That was Swell

We took a soggy doggy camping trip to the San Rafeal Swell with friends Chris, Erika and Finn, over Memorial Day Weekend. We were no sure we would make it to our camp site, due to the inch of mud icing the road like thick chocolate frosting. But our trusty Snowball (our van) kept her two wheel drive tires on the road until we reached our destination. We were so proud!

It was great to see the kids interact on this trip. The are really becoming friends and learning to play so well together.

They ran together...

They smelled the flowers together...

They chilled-out together...

and they laughed alot!

Despite of all the rain, and wow did it rain, we managed to get in a nice hike...

and the big boys did a little climbing.

It was a great start to our family camping season...

...let the summer begin!

We all had a Swell time!

Nana Time

Time with Nana is priceless. 

Here are a few photos from G and Nana's time together while Mom and Dad were on vacation.

Greta learned a precious family tradition! 

They spent time just strolling around.

She got to ride her first pony!

They played at the park!

And they took time to smell the flowers!

I am so glad they got to spend this time together!

We Found Zion and Each Other

3 wonderful days in Zion! 

Thanks to Mom, who so graciously FORCED Stefan and I to take a weekend away from life in exchange for a weekend for Nana-Greta time. Our 3 day-40 mile through hike of Zion National Park was not exactly the relaxing, "kick your feet up by the pool with a margarita" escape that Mom was envisioning for us, but it was a classic Kirby "before kid", "remind us why we fell in love" kind of hike!

The weather was perfect, the scenery was breathtaking and the company was way overdue. Most of the hike was surprisingly unexpected for us. We started off at Kolob, heading up LaVerkin Creek. At first it was like we imagined it would be; Mammoth red rocks walls and Colorado Plateau vegetation intermingling with traces of Mojave shrub, a real Southern Utah feel. Gradually we gained elevation, temperatures dropped, and then Pines became dominate. Enter Hopp Valley;  a striking box-canyon with the strangely familiar  feel of the Rocky Mountains. Lush, brushy under-story, montane wild flowers and towering yellow pines. 

Stefan swears he found the largest Pondo on the planet, and I concur. It would have easily taken 5 adults to give this big giant a hug. It was the kind of stature a Redwood could be envious of. In-fact, we had to keep smelling it, a vanilla sweet, to convince ourselves that it was not one that was horribly lost.  

The next morning  was spent winding our way up Hopp Valley which eventally lead us up to sage brush flat tops and Pine Valley shade.  The real views of the hike were now just beyond the horizon.   As the day went on,  the miles started taking their toll on us. Skirting around the jagged  piles of black lava, the remains of an ancient volcano, made my now black-and-blue big toe nail ache with every jarring step (the only casualty of the trip, my poor toe). But knowing that just beyond Lava Point was our final resting place of day 2 gave my "out-of-shape mommy legs" the strength go on to camp. We ended the day with a epic game of GIN, both managing to get GIN an unheard of 2 times! 

The final day was long, 13+ miles but all down hill and ALL VIEW. From Lava Point we headed for the West Rim Trail, apply named for its 360 degree views of canyons and neighboring plateaus.  The views on the Rim Trail can be partly blamed on the decades of lightening induced forrest fires that have chard the pines and everything else in its path, making us grateful for the blue skies over head. As we descended into Zion Canyon, the trail became steeper, the vertical magnitude of the canyon walls consumed us an civilization eventually rejoined us. 

Sitting on the shuttle bus that took us to our awaiting van, we held hands. I am not sure that we spoke a word to each other on the short ride to the car, but I know that we were thinking the same thing. Beer, followed by Chips and Salsa! :)

Our weekend concluded with a fancy Springdale hotel to celebrate our 6 year wedding anniversary. The Desert Pearl Inn, a cozy Inn right on the Virgin River. Highly recommend it! It's probably the only hotel in Utah with a bidet. 

Thanks again Mom!

Oh the Wonderful Things Miss G Can Say

Greta’s vocabulary is growing daily and she is not holding back on letting us know what it is she wants to say. So far her favorites are… Mama, Dada, Nana, Gm (i.e. GMom), Papa, Pops, Grumpa (i.e. Grandpa), Abby, Angie, Owl, Cheese, ByeBye, Hi, Yeah Yeah!, Milk, Banana, More, Bubble, Bath, Ba (i.e. Flower), Bobo (i.e. Cooper), Truck, Bus, Outside, Skiiiiiiii, Backpack, Dog Dog, Bird and Night Night. She says and can identify objects that are Green and Yellow. She can “Neigh” like a horse, “Moo” light a cow, “Woof” like a dog, “Meow” like a cat, and “Baaabaa” like a sheep. I’m telling you she is our little 19 month prodigy. Along with all the talking she has managed to master the art of running, spinning and walking backwards and has a head of hair that is the likes of Rapunzel, requiring multiple haircuts a month. Video below;

Our month of April 2009 was cold and snowy leaving us wondering if spring would ever arrive. We prepared our garden, upgrading it with 3 new raised beds, it rained. We transplanted some overgrown bushes and flowers, it rained. We edged the front yard, removed the invasion of grass from my front flowerbeds, it snowed. The rain parted for a successful 2nd annual Kirby Easter Bunch. The Brunch brought together our friends for a kido egg hunt and big kid mimosa drenched feast. The next weekendwe had planned a fantastic first camping trip of the season to Capital Reef with friends; it rained again, this time the rain managing to stifle our plans. Recovering from the disappointment, with car packed and nowhere to go…we headed off to Montrose to visit Stefan’s Mom. Montrose was rainy too but we kept dry and managed to get out between storms. Greta warmed up to Gmom and Papa in style! Just as I had hoped. I believe her “cling to my pant leg” days are over. A stage I am sure to look back on and miss.

