Moab Family Vacation

This last weekend we took off for Moab Utah. Saying that we had an awesome trip wouldn't even give it justice. The kids and Chris and I loved it! I brought the trusty Fabreeze to spray down the beds before we put our bedding down. Chris laughed at me and told me I was not a camper. He also told me that I couldn't bring a blow dryer and make up. We were really roughing it.

We told the kids we would give them 5 dollars if they could catch a lizard. Ethan is playing with a little metal sculpture of one here. The kids were unsuccessful and I'm not out any money. Those lizards were so stinkin fast but that didn't stop the kids from trying. They were so fascinated by all the little creatures in the park. This is Balanced Rock and it was the first thing we saw. The kids were so excited to be in Arches National Park. When we entered the park, the attendant gave each of the kids their own map. Madilyn became our guide. She told us where to go and circled everywhere we'd been. She was our little tour guide.
We got to climb and stand in many of the arches. This is the North Windows Arch. We had so much fun hiking and climbing on the rocks. It was an absolutely beautiful weekend in beautiful surroundings. So cool! Andrew ran everywhere we went so we think he hiked twice as much as we did. He'd run ahead and then run back to us and run ahead again.
Is this kid cute or what? Our little trouble maker Ethan chillin on the rocks! Ethan did great on the first day in Arches but the second day, Chris spent most of the time holding him as we hiked. It also got pretty hot that day. Chris got quite a work out.

Moab Family Vacation Continued

This was my favorite arch, a cool arch with some fun rock climbing to get to it. Adventurous but safe for the kids. It was huge!!! Here's Chris and Ethan standing in it.
Here's are the kids in front of Skyline Arch. This was another favorite of mine.
Here is Chris and the kids standing in a cave they climbed up to.
The kids all wanted a turn turning the key to get into the cabin. Sometimes it's suprising how easily entertained the kids can be. We did have a fun action packed weekend. We hiked, climbed, swam, played life sized checkers, tetherball, blew bubbles, played on the playground, threw frisbees and balls, saw many ancient Indian writings, cool dinosaur tracks from an Allosaurus, went to the coolest rock store, and BBQ'd. And a Sparks family vacation wouldn't be complete unless somebody got sick. It was Andrew's turn a few minutes after we left for the drive home. Poor guy. He's ok now, we think he may have gotten heat exhaustion. All in all we had a wonderful time and plan on going again next year.

American Idol heartbreak!!!

Madilyn and I have been watching American Idol faithfully from the very beginning of the season. We have watched some of our favorites get voted off each week but Madilyn really wanted David Archuleta to be the next American Idol. We voted SEVERAL, ok DOZENS of times each Tuesday and she had it all planned out, exactly who would be left and when. Well it didn't exactly go her way. I actually wasn't home tonight so I didn't get to hear who won until after my hair appt. I came home and Chris told me her heartbreak. Apparantly they announced David Cook and she was completely shocked repeating "WHAT" over and over again. She then covered her face with her hands. Chris reached over and patted her knee and she started tearing up. Chris pulled her onto his lap and she burst into tears. She was devasted! Ah, to be 8 again! I felt so bad for her and that I had missed the final that I came home at 10:00 and got her out of bed, had her put her jacket and shoes on, and we went to get ice cream. Ice cream makes every girl feel better. We sat in the driveway with the heater on, eatting our ice creams til they were gone and we snuck her back into bed. I'm such a COOL mom!!!!

Happy Birthday Chris!!

Happy 32 Birthday Chris! Saturday was Chris' birthday and I think if you asked him, he had a very nice day. We took a picnic lunch up to a park in Provo Canyon. It was a perfect day and seeing how we haven't had many of those in months, we lathered ourselves up in sunblock and would you believe the Sparks family still got sunburned. We truely are the whitest they come.

Chris holding his greatest gifts...his kids!
Forever brothers!
A picture with Chris and I in it! A novelty!
The kids all had fun playing on the playground as well as

skipping rocks into the river and rolling down hills.And we had a picnic lunch, including Chris' favorite red potato salad.

We came home and had cake and ice cream and Chris blew out the big 32! We were excited about the gifts we got him so we had him open presents in the morning. Overall, it was a great day spent with family.

Just a little bit fat!

K so kids are PAINFULLY honest! Sweet Drew told me this afternoon that I was getting just a little bit fat as he held up his fingers to show me exactly how little that is. He recommended that I excercise tonight. I would've laughed like that was the most absurd thing I'd ever heard from him if I hadn't known that yeah, I have gained about 5 pounds in the last few months. K so back to work I go on maintaining weight loss. I hate for all you who haven't seen me in years to know that I actually got really big. Yeah really big. I delivered Ethan at the ripe size of 209 lbs. Yeah, now that's a big mama. Thanks to weight watchers, I got back to my goal weight but HELLO, obviously the 5 lbs is showing. Anyone seen my weight watchers journal?

Stitches for Ethan

So it really isn't any suprise that Ethan is the first one of our kids to get hurt and require stitches. We have a wire fence behind us and he fell and grabbed onto it. We didn't realize there was barbed wire along the bottom of the wired fence. I'm guessing they had that because the property behind us used to house horses and other animals. Needless to say, he slipped and grabbed onto it. Poor guy! This is his hand 5 stitches later. I can hardly believe how tough this kid is. We were in the waiting room of instacare and he was laughing hysterically at the movie ice age. Of course when it came time for the numbing shots, it was another story. It was so sad!! He's ok now.

My husband, The Graduate!!!!!!

Chris is finally a graduate! It has been a lot of years but the time is finally here. He has been working particularly hard this last year or so, working full time, being a full time student, and a full time dad. He said he really wondered if this day would ever get here. He has really sacrificed a lot for us and we are grateful for all his hard work. So what happens now? We're not sure!!

Chris and the kids waiting for the shuttle to take them to the auditorium. Now this was the highlight of the kids night. The shuttle started and Drew let out a big "Whoo Hoo".
The auditorium before the ceremony started. 1600 graduates!
Can you pick him out? He's shaking hands with the Dean of Economics
My husband and my sweet kids. I'm so proud! Where's Ethan's shoe you ask. Well when we got out of the car Ethan started walking and his shoe fell off. Except that it wasn't his shoe, it was Drew's(they have the same shoes). Quite a bit too big for the little guy. So by the end of the night, he wasn't wearing his sock or shoe, but he wanted the other one left on. I think with our history lately with shoes, we should just keep extras in the trunk.