April 29, 2018

Cam showed me some pics of her and her friends that Brooke's mom took on Friday and they are so cute. 

(Cam, Brooke, Ashlyn, Amy, Grace)

April 28, 2018

To wrap up the amazing hiking weekend, we hiked Kanarraville Falls on the way home.  So pretty!  Of cours no one mentions the hot and not pretty 3/4 mile at the first.  Probably because once you get to the pretty, the first part becomes insignificant.  We made it to the second ladder which I hadn't been to before and that part was gorgeous!  The narrower slot and the falls - so pretty!  But the water was freeeezing.  We saw a lot of kids crying from the cold water.  This hike is so cool because the first falls is pretty and you think - wow.  But then you get above that and it's double wow.  And then you get to the last part and it is beyond wow.

What an amazing and beautiful hiking weekend.  Three totally awesome Southern Utah iconic hikes.

Highlights -

• Seeing the sunrise in Zion over the red rock.
• The first part of Angels Landing hike when the sun begins to light the valley.
• Having a port a potty at Scout Landing.  For emergencies only - well it was an emergency.  :)
• Patty encouraging me through the times I wanted to turn around. 
• Talking with 2 random girls to get my mind off the scariness.
• Seeing the uphill crazy ridge and thinking - who does that?  Apparently us and a lot of other people.
• Looking into the valley from the top.
• Eating some PB M&Ms at the top. 
• Patient people at the top for the picture spot, and coming down the chains.
• Getting back down the chains.
• Eating lunch on a rock while putting our feet in the river.
• Seeing all the green and the contrast with the red rock.
• Pleasant water temperature for The Narrows.
• Going around the rock in the water instead of on the sand and the water ending up chest high.  (Much colder water at chest level. :))
• Coming back to the house we stayed at to some home cooking.
• Being in awe at the beauty of the Kanarraville second waterfall.
• Having 15 minutes of solitude at the waterfall before a big group of people came.  
• Sharing all this with my BFF from college.

April 27, 2018

I've been wanting to check Angels Landing off the list for awhile now but knew I'd need someone to push and encourage me through the chain section.  Patty was just the person for the job.  Especially since she invited me to go to Zion with her and set up arrangements for us.  :). Well I checked it off and definitely needed the encouragement as I almost turned around a couple of times.

We took the first shuttle bus into the canyon at 7am and were done hiking at 10:30 so we decided to check out The Narrows.  Well the water wasn't freezing so we hiked up about 90 minutes before turning around.  When in Rome - er Zion - do as the Zioners.

What a great day in Zion.  I was reminded how beautiful that place is.  Red rock and green trees and views for miles.  Sigh.  I love that I live only 5 hours from there.

April 25, 2018

Facebook has been good to me this week. First, Sister Hansen posted a video of Mason and Elder B playing with her kids - throwing soft little balls around with everyone having fun, and then someone posted some pictures of zone conference and there was one of Mason and Elder B.

April 23, 2018

I do love email day.  Mason sounds so good.  The Lehi boys are working hard and I just love hearing from him.  He has a great attitude.

April 21, 2018

Happy Kenzie's birthday!  Top golf and REAL soccer to celebrate (even though K and T didn't come to the REAL game with us.  :))

Tim Howard red card at 10 minutes in.  Took REAL another 70 minutes to finally score on a PK.  Then they decided that was fun so they scored two more times. Beautiful April evening.  (I was secretly cheering for the Colorado Rapids since we saw them in Colorado with Mason last fall.)

April 20, 2018

Kenzie chatting on our bed tonight was a great 10 minutes.  Love and miss that girl.

April 17, 2018

I'm reading in Alma - later chapters of war and such and I really like it. So many parallels to real life.

April 16, 2018

I just love email day.  Even if it's just a quick email.  He's an awesome missionary.

April 12, 2018

Saw the most amazing rainbow this morning driving home from carpool drop off.  So bright and gorgeous and full and huge and awesome.

