November 30, 2010

More of Day 1 at Lake Powell

Here are just a few more pictures to display our great first day.  (The two man raft was a total hit.  I think there was someone in it most of the trip).



Day 1 Lake Powell

On the first day of our Lake Powell vacation, I was worried about the girls getting sunburned.  I worried about them getting a rash from their life jackets.  I worried about one of them taking off their jackets to play in the water by camp because the "thought" they were safe.

The only one that really was a problem was the rash on their faces from the life jackets.


We met up early in the morning with the other families so that we could all head out together to find a camp site.  There were 5 families (of which I knew 2 of them prior to our early morning meeting).  It took us a bit longer to get on the water than we had planned, but I got everyone from our group really cute t-shirts.  (Thanks Ang, for finding the one for Scott).

We found the campsite very quickly and everyone was very pleased with the location and the beach. We quickly set up camp and headed out for some playtime on the lake.

Jade decided to be a hotshot on the wake board and did a quick 180 without us realizing she was doing it until she was cruising along with her other foot forward.

Ivy was happy to just be in the boat and swim only occasionally

While dinner was getting prepared (each family had a days worth of meals to prepare for everyone - a great way to do it), the men went out for a little bit of wake boarding.  (The boat is sitting so low because of the 3 extra ballasts to improve the wake).




November 29, 2010

More Images of Lake Powell






Images of Lake Powell

I went to Lake Powell once when I was little.  I didn't like it much then.  Sure, it was pretty but it scared me and I wasn't much into wake boarding or water skiing.  But this year I experienced Lake Powell again and had an absolute blast.

Here are the first of a many images to come.




November 27, 2010

A Production to see a Production

A year ago Scott’s mom gave us a call and asked us if we wanted to see the touring production of “The Lion King” and I immediately said yes and crossed my fingers that Ivy would be old enough to enjoy it.  Any time we started planning something for the summer, we would double-check the dates for  our tickets so that we made sure not to mess us up.
A couple of weeks before the show, the girls saw these adorable skirts at Costco.  They started begging us to get them.  We told them no and walked past them.  A few days later I went back and got them without the girls knowing.  (Okay I kept it a secret only as long as it took me to get home because they saw them in the back of the car).  Every day they would ask when they were going to get to wear their skirts.
The day finally came and I laid out their skirts.  They were so excited and knew we were doing something special.  They knew that I wouldn’t let them wear their skirts because I had them hidden for weeks.  Oh, I had told them we were going to see “The Lion King” but it didn’t really mean anything to them.  They’d seen the movie and had no idea what to expect.  And I opted out of showing them clips on YouTube, mostly because I didn’t want them to have preconceived notions about whether or not they would enjoy it.  (If I had it to do over again, I would still not show them any video footage, their surprise was priceless).
The girls were so excited.
We like to go to dinner before we go to the theater.  If it is just grown ups, we prefer to go to the New Yorker in downtown.  But when we go with a group of kids the New Yorker isn’t really appropriate.  So, we decided on the Old Spaghetti Factory.  This is one of my girls’ favorite places to eat.  They have a fantastic kids menu, and they will allow you to select items from the grown up menu (like mizithra cheese with browned butter) and have in kids portions.  Plus, the ice cream for dessert is always a special treat.  Ivy gets vanilla and Jade gets spumoni.
After the yummy meal of pasta, sour dough bread with garlic butter and ice cream, we were on our way to enjoy the evening.

Scott dropped us off by the door and we did a quick photo shoot while we waited.  Then while we were hanging out, my dad saw an old friend that had just been interviewed by the press.  My mom had my dad’s ticket and she was already inside.  So, my dad walked in with his friend and no one ever asked to see his ticket.  Which was good, since my mm was nowhere to be found.
As the show began, the girls were wide-eyed and gaping mouthed.  It was so fun to look over at them and see their excitement.  That face continued through the whole show.
Our one mistake for the evening?  We went to the bathroom during intermission and had to wait in a FOREVER long line.  By the time it was our turn, the intermission had ended and we missed the big production number.  Of course it was the one number when the animals were up by our seats.  The girls were pretty bummed to miss it, but we saw the actors out in the hall before they went on stage.
Final remarks from the family members?
“That was AWESOME!”
“I could watch that show constantly”
“When I close my eyes, I can still see it.”
Next year the show is Mary Poppins.  I can’t wait to take the girls.  I’ve heard amazing things about it and think their eyes will be just as wide when she comes floating in with her umbrella.

November 26, 2010

Some quick photos

The girls were all fixed up for the "Lion King", so I had to take advantage of the situation and take some pictures of my little girls.  Jade asked to lay down in the rocks because she thought the background would be really cool.  She was totally right.

Ivy wasn't so thrilled with the photo shoot so I had to capture some candids of her.

Our beautiful niece was with us, so i took a couple of her.  Isn't she a beautiful 12 year old?  She's incredibly tall as well.



