Wednesday Hike

Tuesday Hikes have changed to Wednesday Hikes, except we went yesterday to a fun little spot by Nix's school then we walked home from there. Sorry that I like to post mostly our hikes! I can't think of a funner time to take pictures than when we are hiking. Everyone is the happiest at these times too!

Now this may look like a rock, I think it had babies and there are probably a hundred of these little suckers all around my house driving me crazy. They are crystals and diamonds and valuable stones, so I need to just let them dazzle my home with beauty and let my child use his imagination. It's important!

This little munchkins favorite part was running down steep hills. CRAZY I TELL YOU!

My Tino is a strong hiker, he beat everyone to the car and I wasn't happy to see him standing on the sidewalk next to a busy street when I left the trail. I thank my Father in Heaven everyday for protecting this sweet child! I can't do the motherhood thing without Him!

Here, it looks like, is where the aliens landed their ship.

I was reading in the January Ensign last night and found this beautiful tool. It's remarkable how ancient records can relate to us today! I love the scriptures and know that they are true!!

Tuesday Hike

Posing on the YO BABY.

This baby loves dough!

"I'm going to bleed everywhere!!!"

Nix, across the river from his friends.

Tuesday Hike

We walked down a path, found some stairs, saw a river crossing and more stairs, then found another trail we have never seen before, but something beckoned the children to stay in the river. Children are drawn to water; from the sink to a tiny puddle in a rock, to a large puddle of muddy water, to a river, to a pool, to a lake...!!!! They LOVE it! They love it more than food.

The children, minus the one that's growing.

My friend... making pretend fishing poles. 8 weeks is she.

These planks of wood have a hole drilled in the corner, and a cord secured onto them, so they will never be washed away and are used to build this bridge for crossing the river. Very cool!

Tuesday Hike

We were alone today. We hiked to the power line towers, it was cool, muddy, steep and so much fun! Come hiking with us!

Tino

Nix

Corbs

Me and my baby!

A sneak peek

Thursday Garden and Walk day.

I garden at Nix's school on Thursday mornings, and sometimes join the class walk, Corbs had a good time in the dirt and the water puddle in the garden so he lost all his clothes for the walk. He thought the sun felt nice on his back and almost fell asleep like this in his stroller. He is about .5 inch away from being too big for this car seat, but he will remain in it to the bitter end!

Today the boys wanted a fire, so they searched around, and found some wood, and set up a fire in our place.

On Tuesdays we go on a hike with our friends. We have a lot of fun looking at the snow trees, mud puddles, stink bugs, and any other creature we find. Today we found a praying mantis. We looked in the nature center at the taxidermy, and learned about the weasel, who is native to this area. We love to be outside!

Hiking El Morro

Hiking up a mountain 3 miles and setting up a tent in less than 2 hours.

A daddy, a mommy, a 5 1/2 year old, a 3 year old, all hiking and a 1 year old along for the ride.

Sleeping amongst the coyotes, playing with stink bugs, dirty clothes! Very fun!!

Hiking

Laguna Beach Wilderness

My lil hikers. Nix has some new binoculars he brings everywhere and shows everyone.

Tino keeps his hat on really well these days!

The Firemen were filling up their truck from the fire hydrant, so we went over to take a look and the boys got to jump in the truck for a picture! Then I got to jump into the picture, cute right??? I'm not feeling to cute after hiking and without a shower.

California Everlasting California Buckwheat

If you rub the white part, your fingers smell like This bush is everywhere!

lemon at first then they smell like maple syrup

Sticky Monkey Flower

If you squeeze the green part of the flower it will stick to your fingers,

the orange flower looks like a monkey head. I love this flower. So fun!

Hiking for Time

Well. I joined a group of moms with babies in tow, thinking or hoping I could keep up just fine. But they kept a pace that my little Tino couldn't handle, so I had him in tow most of the time. So, I have a 4 pound baby inside me and I was carrying a 26 pound boy outside me, plus the extra 30 pounds that I have padding me. I was always a little behind everyone, and I was out of breath for the uphills I was happy to do it for the chance to have poison oak pointed out to me. There were many flowers in bloom along the trail, it smelled so good. I also learned about the orange hay like stuff spread on occasional plants... it's called "witch's hair" and it's a parasite that destroys the plants. It took 2 hours and we stopped for a long while half way, maybe stopped for at least 20 minutes. I couldn't tell you how far we went, maybe 3-4 miles. It was a workout for me to say the least. Nix hiked like a champ, he slowed down a little at the end and only complained about his back hurting once. I don't think we will be joining this group again. Especially since the next time I will have a one month old, and I couldn't possibly carry two kids and enjoy it.

My mother's day...

Flowers from my Grannie's garden.

I love camping! Yes, I slept in the tent, and yes, I am 7 months pregnant, and yes, I didn't sleep too well, but I survived. It was really relaxing being away from home actually!

10 weeks to go!

Tino did walk most the time, but he was ready for a nap so we carried him a lot, and the pictures of him being carried are so sweet. We hiked a little on Saturday afternoon, then a little on Sunday morning, it was beautiful. Nix spotted a snake on Sunday. Nix and I looked at Saturn on Saturday night through a telescope (very exciting), and we learned all about the animals native to Casper's Wilderness Park at a Ranger hosted campfire. Daddy bought them hiking sticks too. When we got home, Brett unpacked the car and I hurried to clean Tino and put him down for a nap, then my Mom, Chris, Blake, Shane and Grannie came to spend Mother's day with us. It was fun to have my Mom and Grannie in Relief Society with me. And the boys obviously loved having their Grampy and Uncles here to play with. My mom made an amazing mango salsa that is yummy to eat plain and fantastic on salmon. I had a great day, and received more than I deserve!