Teaching Them Young

Happy Birthday C!

He was equally excited to get his first real set of scriptures and an air-soft BB gun.

That makes us so proud....

Only 8 years-old and he already knows how to cling to his guns and religion.

A THREE HOUR TOUR!!!

Kind of like Gilligan's big adventure, this also lasted more that 3 hours. Actual "tour time" was 100 miles in 12 hours. The ride is called The White Rim Trail in Canyon Lands National Park. This (for some odd reason I have yet to figure out) has been an annual trek for me for the past 7 or so years. This trail is typically done in 3 days with support vehicles, food, camping gear, etc. We for some reason choose to do it in one day.

About 40 miles in we reached the crest of a hill and stopped to take a quick break. As my buddy came up behind me and stopped I said "40 down, only 60 to go". A lady overheard this and said 'You are doing this in one day!!?? WHY?" I didn't have a good answer.

One things for sure, however, the scenery is spectacular.


This is near the start of the ride. You drop down several thousand feet to the river at the start. There are several big climbs in the middle with a killer climb to get out.

Can you see the arch with a thousand foot drop off? It is kind of like those 3D paintings.

See all the switch backs? That's the 45 minute climb out.

Sugar High

It has become a kind of tradition in our house that IF the CFO is unable to make it home for dinner the CEO's get to eat crepes....for dinner. I haven't decided whether or not this makes me an irresponsible mother or just a really cool one. Since I had these as a kid, for dinner, I am leaning towards cool.

Our Recipe:

2 eggs

1 c. flour

1 c. milk

1 T. oil

1 T. sugar

Mix the ingredients together until you get a very thin pancake-like batter. Drop about 2/3 c. on a greased hot pan, swirl it around. Cook until golden brown on both sides then remove to a plate. (I finally got smart this year and decided to get TWO hot pans going at the same time ---the cooking part can be a little time consuming.) Our dinner approved crepe toppings:

powdered sugar and lemon juice (butter optional)

The kids assemble their own, and this is where I feel a little irresponsible, it becomes a plate

full

of

sugar.

"Hey, go easy", I say quite sternly!

Experience has taught them to go easy on the lemon juice. Then they roll them up and devour them at rapid speeds. Inevitably, a contest will begin between C and E to see who can eat the most. (C holds the record of 5 crepes.) This behavior finds powdered sugar escaping the crepe and finding it's way to the table, chair, floor, clothes and on the face of mainly this child:
E is, at least, TRYING to use his manners and contain the powdered sugar by leaning heavily over his plate.
C on the other hand..... It looks like he can't hide his powdered sugar addiction any longer. We should hold an intervention next week. Anyone know of a 12-step program for Powdered Sugar Addicts?

Welcome to Earth

Meet our newest cousin...

...good work CINDAVE.

Pre-School Conversations

O attends pre-school twice a week.
We car-pool with 2 other boys in her class.
I have enjoyed hearing their conversations.
Here are a few of my favorites:

CONVERSATION #1
Pre-schooler A: Today is a special day; it is my birthday; I am 4 years old.
Pre-schooler B: I am 5.
O : Hey, I am 4 too! But, SOON I will be 25 and I won't have to sit in a car seat anymore.

CONVERSATION#2
o : Mom, you are driving fast. (I was going the speed limit, 65)
Preschooler B: My dad drives a RACE CAR, (it's a Mazda), he can go 50 miles an hour!
All the pre-schoolers: Oooooooo!
Pre-schooler A: I WANT to ride in your dad's race car.
Pre-schooler B: Hey guys, hey guys, sometimes my dad wrecks.

CONVERSATION#3
Me: What is your favorite candy?
Pre-schooler B: M&M's
O : Me too.
Pre-schooler A: My favorite is gum. I love to eat gum because it comes out in my poop.

Spring Break and Skinny Dipping

The CFO and I decided that after a long winter we needed to take the C.E.O.'s on a company retreat. We packed up the company car and headed to St. George for Spring Break. We hiked and biked and hung out with our friends. But, the favorite activity that the C.E.O.'s wanted to do non-stop was SWIM. Rain or shine, we were at the hotel pool/hot tub.

One day at the pool C asked, "Dad, what's it called again when you go swimming without your clothes.....Skippin' Dippin' ?" It is now!
Here are some pictures of our trip:

Snow Canyon Sand Dunes

E wedged in "The Slot"

We spent a day at Zion's. This is the hike to Angel's Landing.

The CFO took E on the last treacherous 1/2 mile that Angel's Landing is known for.

(They only made it halfway then, thankfully, turned around because E got too freaked out.)

Our tired littlest hiker and her Sherpa.

Favorite Tea Party Signs...

"Party Like it's 1773"

(lady on the left) "Read My Teleprompter--No More Bailouts!"
Although, "Stimulus Slave" is good too.