November 25, 2010

Goofy Girls



After work, while I was fixing dinner, the girls were outside playing.  I took a break to check on them and this is what I found.  Both getting along perfectly and enjoying a pretend picnic on the trampoline.  

November 24, 2010

Apple School

Ivy started "Apple School" a couple days after she started "Sunshine School".  I took the time off in the morning to take her and pick her up.  She was so excited.  Her friend, Ella (from Sunshine School) is also in her class.  She loves having a friend to go with.




She immediately sat down and was ready to start working.  This little girl LOVES school.  She's decided that she wants to be a doctor when she grows up and she's okay with the extra gazillion years of school she'll have to do.  She's also decided that she would like to be a teacher and feels there is no reason she shouldn't be able to do both.

By the way, Jade would like to be something that has to do with math and she also wants to be an artist.  

November 23, 2010

Ivy's First Day of "school"

I've never seen a child more excited about starting school  She was up bright and early and was bouncing off the walls because she got to start school.  I love that about her.  She always finds the joy in new things.

After school she was so excited about all of the new friends that she had made.  She is especially fond of Gillian, Katie and Brooke.  I have a feeling she's going to have no problems making life long friends - hundreds of them.




This last picture is one of my all time favorite Jade and Ivy pictures.  I love the soft edit, but Scott prefers it with more pop.  Would you like it better in the brightness of the first 2 pictures?

November 22, 2010

First Day of School

I LOVE the first day of school.  I love doing the before school photo shoot because both girls are excited and ready for their first day.  I can't believe that Jade is in 2nd grade already.  I want my life with the girls to SLOW down but I want my time at work to SPEED up.  I wish there was a way to make that happen.

Have I mentioned before that I absolutely adore uniforms?  It is fun that they can express some of their own style but that everyone looks like they are from the same economical and social background.  You can't tell the kids that spend a fortune on their clothes from the kids that are wearing 3rd degree hand-me-downs.

Jade had an "awesome" first day.  She made a new friend and she decided to do Arabic instead of Spanish.  (Despite me telling her teacher she was going to do Spanish).  I'm actually okay with her switching and going after something that she really wants to do.  And I'm okay with her wanting to be with one of her close friends.





After Jade left to school, I took a quick picture with my little Ivy since she didn't start school that day.

November 21, 2010

Last outing before School

Just before school started we went on the boat with the cousins.   Ivy got in the water but didn't spend much time playing.  It was a little colder than she likes.  Jade, as always, spent most of her time in the water one way or another.

Scott has come up with a new favorite game on the tube.  The kids stand on it and then he pulls it in quickly and they fall off.  The contest is to see who can stay standing the longest.

And as always, the kids (and Uncle Mike) love the challenge of getting as much air as possible.



November 19, 2010

Date Night on the boat

As the season was coming to a close, we managed to get one more date night in.  This time we went with Heather and Jason.  Heather made a great effort and is planning on getting up next year.  Jason has turned into a bit of a hot shot on the board.  And I am starting to feel much more comfortable on my board.  Scott, as always is so much fun to watch.  Each time he's getting more air and jumping farther across the wake.

We always have a great time with Jason and Heather.




November 17, 2010

My Husband - the X-gamer

I love watching Scott on the wake board.  From the time we started dating, Scott has talked about his love for boating.  He has many wonderful memories on a boat.  He's always talked about his comfort on a lake.  It wasn't until a few years ago that I got to see that love first hand.  I knew after watching him that day two years ago that it wouldn't be long before we had a boat of our own.

We've just finished our first full season with a boat.  He's a happy man when he's had time out on the boat.  These pictures just might show you how much he loves it.



November 16, 2010

Back to School Haircuts

The girls had been begging to go to Cookie Cutters for their back to school haircut.  I caved and took them.  They loved the whole thing.  The loved getting their hair washed in the sink.  Loved watching a movie while they sat in silly chairs for their hair cut.  Once they were done they got adorable up dos and we were on our way.  It was a very fun day of pampering for my two little girls.




November 15, 2010

A Boys Outing


While we were hiking to Stewart Falls, Scott and friends were riding to the big rock at the Sand Dunes. He doesn't take very many pictures when he goes four wheeling, so I have to post the few when he does.

November 14, 2010

Stewart Falls - Sundance

I love hiking.  It is something that I grew up doing, and loving.  My girls have gone on a few hikes over the years, but we always end up carrying Ivy part of the way. That has meant that we have not done a lot of hikes.

It has been two years now since I broke my foot. I decided that it had been long enough since my accident and it was time to take the girls hiking.  Plus, Ivy is old enough now that she should be able to do a simple hike without being carried.

Kat and I decided that Stewart Falls was an easy enough hike to start out with. We put Zachary in our Kelty backpack and had a great hike.  (Z didn't LOVE the pack but he got used to it and did pretty well).  Ivy walked the WHOLE way even though she wasn't fast by any means.

They loved the waterfall and everyone (but Z) asked to go on another hike soon.

I can't wait to do more hikes with them.