Adventure-some

Scott helped me find my adventure limit last weekend.  We went canyoneering in Zion.  I had my first time  a couple a years ago.  This was more.  It was really fun, beautiful, and exciting,  but I've maxed out my level of "ohmygosh!Idon'tknowifIcandothis!" 

I only cried once.

The big canyon we did was called Birch Hollow, just outside of Zion.

We parked at the top and hiked our way down.

When you get to a point when you can't hike, you rappel.  This is what canyoneering is.  If anyone cares.

Our first rappel was down this:

There is lots of climbing on, down and around rocks.

There are 2 funny things about this picture above.

1.  I totally thought I was horizontal and thanking myself for doing plank position on occasion.  Clearly I am no where near horizontal.

2.  I did this to keep from walking in water up to my shins.  Little did I know that we would be walking in LOTS of water much higher than my shins.

But...Scott was impressed enough to take a picture.  So there's that.

Our longest of 10 rappels was 100 ft.  EEEK!  I couldn't get it all in the picture.  This is Scott coming down.

Lots more rappels, but no picture of me crying.

Scott does have a heart.

It took about 6-7 hours.  Far and away the worst part was hiking back up to the car.  I was tired and sore from my fingertips to my toes.  Scott barely flinched at the whole thing.  I think he ate a big dinner.  That was about it.

Anyone want to come next time?

I can't believe Macy did this

I did it first and I was scared seeing it through her eyes, knowing she would be next. 

She cruised right up, walked the bridge no problem, (nothing to hold onto but your own rope, here!) and jumped off down the zip line (her favorite part).

Heber Valley

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes

Dynamite is my girls favorite song.

I try to avoid it, they sing it whenever they can.

Here Polly and Miles are singing and dancing as it plays from the back of the car. 

It brings out Polly's sass.  She totally didn't know I was taking her picture or she never would have posed with such sauce! (Second picture.)

Singing ayy-ohhh!

Birthday Miracle

I am positively glad to have a healthy child again.  The 2 weeks before Abe's birthday he had the following all at the same time:

3 teeth came in (two eye teeth and a molar)

Stomach flu and ongoing digestive problems

(I'll leave that to your imaginations.  You're welcome.)

Cold with accompaning congestion and cough

In the middle of all that, he ripped the flesh between his upper lip and gum line.  His lovely uncle and dentist pulled it off for us.  Yes.  Off.  (Scott thinks I over-reacted by calling uncle Jason, 3 minutes after if happened, and wants to know what I'm going to do when one of our kids "really" hurts themselves. I do too.)

Luckily, the little nugget starting feeling better the day before his birthday, which was about to be postponed until further notice. 

I don't want anyone feeling sorry for him/us, I just want to remember.  And by remember, I mean forget (?)  Hmmm, what I'm trying to say is I forgot what it was like to have a happy child.  One that eats his breakfast bannana in 12 seconds, and makes waves in the toilet water with his hands.  I'm glad he's back.

Happy Birthday, Abe!

The One Where Polly Wears Pants

Our little family went to Discovery at the Gateway.

We rode on horses and in helicopters.

(Abe's nervous)

We saw a 3-D movie at IMAX. 

Although terrible, this picture cracks me up.

We had a great and chilly time at the zoo,

where we saw the rarest sighting...

Polly in pants.

It was an ordeal.  She helped me packed and we agreed on these pants since it was going to be cold at the zoo.  When it came time to get dressed...whoo boy.  That girl likes what she likes.  And pants are NOT it.  Unless they are leggings, and preferably under a skirt.

 Love that girl.

(with cousin Dax)

Park City or Bust

We drove, we arrived.

How do you respond to kids on a road trip when they ask every 30 seconds, "How much longer" (On a trip that is 2 hours.  Max.)?  Do I say 30 seconds less than one hour?, or less time than if we turn around? I started telling them 11 hours, mixed with any minute.  It kept them on their toes. 

Taking pictues helped.

Please show us your red mouth from the red sucker.

I wish I had a better picture of just how much Abe loved this luggage cart.  He wouldn't stop bouncing and shaking the bars long enough to get a picture in focus.