Alan's Sick...

I hate to admit this, but I don't mind too much when my kids are sick... It means we stay home and read and watch movies and nap and eat ice cream for lunch. In my mind this is making my kids feel more comfortable when they are miserable! To George, it's encouraging/rewarding them to be sick. It's all about balance, right?

A Busy Life

Yesterday I had to schedule time to fold laundry. I hate it when decisions I've made limit future decisions I'd like to make. We're a little busy around here. Sometimes I love it. Sometimes I hate it. Mostly it's great!

George!

here's the new george... that's right bic-ed head. and he's kept it up too... except that sliver in the back that he misses every time (shhh don't tell just laugh)

10 Year Old Alan!

Alan turned 10 on the 7th! He is one amazing kid! We got to head to Lagoon as a family to celebrate... Alan is now big enough AND brave enough to go on all the roller coasters (he even hit some twice, going alone the 2nd time since no one else could gear up to go with him!) but while Benson is finally tall enough, big roller coasters hold no magic for him! George paid him to go on several, so he did experience the old white roller coaster, the mouse and tidal wave.

It's crazy to think Alan is 10! It's going by too fast!

Benson's Gallery

Benson loves to take pictures, these I thought were especially fun. Keep it up Buddy!

Panguitch

Alan, Benson and Grandpa at Big Rock Candy Mountain!

Benson and Audrey riding Maggie at the ranch

Benson and Alan riding another horse at the ranch

Grandma snuggling in the bunk bed with Benson and Audrey while I looked for the van keys!

I love Panguitch/Bryce Canyon! This year at the last minute Alan, Benson and I decided to head down with my parents and April and Audrey for the Allen family reunion at the 'ranch' in Panguitch. My mom booked a KOA Kabin for all 7 of us to stay in. We left Friday afternoon in time to swim (freeze) before we went to dinner. Late that night, after we all settled down and everything had been quiet enough for long enough that I thought I was the only one still awake Benson whispered, "Alan!" Alan responded, "What?" "Just checking to see if you were still awake!" We decided that we wanted to get up at 5 AM and go see the sunrise at Bryce Canyon. After we woke everyone up and got ready, we couldn't find the keys to the van. After a lot of looking we decided I must have locked them in the van and called a lock smith, who came and unlocked the van, but there were no keys in it! We tore apart the cabin and found them, just in time to drive to Fairyland Canyon as the sun came up. It was 34 degrees. Very, VERY memorable! The reunion at the ranch was fun, there is always great food and it's fun to see my second and third cousins. The kids rode horses, skipped rocks in the pond and explored. My dad took the 'scenic route' home so we got to stop at Big Rock Candy Mountain and drive through all those small towns. What an amazing time together!

Millions of Peaches

Millions of peaches, peaches for me, millions of peaches, peaches for free! (Or twelve bucks a box)!

Peach season has started! People have been calling me who bought last year, which is a nice change from me begging people to come get some peaches (which I did last fall). They are sooooo YUMMY! During peach season last year I gained ten pounds, which I attributed to stress, now I think it may have been the routine of peach pie one night followed by peach cobbler the next!