First trip to the dentist

Iris had her first trip to the dentist this morning.  She stayed mellow and happy.  They got xrays and even managed to do a real cleaning.  The good news...no cavities for either kid!  Now if I could just get motivated enough to floss their teeth every night.

Dr. Barney counting her fingers before he got to the real business of counting her teeth.

The happy patient!  I think I would have liked the dentist more when I was kid if they'd given me a movie to watch on the ceiling, a princess toothbrush, stickers and a toy!

Great Basin National Park

We spent the weekend camping in Great Basin National Park.  It's a 4 hour drive from Salt Lake, but plenty worth it in my opinion.  We got a beautiful campsite at the base of Wheeler Peak, at 10,500 feet above sea level I should mention, so we swapped the 100 degree weather that's been killing me all summer for breezy 65 degree days.
We toured Lehman Cave.  The last time I was in there I was pregnant with Miles and didn't even know it yet, so it was crazy to be back 6 years later and think about how my life has changed.
We decided to see how far the kids would hike on Sunday.  After hours of prodding, cheering, and bribing (the power of Skittles is strong!) we made it to Lake Stella, a pretty high alpine lake.  Miles would have happily spent the whole day sending driftwood boats out into the deep and trying to skip rocks like Jeff, who displayed some crazy rock skipping skills!

The beautiful Wheeler Peak at 13,063 feet.  Many moons ago (and children and pounds and levels of fitness) Jeff and I hiked to the top.  We'll be up there again some day!

Our home for the weekend

Family shot

Tree hugger!

Excited in the cave

Can you tell who was less than excited and ready for a nap?

At Lake Stella

Hiking takes longer when done on all 4's

Channeling his inner tiger.  Thanks Aunt Jen for the cool tiger hat! 

Super score at the resale shop on this bear suit for $3.00.  Fully lined, super warm, perfect for a night in the mountains. 

Concert fun

We decided to have a family night up at Red Butte Garden.  We went to see the Michael Franti concert last night.  We were a little apprehensive.  You never know what an over-sugared, over-stimulated two and five year old will do when they stay up hours past their bedtime, but we got lucky and had a good time.  Iris wore her party beads and Miles got his groove on!

Happy day!

Visiting the moose on our intermission stroll

Goofball!

The face they make when they want popcorn tossed in their mouths!

Miles getting a better view and feeling the love

Fashionably protecting the ears

Family shot, with a boy who wasn't looking at the camera for any of the 10 shots taken!

I hate Legos

OK...I don't REALLY hate Legos.  It's just that the tables, floors and counters of my house are covered with a gazillion tiny pieces to some very cool Lego toys.  Miles is hooked.  It started with Spinjago ninjas, tiny little guys you spin to see who gets knocked down first.  He recently graduated to the bigger Lego sets.  I am thankful for a husband (and father in law, thanks Don!) who will happily sit for hours piecing them together with a "helpful" 5 year old by his side. 

The scene at the table this morning.

Iris and the spinners. 
We did counter the lego play with some time at the pool.  Today Miles did laps jumping off the big spring board and swimming to the side.  He gained some mad skills after his week in California in the pool everyday.  

His current favorite.  The poor cats get dive bombed by this one. 
And speaking of cats, they are getting big and still getting lots of love.  Maybe too much love!