Getaway to Tuacahn

Blake's family takes a yearly trip to St. George to go to a play at the Tuacahn Amphitheater.  So Jenna and I are lucky enough to get to go now.

Ready for the show

This year we saw Mary Poppins!  Jenna loved it.  (She loves all plays though)

Last year we saw Aladdin.  We loved it as well.  Hopefully next year we can get Grandma Julie to go with us.  They're playing Little Mermaid and The Wizard of Oz.  Maybe we'll see both!

It was a great little getaway weekend.  We also had a great time relaxing in the pool. :)

And everyone should be proud of me...this is my first blogpost, ever.  It's amazing I figured it out.  

(so if this looks like an amateur composed it, they did)

Beautiful downtown Almo

Remember the Almo!

Went exploring on the cycle one day in early August.  Ended up in Almo--not to be confused with The Alamo (the place in Texas where all the proud Texicans worship themselves).

Almo is southwest of Malta and east of the City of Rocks in south-central Idaho.  In other words, it's in the middle of nowhere.  (Hint, look for the smallest discernible dot on the map below.)

Almo was originally an important stop on the California Trail.  There travelers could water and fatten livestock (thanks to the Raft River, several creeks and the Curlew grasslands) and obtain provisions for the long and lonely sojourn through northern Nevada (i.e., next stop: Elko-Erin's place.  Yeehaw!).

What makes Almo so cool?  Well, other than being home to the one of oldest continuing commercial establishments in Idaho (a general store since 1894), it has an excellent steak house and motel/cabins (all owned by Elder Wynn R. Dewsnup, a former Utah Ogden Mission President and current Area Authority in northern Utah).  (Elder Dewsnup was also one of the two authorities who reorganized our stake last October--hey, I know this guy!)  Almo also has a natural hot spring (http://www.durfeehotsprings.com/) and a wonderful old Bed & Breakfast (http://www.oldhomestead-almo-id.blogspot.com/) where I spent the night (had the whole darn house to myself!) and became fast friends with the owners--Bud and Marion Ward, stalwart members of the Church and very nice people.

Enjoy these pics from a pleasant discovery in the middle of nowhere:


The Outpost Steak House... (http://www.almocreek.com/outpost/)...

Two pics of the hotel and cabins (some rooms will accommodate a party of eight and are bi-level).  (Hey, our next family get-together and/or Shelby's wedding breakfast could be in Almo!  Bet mom can't wait.)...

The Old Homestead--owned by Bud and Marion Ward, who are now good friends and are also the aunt/uncle of Joan Heap (yes, the former Mrs. Heap in the English Dept at North Ogden Junior High)....

The quaint little Tracy Store (see http://www.almocreek.com/tracy/)...

And a few pics from the City of Rocks (which appear to be an assortment of strewn rock-toys left by Zeus and his friends one day in a fit of boredom)...

¯And the skies are not cloudy all day...¯

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keeping up with matthew

so keep up with me here: matt is in the consulting business, the oil and gas business, the vacation rental business, the scholarship business, the car business and now the 5k business.  tonight was the first event for electrodash, the 5k dance party (a fun run set to lights and electronic dance music).  it was held in toronto, and from the pictures i'd say it looked like a good time.

so stay tuned.  electrodash is coming to a canadian city near you.

and then there's juniper at chickfila.

juniper's new trick

ignore my voice; just watch the kid.

oh okay fine. i'll talk about my kids.

so fox started kindergarten.  it's SEVEN HOURS PER DAY with only a 20 MINUTE RECESS.  texas kindergarten needs to get over itself.  ridic.  fox, of course, loves it.  so far i know he has had perfect behavior (just check his daily calendar), but getting him to tell me what else he does for seven hours has been like trying to get close enough to take pictures of the secret military base area 51.  it's not happening people.  

this picture was taken on the first day.  i mean, obviously he was devastated to leave me.

and jaclyn, we copied your idea: "first day of school" cake.  thank you, duncan heinz.

so then there's indiana.  we've decided to forego educating our daughters around here and instead teach them to solely rely upon their good looks and charm.  also: we're keeping her out of preschool until we think her lungs no longer freak out with a cold.  so ballet it is!  today was the first day the parents were allowed to watch what goes on in there.  i know i'm biased, but is there anything more precious than a three year old in a leotard and tutu?  i submit to you that no, there is not.

(check out the junie cameo in the reflected glass)

the teacher kept showing indiana how to get her feet into first position, and indiana kept bending over and to spread her feet out to first position using her hands.  it could be a long year.

in other news, we've got our costco uggs purchased and are eagerly anticipating temperatures in the 70s.

juniper is the world's best baby.  no really though.

oh good, i am so excited to start my baby on solids.  said no one ever.

it's written all over her face--things got a little embarrassing when the fat girl got stuck in the bumbo.