So cute it hurts!

I know that i already posted something today, but...

My daughter has taken to phoning me at work. She has my direct line, and I just love to see the number pop up because i know that it's probably her, as Ryan usually IM's me rather than call.

She has the sweetest voice, and she literally just calls to say "I love you".

I can't even begin to say how much joy she and Andrew bring me. I have never felt this happy, and am so blessed to have such sweet children.

Sigh....back to work. :(

Spring is here at last...

...oh, wait. It's not.

After being able to spend a few weeks in relative warmth, i'm saddened to say that I woke up to snow yesterday. I don't mind snow...in January. But it's the LAST week of APRIL and i'm all snowed out. Our garden is all plowed, pooped, and ready to go---once the weather starts to kick in!

The other night, there was a really scary storm. It was crazy windy, and the power went out a few times for just a few seconds. My son (who, NOTE, should have been asleep!) came running down in a panic that the lights were flashing. It was fun to cuddle him for a few minutes, because he's old enough i don't often get to do that anymore.

Our friends had a big ol' tree fall into their power lines. We had a few random big branches fall down, but other than that we were ok.

I'm trying to take the kids (and dog!) out walking more, but it's not happening because it's been pretty cold by the time i get home from work/picking up the kids/running errands. I am trying to figure out when exactly i did all the yard work last year that i enjoyed doing. I guess it was just that it's going to get darker later on.

So, really, i'm trying to think of something interesting to say. And there's not much there. :) Guess i'll get back to work.

Oh, and i am sick of the snow. :*(

Spring Break

So...we just had a WONDERFUL spring break. I mean wonderful. Mostly, I'd imagine, because i was SOOO in need of a break from work. But, really, it was a great time.

We didn't do anything TOO outlandish--we visited each other's inlaws. But it was still a great time, and i'm so happy we did it.

Earlier this year, Ryan's Opa died. Ryan used to spend summers with Oma and Opa, and while they didn't necessarily have the greatest-ever relationship, i feel like they were pretty close and it was a little rough on him to go through that. SOOOOO....we decided that we needed to visit his Oma, who has been having a rough time of it after being married for nearly 70 years. She lives in Page, Arizona, and after a LOOOONG drive, it was great to see her. We stopped a few times on the way down, but really made pretty good time. The kids did OK in the car--considering--and we listened to a whole-lot of Aussie Humor in the shape of Hamish and Andy. That made the time just fly by for me.

We ordered some pizza and settled in when we got there, and had some good talks with Ryan's cousins and his Oma.

The next day, we drove over to see Opa's grave, and visit Ryan's dad's grave. A little emotional, but good. Then, we took the kids through the Museum, and they thought it was, and i quote--"the coolest museum EVER". Not sure what they just loved about it, but....hey! we aim to please, even if we don't know what the target is! Ü


We then went back and made some sandwhiches and drove over 60 miles to visit something that's only 17 miles away "as the crow flies". Kind of funny. But a tremendously beautiful drive--red rock cliffs, views of the colorado river....gorgeous. We went to the Vermillion Cliffs visitor center at the top of Lee's Fairy. It was SOO pretty. There, we ate lunch, then walked out to the bridge. At this point, andrew decided he didn't want to go. I literally had to chase him, then CARRY him out onto the bridge. He was worried because he thought that cars may have weaked the bridge. :) It IS high, but still.... anyway, as soon as i set him down, the little rascal ran back to "safe ground". I took a picture of Maddie and Ryan up there, and a few minutes later, Andrew faced his fears and walked out to join us. I was proud of him--generally he's too stubborn once he's set his mind.

After that, we drove down to the river, where Lee's Ferry Crossing was "back in the day". Not sure what the whole story is there, but i know it was the only place for miles that people could cross prior to the bridges. It was BEAUTIFUL. We'd left Cache Valley in snow, and this was a warm enough day that we were able to go wading in the (cold) river. Ahhhh....so nice to feel the sun on you!! Maddie and Andrew loved the water. We didn't stay long, because Oma had to stay in the car because it wasn't the easiest ground to walk, but it was still nice. We took some fun pictures and played around for a minute.

That night, we ate at a Mexican Restaurant, where BOTH of my kids ordered american style food. We giggled that they probably had to run to Wendy's to pick up the chicken nuggets and hamburger and fries.
The next day, we took Oma down to the cemetary one more time, to be sure that she could find the grave. (She hadn't been able to find it previously! Sad, huh!) and then took off to Melanie's house in Cedar City. Another beautiful drive. We stopped a few times--at a rock shop for Andrew, and then we stopped at the Moqui caves for a few minutes to see the museum there. It was kind of fun. Different, anyway! :) At Mel's house, we let the kids and dog stretch their legs, and then i helped Mel make egg rolls for the first time. I thought they turned out good! Hope she did too! The next day, we were busy! We went out and saw some really amazing petroglyphs and some dino foot prints that were inverted, so you could really see them well. It was fun. Then, Emily and Shan came to visit so we talked to them for a while. I havent' seen Emily for ages. It was nice.

THEN....we took off up the road to Beaver, and played at Uncle Marks house--we rode horses--the kids even rode sheep!--and pet the new baby lambs. Andrew rode a horse all alone--with no help at all, and he did SO great. I was proud of him. He was SO THRILLED, to. Ryan and I decided that we'd take the horses back from the feilds, so everyone else took off in motor vehicles, and we got on the horses. As the trucks passed, i started to have a sinking feeling--it's been YEARS since i've been on a horse--what would happen if it shot off all the sudden! Felt a little out of my league--but it turned out fine. They tried to take off a few times, but "listened" to us when we slowed them down. It was great fun.

We went back and cooked some amazing grub, and chatted for a while--then mel found out i'd never seen Pride and Prejudice, so we sat down and watched the Kiera Knightly version. I liked it--and realized that i HAD afterall read the book. Still, it was fun to have some sister time.

We drove home the next day, the back way so we could see more land--saw the crazy huge milford wind energy fields, ghost town, and got a little bit of four-wheeling done for the Kia. (she wanted to.)


Anyway, kind of boring all typed out, but it was a wonderful time, and great to spend the time with my hubby and kids who i dn't get to see as much as i'd like.

All in all, two thumbs up!! :)