Bye, Bye, Birdie

We found this nest outside our front door a few weeks ago. I snuck up there and took some pictures and this is what I found.

Three eggs inside the robin's nest. How exciting! The mom bird was very nervous and kept flying to the nearest tree. The dad bird was very protective of the nest. He would stay on the roof or nearest branch and chirp at us.

A week later, two baby robins. Don't know what happened to the third. Bad egg, maybe.

A few days later, they already have feathers.

The dad bird keeping a very close watch. He doesn't like me sticking my camera into the nest. The mom is nowhere to be seen.

A few days ago, they are filling up the nest. They don't make any noise. We never heard them chirping.

Today they're gone. No mom or dad or babies. It was fun while they were here. Something to watch and learn from. The nest was up too high for the girls so they had to rely on me to take the pictures. Now what are we going to do the rest of the summer?

Time Off in Park City

Time off in Park City over Mother's Day Weekend. We relaxed at our timeshare by swimming, eating, watching movies, making crafts and exploring Main Street.

Emma finally had enough of swimming! She is a fish! And she's not shy. She would try to play with anyone who came into the pool. Including other kids' dads! She'd hang on stranger's shoulders to try to get them to play with her! Gotta watch her!

Shoe Tree Park along the parkway. Lots of shoes thrown into the trees. Why? Who knows. It's probably art or really bored teenagers.

Kelli came up for a sleep over with her cousins for Maren's birthday.

Torin came up with Josh for a couple of days and locked one set of keys in his car and the other set of keys got wet in the pool. Couldn't get his Mercedes to start.

Tim needs a haircut. But still had fun dunking me under the water or kicking me off the tube.

Family came up to visit and joined us for food and good times. Too bad the Alpine Slide wasn't open yet. Still a lot of snow on the ground so we couldn't go hiking without getting really messy. Just relaxed and didn't have to worry about work. Nice!

Easter Fun

Easter Morning. Eggs to be found and candy to eat. Josh seems to get a little less excited every year for the hunt. Emma was very competitive this year and came away with the most eggs by far! Maren and Emma have a new game to play on the Wii. Josh has a new movie and Tim has a new remote control car that drives up walls!! Too much fun!

The kids in their Easter clothes.

At Mebius' house, the Easter Bunny left eggs as well. And my brother Derek also came out for some conversation and angel food cake and strawberries.

At Lawrence's the hunt was outside and so were the paparazzi! Six grandchildren and six cameras trained on their every move. Despite the dead bird we found, the kids had fun. I think the boys came out on top in this hunt! The girls got candy and prizes but the boys found money in their eggs! Where's my Easter Bunny eggs with money? I think I've been overlooked!!

Update

So here is how March went...
I took an applique class at the quilt store and am now addicted to new projects. I have so many patterns in my drawer I will never get to all of them.
I started with a personal trainer at the gym. I've had three sessions now and I feel pretty good...now. The first session he made me do so many squats and lunges and step-ups on a bench that I couldn't walk for 5 days! And I've changed my diet and other exercises that I think I'm making progress. My skinny pants are loose!! Yay!!
I also bought new work out shoes. My knee pain is less and I can definitely tell a difference between the old and new ones. It was time.
I need to wash my car but the snow keeps coming.
We survived another week with Andrew out of town. I can't believe how much I depend on him daily!! We could survive without him but, A) we don't want to and, B) I'd be very tired every night with all the extra stuff I have to do.
Two more days of March and hopefully no more snow. Sun and warm would be nice.

Birthday Month Celebration Over

Well, so much for me pampering myself this month. I slid down my driveway and hit the curbing and threw off the alignment on my car. So into the shop it went and out of my wallet came $900. So happy birthday to me. Plus, I've been sick and coughing all over everything. Maybe I'll celebrate next month...

Bring on the love!!

March is my birthday month...yes, that's right...a whole month to celebrate my birthday!! I feel the need after a long winter to take advantage of this pre-spring month and do whatever I can to pamper myself! I grew up thinking that St. Patrick's Day was a preliminary to my day. Everyone dresses up in green (my favorite color) and wears it kind of like a pre party celebration! Then my actual birthday is the 19th. PARTAY!! And then the first day of actual Spring on the 21st. And sometimes, Easter is in March so, of course, candy to end my month of me. March is THE BEST month to have a birthday! All the cute Easter dresses are in the stores to buy and sometimes we get some mild weather. Makes me have spring fever and that makes me euphoric! It's MY MONTH. NOT YOURS! (unless you have a march birthday, too and then you're welcome to partay with me) And Andrew spoils me completely for my present. One year, I was sent to a SPA in Arizona! One year an unlimited shopping spree around town. Last year I received lots of tickets to the Bees games! I love you, Andrew, and I can't wait for my present this year...especially if it was what we were talking about at lunch today!!! I'm singing Happy Birthday to me in my head right now!!!

Hiking in Zion

On our weekend trip to St. George, we decided to drive through Zion Nat'l Park. It was supposed to be 65 degrees and sunny according to the stupid weatherman. It wasn't. But we still had fun. We hiked the 3 Emerald Pools trail. The girls kept up really well until the muddy parts. Then they turned into whiny little high maintenance females. "Eww! I don't want to walk in the mud!!" I thought it was great. A chance to be dirty and it washed right out.
On our way up the trail we heard a rumbling sound that we couldn't figure out. It turned out to be an avalanche! Luckily it was small and we were not in the way. It just fluttered down as a cloud of snow. It was beautiful!
Then we walked up to the Weeping Rock trail. The girls thought it was cool how it seemed to be raining. I don't think we'd taken the girls to Zion before. Or they were too small to remember anything. I've grown up going to Zion on many occasions and this time was good because I've never been in the winter. Whole different experience. No leaves on the trees and you don't have to take the shuttle like they make you the rest of the year. A little chilly in the cove at the top of Emerald Pools but otherwise, we had fun.