Trying to do it all, and finding my favorite...

Ok, I love my husband, but last week was WAY too much pressure for me! Here's the breakdown of what we did (with the whip cream details left out):

Monday - Alan had a dr. appt in the morning (his doctor open up his brace past 20 degrees), so he had to work until 7 pm. Picked him up from Frontrunner and we went shopping for new jackets. Hit the mall and didn't stop until we were both starving for food. Ate at Panda Express and Jamba Juice.

Tuesday - picked Alan up from Frontrunner @ 5. Went out to Tempanyaki's. I was not very impressed with the food this go around. The salmon was good but a bit gummy, as well as the chicken. Hit Tai Pan Trading, but I'm too cheap to purchase anything without my coupon. :)

Wednesday - Alan worked from home. I got home at 4. Alan went out and bought crab, not just any crab legs, but ENORMOUS crab legs and cooked them up along with an Italian pasta. Excellent dinner. We then decided it was high time for some pie and so we picked some up at Marie's.

Thursday - Got my hair cut and colored. Picked up Alan at 5. I had been drooling since Tuesday over the itty bitty piece of Orange chicken Alan shared with me on Tuesday evening, so we headed back to Panda for a double scoop of Orange chicken. Ate more pie. There were just so many choices of things to do that we couldn't hardly think of one! Plus we were a bit limited since Alan is a bit limpy (or is it gimpy?) right now. Running through the corn maze or haunted houses sounded fun but I knew I would lose Alan.

Friday - Picked up Alan at 5 and drove right home. I wanted to just relax and take it easy. Finished off the pie. Realized my week without kids was over and I still hadn't: laundered and replaced their bed sheets, cleaned their bedrooms, organized their school work (the piles of pages they want to "keep"), cleaned the kitchen or put away the dishes (we only had to run the dishwasher once), replace the outdoor light bulbs with cool Halloween bulbs, buy them something cool to have on their beds when they returned, etc. etc. etc. Determined one or two things I "had" to get done and tried not to stress about the rest.

Saturday - Drove up to Pocatello and had an excellent conversation with Alan on the way up. We can talk to each other about just about everything and anything. We don't need the fancy dinners or outings, we simply need conversation - politics, religion, whatever. I think we both realized this is why we love each other, and that's all we needed.

A Most Excellent End To Summer

This weekend we took a trip down to St George and Zion National Park. It was an excellent escape and I believe we all had a great time. We left early Saturday morning and spent Saturday and Sunday in the park. The kids did a great job on the hikes, and rarely complained.

Enjoying the Shuttle Ride

We saw: wild turkeys, deer, a miniature frog, several types of lizards, a unicorn beetle, butterflies and even a taranchula. (Luckily - no snakes!) The scenery was of course spectacular!, and we hope to be able to complete some more strenuous hikes as the kids get a bit older.

Mr. Fox

Earning Our Junior Ranger Badges

Alan at Weeping Rock

At the Upper Emerald Pool

Upper Emerald Pools - Yea! We made it without complaint!

Upon arriving back home, we had a few casualties to the property, arbors and flowers with the storm that came through, but the trip was so relaxing that even I relaxed a bit!

7 States in 10 Days!

3 cabins/hotels: $401.16 (Thanks Mom for offsetting the rest!)
2 national parks: $35
2654 miles at 13.1 mpg - yikes!: $936.99
Feeding breakfast, lunch and dinner to 12 adults, 15 kids: $178.09 (for one day)
Tee Shirts, Ball Caps, Souvenirs & Toys: $311.56
Aloe to soothe sunburns: $4
Calamine to soothe 82 mosquito bites: $8
Spending time with family: Priceless

Road trips are never my thing and Alan would tell you how "stressed" (he may use a different phrase) I get just before we leave anywhere. Even a short weekend vacation, if it includes staying somewhere else, can send me over the edge. And having junk and garbage in the car - especially around my feet or when trying to move seats or objects in the car - you don't know how this just makes my nerves rattle! I never realized I was such a home body (although I did know what a "neat freak" I can sometimes be). But I really must say that I would do this vacation again. My only regrets were pushing through the Mount Rushmore area and Yellowstone. I would like to get back to these areas to spend more time exploring. The kids were for the most part good kids (really, could I expect less?) and it was great seeing everyone together again.

Fox is being a drama "king" because of all the mosquitos swarming us in this photo.
Lake Mary, MN

Old Faithful, Yellowstone Park, WY

Jackson, WY

Golfing Excitement

Overheard while miniature golfing in Arizona:
Fox: I got a triple bogey!
Laralee: I don't know what a triple bogey is. What is it?
Fox: I don't know.