About the field trip...

The kids came to a consensus.

By far, their favorite parts were:

1. Finding a water bottle in the fire truck

2. Riding on the school bus

3. Seeing grasshoppers on the runway

Kindergarten field trip!

Climbing around in the fire truck:





Elizabeth gets to use the fire hose:



The water pressure was at .5




In another truck:





Hanging from the ladder:



She got to wear a real fire helmet:



And a coat:



I love this picture:



Elizabeth and Elle:



At the airport:





We saw several planes land and take off again:

From our visit to California

This was what happened when we first got out of the car at Grandma and Grandpa's house and the streets were filled with petals:

After a long, long night

*ahem* Yes, as I was saying, about life being busy and all...

The kitchen:



Find the monkey:



Our guest room/office, one of my favorite rooms:



The monkey room:



Find the other monkey:



The landing:



The powder room -- my other favorite room, because it was the first one finished when we moved in:

You reading this, be gratified!

Patient readers:

Your perseverance will be rewarded.  Later today you will find in this space not one but several long-awaited updates, including photographs.  

Do not yield to your frustrations.  Your longsuffering is almost ended.

Until then, may this succor you:

After listening to Elizabeth's alarm clock shake the walls for five minutes, I ventured into her room to rouse her.  She was still in bed with the covers pulled up protectively over her ears.  Then this conversation took place:

Me: Honey, I think we need to get you a louder alarm clock.

Elizabeth: Like a rooster?

Story time

Elizabeth, yesterday morning, while helping Angela put on her socks:

"Once upon a time, there was a sock that was looking for a home on a little foot."

How can you sleep through this??

While I'm downstairs updating this blog, the kids' alarm clock goes off. It's set for 7:30 am.

It's now 7:37 and the alarm is still going.

I checked on the girls, and they're both curled up with the covers over their heads. The alarm is blaring.

7:38 and counting.

ETA: I went upstairs, turned off the alarm and said, "Time to get up, sweeties!" Both of them groaned and protested. Then Elizabeth fell back asleep (probably thinking, "Finally! It's quiet enough to sleep!") but Angela stood up, stretched out her arms, and said, "I haven't had any loves today."

Elizabeth's Great Success!

Yesterday marked an amazing accomplishment:

Elizabeth hiked to the Upper Emerald Pool in Zion!
It's three miles, round trip, and quite rigorous, especially the last .6 miles to the Upper Pool (in the picture).

I was certain we would make it just to the Lower Pool before the little ones started complaining about aching and tired feet, but both climbed up to the Middle Pool unassisted, dragging sticks to mark the path for the rest of us to follow.

Angela turned back at the Middle Pool, and Elizabeth, full of energy, kept on the steep, rocky trail to the Upper Pool.

This was also my first time to the top, since the kids have never before wanted to hike that far and I don't hike by myself.

I didn't bring my camera, so the above picture isn't mine. What we saw looked a lot like that, just with less snow and less water. Spring hasn't reached Zion yet.

I'll go back when it has.




The wonderful website www.zionnational-park.com describes the trails like this:

The Lower Emerald Pool is a favorite of families with kids. The path also leads to two more unique pools which are more difficult than Weeping Rock or Riverside Walk, but it is still an acceptable hike for older children.

Congratulations, Elizabeth!