The Boxcar Children

Eirena is at the stage of acting out stories that she is reading (and coercing her brothers into her play as well). Lately she has been taken with The Boxcar Children, especially discovering "mysteries". Today she took a new turn: hoping to find a mystery among trash people have left behind. The 3 underfoots proudly carried their mysteries to our front porch. 

Dr. Daddy encouraged them to take it out to the back porch.  

the loot: bricks, planks of wood, a beer bottle, a cup, a bit of roofing, charcoal, a bit of string and a pipe

Eirena sings her versions of her favorite Mary Poppins songs

Tea party time

Eirena organized a tea party for all the important individuals around here. She made a list of all who were invited, a menu (popcorn and tea), dress requirements and even requested music (specifically that I play guitar, but since that wasn't going to happen she settled with a c.d.)

Obviously Fuzzy Bear was invited

And Pippin couldn't be left out of anything. Eskil either, for that matter. 

We had Dollie (recently renamed Cinderella), Panda, Adisu, Eirena, Fuzzy Bear, Eskil, Pippin, Charlie and  me.

Fuzzy Bear likes popcorn, but not tea. He shared his tea with Adisu. 

field trip to the zoo

The kids were fascinated by the Komodo dragon

Sea Lion Show

Penguins waiting to be fed

The boys really liked the Gibbons

There was much to see and we just about closed out the zoo. A fun day.

Weekend at Zion National Park

Setting out on our hike in Zion NP

Angels' Landing from Hidden Canyon Trail

Angels' Landing from Hidden Canyon Trail

Eirena navigating the chains. (Yup that is the edge there.)

Natural arch at the top of the Hidden Canyon Trail

Happy kiddo (he didn't have to walk)

He did, however, run the 2.2 miles to the Narrows. 

Looking downstream from the Narrows.

The Arch

Checkerboard Mesa

Weekend at Lees Ferry

Colorado River

Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River

Some people pay a lot of money to take mud baths...
my kids? they get it for free

squelch

hiking with Dr. Daddy in the Vermilion Cliffs

a delicate balancing act

this kid did some great rock climbing

In between this fun we kept about 40 undergraduate student plus faculty mostly well fed and hydrated. We went through 22 dozen eggs, 15 lbs of ground beef, 14 lbs of chicken, 12 lbs of pasta, 20 cups of rice, 18 loaves of bread, 5 lbs of green beans, 3 lbs of carrots, 2 lbs of mushrooms, 8 heads of lettuce, and MUCH MORE.

Boxing Day Sledding

And they're off!

Uc thought she was supposed run along and "help" you sled

Don't these kids have a cool Granddad that will sled with them?
And a cool Grandma to take pictures of them?

Busted that sled!

Well and truly busted

Licking the snow... don't ask for more details

Snow Angels- Granddad showing how its done

After being chased by the dog while sledding, Dr. Daddy thought Uc should go for a ride.
It didn't work too well.