Little Red Riding Hood, take two

I rode in the Little Red Riding Hood bike ride again this year on Saturday.  It's a beautiful women's only ride in northern Utah, with the proceeds supporting women's specific cancer research.  Last year I did 36 miles and wished I'd done more, so this year my goal was 50 miles.  I did it!  Slow and steady, but I did it in 3:57.  It is such an amazing day and so cool to be surrounded by thousands of women all working toward their own individual goals, not just in the ride, but in their everyday lives.  Many have cancer or have survived cancer or have lost loved ones to it, so it's pretty emotional.  It's also very motivating, and a reminder to be thankful I am alive and well and strong and my life is so full of goodness.  I'm thinking 80 miles next year!

Graduation

I never thought I'd be one of those moms who gets all excited over little events like the pre-school graduation, but I think I am one!  Miles had his graduation from pre-kindergarten last week.  The kids did a little program and he had a part.  He wore a giant letter A that he'd decorated and he got to say, "A is for adding, like 1+2=3".  I was so proud!  His teacher said a few words about each kid and I held my breath wondering what she would have to say about him.  She said he has an amazing imagination and a story for everything.  I took it as a compliment!  She also noted how he managed to bring a dinosaur for almost every show and tell day.  I can't believe he will be starting kindergarten this fall.

School pictures

The kids get their pictures taken at school every spring and fall.  They are taken by an old man who uses terrible backdrops and has a squeaky plastic chicken that usually frightens the kids instead of making them smile, but they are still pretty cute.  He doesn't offer them digitally, so I resorted to taking a picture of his pictures to share.  I love the one with both kids. 

Gone fishin'

Miles got a taste for fishing last year with Grandpa Don at the trout farm and ever since he's been talking about his wish for a pole and tackle box of his own, so that's what he got for his birthday last week.  He was so excited to use it.  Jeff and I actually purchased our very first Utah fishing licenses and bought an adult pole to share.  Sportsman's Warehouse is a little intimidating for the non hunter/fisher, but we got it figured out.  We went to one of the stocked urban ponds to try our luck, as did 300 other lawn chair dwelling people.  There's a reason most of the folks were over 50 years old, or at the very least over 10.  Fishing takes a lot of patience.  We didn't manage to catch anything, but he begged to go back again the next day for another try, so we did.  Stay tuned to see if this becomes a regular thing for us!

Mom and Dad's visit

It's time to play catch up on my blog.  I've been busy, but wanted to make sure I captured a few recent happenings. 
Mom and Dad came to town for visit.  I was so excited to spend time with them and relax and show them the new house.  I'm guessing the new digs were much improved for them over having to sleep on the murphy bed in the middle of the living room and wake every single morning at 6AM when Miles does. 
We saw movies and went to Ruth's Diner for biscuits and shopped and really just chilled together.  Jeff and I disappeared for 2 nights to our timeshare up in Midway.  When you have kids, rare are the days that you get to completely check out, so that was a huge treat.
Dad was on a mission to complete at least 100 projects that we have on our to-do list, and I think he came close to accomplishing that!  The outside lights got scrubbed, the closet door got painted, fixed and rehung.  Our disaster of a yard got some serious love for the first time all season. The cabinets got repaired, the squeaky doors got WD-40'd, the mirror got hung, the weed wacker got repaired, the garage is now organized with pegboard and hooks and things are where they belong.  The hose in the backyard is now functional.  The list is long and I'm sure I've left off a bunch of stuff. So thanks Dad!  It was all much appreciated since we don't have the motivation or a lot of extra time to cross that stuff off the list.
I was terrible about taking pictures.  I always put it off, then don't really want pictures on the last day...the sad day, when it's hard for me to keep the tears away.  However, I did manage to snap a few random ones.

Miles and Mom planting seeds in his new planter.  The side is clear so we can see all the action.  The radishes are the clear winners over the carrots and onions!

My Mom loves popcorn, so therefore the kids become popcorn junkies when she is in town.  They look forward to heading downstairs after bath time, getting to watch one show with her (usually Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and man, does Grandma have the moves!) and sharing a big bowl of popcorn.

This one just makes me laugh.  Miles got a Nerf gun for his birthday and it is insane...like break the windows insane!  We all took turns with it and Dad showed off his sharp shooter skills :)

Of course, when it's time for them to pack their suitcases I'm a mess.  It used to be the worst at the airport, but now it's hard at home too, watching them say goodbye to the kids and knowing it will be a while before we all get to be together again.  Time to get the calendar out and plan the next visit.  Love you guys so much.  Thanks for a great visit and for all your help.  Miss you in a crazy way.

Happy Birthday Miles!

How is my baby 5 years old?!  Time flies, that's for sure.  We had the extended birthday party.  The real deal was Thursday with treats at school and a party with family that night.  The friend party was today at the playground.  We decided to keep it simple and have it at the new playground by our old house.  The forecast was looking grim...crazy wind and rain, but we got lucky.  It held off until the kids had some play time, the cake was eaten and the presents were open.

Some of the birthday boys likes:

• playing Angry Birds on Jeff's nook
• sharks
• fishing (not that he has officially fished yet, but he is on his way with a new rod and tackle box)
• Dr. Suess Barthlomew Cubbins books (my least favorite, painfully long at the end of a week day)
• art time
• watching Thunder Cats and Ninjago
• camping and hiking
• quesadillas (a staple, no different than the last few years)

 Pre party excitement

For the past few months Miles has been saying his birthday cake needed to have a spider, a shark and a ninja on it.  I wondered how we were going to pull that off.  Fortunately, Jeff's coworker bakes cakes and was excited to give it a shot.  Here is the finished product.  Super fun!

Desert Rats

We had a blast in the desert last weekend.  We spent 4 days down at Calf Creek near Escalante.  We scored a great campsite with lots of shade right along the creek.  The weather cooperated, although 38 degrees in the morning did make for chilly pancake eating weather.   Our friend Scott came along with Emma and the kids loved it.  We woke on Sunday morning and Miles told us he wanted to stay there forever.  Me too, little man, me too!

This is my favorite picture from the weekend.  They are so happy! You can't find this kind of playground just anywhere.

Our nest for a few days.

Miles was very into making booby traps all over camp.  Here he is next to the first one.  By the end of the weekend they were actually kind of scary, with big rocks balanced precariously on piles of logs!

Family shot at Broken Bow arch. 

Jeff and Iris enjoying the cold water in the creek.  Brrr.  She actually dove in and loved it.  Crazy child!

These canyons are so amazing.  We hiked two called Spooky and Peek-A-Boo, but there are countless slot canyons down in that area.  It's pretty wild to know that it took millions of years for water to work it's magic and carve all these beautiful, mysterious, fun to explore places.

 Follow the leader.

 Miles with one of the many kairns along the trail.  These mark the path.  He liked to add a rock to every  one we passed.  

The closest he got to fishing that weekend.  A real fishing pole is on his birthday wish list.

There was a recent caterpillar hatch at the trailhead.  Miles was obsessed with them.  Here he is holding one of his new friends.

Iris was not so sure about the caterpillars. 

This is Calf Creek.  If you hike 3 miles upstream you get to an amazing 122 ft. waterfall.  Six miles round trip hikes were not on our agenda for the weekend, but we did stroll a short way up the trail.  Can you spot the kids?

Last, but not least, I included this picture.  The wind blew the grass in circles over and over and I found it really cool...like Mother Nature creating her own perfectly symmetrical work of art.