Zion National Park

Last Thursday we decided that we would go to Zion National Park, since our national parks pass expires the end of this month. So Friday afternoon we packed up the car and drove to St. George and stayed in a hotel. Then Sat morning we drove to the park. It was so beautiful! And we had a great time. The boys did wonderful. We went on a little hike... 2 1/2 miles to some waterfalls and pools. 2 1/2 miles doesn't sound very long until you are carrying a kid uphill (ok so Nate carried both the boys and I just carried the backback with snacks and water. I started calling Nate a pack mule and he didn't think that it was very funny but I enjoyed myself). Matthew got soaking wet and of course I didn't throw in an extra pair of pants for him even though Nate told me that I should. I guess my life would be easier if I would just listen to my husband. :) Also, as we were getting ready to get on the bus to go into the park, we were at the vistor center and I was having Matthew use the bathroom and he decided that he was done and hopped off but he didn't realize that it was so far down. He lost his balance and face planted on the cement floor. Poor kid he scrached up 3 of his fingers and we had to head back to the car for the 1st aid kit. For the rest of the trip he refered to his fingers as the "potty owies" Yeah, as if we needed another reason for him not to like the potty. I am beginning to think that it will just never happen. But once we got past the visitor center parking lot and into the park it was a lot of fun. And since it is only 2 1/2 hours from our house I have a feeling that we will be going back! I was sad to think that we might not get a national parks pass again but things are looking up as there are 5 national parks in Southern Utah! Anyone interested in going? Just let us know and we will meet you there!

San Diego

Here are some pictures from our fun trip to San Diego! Nate had to work on Thursday so the boys and I tagged along to enjoy a nice weekend full of "nice" weather. Ha! It was windy and cold most of the time. All I could think was this is San Diego, it is supposed to be 80 and sunny all year long! Oh well, it warmed up here and there for us and we had fun anyway!


Saturday (the day it was supposed to be the nicest 80 degrees and just a little windy) this is what the beach looked like when we first showed up.


Luckily it cleared up after a few hours and we actually got a little sunburned too!




Brayden was our little sandman. I followed him all around the beach trying to keep him from eating sand but he was too quick. He got his fill and the second day we were there he only ate 1 fist full of sand. Silly boy!




We buried Matthew's legs in the sand like 20 times and each time it was hilarious to him. And then we buried Nate's legs, Lesley's feet and Brayden's feet. We love the beach, so much entertainment!



End of a long day? Nope, we had just pulled into the parking lot at Sea World!





The boys did great during all of the shows. Brayden slept through the ones during the day and danced through the one at night (once I figure out how to upload videos, I will post it. It is pretty funny!)



I am still trying to train Brayden to wear a hat. He is always trying to pull it off. He couldn't quite get it off here and it was making him a little frustrated!

Whales, fish, sharks who needs any of that when you have a little bit of cement?

Brayden was the only one who cooperated and looked and smiled when I tried to take pictures. I can't even begin to tell you how many pictures I have of the back of Matthew's head!

Our one and only family picture! I can't believe everyone is actually looking at the camera!