up and loaded up the car to head home.  On the drive home there was a lot of this

This means it was a successful weekend, right?  It really was a great weekend spent together as a family.  It is always so nice to get away from normal life and do things we don't always get to do at home, mainly spend time together without all the distractions.  I'm so grateful we were able to get away together for this weekend.  It was so much fun!

First Day of School

Summer is officially over!  I really don't know how it is already the first day of school.  It truly feels like the kids just barely got out of school.  Most years I'm ready for school to start.  I like to get back into the routine, tired of kids fighting and hearing I'm bored.  I have to say this year was not one of them.  I am not ready for school to start.  I don't know if it's because summer seemed to fly by this year or I'm not ready to have the kids gone most of the day or if it's I'm just not ready for what I know kids being back in school brings, cold weather and eventually snow, but I'm not looking forward to this.  The kids are pretty excited.  Ally got the teacher she wanted, everyone's favorite third grade teacher.  Andrew got a great teacher and is excited to get back to all his friends although he says he's not ready for school to start. 

But, it's the same for all of us, ready or not, it's here!  And, look how cute they look!  They sure look ready.

Even though V doesn't start preschool for a few weeks she wanted in on the pictures too.

And, what do you do when your four and your siblings have gone off to school???

You get really silly and put on your sisters 'high heels' and put on a show for Mom.

I know that I'm not going to get bored this school year, not when I have V around.  Next year, that will be another story.  I still can't believe she'll be in Kindergarten next year.  Time to enjoy this year!

Fall Soccer for Andrew

I don't know why I called it fall soccer since it never ended after the spring season, they kept practicing all summer long, which he absolutely loved.  The fall season is now officially starting and this year they got new uniforms.  The pictures aren't the best since they were taking in the dark but their uniforms turned out awesome!

Andrew is still playing defender but has been practicing goal keeper a lot too.  He enjoys goal keeper but likes the action of defender better.  The boys have been playing really well together this summer.  I'm excited for this season to see how well they do together.

So Grateful

I am so grateful I have been blessed with kids who love to read.  Ally and Andrew will both stay up way past bedtime to get in extra reading time.  I can't count how many nights I've had to tell them multiple times to turn off their lights and go to sleep.  I sometimes feel guilty making them turn off their lights because I know how important it is for them to read so much but I also know how important it is for them to get a good night's sleep.

Ally absolutely hates to get her hair straightened but has to with her hair so short.  I usually only force the issue on Sundays because it is such a fight and one that I get tired of fighting.  I think we finally figured out a way for her to enjoy getting her hair done

Yep, another reason I so grateful she loves to read, gives her something to do while I'm forcing her to get her hair done.

This same day as I came out of the bathroom I found V

Yep, even she loves to read.  It really makes me happy to see them find so much joy in something so good for them.

Park Fun with Cousins

We were so lucky and got to watch the twins while Dorothy and Cameron were taking care of some house stuff.  The kids were so excited to play with them and were especially glad when they got to go play with them at the park.  They all had fun running around the playground but V was a little jealous of the attention they were getting and wanting some for herself.  So much so she wanted me to take her picture.

Yes, she is still in her pajamas, it was only 10:30 ;).  They all had fun playing on the playground and then Andrew played some soccer with them.  I ran inside to grab something and came out to watch Andrew and the twins walk all the way around the park.  It was so cute, they held his hands the entire way around.

I love that we live close enough to our family that our kids get to be together as cousins every now and then.  I'm especially grateful that even though there is such an age difference all the kids get along so well and my kids are always looking forward to seeing their cousins. It is such a blessing!