Desert playground.

Joel took the babes on an adventure this weekend. Poor guy, it started out as a mis-adventure as they got to Moab and there were literally no campsites available, Sam got lost in the grocery store, and our debit card was apparently cancelled (due to an incident at Michael's where a bunch of card numbers were downloaded and stolen, ours being one of them:/)....anyway, it was a rough start.

But one thing I love about Joel, my dear husband of twelve years today, is that he presses on. And so they did and they had a wonderful time! They ended up at Goblin Valley where Sam and Amelia just went nuts exploring and jumping and climbing and chasing lizards.

These pictures just fill me with joy. I love seeing them enjoying nature. Like almost nothing else in the world do I love it. Of course, Joel is the perfect dad for little nature lovers and it makes me love him even more to watch as he takes them out to experience the beauty of this earth.

Meanwhile, this mama was at home taking full advantage of an empty house to get some projects done that had been put off for too long. A "working vacation" if you will:)

We all had a fabulous time and are happy to be at home together again, safe and sound.

All for now, Jen

P.S. Yes, for those paying attention, Amelia has been wearing that outfit for, oh, about 4 days:) You'll be glad to know she is now bathed and in clean PJs!

Sometimes, you just have to follow their lead.

Tonight we had no certain plans after Joel got off of work, but knew we wanted to be together as a family as tomorrow he and the kids are heading off on an overnight camping trip and this mama is going to miss them!

So, when Sam suggested we go look for snails Amelia knew just the place (she has a memory that amazes me!) and it happens to be close to yummy food places too. So, we followed their lead tonight and had such a great time.

It started with a rousing snail hunt around hidden hollow and ended with blue ice cream at Maggie Moos--pretty delightful with smiles all the way around. Here are some pictures on the trail--we found many, many snails for him to put in his jar overnight and let out at the park in the morning:)

All for now, Jen

The Caterpillar.

Brown and furry

Caterpillar in a hurry;

Take your walk

To the shady leaf or stalk.

May no toad spy you,

May the little birds pass by you;

Spin and die,

To live again a butterfly.

-Cristina G. Rossetti

Sam and Amelia's friends and family know them so well and gave them such perfect birthday gifts! Our friends the McKinney's gave them a butterfly garden and we had such a great experience with it! In fact, I don't know who found it more facinating, me or the kids!

You get to watch teeny caterpillars grow and grow, watch as they hang and harden into a chrysalis and then see the Painted Lady butterflies emerge! The whole process took about two and a half weeks I think.

When the butterflies emerged I assumed the kids might get to hold them for a second or two before they flew away, but the butterflies stayed on their fingers forever! Enough time for friends to get to hold them (hard as it proved to be to share the holding privledge--goodness), and I think Sam held one for over an hour before returning it to the butterfly house. Anyway, all five butterflies made it out alive into the air, even after one apparently was sat on by Amelia, and for that I was very thankful.

Are you ready for some pictures, because I took lots:) The first are of a book I highly recommend from the "Let's Read and Find Out" series. I love that series and always keep my eyes out for them while thrifting (and have found several)! We read it several times throughout the process and Sam loved getting to read it while holding one of the butterflies!

Next up will be the worm observatory from their Auntie Shanyn and family:) We're excited!
All for now, Jen

I walked into the bedroom this morning and this is what I found. Could they be any cuter? Joel had the morning off and he was really trying to finish the book he has been reading. He said that Amelia insisted she wanted to read "grown up books too" and so they had some reading time together. When I came in she was reading "Simplicity Parenting", though said she "decided to turn the words into a song" and so as she traced her little fingers along the words she sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." AHHHH! Cutest thing ever.
That's all. There are many more "moments" I need to catch up on, but zzzzzzzzzzzzz, I'm still just too tired in the evenings! Hopefully more soon! Jen