Lake Powell

 In the beginning of Spetmeber we met the Dickson's at Lake Powell.  Spencer was a little nervous at first, but he ended up loving going crazy on the tub.

 Such a pretty place.  we did a little hiking and exploring one day.

 Carrie loved every minute she could spend with Livy

 We got rained on a few times, there was a huge cloud burst, and then tons of waterfalls from the rocks for hours after, you can see one if you look closely in the picture.

 I even went tubing and skiing, which my boys couldn't believe.  i was very sore for a few days, but you've got to pretend to be young once in a while.

I

September explosion

 Carrie using a dog tag for a camera at a football game

 Homecoming parade- somehow we missed it.  it started early when it usually starts late and we just missed the whole thing- but some people gave us candy so we got the best part.

 Devon and the new Language Arts teacher on "twin day"

 We actually made it to 2 football games this year and the kids all did really well, I think we made it almost to half time the first game and past half time the second.  And they view at the football game is pretty amazing.

 Leah running around at a Cross Country meet- it was cooler than I thought, so she wore Carrie's jacket

 Diet coke and mentos explosion- that is a pretty cool picture

 Leah is a handful at church, we spend most of the time in the halls, we are excited for nursery!

 We went to the fire station for Cub Scouts one day.  The boys had a lot of fun, for some reason Carrie started crying in the big truck- i don't know what scared her, but she didn't love the fire station as much.

 Produce from one day in our garden.  We had a bumper crop of tomatoes and a good crop of everything else- so a good year for gardening- and fresh salsa

 We painted with homemade sidewalk paint one day.  It was really fun but the cornstarch just did not wash off for a few days.  i was worried because we have so many neighbors that had to walk through it, but no one complained and it was gone in a few days.

 Carrie and Leah love to dress alike, or at least Carrie likes it when Leah dresses like her.

 The moon a a football game

 Leah finally has enough hair to kind of do pigtails.

 James got his finger stuck in the little holes on the Schwan's truck- really buddy?

 James singing to Pandora- hydrocortizone microphone.

 Carrie and her Raggedy Ann from great grandma

 Carrie loves to dress up, and dress Leah up- but Leah is not so sure she likes the extra love.

 Now she's happy to be with Carrie.

 Carrie was telling me about Kelsy land one night- we miss Kelsey around here.

 Th fog lifting off the monuments.

 James says "I love this sauce!"

 Carrie "I wanted to make it look better!"
In summary life keeps going around here- with or without us. 

Citadel

 We finally got to go on a hike that I have been wanting to explore for a while, the Citadel.  It is a ruin on Cedar Mesa that is built on land that juts out into the canyon.  The ruins are on the sides like a fortress.  It was an amazing hike, a little scary with kids, but amazing.

 This little rock is holding up a huge rock, for now anyway

 We walked across this narrow neck of land to get to the ruins.  it was not too narrow, just sheer cliffs on either side, so we made James and Spencer stay back with the slow old people. 

 James climbing up to the ruin.

 Eating mangos at the top, the best part of any hike.

 James was especially excited to have Quicy and Adney with us.  It was a beautiful hike. 

Candy Parade

 We call the Utah Navajo Days Parade the Candy Parade because we get so much candy.  it was short this year, but we still got 2 grocery bags full.  Bring it on trick or treaters!

 Leah's first sucker.

i tried to upload this video of Leah playing with a kitten, she loved it, until it pawed at her, she didn't even have a scratch, but she was quite offended.

Hiking

 We actually did a lot of hiking in August, on relatively cool days.  We hiked a new trail with Spencer's scout group.  It was the Lee Cly trail by The View hotel.  We have not really hiked around there, which is odd since it is really close.  It was a fun little trail.

 We took a few new families up to explore teardrop.  This is the one hike that Carrie is really comfortable on and she just runs everywhere, I guess she has done it enough.

 For my birthday hike we did the "Wildcat Trail" which is also just down in the valley.  i have never done this kike before because I always think "I can see the mittens from here." but it really was a pretty trail and the view from different angles was amazing.  The weather was perfect, overcast and 60's. 

 It was a little long for little legs, but Carrie hiked most of it.

 Seriously, how do I get to live across the street from all this- who needs Walmart anyway?