feeding ducks

We took Zion to feed the ducks a couple weeks ago. It was a massive failure. It started out fine...












But it only took him about 2 minutes to decide it would be more fun to swim with the ducks than feed them. We spent the rest of the time trying to keep him out of the water and ended up just taking our ticked off little toddler home. I don't think we will try that again for a while.




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visiting cyd & zion's national park

In February we decided to go on a little road trip down to Cedar City to see aunt Cyd and head into Zion's National Park to do some hiking. Heather came with us but she didn't want to hike so she stayed in Cedar and hung out with Cyd's friends while we went into the park for the day. I absolutely love Zion's! It is my favorite place. It is so gorgeous and peaceful and has the coolest energy about it. Plus, it's where me and Zac were at when we decided to get married and where our little boy's name comes from. We have been hiking and biking in Zion's sooooo many times but this time was the best, by far, because it was the first time we took our little Zion with us. We had so much fun! The first hike we did was called Weeping Rock. It's only about a half mile but it is really steep. Zion hiked the whole thing on his own!




He tried to jump off the trail a couple times but aunt Cyd has ninja like reflexes and saved him from the huge cliff he would have tumbled down.




At the top of Weeping rock




Zion loved finding rocks with Cyd








On our way back down




It was so funny to watch Zion figure out how to keep his balance hiking up and down such a steep hill. I was so proud of him for doing it all on his own. A half mile hike is quite a distance for a 1.5 year old. After we finished that little hike we went on to Emerald Pools. Zion was getting tired so we put him in the pack for that hike and he was out cold pretty dang quick. I'm so happy that he loves his pack and will fall asleep in it so easily. It makes our hiking adventures so much easier. I can hardly wait for summer and all of the hiking we are going to be doing.




















PS... I can't believe it was warm enough to be hiking in February!
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Location:visiting cyd & zion's national park

hair

I guess I better show my evolution of hair over the past couple months, because it's a pretty big deal for me. I have always been blonde. Always. I've put a few low lights in my hair here and there but never done anything drastic. Well, in January I was itching for a change. I have always wanted really dark hair but never dared to do it. I don't know what came over me but one day I just decided to go for it. I called and scheduled an appointment. I went from this...


To this...


Which I thought was a gorgeous color, but a little too red for me and I wanted it even darker. So I went back a week later and went to this...


Bingo! That was the color I wanted! I LOVED it! Aren't my sisters the cutest, by the way? Anyway, two weeks later my roots were already growing out and driving me crazy. My regrowth was so light I looked like I was going gray. I realized I was going to have to go get my hair colored every 3-4 weeks if I wanted to keep it looking good. Sadly I realized that gorgeous dark hair just wasn't going to work for me. So, I'm now in the process of lightening it back up. I've been trying everything to get some of the dark color to fade out, including washing it with dish soap, saturating it with conditioner and leaving it in over night, and using some nasty smelling product called ColorFix that is supposed to help pull permanent hair dye out. I've also had bleached highlights put in twice in the last month. My poor hair has seen better days. I'm having to put tons of CHI silk infusion oil in it everyday just to bring it back to life and help with the over processed dryness. It now looks like this...



And this is how it's going to stay unless I want to end up bald. I actually really love it this color. In fact, I think it might be my favorite. It's kind of the best of both worlds. Blonde and brown and the regrowth will be really easy to maintain because it's not a solid color.

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aquarium

We took Zion to the Living Planet Aquarium a little while back. He absolutely LOVED it! We just let him run wild and lead the way. I love that he is so confident and independent. We ran in circles, and always ended up back at the penguins. He thought they were the coolest thing ever!

















No matter how hard we tried, we could not get him to look at the camera. He was just in awe of everything the whole time. I'm pretty positive this is a place we will be going back again soon.

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snow day

I have pretty much fallen off of the BlogLand the last few months. I've posted a few of the big things that have been going on, but I've left out so many of the small things that need to be documented. Like Zion's first time playing in the snow. Yes, I realize it is now April and winter for the most part has pretty much passed by, but I say better late than never. I'm kind of sad that we didn't get more of a winter this year. Zion loved the snow and looked so cute dressed up in his gear.











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grandpa houtz

My grandpa Houtz passed away on January 20th. He was in good health around Christmas time and then was hospitalized with pancreatitis the first part of January. His health rapidly declined as one problem lead to another, and we knew he wasn't going to make it. I was able to be in the room with him as he passed away, as well as most of my extended family. Aunts, uncles, cousins... Everyone that could possibly be there was there. As we watched the numbers slowly drop on his machines, I couldn't help but be filled with emotion realizing that this is what life is really all about. Family and love. Nothing else matters. Seeing my grandma kiss him for the last time, and then witnessing the tender love as she, my dad, aunt Char, aunt Bonnie, aunt Tara, and uncle Paul all held him until he slipped away, was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. I realized in that moment that my biggest goal in life is to die just like my grandpa. Because if I am completely surrounded by all of my family, then I will know I have truly lived a good life. The reason we were all there that night was because my grandpa was worth being there for. He supported all of us. He came to all of our sporting events, dance recitals, and school plays growing up. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and asked nothing in return. He was the type of grandpa that was at the gym helping lay the wood floors until midnight because we had a deadline (at 80 years old). His family was most important to him. He and my grandma were very frugal and lived modestly so they could afford to take all of the extended family on a little trip to St George or Bear Lake each year for a family reunion. The memories that I have from these trips are priceless and I'm so thankful for them. My grandpa was a hard worker and an honest man. He was quiet and humble. He was a great example to all of us and we all love him very much, so we all showed up... To say our goodbye's and to show him our love and support. Because he was worth it. Because he would do the same for all of us. I hope that I can be a little bit more like my grandpa each day and earn the love and respect of my family so much so, that they will all want to gather around me in my final moments. That I will die knowing I lived a good life and that my legacy lived on. Rest in peace grandpa- 'till we meet again. I love you.


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new year's in tahoe

We spent New Year's in Lake Tahoe. Our friends Brett and Juliann invited us and a few other friends to come spend a few days with them at their family cabin. It was AMAZING! While we were there we-
Took naps...




Ate at a few delicious restaurants...








Went for a gorgeous drive around Lake Tahoe...








Played games all night every night...




(The teams were always boys against girls)...








And rang in the New Year with a ton of yummy appetizers and sparkling cider...
















Of course Zion slept through the New Year's celebration but we made sure to get a picture with him anyway...




Me and these two cute girls stayed up until 5 am on New Year's chatting about everything...




It was so nice to get away. Nothing beats a few days with great friends laughing your guts out. Thank you so much Brett, Juliann and Mae for inviting us. And thank you Josh, Candice, Eddie and Marianne for making the trip even more fun!
As a side note, Zion did so well with the 9 hour drive each way. He literally only fussed for a total of 20 mins. He got caught up on his beauty sleep and watched a bunch of movies...




He also tried his first cheeseburger and HATED it, but I'm pretty sure it's because he couldn't figure out how to eat it. This kid will only eat with utensils. He hates touching his food. I can relate. It's this OCD thing I passed along to him. I hate when my hands smell like food.




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Location:new year's in tahoe