The Jeep’s First Dent

January 14th, 2012

We went out to Box Canyon and had a blast on some huge boulders. It was a perfect day with beautiful scenery.

2012 01-14 Box Canyon - Sun coming up, start of the day 22012 01-14 Box Canyon - The trail

We hopped some awesome boulders. Chad led the way and was a great guide, we went over a 20 inch boulder with ease. After the boulders the road was steep with hairpin turns, washes, and lots of gravel.

2012 01-14 Box Canyon - Boulders, Chad's up2012 01-14 Box Canyon - Boulders, Rob driving2012 01-14 Box Canyon - Rob coming up steep part2012 01-14 Box Canyon - Chad hugging the wall

I came around a tight turn and got a little too close to the edge. The gravel sucked us right off the road. It felt like the car would topple over at any second, we had no clue how we were hanging on. Chad hadn’t seen us go over so we waited, without moving an inch, until he found a spot to turn around. I couldn’t believe we actually remained calm.

2012 01-14 Box Canyon - Holy crap 2

Poor Chad couldn’t figure out what happened to us. When he came back his face said it all, we had no doubt we were going over. It wasn’t until I saw this picture that I realized it was the inside of the passenger side tires gripping the edge that kept us up. We tied the tow rope to the top front of the roll bar and then to Chad’s bar. Somehow (and I still don’t know how) he managed to pull/keep us from flipping enough to get our bottom front tire onto a boulder, we got a little bit of traction and drove down into the ravine. It was CRAZY!!

2012 01-14 Box Canyon - Little help please

The tow rope squished the top of the door and left a small dent and we fell off a boulder that bent the end of the tail pipe. That’s it!

IMG_7995IMG_7997

A HUGE THANK YOU to Chad for completely saving our asses and our Jeep!!

2012 01-14 Box Canyon - We are out and safe!

Disneyland!!

January 7th, 2012

Since we can’t be at the cabin (with the whole no running water thing which a week later is still unresolved) it worked out nicely that we’d decided a few weeks ago to go to Disneyland. It was crowded but the weather was fantastic and Zach is now tall enough for most of the rides which was super exciting. We even had a couple “no camera” days which was hard for me but really nice.

Disney - Mickey, Rob, Megan, Zach and Kim

Megan was tall enough for her own rocket and Zach LOVED the Tower of Terror. We got stuck in the elevator so we got some line skip passes and he got to ride it 4 times the first day!

Disney - Astro Blast, Zach chasing MeganDisney - Tower, Zach LOVES itDisney - Haunted, Kim and Meg

Megan was thrilled she could ride CA Screaming and loved showing Zach that if you put your hands in the air all the roller coasters are more fun.

Disney - CA Scream, Rob and MegDisney - Goofy Fly, Meg and Zach hands up

We tried for a family funny picture on Space Mountain but couldn’t seem to get Zach to get his funny face in before the flash. He did however keep his arm up for almost the entire ride on Thunder Mtn.

Disney - Space, funny face attemptDisney - Thunder, Zach

We did many things on this trip we’ve never done before, river canoes (not all that fun), Zach loved the Army Man recruit, it was actually warm enough to do Splash Mountain, we took the boats to hunt for treasure (which the kids loved, they could have spent most of the day there) and Megan fought Darth Vader while training to become a Jedi Knight.

Disney - Canoe, Zach rowing Disney - Army Men, Zach in Basic Training 3Disney - Splash, what goes upDisney - Island, Megan climbingDisney - Jedi, Megan fighting Darth Vader 3

A little boy knocked Zach over while waiting in line to see Pooh and Friends. They stopped the line and called first aid (he was fine but they insisted). Once he got the all clear they called all the characters over to give him kisses and make him feel better. It was really sweet and made him feel so special.

Disney - Pooh Corner, Tigger, Pooh and Eyore giving hugsDisney - Pooh Corner, Tigger, Pooh and Eyore with Zach and Megan 2

All that and still time to eat all the treats daddy kept buying…

Disney - Treats, Zach with lollipop 3Disney - Treats, Mickey BingetDisney - Treats, Zach eating Mickey ice cream

And get a good nights sleep to do it all again!

