Live Nativity at the Tuachan

I love this time of year...Thanksgiving weekend and the lights going up for Christmas. Seeing the lights at the St George Temple and Main Street was fun. Saturday night we went to Christmas Lights in the Canyon at the Tuachan. Grandma got tickets for us to go see the Live Nativity.  We've seen about four different live nativities, but this was really the best.

The plaza was decorated with lights and live music playing off to the side.

Elf yourself in real life!

Amanda and Alli

Expressions that are priceless and fun!

Finding a good seat for 20+ people isn't the easiest. The crowds showed how popular this event is.

The best reason of all to celebrate this time of year...

Good times together in a beautiful outdoor theatre. The night sky was so clear and you could see all the stars.

Snow Canyon Lava Caves

We took all the kids and went on the lava cave hike in Snow Canyon.  It's been a few years since we have explored this area.

Waiting at the entrance for our whole group to arrive...it looks so deep and dark in there!

Derek is always the first one to jump right into any adventure! This cave was so tricky to get down into. 

Alli and Derek pave the way...

Makell and I tried to convince Courtney to try it. She was determined that there was NO WAY she was ever going inside NO MATTER WHAT! We talked and helped her take baby steps and with a few tears she slowly inched inside. This picture is to show how brave she was.

Great times with all these fun people. Everyone made it in and out of the cave safely. Well, some of us did bump and scrape our heads a few times. OUCH! I guess that's why spelunkers wear helmets.

Derek has earned the favorite Uncle award once again!

On Top of the World - Where Angels Land!

Last Wednesday we went into Zion’s to hike Angels Landing.  I wasn’t going to go.  You know that hike terrifies me so bad! I decided to just hike with everybody (2 miles) until the chains start and then I would just wait for them to come back.  Well, when I got there (at the chains) I decided…. Okay; I’m all the way up here and probably won’t be up here again, so I should just do it?!! In my mind, I thought maybe I have just been exaggerating how crazy scary this hike is and it’s not as bad as I thought 8 years ago. Hmmmm.... 

Well, it’s just as I remembered - very dangerous, so steep, treacherous, and you could fall or slip in multiple places.  I just kept telling myself to just hold on to the chains whenever there are chains to grip onto. It is a very hard stressful hike but, all that aside, the views are spectacular! Really!! I know I would enjoy everything about it if I could only be hooked on with a carabiner to the chains or attached some how to the mountain.

The trail begins - Angels Landing is the top of the Mountian in the background. It took us about 3 hours round trip. We only were on the top for about 20 minutes.

 

A dozen or so switchbacks - this is much steeper than it looks!

Derek's favorite tree growing right off the side of a cliff!

 We made it to the top just as the sun was starting to set. The views are unbelievable! AMAZING!! But, still I'm not quite convinced it is worth risking your life for...

BEAUTIFUL!!

Time to carefully head back down... maybe even more scarier than

climbing up.

Stress-free family pictures!

Thanksgiving morning...the girls flood the downstairs bathroom and curl hair, straighten hair, add headbands and flowers. They had fun getting ready together.

Everyone gathers in the perfect photo spot.  We took about 14 shots of this exact pose to make sure we got everyone smiling, eyes open and heads facing toward the camera. Matt and Kim have an amazing camera and they know just how to work all the settings. This is the main picture that Grandma wanted and everything else after that was just a bonus. This picture took less than 10 minutes and then we just had fun taking candid shots around.

 Jess and Kayli are alike in so many ways. First child in their family, first girl paving the way for the 3 other girls in the family, very concerned with getting good grades in school, and very sensitive to others feelings.

Throwing leaves in the air - fall is still here in St. George.
 

 Just our family on Thanksgiving Day - missing :( Jake in Russia

Sweet Grandkids picture with Grandma and Grandpa

Alli, Kelsey, Makell, and Jess

Pictures in leaves are a wonder... I love these joyful expressions and just the fun time they were having!

These photo heads of the guys were so fun to goof around with.  If only they really could pop over just for the day.  I would be more grateful than ever!

 We will send this one to Jake in a real picture tomorrow.

 It was a little chilly this morning so Derek let the girls come over and warm up their hands...Derek is known as the favorite uncle to these younger girls. They even made up a song about him this weekend!

I am most thankful for Derek. He is such a wonderful Husband and Father.  He has taught our children to love life and to look for the positive. He teaches them to work hard, treat others with love and respect and be diligent to the Lord. I am blessed to share my life with such an amazing man!

I'm grateful for this cute couple in our family.  They are still so enamoured by each other. They are very busy and work so hard yet, they still find a way to enjoy every day together.

I thought this picture turned out fantastic!

I loved being with these fun sisters of mine.

A big thank you goes out to our wonderful parents who love to get the family together and make each one of us feel like we are truly the most important!

It's a good day already...