Tristan's 1st birthday party :)

We celebrated Tristan's 1st right when we got home from zions. I did a block cake with 4 colored layers and decided to try my hand at cake pops, which also had different colored insides! It was actually a lot of fun for me :) I really enjoy being creative in that way. Everything turned out so cute. We just had a family party, which was super relaxed and low key. It was so much fun. Nate and sarah came over; it was a really great time.Kai and Mei were really great with him, they actually showed serious restraint when he was opening presents. Meili put her arm around him once and said 'Happy birthday Tristan!' In the sweetest baby voice. I don't remember Kailer and Meili being so into their 1st birthday. I feel like they were a little shocked and didn't really get what was going on. I felt like he was totally into ripping open his presents and then wanted his cars out immediately. Then when we were singing to him he was dancing and then clapped afterward. It was just so cute! He was all about his cake at first with just 1 finger and then it turned into both hands. He really got into it!He ate so much cake pop at a time he started gagging :)The he started feeding the kids and throwing chunks of cake on the floor. It was about time to get in the shower :)Now we just need to get a rebels outfit for Kai before we move :) thanks nate and sarah!Sarah took all my pictures for me, which was so nice. It's wonderful to be able to enjoy without worrying about pictures The loot :) He was thrilled with his cars and ball. So simple, but so right up his alley, and I of course was thrilled with the clothes ;)

So fun and so perfect :)

zions :)

zions! It's such a breath of fresh air. It is always so rejuvinating to be in this place. It is truly 'our place'. We love it. It was just so nice to get away from everything and enjoy eachother. This time we spent 4 nights and the Pearl and it was Heaven!!! We enjoyed favorite restraunts, beautiful scenery, family, rented movies, ate a lot of junk, and then hiked it off :) It was lovely and so hard to leave!

Such buddies :) They hiked 2.2 miles on their own! It was awesome, they did way better than I had expected!Kai... a true fisherman. Trying to fashion a pole from a stick to catch anything...

Kai wanted a pic of him trying to hold up the mountain :)I don't think we have ever been the only ones at weeping rock. It was so cool. The kids ran back and forth and we took pictures together we had it completely to ourselves for about a half hr. It was awesome :)I think this is the most handsome picture I have ever taken :)I absolutely love this one... It is so raw and so real, truly catches their personalities :)Rich had to go into St george to take his boards, so we hung out at the pool, watched movies, walked to the park, and spent time at the library. I just love this quiet little town :)The last day we were there all the cousins came to visit!D & Weston came down and stayed in the Pearl with us. Loved having them :)Nate and sarah even came down to check out zions, Meili and sarah were having quite a nice time together :)T turned 1 while we were there, so in celebration we went to the icecream place, but instead of ending up with that, the kids chose rock suckers :/ Whatever works I guess! Tristan even got one :)They were super happy and we sang T happy birthday and he laughed and clapped and danced all through it. He seemed to almost know what was going on. It was so cool and so sweet. Love this little boy!Back to reality we go :/

The Grand Canyon!

Well the grand canyon didn't disappoint. It was nothing short of grand. It was truly spectacular and I'm so glad we went! Our hotel was perfect and we took the kids swimming and did a little laundry from the 'incident' and enjoyed several overlooks. It was really amazing and as you can see we held on to the kiddos! Meili wasn't super thrilled about that... but ya gotta do what you gotta do. Sorry girl! It was such a fun trip and so glad we got to take nate and sarah with us, even though now I'm probably sure they'll stop at 1 kid after spending an entire weekend with 3 crazies... :)I also just needed to throw this in there. It's kai's ninja drawing to Dad complete with a dojo (ninja hut) :)

Bearizona! aka barfizona...

During a moment of spontenaety we decided to hop in the car with nate and sarah and head to the grand canyon before we are half way across the county and it's no longer an option! On our way there we stopped at this fabulous place in AZ called Bearizona. It was a cool drive through/walk through park with bears, wolves, and bison... oh my! The kids totally loved it, all except for Tristan who was having diarrhea and not holding down much either. We were driving through and right in the middle of barfizona T lost a large bottle of sweetpotatoes all over himself, me, and his carseat. It wasn't pretty. Needless to say no one could get out of the vehicle as there was ample wolves/bears to come across. We drove through as quickly as possible got him taken care of and then drove back through. Poor little man. Other than that incident it was a fabulous stop!This was just pre barf... :(complete with petting/riding zoo!
Seriously these 2 were obscessed with the snow. Meili could not keep herself out of mud, puddles, or the snow. It was so fun for them :)

post cleanup :/Their faces kill me in this picture, just had to put it up!