More zions, the phone version

This is from the top of Watchman's Trail. 

This is at the top of Hidden Canyon.

This hike was pretty intense.  There is a narrow "path" going along the edge of the rock mountain.  There is a chain that is hooked into the rock that you are supposed to hold as you are walking, lest you slip and fall off the edge.  I think that is why the kids like it so much.  Not only was it beautiful, but it was so great to get to the end and know that you accomplished it.  People saw us and thought we were crazy.  Taking 12 kids on that kind of hike?  That isn't crazy, that is living life!

That one time it snowed. And other random stuff.

We like to play games around these parts.  Sometimes I like to just sit and watch them play, because they are so cute.  On this day (below) the little kids were playing headbands with Skyler.  Hunter was actually playing the game the right way.  He would ask questions and then guess what he was, and most of the time he would get it right.  He would then answer the questions correctly when someone else was asking them. It made to just sit back and admire his cuteness and wonder, when did he get big enough to play games with everyone??  

If you know Lorilei, you know that she loves stuffed animals.  Her bed is a pile of animals/dolls with a spot for her head.  She has to have specific ones with her in bed at all times.  I have spent a lot of nights searching for animals that she played with during the day that are supposed to be in her bed.  Which promoted the rule, if it isn't in your bed when you go to bed, then you don't get it. Sorry. Well she got this penguin from the aquarium and, of course, had to take it outside with her.  But it was cold, so she zipped her penguin up in the coat.  I thought penguins lived in a cold climate?  

Sometimes, being 3 is hard...

And sometimes there is a lot of love....

One time it snowed....and 3 hours later the snow was gone.  But not before we played in it.  All 1.5 inches of it.  

Living Planet Aquarium

I took the little kids to the aquarium today.  I had a couple of extra kids, whom I babysit a couple of times a week with us, so it was just like old times when all my kids were little. :)  Skyler met us there for a little bit, and the kids were really good while he was there.  Once he left, Hunter thought it was his job to scare me and make it a lot less fun.  It is okay though, because, like I said, it was just like going back to the "old days". 

We saw the prettiest little bird right here. (I was pointing it out to Lorilei) I am so mad I forgot my good camera, or I could have gotten a picture.  It was blue and green with a little yellow.  

Capri was a little nervous about getting close to the fish tanks.  She didn't really understand that there was glass in between her and the water so she was a little hesitant to get close until I helped he touch the glass.  I wish my kids were that cautious. 

The penguins were in rare form when we saw them.  Swimming all over and playing around together.  The girls would scream when they would come close and then laugh at themselves.  We were pretty much the only people there at the time so it was really fun and the penguins were interested in us too. 

A penguin just swam next to us.  You can't beat the look of delight on her little face.

my babies...growing up.

Peeking inside of a fish tank.

These two were so cute. They went to this table and pick up stuff and were asking the person who worked there what everything was.  Hunter actually had questions for her.  It was cracking me up.

We love to see the sharks, but today was extra fun.  It was feeding time!  Leading up to the time to feed all the fish/turtles/sharks got excited and were all swimming around like crazy.  It was so cool.  There are a lot more sharks in there than I saw last time.  Turns out there are a lot of spots we can't see where they hide.  I really enjoyed this part.  Except for the fact that Hunter refused to stay by me and kept deciding he was big enough to be on his own.  The little stinker!

All in all it was a really great day.  They even got to pick out a prize at the end,  

Here's to more adventures!

Random stuff

Hunter is super cool riding in a UTV in St. George.  The hair,  the glasses, the belly, I just love it. 

When we got to the house we were staying at, the kids pulled down the blinds and a lizard fell out.  Don't worry, it wasn't a dirty place, just a sneaky lizard.

I took Jaxon to scouts, when I came back these two were asleep watching a movie.  I woke them up and gave them candy since it wasn't time to sleep yet. ;) I know, worst mother award.