Return To Donut Falls

Just over two years ago, the kids and I went on a hike with Grandma to Donut falls. Valerie was just two weeks old, and it was her first experience in the great out doors. I wanted to hike there again last summer, but we just never made it. So this summer it was at the top of the list.....we just had to wait for the trail to open.

Today we made it.

We left our house at 8:30am and made it to the trail by 9:00 the air was still cool and the trail was not busy.

This hike is pretty easy, so we invited a few friends to join us.

To go along with our hiking theme this year, (trails a two year old can do without much help) this hike is pretty easy, so we invited some friends to come along.

The older kids did a great job helping the little girls too.

When we got to the bridge the kids made Valerie's day by singing "The Grumpy Old Troll" song from Dora.

The wild flowers have started to bloom, and made the trail even more inviting.










We did have a couple of spills, but nothing a little washing and Fishy Crackers couldn't fix.

When we made it to the falls, the river had washed out the end of the trail,

Bigger braver hikers may have tried to go further, but we could see the falls from where were, and the kids were having fun throwing rocks into the river.

This was our picture at the falls. The trees are blocking the view, but if you look close you can see it. Like most things, it looks a lot bigger and better in person.

Pretty Princess

I was trying to decide what to have Valerie wear to church, when I came across this dress of Emily's hanging in the closet. When Emily was Valerie's age she preferred to wear it with a red Superman cape flowing from her back, but when I showed it to Valerie she gasp and said

"Oh a princess Dress."

Pioneer Day

A few days before Pioneer Day, the kids and I went to see the floats that were going to be in the parade.
We had never gone to the float showing before, but I think we will make this a new tradition.

The kids all got their face panted.

And there were clowns doing balloon animals.

Valerie asked for a dog and the boys each asked for a sword, so when he asked Emily what she wanted I suggested he surprise her. Emily was good with that, so he went to work. At first we were not sure what "animal" he had made, until he showed us how to use it.

He made her a good old fashion vacuum.

Admission to this event was free, but they ask you to vote for your favorite float. They wanted everyone to vote including the kids.

Valerie and I decided we would vote for this cute float (I didn't get a very good picture of it.) We loved the flowers. It also had cars on it, with spinning wheels.

I thought the kids would vote for this float,

But This was the float they voted for. They loved the steam coming out of the dragons mouth.

On Monday morning we watched the parade on TV, to see if our floats won. Because we saw most of the floats ahead of time, the parade was even more exciting for the kids. Every time a float came on they would talk about seeing it at the show. The float Valerie and I voted for won the Children's Choice award. The dragon did not win, but the kids were excited when it came by.

That evening Ryan's mom and dad came over for fireworks. Grandma, had us play a pioneer game while we waited for it to get dark. We clapped our hands in a pattern and when it was our turn we had to tell something we would put in our wagon. Then for the second version we played modern wagon. Everything you put in your wagon had to either plug in or run on a battery.

It's funny how much times have changed since the pioneers.

When we went out to light the fireworks, it was raining a little.

So Valerie made sure all of the chairs were set up nicely in the garage.

Even though there have been fireworks going off all over the neighborhood all month and Every time Valerie heard or saw one she would happily say "Oh look fireworks." When the fireworks started going off at our house, she decided that she didn't like them anymore. Sitting with Grandma made her feel a little better, but she would not go near the sparklers.

The rest of the kids had fun with them though.

We had a really great show, but with the rain it was a little harder to get the wicks lit so at one point Ryan in his usual pyro fashion got out my blow torch to light one. I guess I am a fun hater, because After he lit the firework I made him put it back away. I didn't want to have to make a trip down to the ER because a mortar went off in someone's face.

I am grateful for our pioneer heritage. They are such a great example to us. I don't know how I would do on a journey like their's, but in our game we played, my modern day wagon had a Durango in it.

Happy Pioneer Day!

Hotel Highlights

Staying at a hotel is always a treat. This trip we stayed at The Crystal Inn.

The boys love it when there is free breakfast. I don't know why, but they always think that is a great feature. Probably because they can try a little of everything.

But the kids favorite feature of staying at a hotel is the

swimming pool.

We went swimming everyday we were in St George.

Including Thursday night.

Emily loves to swim, and has gotten really good at it. She has been working on learning the different strokes this year, and was having fun practicing them in the pool.

Even though the kids have been taking swimming lessons for a few years. Last summer the boys would still not leave the side of the pool. They would hold on for dear life the entire time we were at a pool.

