Thursday, January 24, 2013

Free "fee" day....Zion!

Living in Southern Utah makes it easy to take advantage of the free-fee day in the National Parks.  This time we went to Zion.  The first thing Coulson did when we got there was run off, find a dangerous tree hanging out over the water and climb out on it.  The way Seth gets him to stay with us while hiking is by talking to him about the animals around and other geological and botanical facts.


All lined up ready for our first hike of the day.  Don't be fooled the weather looks warm but it was really chilly at first, especially in the shade of the tall straight cliffs.


As I am looking at these pictures I realize my kids are dressed a bit "old-fashioned" "unstylish".  Let me explain we are very frugal and I have never been one to spend money on fancy clothes.  I am more of a "use it up, wear it our, make it do, or do with out," type of person.  If someone gives us hand-me-downs, or we find a bargain at a yard sale I get a lot more excited than if I hear the words, "Let's go Shopping!"  Ugh, I am not a shopper!



 Our first hike was cut short by falling ice. I think my sister-in-law, Jenny, 
will appreciate that the trail was closed from this point on.  Last year on free fee day 
she broke her ankle slipping on the ice.


We saw some deer, but this guy was right next to the trail.  
The deer in Zion are unafraid of the tourists.


 Now for my randomness at the end of each post.
Adilaide in the tub.

Ellyn admiring her curly hair in the mirror.

She wanted me to take her picture wearing the clothes she borrowed from a friend.  She looks so tall and grown up in this picture.  I am grateful everyday for this awesome girl.  Yesterday I was sick, when she got home from school she took over.  She cleaned the house and kept her siblings happy and out of my room.  Today, she woke up sick. Now, I get to return the favor

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Very Cold, Fun!

For Christmas the kids made me the most awesome gift ever...A Map of MAMAville.   
Of course I love it and now it is hanging on our living room wall.  It took Quinn and Ellyn months to complete.  Each square is a full 8 1/2  by 11 inch sheet of paper.  This town
has everything a kid or Mama would need.


These are some funky colored flowers that Seth gave me, 2.5 weeks ago, and they lasted until yesterday, when I had to throw them out.   I know it is a bit sappy, but I love getting flowers once in a while! 


Last Monday night we went Ice skating on Hunters pond for our Family Home Evening activity.  Normally we love this sort of thing, and we did have fun that night, but it only lasted approx. 45 minutes because it was below ZERO outside, hence the extreme bundling! 





This year we didn't get professional photos of Adilaide being 4 years old so, at her insistence, we finally took some 4 year old picts.  She is such a poser!