Random November Pics

 So our kids have always had big imaginations. Zach has taken to writing pictures and notes and posting them all over the house and I allow it since I am going for the frat house/toy room look in my current house. Anyway, he's created what he calls a "Bort home". I won't explain what a Bort is, but he's drawn a picture if you'd like a visual. Basically, he has blankets that enclose the bottom bunk of his bed and that's the Bort Hogs home. We just accept this sleeping arrangement.

 Zach has no shortage of friends. 

 

Flag football season is in full swing. The boys are loving being on the same team and Tyler has turned in to quite the football star. We're happy for them. 

 

 Tyler was able to participate in the Veterans Day parade. He was all business carrying the flag.

 Then we stopped to watch a man walking his turtle.

 This is one of my favorite views on the rim trail now.

 More notes from Zach...

 Whitney made Tyler a "shoe" themed skate park for his tech deck (finger skateboard).

 This was a little gathering I stumbled in to earlier in the month. It was a new experience for me. I was the only white person in the tent and felt so out of place (as usual).  But, I was intrigued, so I stayed to see what was about to go on. Then started the native music and dancing that was, to be honest, a bit scary sounding, but I couldn't bring myself to walk away. The dress and dancing was strange and I wished I knew more about what they were doing and why. Maybe one day I'll get it.

 Oh, all the newness of this new place...

Thanksgiving 2016

 We went to Utah for Thanksgiving this year. We had a weekend packed full of cousin time and it was a lot of fun. The kids especially loved seeing the snow again!

 Pic of all 24 grandkids and grandma and grandpa

 Josh pulling his weight in the kitchen. He's always a big help to grandma.

 We went to the church to burn off a few of those Thanksgiving calories! Volleyball, Soccer and Bball are always fun!

 

 I was so proud of Grace! She was keeping uip with Ben and Jackson in Lightning!

 The cousins sure to love each other.

We did lots of fun things that I failed to document, like a movie, a sleepover and more. The kids LOVE it when we go to Utah! I do too:)

The Ropes Trail

We went with cousin Scott and Nicole and the Nolans to the Ropes Trail. It is a trail that takes you below the dam, on the Colorado River. We headed out in the morning and the view was beautiful. It was the perfect day for a hike. You hang on to ropes for sections of the trail, as it can get a bit steep. It was a short hike, and it was scenic. My favorite kind of hike. Here's some pictures of our adventure. 

Oh, what a beautiful Fall it's been. I know it won't last forever, so we're trying our best to enjoy it while it lasts!

Lake Powell Hot Air Balloon Regata Part 2

 So on top of being super happy about my balloon morning, our long time friends, the Burtons, drove down from their trip to St. George to see us and go to the Balloon glow Saturday night! The boys are always blown away by Bryce's magic tricks. They can't wrap their heads around where he puts his eyeball when he takes it out and how he pulls stuff out of their ears.

 

The boys loved having some friends from home to play football with. 

  

And then we hit Lake Powell Boulevard for the Balloon Glow! The street was lined with the most beautiful balloons. Pictures just can't capture how neat it was. 

 

 Me, Nicki and a photo bomber...

 

This was the balloon that Whit and I rode in. 

 

 

   

 

 

 I was hoping they would forget to take this little guy home. No such luck...

 On Sunday Morning, we saw more balloons in the sky. Right in our back yard!

 Everywhere you'd go, you'd see balloons! So wonderfully strange.

 

 Anyway, it was a magical weekend and I'm so glad that I got to share it with so many of my favorite people.