Zion - Day 1

Day one in Zion was the one I was the most anxious for, mostly because it included the drive down there. I am thrilled to report James has become a much better traveler, and Juliet is a breeze (she even will sleep in the car, while James hasn't since he moved from his infant carseat at 11 months).

With happy kiddos and a perfectly blue sky, we didn't stop in Springdale on the way in, instead we continued into the park to begin our first hike of the trip. As you can see, the kids were thrilled to be out of the car and into the sunshine.

We chose Weeping Wall as our first "hike". I put it in quotes, because the entire trail is paved, and it must be less than a third mile, but it was fun because it was in the sunshine, we saw quite a few deer on the trail and the end is a wall that seeps water from inside it and "weeps". All James cared about was that it was almost like a waterfall.

Because the trail was so short, and the kids were not ready to get back into the car once we were done, we spent some time at the little river at the beginning of the trail. Both my children love rivers. James could throw rocks into rivers for hours, and Juliet was quite thrilled with the soft warm sand.

Soon everyone was covered in it.

Checking in the the hotel was a breeze and dinner was beyond amazing at the Flying Monkey, which serves wood fire pizzas. We sat outside and had the entire patio to ourselves, so we didn't feel too bad when the kiddos wanted to get down for the 70th time and stretch their legs.

We had a patio off the back of our room. This was the view. And the fence seemed quite interesting for both kids, kept them entertained for at least twenty minutes.

Day one, success!

Zion {Then & Now}

Another quick Zion preview post, just because this one totally cracks me up.

March 2010 - James 4 months.

March 2013 - James three years, Juliet 13 months.

*In both photos E is behind holding onto our babies!

Zion preview

In the middle of the cold hard winter E decided to book a trip to Southern Utah for the spring. He booked it quickly, knowing that if we thought too much about it, we might chicken out. James is not known to be the easiest traveler.

But March approached and we felt hopeful. Optimistic even.

We had nothing to be worried about. Both kids were AMAZING travelers.

More to come, but just posting to say we are home safe and sound. (And if you just can't wait for more there is a new little gadget on the right that shows my six most recent IG photos, which in this case are all from Zion).

More soon!

James says:

After telling him that he didn't need any more desserts, and showing him that his tummy felt all full:

"My bellybutton says I need a chocolate almond please!"

It was so cute I ended up giving him one.

James and Juliet

James has been amazing with his "sweet gurl" as of late. When we get her out of the bath tub at night he says "don't put her to sleep, I love her!"

An extra sweet moment I caught today. Be still my heart.

March at Red Butte

Yesterday was the last day of our predicted warm streak. Today it is back to wind and cold and gray skies.

Because it was so unseasonably warm, we just had to get out and enjoy.

We decided to celebrate St. Patrick's Day a day early. So we all dressed in green and explored every inch of the garden we know so well.

Baby girl is no longer content to sit in the stroller. Now she's big, and wants to get out and explore for herself.

We asked him to jump. Totally cracks me up.

xoxo.

It was an amazing spring day. Can't wait to go back and wear our yellow.

St. Patrick's Day playdate

To celebrate the incredible weather we are having I decided to host a little St. Patrick's Day party on Friday. We invited a few friends, asked them to wear green, and warned them that a naughty leprechaun was hiding in the backyard.

The first naughty thing the little leprechaun was to sneak into our ice water and dye it green. Oh the kids thought this was awesome.

I made a little terrarium for the centerpiece. Some moss, a few little plants and some happy crocuses. Oh yea, and Mr. Leprechaun's sister.

All guests dressed in green, of course.

We did an easy craft.

I got out the slide and the ball pit that we used at James's third birthday, and again, it was a huge hit.

Baby girl was as happy as a clam with a little line of Fruit Loops along the flower boxes. She cruised up and down gathering them all.

One or two fell into the garden, but even before I asked, James came to the rescue. "Here you go sweet gurl."

I'm guessing they liked the slide.

Soon we decided it was snack time, and come to find out, that naughty leprechaun had stollen the treats and sent the kids on a scavenger hunt to recover it. We had to look for clues near the hose, under the BBQ, near our Buddha statue, and that naughty leprechaun even sent the kids across the street into the neighbor's yard to find more clues. Look how sweet these kiddos are crossing the street.

The last clue read "I hid the treats behind where Jessica parks her car" so we ran to check behind the garage to find this! Green grapes and leprechaun sandwiches! Oh the kids were thrilled. 

And filling the kids with sugar on Friday afternoon? Genius.

Everyone had a blast. Happy St. Patrick's Day. 

