Just want to say...

Sigh, the moving season is upon us again. This year will be a little bit different because we will be moving too, but before we do, several good friends will be moving first. I am sad to see them go. I always have lofty ideas of game nights and get togethers, but they never seem to make it out of my head and into action. So I am sad to see friends go, and missed opportunities go, and HOPE HOPE HOPE, that they all know how much they mean to me and my family. I know we could not have made it through this Fort Irwin experience without them! Hears to good friends!!

Mount Blackie

Since we know that we are moving this summer, we are starting to whittle away at our "California Bucket List". One of the things we have been wanting to do as a family is hike Mount Blackie. Mount Blackie is an extinct Volcano here where we live, so it has a black color from all the lava rock. It is not really a "mount" by Utah's standards, but it is bigger then a hill and gives one a good bit of a hike.

Starting out.

we really need to invest in some good toddler backpacks...
We made it to the top.

Dad showed off his prowess and hiked with two boys there at the end.

Even though it was a short hike, it still gives a nice view. We could see our neighborhood and Mount Tiefort in the background.

I was a nice way to spend a Saturday morning...the 65+ degree weather was nice too :)

Always Up to Something

Discovering where mom keeps the candy dish...

Where Jack likes to "perch"

Where Hunter likes to "perch"

San Diego in January

One thing that I do like about the Army as an employer, is that they are very generous with their Holidays. Whenever there is a three day weekend, most often then not the Army will tack on an extra day and make it a four day weekend. This year Civil Rights day was no exception. Matt had a four day, and the girls had a three day weekend. So Friday, Matt and I just hung out, did some shopping and errands, then when the girls got home from school we took off for sunny San Diego!

Last year we had bought season passes to the San Diego Zoo and Safari park (formally known as the Wildlife Park), so we decided to go back to the Safari park for another visit.

While there we got to see another newborn elephant. This is the second year in a row. Last year we got to see a newborn that was just hours old, this year the baby was a couple of weeks old...but still so small.
It's amazing how big they will get!

During our Safari tour we had a mishap with our tour vehicle. It was overtaken and we had to get out in a hurry. (wink, wink)

Hannah loves feeding the deer. This is one of her favorite things to do!

Anya's favorite animal is the Cheetah. You can't see it very well, but over the hill there is a tour on those Segeway scooter things. The Cheetah's did not like those at all! They would sit on the other side of the ridge, hunched down, tail flicking, like the wanted to pounce those people on the segway's!

Cora's absolute favorite animal is the Okapi. The Safari park has been the only place we have been able to see one. She even has a webkinz toy that is an Okapi. You can't see it very well in the picture, but it is kind of a mixture of Zebra, Giraffe and moose. It is in the giraffe family.

The Lorakeet exhibit is always a favorite. The birds were pretty cooperative this time, and ready for a tasty treat. All the girls were able to have one perch on their arm for a snack.


Some even perched on our heads! Poor Cora!

It was a fun day, and perfect weather. San Diego is a favorite for our family.

Family Photo Shoot

Awhile back we did a family photo shoot. We thought it was about time, since the last one we did Cora was 6 months old. We have all grown a lot since then, and we had added two new members. These pics are the cream of the crop!

Life's Random-ness

Just a few random moments....

Anya got this shirt for Christmas from her Best BFF ever, she was so excited. It has made it into the Favorite T-shirt rotation. This girl would wear a t-shirt and jeans everyday if I let her. Her favorites are: her Pokemon t-shirt, How to Train Your Dragon t-shirt, and now her Camp Half-blood t-shirt. She loves a good shirt!

It's a New Year

It's a New Year, Everything is shiny and new!

Welcome New Year 2011...

On New Year's Day we always brave the cold and get some good old fashioned sledding fun in.

It was very cold this year, so I think more Cocoa sipping rather then sledding got done.

We had some sledding tubes, and it was so icy that all 5 exploded, plus we shattered two plastic sleds. These tubes had lasted about three years, so we were surprised when ALL of them were destroyed this trip. Hannah described it as the worst sledding trip ever, mainly because the kids didn't get to go down as often, with all our tubes meeting their demise. Still, it was fun to get out and experience something we don't get to do at home.

Every year I try to take a family photo to start off the new year.
I usually try to do it New year's Eve, just after midnight. That didn't happen this year with the little guys, it was too crazy. So I settled for a New Year's Day photo.
Happy New Year's...may it be bright and cheery for you all!