Hiking galore

We love hiking! On Thursday we went with Lisa's parents up to Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon. We got a second backpack off Ebay a few weeks ago, and now backpacking Tanner and Natalie up the canyon is the excitement we had with Sydney. We went hiking again today up the Lake Blanche trail in Big Cottonwood and had such a great time. Sydney is a great hiker and the twins are really enjoying it. Nothing like fresh air, great exercise, and great company. Here are a few pics of our trips (some fuzzy from something on our camera lens):

Tanner and I

Grandpa loves giving Nanny flowers. She loves to eat them.

My pretty princess.

What a cutie!

The great scenery

The fam.

Where's my baby?

Sydney and I were hanging out today while Lisa and the twins were taking naps. She said "Daddy? I need some toys to play "My Baby" with. A few seconds must have passed while I searched my brain for what she was talking about. She put a stuffed cat and dog under her shirt, then pulled them out saying "My baby! My baby!". It clicked. Back when Lisa was pregnant with the twins, I'd hide Sydney's stuffed animals under my shirt and pretend to sleep. Then, *unsuspecting* Sydney would pull them out and say "My baby! My baby!" I'd run after her saying "Where's my baby!?!" It was such a fun time, as we'd play outside on the front lawn with a ball, and she'd grab it and run and I'd chase her down.

Later she took all the magnetic letters off the fridge, put them all in a line and would say "Dad? What does this spell?" Then we laugh at my inability to pronounce "zxymfrkqojtmdcalnw"

A Lesson in Taxes

Just read the article and skip this fluff. Who's evil enough to think during this state of woes in the financial, construction, and real estate markets, that you raise your taxes on the businesses and "the rich" to help everyone else out? At some point soon they'll see all the businesses in their state have moved to states where they can afford to make a profit. Find other ways to make it work, besides making more businesses go bankrupt and cause more unemployment.

My favorite quote: "So in the face of one of the worst real-estate recessions in the state's history, the politicians want to raise taxes on businesses that are still making money."

Baby Hungry

Don't worry...nothing to report :) Seeing baby Noah (see this or this) made me remember how fun little babies are. It made me go looking for my kids' baby pictures. Lisa and I are pretty sure 4 is the magic number but it won't be happening for awhile. Here's some nostalgia:

Sydney, Natalie and Tanner (from left to right)

A little of this...a little of that

Cute smiles

My buddy

Not the best family picture, but hey...I doubt we'll get a nice one too often with these crazies.

The womenfolk (and yes. She's trying to eat a leaf.)

Lisa is over painting at her sister's house, so I had the kids tonight. We played pass and read books. No night would be a night with the kids without lots and lots of tickling. I think Tanner's third word was "tickle". But after the twins went to bed, and for a little bit with Sydney before she went off to bed, I watched Rudy on demand. It wouldn't be me if I didn't point out the language, but I've always liked this movie. There's nothing quite like a feel good movie that's cheesy without going over the top. It made me wonder about my dreams. Most have already come true, and if not for some really hard times, I wouldn't realize how great. All my dreams have to do with my family. The thing that really pumps me up is commentary from Sydney lately. On Monday night before Lisa got back from the American Idol concert, Sydney asked me "Daddy? What do you do if someone's not being nice to your friend?" I love how she wants my opinion and loves to tell me stories about baby dragon and girl baby dragon. I also love how she's concerned her friends and doing what's right. Last week, we were talking about her friends from preschool and primary, I asked her who her best friend was. She said me. It put a big smile on my face.

The twins have grown so quickly. Since they're not requiring as much attention lately and wanting to playing on their own (unless Nanny can see Lisa), it means more to me lately when they do want to play. Of course I need to learn to give them their space (I've unknowingly taught Sydney personal space is a myth...just ask Lisa), but Natalie is just a spitfire and Tanner is a snuggly bear. I'll have to record and blog asking Natalie if she likes tickles. She giggles to say 'yes'. She dances to Little Einstein. Her new thing to say is "Uhhhh...oh". Tanner has learned what things make me laugh (pretty much anything he does) and he does it over and over again so we can laugh together.

Teenage years can wait. Things just keep getting better.

Hazy moon pics

First of all, these pictures don't do justice what the telescope can do. These are low res images from a pretty hazy evening. Okay...so after long await and many promises of pictures to come, here they are. The first few times I went out with the webcam, it wasn't the best seeing (sounds like bad English, but that's what the technical term is). Tonight was still quite hazy, which you'll see if you watch the movie. Some of the stills are afocal with our little Canon. The movie and other stills with the Neximage (web cam that will do movies and/or stack images, etc). Hopefully these are the rough drafts with more to come. I didn't zoom in very far as it was hazy enough to get these unclear images, but alas, you've probably stopped reading and moved onto the pictures. Enjoy!

Another Sydney Moment

So we're in the car, Sydney and the kids watching Robin Hood on the dvd player. Remember the part where Little John puts Sir Hiss in the keg of ale and he comes out later all drunk? Sydney says "Daddy...they put the snake in the juice box!". Is that what they call it now...