Backpacking in Escalante

Nate recently spent 5 days down in Escalante on a backpacking trip with his friend Spencer and some of Spencer's family. While there, they ventured two different hikes. The main hike was a 3 day, 21 mile hike called Box Death Hallow. The second hike was a day hike through a very narrow slot canyon called Egypt Canyon. Nate claims that these hikes have topped his all time favorite hikes in his life. Needless to say he had a great time and he can't wait to go again.

Swimming Lessons

We decided to prepare for the summer by putting Taylor in swimming lessons. She is so timid in water and fights me when I try to teach her the basics, like putting her face and heaven forbid her whole head under the water. She is doing well considering her refusal to get water in her ears. (When water does get in her ears she freaks out because according to her she "can't hear!!!") She absolutely loves her teacher and there have been times when class is over and she won't get out of the pool. Our hope is that by the time summer rolls around we will have a more confident swimmer so that I won't have to worry about her so much. So with one month to go lets hope we get to that point because Kennedy is fearless of the water and loves to dunk her face and crawl until she almost starts floating away.

Happy 1st Birthday Kennedy!

Yes it is true, our little rascal turned 1 year old today! One year ago this sweet little girl joined our family and threw everything we knew about babies out the window. She is definitely her own little soul. In this first year of her life she has learned that there are many things she loves. Topping the list is her love of eating, specifically mac and cheese, love of giving kisses, love of her mommy (she loves her daddy too but is definitely a mamma's girl), her love of climbing the stairs and more recently discovered her love of climbing onto little tables and toilets, and finally her love of dogs. The love of dogs includes all and any form dog. Be it pictures of dogs, dogs at the park, Roxy...she loves them all. If she sees a dog or anything that resembles a dog she gets very excited and, if she can, she will give it a kiss. It is very sweet. We (but mostly I) decided to take that love for dogs and throw Kennedy her very own pink poodle 1st birthday party. It was so much fun and Kennedy didn't disappoint when it came to the much anticipated eating of the cake. She started out very polite and nibbled at the frosting but when she realized there was cake underneath it all there was no stopping her. She had a blast digging and smearing the cake everywhere she could. Don't belive me??? Check out our youtube video.

Ahh clean again...Happy Birthday Kennedy!

New and Improved

Instead of filling up blog space with our little home videos, I decided to put them on youtube instead. If you fill so inclined to view video of our day to day life you'll find links to all the fun in the sidebar under the blog archive.

All Dressed Up

Easter festivities

dying our Easter eggs and sprinkling gliter

The finished product

Bed head and all, Taylor emptying her eggs left by the easter bunnyKennedy "hunting" for eggs (or just following Taylor around)

"I can do it..."

Lately Taylor has been interested in doing things all by herself. Usually she wants to put on her shoes and brush her teeth all by herself. One morning as we are trying to get out the door and I asked Taylor multiple times to get off the chair so that I can help her get dressed. On typical days, Taylor usually ignores my requests or runs away from me until I am reduced to getting mad and making threats. This particular day instead of the usual "I guess you don't want to go with us..." (which is followed by screams and tears), to my surprise I looked over to see her getting dressed all by herself! It probably took three times as long as it usually does to get ready and her shirt was on backwards but the look on her face of accomplishment was priceless.