Sunday, May 1, 2011
Lunch with Granny
This past week I went with my grandmother, mother, and my two oldest to lunch at Rumbis and got some sweet pictures. Can you believe this woman is 90? I love her dearly. My mom remembered that she last hugged her sister right outside the restaurant, a sad moment. Overall, a very nice time with Granny. (I promise I'll get to the house story eventually, just trying to catch up on pictures.)
Davis Creek Hike Waterfall I
When I went to get the link to this hike, I realize the header on all of the Farmington pages is a picture of the street I live on! How fun. The Davis Creek Hikes are just a quick drive up the hill. My choir friend told me I'd have to pass a "no tresspassing" sign to get to them, yet they are government maintained trails, so I guess that sign was posted by the people who live up the mountain. This was a short, steep hike of a half mile to the first waterfall. You head up the road just north of the cemetery on 200 East, then curve right as the road curves, follow it up past the unwelcoming sign and park in the pull-off area by the reservoir. Walk up past the trail marker right where the creek hits the road to the Davis Creek sign a few yards farther in the trees.
With kids 4-11, I didn't know if the little people would handle it well, but they did great, and I had them rest whenever they wanted to. The views back down were amazing, the trail was soft and covered in leaves and lined with yellow wildflowers. At the top there was one place I could straddle the stream and carry the kids across to the other side where there was a flat, grassy area and they could throw rocks in the waterfall to their heart's content. I'd like to take Ben up and do the longer hike to the second waterfall and another area called "Pretty Valley." Imagine how lovely this will be when there are actually leaves on the trees!
With kids 4-11, I didn't know if the little people would handle it well, but they did great, and I had them rest whenever they wanted to. The views back down were amazing, the trail was soft and covered in leaves and lined with yellow wildflowers. At the top there was one place I could straddle the stream and carry the kids across to the other side where there was a flat, grassy area and they could throw rocks in the waterfall to their heart's content. I'd like to take Ben up and do the longer hike to the second waterfall and another area called "Pretty Valley." Imagine how lovely this will be when there are actually leaves on the trees!
Farmington Bay Bird Refuge (Waterfowl Management Area)
The kids had Monday off after Easter and I decided it was time for a pre-summer preview of all the natural delights Farmington has to offer. Due to gas prices and frugality measures, this summer's plans include a hiking/biking schedule that covers Farmington's 100 miles of trails and hopefully a family pass to the Farmington City Pool a half a block away.
On Sunday night, my choir carpool friend told me about the Blue Herons nesting in Farmington Bay five minutes west of our house and a fantastic waterfall hike five minutes east of my house. I decided we'd do both. I started with a lecture on how if they fought and complained the whole time it would greatly sway whether and who I would take on various summer outings, so behavior was actually very good and everyone was rather pleasant.
Holy cow this place is beautiful. I felt so blessed to have it right next door. I didn't realize it was a freshwater area, since it is right on the edge of the Great Salt Lake. There were SO many birds there and it was so peaceful. We had the place, and the ranger, all to ourselves, so we got a private tutorial on the habitat and the kids were very engaged in the little displays in the visitor's center. We took a short trail out on one of the dikes and the bird chatter was loud and everywhere. It was a little chilly, but a very nice time. Apparently they have different birds at different times throughout the year--in March is geese and February is bald eagles. We will definitely have to make this a monthly thing.
My zoom on my iPhone is kind of lame.
Yellow-headed blackbird
Heron nesting poles. ("The people supply the poles, the birds supply the nests."
The view back towards our house.
On Sunday night, my choir carpool friend told me about the Blue Herons nesting in Farmington Bay five minutes west of our house and a fantastic waterfall hike five minutes east of my house. I decided we'd do both. I started with a lecture on how if they fought and complained the whole time it would greatly sway whether and who I would take on various summer outings, so behavior was actually very good and everyone was rather pleasant.
Holy cow this place is beautiful. I felt so blessed to have it right next door. I didn't realize it was a freshwater area, since it is right on the edge of the Great Salt Lake. There were SO many birds there and it was so peaceful. We had the place, and the ranger, all to ourselves, so we got a private tutorial on the habitat and the kids were very engaged in the little displays in the visitor's center. We took a short trail out on one of the dikes and the bird chatter was loud and everywhere. It was a little chilly, but a very nice time. Apparently they have different birds at different times throughout the year--in March is geese and February is bald eagles. We will definitely have to make this a monthly thing.
