VanCott "Al l Together Again" ...in Capital Reef

If I don't do this now, I will have forgotten everything and then what would be the point?  As it is, I think I'm going to stick to the highlights.

2 nights, 3 days, 60 people, one hotel = AWESOME!

Day 1: SWIMMING!!  We took over that hotel pool.  I felt sorry for anyone who wasn't part of our group.  The pool was freezing, but I don't think the kids noticed. They also had the hot tub to warm up in.

Dinner in the park at the mouth of Capitol Reef--SPECTACULAR view!!

DAY 2:  We took over a slot canyon.  About a 2 mile hike through some pretty scenery.  Went as well as could be expected with 60 people--and lots of babies--but we DID it!   

 I stole this off Laurens blog. 

  More swimming!  Gavin was one scrawny prune!!

 DAY 3: More swimming and another hike to some petroglyphs and an arch. 

I forgot to mention that Brent brought our new trailer and and stayed at the campground across the street from the hotel.  He was in heaven!

A great trip.  I'm not sure when we will attempt this again--but I hope it's sooner than later.

OK--this is going to happen.

Can I actually make myself sit here long enough to update this thing??  Lots and LOTS has happened:

ELDER & SISTER VANCOTT RETURNED!!!  Kathryn coordinated an "Up" house themed homecoming that got a little dicey with the wind--but lucky for us, she is a pretty creative lady!  We had balloons all over the place: roof, lawn, house--it was AWESOME!!

We were all there in the front yard as they drove up the street.  It took them a minute to compose themselves and get out of the car--but once they did, they were SURROUNDED with kids and lots of hugs!  2 years was TOO LONG!

After a rousing rendition of "We're All Together Again, We're Here, We're Here!" (That I missed because I pressed pause instead of play--grrrr) We headed over to the church for dinner and the official "ALL TOGETHER AGAIN" photo. 

Welcome home, Mom & Dad.  I sure love you guys--but next time, please listen to me and just fill your trunk with Book Of Mormons and take a two week road trip! :)

Next on the update:  I went to the Dermotologist--the day before all the family pictures at the homecoming...Yay for me!  I looked too gross to be mistaken for a pimpled out teenager.  It was more like an old person who had spent way too much time in the sun and went to the dermotologist.  Ug.  I'm ugly and old.

 On a happier note:  EASTER!!  I love the Easter egg hunt up at Emily's in-laws.  Somehow we luck out and get invited and I think I love it more than all the kids put together!  It is set up on this lovely bluff overlooking the valley. I need this view everyday.

 They always have a big fire and roast hot dogs and have lots of yummy stuff to eat.  Maybe it's just the fact that it's spring and we get to be outside doing fun things again...I don't know, I just love it.

 They also do a really fun Easter egg target toss contest.  I came in 3rd--just f.y.i.  Then we have a great candy hunt all through their orchards.  They always include adults too and I find myself throwing elbows.  I think we need a few more kid themed adult parties--it's so much funner than being the old people watching the kids have all the fun!

Jenna was super stoked to entertain me and climb up a blossuming tree for a photo...thank you, Jenna.

So, Gavin came to this thing with a hat and a pair of Brent's glasses.  Of course he got tired of them and handed them to me to hold.  I was happy about the glasses because it was so sunny, and after the dermotologist appointment, I thought I may as well just wear the hat too.  After it was over I had this thought that I probably looked kinda funny-so I turned the camera towards me and took a picture of myself....HOLY $@*!  I looked like this:

Ya, I get a cold chill everytime I look at it too.  Sorry if I humiliated you, Emily!  But, maybe it was a bad angle--and the camera does add 10 pounds--and, well--HOLY CRAP! I looked like this for at least an HOUR!!  Brent says all I needed was a missing front tooth!  Linda, if you include this pic in your e-mail blast I promise I will get you back!
Ok, lets move on....Easter dresses!  Let's talk about Easter dresses~ of course I have to include an Easter dress shot.  Sad to say that this is the best picture I got--time for a new camera.  But they sure were pretty little ladies.

 Well, I still need to update on the VanCott "ALL TOGETHER AGAIN" getaway and Kesley's baptism--but that is going to wait until tomorrow.--and yes, I am going to say "All together again" as many times as I can------ALL TOGETHER AGAIN!!!

Kesley turns *8*

How did my lady grow up so fast?  I was just reading last years post that was all about her "birth" day...such a lovely memory.  She's been a calm, sweet, thoughtful lady--most of the time. 

