Palm Springs Tram Day 3

Saturday we spent the day at the resort and went to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway that night.  

 Brinley didn't like riding the tramway, apparently she's not a fan of heights, but it was still really cool.  At the bottom there were desert animals and palm trees, but because of the change in altitude there was pine trees and snow at the top.  We didn't quite expect such a change in temperature, but it was a beautiful site once we got to the top.  We were able to eat dinner at a restaurant on top of the mountain and when we headed back down it was dark.  It was so pretty to see the city lit up below from the tram.

Vegas Baby (Day 2)

We woke up in Southern Utah and packed up for more traveling.  We gave each of the girls a little gift to keep them entertained while on the road.  Again, they were fabulous!  We stopped in Vegas for some kid friendly attractions.  

 London loved the Coke bear!  Brinley didn't want to have her picture taken with him, but when London wanted to, Brinley decided she would go along.  London loves characters where Brinley doesn't even like to go see Santa.  Lun was giving the bear kisses and everything and when we left, she yells at him, "I yuh (love) you bear!"

 After much driving we finally arrived at our beautiful resort in warm and sunny Indio California.  

11 Days in the Desert (Day 1)

We braved a massive road trip with these two.  Day one consisted of... driving. The girls did great!  We stayed the night in Southern Utah.  

Fall Fire

There's nothing like a fall hot dog roast.  There's just something about sitting around the fire with these guys.

Just Some Girls Creating

Hard At Work

Our summer was too crazy to have a Lemonade Stand so the girls had one this fall.  It was London's first year of selling, but let me just tell you, Brinley had it down this year.  She could pretty much manage it herself.  It wasn't your typical  hot lemonade selling day, but these girls did great thanks to their loyal customers.  

Lunnie's TWO!

 

Can you believe this little angel is two? Words can't describe how much I love this girl!!  London you radiate joy and I honestly don't know how I lived so long without you in my life.  I'm so lucky to be your mom!  Happy 2nd Birthday baby girl!

The First Day of First

Can you believe we sent this girl to first grade?  It was hard, really really hard!  It's not that I'm used to spending all day with her.  I guess it's the fact that she no longer spends the majority of her days in the arms of someone I love and trust.  Have I taught her everything she needs to know?  I'm certain I have not.  Plus, I will miss her.  I 'm not used to her not being by my side.  First grade has been rough, but this girl is super smart and we are struggling our way through it. 

Colter Bay 2013

We decided we wanted to take another little trip to Colter Bay, so we set aside 5 days and invited anyone who wanted to join us. 

 

Our little family spent the first night at Allred Flats.  The girls look so sweet and innocent here, but the truth is, Dustin and I were both ready to feed them to the bears.

 

We then spent a few nights at Colter Bay.  The scenery is always breathtaking.  My Parents, Grandma Bette and the Shockey's met us there.  It was so much fun to have a group there with us.  We really miss camping with family, especially at Colter Bay.  So many of our childhood vacations were to this very spot.  The water was nice, we rode bikes all over the place, my parents treated us to a night at Bar J Wranglers where London danced her little legs off, the kids had so much fun playing with their cousins.  Amanda watched Brinley one night so Dustin and I could do a little mountain biking trail.  We took Lunnie with us, it was so fun.  We miss mountain biking. 

 

We sent poor Grandma home with a black eye.  It was kind of hard to come home from this trip.  There was a sad realization that we may never be able to be here as a family again.  However, these memories will always mean so much to me.  This place is magical.  Wait, I take back what I said, it's not that we will never be here as a family, but that our family will be different.  I hope to stay here with my grandchildren and great grandchildren someday, to enjoy these very same surroundings with a different and wiser perspective. 

Not to far from home we had some car trouble.  Luckily the Shockey's were behind us and came to our rescue.  They took the girls and our trailer home while we waited for Mike the tow man.  As soon as they pulled away with our girls it was silent.  We sat there waiting in the heat, dying of thirst and Dustin breaks the silence with, "Wow, this kind of feels like a date."  I joked that it was probably going to be and expensive date... $5000 car repair!  WOW, that was defiantly the most expensive date we have ever been on!

Picking Cuckleberries (Huckleberries)

We went to Strawberry Canyon in hopes to find some Huckleberries.  I must say, I was disappointed because the dang hippies beat us to them, but the girls had a blast and were eating them as fast as they could find them.  I was able to pick enough to freeze, but not near enough for jam or syrup like I had planned.  It was a chore keeping Brinley's hands out of my bucket, but these girls had so much fun.  There's just something about being in the mountains I guess.