Las Vegas - Edited Version

I know, I said I didn't think I would take my kids to Las Vegas and then a week later - I do! But we really wanted to show the kids the fountains and hotel lobbies and do some shopping. So, we did a brief, edited (as much as you can) tour of the strip. And we chowed down on all-you-can-eat Chinese food too - yum! Some favorites were: the lion cubs at MGM, the Luxor, the Bellagio fountain (of course) and the four-story M&M store!

Thinkin' they're Gucci shoppers - yeah, right - in their dreams!

Elephant Arch

The day after Christmas was beautiful so we headed out in search of Elephant Arch. It is about a 3 mile hike from our house. We are so very fortunate to live two short blocks from open country that has endless hiking and amazing beauty! There are several BLM trails that are marked and also just tons of hills, washes and ridges to explore.




The girls thought this looked like Pride Rock




Even Cooper posed for the pic, even though he
was slowly sliding down the hill!


Neat rock formations


A small slot canyon to explore


"You want me to lift him?!"


Elephant Arch - the arch is the trunk
and there's a hole for the eye.






"I'm exhausted guys! Anyone have any water?"

Christmas 2009

Ahh, another Christmas come and gone. We had a great Christmas - all the girls were home! That's all I need to make the holidays perfect. We had fun baking Christmas cookies and taking them to our new ward friends, making and eating Belgian waffles on Christmas Eve, playing the new games we received, eating way too much good food, going to a concert in the St. George Tabernacle, opening presents, walking around the temple grounds and looking at the lights and just spending time together.

I know, I know... you're jealous of our Costco table, huh?

The kids are trying to peek!

Cooper loved his new bone!

I don't want to think about sending Kaylyn and Lexi back to college in a few days. For now, I'm just enjoying every minute I get to spend with them!

A Weekend in Las Vegas

Last weekend, Rob and I headed to Las Vegas on a three-fold mission. First, so Rob could take the Utah Real Estate exam to become a licensed realtor, which he passed!!! All that studying paid off - Congrats!

Secondly, we celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. We stayed at the Monte Carlo, explored all the hotels on the strip, enjoyed many fine restaurants and took in the Frank Caliendo show, which was hilarious. We really liked the various types of architecture, gardens, pools, and hotel decors. Some of our favorites were the sheer enormity of Caesars Palace, the grandeur of the Bellagio Fountains and the pools at the Flamingo. Overall, it was a fun place to visit and explore but I'm not so sure I would take my kids there.

Bellagio Fountain

Caesars Palace

Our Hotel - The Monte Carlo

"Hmm, maybe this is how people make TWO house payments!?"

Elvis is still alive and kicking in Sin City!

Inside the new Planet Hollywood hotel. Looks more

like outside, huh?

Last, but not least, we picked up Kaylyn at the Las Vegas airport Sunday night, where she flew in from Spokane for the holidays. After stopping by the strip for a few minutes to show her the Bellagio Fountains, we headed home to St. George and the rest of the family. Lexi arrived home Saturday night from Provo so we are now all together again! From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Snow in Dixie

Who says St. George doesn't get snow? We woke up to some white stuff this morning. Everyone is saying this is not typical and that it's been colder than it usually gets too. I tell them they had better be right because this is not what I signed up for! The first five days we were here I basked in the sunshine and didn't see one cloud. I guess that's what I get for thinkin' I'd died and gone to heaven. At least it's been warmer than where we came from! Sorry Kaylyn. :(

Yes, that's also a thin layer of ice in the pool! BRRRRR!

Merry Christmas!

King of the Red Rock

The Move

We're finally here in Southern Utah! After a year and a half of thinking, waiting, wondering, hoping, searching, praying and puting our faith in the Lord, we made it. And from the looks of the weather storms that have been brewing, we came not a day too soon. We were originally going to wait until the house sold to come, but decided the beginning of November that we would leave on Thanksgiving day. I know, why Thanksgiving right? Because it was a four day weekend and Kaylyn and Lexi could go with us and drive cars. So, that left about 3 short weeks to pack up a house we have lived in for over 11 years!

I need to own stock in a cardboard and tape company!


This is probably only half of the boxes.

We thought we had gotten rid of a lot of stuff, sold some, gave some away, but we soon discovered we weren't going to be able to fit everything into one moving truck. We'll pull a trailer too then. Nope, still not enough room. So, on the morning before we were to leave, it was determined that I was going to have to drive a 30 ft. moving truck also. OH MY HECK!!! But Heavenly Father blessed us with clear, dry roads and great weather and there's not a lot of traffic out on Thanksgiving Day! I actually enjoyed the 20 or so quiet hours to myself, reflecting and pondering on what I am thankful for. I do have to admit that it was a little bit of white-knuckle driving through the Ogden/Salt Lake City corridor where construction made the lanes seem not nearly WIDE enough but I came through with no bumps or dings and I'm actually pretty proud of myself! But I wouldn't want to do it again anytime soon.

Rob used every square inch of those trucks!

We are so very thankful for all the friends and family that showed up to help load trucks, clean the house, haul junk to goodwill or dump, bring food or just provide a shoulder to cry on. You are loved and appreciated very much and we will miss you greatly. We only hope that you'll come and visit soon (maybe in February when you are sick and tired of cold, snow and ice?)

Cooper rode with Rob in the truck. That made for an entertaining trip!

"Are we there yet so I can get out of this dang truck?"

My truck! Cool dinosaur, huh?

We arrived in Washington, (ha, yes it's true, we just couldn't quite leave Washington behind) Utah very tired, but safe and sound. We are grateful for the new friends and ward that showed up to help unload two big trucks on a Saturday morning. We're excited to be here and feel that this is where the Lord wants us to be. It's been a long road to get here, but we have definitely felt the Lord's hand and his arms around us throughout this journey!

Now we get to unload it all.

Cooper was so excited to be out of that truck that he just ran

around the whole house playing with his toy.

I think the kitchen is somewhere in there.

This picture pretty much says it all.