Heading South

About two monthes ago (good blogging Sar), Michael and I joined my parents in Southern Utah to hike a bit. I haven't spent very much time in Zion and all the time I had spent was in 100 degree + weather, so this trip was overdue.

When this is the photo from the parking lot of the hike, odds are good that the rest of the hike will go well. 

Happy hikers on Angel's Landing. 

I could climb that. 

View from scout landing aka the place where a lot of people stop. I can't say I blame them. At least one murder and a few falls have happened here. My parent's spent the drive over telling us about their retirement savings and their net worth. When we got to the hike that Michael and I picked, complete with drop-offs on both side...they began to regret talking about life insurance. Don't worry, every one lived.

 Manly bonding. 

 Not a bad view, eh?

 My Dad is standing on some sort of geologic mud pie to look taller. Too bad, Dad--this is my blog.

So beautiful!

Our next sojourn south was to visit Arizonians. We stopped at Mesa Verde on the way. I hadn't been there since I'd taken a Native American Architecture class and Michael hadn't been there at all. It's so cool to see structures and glimpses of people from so long ago. One might think that you have to go to Europe or other for fancy old things. Nope, just go to Colorado.

Can I get a Kiva?

Go to Mesa Verde. Right now. Just do it. 

We stopped at the four corners. Let's just say it cost $10 and Moose couldn't come in. Still, when in the middle of nowhere, visit the four corners. 

Is he catter-corner or kitty-corner? Hard to say. 

This picture would be cuter if it were a picture of Moose with a paw in all four corners. Bummer. 

Here's a picture of Moose standing in Arizona, looking into Colorado.

We made it to one of our favorite places in Tucson, just in time for Chloe's pirate birthday party.

Michael provided the Jolley Rodger. Yes, he owns that. Yes, he took it home after the party.

Brynn, with the cannon ball. I told you there was a pirate theme. There was even a cannon ball fight.

  Happy Birthday, Captain Chloe.

 We played with the two cutest babies in all the land. I seem to have a lot of pictures of Michael with naked babies. He claims that this is mostly because it took Michael about 45 minutes to dress them each time he tried. They are speedy! They both have a flip move while you're trying to dress them or change their diapers, where they roll on their stomach and wriggle away, while the dresser adult desperately clings to an ankle and watches helplessly while the other twin escapes around the corner. They were just starting to take a few steps here or there.

This was after Michael quit trying to dress them and just decided to play in the chair.  

 They even had a professional modeling gig for my mom's etsy site. 

They hats were so realistic, that they seemed edible. Mmmm pumpkin.

Quite the Fabio.  Someday, he can aspire to this photo.

Here's a parenting action shot. 

Love visiting Arizona and visiting crazy cool spots along the way. 

Tulips and Puppies

This week has been eventful...to such an extent that I am considering going to bed within the hour (full disclosure: it's 8:00 pm).

I volunteered at the Best Friends Super Wonderful Magical No Kill Weekend. Michael and I have been volunteering at the adoption center on Sugarhouse, but this event is a pretty big deal--they adopted out almost 500 dogs and cats from local shelters! We unloaded dogs and took them on little walks. It's so fun to visit each morning of the three days and NOT see all your favorite dogs, since they had found families. I am such a fan of this organization and find myself laughing the whole time I'm volunteering for them--even when I'm hosing down a growly dog who rolled in feces. 

Remember what I said about laughing? Here's Michael with General the bulldog.

400 animals adopted on Saturday! Final count was even higher. 

Tonight we went to Thanksgiving Point. It was raining so we had the gardens to ourselves, which was lovely. I'd never been good old Lehi, due to my predjudices about polygamists and blonde people (just kidding, Lehi fans). It was beautiful. 

Heading to the Secret Garden.

Just in case you forgot you were in Utah. 

I'm giving the gardens two thumbs up and the Best Friends weekend three. 

New Zealand, Part 12: Milford Sound

Our last full day in Queenstown was a bust -- as in a budget buster. We went for it. All the way. The whole enchilada. We were so lucky to have so many friends and family that contributed to our New Zealand dreams, because this day in Milford Sound was one of the best I've ever had and certainly most scenic.

We took a charter bus out to Milford Sound, took a ferry out to the ocean, and then a tiny private plane back over the mountains. It was amazing. I am partial to the glowworm caves, but this was Michael's favorite thing.

Our only failure, was forgetting the big kid camera, so iPhone photography it is. We stopped a few times as we drove through the South Island.

At least when Michael is taking the pictures, and trying to make up for a forgotten camera, 

he does a pretty great job.

I had the urge to run quite a long way into the field. The tourists on the bus did not appreciate waiting for me to run back...still worth it though.

 The water was so beautiful and because it was all coming out of springs, 

we filled up our water bottles.

The fresh spring water may have been the thing that Michael talked to people about the most when we got home. "I just filled up my water--right out of the spring!" 

I like him.

 Although we were very pleased (and quite lucky) to have beautifully clear weather, the mountains that we drove through are filled with glaciers and steep cliffs and when it rains the cliff faces stream with waterfalls. We'll just have to go back on a cloudy day, I suppose.

We hopped on the ferry, where we provided a lunch, from the Pita Pit (pronounced Peeta Pet). That was the sight of many a 2:00 am date for Michael and I while I lived in Logan, so it felt right.

The sound opened to the ocean, where I imagined all my whale friends frolicking about. 

We passed by this water fall, while Michael and I were standing on the deck. The captain announced that they were closing the doors, to avoid water blowing in to the cabin. We were unconcerned. The only other lady who was outside was a Japanese woman and her 90 year-old grandmother, who had never traveled before.

Japanese grandma, was very excited about the waterfall and was howling with laughter when...

...we all got soaked.

 

 (This photo was pre-waterfall.)

I'd never seen my husband skip before, but I have to say, we were rather giddy when we saw our little plane.

A nice spot for a plane parking lot.

 Sheepskin seats? Naturally. 

 See? Giddy. 

Driving over the mountains was amazing. It's the same flight that ends the first Hobbit Movie. Although, we preferred our little plane, to an eagle.

Good bye, Milford Sound.

 

 

 Tallest waterfall in the country.

I may have cried. Just a little. When we flew over this blue, blue lake. Apparently the hike to get here takes three days. I might just have to do that. 

 So pretty.

As we flew over the mountains, we could see Queenstown, and it's beautiful lake. Michael and I kept hitting each other and trying to get the other to look at their side of the plane. Both sides of the plane, however, were amazing and beautiful.

 

We might be even giddier than when we took off. 

 Not a bad last day in NZ, eh?