Check out this video of Dylan learning to ride a bike! One day, seemingly out of the blue, Dylan just asked to take off his training wheels. He said he wanted to ride like the other big kids in the neighborhood. We weren't even planning to try teaching him until next spring. It's funny how kids will let you know when they are ready!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Arches National Park
We had an amazing trip to Arches National Park in Moab, Utah this September. When I found out we were moving to Utah, this is landscape I imagined. I knew that we had to see this place before we moved. Moab is only about a 3 and an half hour drive from our house. However, it is a very mountainous route and involved a two lane road most of the way. We arrived on a Friday and departed on Sunday. We only had one day in the park, but it worked out well since the kids wouldn't have lasted another day of sightseeing! It was tiring for us as well, especially managing the boys!
When I informed Dylan we were touring a national park, he kept expecting to find slides and other playground equipment. I kept having to remind him that national parks are about nature and scenery. Although he seemed to enjoy some aspects of the park, I think he would rather stick to the other kind for now!
On Friday, we dined out after the long car trip. After diner, we drove around town and found a quaint little creamery where we enjoyed ice cream and entertainment from a one-man show playing his guitar on the patio. It turned into a fun spontaneous moment of our family dancing to Brown Eyed Girl while eating ice cream.
On Saturday, we packed a picnic lunch in a cooler and spent the entire day in the park. The scenic drive is approximately 46 miles round trip, with several viewpoints and hiking trails along the way.
Park Avenue viewpoint.
Devils Garden Trailhead. This was our first and only family hike for the day. It was one mile round trip and it would have been too exhausting to try another hike, even a short one. Mike did not want to carry Austin anymore and Dylan complained WAY too much. (And no, Austin is not sunburned. His cheeks are sensitive to heat and turn red easily.)
Landscape Arch. This arch is not visible from a roadside viewpoint, which is the only reason we made the hike.
Here we are making the hike back and Dylan needed encouragement the entire time! I tried to make a game of it and that worked well.
Dylan insists we take a long break.
Almost back!
Austin wanted to walk the homestretch.
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint.
Delicate Arch from the lower viewpoint. This is the most famous arch in the park and appears on Utah's license plate. You can actually hike to the arch from another location, but it is a 3 mile round-trip hike. And, there are dangerous drop-offs near the top.
I was able to zoom in much closer from the upper viewpoint. Mike and the boys stayed in the car, while I enjoyed a solitary hike to this location. They never would have made the trip. I shot some good video of this area as well.
Petrified Dunes.
The Windows Section. This picture was taken from the parking lot. None of us had the energy to make this short hike at the end of the day.
My camcorder could zoom in for a closer shot.
Cove of Caves.
Garden of Eden. This was a nice spot to let the kids run around a little.
Balanced Rock.
Petrified Dunes and La Sal Mountains.
Courthouse area.
Courthouse Towers Viewpoint.
Mike and the boys had a great time in the hot tub after the long day in the park.
This is a short video of some of the park.
When I informed Dylan we were touring a national park, he kept expecting to find slides and other playground equipment. I kept having to remind him that national parks are about nature and scenery. Although he seemed to enjoy some aspects of the park, I think he would rather stick to the other kind for now!
On Friday, we dined out after the long car trip. After diner, we drove around town and found a quaint little creamery where we enjoyed ice cream and entertainment from a one-man show playing his guitar on the patio. It turned into a fun spontaneous moment of our family dancing to Brown Eyed Girl while eating ice cream.
On Saturday, we packed a picnic lunch in a cooler and spent the entire day in the park. The scenic drive is approximately 46 miles round trip, with several viewpoints and hiking trails along the way.
Park Avenue viewpoint.
Devils Garden Trailhead. This was our first and only family hike for the day. It was one mile round trip and it would have been too exhausting to try another hike, even a short one. Mike did not want to carry Austin anymore and Dylan complained WAY too much. (And no, Austin is not sunburned. His cheeks are sensitive to heat and turn red easily.)
Landscape Arch. This arch is not visible from a roadside viewpoint, which is the only reason we made the hike.
Here we are making the hike back and Dylan needed encouragement the entire time! I tried to make a game of it and that worked well.
Dylan insists we take a long break.
Almost back!
Austin wanted to walk the homestretch.
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint.
Delicate Arch from the lower viewpoint. This is the most famous arch in the park and appears on Utah's license plate. You can actually hike to the arch from another location, but it is a 3 mile round-trip hike. And, there are dangerous drop-offs near the top.
I was able to zoom in much closer from the upper viewpoint. Mike and the boys stayed in the car, while I enjoyed a solitary hike to this location. They never would have made the trip. I shot some good video of this area as well.
Petrified Dunes.
The Windows Section. This picture was taken from the parking lot. None of us had the energy to make this short hike at the end of the day.
My camcorder could zoom in for a closer shot.
Cove of Caves.
Garden of Eden. This was a nice spot to let the kids run around a little.
Balanced Rock.
Petrified Dunes and La Sal Mountains.
Courthouse area.
Courthouse Towers Viewpoint.
Mike and the boys had a great time in the hot tub after the long day in the park.
This is a short video of some of the park.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Florida State vs. Brigham Young
Mike and I attended the FSU vs. BYU game in Provo, UT on September 19th. The Lavell Edwards Stadium is situated next to the mountains and has awesome views. Florida State has never played in this stadium before and has only played BYU three times prior to this game. We were so excited about FSU playing in this area that we had to go. Unfortunately, the Florida State section was already sold out when we ordered our tickets in the pre-season, so we settled for seats in a BYU season ticket holder section. It was a little hard to cheer and get excited when you are surrounded by the other team's fans, but we still had a great time and the BYU fans were very nice. However, they were quite stunned at the loss. We found out later that BYU has not lost a home game since 2005! It is a shame that Florida State couldn't keep up the momentum after this game. They went on to lose the next two games.
This is a shot of the visitor section and all our cheering FSU fans. We tried to cheer with them, but it was hard being so far away! The scoreboard shows the halftime score 14-30 FSU.
I used my digital zoom to take pictures of our head coach, Bobby Bowden, being interviewed at the end of the game. The quality isn't very good, but you can still tell it is him.
The final score!
I love my new FSU shirt. Thanks Sheryl!
This is a shot of the visitor section and all our cheering FSU fans. We tried to cheer with them, but it was hard being so far away! The scoreboard shows the halftime score 14-30 FSU.
I used my digital zoom to take pictures of our head coach, Bobby Bowden, being interviewed at the end of the game. The quality isn't very good, but you can still tell it is him.
The final score!
I love my new FSU shirt. Thanks Sheryl!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Mountain Rainbow
I love the image of this rare mountain rainbow I captured recently. You can also see my garden in the last picture. It was a great success, with delicious tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet red peppers, strawberries and cantaloupe. Unfortunately, the romaine lettuce was bitter, so we never harvested it. I can't wait to plant another garden next year in our new house!
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