For the beauty of the earth...

With all our stops, it took us 4 hours to drive there.  We spent 4 hours in the park.  Then it was 4 hours back home.  We left at 12 noon, and got back at midnight.  It was totally worth the drive, and I was happy that we didn't have to spend an uncomfortable night in an uncomfortable hotel bed, or sleeping bag, for that matter :)   

 

The park was pretty full for a Tuesday afternoon in September.  We could hear people speaking French, Spanish, Italian, and German.  Folks come from all over the world to see these wonders!  And here they are, in our backyard.  What a great experience we had and we hope to visit more national parks together.

Another Cousin is Comin'!

This time, it's the MALE variety!  We're so excited for Jon and Emily, expecting a baby boy in February 2011!

Peachies!

Birgit created a Peach Days Queen! With her cute outfit and accessories, Rebecca got the royal treatment as we wheeled her to the parade in her special chariot.

There was lots to see and mostly lots of  C A N D Y  for the kids to run and pick up!  Rebecca filled a bag with tootie rolls, suckers, ice pops, and other goodies.  There was a family of kids sitting beside us and we were so impressed how they left pieces there for Rebecca to pick up, if she wasn't fast enough.  She did get the hang of it by the end of the parade though.

Then it was up and away for the Bachmann 3!  Jim and Birgit watched us take a quick helicopter ride.  Our girl was not scared!  The ride seemed to last about 30 seconds, but it was a great experience for us.

Thanks for a wonderful weekend, Jim and Birgit!

High on a Mountaintop

Picture above from Em. Her post with a movie of Rebecca and Natalie here.

It feels like Christmas to me when reunion time rolls around...I love my couzzies, aunties, and uncles so!

Highlights included:

Just Playing together

The "Unbirthday" Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter!

Dress Up Time!

The fun playgrounds and this cool slide

A fishing pond for the kids

Hangin' Chill with some fun people!

Family Photo

Sunday Morning Hike with Papa

Playing in the "Dream House" with Mimi

We also enjoyed a slide show of pictures through the years and a family testimony meeting on Sunday.

We had a  m a r v e l o u s  time. Great people, yummy food, beautiful nature.  Just missed those that couldn't be there.  Families are forever and I sure lucked out with mine  :)

Photo Booth Favs

Just 1 Question

I was only allowed 1 question!
(But I am so sneaky, I got in about 9 more;)



She was talking about a ride at Lagoon, The Jumping Dragon.

Time to Dance!

The wait is over!  She is finally old enough to join the local dance studio.  She's only been once so far, but she loved it!  She's learning ballet, jazz, and tap dance.

Rebecca is on the side closest to the mirror (in pink):

Hotness in a Jumpsuit

 My Grease Monkey

 

Kristin and Michael gave him this super cute outfit for Christmas and he definitely uses it!  Cracks me up.

Adventures with Sally

Rebecca has morning hair.  She dressed herself! And here she is, on...

She's taking Sally for a ride on her Fly Mobile!

Life with  this girl is never boring!  LOVE.  her. 

First Day of School!

The first day was Tuesday, August 23rd. What a cutie.  She was so excited and didn't even complain when we had to wake her up early.  Jorg got up with us and gave us each a "back to school" blessing.  It was very special.  I tried not to shed tears over our girl's cuteness.  I did not succeed.

Here's a picture from the Kids Village website:  the center of the "village".

And here is Rebecca in my little room where I teach the 2-3 year olds.

Rebecca and I are going to school together!!  On Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I wasn't able to get a picture of her with her teacher yet, since I have been doing my share of running of like a chicken with my head cut off!  But hopefully things will slow down in the coming weeks for me to accomplish taking a picture of my sweet girl with her very first preschool teacher!  We like it!

**It was an intense adventure at Kids Village...TOO intense.  I quit after just 2 weeks, and stuck around 1 more week for them to find a replacement.  Rebecca loved her class and teacher, but my class was just unmanageable.   Too many kids, too small of a space, and too few toys, and they were too young (2 yrs. old).  I was going insane!  Also, I REALLY missed Rebecca.  Since I worked morning and afternoon (Tues and Thurs), and all day was too much for her to handle, I had my mom pick her up for the afternoon.  My mom did not mind.  And Rebecca was happy.  I just...didn't like it.  I want to spend every second with her that I can.  She may be our only child (If you're reading this, pray for us ;) I so badly want siblings for her).  And she is growing up so fast! We are doing a neighborhood Joy School now, and it works perfect for us.

Children's Museum

with Mimi, Mel, Mar, Addie, and Westen!  What a great time we had!
sidenote:  Rebecca is into picking out her own clothes and accessories these days.  She chose everything she is wearing in theses pictures.  And it all matched!

Happy Trails

We watched the sun set and it was breath-taking! Rebecca did very well on the hike, even though she had missed her nap that day. We were all impressed. And when she got tired, Omi was there to carry her up the mountain on her back.

Here we are on the actual 'Y'

and we ate ice cream at the Creamery afterwards. Fun, fun night!

Some History: This large block letter "Y" is the insignia for Brigham Young University. First placed in 1906, it is made of concrete and measures 380 feet high and 130 feet wide. The original plan was to put "BYU" on the mountainside, but when placing the "Y" took longer than expected, plans to place the B and U were scrapped.A hike to the Y begins at the trailhead at N 40° 14.690, W 111° 37.630. The trail follows a series of switchbacks as it winds its way up the side of the mountain.

Sewing with Omi

Grandpa Jim went on a fishing trip, so Omi got to come and spend several days with us this week! She brought up her sewing machine to hem some of Jorg's pants. Rebecca climbed right up on her lap and did a little sewing too :)

The Great Outdoors

Jorg made sure we packed up the car and headed up the canyon for our ward campout this year. It was fun to roast marshmallows, make crafts, and see Rebecca running around with her little friends & enjoying nature.

As I recounted my camping sleep history to Jorg, he suggested I might sleep better if I went home. He didn't have to suggest that twice! I did come back to eat breakfast and drive my family home the next morning. Apparently Jorg and Rebecca had a pretty deep tent discussion that night about life and death and heaven. I was sad to have missed that but I'm glad they got to bond.

These are the two cutest people I've ever seen!
What a fun daddy she has and
What a sweet girl we have!