Keeping Up With the Joneses

So as a psychologist I have to get 24 hours of continuing education credit every 2 years and the best way to do that is to go to this MASSIVE convention held every year by the American Psychological Association for about 14,000 psychologists. This year it was held in Washington, DC and I decided to go to get the credits, because my work would pay for it, and because a lot of my old friends from graduate school would also be there. When I was starting to plan my trip I came across tickets from Salt Lake to New York for $59 ($83 with tax) and immediately jumped on it. I've really really really been wanting to see The Book of Mormon Musical and thought I could spend an evening in NY seeing it before taking a train to DC. That day I also convinced my mom and sister to come with me and so we all ended up spending Tuesday-Thursday in NYC together and then I went to DC while my mom and sister stayed in NYC until Sunday. That same day I also found an amazing deal for the Yotel in Time ...

Max's 2 nd birthday is on Thursday, but because they will be in Delta for swimming lessons and I will be out of town, we decided to celebrate in Delta last weekend. Marshall and I drove down Friday night and as soon as we got there Myles ran out the door and said "you are only here for Max's birthday and then you have to go home!" Way to make his parents feel good. They just love being at grandma's and I think that having their parents there cramps their style! Max was so excited when we carried his presents in that we decided to have his party that night instead of the next day. He loved his cake, and especially singing Happy Birthday TO YOU (he has been practicing for months). We had to light the candles a few times for him to blow out. He loved the "Mo-mass" cake in theory, but in practice when he had a piece of it he was not that impressed with the messiness of the frosting. I don't think he ate a bite, but he enjoyed using the napkins to wipe...

Since I was in Waterton for Marshall's birthday last week, when we got back and the kids were in Delta we decided to celebrate. We took the chair lift at Sundance up to the top, hiked to Stewart Falls, and then down to the lodge where we ate at the Foundry Grill . It was a beautiful hike, perfect day, and wonderful to spend time together. At the place where you buy the chair lift tickets they said there was a "little stream" you had to cross on the trail to Stewart Falls. Um. . .not so little!

As Pioneer Day in Utah came and went this year with minimal celebration (kids were in Delta, Marshall worked), this poem I LOVE kept coming to mind. It is by Carol Lynn Pearson , an amazing author and poet. PIONEERS My people were Mormon pioneers. Is the blood still good? They stood in awe as truth Flew by like a dove And dropped a feather in the West. Where truth flies you follow If you are a pioneer. I have searched the skies And now and then Another feather has fallen. I have packed the handcart again Packed it with the precious things And thrown away the rest. I will sing by the fires at night Out there on uncharted ground Where I am my own captain of tens Where I blow the bugle Bring myself to morning prayer Map out the miles And never know when or where Or if at all I will finally say, "This is the place." I face the plains On a good day for walking. The sun rises And the mist clears. I will be all right: My people were Mormon pioneers. — Carol Lynn Pearson

The kids and I left on July 14 for 10 days in Waterton . Prepare yourself for endless mediocre photos (Marshall wouldn't let me take his precious camera so they are iphone pics) in a random order with random descriptions. We left at 5:30 in the morning and made good time to Canada in only about 13 hours with minimal stopping. The kids were perfect little travelers both ways. We had one car sickness episode with Max but fortunately it was towards the end of the trip. I've decided minivans with DVD players and Nintendo DS are the most wonderful thing ever invented for long road trips with kids. I just got their stuff going then plugged in my headphones and listened to podcasts the whole way. Red Rock Canyon. This was Mason's favorite place this year. It was a hot day and so we headed up to the natural waterslides . Grandpa taught them how to slide down. Later we saw a picture of Red Rock Canyon in a gift shop and Mason said "can I buy that for my room? I love that pl...