Vacation - Zions National Park

The last stop on our vacation was Zions National Park, where we stayed 5 nights. I have never hiked so much in my entire life! The weather was beautiful and if you even know my husband a tiny bit you know he won't let you sit still if there is a trail to follow.


(yes we have a picture in front of every sign... only my family would understand this one)

Weeping Rock



Emerald Pools


We also hiked Angel's Landing. Alex backpacked Devin up it.

If you have never hiked Angel's Landing it HAS to go on your "bucket list"... it's an amazing hike... just STRAIGHT up. It was probably the toughest hike I have ever been on. Google it and look at the pictures, but they can't do it justice. It is definitely something you have to do, if you have never done it.

We also hiked several other trails.

Lastly we tried to hike up the Narrows. We crossed the river one time, but the water was soooo cold that it was actually painful. So we had to quit. I did it as a teenager, but Alex has never done it. We plan on going back in the next couple of years to do it, and stay overnight in the Narrows. It is THE BEST hike even possible and another one that HAS to be done.


And this was Devin's highlight if the trip:

(yes, apparently a door knob in our trailer is the best thing possible on vacation)

Vacation - Grand Canyon

Our second stop on the trip was the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where we stayed for 2 nights. It was FREEZING!!!



We didn't get to do much hiking as it was just to dang cold, and these Arizonan's are way too use to being warm.

Vacation - Lost Dutchman

We went on a 10 day vacation during Ally's Spring Break, we first stopped at the Lost Dutchman Mine in Phoenix and stayed for a night. Ally was enthralled with the story of the gold mine and was determined she could find the hidden cave. We also went to the ghost town just outside of the park. Here are a few pic's from the ghost town:



Sadly we didn't have enough time to find the gold... but don't worry, we promised to take Ally back so she can find it.

Coronodo Excursion

We also went to Coronado National Monument. There is a mile hike that leads to a cave at Coronado and you have to take your own flashlights and self-guided. It was lots of fun... even is Ally did refuse to let us turn our flashlights out to see how dark it was without them.

Where to start?

This month has been a crazy one, and I don't even know where to begin! My parents came down here to visit us for a month and that kept us busy and having lots of fun!

It seems that every time my parents come down we end up doing a major project on the house. Last February it was kitchen cabinets, August it was the countertops, this time it was adding a wall. This one was totally unplanned. We had a large living room and family room, and so we decided to make the back family room into an office and a bedroom, by putting a wall up. Since we seriously doubt we will be selling this house until the economy turns around we needed the third bedroom. So this is where we started, with most of the furniture moved out of the way.



And then the framing began...



Next came insulation and drywall...



This is the end result. It took me a couple of days to get the rooms both painted and the baseboards, trims etc. painted too. A small office and a beautiful lavender bedroom for my seven-year-old. I am so glad it's done! Alex and I were saying that my parents will be making up excuses not to visit us any more. Luckily we had my dad that was so knowledgeable and was actually able to do the electrical himself!

Ally's room...



The wall you see behind us is the new one...



Aren't my dad and Alex amazing?

Getting too Big

Devin turned 6 months last month... so sad, and yet so amazing to see the little man he has become.

My friend just had a baby a few days ago and I saw her today... her little man was sooo tiny. It's crazy to think that Devin was actually smaller than him just 6 months ago.

At his 6 month appointment, I couldn't believe how BIG he had gotten! He was 27 inches long (70%) and 15 lbs 10 oz (20%), but best of all his head had grown into the 10% range, even if I don't remember the measurement. Wahoo!!!

My parents are visiting from Utah, so I have little time to blog, but we have been having so much fun that I will have tons of fun pictures when I actually have time to catch up.