March, in Instagram

1. Slide! 2. With a new white coat, somebody is ready for spring. 3. Oh my! Juliet wanted snuggles, so of course suddenly James wanted them too. I just enjoy the moment while Juliet fusses for her turn.

4. All of a sudden she seems so big and wants to play with James. 5. Dishwasher help. 6. At the riverbank throwing rocks.

7. Pew! These are horrible. Juliet no longer chomps leaves. 8. How big is Juliet? 9. I adore March. While the earth is brown and the sky gray, at least I'm out in the garden again after a long cold winter.

1. The Easter Bunny went shopping. 2. Hello! 3. "I'd like a lawn mower Easter Bunny."

4. She loves the slide! Can't get enough. 5. Caught in a daydream. 6. My fashion sense was outweighed by my boy's love. Digger shirt for the win.

The last few days have been record breaking warm (in the 70s, which is really really warm for March!) so we've pulled out some of her spring wardrobe. Oh my... 7. Green vintage. 8. White vintage. 9. Pink vintage. Love love love.

And I felt these two needed to be a little larger, since there is more than one photo in each.

Japanese Day Spa. Heaven on earth. After two months of sickness and the hardest E's busiest travel schedule ever I felt like I deserved a few hours off. Perfection.

In March 2011 I took James to Murray Park to take photos for my spring header. One of my favorite shots was him pointing within this beautiful tree. This March I took Juliet to the same tree, and she also spotted something and pointed. Oh how time flies. Love Then & Now.

Playing in the sunshine

Although this weekend wasn't particularly warm, it was at least twenty degrees warmer than it has been. So we celebrated by going out into the (snow free) yard without coats for the first time this spring.

It felt glorious.

And do you think these kiddos love their Daddy?

Yea, we're all a little bit crazy for him.

And it was a momentous day for Juliet, she wore pigtails for the first time ever. CUTEST thing in the world.

Juliet is 13 months! {photos with Patsy Ann!}

Juliet is 13 months! Time has flown by at the speed of light in this little one's life, but last month crept by slower than molasses. Last month was pretty horrible, baby girl.

As I've mentioned again and again, Juliet was sick for almost the entire month. She got RSV on the night of her birthday party and only now is just getting better, so it was a long month for all of us.

I learned a few things over this month. You like to know I'm there when you feel your worst. It is kind of funny in hindsight all the things you'd do (and we'd do) to get you to sleep. For example, you'd be almost asleep, finally settled down, when you'd peek open your eyes to check on us. If we were there, all was well and you'd close your eyes again. If we'd left the room you'd wake up fully and start screaming for us.

What does this mean? I became the best freaking baby ninja ever. I knew where not to step on the floor. I knew just how long to wait until you'd last checked on me, I knew how to sit, and how to crawl out of your room and open and close your door without a sound. I did all of this three, four, five times a night.

Now that you are back to sleeping through the night, no one is as happy as me, your tired ol' Mama.

Because you were feeling so sick you napped hardly at all. I thought you were giving up your morning nap, but alas, when you feel better you start sleeping again, so morning nap stays.

Also you've become the world's pickiest eater. Your old favorite avocado? Now won't touch it. If we try to sneak it in, you spit it out and gag. Butter bread? Also not approved. I'm not stressing too much because James also went though a very picky stage at your age (THANK GOODNESS for old Wolfy entries!) and he's a good eater now.

You still love yogurt and fruit, and I just discovered you adore pizza. So morning, noon and night all your meals consist of those three things. What a silly girl you are.

Even with all the sickness you've exploded developmentally this month. Crawling faster and faster, pulling up onto everything, crawling up stairs, climbing on things, trying to climb off things, cruising (holding onto furniture and walking) and playing well with James.

James simply adores you baby girl. He hardly ever calls you Juliet, instead he calls you "sweet guurrlll" almost 100% of the time. He tells everyone "she's my special sister!" and while he still is learning how to share, he really is sweet and wonderful with you. As you well know, his favorite time of the entire day is bathing with you before bed. Each night he asks "I can have a bath with sweet guuurrrl?"

You are still a snuggle bunny, falling asleep in my arms each night at bedtime and next to me each afternoon during afternoon nap. When you were so sick you spent many nights in my bed as well, and if it were up to you, I think you'd be perfectly content always sleeping in my bed next to me. Thank goodness you also sleep in your crib, because those nights were rough.

What a special shirt for my snuggle bunny. You sure do have a beautiful wardrobe. This sweet shirt was a gift from a friend, someone that loves you so very much!

And a little crawling gif, just for fun.

Finally, from 1 month until now: