Moab Vacation

June 30 - July 3, 2013

Our lives are getting so busy that it's hard for us all to find time to go on vacation together.  This year was the hardest by far...with youth conference, girl's camp, scout camp, family visiting from out of town, recital, personal progress projects, Eagle projects, holidays, work, etc. etc. Anyway after much planning we found four days when we could all get together and go on a short vacation.  Our destination Moab.  I know it's the hottest time of the year in the dessert but it was the only time so we had to take it!

We attended Sacrament Meeting at 9:00am so we could start driving down and not get there too late.  Since we had a river raft trip reserved on Monday morning.

We packed a lunch and stopped by a park to eat and stretch along the way.

These are a few pictures of the condo we rented. Nothing fancy just suitable for our needs.  3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms.

 

We got to our condo and then we went on a walk into Arches National Park.

Here are a few beautiful pictures of the the scenery on our short walk.  We couldn't believe that we live so close to this natural beauty and we had never come to see it.

This trail is called Park Avenue.

After our hike we drove to Balanced Rock.  The sun was setting and we were able to see some beautiful pictures.

Simply beautiful!  

This is S. How does she do that??? 

On Monday morning we went on our white water river rafting trip down the Colorado River.  G was a little nervous but once we got going, she loved it!!!  They take you with a guide down the river.  We could get in and out of the raft if we wanted.  We got lunch.  It was something we hadn't done before and it was fun!  We did get a little sunburned since we never reaplied sunblock later in the day.

KC and CR were on the cannoo when they were taking pictures.

 

The rest of us were on the raft. 

After showering we decided to go into the visitor's center at Arches so we would know what to do the next day.  The things CR does because he loves his little sister!

We needed a picture together. 

Yay for nice people that willingly take family pictures for us. 

Lots of people recommended Zak's Restaurant.  And we can't turn down good pizza. 

Tuesday we went hiking to Delicate Arch.  We tried to leave early cause of the heat but it was still really hot! On a side not look at these amazing kiddos!  

When the going get tough... G takes funny pictures. 

After the hike we went back down for lunch and a swimming break at the Moab Aquatic Center.

In the evening we went on another hike to Landscape Arch.  It was a little cooler in the evening.

This is Landscape Arch. 

On the way back down there is this area that looks like a slide made out of very fine sand.  Fun place to play, relax, and make sand angels.

Then it was time for dinner? Well since had such a late lunch and it was like 10pm we decided to just have ice cream. A good "healthy" way to end the day.  Ok maybe not so healthy but delicious for sure!

The next day on Wednesday we left our condo and went to Canyonlands National Park.  We went on a small hike to Mesa Arch.  It was already really hot in the morning.

What more could I as for... Heavenly Father must love me so much to provide me with this beautiful world to live in with such amazing people!!! These small moments make life wonderful!  Life can get so chaotic sometimes that we have no time to reflect on the beauty and blessings that are ours.  But these small moments give me strength and courage to stay on the straight and narrow path because if this is a glimpse of what eternity is like? Who wouldn't want eternal life with those you love??? 

:) 

We didn't have much energy left in us to hike too much more in Canyonlands but right next to Canyonlands is the State Park called Dead Horse Point.  This the view from here! Beautiful!

So this was our vacation for 2013.  Short, hot, needed, and very enjoyable!!!

K is so amazing when it comes to taking pictures and making videos.  She records many memories for us!  She made this video that summarizes our Moab Vacation:  B's Moab Vacation 2013

CR 14th Birthday

June 6, 1999 was one of the happiest days of my life.  My one and only son was born to us early on a Sunday morning.  I was already scheduled to be induced that day but he could not wait and I actually went to labor all on my own.  Something I hadn't done to this point.  He is a blessing to have around.  So nice to have a boy and see the differences between boys and girls.  He is a great example to us and his sisters!

That day we celebrated by getting the boys together and they went to Boondocks.  It also happened to be the school's day at Boondocks and since it was CR's birthday he got to go for free.  It was fun for him to celebrate with his school friends and also with his twin cousin Shayden.

We went to Wingers for dinner. 

CR had a hard time coming up with ideas of what he wanted for his birthday.  So it was up to us to come up with something.  We got him this plant that he named "Bonnie".  I think he really likes it!  Interesting gift for a 14 year old boy? 

We celebrated his birthday by going to eat at Mikado for sushi and he wanted to see the movie The Great Gatsby. 

On Sunday we celebrated with the family. 

Just had to throw in this picture cause it is so cute! 

June 2013

My beautiful baby niece on her blessing day.  Welcome Zuri!

My wonderful parents. They look amazing! I am blessed to be called their daugher. 

Practicing for the Princess Festival. G is always a willing model.

My nephew Jenner was called to serve in Peru as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He was first called to leave at the end of July.  Then his time was moved up to the end of June.  Then they moved him up to the beginning of June.  He had the option to choose between these dates but decided to enter the MTC early.  He was suppossed to go directly to the Peru MTC but because his visa was not ready he went to Provo.  So that meant we had the opportunity to see him and take him to the MTC.  What a special priviledge for us!

We picked him up from the airport and went and had lunch with a friend of his that was going in the same day.  K was able to join us also. 

The two missionaries: Jenner and Derek 

We love this kid like our own. He will be an amazing missionary!

G kindergarten graduation.  She loved her first year of school and she loved preparing for this program. 

Mrs. Hoddenbach (G's kindergarten teacher).  Couldn't have asked for a better teacher! 

After graduation she got to play outside and have a cookie.  She is holding a profile picture of herself. 

Racing with co-workers on the last day.

Recital 2013

G was a bluebird and S was in the Star Wars dance.  We don't have a picture of S in costume because they only wear them for the dance and return them. 

The Princess Festival... G got to go down a few times as I went to visit Zildy, drive S or babysit.  She just loves being there! 

I got to babysit Zuri for a day while Zildy was painting. 

May Moments

When I first came to DaVinci. One of my first assignments was to get going this group that WalMart wanted to run for 8th graders.  The program is called Mi Futuro and the students meet with WalMart managers from all over the area and they provide activities for them to prepare them for high school.  It's a really good program for the students to know what to expect and what they can do to have a better future.  This was our group and a picture we took after graduation.

On another note about DaVinci... In April the director began asking about renewing staff's contracts for the following school year.  The school is adding an elementary portion to the school and because we would have more students we would need more counseling time.  I figured M (the other counselor) would want to stay 1/2 time so I thought maybe I would be able to increase my time from 1/2 to 3/4 or something like that.  Then I found out that M was going full time so that would leave me at 1/2 time.  At that time I prayed to know what I should do next year.  This is the time of year when there are openings for school counseling jobs following year so I had to decide whether I wanted to stay at DaVinci or start applying to other schools.  I decided to stay at DaVinci even if it was for 1/2 time.  I fugured it would be better because that way I could get more experience.  I spoke with the director and he agreed for me to work 3 days next year but for various reasons we never got a contract signed.  I was good with this decision and then everything went tupsy turvy...

One random day the director had asked me if I would be interested in full time?  I hadn't thought about it cause M had said she was coming back full time and my decision was made.  I told the director I would get back to him.  I asked KC his thoughts and I prayed and I felt good about full time if it was even a possibility.  After all I still have most of the summer off and G will be in school full time next year.  I told him yes but I didn't think it would happen.

On Monday May 13, I got a text from M saying that she had given her 2 weeks notice and that I might want to come in to get some training??? I had worked at the daycare that morning and when I came home I had a message to call the director of DaVinci.  I was so confused!  I tried to get more info from M but she told me should would explain in person.  I called the director back and he offered me the full time counseling position. I accepted but I thought with everything so up in the air that it could change.  I trained as much as I could in the meantime.

Well, to make a long story short... I am now the head counselor.  I was hoping M would finish out the school year but the director wanted to stick with her original termination date and so I had to work with the seniors to make sure they were all ready for graduation.  I also had the priviledge of reading the names at graduation and presenting the class of 2013.  I would have rather have M do it since she helped all these students throughout the year but it was my job so I did it!  So I will be working full time next year and it also adds more days to my contract before and after school is session to get things ready and finalized.

So needless to say this has made the past three weeks pretty crazy for me!  In the meantime life at home has to go on...

This was CR's Student Government class.  They had an end of the year banquet for the students and the parents. 

The eight grade representatives: 

The boys: 

It's tradition to have for the seniors to do a prank before graduation.  This is the director's office: 

CR was in the theatre class at school and they did a play to end the semester.  The play was a version of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  

CR was cast as the narrator but then there was a student that was going to be absent so they also gave him the part of "The Count".  He is a great actor!!! 

This year was a different Memorial Day as M's were out of town and my parents were just not interested in doing something together.  So we hung out at home.  We did go see a movie and then we went bowling.  Not too outdoorsy but we spent time together so that's what was most important.