Cookie Monsters

What's better than cookies for dessert?....When your sister gives you half the box of cookies for dessert!

Cotton Days

Every town has their yearly celebration. The thing that they are known for; the thing that people associate with that town; the thing that makes your town special and let's you enjoy it's heritage. For Washington, that celebration is held the first part of May and is called Cotton Days.
Yes, cotton is part of our local pride and heritage because Washington was settled by Pioneers sent to Utah's Dixie by Brigham Young to the Cotton Mission. Now that you have enjoyed this little tidbit of history...here are some snapshots of us having fun at the parade and carnival in the park!

Easter Camping

I'm still trying to catch up as far as my blog is concerned, but here are a few snapshots from our Spring camping trip to Red Cliffs. We usually go there at least once a year if not more. It's near buy, it has water and outhouses and it is way fun for the kids. We all really enjoy it. This year we had an added bonus with my parents added to the mix of Andy's family.
The weather was cool and only one day was rainy. We all had a blast and wore ourselves out...as you can see from the shots of Haden after the hike, my frazzled hair, and our Bailey-bug- in the chair half the afternoon! Nothing beats Spring time in Dixie, great family fun, dirt, smoke, bugs, and horny toads!

Seth getting a different perspective. Can you see him?

The Colorado River far below. What you can't tell from this photo is how big the river really is. The bunches of green on the banks are trees and the "ripples" in the water are white water rapids, but you can not hear them at all.

Seth being braver and getting a better view.














While he was checking out the drop; this California Condor was checking out Seth! It was only 15-20' above him. We told Seth to look up and he said,"whoa! I'm not dead yet!". If you look closely; you can see the I.D. tag on his wing.

Seth, Lacinda & Marchello cautiously checking out the view.

Bailey & I exploring on the rocks.

Turoweap Grand Canyon

We got a kick out of the sign at the Ranger Station! We don't even know if there is a full time ranger there.

In mid-March my Brother, Seth and Sister-in-Law, Lacinda, came to visit. It was a big deal because he has only been down here once to see us and she had never been here. They're stay was extended because of major car problems on their way down. This was good and bad because, we had more time to spend with them, but we spent more time dealing with the whole car ordeal(an entirely different story), than we did playing. It was o.k. though. We had a good time with them-except for their Wiener-dog pooping on my bedroom carpet!

We hung out and did a few little things around town, but we did get to go on one bigger outing to the Grand Canyon. The North Rim known as Toroweap or Tuweap- is most of a day's drive there and back mostly on what can be some pretty nasty dirt roads. We packed a cooler and everyone up in the truck and headed out for adventure.

Andy & I had done this trek once before when we were first married, that time however; we went in the Jeep the long way from the Arizona Strip, over Mnt. Trumbull and around. We had no idea what we were in for that time! 90 miles of dirt roads and reckless exploring took their toll on both our spines and the Jeep. It was fun though, we just went more prepared and in a vehicle with smoother suspension this time.

Turoweap is not exactly what you envision when you think of the typical vacation photos of the Grand Canyon. You are approaching it from the North Rim, where it is not as wide across, but just as deep. This is a very remote area with no facilities what so ever, I'm not sure that the camp ground there even has an outhouse. Basically it is the edge of the earth! If you are familiar with the end of Thelma and Louis -Ya, this is what I am talking about! No gate, no fence just walk to the edge of the cliff and it's thousands of feet down! It is very breathtaking and well worth the trip however. There are lots of unique rocks and wildlife and the vast depth of the canyon and the entire area is just amazing! It is one of those places that you visit that makes you say a little prayer of gratitude for the beauties of this world Heavenly Father and our Savior created, and the awesome plan and power that was in the works long before we came here! It was a fun time!