Disney - Hotel, Time for Bed

Happy New Year!!

December 31st, 2011

It’s our first New Years at the cabin, we had 2012 coffee, spent the day sledding, had smores by the campfire and watched the ball drop on tv (at midnight east coast time so we still got to bed early). Would have been the perfect start to the new year but when we got up on New Years Day we realized the well was broken and we have no water. Hoping this isn’t a sign!!

2012 12-31 New Years Eve - Sparkler 2012 22011 12-31 New Years Coffee2012 12-31 New Years Eve - Ball Drop (6)

High Above Heber Sledding Hill is Open

December 31st, 2011

We now have an on property sledding hill, whohoo!!

2011 12-31 Sledding Hill2011 12-31 Sledding - Zach 92011 12-31 Sledding - Megan steering2011 12-31 Sledding - Zach loving it

Stuck in the Snow

December 30th, 2011

This time we weren’t stuck, Greg and Jayne got stuck. They were almost to the cabin too. We knew it was going to happen sooner or later and weren’t surprised given the road conditions. Here they are laughing while sliding sideways in the slush at the top of the wash.

2011 12-30 Greg and Jayne get stuck on Persimmon (2)

Rob was SOOOO EXCITED, finally he gets to use his tow rope! All of three minutes later we had them pulled them to the side and left the car parked there. I just have to say again, we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Jeep!

2011 12-30 Greg and Jayne get stuck on Persimmon (3)

Rob had to “turn around” but I think he’s just showing off!

2011 12-30 Greg and Jayne get stuck on Persimmon (1)

Birlin Holiday Display was FANTASTIC

December 26th, 2011

We have a wonderful neighborhood filled with great friends, some of whom are crazy enough to whoop it up and do an incredible light display for Christmas. Thank you Scott and Sheila, we love it!!

2011 12 Birlin XMas Lights - Wide Shot

Christmas Day Silly String War

December 25th, 2011

The war was so much fun as always!! Thanks to all who came.

2011 12-25 Silly String War - Participants 2

We all had so much fun, total chaos and I’ll be picking silly string off things for weeks but FUN!

2011 12-25 Silly String War - Zach spraying 22011 12-25 Silly String War - Hailey chasing Megan2011 12-25 Silly String War - Rob, Kim, Zach and Megan2011 12-25 Silly String War - WAR

Christmas Eve

December 24th, 2011

Santa was able to swing by again before he left to deliver presents. We tracked him on NORAD and were able to get the kids to fall asleep mere minutes before he hit Tucson.

2011 12-24 Xmas Eve - Megan and Zach in front of the tree2011 12-24 Xmas Eve - Santa with Paula, Zach, Kim, Rob, Megan and Linda2011 12-24 Xmas Eve - Zach asleep, finally2011 12-24 Xmas Eve - Megan Asleep, Finally

The Car Wash

December 24th, 2011

I never would have guessed that the kids would have loved going to the car wash so much! It took awhile but they had a blast.

2011 12-24 Car Wash - Megan scrubbing2011 12-24 Car Wash - Zach helping

Snow and the Jeep

December 23rd, 2011

SOOOOO much fun. We got a foot of snow so we “had” to take out the Jeep. There was just a bit of snow, we couldn’t see until we used the snow brush.

2011 12-23 Snow 4x4 - Need to wipe down the hood to see

We headed out and were the first to venture out on the forest road.

2011 12-23 Snow 4x4 - snow getting deeper

We were almost back and hit some two foot drifts. Rob decided to start trying to dig us out.

2011 12-23 Snow 4x4 - Rob still digging out the jeep

After 45 minutes we were still pretty stuck.

2011 12-23 Snow 4x4 - Trying to get out 2

We are finally moving!!

2011 12-23 Snow 4x4 - Trying to get out, muddy

Go Rob, we got out and are headed home! (Note that Rob’s pants are wet to just above the knees, the Jeep ROCKS!!)

2011 12-23 Snow 4x4 - The jeep is NOT stuck anymore