Ghost Falls

Gavin quit his job in February so that I could go back to work without sending O to a babysitter all day every day. We figured that since he was still in school, it'd be better for him to be the one without a job besides taking care of a baby. Gav graduated at the beginning of May and doesn't start his internship until June, so the month of May has been great for playing on my days off! I'm almost caught up on journaling about all our adventures!
Last weekend we went to Ghost Falls, behind the Draper Temple. All the wild animal warnings and rattlesnake warnings almost scared me off... but luckily we didn't have any close calls!

Use these links to get there:

• http://utahsadventurefamily.com/ghost-falls-hike/
• http://www.willhiteweb.com/utah_hiking_trails/ghost_falls_trail/corner_canyon_109.htm

The KKBK and the Fairy Forest

KKBK stands for Kamas Kabin Breakfast Club. I love how I can show up at half time with my best friend and not feel like I'm missing out! 
We played Team Uno. Girls won. The boys fished. And we stopped for pizza and ice cream on the way out.

On the way home, we made a 30 minute detour to go to a fairy forest! This was the weirdest, most random, coolest thing ever! Like so random I can't even describe it! If you are on your way to mirror lake, pull off by mile marker 17 and cross a little river. You'll find yourself in the middle of tons of painted rocks and trees and jewels. It's kind of hippie ish but for little kids. Whatever it is, I thought it was sweet! 
People paint rocks and trees and anything they can make pretty and leave it in the garden for visitors to enjoy. It's free game for anyone. I think it's called the fairy forest because people make and paint little homes from rocks that fairies can live in. I guess?? I'm glad we stopped. 

Use this link if you want to get there. And bring your own paint or something you want to leave behind.

Green River Trip

I love my job! Some days it is hard and I feel very underpaid. Some days I feel like I just suck. Some days I feel heartbroken for girls and the families I work with. Most days though, I feel accomplished and like I'm doing something that actually matters. Most days I have pride in the progress my girls are making, the work that my team puts into the girls, and how far I have come in being a mini-therapist! And sometimes I just love my job because we get paid to do fun things- like go on a 3 day camping and river run adventure! 

The second night that we were at Green River, all the therapists put on a "spirit guide ceremony". It was so cool! There's no way describing it could do it justice. The location of the ceremony was so serene... the sun setting, the wide and calm river, the tiki torches, the circles of people, God's architecture in the background. The ceremony was based off traditions of Native Americans who once lived in the area. Therapists picked a spirit animal guide for each of their girls and their parents and presented the girls with a charm of their animal and a 30 second explanation of why it's fitting. 

After the girls and families went to bed, staff got to go back to the ceremony ground and in a much more casual way, be presented with their spirit animal. 

The spirit animal guide I was given is the beaver.

• "Beaver qualities include being a do-er- willing to do what it takes to get the job done. The work you do contributes to the greater good. You'll stick with a task until it's completed, no matter what obstacles may appear. You are very loyal, resourceful, organized, and focused."
• "Learn from the beaver when you want to bring your ideas and goals into reality, when you want to resolve conflicts with people around you, or when there is a job to be done."
• "When the beaver shows up, it means this is a time for purposeful and directed activity. Don't be busy for busy's sake; let your actions be focused and intentional. It's time to change your environment in a way that makes you feel more secure and comfortable."

Also, speaking of work, I'm a little stressed with how short-staffed we are right now! Let me know if you know of anyone looking for a part-time job! 

One Day Two Hikes

We made an impulse buy on Friday morning. It was so comfortable and handy and Owen loved it, so we had to leave REI with a new baby carrier. And since we had a new baby carrier, we had to go on as many short hikes as we could fit in one day. Between car repairs, chores, and Owen's nap, the number of short hikes we could fit in one day was 2. But that's 2 more than zero!
P.S. We're LOVING this neither of us work on Fridays thing!

Rocky Mouth Falls: http://intermountainhealthcare.org/live-well/move-well

 Look at Owen's face... not mine!

Some things are a little more difficult carrying a kid on your back.

Lisa falls: http://www.yourhikeguide.com/lisa-falls/

 He was singing and clicking his tongue the whole time! We were constantly laughing at him!

 With a tripod made of rocks.

Half Birthday

Here's our nightly routine:

• Between 8 & 8:30 we change O's clothes, change his diaper, rub him down in lavender lotion, put him in his sleeper, feed him, and lay him in his crib to fall asleep.
• Between 8:30 & 9 we catch up on chores around the house and get ourselves ready for bed. 
• Then around 10:30 every night, this happens:
• Me: I'm going to go look at Owen
• Gavin: No! Wait for me!
• *Sneak into his room and freeze if Owen flinches*
• Me: I just want to squish him
• Gavin: I just want to put him in my pocket
• *Each give him a long kiss on the cheeks and make a comment about how his cheeks feel like little balloons*
• *Sneak out*

With Heaven's help we've somehow been able to keep this child healthy for 6 months. He's such a good baby and we love him more than he'll ever know! (At least until he has his own kid).

Hidden Falls

A quarter mile still counts as a hike, right? 

I like to think that Owen loved it.

 Check out this link if you want to have the same mini-adventure: 

http://www.yourhikeguide.com/hidden-falls/