BIG Trees!

We took a trip to Northern California to visit family and friends. Our main objective was going to the blessing of our dearest friends, the McDermeds, new baby. Courtney and I know know how restless our boys get and don't much like the constant conversation that us girls love to partake in. So, we planned a few activities to keep the boys and the kids busy. We decided to head up into the Sierra Nevadas to Calavaras Big Trees State Park. This is a place that I visited plenty when I was a kid. It is home of the giant Sequoias... and I mean giant! They can top out up to 250-300 feet. Their diameter is a mere 30 feet! They are amazing. In fact, in many of the pictures, the lighting is poor because they tower over you and shade most of the ground below.

The boys inspecting the inside of an ancient sequoia that fell many years ago

Yes, this is a stump of a tree that they are standing on. At one time I counted ten people standing up there with room to spare!

The gang dwarfed while walking through a giant sequoia

Daddy and Evan strike a quick pose next to a giant trunk

Despite being hungry and tired, all the kids loved getting out in the cool mountain air and running around. Those little kiddo's did a mile and a half hike.

Evan got a little boost from daddy while he read his trail map

Evan found a "little" stump to climb and stand on... he even did a little dance!

I do not think there was much more fun to be had with a hollowed out tree trunk. They had so much fun running in and out and hollering and hearing their echo.

This little angel, the reason we were all together, slept the whole time!

After running around and getting dirty from head to toe,

it was rub-a-dub dub, three little cuties in a tub!

Norah found a new admirer... her friend Collette. She adored Norah and Norah had a ball playing with her. Evan kept up with the big kids and was infatuated with "Co-wette."

He is still asking about her.

There was much heartache amongst the three of them when it was time to say

our final goodbyes. Until the next time...

New Baby

No, this is not an announcement... how many of you thought that when you read the subject line? Ha ha!

Seriously, our dear friends just added a beautiful baby boy to their family. When Evan was born, Norah pretty much was of the mindset that if she ignored it, it would go away. Thankfully, she relented. She kept asking me when we were going to be able to go see Baby Corbin... Could we go to the hospital? Are they home yet? Can we go now? Finally, the time came and she froze! She peeked at the baby and then was on her way, but she acted really funny. Her defense mechanism is "dog-mode." She kept coming around, but would run away. I noticed she was always in eye shot of the baby. I knew she wanted to see him up close and personal. I was starting to get annoyed and then I asked, fully expecting a big, fat no, if she wanted to hold the baby. She ran, not walked and nodded her head yes. I am pleased to say that she is a natural and loved holding the baby. She even came back for more!

A very serious job, that cannot be taken lightly!

Consider Yourself Blessed!

Norah has become quite efficient at and eager to say her nightly prayers by herself. Last night she was asking Heavenly Father to bless ... and she inserted a few names. Then there was a long pause and she said,

"Please bless everyone in our lives."

11 Years = Stainless Steel?

Considering the divorce rate, you would think they would update the wedding anniversary gift list. I stay with the same man for 11 years and get stainless steel? I guess it was foresight when we bought top of the line stainless steel appliances. I guess I can think of it as an early gift!

On a serious note, today is our eleventh anniversary. A cat, three dogs (RIP Gurr-skee), 2 kids, and 2 houses later- here we are. So many people told us how hard marriage is, but I feel like it has been a pretty great ride. The times we have shared and love that exists is priceless. Our ability to laugh together is the one thing that I can always count on in the life. Always.

Jason, I am glad that we are in it for eternity. Thanks for knowing what buttons to push, sense to talk and support to lend. I LOVE YOU!