Ethan

Ethan earned a Star Award today for Working Tough. I assume that is the same as working hard. Either way, GREAT JOB Ethan!

Rachael

Rachael went to the Girl Scouts Halloween Party as a Mad Scientist. She won 1st prize for scariest costume out of the Junior Scouts who were there.

When she got home I washed her hair in the sink and combed out the tangles in the back. It looked like a rat's nest in the back.

Baby Teeth

On Monday Rachael had her teeth cleaned. A year ago she had two upper molars coming down crooked onto the baby teeth. One popped the baby tooth out and is coming down but the other one is being stopped by that baby tooth and twisting more. So today we went and had it pulled. They did not see a root holding it in and thought it would pry out easily... not if the long root on the bottom of the picture had anything to say about it. Thankfully she was numbed, but he had to really work to get that baby tooth out. I even asked if he had the right tooth, and he double checked. Both Ethan and I got to watch as he tortured poor Rachael. She is happy it is done!

Bridge School Benefit 2010

Ethan and Rachael.

Saturday we went to the Bridge School Benefit at the Shoreline in Mountain View, California. The line up was great! Grizzly Bear, Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse, Jackson Browne and David Lindley, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Idol, Pearl Jam and Buffalo Springfield! We brought our tarps, water proof ponchos, warm clothes and snacks. It rained off and on, but after our vacation we are accustomed to the rain! We started going to the Bridge School Benefit in 1996, their 10th annual concert. Now that they are on their 24th annual concert we have gone to six, bringing the kids to two of them.

Bridge School Benefit

What really happened...

Ethan bugged Rachael...

Rachael got him back.
See what happens when I
ask for them to smile for a picture.

October 15th

Movie Night at school!

How to Train Your Dragon!

Fun night for all.

October 9th

Allen went with Ethan to Webelos Woods. Ethan got to climb a rock wall, shoot a B.B. gun, use a bow and arrow, swing on a rope... and many more things.

October 3rd, 2010

Introducing....

Louie Grand

born: July 29, 2010

brought home on October 3rd

Katie and Louie

August 16, 2010 First Day of School

First day of 4th and 6th grade!

Giant Cookie

We made sure to get home from our trip in time for Ethan to attend his best friends' birthday party. While their house was invaded by 9 year old boys Josh's sister Holly escaped to our house. They acted like refined, dainty, females and nibbled on a small cookie. Yeah, right!

Las Vegas, Magic Mountain, Zuma Beach

Donut anyone?

Zuma Beach

Magic Mountain

We left Zion and headed to Las Vegas, Nevada. We spent a little time at the pool, went on a ride or two at Circus Circus, watched the flying trapeze act and ate Krispy Kreme donuts for dinner. The highlight for Ethan was stopping at the pawn shop from the tv show and seeing Chumlee in the back walking around. I had the misfortune of leaving our box of DVD's in the motel room and did not realize it until we reached Allen's parent's house in Sherman Oaks, CA. Thankfully they were found and mailed to our home.

Every time we drive by Six Flags Magic Mountain the kids ask to go. This trip we decided it was time. Ethan did not like Goliath very much, but the Colossus was a favorite. Rachael liked all of the rides. My favorite ride was X2.

We finished our trip with a few hours at Zuma Beach. Thankfully the rain did not follow us there.

Zion

Spending time together.

Looking up in the Narrows.

lunch rock

Our lunch rock.

Zion, The Narrows

You can see Ethan up ahead to his waist. Rachael up to her knees.

There were areas that I was up to my waist

(I am 5' 7").

Allen and Ethan where we ate our lunch.

We stopped and ate lunch on a rock out in the water. Just a few steps ahead of the lady in the water behind the guys there is a deeper spot. We kept warning the hikers of the spot but some would not go around the spot and drop down to their necks in the water. It was very entertaining while we ate.

Zion National Park

"The Narrows" at Zion

Rocky part of the hike.

The Narrows was an amazing hike. There is a paved trail to the trail head. You walk down some rock steps into the Virgin River. Depending on recent rains and time of year the level of water will vary. We found that the water level varied throughout the hike anyways. As you walk up stream you hear the rushing water, other people as they talk to each other and an occasional bird. On either side of you there are walls of rock going up high into the sky. I am not sure, but it looked as high as an eight or nine story building. You see the blue sky above with a passing fluffy white cloud here and there. You feel the cold water rushing with the current against you and the uneven rock bed under your feet. You make your way up stream and find little islands of dirt and rock with trails for you to walk on instead of wading through the water. The farther back you hike the narrower the river gets and the canyon walls come in closer. You feel the wind get stronger. Allen and Ethan went on to where the meadow is and even went up another side hike. Rachael and I headed back to the road figured out we were on the trial for at least five hours. The boys came out about an hour after us.

More in Bryce Canyon National Park

Inside Wall Street.

Switchbacks going up out of Wall Street.

I can't believe I waited over a month to continue blogging about our vacation. I wanted to add more pictures of Bryce.