El Jardin, Part I

When we were trying to find a new house, Andy asked me what I HAD to have in a home. One of the top items was a place for a large garden. So here he is, making my dream a reality. And I just want to say, who knew a minivan could hold 8 rail roads ties?

Last fall, the grass was cleared away. You can't tell, but it's on a pretty steep hill.

After many hours of measurements and cutting of the ties, it's starting to look like a garden. He has to stack the ties higher down low to compensate for the hill. What a pain.

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The border is not quite done, but we have to get the dirt we bought into the garden before it rains.

Who knew a pile of dirt could be so sexy? And I may or may not have forgotten it was there as I backed out of the driveway. (Hence the tire marks.) Oops!

To be continued.....

Goblin Hunting

Anyone who has taken a baby camping had better sympathize with me today. It's HARD! But totally worth it when I see how excited everyone is to be out there in the dirt and grass. Ella and Zoe start bouncing off trees when we go camping, they are that excited. So this week we headed down south and camped in Greenriver State Park (okay, so we were basically in a golf course, it was still camping.) and then down to Goblin Valley the next day. Ella's a list maker. She had her list of what to bring and one of everything that had to be done while we were there, right down to the "spooky stories by the campfire." ("But make sure they are funny at the end.") During the stories, Zoe said, "Daddy, I'm scared of the spooky trees. They look like my hand." And she showed him a claw hand. Yes, they did look like that. Max and I slept in the van, thinking it would be easier. WRONG. He was so scared and screamed like I had never heard him scream before. I had to hold him on my chest the entire night, so no sleepies for me. I couldn't wait for day to come.

The next day we made it to Goblin Valley in beautiful weather. If you have never been there, you should really go. It is so cool. I've been before, but never with kids, and it was crazy how much the loved it. They hiked and climbed and pointed out "goblins" until they couldn't keep their eyes open, and even then they wanted to keep going. Once we got home, Zoe says to us, "I smell like a ladybug!" We asked her if that was good. She said, "No, it's so stiinnkky!" Well, we all smelled like ladybugs. And we were all so stuffed with RedVines that we'll probably poop red for a week. WORTH IT!




My two favorite goblins!

A video of Ella and Zoe going through a rite of passage....helping Dad put up the tent!

Beautiful Disaster Averted

Zoe screams bloody murder at the suggestion of sitting in a sled. Even to be pulled along the yard, no hills involved. So you can imagine my hesitancy when Andy suggested taking her skiing. I figured a "beautiful disaster" would be inevitable. I am still reeling from the shock of her absolutely loving it! Max and I sat warmly in the lodge at Deer Valley last Wednesday and watched as time and again Ella came zooming down (completely on her own) and Zoe followed, with her dad and a huge smile on her face, and wanting to go again and again. My kids are so much braver than I ever have been. What I wouldn't given for some of that fearlessness. Of course, when it comes time for them to drive, that very fearlessness better disappear quick!

Taking a granola bar break. They were hot from all that exercise!

That's Ella riding by herself in the background. Pretty, hu?