Labor Day weekend in St. George

We spent the long Labor Day weekend (more than two months ago...) in St. George visiting Spencer. I love national and state parks and was excited to visit Snow Canyon State Park while we were there. We did a very hard hike to Jenny's Canyon and then spent some time walking around the petrified sand dunes. I enjoy hiking and exploring and it was fun to visit a park I hadn't been to. The drive through Snow Canyon is beautiful.  It's a relatively small park so it felt sort of surprising to suddenly be surrounded by great rock formations and dunes. We also did some swimming and a lot of hanging out, learning about fractals (Spencer and I got sucked into an educational program on television and couldn't get out. Also, why is the Discovery Channel and History Channel filled with shows like "Finding Bigfoot" and "Cajun Pawn Stars"?) and watching "The Lego Movie" (which is why "Everything is Awesome!" has been coming out of my mouth daily for two months now).

I was keeping Hazel awake until we left at 3:00 p.m., so she was pretty grouchy at this point. Then she got ahold of this paper and was much happier, so I let her play with it and even eat some. She loves paper the way I love ice cream.

A little nervous because she knows tickling is coming...

Just having a grand time while I got my chili-cheese fries craving satisfied.

She was in a peek-a-boo phase. Also, the ottoman in the foreground was where she first pulled herself to standing.

Even napping at Uncle Spencer's makes her smile.

Uncle Spencer let Hazel bring this very exciting red cup toy home, which made her weekend.

Red dirt is good for the body.

Cool phone camera, Mom.

This face sums up hanging out with Uncle Spencer.

Happy Birthday Hazel!

Hazel turned one! It was back on her birthday that this happened, which was a while before I am actually writing this. Maybe I'll backdate this post so it looks like I wrote this around her actual birthday. Here are a few pictures of Little Hazey that help illustrate what she's like.

On her actual birthday. I remembered to take a family photo, but we were all a little hangry.

Loves reading books, but has to turn the pages, or else book closed, it's all over.

Showing her grandma the baby doll (from Grandma...) after opening her birthday gifts.

At one year old, you wouldn't know that she's tiny for her age if you catch me holding her, as we look about the same size...

Beginning to learn how to relax on the couch with the help of Baby Einstein's First Signs.

Likes to push the stroller, which gets tiring, except for the person riding in it.

Has figured out the most fun way to ride in a shopping card. Also the most dangerous (maybe except (PSA!) putting a carseat that seems like it fits on top of a shopping cart up there, which should never happen!).

"Oh hey, today I turned one."

At one, Hazel is the queen of the table, whenever there is a table."

Has learned the skill of carrying three important food items at once.

Learning to work out. Thanks to Uncle Spencer for the workout gear.

Just kidding, this isn't Hazel. It's me. Just trying to show her what she has to look forward to in about six months (including the hair barrette and dress, which I have, waiting for her. I'll ask my mom about whether she has the shoes still...).

Sand Hollow tri in St. George

In October we went to St. George for a weekend to do the Sand Hollow tri. Kelsey, Kendra and I were finally able to do a tri all together, and my dad and Trevor decided to do it. Then Uncle Reed and Colton decided to do it. So we pretty much dominated the awards ceremony, but what can you do?