April 11, 2018

Today we hiked to a rock pile.  And we had a good time.  It was a totally lame and yet totally awesome destination.  We hiked 6.5 miles from Dry Canyon in Lindon.  When we were almost back to our car we saw a red tail hawk and heard him screech.  Cool.

April 9, 2018

From Elder Andersen's mom, "Okay, so not to be a 'Debbie-downer' but I just watched the last 'Very Good Elder' video and I'm kinda in tear that these two are being split up.  They seriously are the best and they have made our Mondays so enjoyable to hear how well they get along and how much fun they have.  Thanks for raising such a great Elder - Chase really loved being companions with Mason." I felt the same way after transfers today.

April 8, 2018

The Hazelslip family in Cabot must know just when I'm missing Mason.  They text me a picture just when I need it.

April 7, 2018

Apparently when it's raining and way wet, with no lines, you only need three hours at Lagoon.  In those three hours you can ride whatever rides you want, multiple times.  Fun, I know.

Don't ever forget Darren on the Tidal Wave smiling and saying he hates that ride.  Also Sadie braving it on the top row and putting her hands in the air.  Also don't forget being pelted in the face with water as I ride Cannibal for the first time with Ry (who rode the ride 3 times in about 30 minutes).  Also Cam and I laughing at ourselves as we ride Dinosaur Drop because we just love that kiddie ride.  Also ending up getting Cam a poncho because apparently her coat is the opposite of water proof.

April 6, 2018

2018 Spring Break - Las Vegas style.

Cowboy corral with my parents and with live music in a way only Elsinore could provide live music.

Yant Flat was a great hike.  Long drive on a dirt road but the views and walking down and seeing the colors on the sandstone was cool.

Gma O is awesome.

Wish I could have watched the NCAA basketball championship.  That happens.

Sometimes you drive south of Vegas to see colorful rocks and take some photos.  Lots of other people do the same thing.

Watched Jumanji at the condo.  I laughed.  Murphys laughed harder. 

Red Rock Recreation Area was cool.  Calico Tanks hike was a great choice.  Great colors and climbing some boulders and the kids climbing all over.

It was so nice to have a warm picnic - it's been awhile. 

Lost Creek hike was short and sweet with enough of a waterfall to cool us down.

Next time I would try hiking Ice Box Canyon.

Ice cream at the condo on a vacation is always a good idea. 

If you think you should go see the downtown Vegas sites while in Vegas, don't do it.  You really don't want to.  The licorice Statue of Liberty at the Hershey Factory was the only cool thing. Although Sadie thanked me quite a few times for taking her to see the sites.  And now we can tease Patty about the Venetian. 

Pool at the condo is cold but the kids still swim in it a bit.  I like putting my feet in and soaking up the sun. 

Birds in the palm trees are cool.

Sadie saw a saguaro cactus and it made her vacation.

Baseball in Las Vegas has a different feel than baseball we just saw in Utah County.  Especially on beer night. 

But it was good to catch some innings on a beautiful warm spring night.  And the Bat Dog was way cool.

We drove the scenic route from Vegas to Valley of Fire.  The "bloomin' cactus" were pretty and made us miss Mason a little more. 

Valley of Fire is a good stop.  White Domes trail was great and even had a little slot.  If only it would have been a little longer.  We probably should have played there more.  The hike was warm.  85 can feel really hot.

Shaded picnic tables are the best.

Signs that say not to climb on rocks are not the best.  (Who can close nature?  :))

Finished up the road trip with dinner and shakes at Hermies in Cedar City.  Mmm.

April 4, 2018

6 months for Mason!  This mission is amazing.  His testimony and love of Arkansas food, plus bathroom selfies and roadkill selfies, and volleyball and wonderful members is just awesome to see.

 (Elder Andersen, Elder Draper, Elder Thrasher, and Elder Seastrand)

April 1, 2018

General Conference was so good!  President Oaks gave such a great talk today on small and simple things.  And President Nelson is just amazing.  And I sure love this crazy family of mine.