Addyson is 5!

I was trying to figure out yesterday why I was more excited for Addy's Birthday party when she was little. I figured it out as soon as Addy and I started making the 17 cupcakes for her preschool class. We had come up with an idea to make blue cupcakes with gummy frogs on top. I also grabbed some candy that I could cut a lily pad and flower out of. All was good. I figured it was her birthday she can choose what she wants. She wanted a horse cake for her birthday party. I decided we would do a green frosting cake with plastic horses on top. We limited her birthday party to her closest friends. Three girls and one boy. I figured an Easter egg hunt was good. While we were creating everything she must have told me "no" about 100 times. It was then I realized it was more fun for mom when she couldn't give me her opinion and was just happy to do the task I asked her to do! Dad experienced this when he found out that I was going to give the kids money in the eggs. All the eggs. I hated the thought of buying MORE candy for the kids who already are overloaded with sugar and I hated to spend money on crappy cheap toys that will end up in the dump. It didn't help matters either that I was going to make the one and only boy coming to the party have the purple eggs. He needs blue said Daron. "Blue is Addy's favorite color too" I stated and it was her birthday after all. Daron ran to the store and bought eggs that looked like sports balls for the boy (awesome Dad that he is) and he bought candy and toys. Daron asked Addy to help him fill the eggs and found out quickly that she wanted it her way. The kicker was when Addy and I came home from preschool the next day and Daron said "I just hid all the eggs." Addy said "No" and found every single egg (30 eggs to be "egg"act)and re-hid them. She re-hid them so good that it took all of us to find the last four eggs! When the party was over I was sooooo relieved. I have no idea why I was so stressed about the party but I was. Addy told Daron she had fun and in the end that is all that matters.

Addy's Favorite Cousins Visit!!!

This is the last Tuesday night with my four year old.  Next Tuesday she will be five.  It is exciting and sad.  I will miss the little girl that was learning to talk.  The only hint of that baby talk kids have while learning to speak is the way she says animal.  She still says aminal.  Tonight I heard her say "Dad isn't it frustrating when your nose keeps running."  She crosses her legs in her car seat and folds her hands in her lap.  She still has her cute little grin that I am sure she will never lose.  She told Dad and I that we were both being mean to her last night because we asked her to clean up her room.  She was mad at us! 

Anyhow, I got online here tonight to post some of the photos from Daron's brother Jason and his family's visit.  It was awesome. We went to Zion and hiked, Jason and Hayden volunteered at Best Friends, we hiked the Bunting trail in Kanab and then for the finale we hiked a slot canyon called Buckskin Gulch and Wire Pass about 30 minutes from Kanab.

Best Cousins at Best Friends

Buckskin Gulch

Zion National Park

 

Kitty Clothes and Mozzerella Cheese

Mommy did the Wave!

One of my favorite things to do is take a Saturday and go with some friends on a hike.  A 3 - 5 hour hike.  Last Saturday Addy and Daddy stayed home and worked in the yard and Kim, Travis, Bob and I headed to Buckskin Gorge and the Wave. Bob is a local architect and has been on many hikes so he served as our guide. It was so much fun.  Kim and I were dragging for a little of it but we were inspired by the gorgeous scenery and pushed on.

What happens when a motel owner, architect and educator hike?

Travel magazine said this about the Wave

The Wave, Coyote Buttes, AZ and UT

Wind and rain have worked their magic, eroding lines that swoop and swirl across the sandstone formation. The result, which resembles a cresting wave, is one of the most photographed—if not easy to reach—spots in the American West. A permit is required to make the unmarked hike to the Wave, and only 20 are given out daily. It’s almost easier to make the journey to southwest Australia to see the Wave’s down under counterpart, Wave Rock.

Might have to check out wave rock in Australia~

February

Sonoma photos from Kelly last August

Happy Birthday Mary 2.18

Happy Birthday Mom!  February 18th We Love You!  I have been terrible with keeping up with the blog and I am so sorry!

It is awesome when your 72 year old dad calls you accidentally (he was trying to text me on his new cell) from a party where the music is way loud. I am in a different time zone two hours earlier watching a show on my computer in bed. He said the music was too loud so he would catch up with me tomorrow.