Bryce Canyon

I finally dusted off my camera and started taking pictures!! Wahoo!! It has been a real problem. The whole not taking pictures thing.. a problem. The only problem with whipping that baby out is that I love all my pictures!! We decided to take a mini vacation down to Southern Utah. My friend told us about this fun place right outside Bryce Canyon where you can stay in Teepees and camp. FUN?! Now if you know me.. you know that I am NOT much of a camper at all. I decided to take one for the team and give it a go. I think we all decided that we are NOT a camping family. Even though we are NOT big campers I have to say that it was still so awesome!! It isn't every day that you get to sleep in a teepee.. but we probably won't start camping every weekend.

This lady LOVED camping!! She might as well of ran around naked and rolled in the dirt. Wait she pretty much did all two days that we camped. She was in camping heaven.. yep.. LOVED. EVERY. MINUTE. OF. IT!!

Bryce canyon was breathe taking. Really incredible. I really enjoyed hiking in it.. exploring.. and even just driving around in the AC. This is my attempt at a photo with our 5 children .. They are crazy!! I'm not sure yet if they are crazy in a good way! I will have to get back to you on that one.

 That is a little better.

 The next morning these two pyros were up bright and early doing the fire thing. Pretty much loving their world.

 The girls in the teepee! This is pretty much how Lola wakes up every morning. She is NOT.. I repeat NOT a morning person! She is really in the wrong family to be a night owl.. but darn it.. she is!

 The boys!

 We decided that even though it was very hot we still needed to see Bryce Canyon and hike around a bit. There was a hike that was definitely too HOT .. too LONG... and too HARD for for our crew, but we did it anyway. I am so glad we did. We were able to hike right down into the Hoodoo's. It was incredible.

 As you can see Jacq was pretty excited about camping/hiking/being super HOT on vacation. :)

 There she is.. she found herself a smile!

Say Cheese!

 People made Hoodoos!! Wahoo! We stopped and made a few but my camera died!

 This was our hike up! Woof. In the shade it wasn't too bad. Once you hit the sun, it got HOT.. really HOT .. really fast!!

This was on another hike.. these two.. I tell you.. they just can't be "normal" EVER!!! 

 It makes me smile..

 And slow down a little..  I know I need to slow down and enjoy these funny random moments....

 Max is starting to be a big helper and we love it!! He is just a good nature d boy!

I love her freckles. Cutest freckles ever.. Those cute brown specs on her nose. Love them.

My Bugga. My spunk. She is my firecracker. I will forever stay young with this lady around.

We can't go anywhere and not find a pool to play in.. so we did lots and lots of swimming while we were at Bryce Canyon.. Oh.. how I love Goggle pictures!! Love them!!

More love for them..

I just can't stop posting them..

Alexander.

Ok.. moving on.. here is my fearless Bug. She loves the water.. Every. Single. Day. she wants to go to the pool!!

One more of her because she is right in her element.

Oh! Oh! Oh! The only think I love more than goggles are bum bitters.. Ha!

This is kind of turning into an "all about Lola"  post. GO Lola!

 On to the boys.. This day was trick day at the pool.. Oh yeah baby...

I even have one picture with no goggles.. what is wrong with me?? Love him posing for my camera.

The little town outside Bryce Canyon had some fun tourist things..  I like this one..  Free babysitting?

This one made me chuckle.. those two.. they are sure buddies sometimes..

Now that was a lot of pictures!! What a trip.. there may have been a little bickering... and whining about the dirt.. and heat.. and sweat.. and camping.. but overall it was a pretty awesome trip. It's not every day you get to stay in a teepee.. and hike through the hoodoos!!

Grandma Lettie

I can not tell you how much love I have for this special lady! If there is anyone out there that actually still reads this blog and doesn't know who this lady is.. this is Lettie. Our Grandma Lettie. I have had a unique opportunity to care for her and I can not tell you what an amazing experience it has been not only for me, but for our entire family. I really could go on and on about all the incredible stories and what a big impact having her in our life has been. There was a time that I really worried the day would come that she might no longer remember who I was.. There are days that I wonder if she know my name. Honestly.. it doesn't even matter. When I walk in the door of her current residents she knows me. Her face lights up like you would not believe. I usually talk to all her friends along my way to her, but she knows that I am there to see her. Always. I think her favorite line when I ask her how she is doing is, "I am so great now that you are here!" And that is awesome!! She really says it to everyone! And I believe she means it! As people age they lose so much of their independence and it has been heart breaking for me see her struggle with this.. but I believe that she is a women full of grace. Full of love. I am proud to say that she is my Grandma. I love you Grandma Lettie. xo.

Stewart falls

Love this hike. It really is such a beautiful hike. 

This girl is SO independent. 

When I mean "SO independent." I mean it! "Catch me if you can!"

 Stop my heart. I love this crew. Seriously. SO STINKIN' CUTE!

 Crossing the river.. 

 Twins. "We're like one!" Whenever I see pictures of these two like this I hear that phrase.. a phrase they use all the time.. "we're like one!" echo in my head. They are the best of friends for sure.

 We made it. What a great day. Grateful that I get to call them my family. 

Hiking.

We thought we would brave the Three ponds hike, this year. It is a pretty flat hike with natural ponds at the end. Some of the children thought they would never make it. Longest hike ever! 

It was still a lot of fun taking this crew up. 

It's Go time. They are still pretty excited about hiking here. 

 Lola and her dad. Lola loves her dad so much! 

 These two girlies are the bestest of friends most days.. CUTE!

 The little crew.. 

 Our family ready to go!

 Sissy with her girls.

 My lady. She is a hiker.

 Max. 

Maybe not so much a good hiker. 

Let's be honest there are a lot of other things he would rather be doing, but he is a good sport.

 One of the ponds. They didn't hesitate to hop right on in. 

Alexander. 

 Barrett boy.

 We had a pond all to ourselves. It was super duper fun.

 Sissys!

 My Barrett boy.

 Go Jacq GO!

 Love that Hailey collected flowers on the way back to the car.. so pretty.

Bringing up the rear.. They made it.. YEAH!