Maob Party of 5

This is what MOAB stands for:

M - Mother
O - of
A- Awesommness
B- Bash!!!

Loaded and all set to go.

I'm just gonna toot my own horn here and say I, the Mother, planned a pretty awesome trip.

The 5 of us headed down over the kids' Spring Break at School at the end of May. It was borderline hot but over all the weather was perfect. We snagged a pretty cool camp spot up Kane Creek.

Real petroglyphs up Kane Creek
 

















The camp spot was in a secluded area with surrounding red cliffs all around. So beautiful! Rich had been to Moab several times on man trips. I myself had not been since I was Logan and Rileigh's age, 9.

We camped the first night then got a room at the local hostel for the second night. Our thinking was to take a break from the sand and heat and get a shower in. Then the third night we had just left our camp set up and camped the last night. It worked out pretty good and mixed it up a bit.

The first night. Once we got settled I surprised Rich with his favorite deli varieties of meats and cheeses. He was a happy boy!

We wateched the moon peak up over the cliffs, so cool.






















 Then we had a jump roping competition in the dark!

The next morning we went on a couple hikes. When I say hikes, Nellie was not having it. So Rich and the other two ventured off while Nellie and I stayed back. We found shade under a tree and watched jeeps rock crawl. Then we went on a hike that someone had told us about to some waterfalls. Needless to say it was packed but cooled us off and the kids loved it. We then showered at the hostel and started some dinner.

Nellie blowing bubbles outside the cabin. 

The Hostel was a bit scary with some interesting folks. One homeless dude had a make shift tent out of sheets right next to our cabin. He was totally trying to get an invite to our dinner. Oh, and he only had one eye! As soon as we ate we took a drive to get shaved ice and get away from crazy folks.

Once we got back we went in our cabin locked the door and went to bed. Nellie chose to sleep on the top bunk and hit concrete in the middle of the night. That freaked me out and had her upset. If she would've listened to me and slept on the bottom, but whatever.

The next day we met up with our neighbor friends the Wallin's. We met them at Dead Horse Point.

Right away the kids got in on a Jr. Ranger class. We then did a small hike and had a very pleasant picnic! Someone came up with the idea to drive down some crazy road. I was so nervous I made Rich let me drive so I wouldn't freak out. It was really fun and bouncy. We got a quick soak in their pool at a Moab hotel. Then wished them farewell. We had a dutch oven calling our names.

Back at camp everything was still safe and sound. I fired up some dinner while Rich took the kids straight up a cliff. I don't know what it is about camping but the food is so good and so fun to prepare. It was especially enjoyable given the fact that I had camp to myself.

Dinner was hot and ready as soon as they got back.

Sunday morning we cleaned up camp and took our time. On the way out of town we wanted to hit Arches National Park. Since we took so long getting into the park it was blasted hot. We did a short jaunt to see the Arch from a distance then decided we needed to suck it up and hike to the Arch.

At times Nellie was a good sport and would hike along like a 9 year old!

I think it was 3 miles round trip. So worth it and so beautiful. Nellie got carried more than half way, such a turd.


I promise the 5 of us are under there. People were so nice and took turns going under it to take pictures for each other.

Such a great trip for our little family. Can't wait to do it all over again!

Las Vegas with kids can be pretty fun - who knew!?

Tanna and I decided to get away for a few days with our children to the Holy Land of Las Vegas. Right when we got there I was totally second guessing our decision on taking kids to Vegas. But in the end it was really fun. My kids were just asking to do that trip all over again.

The kids are Kanoa, Rileigh, Nellie, Lillo and Logan. This group is a hoot when they are together. So much energy. We stayed in a Suite at the Wynn Hotel. It accommodated all 5 kids and us Mommas. Someone gave us the tip to get off the Las Vegas Strip by dark. Boy were they right. Our first day out on the strip we pushed it a little long into the eveing and these creepy characters starting popping out from everywhere. Logan had just recently been told by some kid at school about the movie character Chucky. He had been asking me if he was real and what the movie was about. This is the mind of a 9 year old. He is kind of a scarety pants. So as we are walking back to our shuttle to get back to the hotel some freak show was dresses as Chucky. I had to get Tanna's attention and turn around to go a different way because I knew Logan would have night mares. Kind of funny looking back.

The kids loved the sightseeing. They each got a souvenir and lots of very expensive M & M's. Holy crap that place sucks you in. The above picture I believe is at Ceasars Palace, the guy asked if all these kids were ours. He was either shocked at the number or the fact that we had brown children.  Ha ha!

Photo with the sweetest M & M around!

Tanna treated the kids to Coke's from around the world at the Coke Store. They thought that was the funnest/funniest thing ever. Some of them were so gross.

We swam a ton. Which was so relaxing for the Momma's. I put Nellie is a life vest and she was a fish. Didn't even get a picture of her, she was off.