My zoom on my iPhone is kind of lame.
Yellow-headed blackbird
Heron nesting poles. ("The people supply the poles, the birds supply the nests."
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Halloween
Sophie was a pirate, Noah was Batman with a sword, Lucy was a princess with an LED light-up dress, Ben was Zoro, or a Musketeer of some kind. Ben and Sophie even had a Halloween theme for their piano recital.
Sophie and cousins Julianna and Audrey.
It kind of wigged me out to see my son with a mustache. Won't be long . . .
Also around this time, Ben had a belt testing and Lucy had a preschool program.
I think I'm almost caught up. I just have to check my phone and David's phone.
Noah is the batman on the center left.
It kind of wigged me out to see my son with a mustache. Won't be long . . .
Also around this time, Ben had a belt testing and Lucy had a preschool program.
Lucy is in a purple coat near the middle.
I think I'm almost caught up. I just have to check my phone and David's phone.
Silly kids -- and cats
Fall time on the front porch.
I have a bizzare habit of taking pictures of my kids when they are asleep, particularly if there is a cat involved. Sometimes I turn the light on to get a better shot. It's funny to see how tolerant the cat is being a teddy bear. Also, the baby appears to have been put to bed as well.
Sophie and Lucy used to share a bed, but we can't fit a queen bed into my basement. (Getting the washer and dryer down there took five men and a vertical drop.) So, they're back in twin beds now.
Cookie pizzas! Hurry up and make memories, kids!
Noah's Birthday
My little guy is now 6.5 and here are his big six birthday pics. He is a little sweetie, still wears 5Ts and has the same, pinchable cheeks. He still loves playing with cars, riding his bike and just generally being friendly to everyone (until he starts throwing gleeful punches). For those of you familiar with Blue's Clues, I call him my little Green Puppy (the character who loves knocking down other's block towers just for the joy of it).
His favorite color is black, his favorite show is Oswald. His favorite family activity is family night, which I wouldn't have guessed based on his behavior on said nights. He is quite the monkey. Lucy is his best friend. The other day I was tucking him in and giving him the drill, "You're going to grow up and be a good man, right?"
"Yes."
"And a good daddy?"
"Yes."
"And a good husband?"
"Yes . . ."-- look of concern. "Mommy, who am I going to marry? Oh, I know. I'll marry Lucy." Mommy explains he can't marry Lucy, and the concern returns. I explain he won't have to worry about that for a while, but he ponders it until he decides on our new next door neighbor who is also six and is in his Kindergarten and Primary classes. Now content, he snuggles into the covers and closes his eyes. "I'll marry Elsa." Well, since they are going to grow up together, I'd better write it down, just to be sure.
Love you, sweet Noah!
Right about this time, we got our In-N-Out at last, so we celebrated a little there
His favorite color is black, his favorite show is Oswald. His favorite family activity is family night, which I wouldn't have guessed based on his behavior on said nights. He is quite the monkey. Lucy is his best friend. The other day I was tucking him in and giving him the drill, "You're going to grow up and be a good man, right?"
"Yes."
"And a good daddy?"
"Yes."
"And a good husband?"
"Yes . . ."-- look of concern. "Mommy, who am I going to marry? Oh, I know. I'll marry Lucy." Mommy explains he can't marry Lucy, and the concern returns. I explain he won't have to worry about that for a while, but he ponders it until he decides on our new next door neighbor who is also six and is in his Kindergarten and Primary classes. Now content, he snuggles into the covers and closes his eyes. "I'll marry Elsa." Well, since they are going to grow up together, I'd better write it down, just to be sure.
Love you, sweet Noah!
Holding new cousin, Lucas
Right about this time, we got our In-N-Out at last, so we celebrated a little there
You can't tell from the pic, but it is packed and the whole Centerville Police Department seemed to be dedicated to the grand opening in directing traffic and the blocks of cars waiting for the drive-thru.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)