We said good-bye!

I am grateful that Mama came and sad to see her leave, but knowing she will be back in a few months is a good feeling.  We got to meet up with her this morning to share some donuts and milk before dropping off James.

 Rosie helped clean up Carson's face...wouldn't want left overs!

 Such a happy dog, the boy looks pretty happy too!

Last night James cried himself to sleep because he was so sad about Mama leaving.  It breaks my heart to see him so sad, but I think I convinced my mom to learn how to Skype so maybe he can read to her when he's feeling sad next time.  James and Mama have a special bond after spending the last school year together, so we are planning a trip this summer to head back to the Island for some family time!

I LoVe My FaMiLy!

On Monday we got together for dinner with the Oliverson Family and my mom at the Green Springs Park. I brought a meal for my family and she brought a meal for hers (funny how our families don't agree on food when Nancy and I were raised eating the same foods).  Some how we both managed to bring Jell-O salads to share (layered Jell-O salad and a pistachio salad) and my mom made a apple crisp with apples from Whidbey Island minus the flour, so it was like fancy apple oatmeal!  I had never been there before and I should have assumed it would be beautiful because it is just past the country club.  It was a perfect night for boys to play outside.  My mom got each of the boys a matchbox car, a mustache and a punching balloon.

 Mustaches! It was fun getting the boys together to take these pictures.  Even though one of my nephews wouldn't participate....well Brogan wasn't that hot on the subject either, my boys were sweet as can be and others were...creative. 

 This kids face kills me.  How can one person be so adorable?

 

 I'm glad my mom is patient with us, cause this was hilarious. 

 Until this little piece of magic happen and then this was even better!

 My new favorite picture of Logan.  It captures his personality so perfectly.

 Easton learned the proper way to blow up one of these balloons...cute kid could not make it work on this end.  Not for lack of trying!

The balloons were almost the same size as Brogan! Sadly between laying on the balloons and the grass only 2 survived! But all the boys went home with a matchbox car to play with. 

Tomorrow my mom starts the long drive home again.  It has been an amazing week and a half with her here.  We have done canning, thrift store shopping, road tripping and spent countless hours talking.  I don't know who is more said that she is leaving me, or the boys.  I am sure this isn't the longest I have not seen my mom, but it just feels so great to have her near by. 

Carson has really enjoyed spending time with my mom's new puppy, Rosie. She is a sweet little dog and we figure she must be about the same maturity level as Carson.  We put her in his carseat and they are both vibrating with excitement.  Carson has been so patient with her too, she still chews on everything including Carson and he just reminds her, "No chewing Rosie. No chewing."

Heading up to Zion National Park was a blast and a good reminder of the beauty that surrounds us even here in this monotone Southern Utah. 

Zion National Park

From the time I can remember my mom has taken us camping and taught us the importance of this beautiful earth.  She even sent us to foreign countries where we didn't speak the language to see and  learn about new things.  Today my mom joined the boys and I on an adventure to Zion National Park.  I remember going once while in college with my mom and older sister and her family, but my mom tells me of exciting memories of cars dying while driving through the dark tunnels when I was much younger. The rocks are amazing, the colors, the textures, the grandeur...incredible.  I feel so blessed that my mom loves me enough to drive 3 days to come and visit for 10 days and that we get to do fun things together. 

We started out the day chasing a hot air balloon.  We thought that it might land, but the driver of the hot air balloon just liked flying it low we decided.  The boys and I have seen it 4 or 5 times since we moved here, but never so close.  It flew right over our car and because I am amazing I got some close shots of it. 

 My mom blessed us by being old too! She has a park pass that gets her into any national park for free...just for being old.  Someday I will get that card too! There were so many things to take pictures of and it made me wish I had a second card for my camera.  I felt like I needed to hold back a little to save enough room for my family pictures that we would be taking on the trip into Zion.  We live 45 minutes away, we'll be back eventually.

 I love the contrast of the blue sky with the rocks.

 My mom brought her new puppy, Rosie.  She is a sweet little thing and very much a digger.  My mom said that she doesn't bark much which is good for everyone, but she is crazy about digging.  I guess I need to clean out my car, because she kept digging at the same spot under Carson's car seat.

 We also decided on this trip that Carson and Rosie might be the same age.  She kept sitting on his lap and they played and Carson laughed.  It was all very sweet and I wish I would have taken a video of them.  We still have 4 days left with my mom, we can make that happen.

 Having 3 boys means you will never get a good picture of everyone.  Someone will be closing their eyes in every picture.

 Thing 1

 Thing 2

 Thing 3

 Lizard!

 One of us was a little less confident when it came to going back down the rocks.  Carson was laying down pushing himself down the side of this rock.

 Sweet rock!

 The sign said that these were glass.  The prettiest blue I've ever seen!