visitors and fall fun!

We had THIS going on whilst my sister and her family were enroute to our house!  {REALLY?}  We've never had strep in our household- what immaculate timing.



Soooo, they rented a hotel for two-unplanned nights in a row and we finally spent some time (kidless) Friday for dinner...which was way fun and then we went hiking with them and our kids on Saturday.  It was 24 hours after the antibiotics...so we were in the safe zone:)



The cousins were in heaven when they FINALLY got to see each other.  It was like torture to tell them they were in town but at a hotel!

We hiked at red rock again.  It was different then a month ago when we went w/our friends.  There was water in the pools this time...cold water , but water just the same and kids have to get wet when they see water.

Finally a little glimpse of FALL in ST. GEORGE. ha!  It was beautiful with the red rock background.

Morgan is Ruby's favorite!  She adores her.  Morgan held Ruby's hand most the way back to our car.  Needless to say, Courtney could have used that hand holding- she was so brave when we were swimming...but, cried the entire trek back.  Poor thing was cold and tired.



We went to Staheli Farms for Liam's pre-school class field trip.  Charlie tagged along and spent his time massaging the goats behind and chasing this stray chicken....little stink!



Liam's class...we do a joy-school type thing and switch off teaching every 5 weeks...works out pretty nicely!  The kids showing off their loot from a package from Grandma Sharon and Ric and then days later they got another from Grandpa Lee and Merry...spoiled!  Why trick or treat?

Yes, the incredibles AGAIN.  I know, I know...lame.  But the kids loved it and it wasn't lame to St. Georgian folk...they didn't know us last year!  Liam won a cupcake at the ward cake walk...he was so thrilled.

Charlie was the MAN at handing out candy at the trunk or treat...he picked up the slack from Marty.

Next we had Jared and Ingrid come for the weekend.  We went to Zion's with them.  It was so GORGEOUS>  This is a little stop on the way.  Kind of fun.

We got to feed the animals some carrots...if you look closely in the 'jail' picture above this one...Charlie ate his own-

More leaves!  yay!  I LOVE FALL still. 

After our hike we spent some time by the river...so relaxing, and did I mention beautiful?

We had a little Hallo party at Tasha's on Sunday.  Bobbing for apples and a cake walk...you can't go wrong with the kids!

Marty had to show them how it was done.  They'd never done it before...it took a while to get the hang of it and a lot of 'wetness' to finally accomplish the task!

Liam did it next!  Ruby got it too, but cheated a little by biting the stem, or she was smarter than the others... not sure?

Charlie, well he just got wet... and loved every minute of it.

Family is it.

It may seem monotonous to see this red rock so much in our pictures
...but we love it! And the kids can't get enough lately.  They are
 just avid little hikers!  This is a place called 'Dixie Rock' - a real
easy, fun hike for the kids and the overlook into
 St. George is beautiful!  {We love it here!}

Liam doesn't quite know how to flex his muscles...but he sure can screw up his face pretty good...

We went to Staheli Farm one night-(thanks to Ricki)
and the kids had a BALL.

Ricki's kids performed at the Farm that night and afterward they had kids come up on stage to try and follow the teacher doing some dance steps...lo and behold...little Charlie stepped right up there by himself without any push from us!  Who knew he was born to boogy!?

Oh.... my cute little candy corn.  He was so happy here-could have stayed for hours.

We headed up to Morgan this last week for my Grandpa's funeral.
He was 88 years old.  Lived an amazing life. 
 We stayed the night at my sister in law's and the kids were in heaven with their cousins...Charlie was in heaven with his Grandpa Ric!

Me and Ruby- both happy to be with our cousins that we don't see too often anymore.
 I love family!  It was so good to see everyone.  It went by too fast.  We don't all get together like we used to.

My Grandpa's funeral was amazing.  I was so impressed with his kids that spoke, including my Dad.  I loved to see all his posterity.  We all sang and it was just incredible.  Every one of his grandchildren was there.
His graveside dedication was one of the coolest things I have ever been to.  It was powerful. The military honors were very inspiring.  It was the one time Marty got emotional.
{i heart my patriotic husband}

My sweet, beautiful Grandma.  These military personnel were so articulate with this flag as they folded and then saluted it.  I was so impressed, and a little awestruck.  There were two musical numbers that I just loved...'Cool Water' by my uncle with a guitar and... 'Off we go...into the wild blue yonder..'  you know what song I'm talking about- a big burly man sang it acapella, loud and boisterous- gave me chills-it was awesome. 



{Liam ready to send his balloon heavenward to his great-grandpa}



I love this visual effect for the kids.  So special.  I'm sure Grandpa was smiling seeing these beautiful colors sent with love.

{We love you grandpa}
  We miss you. 
We know you are happy were you are.
  We shall see you again.

{my babes}



{my pretend 2011 school pictures}
{pictures of from the real photographer to come}
{I was just in the background shooting my own-ha}



{this cracker-jack is a RIOT to try and catch with the camera} my heck.

{he'll whip out those dreamy eyes in a snap}
{watch out girls}

the latest...

Canning salsa is NOT fun...but so very good to eat.
  Wish I'd made more.  Than I stayed on my canning streak
 and 'made up' some applesauce-my kids love it.  Wish I'd done more
 of that too.  I need my sisters or mom around to (motivate and)
 do a day-marathon of canning with me! 



