The last of the good ones

(sigh) We just used the last of our garden tomatoes - yes, the tasty variety that actually taste like real tomatoes! We have found we can pick the last ones before the frost hits and store them in the cool storage room downstairs and they gradually ripen. And this was the last until next summer!

Shared Birthday

Ashton and Megan share the same birthday ~ Jan 30th, so Megan kindly postponed her celebrations with her family so she and Ethan could join all of us at Britt & Cory's. Cory's sister, Heather made a great dinosaur birthday cake -

and Ashton was so excited about the cake, the candles and each present he opened . . . it is so fun to be 2!!

New toys are always fun!

and Ethan finally got his presents as well! Happy Birthday, Megan, Ashton and Ethan!

Southern Exposure

Sunny skies and warmer weather are only a few hours away, so when the skies have been gray for too long and we yearn to see the sun, we head south. We bask in the lovely 60 degree weather and so enjoy getting outdoors - the scenery is amazing, hiking as limitless as the sky and shopping is only a few minutes away . . . well, what more could anyone want? " . . . and I'm the king of Bunker Hill . . " Jacob
"Faster, Daddy!" Kourtni and Damien
Aaah, some cute cave dwellers! Kourtni, Ashton and Sydni

Living between a rock and a hard place! Hunter, Cory, Ashton & Papa Ray at the Pioneer home built in the rocks. Build a door, add a few boards across the top for the roof and a chimney for a little heat - and voila, Home Sweet Home!

Sydni & Jacob heading for Troll Bridge at Pioneer Park

Kourtni, Damien, Jacob, Ashton and Papa Ray, Hunter, Cory, Brittany, Sydni and Grandma Sandy. Sydni & I put this on timed exposure and ran to get into the photo . . . I think we did a great job, Syd!

Syd and Britt getting a little sun at Pioneer Park.
Kyle, you stole the show!!! Our friend, Kyle played Cosmo Brown in Singing in the Rain and he was absolutely terrific! He sang, he danced, he flirted with the audience and he stole the hearts of all those cute little ladies from the Red Hat Society. Way to go!

Hunter, Brittany, Ashton & Cory by the Anasazi Storage Site at Red Cliffs

Red Cliffs State Park

Ashton is "into " dinosaurs . . . and doesn't this look like one?

The red rocks are splashed with mosses and lichens and huge rocks balance precariously.

Ray at Red Cliffs

Hunter, Brittany, Cory and Ashton hiking at Red Cliffs State Park.

Ashton and Cory heading back out of the slot canyon

The colors and scenery in the canyon constantly change throughout the day. I marvel at the beauty of this earth and the blessing of being a part of God's great creation.

Lots of fun caves, windows, peculiar formations in the sandstone at Jenny's Canyon in Snow Canyon.

Ashton, Cory, Hunter & Brittany - Jenny's Lookout, Snow Canyon

Ray and Sandy at Jenny's Lookout - Snow Canyon

Ashton and Papa Ray playing in the sand hills at Snow Canyon

Three Ponds

Another lovely hike in Snow Canyon, Three Ponds is 3 1/2 miles away and part of the trail is in deep sand. But it is a lovely walk on a cool day. We headed out a little late in the afternoon and the little boys were cold by the time we started heading back to the car, so we wrapped them up in our sweaters and jackets, sang songs and played Peek-A-Boo to help pass the time.

Brittany and Hunter at #2 of The Three Ponds!

The greatest people in the world arrived Sunday afternoon - we so enjoy being around Mom and Dad - they truly are wonderful!

Geocaching with SuperGrandpa Larry, Ashton, Brittany, Sandy

Cory & Hunter

We have looked for this cache a couple of times, "Dying of Thirst," - and still can't find it - but it is fun looking!

Homeward bound, we made a quick stop in Fillmore to stretch our legs, refuel and play for a few minutes. Maverik has a fun playground - the perfect thing for a little boy to run off two hours of stored energy.