Announcing...

I can't wait any longer!!! We are expecting some wild all-nighters starting somewhere around Jan. 10. Mark your calendars; the parents here are about to become outnumbered!
p.s. Check out my new ticker at the bottom of the page too :)

Picking Cherries

Last night we picked cherries at a farm in Hurricane with some friends. We had a very pleasant evening enjoying the treat of someone else's backyard extraordinaire. Someday I would love to have fruit trees of my very own...

Nana Banana

Well, it is bittersweet to write a note about Nana's 2010 visit because even though we all had a good time and ate delcious food, it is over and we are sad she has left the building. This shot is Ella snuggled up to my mom on her last night in town. Although Ella usually slept on the top and Nana took the bottom trundle, on Nana's last night Ella was so sad she would not let Nana out of her sight...all night long.

Did you know Vegas has a zoo? Yeah, we almost missed it too. Safety first: Don't get mugged while you're walking in.

Our little family at Zion, Riverwalk trail.

And of course, Avery's crazy hair is always worth documentation :)

Hopefully we'll be seein ya sooner rather than later, momma!!! And next time I'll take a double dose of green drink on the rocks, if you please. With a side of platinum hair dye if you've got any handy.

7 Down

Well, Ogden this year was and was not exactly lucky #7, but a great day to be out running a marathon nonetheless. I did get my best time on the course (4:11:15), but I was hoping to be closer to the 3:40 range...so I still have goals to set. I had a strong start/first 10 miles, but lost it in the middle feeling sick, and somehow hung on till the end. My mom and Aunt Sue came to cheer me on and it was so fun to see them at the finish line!
During one of my energetic spurts, I passed a table arranged with GU in every color of the rainbow. And I didn't stop because at that particular moment I was in a hurry. Dang, I will have dreams of all those flavors for a long time...
Kandyce McCracken rocked this race and completely deserved it. She's spent many an early morning and long Saturday pounding out this victory on the pavement. Thanks to all my running buds for a great season. It's all about the journey, right? Or is that just what you say when you don't get the time you wanted :)

Cute Avery enjoying the trains at Union Station.

Ella picked me dandelions to celebrate.

Teeny Tiny Ballerinas

Ella had her ballet recital on Tuesday and it was darling! As you can see from this clip, the freestyle portion was more her thing than synchronization. She's got that independent streak :)



Her teacher, Miss Amy, gave each girl a medal for doing a good job. Ella was pretty much stoked about that, since she's seen all my race medals and realized that this past year of dance has been something she's worked towards all her own. We are so proud of our little dancing queen!

Homemade Fun

Inventory of things we have made lately:

Playground equipment. Ella is the designer of this little beauty (it's a seesaw).

Homemade strawberry jam is Bryson's pet project. Ella and I are the chopping crew.

Easter notebooks I made at cRaFt NiGhT!!! They have been well loved and are full-time church drawing pads now.

And Avery is very good at making a mess!

Down the Bunny Trail

General Conference + Easter Sunday = two weeks of Easter. Here are four adults (not pictured) trying to get two little girls to smile in their week-after matching pastels. It's harder than it looks. Ben and Sherrie, how did we manage to not take any pictures of you guys? I bet you would have smiled. Well, maybe for candy.

A successful holiday was had by all.

Valley of Fire

This Saturday we scouted out new territory: the Valley of Fire state park in Nevada, about an hour away. Warmer temps and sunny days = recipe for perfect weekend trips.

Elephant rock

Ancient Indian petroglyphs

Re-creation of adobe housing structures at the Lost City Museum

Avery ate a real apple. It's possible she applesauced a little, but I saw some actual bites swallowed.

Atlatl spear-throwing contest. We both did a few practice throws, but decided we ended up in the correct century.

Hanging out with my girls. Ella set off the fire alarm at the museum trying to go out an emergency exit and scared herself half to death.

And so begins the spring season of lovely weather and weekend playtime. Ahhhhhhhhhh, lovin the Vitamin D!