I love the Fall

In attempts to help my color-blind husband see the changing leaves we went for a drive up the canyon.  He thought if he was up closer he could see the different colors, I'm not sure it helped, but I enjoyed it.  It was so beautiful. It made me very grateful for where we live. 

We thought we were just going to do the Alpine Loop, (start from American Fork canyon and end up coming out in Provo) but somehow took a wrong turn along the way and ended up in the back side of Midway.    

These pictures really don't do the scenery justice.  

Saturdays in the Fall:

I just wanted to quickly share with you how our Saturdays are being spent.  There's no sleeping in, no running errands, no cleaning the house.  Just sports, and more sports.  

Anyone want to play????

Soccer is usually first thing in the morning.  

This is Tyson's first year playing anything.  We were feeling a little guilty just making him watch his siblings play.

 On the other hand he was getting really good at his hand held video games! :)

Check out that form.  I think we got a natural.

Then we have Regan's football, ohh I mean Jack's.  This is his second year playing and Regan's second year of coaching.  I am not sure who really enjoys it more.  

And then we you think you've just about had enough football for the day, I've got this to compete with.  

And that's all I have to say about that.  Don't even get me started.  

I would just like to take this moment to thank Madison's coaches for giving us Saturdays off.  We'll take those those double-headers on Wednesday nights and practices on Mon. & Fri.  anyday.  

So you think you can dance????

Old Marinda- never watched the show, not a fan, and never thought about it twice.  

New Marinda (with a little help from my friends)-  love the show, huge fan, and now wish in my second life, to come back as a hip-hop dancer. 

So you think you can dance came to concert last night.  It was so fun to watch these dancers perform live.  They truly are amazing.  They make it look so easy.  So easy that even a bunch of 30+ year olds think they could possibly do it themselves.  

Anyway...Thanks for the fun night girls.  Regan and I will get practicing on our dance.  

Well in honor of SYTYCD, I have changed my playlist to play some of the music from some of my favorite dances of the season.  Enjoy.  Can you remember the dance that goes with the song?

FACE CANYON

One of the days we decided to just go "exploring"  up one the arms of the lake.  It turned out to be something so amazing.  

Let me give a rundown of the experience.

You get the boat in as far as it goes.  You then try and secure it to?? rocks?, I guess.  

You then start swimming.  You really can't see what's beyond the next bend or how long your swim is going to be, you just go and hope you can make it.  Some of us were smart and grabbed their life jackets, some were not.  Me being not one of the smart ones, was pretty tired at the end of our 30 minute swim.    

The water finally came to an end.  And we started to hike.  Please keep in mind we have no idea what is going to be at the end of this adventure.  

Canyon is still pretty wide at this point.  Not looking too exciting.  We keep hiking, in our swimsuits. 

Canyon walls starting to get taller and more narrow. 

And then just around one last final bend, we are in this:

I loved it.  It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.  

Back to life...

  

Back to the real world.  Back to being mom and dad again.  Back to the kids, house, jobs...  Back to life.  

This is one of the trips we look forward to most all year long.  It is a week long trip to Lake Powell with no kids.  It is heaven.  The biggest decision of the day is whether to do an early morning wake-board session or just lay in bed and wait for the afternoon session.  Maybe even both!

Much thanks to all those who helped make this possible-- My mom, Regan's mom, friends to help chauffeur kids around-  We love you all so much.  

Here are just a few of the pictures that shows what adults do while the kids are away:  

Build sand castles...

Ride the wave runner as fast as we want...  No kids screaming to slow down!

Be irresponsible and jump off cliffs...  (That is Regan up there on top with Peter.  Can you see him?)

Be lazy....

Sing...

Wake-board and then wake-board some more...

Flirt...

And my favorite...

I am going to do another post dedicated to a hiking trip that we did one of the days.  The pictures will blow your mind.  It was so unbelievable.  Watch for it!!!

Tyson's first day!

"I will not cry... I will not cry."    "Where are they going?  Why won't they let parents in the room with them?  What are they doing in there?"  "Don't worry Tyson I will be right here waiting for you."  - thoughts that were going through my head. 

What's going on?  Who am I? Someone please smack me.  I have never been "that mom"  until now. Help!  

Happy Birthday Jack

YIPPEE!  Today is Jack's official birthday.  He is 9 years old.  We celebrated his birthday last Saturday by inviting a few friends over for a little pool party.  He had a blast. 

Here a just a few of my favorite pictures of Jack through the past 9 years. 

4yrs. old- with a pretty decent swing.

This is the closest thing Tyson will ever get to a real hug.

Jack...what can I say, except for I love you for who you are.  You make me smile, and cry, laugh, and sing.  Happy Birthday dude!