The Pinnacles

Our family took a day trip to Pinnacle National Park located about an hour and a half away. The kids and I had never been here, but David assured us that it was worth the visit. He was right. It was breathtaking. Even in the winter. David and I have already planned a return trip in May for our anniversary. We want to attempt the 20 mile round trip hike to the peak of the Pinnacles. Any other couples want to join us? A springtime visit should provide us with spectacular views of poppys, waterfalls, and lots of greenery.

(Dave-o catching a ride with Dad...James)

We choose a short hike-about a three in a half mile loop (Bear Gulch). Dave-o did quite well on the hike. He walked for most of the way.

(Kirsten and David)

Climbing and exploring the rocks and crevices provided lots of entertainment.

The family.

My two Davids...Entering a short tunnel. Dave-o loved making train sounds while walking through it.

Then we explored a cave with James's iPod and my camera as our only light. I was glad to climb out of there.

There was beauty everywhere.

(David and I.....James and David)

Another group shot.

Does this make you nervous? Justin added a few more grey hairs to my already large collection.

Dave-o spotted a trickle of water and immediately began throwing rocks into it.

(Kirsten was not afraid to explore and climb.)

And that's the end. The end of our hike and the end of 2011.

Happy New Year!

My Missing Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Steven! We miss you!

He is 13. He is adorable. He is funny. He is bright as sunshine. He is sharing. He is warm. He is courageous. He is an example of goodness. He is soft spoken. He is fireworks. He is daring. He is strong. He is nonviolent. He is peacemaker. He is green. He is sports. He is laughter. He is violin. He is brother to four. He is prankster. He is friendly. He is nonjudgmental. He is outdoorsy. He is cuddly. He is religious. He is New Year's Eve. He is mine. I love you Steven.

Daddy Daughter Date

I sent a very excited little girl to bed last night. You would have thought that it was Christmas Eve again. Kirsten was looking forward to a daddy-daughter date planned for the next day.
At 10:00am Michael dropped Owen off and he and David took the girls (Kirsten and Emily) to the movies. The girls wanted to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks, but the guys feigned an allergy to chipmunks-the allergic reaction being death. So, they ended up going to see the Muppets movie with lunch afterwards.

While they were gone, Dave-o and Owen had fun playing together.

 This evening Kirsten was complaining of feeling nauseous. She ran to the toilet a couple of times only for a false alarm and I sent her to bed with a bowl. I expressed to David my worry that she may have a stomach flu. David guiltily admitted that Kirsten was probably suffering from an over indulgence of junk food. After giving me a run down of all the sweets that entered her body during their date (sour gummies, i-cy, Carl's Jr, soda, ice-cream), I knew he must be right. Poor Kirsten.

Sometime after Kirsten went to bed, James came home from his friends' house. He sat down by me and quickly noticed how quiet the house was. He asked where everyone was. Then he commented on how the house seems so different without Steven here. We had a nice discussion on the important role that each person in our family plays. We are all missing our Steven.

Cycle of Life

Days before Christmas, Norm Piercy passed away at the age of 81. A couple of months ago he had been hospitalized for pneumonia. Norm's recovery was very slow. In the midst of all the tests and xrays, the doctor's discovered that he had lung cancer. More tests were done and in the beginning of December Norm was told that the cancer was a stage 5 and very aggressive. He died two weeks later.

Later this morning, David and I attended Norm's funeral. He lived a quiet, yet fulfilling life. I first met Norm almost four years ago. Our family had just moved into the Branham Ward and I had been given the calling of Nursery leader. When I walked into the small windowless nursery room, a grandfatherly man sat in a rocking chair with children on his lap and at his feet. I smiled and thought to myself, "I will have some large shoes to fill." Bro. Piercy spent the next two Sundays "training" me in my responsibilities and we immediately became friends. But, how could anyone not be friends with Norm. He always had a smile on his face and a kind word to say. I will miss him.

After the services, David and I set to work at tackling the game/school room. Our new "free couch" has forced us to rearrange the room as it is too long to place in the same spot as our previous sofa. It now sits against the wall opposite the window. We moved our old TV (that weighs a TON) and the entertainment center into the garage to be given away. Then David cut out a part of the built in shelves underneath the window to make room for our flat screen TV that had been sitting unwatched in our bedroom. The closet got cleaned out and the doors put back on. It feels great to get this room looking good again.

In the middle of reorganizing the room, Michael and the kids stopped by for a little bit. Dave-o and Owen are finally playing well together. And Kirsten always delights in having another girl around especially when that girl is her cousin, Emily.

At five this evening we drove Steven to the airport where he boarded the private jet with his grandma and grandpa Zinn for a few days at the Zinnranch. He is so excited to spend some time with his cousin Mark without his bossy big brothers teasing him. I am happy that he is getting this opportunity, but I'm also sad that I won't get to celebrate his birthday with him this New Year's Eve.

Now That's an Orange Hat!

Look at what Steven made using only one material-duck tape.

Quality Brother Time

 Dave-o had a fun time playing with his brother, Justin.

He loved Justin jumping over him. And Dave-o loves riding his new car that he calls an ATV.

Christmas Sunday

We told the kids that they couldn't come into our room earlier than 6:30am. Steven was the first to wake us up. David and I looked at the clock. Seeing that it read 6:35, Steven proudly said, "I let you sleep five minutes longer." Thanks Steven!

(Justin trying on his new shoes..James.....Kirsten)

(Once Dave-o learned that his presents held cars in them, he was hooked. He kept saying, "I like this!" Steven loved his "gag-trick set).

Dave-o riding his new roller coaster car. When he's not riding it, the other kids are fighting over it. You propel forward by turning the steering wheel back and forth.

At 9:30am family began to arrive for the traditional "Zinn brunch". Danishes, cinnamon rolls, eggs, hash browns, monkey bread, bacon, juice, and hot chocolate filled our hungry tummies.

More presents were exchanged and opened.

By 11:00am we were out the door on our way to church (Sacrament meeting only). Our ward choir was AMAZING! I love having Christmas on a Sunday.