Southern Utah

This last weekend Jack and I made a short trip down to Southern Utah. The main reason for this little endeavor was to visit my brother Dustin and his beautiful wife Sloane in Blanding, but we also got to see/visit a couple of Southern Utah's unique sites, starting with....Arches National Park

Balancing Rock (pictured above)

Jack and Esther on the hike up to Delicate Arch. Esther was the youngest hiker on the trail.(below)

Delicate Arch

Rock formations near Devil's GardenEsther playing with Dad near Skyline Arch...isn't she cute?!

Skyline Arch is the arch in the picture below

Dusty and Sloaner with their babies, Zelda and Scout. I should have taken a picture of Dustin's small farm that he calls a garden. I was a little jealous. The closest thing to a garden that I have are a few flower boxes on the balcony of our 5th floor apartment.

Scout and Esther were fast friends

Scout even let Esther ride on her back....

multiple times.

Esther and Dustin

Before we headed home yesterday, Dustin took us to the Moki Dugway and drove us through the Valley of the Gods near Monument Valley. It was beautiful! Not only was the red rock against the blue sky quite pretty, but there were so many wild flowers. It luckily hasn't gotten hot enough to kill them off yet.

All in all, we had a really great time. Good company, cute dogs, beautiful weather...what more could one ask for?

Mustache May!

In honor of mustache May, little Esther has grown out her hair and her facial hair. I'm a little ashamed that my daughter can grow a thicker mustache than her father, but what can you do.

Nothing but green goodness...

Esther and I recently went on very quick trip with Megs...
to a place that is beautifully green and always raining....
to visit these two darlings....
It was Esther's first time on an airplane and the little dear was a saint. Both there and back she didn't make a peep. The people who sat in front of us on nearly every flight said that they hadn't even realized there was an infant behind them...she was just that good!
It was not only Esther's first time on an airplane, but also her first time meeting any of her great-grandparents. I think she likes them...

We also got to see Chia and Yeng. They came over to Papa and Darie's for a short visit.
Above is a picture of Chia with Esther and below is a picture of Chia's daughter Gabriella with Esther. Chia and I were best friends from birth and Gabby and Esther have about the same age difference as me and Chia. I love this picture because Esther is already almost as long as Gabby. I think I was probably taller than Chia by the time I was standing, despite the fact that she is about 2 1/2 years older than me.
Sweet Aunt Cynthia came over as well. Not to mention the fact that Aunt Debi happened to be in Portland at the same time as us which made it possible for her to spend more time with Esther than she has in Utah. (below: Aunt Cynthia and Esther)
Don't be fooled by that adorable face in the previous picture. This is what that darling is capable of...
Yup that is spit-up. And yes, that is also awesome orange carpet. I wish I had a picture of the lime green carpet in the room I stayed in.

I love going to Portland . Papa and Darie's house is the same as it has always been and it is just as inviting now as it was when I was 7 years old. I'm glad to still have these two darlings in my life.