Speaking of sisters and Mom, we went to 'Time out for Women'...  our second year in our new tradition.  I LOVE it and need it.  It changes me. We went to the one in Logan and stayed at my S-I-L's house in Nibley -and ate chocolate all night.   My sisters are the best.  We get along so good and I cherish their friendship. 




Speaking of cherished friendships...we had Ryan (Marty's bro-
 I know they don't look a thing a like-but they act like twins) and his
 wife Becca and their two adorable kiddo's come visit us for
 the weekend.  We LOVED having them. 
We haven't seen them in a very long time. 



Marty has never done a back flip for me in his life...but
 as soon as Ryan starts showing off...he jumps right in!
What ?!
He is so hot now.

So Becca just had a baby (sweet Emma) like, um... SIX WEEKS AGO> 
  Seriously girl...how do you fit in those skinny jeans after 6 weeks?!

Lots of ice cream (sick-who puts gummy bears
 in ice cream-kids!) and sleepovers when cousins come to town...
let that be a lesson to ya'all!  Come visit us! Ruby LOVED
reading the bedtime books to the 'younger two'.  She was in high
heaven being their little caretaker.

We went to Zions the next day.  It was free national park day.  The next time around is Nov 11 -13.  It's way worth the wait- not paying 25$ for each park you want to see!

We went on just one hike because of time and our knowledge of the kid's 'durability'.  It was the 'weeping rock'.  A perfect short hike for the weary; aka: small kids.  And the end result is fun ...esp. in the spring when there is more water (I hear.)

Ruby and Liam brought their own little packs of exploring essentials.  Apparently their cape is one of them.!  Ha!  Hilarious.  Whatever keeps your feet-a-movin kids.!

Capes in action...can't you see the extra power and accuracy?

Needless to say, after the shortest hike of Marty and I's life....everyone was especially tired and thirsty!

My birthday boy

Liam turned 4! 



My parents were in town for the big day and we went to
 see the "Little Mermaid" at Tuacahn  It was AMAZING to say
 the least.  Well worth the money and one of the best performances
 to come  out of that theater..so I hear. It was our first time going
 and we LOVED it.  The kids were so intrigued.  Several times Ruby
 laughed out loud, she was thoroughly entertained.



They kids had some great Grandma and Grandpa time.  Oh how they miss them!

I LOVE watching kids open presents it is one of the best things to watch.  It doesn't take much to get kids excited and happy as long as there is wrapping paper around it!

We went to the park the next day and rode their favorite
 thing...even my mom rode with them...she hasn't had that much
 fun since she was a kid!  ha!

My Mom has been giving each grand kid for their birthday this year a special book all about them. It's quite alot of work cuz she has to sort thru all her pictures over the last year...which is ALOT... and find ones specific for that child. Then choose the best ones for the book; which has about 20 pages filled with pictures of them.  It is such a treasure and I know it's very time consuming. Especially when you get 6 or 7 grand kids in a month!  Thanks Mom!
  We ate at the Pizza Factory the day they left...gotta love them bread sticks, ain't that right Charlie?

This reminds me of the setting we had when my parents were here last moving us in...except the food is much better!  We ate Cubano Steak this night and it was so, so good.

Happy Birthday my little knight in shinning!

Labor Day Outdoors!

We spent a night camping at Yankee Meadows.  It was our first camping
experience with Charlie.  It was a riot.
 Literally. 
 (we used melatonin for the first time-an all natural
 sleep enhancer -worked like a charm on the little guy)

We went with our friends that live in Cedar City. 
 They adopted a little girl earlier this year and named her June.
  She is a doll and Charlie couldn't get enough of her!

Cooking smores with George, Ruby and Liam. 
Charlie and June-still hugging.

I used to crave smores over a fire,
 but they are way too much for me now.  Too sweet!
Even the kids couldn't finish a whole one.
Just give me a chocolate bar.
We spent some time at a really pretty river and lake
the next day but my camera was dead...so no pics.  bummer.

Being silly after church on Sunday, we got home
and it was actually cool enough to linger outside for a bit.
I love when fall temperatures start
making there debut-esp. in St. George!

Ruby showing off her knitted sweater and skirt from Grandma Diane. 
It fits perfect Di!

Monday (Labor Day) we went hiking to Red Cliffs with Ricki and Tony and kids in tow.  And let me tell you...with those kids we got along about a foot a minute!  It took us forever to hike a 1/4 mile!  They were so excited about exploring and venturing out.  The top picture is Ruby with her 10 year old sidekick Kenzie. (well lets say Ruby is Kenzie's sidekick)  She had to wear her foraging hat and backpack just like her. 
 Liam is a little hiker man-he loves being in the outdoors.  He kept taking off on his own trails and seemed perfectly content to stay there all day...without us!

We finally got to these little ponds-which in the spring they are full of fresh run-off water -they make great swimming holes!  I'm so excited to come back during those months next year and swim.  It's a perfect hike/swimming trail and it's got beautiful surroundings!  So fun.

Here Tony is helping the kids find-skeeters, crawdads and tiny baby frogs. 
 Charlie was quite giddy over this little guy in his hand
 and the other one being shoved in his face!  These kids are obsessed
with frogs, at any given time during this hike they had like 6 in possession.
(pockets, hands, backpack, where ever they could put them) 
 One time Kenzie (Ricki's girl)
tripped and fell on the rock and about 11 frogs went flying out of her hands!

It was a great day.  The kids were in heaven on this hike.  We need to do it more often.
Later that night we went to a BBQ at the park with some friends.  A perfect ending to the weekend.