Saint George Marathon 2009

He did not do a single step of training. But he stuck it out and finished. He did get the medal he wanted. Yes, that is the correct time: over 7 hours!

Happy 6th Birthday, Morgan!

Oct. 1 was Morgan's sixth birthday

She picked out this beautiful "Belle" cake

We invited friends to the new park by our house. Behind her is Isaac, and beside her is Logan. She had a wonderful day!

First Monday of school year 09-10

Taylor 10th grade

Hailey 5th grade (unfortunately the matching scarf wrapped around her head is not visible in this photo!-so chic!)

Morgan kindergarden

Taylor and Hailey started school last Thursday, but Morgan didn't start till the following Monday. Plus I forgot to take a picture of Taylor on her first day. I remembered before Hailey left, only to find out the camera was "broken" according to my 10 year old photographer. Luckily the battery just needed recharging. So anyway...pics of the first MONDAY of school.

Happy 18th, Chase!

Sunday was the big day. He also had his Board of Review for his Eagle Scout award. He passed with no problem, of course! Now all the paperwork will be submitted and processed. Stay tuned for more upcoming info about his Court of Honor.

We love you Chase and are very proud of the wonderful young man you have become!

Here he is below, surrounded by some of his biggest fans:

Everyone loves their big bro!

4th of July 2009, Duck Creek

Steve took the girls up a day early to help work on the cabin patio. He then took them fishing:

Next they observed all the natural wildlife. Here is Morgan sneaking up on a deer.

She is pretty good, huh?

This little birdie actually landed on Hailey, then instantly flew away.

Chase, Taylor and I met up with them the next day.

Morgan driving the Ranger with Dad.

We had also invited some friends, Alan and Julie Asay. They brought 3 of their 4 kids. The older kids went down into the village, but said the fireworks were small. When they came back we just let all the kids play with the sparklers.

Chase, Josh, Colby, Hailey and Taylor.

Hope you all had a fun Fourth of July, too!

update to keyhole

I thought I had a picture of the debris at the end of the hike. Then a friend sent me some of her photos. This shows it MUCH better. Only don't be fooled...we tried to step on top, but would only sink back down into the water all this is floating in.

Steve always wanted to check this out...

Steve has been helping his mom with some repairwork on her cabin at Duck Creek.  He has been making frequent trips up, and the kids often get lucky enough to go along.  There is a tunnel in the side of Cedar Mountain on the way up.  Steve always wanted to check it out, so this time they stopped.

Obviously Mom had to work.  Otherwise, Hailey would not be hiking in her pajamas and freezing!  (but it is always a lot of fun hanging with dad.)

the fun keeps coming

On Saturday, Steve and Taylor went back to Zion.  All of the girls in our stake who are 4th year campers get an extra fun hiking expedition.  They hiked up a section of the Narrows and then floated back down in tubes.  Below is Josie Barton, who is in our ward.  Behind her is Gina Gottfredson, the Stake Girls Camp Director (who also was on the Keyhole adventure with us the day before).

This is one of Taylor's friends, Sydnee Hutchings.

Allison R. and Miss Tay-Tay

Taylor and Eva Beagley

On the shuttle bus

some cute wildlife

The whole group of gals

They all reported it was tons of fun!

Keyhole Canyon June 2009

Thursday afternoon a group of us drove up to Zion.  We went down a short slot canyon called Keyhole.  It was the FIFTH time Steve had been through this slot.  This was the most water he had ever seen in it.  There was a lot of debris (twigs, branches, dirt, etc) in the water.  Very cold water.  By the time we reached the end of the slot, the debris was so dense, it felt like we were pushing through thick quicksand.  I know this is not the best pic., but it shows the best shot of the mushy slog.  Plus proof of the swimming we ended up needing to do. (note wet clothes)

But we all lived to tell about it and lived happily ever after when we were able to stop for a warm meal at a restaurant in Zion.

Here are the lucky winners below:

L to R clockwise...Ryan Stevenson, Ben Haroldsen, Justin and Jessica Staheli, and Lisset Stevenson.

Me, Gina Gottfredson, Lorna and Ryan Anderson, JR and Tracy Martin, and Gary Gottfredson.

Poor Tracy ended up accidently falling into some deep water and completely submerging!  Luckily she had packed a hat.

Girls Day Out

Since my parents are now back in LV, Jenifer and Kenna came to visit.  One day all the girls made a short road trip to Saint George for a few hours.  This is at the top of Dixie rock.

Mom, Morgan, Taylor, Jen, Hailey and Kenna.

It was a short and sweet trip, but we had a fun time.  Thanks for coming!

Goofball girls

Gotta save some memories of these silly times.

Hailey 10, Piper 1, Morgan 5

Home Again

After serving in the Philippines on a mission for two years, Mom and Dad are back home in Las Vegas.  We are happy to have them home!

Cousins all had a lot of fun seeing each other again, too.  Below is Eden, Ava, Morgan and Taj.

Here is Eden and Ari, bonding.

Aunt Carolyn gave Morgan a darling short haircut in the backyard.  Hailey was drawing with chalk on the patio.  She drew a beautiful princess, but something was missing...

Then she got creative and added Morgan's chopped off locks.  How lovely.

Can you handle it?

OK, now.  Look carefully---it is a learner permit.

What have we gotten ourselves into?

(actually when she drove home with Steve she reportedly did an excellent job.  loveya, Tay-Tay!)

He did it!

We are very proud of Chase.  

Today was his high school graduation!

Aunt Cathy (and baby Ari) came up from Las Vegas too.

What wonderful kids we have...

So far so good

After three years at Ms. Lorna's Preschool, Morgan has now GRADUATED!

We have grown to love Ms. Lorna and we are happy her son, Isaac and Morgan will be together in the same kindergarten class this fall.

Today we went to the awards ceremony at Hailey's school.  The choir performed several numbers.  Below is Hailey, looking very grown up.

And again with her silly choir friends. 

Hailey received an award for participating in Safety Patrol.  The school treated the entire patrol to lunch at:

(lucky for her they have LOTS of vegetarian items...)