Fall Break Adventure

 Last night we got back from a little family adventure.  

But before we go there, here's some of Lu's #5:

 That is Mom's favorite birthday "cake" right there.  :)  Not necessarily for taste (although that's good too), but for ease.  Mommy win!

 Lucky LuLu had Grandma and Grandpa over for her birthday.  They came to bring her present and had dinner with us, but I believe the real reason for their visit was to raid our raspberries.  ;)  Just kidding, mom.  It was a perk, though, no denying that, right?

Okay, now on to family fun time.  For Fall Break, we went to the cheapest condo I could find that could fit our family comfortably.  That happened to be in Brian Head.  So, ski resort in October it is!  We spent some time in Cedar Breaks.  It was beautiful!

 Loved all the pines!  I tried to use my imagination and envision it in the summer with shrubbery and wildflowers.  

We hiked to Alpine Pond, which was frozen.  The kids loved breaking up the ice.  Simple pleasures, people.

 Yep, gonna have to go back when it's all green.  Although I say that and realize that the mossy pond made up for it, eh?

We had to spend time at the resort pool, of course:

 Silly Lu.

Wrinkly toes:

This photo is so disproportionate it's creepy, but also kinda cool?  Also, Lu sleeps anywhere she's tired.  I love it and hate it.

We took a day trip to St. George to enjoy the sun (shoulda packed shorts!!!).  We went to Cottonwood Cove, otherwise knows as the "spin 'til you puke" park:

We love to climb red rocks!

 The kids thought it was so cool to climb on the big cliffs overlooking St. George.  As long as they were sitting and holding still, mom thought it was cool too.

 That is a happy, good-lookin' kid!

 When we left the little ones were crying because they wanted to go, and the big ones were crying because they wanted to stay.  Parenting while vacationing = no winning.

Well, maybe some winning.  Everyone was happy with ice cream in their mouths:

 Golly she looks so old.

After packing out and finding a sacrament meeting Sunday morning, we made a stop at the Fremont Indian State Park:

Look at those happy faces!  You'd have no idea that there was a whole lot of whining going on.  However, it was a fun stop!  Definitely worth the 20 minute detour from I-15.  Another place I want to explore more when I have the cooperation of my traveling companions.

It all went by so quickly.  I think a redo would be the only fair thing.

Conference, Pumpkins and a Birthday

 Daisy and I have been doing a little "school" together.  "Little" being the key word here.  :)  I'm not on top of things as I used to be.  She will be going to preschool NEXT YEAR.  I can't believe it. 

 Those eyes are killer.

So, rewinding time way back to General Conference weekend:

 Our awesome neighbors once again brought a big bag of activities for the kids (see the brown paper bags on the fireplace?  Each bag has a separate activity for each speaker - brilliant).  My kids LOVE conference because of this (not going to church on a Sunday may be a close topper).  Oh, and please take notice of my festive fireplace.  Take notice because I'm often too lazy to be festive.  I have a real problem.  My kids begging and begging since the beginning of September helps kick me out of my easy chair.

On General Conference Sunday we enjoyed time with family:

 Cousins + farm = a perfect day

My kids were so excited to go pick their pumpkins out of our very own patch:

 My goal is to grow pumpkins big enough that we can carve, and enough for at least one per kid.  This year it was a success!  It isn't always.

Must always have a silly picture:

Just kids being cute:

We enjoyed celebrating Nick's 27th birthday (again).  He wanted to take the kids to a movie.  We saw "Kubo and the Two Strings".  It was really cool and different from anything else we had seen.  We also took a drive up to Kamas to Hi Mountain Drug, a new favorite of ours.

Shakes for the win!

The 3 year old, being 3, of course:

She wouldn't even come up off the floor for ice cream.  Weird.

 Carrot cake.  Yummy yummy yum yum.

That reminds me, I still have left over cream cheese frosting in the fridge.  Hmmm...

I love my honey bun.  I'm so glad he was born.

side note:  In real life, Nick and I are quite boring and call each other by our first names, or sometimes by the title of "mom" or "dad".  We do not call each other cheesy sweetie names.  I don't know why I think it's so funny to do so online.  One of my many quirks.  Just wanted you to know in case you judge us a couple of cheeseballs.

Big Number 5

My Sweet Lainey Lu,

Today you are 5!  You've been waiting a long time for this day!  I hope you feel spoiled rotten.  If I had to pick one word for you, it would be "sweet", you have always been sweet and content.  In fact, the nurses commented in the hospital shortly after you were born about your sweet disposition, and I'm happy to say that that has continued.  Of course, you have your growing pains as we all do, but you are a pretty happy kid to be around!  You are my girlie girl, always wearing dresses and wanting you hair done.  Curly is best.  "Don't I look pretty?" is one of your favorite things to say.  Your best friend is Daisy and the two of you play so well together.  Barbies is usually your activity of choice.  You love to watch tv and movies, "Barbie's Princess and the Popstar" being your top fave right now.  You love school and are learning so much.  Your teachers adore you.  You are still my snuggliest of kids.  I love that.  You are a sweet addition to our home, and we love you dearly!

Loves, hugs and kisses,
Mom

I took Lu for her 5 year pics yesterday.  You want to see, huh?

One of my favorites:

Another favorite:

My baby has china doll skin. 

Cheeser.  What a cutie.