Red Canyon

Did our first camping trip with Ruby and Owen and another family.  Actually, we once camped with others when they were really young, and yes they could cry a lot, but now, their depth and breadth of unpredictability is much wider, which made us a little nervous.  Aside from a few melt downs,  Owen needing to get into EVERYTHING he was not supposed to including an affection for the sharp knives for cooking and little camping hatchet, we did alright.  We even got away for a few hours while Kirbys watched Ruby and Owen so we could mountain bike the Thunder Mt trail.  

I love that the Halloween cat made it into the car with Graham.  Sometimes I think we are the only ones with random things constantly making the trip with us to Home Depot or the grocery store just because choosing the fight to leave it at home is so not worth it.  Plus, I am pretty sure we had the coolest camping decorations in the whole campground.

Ruby declared that this is her "camping dress".  My stylista.

There was a great paved biking trail that we could walk to from camp.  Great for budding bikers.

Ms Greta :)...riding her new bike with GEARS mind you.  Impressive.

 Greta in this great little climbing tree in our campsite.  The three three year olds were envious for sure of her climbing abilities AND her ability to escape them.

Graham in Chip's hat.  Love it.  

We did group dinners and breakfasts, which is a nice change and break from camping alone.  Here, Chip is about to enjoy a hot dog donned with mac and cheese, avocado and red peppers.

I tried to get the four kids to pose for a picture, but the only posing going on was for silliness.  Oh well, I will take what I can get.

Kirbys made "Eggs in Purgatory" for breakfast.  It was delicious and beautiful.  Eggs cooked in a hole in French Bread and then topped with marinara and a little cheese.  Delish and gourmet for camping!

It was Jess and Stephan's anniversary so they even brought flowers!  And, (below) Chip and I also watched Graham and Greta so they too could ride on their own.  We, tried to hike up to the "Golden Wall".  It was .7 miles to get there, which sounds really doable until you factor in four kids, three under 4 years old.  We stopped at every bench, had lots of snacks and rests, took and hour and a half....and still didn't make it.  But, I don't think anyone really cared so it's all good. :)

 Da Boys.

Our ride.

 It was AMAZING!

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Chip is in this one.  Blue shirt.

Family hike on Sunday- Pink Ledges.  8 person selfie. :)

And baby, Ruby loves you so.  We almost lost you at the end of this hike in the visitor's center, but somehow Ruby always remembers to double check for you before we drive away from places.  Ruby named one of these HooDoos "Cupcake HooDoo".  It was the first thing she told her teacher about on Tuesday when asked about the trip.  So cute.  Thanks for a great trip Team Kirby!

Sisters Descend!

Mindy arrived Friday night and Tina Saturday afternoon. Our first stop on the way home from the airport was....Ruby Snap!  The best cookie shop in the nation....well, Utah at least. :)  I mean, they have a cookie named after me.  It has got to be pretty good.  We tried only a dozen while we were in there and took another dozen home.  Mmmmm....the most genuine way to start a Mulliken girl's gathering.

Then, home to pick up Chip and the kids before heading into Park City for some good ole park play.

 Another genuine Mulliken tradition- pizza!  We all helped. :)

Biking into Park City for a cow cookie.  Seriously, are we always motivated by food?

 I took this picture for Tina because she was getting such a kick out of the fact that is was so warm and that there was still snow on the slopes.

Tina did Ruby and Owen's nails.  So cute!  Wish I could say that I have been good about keeping them up.  Owen has asked me at least 3 times to redo them, and I just never find time.  Owen, I promise I will get your orange nails back for ya! (his favorite color)

Ruby even got her toe nails done.

Owen's nails match his bike. Ha!

As long as I am posting pictures of their extremities, this is one is a must.  And....

even better, the full outfit.  Thanks for the new shoes, aunt Tina!  Ruby loves her "tappy shoes".

Another great outfit compliments of new dress up things brought by Aunt Tina.  Dress up never gets old.

Tina reading none other than the big RED tub to Ruby and Owen at the library.

Tina got this cute shot of Ruby lovingly tackling Kessler on the deck.

We had a fun play session outside complete with funny poses, faces, and extreme front yard biking.

The kids went to school on Tuesday and I didn't have clients until starting in the afternoon, which was so perfect- hardly ever happens.  So, just the two of us got to go for a walk, get coffee and, of course, get a crepe at the Java Cow.  We really are motivated by food. :)  It was a great visit and is turning into a fun tradition as Tina makes her way to the Arbonne conference each Spring.  I feel so lucky to have both sisters in town at once and Tina all to ourselves for a few days.  Love you girls!!!

First Camping Trip of the Year

Headed out for our first camping trip of the year to the San Rafael Swell.  The weather was beautiful, the setting incredible, and the kids had a blast so we have a lot of pictures!  I just couldn't leave any out.  Now you can feel like you were there with us. :)

 Here is our camp sight.  Things are really rugged and undeveloped in the swell.  It was awesome- no one very close.  Lots of solitude.

I took this picture because the trees were so interesting.  Notice how last years leaves are still on there while simultaneously this year's new growth is taking place.  Just goes to show, you don't always have to shed the old "stuff" to grow and move on.  I am sure the tree will eventually drop the old stuff, but I like that it reminded me that it will do it when the time is right and that things are not always as clean cut as I would like or think them to be, in nature and in life.  

On to even more serious stuff.  Ruby and Owen both pooped on the latrine I built and we were very proud of them so we pulled out "a treat".  What three year old doesn't love mustaches as reward for going to the bathroom?

No picnic tables so our cook bin will do.

Ruby and Owen's favorite part.

  

 Went to Goblin Valley.  First time for Chip and I too.  A playground of Hoodoos to run and hide around.

Hiked a few miles to the Goblin's Lair. This is the beginning...soon climbs the hillside and then drops into a huge cave. Pretty cool.  PS- Mindy this picture of Ruby is for you- love that shirt on her!

Back to the Hoodoos for more hiding and playing.  This is Ruby and Owen playing hide and seek.  They are kinda camouflage, don't you think?

We made a friend on the hike with whom we ate lunch (with his dad and grandma) and hung out the rest of the afternoon with.  So cute to see them meet and get along with another kid so well.  I remember meeting kids and doing that on vacation all the time growing up.  Sometimes the kid we met were the most memorable part of a trip.

Storm, comin in!  Came in, brought a little rain, and...

A double rainbow right over camp!!

 

Post rainbow and dinner walk.  The colors were crazy, fresh, and vibrant like they get only after a storm.

Just love the moment here of them helping each other climb around.

Oh yeah!  And, we were there for Easter Sunday.  The Easter Bunny came to the desert! 

 Photo shoot after the storm below.  Chip brought the "real" camera.  So, as long as we got the fun colors, thought we would play with it.

And then there was the hike on Sunday.  Attempted to do Little Wild Horse Canyon.  Wow- moods were horrible, motivations low, and the funometer turned off it was so low.  So, we eventually headed back to the car, called it good enough, and drove home.  They only thing they loved was this pot hole below.  I was wishing we could have left them there till they were able to turn things around.  No such luck. :)