We salvaged the tale end of the weekend, which happened to be Stefan’s 33rd birthday, by skipping work and camping Sunday night just outside of Moab on the river road. It was perfect. We spent the afternoon introducing Greta to the mighty Colorado River and Red Dirt, then watching Dada boulder around on the rocks. After a stunning sunset we settled into the Van for a chilly night of “sleep”…Dad on one side, Mom on the other, G in the middle and cooper just about anywhere he could squeeze in.

May began much like April ended….rain, rain and more rain. Greta took this opportunity to teach herself how to jump in puddles, catch raindrops in her mouth and generally get wet outside.

When not outside,she’s been spending most of her time reading stories, organizing her toys into rows or in cups and putting BoBo (Cooper) to bed on the living room floor. She gabbled up most of the guacamole in celebration of Cinco de May, all the while insisting that Mama and Dada have equal turns dipping our chips, one at a time, in order. I’m thinking she’s a little bit “Type A”, this kid likes to be organized….she could not have gotten that from me??

My wonderful family took me skiing and brunching at Snow Bird for Mother’s Day. It was a wonderful afternoon of corn and eggs benedict. I LOVE being a Mom!

We are well into mid May and the 2008-2009 storm cycles has subsided. The garden has been planted, in new fancy raised beds…thank you honey!, and the grass is soooo green, thank you rain! Skiing is becoming an afterthought, even though there is still has over 100 inches in the hills…it’s insane, I know! Now the backpacks are filled in preparation for our first through-hike in 2 years. Nana has a plane ticket to Salt Lake and I have an ach in our stomach about our first trip away from Greta, ever. 3 Days in Zion. Updates to follow.

Not Enough G in Team Kirby

Ok, Ok...enough already. After numerous threats, oh I mean requests, and floods of emails, I've finally got it....  Team Kirby of America Blog needs more G Photos...well you got it :) 

It's a hard reality to know that Greta does not get to see her extended family often...often enough to just jump into there arms on sight with little hesitation.  With our tight schedules and limited vacation time,  the long "weekend visit" is barley enough time for her to warm up to the idea of anyone holding her except Mama or Dada.  I've read that this is a phase; That her shyness will pass along with the wobbly teeder of her toddler years. I am encouraged that this to be true... Grandpa and Grandma Linda were in town for the first weekend of March.  G warmed up to Grandpa as she never had in the past; even going so far to let him sit next to her on the couch to tickle her belly and almost letting him hold her, almost! It was a great visit!  Our time spent with Grandpa was packed full of fun.  We spent an afternoon at the Olympic Oval for the speed skating finals; witnessing a world record time in the men's 1500, quite the sight to see! 

The next day we packed up the van and headed to the hills for our traditional XC ski afternoon. It was the perfect day; blue skies, warm air, kick and glide snow! We had a picnic at our favorite spot on the Beaver Creek Trail, fancy cheese, fresh bread and summer sausage fill our bellies and gave us strength to ski back to the car. The 3 day visit flew by like a flash. It was sad to see them go.   

The rest of March was spent mostly in routine; Plastering the dogs nose with stickers; riding the fire truck around the house "Naked Baby Style", working on getting all of her "ducks in a row" and simply spending time just growing up to be a beautiful little girl!

I find if amazing how much G changes these days.  Even this month she's gained a new twinkle in her eye. Everyday she's got more to say and new ways to make us smile. Her personality is shining!

          

The last weekend in March was spent teaching Greta the origin of our Great City of Salt.  Antelope Island State Park, surrounded by the Great Salt Lake, is a favorite of ours. There is no other place, that we have found, that captures such a palette of gray, brown and gray-blue. In any other venue this "variety" of color, or lack there of, would be considered drab, but here it is vibrant.  

 

       

On the island, you can hear the calls of sea gulls, chuckers, canyon wren, meadow lark, and kill deer. You can watch wild buffalo graze the hillsides and brine shrimp feed by the thousands at the waters edge The pungent smell is slightly unpleasant,  but when you dip your hands in the water,  the the slimy salt film left behind is unmatched. Plus, the beach is a giant sandbox...what can be better then that for a 17 month old?      

                                                                

After convincing G, and Cooper, that it was not a good idea to drink the water, we all played the day away...throwing rocks n the water, burying our hands in the sand and running up and down the shore. 

            

Finally, I must say goodbye.  My very good friend from college, MaryLou,  lost her dad to a tragic bathroom fall this month.  I did not know him well, but what I did know of him showed me that he was filled with courage, strength and kindness.  So I say goodbye to a good man and I hope that MaryLou and her family can find peace in this time of sorrow!