Easter

Easter was great.  Saturday we had an egg hunt at Peter's parents' house.  All the cousins enjoyed hunting for eggs and more importantly eating all the candies in the eggs.  I think Connor was the only one that went home with candy.  The big kids searched for eggs beyond the arbor, while the little kids didn't have to look too hard to find an egg.   Chloe even found an egg and enjoyed snacking on it.

dying eggs

Sunday the Easter bunny left us some pretty cool treats.  Connor got a side loader garbage truck to go along with his rear and front loader ones.  He was so excited, he wouldn't let anyone else touch it for awhile.  It even has a musher handle that you twist and the garbage gets pushed to the back of the hopper.  We have been having a great time making garbage out of junk mail for him to pick up.  Chloe got a bubble blower, which we've had a great time using lately.

This weekend we went out and picked strawberries from the garden.

Peter suggested we give Chloe a fresh strawberry in a mesh feeder...it was quite the mess to clean up, but I think she enjoyed it.  The sides of her chair and the floor looked like part of a crime scene.

Spring Break Road Trip

This week Connor and I had spring break, so we decided to take a road trip and visit some national parks.  We set off on our adventure on Tuesday and drove through Zion after dark, arriving in Panguitch, Utah really late.  Wednesday morning we went to Bryce Canyon, drove down scenic route 12, visited Capitol Reef and stopped for the night in Moab.  Thursday we went to Arches and Canyonlands and stayed the night again in Moab.  We have learned that Moab is a touristy town and next time we need to rent a jeep and do some off-roading.  Friday morning we went to Goblin Valley state park and then headed toward St. George, we drove through Zion again (this time during daylight).  We thought our hotel was in St. George...it wasn't, it was in Huricane, so we doubled back after we picked up some frozen custard in St. George.  Then Saturday-today, we drove the rest of the way home.  We had a great time!  The kids were great in the car.  Chloe napped most of the drive, and Connor had crazy late naps and then was up late.  We also bought a portable DVD player, which kept Connor entertained quite well.

Bryce Canyon National Park

 Connor at the overlook

 Panorama view

 Connor and daddy in a little tunnel

 I love the rocks

Sitting at a lookout point on scenic route 12

Panorama of Capitol Reef

When we arrived at Capitol Reef-the kids were asleep.  I just love this picture-2 kids sleeping and the reflection of Peter and I in the window-we could call it a family portrait.

Peter and I enjoyed Capitol Reef

We stopped at a little old fashioned house that sold fresh pies and pioneer stuff.  We picked up a small pie and some ice cream and had a little picnic outside.

 Connor enjoyed his raspberry ice cream.

 Scenic highway 24

 Arches National Park

Connor and daddy pose in front of Balanced Rock

 Connor and Daddy under an arch-North Window

 Connor enjoyed hiking and climbing up on the rocks

Connor and Mommy hiked out to Turret Arch....we're the little tiny specks in the shady part of the picture.

 Double Arch

 Playing in the sand at the Sand Dune Arch-best place for kids!

 On top of a really big rock

 Connor and Daddy hiked out to Landscape Arch (Connor is on Daddy's back)

 Natural Bridge in Canyonlands-crazy scary drop behind them

 On the way to Goblin Valley State Park we had to maneuver around cows crossing the road.  The cow in front of us was stopping traffic so two others could cross.

 Goblin Valley

 Connor sitting on top of a hoodoo

 Connor and Mommy playing in the dirt

 Chloe and Mommy went back to the car early for some lunch...Chloe finished and then took a rather awkward nap.

 We stopped here for a potty break and Connor posed with some of the locals.

 Then we drove through Zion during daylight

Whew....now I need a vacation from the vacation.