Pine Valley Campgrounds

At the end of July, we took our first camping trip of the year. Mike and I invited our friends Jon and Nicole. All of us, including Ella, headed out for a one night camping and fishing trip on a Friday night. The camping area is about forty minutes from St. George and a heck of a lot cooler. Ella was a huge help as we set up camp. She would continue to jump on the tents as we tried to erect them. Once the tents were up, then she would jump around inside the tent. Weather wise, there was a nice cool breeze and a light shower in the middle of the night. The next morning after breakfast we went fishing at a nearby lake. The fish were not so big but Ella really enjoy helping her dad reel in the fish.

4th of July 2008

This year for the 4th of July, Mike, Ella and I had a full day ahead of us. We started out the day traveling up to Kanarraville, which is halfway between St. George and Cedar City. In Kanarraville, there is a hiking trail head with some small water falls called the Kanarraville Falls at the end of the trail. We found hiking in the river was much less strenuous on our bodies as trying to hike on the trail itself. Ella really loved to be in the water. She was splashing around and falling in the water. It was ideal considering the hot weather. After we went hiking, golfing at Sky Mountain Golf Resort was next on the agenda. The conditions were just right for me to attempt to play. There was not another soul on the course so I could take my time and Ella could play. She would help in every way we wanted her to help as well as numerous ways we did not. I just know I do not really have patience for the game at this point of my life.

Hiking the Subway

In June 2008, Mike, Jon, Bryan, and Josh hiked the Subway by Zion National Park. It was a day with the just the guys. Mike and Jon took a repelling class a couple of days before so they could be prepared for the hike through the Subway. The hike consists of repelling down into the water, walking through the water as well as swimming. The guys were gone for most of the day and just could not stop talking and laughing about the day's events. I just know when Mike returned home, he did not smell of a wonderful odor. I could not understand how they all rode home together smelling in such a way. He just stated, "We rode home with the windows down".

Hiking the Narrows with Friends

In May 2008, Mike and I hiked in the Narrows in Zion National Park with friends, Jon and Nicole. I have know Jon from the Bed, Bath and Beyond in Layton since 2003. All of us now work at the Bed, Bath and Beyond in Washington, Utah. They are wonderful friends of ours and great with Ella. As they help us out on occasion with Ella. The water in the Narrows was quite cool. All right is was down right COLD!!! As we hiked through the Narrows, the hike was on and off in the water but we couldn't feel our feet at all. The scenery back in the Narrows is amazing. Just breathtaking. We hope you enjoy the pictures.

The Sandbox

Today is Saturday. Ella received a late birthday gift last weekend from my parents. It is a sandbox from Little Tikes, so today we ventured to The Home Depot to purchase some play sand to put inside of it. She is enjoying every bit of the fun of being outdoors and playing in the sand. The sandbox has a bench and table attached so she can eat lunch and continue playing. I introduced to her a bucket of water to wash her hands and not to my surprise she has created a BIG mess. Ella is three now and that is what three year olds do. Right.

One Saturday Afternoon

On the Saturday before Mother's Day, my mom and dad, Mike, Ella and I went for a ride to Mt. Trumbel. One of the stops along the way was the Mt. Trumbel schoolhouse. It had burned down earlier and has since been rebuilt. It is still a work in progress. Mike blurted out from nowhere "it is no Chichen Itza". For those of you who are not familiar with the comment, Mike and I went to Cancun last year and saw Chichen Itza. It is one of the seven (or eight now) wonders of the world. A little further down the road we stopped to eat lunch and have a break. It was a fun time.

Mike, Dave and Nature

On April 7th and 8th, Mike, I and Ella had the opportunity to spend the day with an old high school friend, Dave Carlson, his wife, Kelly and their daughter, Charlotte. Charlotte is 9 months old. All of us spent the day together. We ate lunch at JB's Restaurant and yes, the kids were really good. After lunch, we headed hiking up on the Kolob. The little girls were in the back packs (pack pack, as Ella calls it) and enjoyed every minute of it. Mike, I and Ella really enjoyed the time we spent just reminising about old times and talking about our new lives we have formed. Ella made a friend for life. She just loved Charlotte.

Ella's Birthday (Blue Bunny)

After going to the Kite Festival, Ella, Mike, I, and my mom and dad went to the Blue Bunny for ice cream to celebrate her birthday. Ella loves the Blue Bunny. She ate cotton candy ice cream and loved it. For her birthday, Mike and I gave her a fish tank and she was able to pick out her own fish. She started out the a blue beta named Julio and last week got three more glo fish named Flo, Moe and Joe. She helps us feed them every morning and night. She even reads her books to them.