S'mores!

This picture cracks me up. We look like we are really enjoying ourselves.
Our first hike in the morning. It was beautiful.

Soran helping set up the tent.

The kids playing in the Sand Dune arch.

Scott finished off his first tax season as an almost-accountant and our family took a much needed break. We left on Friday and headed to Moab and Arches National Park where we met the Massengales. We did drive around for a couple hours before finding a camping spot, but everything went smoothly after that. Scott picked out this huge "vacation lodge" tent which we set up for the first time and it was huge. It was nice to be able to stand up in it. I told him he's trying to make up for the lack of space in our apartment with the tent. The kids played on the playground and then we had s'mores, of course.

The next morning we were up early so we decide to head up the canyon for a hike. It was perfect weather and so beautiful. Then we went to Arches and had lunch and hiked to a few of the arches. The best one by far was the Sand Dune arch. I didn't get to go because the babies were asleep in the car, but it looked like a lot of fun. Then we came home and took showers which have never felt so good. Now I am trying to unbury us from the mountain of sand and laundry that follows camping and then it's time to get ready for the Girls Camp fundraiser. I hope we make enough money we're not eating hot dogs all week while we're at camp!

Spring (???) Break

Sharpshooter

Muse special effects

Me and Scott at Muse (on the floor!)

Well, I guess it could have snowed a little more. But, come on, I am so ready for warmer weather. This spring has been forever. It'll be 60s one day and then snowing the next. But what a great break we had! Especially Scott and me. Monday morning Nicole called and said the Museum of Natural History was free on Mondays, so we hurried and got ready and went up to SLC. It was neat. The most interesting thing I learned was that the brine shrimp, which are the only animals in Salt Lake because of the saline, are a multi-million dollar industry. They ship them all over the country where they're used for food for other animals. The kids liked digging for the dinosaur bones and playing in the little grass hut. Then we took them to Sweet's candy factory where they got to see how candy is made, and of course have free samples! When we walked into the chocolate room our guide said, don't breath too deep there are calories in the air. I believe it, the air was thick and chocolatey.
Nicole called as soon as we got home and said she had free tickets to the Muse concert and they were in a suite. Well, Scott and I couldn't pass that up, so we got a baby-sitter and took off. I felt like such an irresponsible parent, dumping the kids at the last minute and taking off for the whole night. But it was a blast! Mike got us the VIP treatment. We haven't been to a concert since we got married and it was fun, especially to be on the floor. Scott kept asking where the earplugs were and I told him to be quiet, he was making me feel old.
I also took the kids letterboxing for the first time this year, to Jumping Jacks, a cousin sleepover, and we had a barbecue. Scott attended Nickapalooza and almost made it to the final round. My brother-in-law has a shooting contest every year for his birthday.
Scott and I also went out for our 16th anniversary of our first date. We relived our first date and went to Trafalga and rode the slick cars, mini-golfed, went out to La Dolce Vita but didn't attend junior prom. Instead we came home and watched a movie which I fell asleep during and then he played games until 2:00 a.m. Some things change after 16 years. But I love him more now than I did then! Thanks for a sweet 16 years, honey!

Easter 2010

Soran and daddy. It was freezing.

Lyssa collecting candy

Cute Amber

Livi getting ready to run

This year the kids wound up going to three different egg hunts, which was better than I was expecting. I thought they'd have 4 or 5. Crazy! Anyway, our stake put on a spring extravaganza. Friday night was the "battle of the bulge" where the bishops played the stake leaders. We made a couple posters for my brother ("work that bulge" and "does your i-Phone have a basketball app?") since he's our bishop and he was playing. He did pretty well. The stake wound up winning. I decided that the stake president must have pulled them aside and said, "if any of you ever want to be released, we win." Ha ha.

Anyway, the next morning was the Easter egg hunt. Don't let the sunny weather fool you. It was freezing. It had snowed the night before. The primary leaders just threw candy out on the ground and let the kids go. I guess the plastic eggs are superfluous.

Easter morning we woke up to 2-3 inches of snow. Yeah. We are definitely moving somewhere warmer. We had a nice morning at Scott's parents' house watching conference, stuffing ourselves and letting the kids hunt for bonus eggs that held money. Then we came home, watched/napped through the afternoon session, had dinner with my family and another egg hunt. Then we went to bed sick from sugar overload.

I must add that the older I get the more I appreciate the meaning of Easter Sunday. I am so grateful to have a Savior who made it possible for me to renew both body and spirit. Easter comes at the right time of year when everything is brought to life again and the world feels new. I am so grateful for that knowledge and the impact it has on my life.