My mood for the moment...

I just finished watching a clip on that Canadian Ice Skater who had lost her mom just a few days ago....Truly inspiring! It made me think of my mom of course but also me as a mom. It made me question myself and what I am trying to teaching my kids... Some days I'm just not sure what I was able to bring to their lives. Like today... it seemed like all I did was yell at my Drew boy to get him out the door to school. He has been having a hard few days (very emotional) and it seems like the more we yell the more he acts up. Vicious cycle. I feel like some days I just go through the motions to get to the next day to do the same, but today I am thankful for inspiring stories of couragiouse people to help me realize that life is so precious and short. As I am typing this I can hear Tyler reading and playing with Ava, he really is the most patient man. He lacks on sleep most nights and works long days but he never seems to put the kids aside. He always gives them the time they need and for him today I am thankful. I had a great, yet exhausting day yesterday in St. George with my mom and two little girls, and ya know I didn't hear her complain once. I on the other hand did. A lot! I was talking on the phone to Ella (who was home alone with Drew, they got out early for SEP's), she was crying because Drew was threatening her with his BB gun. Ava was pouting because we had drug her all over the place and she just wanted a small toy, haha... and I look up and see my mom and Maya skipping through the parking lot. She is laughing and her smile can't help but make you smile. Her energy and excitement for life is something I yearn for. What an example she is to me and of course to my kids. Thanks Mom! I know this is a random post but it's my mood... Have I told you how much I love Kenny Chesney? Well I do and he is singing to me right now, "On the Coast of somewhere beautiful running with my heart" lalala.... That is where Tyler and I will be in about 8 months for our big 10 year anniversary! Yay! He has put so much time into planning our trip. We have yet to make a final destination and I told him I want him to surprise me and not tell me until we board the plane. Do you think we can pull that off? I'm not big on not knowing whats going on but I sure hope so! Well I must get going, I have laundry to fold, beds to make, kids to get ready, kitchen cabinets to finish, shower and get ready myself all before noon so we can go to Richfield for State Basketball. Thanks for letting me spill out my emotions. I feel rejuvenated now! I should do this more often!

If we had a dollar for every time we caught or watched one of the kids jump in the water... Tyler and I could go on our own vacation.

Our last picture right before we had to leave our little piece of paradise! We had so much fun! It really is the best place to take your kids. We have started to talk about our next trip and they all want to come back to the Desert Pearl!

Now for a nice relaxing dinner at Wild Willies (I think that's the name?) Ya Right! The only way that ever happens is if we leave the kids at home.

The kids got to pick out a souvenir, the two older girls choose necklaces, not sure what Maya got and Drew took forever to finally find something he wanted. We went to almost every store (except for the ones with a lot of glass in them for obvious reasons) and he could not make up his mind. We were even upping the amount he could spend just so he could decide (he's no dummy) and finally we talked him into this walking stick with a deer on it. He was so pumped as you can see! I bet he has no idea where that broken piece of wood is now does he. Oh well it's all about the memories right!

This picture makes me laugh because Tyler is trying to take a self portrait of himself and the beautiful scenery.... Pose it up babe!

Of course I had to get in on the action.

After our long vigorous hike (NOT) we stopped to have lunch at the Zion visitor center.

Daddy and his girls...

Drew found his own walking stick (actually it was to shake off any snakes but we chose to call it a "walking stick" I HATE SNAKES!)

She was determined to go into the water, head first or not...

Finally, she reached the water. It seems like she is saying... "nanny nanny poo poo"

After seeing the Texas Longhorn (Uncle Hank's favorite team) we thought we needed to through the sign out in every picture.

Maya thought she needed to climb up every rock and then jump right back down. This was not working out very well....the girl seems to have no fear!

Tyler holding on to Maya's dear life...

and me using the walking stick to keep her from charging off!

When we decided to take the kids to Zion's we started telling them they were going to be in a Jr. Ranger program (which we both would of loved when we were kids) and they freaked out! They thought they were going to have to climb huge mountains, eat bugs and sleep out under the stars with nothing to protect them. Once they started coming up with these ideas we just kept feeding them and ear full. It was very cruel we know but was it was also fun to see what they could scheme up in their minds. Well being the nice parents that we really are we decided to save them some heart ache and tell them the truth... but not after we loaded up the car and headed out on "their adventure." We ended up taking them on an easy little path ending at a spring. They had a ball! Much better than eating bugs for dinner. Haha

Ella was in charge of Maya, and as you can see by her body language she was not liking this adventure at all. Oh poor Ella!

I don't know how many picture we have of Maya doing this pose, but it just makes me laugh because it shows exactly who she is...TROUBLE!

I'm holding onto Maya because she stood up on the chair and it flipped out from under her....

These are not very good pictures I know but I do need to document the reason our two year old looks as though we had beat her... if you can see behind the two people reading their menus there is a drop off onto the sidewalk. Yes! Maya did slip and fall beneath the bench, luckily we caught her right before she fell completely down. None the less she made quite a scene!

To top off our wonderful stroll down the beautiful Springdale main street, Maya was trying to keep up with Drew and the girls and she forgot to watch where she was going (not uncommon for a two year old) and before I could run up to her and grab her from missing the curb....she biffed it! And if I must say so this is not your average curb. This baby had some height. Poor, poor Maya!

To be on the safe side I decided that I better hold onto her while we were looking at the Elk and Buffalo. I could only imagine chasing after her while these Enormous Beasts were chasing after me!

Yes, she did fall behind the rock wall. That was one of many accidents Maya had this summer.

Our room walked out onto this wonderful football field...

After many hours in the pool our little fish decided they needed to rest up for more night swimming.