Capitol Reef

Last year, Chip got a print for me for my birthday of the beautiful formation behind us in this first picture.  And since then, this trip to visit it has been in the works.  Spring is a great time to be down south, and we only have certain weekends throughout the camping season that we can get out.  So, we took advantage of the first one, and Oma just so happened to still be in town.  She hasn't camped in 25 years so this was a big adventure for all of us!  There were so many great pictures- I struggled to whittle it down.  I will let the pictures and short captions tell the story of our long weekend in Capitol Reef.

This was home for four days and three nights.  Not bad, eh?

Air mattress city.  Weather was nice.  A little cold the first night....mostly because we did not dress warm enough...and with some adjustments...comfortable the rest of the time.

 An evening walk to a lookout.

 Hiked to a ridge on day one.  Got to get up close to this Hoodoo- which is a word Ruby and Owen really liked.  Incredible views here and really the entire time.  CR is a stunning place.

 Smiling faces.

Silly faces.

Yup- we can still cover some ground with them in these things.  Won't last much past this summer, so we will take advantage while we can.  Soon, Ruby and Owen will have to do all of their own hiking. 

 Cathedral Valley- Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon.

I LOVE blooming cactus.  We were a week or two early for the explosion, but with Ruby and Owen's help, we did manage to find a few.  

Owen's favorite activity at camp was to "hammer things in" with the rubber mallet.

And everyone enjoyed making and eating Smores...one of the best parts of camping.

 Ruby and Owen exploring their first slot canyon.  They are amazing climbers and were very interested in the "yucky puddles" that we came upon.

We were on a constant salamander hunt all weekend.

Oma hiked with us as far as she wanted to go.  Then she would turn around and meet us back at the car....

Where she could hang in the shade and knit.  So cute. :)

Don't ask.

My shirtless boys after a hike on a hot afternoon.

Mother's Day morning.  Ruby and Owen painted some really cute frames and made (with dad's help of course) a few really sweet cards. AND, I got to be with MY mom.  Can't imagine a better way to spend this special day.

Walking up a wash.  I just like how small we look compared to how immense the steep red walls are.  This is exactly how it feels.

Ruby's "monster" has made quite a few trips with us over the past year.  Here it is making its way up a canyon.  And, Ruby is also showing off her (or her mom's) awesome fashion sense again.

A parting shot.  That is myself with Ruby in the pack in the lower corner.  Another great perspective shot.  It looks like I am about to get swallowed.  Good times and a huge thanks to Chip for doing all the research and planning so we knew where to go and what to do.  I feel like we really saw the park.  Yahoo! 

Birthdays and visitors!

April and December are HUGE birthday months for Team DuRoss.  This year was particularly fun because Mindy showed up for a visit shortly after her birthday (which we celebrated with chocolate cake). Then, Tina rolled into town for a few days.  Only to be followed by Oma a day later! With all of us Mulliken girls in one place, and Oma having established a big UT fan club, it seemed logical to throw her a little surprise party for her 70th upon her arrival!  Mindy's presence was supposed to also be a surprise, but yours truly gave up the secret a few weeks ago by accident.  It is too long and convoluted of a story for this blog, but just suffice it to say that there were lots of secrets, busted secrets, laughs, and entertainment that came of the whole thing.   

The Mulliken sisters know how to have a good time.  We went to the zoo, the park, and even had a serious shopping event without kids, which was a real treat.

And then, OMA arrived!  Around 6pm people just started showing up.  It didn't take Oma long to catch on to what was going on.  Good times were had, lots of dessert was eaten, and Oma's sweet soul and 70 years of life celebrated!

Oma stayed for three weeks this time around.  It is amazing how quickly three weeks goes by when you are used to visits of five or nine weeks (those were the last 2 visits).  Nonetheless, we got in a bunch of hikes, a lot of park time, and even a big camping trip which will be chronicled in the next blog entry.  Oma was immensely helpful as usual.  She selflessly cleans toilets, washes and folds laundry, does dishes before I can even get my rubber gloves on, takes on projects I can't seem to get to, including cleaning the laundry room, sewing a million random things that have needed mending, and even helping me get some finances in order that required a lot of phone calls and follow up.  And mostly, she loves Ruby and Owen despite their ups and downs.  She gets right into our schedule whatever that happens to be, and supports in any way she can.  It is pretty awesome.

Constant entertainment

Owen has grown into quite the sweet and thoughtful boy.  The other day, I was coming up the stairs after work, and Owen runs to the top of them saying, "Mama, how was work today?"  He regularly asks me, "Mama, how were your appointments?"  We will be eating breakfast and he will say, "Thanks for making pancakes (or whatever else it is that he is eating), mama."  One day he came scampering around the corner, looks at me and says, " I am happy you are here!"  And, when I was gone for an hour to drop my sister at the airport I returned and he says, "I missed you, mama."  I mean, seriously.  Could that be any more fun?

At the park

Other Owen quotes include, "I am going to Vegas Baby" After Chip returned from a work trip to Vegas, all they wanted to do was ride their cars around pretending they were coming or going from Vegas.  The would go to the "hotel" or "play with toys" in Vegas.  It was hilarious.  Sometimes they will tell me or each other to "be careful" or "have fun!".

Owen "shaving"...with my toothbrush no less!  And, using his "mini ipad" as he calls it (my ipod)

Ruby also likes to say thank you, but usually only after Owen has done it and gotten a good response.  She doesn't miss anything and easily picks up on those social skills and benefits.  She also often asks questions and when I don't know the answer (yes, this happens all the time...what am I going to do when they are in high school!?) she will say, "We need to google that."

Ruby and I share this hat I found at Savers.  We love it.

She is able to recognize words that rhyme.  In fact, if you happen to say two words that rhyme, she will be sure to tell you, "Daddy, that rhymes!"  She also notices if I am wearing new earrings or a new shirt and usually tells me she likes them.  Oma was wearing a new shirt so Ruby pointed out, "Oma, you have a new shirt on."  Oma says, "Ruby, you are too much."  Ruby replies, "I am NOT too much."

This girl is a walking fashion statement most of the time.  I mean seriously, who dressed her this morning!  I wish I could say she picked out her own outfit, but dad would not let that slide.  I am usually the one being busted by the fashion police in our house.  Whoops.

Ruby likes to tells stories about "A bear up on the mountain."  She will yell to get our attention if we are talking saying, "Hey, listen to this.  Hey, guys, listen to THIS!"  And then she goes into the bear on the mt.  Sometimes he comes into our house, sometimes he plays with toys in the woods.  Sometimes we walk with him on the trail.  Chip has told them some version of this story since they were born, so it is adorable to see her start to repeat and create a similar story on her own!

Dad learned to braid!  Pretty good for his first time. :) He is going to benefit from some one on one tutoring with our niece, Madeleine.  She is the braid queen!

When we are having adult conversation and no one has paid attention to them for a bit, Ruby and Owen often ask, "What are you talking about?"

They have started telling on each other a little bit (which is better than biting), which involves one of them saying, "Mommy, Ruby said I couldn't have any snack."  or something like that.  So, I started saying, "Well, Ruby is not the boss (which we quickly changed to "in charge").  Mommy is in charge and you can have snack (or whatever)."  Well, they latched onto that and now, almost daily I am informed that one of them is NOT in charge, that they are in charge of themselves (another phrase we coined), or that Mommy or Daddy are the boss!

Aunt Tina caught this hilarious moment on camera.  Ruby- almost biting Owen.  Owen, bracing for the event.  Dad, saving this one.  Love it.