Moab '08

Or as we affectionately refer to it, "Flash Flood Fiasco"!!! 

We had quite the trip this year. When I found out we were going at the end of May I thought, Oh Great!! It is going to be so hot!! But every time I checked the weather forecast before leaving, the temperature was lower and the chance of rain was higher. That was fine with me since I would rather have to wear a jacket in Moab than endure 110 degree heat and sun. 

I didn't tell the kids we were going until the morning we left which was so fun for me to have such a good secret to keep. I videotaped the kids response when I told them which was pretty funny. They just sat there looking at each other trying to decide whether to believe me or if it was all a cruel joke. Then they started yelling and jumping on my bed. We made it to Utah and Moab and started our fun vacation . . . 

This is what we call the "Indian Ladder" on the East side of the river and Collin climbing by some Petroglyphs along Potash Road. . . all pre-flood. 

As we started hiking out to Corona arch it started lightly raining and Collin fell along the way, which I should have taken as a bad omen but we kept going. The rain was getting worse and the temperature felt like it just kept dropping and then it started hailing. We were almost at the arch, but our pants were falling off from being saturated and Grace and Lia (the "Pink Posse" as Jessica was calling them) started crying so we finally turned around. That's when I heard what sounded like a waterfall, but that was impossible because there hadn't been any on the way up. I looked around to see what it could be, and this is what I saw . . . not one, but many!

            Picture courtesy of Ems

This just does not do justice to the weather we were experiencing. I could barely see what I was taking pictures of because of the rain and hail. When we got to where we had climbed up some rocks on the way up, we found a river so we had to find a new route out. 


The kids were soaked to the bone with freezing rain and hail and were both BAWLING when we got to the car (notice the rain on my camera and it was so cold it was fogging up). I think their rain jackets actually made them more cold than if they hadn't had them on! I gave them cookies, turned the heater up and promised them we'd get in the hot tub when we got back to the hotel. And they made me promise we wouldn't do any more hiking in the rain, which I was glad to oblige. 

The next day we hiked to Delicate arch and this year, we all made it so it was a new experience. 

Christian, Grace, Lia and Collin on the way up.


It was a very memorable trip and we can't wait for next year!!

Mothers Day = Cupcakes

Boy, I got spoiled this weekend! Saturday, Jon took the kids to see Speed Racer and when they came home, they had one of my favorite sites in the world - the unmistakable pink bakery box full of my favorite cupcakes (the picture on the left: 2 Black Forest, a flowery vanilla, "plain" strawberry and a "chocolate covered strawberry")

Yesterday I got woken up with breakfast in bed and new slippers. I got to lounge around and read (undisturbed !!) in my room and when I came down the house smelled so good with dinner cooking. Grace had suggested they make cupcakes for me for dessert (like I needed more!) and they were so good - chocolate coconut cupcakes (picture on the right). I was sick by the end of the day, but felt very loved. Thanks guys!!!

Moms

Since tomorrow is Mothers Day, I will take this opportunity to say THANK YOU and Happy Mothers Day to my mom and Sue - my Mother-in-law! I don't think words could encompass all that I feel for them, so I will just share the first thing that comes to mind when I think of them . . . 

Sarah, Laura, mom, baby Ems and me (the one with feathers in her hair) in clothes that I am sure my mom sewed . . . 

My mom is the most all-around crafty person I know. She can cook, draw, paint, crochet, sew, hook rugs, lace, knit and the list goes on. I like to tell people that she knits from scratch. Meaning that she starts with a bag of dirty, newly sheared wool, cleans it, cards it, dyes it, spins it (on her very own spinning wheel), makes her own pattern and THEN knits the item. Unfortunately, none of these talents passed through the gene pool to me, which is why I am always amazed at what she can do. I love you mom!

Howard, Sue and Jon at our wedding. One of my favorite pictures of Sue (she doesn't like to be photographed).

Although I don't call Sue "mom" she definitely is my second mom. The thing that I can't imagine Sue without is a smile. She is such an optimist and is always in a good mood. That is a rare quality and one that I hope to have some day! I love you Sue!

Onolicious

We had a fun weekend - at least food wise. Jon found a Hawaiian restaurant called Aloha Grill that he wanted to try out. I was less excited about it since there is usually nothing I can really eat. I was pleasantly surprised that it was actually pretty healthy Hawaiian! Yes, they had Spam Musubi (which should show you the joints authenticity) and other traditional fare, BUT you can choose between white and brown rice, and you get your choice of two types of salad - the traditional Macaroni, green papaya or green salad, which was really green. They also had Malasadas which were not Leonard's standard, but were still good. The highlight of the meal though seemed to be the Pineapple Mango Pearl Tapioca Smoothie we got. The kids LOVED getting the chewy balls and are already talking about which smoothie we are getting the next time we go to Aloha Grill.

P.S. Sorry about the bad pictures. I didn't want to make a scene by taking them. The one of Grace is her trying to suck up a HUGE pearl of Tapioca through a regular size straw.