This summer the kids have been taking lessons from a great teacher, and I couldn't believe the difference it has made. Instead of holding on to the edge this trip, Josh was all over the place............as long as he could touch the bottom.

Joe is a lot more confident in the water too. He still likes the swim noodle, but he was willing to leave it on the side for a bit this trip. By the end of our trip the boys were even doing the rocket glides they had learned in class the week before.

Valerie on the other hand is not afraid of the water at all. I took her into the pool the first night and she loved floating around with me on a noodle at first, but then she started wanting to do it herself.

One of her favorite things to do was to Jump to me from the side of the pool. she would jump and I would catch her. then she would say "Again! Again!" After a few jumps I decided to let her go under the water a little on a jump. That time she said, "Towel, I need a towel!"

I thought maybe she would be done with the game after that, but after wiping her face off, she jumped in again. then she wanted to try swimming without me . She kept telling me "Get off! Get off!" Luckily Aunt Jenny had a tube she could borrow. So I could just stay close to her.

Saturday between the wedding and the reception we all went swimming in the pool. The kids loved having Grandma and uncle Jon there to play, because there is nothing better than a good water fight.
When we went to Cedar City last summer, Valerie's Favorite feature of the hotel was the mini fridge in the room...............


I think that was a favorite this time too. After the first night of swimming, she went right to the fridge and got out her leftover spaghetti for a bedtime snack.

Thanks for the fun Trip to St George Grandma and Grandpa!

Put On Your Dancing Shoes

Saturday was the wedding day.

Laura is my age, and so as children we played a lot together when she was visiting my Grandma from St George.

I am so happy for her and her new husband Aaron.

The wedding was at the Dixie Alumni House.

It was so fun to be there, and see everyone.

The kids were very well behaved during the ceremony. They were disappointed when there were no treats at the wedding.

However the Candy Bar at the reception made up for it.

The last half of the reception was dancing.

There were not many adult dancers, but the kids were having fun. Joe was trying to get Valerie to dance with him, but she wanted to do it herself, so I told him he should go ask Great Grandma to dance.

My Grandma was happy to dance with him (after she helped him tie his shoes.) This was my favorite moment of the day. Watching my Grandma teach Joe how to dance.

After that we all took turns dancing with the boys.

Zions National Park

Friday afternoon, after my cousin's Bridal Shower, we headed off to

Zions National Park.

The first hike we went on, was The hike to the Lower Emerald pools. When we got to the pools, it was very wet. there was water running down the rocks. One of the rocks actually looked like it had one of those man made curtain fountains on it. the water was running down in little streams spaced almost perfectly.


On this trail the boys noticed a little side trail that they wanted to go on and explore. So on the way back from the pools we checked it out.

They liked seeing all of the holes in the rocks carved out by the water.

Valerie was a pretty good hiker, but she also liked getting rides for a lot of this hike. Grandpa was happy to let her.

There are so many visitors in Zion now, that you have to take the shuttle to the different stops. Valerie thought the shuttle looked like a train, and she was very happy to go on rides.

There were quite a few dear along the sides of the road. Valerie loved it when we saw the baby dear.

The other hike we went on was called the Riverside Walk. This hike is at the end of the shuttle ride, and the end of this walk starts the beginning of The Narrows.

The path is 1 mile long, but it is a nice easy walk on a paved trail.

It was very pretty.

When we got to the end of the path the kids had fun throwing rocks in the water. I think a couple of them even stuck their toe in it.

I love the red rock of southern Utah.

It is so beautiful.

As the sun went down we headed to get some dinner. We stopped at a place just outside Zions. The kids loved the statues in the restaurant.

Especially this one of Wiley Coyote holding a stick of dynamite!

St George Temple

To finish off my parents visit, we headed down to St George for my Cousin Laura's wedding.

Ryan was not able to Join us on this trip. Sadly his Uncle passed away this week, so he was headed to Las Vegas with his family for the funeral. The kids and I missed having him with us. Especially when we were doing the tourist things.

We arrived in St George Thursday night.

Friday we started our day by visiting the St George Temple Grounds.

We went to the visitors center first, were we watched a presentation on the importance of an eternal family.

The kids noticed that there are a few similar things at this visitors center, like the Statue of Christ and the map of all of the important places Christ went during his ministry.


I really enjoyed going into the annex where they had the history of the St George Temple. I learned a few new things. I did not know that they built The St George temple on a swamp. I also did not know that when it was first built the prophet lived in it when he was in town.

Visiting the temple was a fun way to start off our trip. It is a beautiful temple full of history.