Pioneer Day

OK--this one has been in the making for a while, so I'm just going to post it! It's about time. :o) This was our Pioneer Day celebration with Mark's family--we went up to a picnic site up in Mill Creek Canyon--You know the one with the trail up to Grandeur peak. Well, after being there for less than 10 minutes, the kids had already scaled the mountain side & had a nice slide back down--and I do mean slide--on the pockets, as though they were at the playground--down the DUSTY mountain side. Well, they were a bit dirty, as you can see from these first few photos. :o)

They definitely had some fun! We had a picnic breakfast & lunch there, with a little hike & fun in between. These next pictures were on our 'hike' to the start of the real trail. :o) We went as far as strollers could go, and that was good enough for the little legs!
Taylor was having a blast, as you can see from her expression. :o)There was a waterfall on the way up, and all the kids wanted to pose by it for pictures (Ok--so I twisted their arms...) Taylor obviously wanted in on the fun, so here's the best one I got of her....My arm only extends so far! Here's our little flower girl--she loves posing. :oD

Mikey & Kelli thought it was great that they could walk across the water on logs & rocks. :o) No, Mikey didn't end up falling in.

Kelli found some rocks that she simply couldn't part with....at least until she had carried them most of the way back to our picnic site. Then they must have gotten a bit heavy. :o) Mikey was pretty happy--this is about as smiley as he gets unless he's actually laughing.
Here's one of Taylor & I--there were a couple other pictures taken that actually showed the waterfall behind me, but they showed too much of my not-so-slim self. (this one was the least of the three 'evils') We'll wait for a few more pounds to melt before I get that brave. :o) Funny how such a little baby can make you feel so big!

Here's a close up of Taylor--she'd finally had enough of all the hiking/water excitement. What a cute little Addie-girl! I love those sweet smiles. :o)
I thought this was a good one of Kelli. A bit shadowy on her face, but nice dimensions shown with the water. Walking back with Grandpa.


We had some artsy projects before lunch. Bring on the messy crafts! The kids couldn't get much dirtier!

Mark & his Dad...

Drew, Addie, Ambree, Sarah, & William in the pack-n-play.
How could you not love this face?! I was about to take a picture of Taylor sleeping--actually just playing around with the different features on our camera, when Kelli reached in (wanting to be a part of any picture with Taylor in it!). Can you just see me shivering at the thought of all that dirt touching my baby?! Kelli meant well! :o)
Addie found a little green inchworm that she grew quite attached to. She wouldn't share him with anyone, and spent quite a bit of time hanging out in this chair with Mr. Inchworm. :o) She finally gave in and let Brooke hold him for a minute, but when Addie asked for him back, Brooke said she dropped him, & didn't know where he was. Poor Addie--the tears! You'd think it was her only friend in the world!
Here's Ambree playing with Taylor...

... & Addie playing with Mark....

... & Grandpa playing with Addie, & Addie eating up the attention. :o) The look she gave Brooke made me think she was still a bit miffed about Mr. Inchworm.

We had a great time! Thanks for all the work to put together the meals & activities, everyone! Happy belated Pioneer Day to all!