In The Flesh...Kind Of

Wherein Harper looks (and kind of acts) like a frat boy, and talks like a dictator.  Also, dancing, massive green bean eating and general shenanigans.

-Emily :)

Tormenting

Poor Dill.  I think he's over babies.  He generally has a good attitude, but some days I do feel bad for him.  Kind of like when I felt bad for him when Helena was Harper's age.  A day in the life....

Dill, lying in the sun in the mornings by our back door.  Harper, can't resist.  Waiting to make his move.

"What's up Dill!  Thought you might want me to pull on your fur while you leisurely napped in the sun!"

"No? OK then.  I'll just find something else to do..."

 

"What? Was I bothering you??"

P.S. - Wow, Harper & Helena look similar when you look at the video I linked to above.  She was almost exactly the same age he is now.  Funny!

-Emily :)

P.P.S.- I've had requests for Harper videos and I'm working on it.  I still haven't figured out the video stuff on our new computer.  Namely, how to edit them a bit so everyone doesn't have to watch ten minutes of Harper tooling around to get to the good parts.

Slurp!

We'll do a lot of things around here to get certain 3-year-olds to eat their vegetables.  Or vegetable-ish products.  Whatever.  We stretch the rules around here.
Anyway, this method works fantastically....

I think she had three whole bowls of tomato soup that evening.

Gratuitous Harper picture.  He's still in 'human dumpster baby' mode.

-Emily :)

Celebrity Sighting

On Sunday the kids woke up insanely early...so early we were all out of the house, dressed & fed, by 7:30 am.  We've been making a habit of doing family outings on Sunday mornings and this past Sunday we went fishing at a little pond and then headed down south a bit to Utah county to check out American Fork Canyon. 

So on the way to the canyon, we had a cracker mishap that led to us needing to stop at a gas station for provisions.  Ash & the kids stayed in the car, and I went in for crackers and coffee.  So, I go in and beeline for the coffee and pass an older looking man with reddish hair who smiled at me.  I smiled back, because that's what I do, and notice that WOW, that guy is dressed nicely.  Like, not fancy, but you could just tell his jeans, casual shirt and boots were really expensive.  I think nothing of it and go about my business, check out, and return to the car.

When I sit back down in the passenger seat, Ash says, "Dude, I think that was Robert Redford!  Did you see him in there?"  I was all..."Ummm...well, yeah, I saw that guy that kind of looked like Robert Redford, but he was really short.  I mean he's probably not that much taller than me.  I don't think it was him."  Ash was pretty insistent it was him, but I still wasn't sure.  Cue immediate iphone research about celebrity heights and recent celebrity photographs.  Which resulted in this tip from my friend Erin.  Which pretty much says the dude is short.

Ash is pretty certain, I'm about 90% that we saw Robert Redford in a gas station.  Ash did have longer to look at him since he saw him come out and get into his black SUV.  And we were at the gas station that is probably the closest to his compound in Sundance, Utah.  I told him next time he thinks he's seeing an internationally known celebrity to take a picture with his phone! Ha!

I'm mad at myself that I didn't immediately recognize him.  And next time I'll make sure to say, "Dude, I loved you in "Up Close and Personal."  I'm sure he'd love to hear that. :)

-Emily :)

Red Rock Country - Part 2

We ventured down to Southern Utah right before Easter.  Here's part 2 of my trip report. :)

We visited Zion National Park (our 2nd time there) and Bryce Canyon National Park with the kiddos.  It was a tad ambitious, we were a bit rushed and got home later than we wanted to.  But, it was incredible scenery and the kids were really good considering we spent most of the day in and out of the car.  I've got to say that there isn't much more I'd rather do than visit a National Park.  I'm a total nature nerd.  I can't wait until the kids are older and we can take them on some serious adventuring!

Waterfall we hiked to in Zion National Park.  Gorgeous.

Helena on Ash's back hiking in Zion.  One of her less whinier moments.

Wearing Harper wearing his ranger hat.  Kid is about to outgrow the front pack!

Beautiful view.  River is rockin'!

Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park.  Probably the coolest geological thing I've ever seen.

 

Off into the distance near Sunset Point.

These pictures do not adequately portray how awesome this was.

And finally, we weren't able to stop here because the kids were napping...but, I'm not going to miss it next time.

Diner advertising they are the "Home of the Ho-Made Pies".  Tres risque for Southern Utah.  And, hilarious.

-Emily :)

10 Past 21

Last Friday I turned 31.  The day was fairly uneventful--especially compared to last year -- but Harper cooperated with me and took good naps and I got to eat some yummy Indian food and dessert.  We'll call that a good day, for sure.

Anyway, this milestone led Ash & I to reminisce about how it was the 10th anniversary of my 21st birthday.  Which at first made me feel SUPER old.  And then led to some awesome retelling of some stories that will go unmentioned here to protect the innocent. ;)  Of course, Ash remembers a tad bit better than I did since he was still 20 and didn't get as drunk as the rest of us.  He also had to stay at my apartment and watch my then 15-year-old brother.  Anyway, we'll just say it was epic.  (Did we use that word in 2001??)

But, just for fun....10 years ago in pictures:

The crew eating Japanese at Kokoro in Lawrence (YUM!)

Ash, me, Tracee, Erin & Aimee (& 15 year old Evan barely visible on the left).

Taking tequila shots with my parents and Ash at my apartment. (Side note: I have probably only had tequila shots 5 times since that night.  Bleh...)

Non college friends...Ash is the blonde one. :)

Thanks to everyone for all of your calls, e-mails, etc. on my birthday.  Makes a girl feel loved.

-Emily :)



Car Race

Ash took Helena to her first car race this past weekend.  Helena LOVES cars and has even asked me how old she has to be before she can drive race cars.  Jeez.  My answer -- 50!  Anyway, needless to say she was thrilled and they had a blast.  Yay for daddy-daughter time!

They got to see everything up close!  How exciting! ;)

-Emily :)