Overnight camping in Red Cliffs.

On Sunday, after church, Matt and I decided we should go camping. We drove out to Red Cliffs to "scope out the scene" and decided that is where we wanted to camp. After an two hours of trying to pack, arguing about what to pack and packing too much, and trying to decide on a menu we finally headed out.

The Samurai was clear full.

We got a lot of funny looks for our hitch cargo carrier, but we got all we needed

(except the towels and sunblock)...

Can you see the kids feet? There is repelling gear, clothes, and blankets under their feet...pillows, blankets, and an air mattress behind their heads, and a cooler, tent, chairs, another air mattress, water, and sleeping bags on the hitch cargo carrier.

When we got there the kids decided to climb the rocks.

The kids found a really neat little hide out.

After we finished climbing rocks, we went and ate chips while Dad set up the tent.

This is when Brody fell off the bench face first and got a really good shiner on his forehead and nose...

after his spill down the rocks.

Poor guy. It looks better in the picture...

The kids waiting for the hamburgers to get done while hanging out in their chairs.

The kids eating "Dads PERFECT pancakes" this morning.

Just so everybody knows, Matt is VERY proud of his pancakes.

Braelyn was cold so we built her a fire to warm herself by.

Her job was to throw all the plates in the fire when we were finished with them.

She really liked it =)

We slept really well under a starry sky...after we all stuffed our face with smores. =)

We had a really good time and are sad that they are closing Red Cliffs until August 1st for road construction.

We are going to try and go back later today so that we can do the hike and swim before it is unavaliable.

Gone Shishin'

On Friday night Matt decided he wanted to go fishing, so we all decided to go along thinking it would be a really fun family activity. We loaded up, went and got our fishing licenses and off we went!

The kids had a lot of fun once daddy gave them their poles. He was convinced they were going to catch something so they each got a bobber and a hook complete with a worm. I think he was trying to compete with his brothers kids, who each caught a fish the other day...mind you they are 3 years old and almost 2 years old...

This is where it starts getting stressful...well...more stressful, considering Matt had already been yelling at the kids for trying to take his pole...

Notice the position that Braelyns pole is in? She decided it was not really a fishing pole, but rather a shovel DISGUISED as a fishing pole...

This is where Brody gets bored with it, walks away (pole in hand), and tangles us all up in his fishing line. At least he caught more than we all did though right?!?!

This is where Matt loses his bobber, hook, and worm to the tree...and continues to get more and more frustrated. At this point we throw in the towel, pack up our stuff and hike back up to the car. We decided it was better to leave the shishin' to the master (daddy) and wait until the kids were older to go again...or at least until I knew what I was doing enough to help him bait the poles and get everything ready... maybe I should have done something besides taken pictures? =)

On a positive note, Dad got to go fishing at Kolob all the next day and caught 3 fish! He even got to do a little 4 wheeling and found out that the road from Kolob to Cedar still has too much snow on it to get through. Picture of muddy Samurai as proof to follow...

We did have a pretty good laugh about all of it though =D

Zion

     Our trip to Zion National Park was a lot of fun. It wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be! The kids were really good and it was a perfect 70 degrees with a nice cool breeze! We had lunch in a nice little spot with lots of rocks to climb and sand to play in. Cruzier even sniffed out a lizard to chase! When I took off Brodys shoes out came a whole pile of sand! The kids loved it and I am so glad that I am able to take them by myself! I hope next time goes just as well! I think we will have to leave the puppy home and head up the canyon on the bus, so I don't have to try and find parking. You can tell when all the tourists are here!

We wore Cruizer out so much he didn't even care when...

Brody sat on him...

picked his nose...

and Braelyn ran her car repeatedly into his back!

All in all it was a really good day and we had a lot of fun! I love living in Southern Utah!!!

Spaghetti!

I think that Brody may like spaghetti, but I'm not sure....

 

What do you think? =) He is such a good eater!

Cleaning House!

Braelyn is my big helper. So big in fact she would not let me vacuum her room!

She even threw a fit when it was time to stop!

What a girl! I sure love her!

Our Trip To the Dentist!

I am so proud of my little girl! She does so good at the dentist. They were amazed with her! She was so good that they gave her free kids meals at Del Taco! 

      

Brae in the chair!

Show me those sparklies!

Brody thought the chair was a pretty cool slide

Made out like a bandit...three toothbrushes!!!

We had a lot of fun. Especially when Brody tried to help clean my teeth! He got up on my stomach while I was getting my teeth cleaned and reached up with both hands and hit her arm. She had fast enough reflexes that she stopped him from stabbing me in the gums! Then he proceeded to eat crayons =)