sean turns 11

**first of all, just a quick reminder to go enter the Ritz Crackerfuls $100 giveaway...tomorrow (Saturday) is the last day to enter!**

Well Sean's actually been 11 for almost 2 weeks now, but he was finally able to have his 11th birthday party! We took a couple of friends and played at Wet 'n' Wild all day; it was great for me. With three 11 year olds off on their own, I read, napped, laid in the sun, read, and napped some more. Oh, and I drank lots of Diet Coke. Which kept me awake the next morning until about 2am. It's give and take, people.

Anyway, back to Sean. I didn't take any pics at the water park because it's just too hard to get good shots, but here are some from his party.

He had consumed a blue raspberry snow cone at the water park just an hour earlier-gotta love the blue lips and tongue immortalized in the birthday pictures! :)

We got him the roller blades----and he's already really good at using them!

Two games from Grandma, one of them being quite a happy surprise.

Kiddo wanted triple chocolate brownies for his cake. The kids really made my birthday-cake-making job easy this year. And holy cow was this yummy. I immediately gave away half to the neighbors so I wouldn't be tempted by its ooey gooey goodness.

Two matchstick ghetto candles to symbolize 11. I didn't realize I didn't have two "1" candles-and why would I? I've never needed two "1"'s before!

Happy birthday Sean! We love you so much!

fourth stop: pioneer day parade

The main reason we were up in the St. George area visiting my folks. Pioneer Day (mostly only celebrated in Utah) commemorates those LDS pioneers who trekked across the plains to exercise their religious freedom in the 1800s. Many died along the way due to elements, indians, and starvation. I've read some amazing books based on true stories on the subject, and know one thing for sure: I would have made a rotten pioneer. These people were so faithful and tough. I mean have-a-baby-in-the-wilderness tough.

Anyway, back in 2010, we sat in the 100+ degree temps and collected candy from passing 'floats' (firetrucks, decorated flatbed trucks, 50s model cars and motorcycles, decorated bikes, children's primary groups, wards dressed up in period clothing, and The Home Depot ????)

First we had to get dressed up in our own period disguises. (again, I add the proverbial: ????)

Currently performing at the Tuhacan is "CATS", so they made a special appearance at the parade. Those costumes looked hot. And not in a fab way.

I repeat: ????

Anyway, though being at the end of the parade route made the candy end up in short-supply, we still had fun and afterwards enjoyed the fair part of the celebration.

And even after all those pricey rides ($2/pop!), the most popular was the good ol' free tarp-and-hose created slip n' slide.

It definitely cooled them off at the end of a hot morning.

Thanks for the fun weekend Mom and Dad! We loved our visit. :)

third stop: heaven (otherwise known as cedar breaks)

OK, seriously, I am in love with this next place.

At one point, I literally spun around like Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music" and started singing about the hills being alive.  It was gorgeous, about 75 degrees, and just a little slice of heaven in the middle of the desert.  At 10,300 feet.

Cedar Breaks is about 35ish minutes north of Cedar City-an area known for the beautiful red rock, but at an extremely high elevation surrounded by Pine Trees.  My kids thought we were on the road to our camping site!  It looked and smelled similar for a while, until we broke out on top of the meadow and stopped for a picnic.

 

I know, right??

I can't help it.  I am such a poser.

 

The clouds came rollin' in, but we never got any rain out of it.  And though it was 75 degrees, we were up so high that we all got a tad sunburned.

 

So we headed on over to the actual state park-this is what it's all about.  The view, the cliffs, the red rock, canyon.

 

Mi mami y papi.

The signing in, stamping, and swearing in of the three newest Junior Rangers.  (and may I add, helloooo Mr. Ranger Cutie-Pants.)

I grew up in a state park and I never met rangers cute like this one. 

Anyway, moving along.  (ahem)

After the kiddos completed the assigned tasks, they were sworn in.  So cute.

 

Making it all official.  (And yes, I see his wedding band.  I have one too.  He was all of about 23 years old.)

  

It was a really fun encounter for the kiddos.

Later we went out for chinese buffet.  Yummiest meal I've had in two months!  (for those of you who don't know, I've been on a real strict diet program since mid-May-19 lbs down, yay)  It was the only non-diet-protocol meal I ate in the four days of vacation.  I was mighty proud of myself.

I have to throw this pic in just for fun-my van had gotten tar on it after cruising through some construction on the drive up, so we took it to a drive-through car wash.  Seriously, you woulda thought this was the highlight of the trip for the kids. 

Yes.  Hands up.  For a car wash. 

We need to get out more.