So yes, Vegas can be fun with kids and a good friend! These are our Risky Vegas "MOM" outfits. We are so wild.

 On our way home with zero meltdowns....ya right!

Spring has Sprung!

First off Mtn. Green Elementary hosts a Mother and Son Bug Ball, how cute is that?! Logan and I prior to the dance above. Wow check out the teeth on that kid! We double dated with the Wallace boys. Mandy couldn't possibly handle all those cuties on her own. I believe Logan and I jammed to one whole song. Played a little "Get to know ya," game and then scarfed down all the good treaties. Afterwords we ventured all the way up to Morgan to grab a bite at the fanciest joint in town, Steph's Drive-In!

Nellie graduated from her first year of music. The program is called, "Let's Play Music." What a great program for these small little minds. Ms. Amy as they call her is A-Mazing. She is so patient with them and animated too! Thanks for all your hard work Amy York.

Then a little "me" time on an indoor soccer team. The butterflies in my stomach prior to each game are unbelievable. Getting outside my comfort zone is good for me! These ladies live all around me and make it very fun and oh soooo competitive. Never mind the food baby I acquired over the winter.

Some more "me" time! Off to St. George with some of my besties! Of course we stopped at City Creek for some shopping! It was not much of a relaxing vacay at all.

We Mtn. Biked a super fun trail called Bear Claw Poppy. I made the girlies go further than they wanted and we almost-tried to get lost. Once we got back to the car we were out of water and spent. It was so fun!

The next day we hiked/ran Angel's Landing in Zion's National Park! So beautiful. We could not have asked for better weather all weekend. So good to refill the tank to get ya through to the warm weather up north. We stayed at Liz's Aunt and Uncles and after much pleading and begging they turned up the heat in the hot tub. It was so nice of them! We ate Sushi and shopped some more.

We got a beehive this Spring. I won't mention how many bees came with the set-up. It's a little overwhelming to think about. My little Bee Keeper's in training...which means all three of them are in training! I just hope that Queen of ours makes it through her first winter....stay tuned!

Rich has learned from the Dude that sold him the hive all the steps that need to be taken. We got him a Bee Keeper's book for Father's Day, Nellie picked it out! He took a stinger to his right eye in the pic below, poor guy. He's got stung on his hand too and it swelled pretty good.

What a good Daddy. I love these memories he is making with the kids, they will never forget stuff like this. Love the sweet get-up the kids manufactured to protect themselves.

Morgan Academy of Dance - Nellie & Rileigh

Nellie's class danced to a Disney Tarzan song! It was super cute. This is such a fun age to watch them dance and have the courage to be in front of so many people. Her weekly practices were a struggle to get her to go to. So I was able to get her very nice dance teacher, Tricia Buss to pick her up and take her to dance each week. If I went and dropped her off she hung on my leg and would not let me leave. If I stayed to watch she would sit on my lap and not participate in class. When it came time to costumes and her two performances I was shocked she actually participated and knew the dance! Thanks Tricia!!! Nellie's class took 1st Place at the Lagoon competition.

Rileigh danced to "Hola My Friend."It is a Zumba song that kept the girls shaking and moving. She has not been in dance since she was 4 years old. This year of dance was awesome for her. She loved it and really improved a lot over the course of the year. At least that is what her teacher told me, but I totally agree. With Rileigh being one of the tallest girls in the class she assisted with their pyramid in the last count of the song. Too bad we were out of town when their classes competed at Lagoon. Rileigh's class took second place!!! Way to go girls.

Easter 2013 - Love Your Brain/Ski Day

The night before Easter we ventured down to the Maverick Center to catch a Grizzly Ice Hockey Game. All on their own the kids wanted to wear rabbit ears - sorta cute!

They too have learned the fine technique of "selfies" oh and Wow I even got to make an appearance in their photo opp. However I too am the one making rabbit ears in the self pics, ha ha!

So having a camera phone you would think I would take a load of pictures because my phone is never more than 5 feet from my body. Reality is it is the exact opposite I take little to none pictures these days. So therefore I have none of the Easter Sunday Dress, so sad.

We did venture to my parents for an Easter Egg hunt and Feast. My Mom always puts on the biggest spread! Again, no picture was taken.

 Nellie 4 years old.

 Logan and Rileigh 10 years old.

 There is money in the eggs as well as lots of candy so it is a mad rush for the eggs between cousins! We have to let them lose by age.

Happy Easter Bock Bock!

Kevin Pierce the once professional snowboarder competing for the Olympics hosted an event up at Powder Mtn. It is to educate young kids to wear a helmet and prevent brain injuries such as the one Kevin got while practicing for the Olympic Games. He is one lucky fella to be alive. I love the fact that he is such a good role model to these young athletes.

It was such a fun family day, 

 Mr. Kevin Pierce himself!

 Logan took First Place! He won a Green Snowboarding helmet.

Good times was had by all!