redrock...why did i ignore you for so long?

I love the mountains. Lucky for me we live in a Valley so we're surrounded by them. Any time we need a little adventuring all we have to do is choose the direction we want to go.

I've been to Spring Mountain Ranch more times than I can count and when we stayed at the Redrock Hotel for my birthday we had a beautiful view of Redrock but I've never hiked in Redrock, never even driven the loop.

When my family came to town for Thanksgiving some of us hiked in Redrock but Madison missed out and I loved it so much we had to go back.

Dustin shows off his climbing skills.

Actually he was never really that far off the ground.

Paige enjoys her pizza atop the sunbathing rock. Yes, we bring pizza on our hikes...it's much more satisfying than trail mix.

If you look close you can spy two little creatures hiding in that cave.

Karley feeling the chi.

Taking a little rest.

Dustin and all the kids climbed to the top of a hill.

What goes up must come down and that looked like the hard part so I just waited for them at the bottom.

I want to do a hike each month. I think with all the camping we'll be doing we'll meet our goal.

It's just sad

These are the ONLY pictures we've taken this year. Three months in and this is all I've got to show for it. I'm pretty sure I ruined my camera battery and we don't have a point and shoot so this is it.

Our way too sunny backyard. We need a patio cover and we're saving up for one.

Staff development day and no school. I was able to capture my two oldest in a rare moment. Playing High School Musical Sing It and getting along. Even taking turns and not crabbing at each other. I had to get proof.

Paige on Valentine's day. She was just the sweetest.

The rest of Oct.-Dec.2009

Madison turns 13. Yes, that's right, a teenager.

Happy Birthday, Maddy Moo!

Her favorite and Grandma Kris' specialty, the donut cake.


Madison and Karley get to try out their new Christmas gifts.

Dustin got this hat for Christmas from Karley, who found it at a garage sale. Yes, it says PEPSI on it but that's not all. Look at how truly great it is...

...Shades down...

...shades up.

You don't even have to say it, I know you're green with envy.

Madison got her beach cruiser

Karley got her longboard

Paige got her Moxie girls

Scott got his DS Christmas was very nice and Santa was good to us this year.


Dustin ran his first half marathon, the Rock and Roll LasVegas Marathon.

I don't have pics. but he completed the race in 1:51:33

division:231

gender:1356

overall:1869

Mad Props... that's all I have to say..
Mad props.


November

• For Thanksgiving we all got together to share our traditional meal. Joey and his family from Texas, Lizzie and her family from New Mexico, and Becky and her family from California. (The rest of us are still here in Vegas) This is the whole clan except for a few.

  It was great to have everyone together.

  I was very THANKFUL.
  

  All ten of us.

  Hopefully it will be sooner than later that we can take another one of these photos.
  

  The grandkids minus Elara and Cami.
  

  I came downstairs to find these one day while we were moving. I read the note and thought it was cute that Dustin was still calling me his girlfriend but couldn't figure out what he meant about the working part(since everyday feels like a hard day at work)

  Fresh flowers, old note.

  He said he'd found it in the garage while packing stuff.

  I love that he found an excuse to bring me flowers and

  I love him!
  

  We moved out of this house. I thought I'd need to post about all the things I would miss and about all the memories I would be sad to leave behind. I have none of that. The decision to move was the best decision we've ever made and there is only one thing I miss and that's a tall eucalyptus tree in the backyard.
  
  
  
  October
  

  Halloween night we went trick-or-treating with Francie and her family. Oh the food, the company, and the candy! Quite a night!!!
  

  Getting ready for our ward's Trick-or-Treat party. We were told to make a booth..ours was pretty sad.
  

  Scott as Charlie Brown for Halloween. That scowl is his Charlie Brown face. Poor Charlie Brown.