This year she seemed to start that transition into pre-teen.  Sad but fun and exciting at the same time.  Brent and I get a good laugh when she locks herself up tight in her room and cranks her music so loud we can hear it up stairs.  We sneak down and listen to her belting out Taylor Swift and The Sound of Music all in the same morning.  She puts on her lip gloss and carries around a purse....full of Pet Shop animals!  She sits down and does her homework--all by herself without being asked, but still can't fall asleep until Brent or I come pull up her covers and tuck her in--kiss included. 

She is a tender heart.  Sometimes she tears up while saying her prayers.  She doesn't want to talk about it, but she knows it's the Spirit.  She also teared up while talking about her best friend at school who happens to be a little black girl.  Learning about Martin Luther King and the fight for equal rights was a hard day for her.  "But Mom!  Mikkiel is black!  And she is my BEST friend!!"  I love that lady.

We had a few ideas for her big day on Saturday, but at 9:30 p.m. Thursday night our friends, Chrissy and Charles, invited us to St. George for a quick weekend getaway.  We left the final decision up to Kesley, not wanting to take anything away from her big day, but when she gave the thumbs up Friday morning--we packed up and headed out for a very quick but SUPER FUN adventure!
Kesley woke up on Saturday to a lovely, brisk spring like day.  After a pancake breakfast we headed up Snow Canyon for a small hike through some red rock.

After hiking, we headed back to the house to swim.  This pool was as cold as any polar plunge can get--but these kids seemed immune to the cold.  They would float around on these rafts and then warm up in the jacuzzi.  I jumped in once--and it took my breath away!!  It was SO COLD.--but that hot tub is still calling my name...

We had such a great time just hanging out, eating good food, playing ball, riding in the jeep--it was the perfect day. 

The night ended with an ice-cream cake and the BEST present ever!  Josee gave Kesley a Chinese lantern--just like the ones on Tangled.  Definitely a highlight of the trip!

 Brent and Chrissy filling the balloon--that almost took out baby Francis!  Note to self: Do not attempt when windy!

Her day ended when she fell asleep in the middle of the movie--sun kissed and exhaused from a wonderful day.  Beautiful lady.  Happy Birthday my sweet, sweet Kesley.

The Stay-cation

Well, we are 2 days into our STAY-cation.  (We are using this word as much as possible for the next few days...partly to be annoying, partly to remind ourselves that we are actually DOING something!)  Our plan was to head to Vegas this weekend, but instead we opted to stay home and spend our gas money on things around here that we never do.  Friday, we picked the kids up from school and went swimming at the Legacy Center--with their water slide and kid friendly pool--then ate at our favorite, JCW's.  Today we headed up to Soldier Hollow and went tubing.  Our friends from Vegas were here this weekend (part of the reason we opted to stay home) and they came with us.   SO FUN!

I never post pictures of me--probably because I'm always the one taking the picture.  But ya--I exist.













Jenna was exhausted about halfway through--I thought she had fallen asleep, but it turned out she was just a really good faker!  So realistic! We did love us the tow rope that took you to the top of the runs everytime.

This is just before our last run--everyone is tired, but trying to please me and pose for a picture.  p.s. I hate my hair...and why do I FEEL 20 years younger than ILOOK in pictures????

Kesley and Audrey--cute ladies.

After tubing we headed into Heber and ate at Dairy Keen--good burgers and shakes.  Then we headed to the Homestead to swim in The Crater.  I'm not sure if it was exactly what the kids were expecting--With all the scuba divers underneathe us we couldn't jump off the dock or anything.  And everyone HAD to wear the stupid yellow life jackets that buckled between the legs...not ideal.  It was kinda like floating around in a bathtub for 40 minutes--but it wasn't a bathtub at home, so I guess it was fun... 

Kinda hard to get a good picture with all that STEAM!

Valentines Day

We had a lovely Valentines Day.  Mine started at 1:30a.m. when Jenna came running into my room.  I had snuck a balloon and a little bag of goodies into each of their rooms after they had fallen asleep, and she woke up and saw, "something is ON my ceiling! No, really!  ON my ceiling!"  She had a good laugh when I walked her back to her room and turned on the light. :) 

Brent and the kids surprised me with new perfume and a yummy dinner in the "SMITH BISTRO" complete with candle light, menu, chocolate dipped strawberries and great staff.   It was the first time I've ever had to break up a fight between the staff while being served--but it was awesome!