West Rim Hike

Last month Ethan got a new scout leader.  He is our neighbor and has been Scout Master quite a few times before.  To get back into the scout groove, he planned a West Rim trail hike in Zion.  I think it's 12 miles?  I can't remember but the boys all loaded up on a Friday night and drove to Zion.  Unfortunately the camping area was full but one of the families that went up to help out on Friday night have a cabin up there.  So the boys camped out by their cabin.

Saturday morning they woke up, ate, broke camp and began hiking.  Ethan said it wasn't too bad.  The only scary part was that there was a lot of rain.  One part of the hike has them going down into a gully and there was rain and lighting all around them.  They paused, said a prayer and then continued on.  Ethan said that rain let up after that and he wasn't so nervous about all the lightening.  But it was crazy!

We went up to help pick them up.  They were wet and tired but had a good time.  They were talking all the way home and Bryan was amazed because he hasn't ever been on that side of a hike before.  He is usually hiking with them so he doesn't noticed the smelly, crazy talking boys.  I assured him that it was usual and that the smell would eventually leave the van. ;)

Ogden Temple Open House

I realized that I completely forgot to put pictures up of when we went to the Ogden Temple Open House.  Ugh!  Anyway, we went before Andrew and Jessica's wedding luncheon and sealing in August.  We woke up early, got ready and drove to Ogden.  There weren't many people there so we just went right in after watching the video presentation.  It was kind of a bummer because they rushed us through so quickly that we didn't get the time to look around but we felt the Spirit so it all worked out.  Ethan loved it and Courtney had a good time once she got over the weird booties they put over her shoes.

They're Bored!

I should really have learned by now that when the kids are complaining that they are bored and then they go quiet that something is up!  Yesterday after Stake Conference they were really bored and then my phone disappeared and they were quite.  This is what I found when I looked at my photos this morning:

Courtney's selfie:

 Courtney biting her brother while he takes a selfie:

 Another selfie of the two of them:

 Cute kids!

They are hilarious but obviously need lessons on keeping the camera still when taking photos.  I remember taking selfies when I was a kid but you had to turn the camera around and then you didn't know if you actually got yourself in the photo until you had them developed at the store.  My kids are really living in a different world.  Instant photos when I was a kid were called Polaroids!  And they were like magic.

Lion's Parade

Every year Pizazz participates in the Lion's Day Rodeo parade.  It's actually one huge commercial because the floats are just trucks with signs on them but the dance team gets some exposure so they do it.  Courtney decorated her bike with crepe paper and then we were off.  She wasn't too happy about having to ride her bike around and that she had to wear a helmet but she survived.

Their entry was early enough that she was able to get candy afterward.  She wasn't happy when Ethan asked her to share with him but she did.

Ethan sat and read a book during the parade but at least he was there in body to support his sister. hahaha!

Our Scout!

Thursday was our Stake Court of Honor and we were excited.  Ethan had finished his 2nd and 1st class ranks and would be awarded a bunch of merit badges also.  Bryan helped him get all dresses and he looked sharp!  The night before Bryan helped me put the merit badges on his sash and figure out where everything else went.  I didn't grow up with scouts and there is a lot of stuff you have to know.  It gets a bit overwhelming!

Courtney loves her scout brother! (Actually, she probably just wanted to have her picture taken but she hugged him so I'm counting it!)

Look at him!!  What a handsome guy!

His troop did the flag ceremony and he did a great job leading it and the Pledge.  I was so proud of how well he just stood up there and did it.  I remember when he was a little Cub Scout and they had them read it off a card.  Now they don't need it and they all did a great job.

Ethan was awarded 10 merit badges and his 2nd class but not the 1st class.  Bryan is going to find out why because he should have gotten it.  But it was still a great evening!  I am really proud of how well is he is doing.

Memoir 44

Ethan saved his money and bought Memoir 44.  It's a war board game that is based on actual battles from various wars.  The one he bought commemorates the D-Day landings and the liberation of France.  It changes up and you are able to re-create the battles with the setup changing depending on which battle you want to play.  Ethan loves it and Bryan has had a fun time playing it with him.

They also have expansion sets for various other wars and battles.  It is such a great way to learn history and to see how things work with strategy and patience.  He is pretty happy with his purchase.

Flooding!

August and September are always rainy months and this year was no exception.  On Monday morning I drove to the dentist and it was pretty cloudy but not too rainy yet.  I had to run some errands and on my way home I got caught in flooding!  It was crazy!  Every road I tried to go down was either flooded or closed by the police.  It took about 45 minutes to get 6 miles.

Our house didn't flood but there were others in Ivins that did flood.  It's crazy to see this red river of water coming down the street.  I was very happy to get home when I finally did.

This is the view of Sunset as I was driving West.  I am in the center lane and the right lane was flooded out.  It was crazy!

This storm was the one that flooded and destroyed the road from St. George to Vegas around the Moapa area.  I couldn't believe it when I saw photos.  The poor semis that had deliveries had to go through Enterprise and around north-west to get to Vegas.  They have the road back opened but it took a week.

Don't mess with the rain!  And they are forecasting that we may get another storm soon.  We'll have to wait and see.