Last Minute Camping Trip

Last weekend we went on a spur of the moment camping trip.  Landon was miraculously able to take work off on Friday so we headed up to the mountains for a little stay-cation.  We camped up Big Cottonwood Canyon at Tanner Flats campground. It was spectacular.

As usual, the kids were a filthy dirty mess most of the time and I realized that I'm someone that loves camping because of the dirt, not in spite of it.  There is something so relaxing about not worrying about the cleanliness of your kids. And they have a much better time when I'm not nagging them to stay clean. Besides, there is very little that a warm rag at bedtime can't fix. 

Friday morning campfire

 This is Annie telling me, "I do NOT like you taking pictures!"  And then she ditched me.  Whatever, I'm trying not to be offended.

 This is how Norah spent a lot of her time.

 And what is camping without some Eggs in a Frame.

 

This is what I did most of the time.  I read and ate licorice.  A lot of delicious licorice. 

 Hike #1: White Pine Trail.  The first mile of White Pine anyway.
Stopping for lunch.  This is classic Norah.  "No way are you getting my sandwich!"

 The ole' put your camera on the ground family photo.

And a relaxing stop at the river made the perfect ending.

 More classic Norah.

 Annie gave herself a little head dip.

 

Hike #2: Cecret Lake.  The flowers were amazing.  And the mosquitoes were abundant.   We barely stopped to take in the view from the top.  There was a pretty good chance that we would have been eaten alive.

 We did get one picture from the top.  And it turns out that it is one of my favorite pictures of my kids.  I love it.

Sunday Walk

One reason I love Sunday walks: the outfits.

Okay, this outfit is fine.  But the attitude, it's awesome. Don't let that cute face trick you. Norah is an aggressive driver when it comes to pushing this thing.  She doesn't mess around. She will grunt and huff and puff until she can get it over whatever obstacle is in the way.  And if she can't handle it, an ear piercing scream commences until we fix the problem. 

 Aiden buttoned his shirt by himself.  So proud. And yes, I forgot to wash faces before we left.

 And the cherry on top.  This treasure of an outfit.  I would like to thank my mom for purchasing what may be the ugliest Dora hat ever.  As fate would have it, Annie loves it.  We were quite the spectacle on our walk.  But really, is there a family with three little kids that isn't?

Pancake Art

I'm usually an oatmeal or cream-of-wheat mom.  But today I stepped up my game and made some awesome pancakes.  These weren't ordinary pancakes.  No, sir.  These were works of art.  Here's the trick.  I  put the batter (half whole wheat, I can't help myself) in a squirter-unit that I bought at a restaurant supply store for $1.50.   Then just drew onto the pancake griddle. We went with initials, ages, dinosaurs, etc.,   My kids thought that I was amazing.  And that doesn't happen often- especially at breakfast.

For the outline-effect, squirt whatever you want dark first, let it sit, then fill in or around with more batter. 

baby

  She's on the brink of walking so I'm trying to drink in every moment of Norah's baby-ness.

Family Hike

It started out well. Bagels while overlooking the valley.

Then the boys went "mountain climbing"

..and I got stuck with these two.

not ideal.

But it is amazing what one cookie can do.

easy entertainment for $1.23

Turns out that one skein of yarn can equal two days of fun.  Go figure. 

Annie showing me her "teeter-totter"

Aiden's "adventure string"

14 Months

Norah has survived 14 months in our home. Some days, just by the skin of her teeth.

Aiden loves her so much, that he branded her. Do you notice the letter A scratched into her back? It was much darker, but it took me a while to find the camera.  Also, do you want to smooch that chubby back as much as I do?  I think I'll go do that right now.

I Love the Mountains, I Love the Rolling Hills

This weekend I packed the minivan to the gills and trucked the kids up to Mirror Lake in the Uinta Mountains for a family reunion.  Landon was supposed to show up for the last night but he decided it would be more fun to work all night instead.  Poor Landon.

Camping with kids, especially a crawler, is always a lot of work, but the kids couldn't be happier.  The dirt, the tent, the pit toilet.  It was fabulous.

Fishing was the hit activity of the weekend.  Aunt Elaine was the fishing grand master.  She had an amazing amount of patience.

Canoing came in a close second.

The cousins were the best part. (technically they are my cousins, which makes them my kids' second cousins? cousins once removed?  I don't know)