Thanksgiving Adventures (Part 2)

We apparently didn't take any pictures during Thanksgiving, just before and after. On our adventure trip home we went to Goblin Valley. I have always wanted to got there. I thought it would be a fun place to take our kids. Boy was I wrong. It wasn't fun- it was A BLAST!!! We absolutley LOVED IT! Seriously soooo super fun! Seriously.

Which is why there are now a thousand photos for your viewing pleasure.
[Jason here: So, if you are ever in the desert and dying of thirst, pull out the best piece of survival hydration gear: a 3-year old. They will always find water - and fall into it - and cry. Time after parched desert time.]

Guess who found a very cold pool of water. And fell in up to his elbows.
And lastly, there was a beautiful sunset on the way home. This is me (Joy) in the passenger seat holding as still as possible in a van going 60mph. This is a picture of the moon and Jupiter which turned out rather interesting in an artistic way (at least to me).
Can you tell which is which?

Thanksgiving Adventures (Part 1)

Before we set off for our Thanksgiving trip, we had Parent Teacher Conferences (one of the fun parts of being a parent. We have had some really great teachers). This is for posterity.

Luke with Mrs. Chevalier, the same Kindergarten teacher Allie had.
Allie with Mrs. Bryant

And then we were off. We went to Natural Bridges on our way up to Ferron, UT. We ate lunch in the park (which for the record was so gross. I really do not like that cheap sandwich bread the kids like for their sandwiches. Yuck. I include this little tidbit to remind myself to not buy that stuff when I am going to eat the sandwich too). And then we hiked around one of the bridges. We had the wrong lens for it so no really great shots but here you go.
Can you see the bridge in this shot?

Grandma Hope

My grandmother passed away. We miss her. She had such a great sense of humor and was an amazingly hard worker. They always said she was the "best man on the farm". We were able to attend the funeral which was a wonderful celebration of her life as well as a joyful reunion for us on this side and one Grandma and Grandpa and loved ones on the other side too.

Allie drew this picture the day she found out that grandma had left.
Just a few random shots from that weekend.


Please don't go but if you do, Allie will draw you a picture and Rachel will sing for you.
Never mind. They will do it for you anyway.

We drove home and the next day was my birthday. Our dear friends the Hedricks brought me a birthday cake. They are so dear to us.
I feel so blessed by the many people in my life. You are all so "speshel" to me.

On a side note, Jason said the funeral was a real eye-opener for him in that he learned so much about me and who I am by learning more about my Grandma.

The Three Piggy Opera

After many weeks of practice, and countless days and nights of having the songs run through our heads, the kids performed the first weekend of November The Three Piggy Opera. It was so cute and really funny. What was especially hilarious was all of impromptu actions that showed up during the performance that they never did during practice.

Opening Number
Allie's Solo
Luke's Solo
After Luke's solo (about selling bricks) he pulled his hat over his head and pretended he couldn't see.
The Wolf
The Finale

Happy Halloween 2011

Ok, so we got a little behind. We've been busy with life. And we actually lost the camera for awhile (I was afraid it had gotten stolen). We later found it hid behind/underneath the children's books on the book shelf. The point is we were waiting for these shots from someone else's camera.
Wesley- a cowboy
Luke- Frankenstein
Allie- Statue of Liberty (her own idea, design and handmade paper crown)
Rachel- an owl
Joy- a rock star (missing- the electric guitar that I carried around with me)
Jason- um, not really sure
Allie and Joshua L., her one-time fiancee (I don't know who she plans to marry lately)
Yep- I made it myself and I was pretty excited about it too.