Factory Reset

 As we saw the beginning of the year 2016, our family sat and enjoyed a slideshow of photos from 2015.  A tradition was born.  We all wrote down our favorite moments from last year, and I noticed something - none of those favorite memories were actually made at home.  I know there are precious moments every day within the walls of your own home, BUT, when you leave your home with your family, you have nothing else to focus on but each other.  There is no laundry to fold, toilets to scrub, or dryer vent to fix.  Only quality, focused time with family.  Perfect memory making time.

Also, my makeup requires a factory reset every 3 to 4 months.  It's in my DNA.  And how do you do that?  Get me out of town!  I begged (but in actuality it didn't require too much begging) Nick to take me away over the weekend, and he did.  It was a short, spontaneous trip, but we had a blast.  It always lifts my spirits to hit the road.

We tried to find warm weather down south.  It wasn't much warmer, but we found some sun and definitely made some memories.

Desert in bloom:

We walked around the Red Hills Desert Garden:

 It was a new thing for us, and it was fun!

Then, we explored Pioneer Park, one of our favorites:

 You can't see it well in this photo, but there is a very narrow slot canyon you can climb through.  We did not.  I didn't like the thought of getting stuck in there.  However, lots were climbing right through (you can see a Dad cheerleader at the top there, coaxing his kids through)!

This photo makes me laugh:

 This boy thinks the world is against him sometimes.  It's the 5/6 (and 7/8?) year old phase.  It'll pass.  The Oreo ring around his mouth isn't helping his cause.  ;)

Kids in a hole:

My favorite photo:

 It felt great to roll around in some red dirt.

After, we did some shopping at the outlets, and checked a "must do" item off our list:

 Get ice cream.

I was sad when we had to turn around and head back home, but it was a refreshing little getaway.  And, we'll love to look back at those photos as a family at the end of 2016.  Memories made.

This...

...is one of the many reasons it is awesome to be the wife of Nick.  Pasta dinner, all homemade (yep, noodles too!) on a Sunday evening.  Yum.