The part where I get older.

So last year if you recall, our lives were in an uproar for my birthday.  I had a small {but fun} birthday celebration and ended the post with "Solid Birthday, but next year I want to ride a gondola and do a zip line".

Not even kidding, we are at Zion Ponderosa and they had nighttime zip line rides for $5.

The universe loves me!

Alicia and Darin took rides with me.   It was terrifying, but half way down I started to remember why I loved zip lines in high school.  The stars were amazing, the night air was refreshing, and I just love a good adrenaline rush.

Okay universe...send the gondola.  I am ready.

On the actual day of my birth, Darin took me {and my sidekick} out for Pho at a Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Hoa.

So good. We are going again for sure, especially since there are like 4 Pho restaurants all right by each other...we have to figure out which is our favorite.

I went home and made 2 types of zucchini bread {lemon, crasin, pecan & chocolate chip pecan}.

Why? Because the shredded zucchini sitting in my fridge was making me crazy, and I didn't feel like going anywhere, but couldn't sit around watching TV because...Soren {thats going to be my new catch phrase "because...Soren"}.  I was restless, but didn't want to clean anything or go anywhere, or see anyone. 

So I talked on the phone to my friend Mirissa, and made zucchini bread. 

It was actually really fun....and the house smelled amazing....and visiting teaching is now finished {haha}.

So we had zucchini muffins and my favorite cake for dinner because, I was still full of Pho so I didn't want real food. The kids were happy to make a meal out of various types of sugared bread, and I can always make room for cake.

Miriam made me cute clay figures of my favorite foods, a folded paper flower, and she helped the boys make homemade birthday cards.  Those kids are completely adorable. There were other gifts from Darin, cards, little gifts and well wishes from friends and family.  I felt loved and blessed.

We kept it simple because my "birthday party" happened tonight.  We all went to a local production of Peter Pan.  Loved it....watching Byron and Soren's faces when Peter and the kids flew was so fun.  Watching them figure out where the wires were connected was fun too.

"I Do believe in fairies...I DO I DO!"

My birthday sunset.

Zion Weekend Continued

We stayed up late on Friday night...Alicia, Darin and I rode the night time zip line {woot woot!}, which I will post about later, but after the kids were in bed we started talking and.....next thing you know it's midnight.  We took it easy the next morning. Craig and Darin finished the puzzle they had started the night before {Lisa had done the border}. The kids played ladder golf, we introduced Craig to Forbidden Island {made it off the island!!}, had lunch and then headed out to the park.

We road the shuttle to the end of the line.....

Riverside Walk. 

We felt like this one would be easy enough for Soren, and our family had never hiked it before.  

Byron became our nature photographer for the hike (and the weekend).

Soren did great while hiking, but was dying on the vine riding the shuttle back.

Ice Cream super blast! All became right with the world.

Craig and Lisa took us out to Springdale Pizza and Noodle.

We had told the kids we would do s'mores that night, but the pizza was sooooo good we all were too full to even think {let alone enjoy} a good s'more so we decided to do a s'more breakfast the next day.

Sunday morning deluxe s'more bar.

Craig doesn't even like s'mores....but he was a good sport to join in while the rest of us roasted.

It was cool enough that a fire was nice {notice the jackets/sweaters} thats pretty nuts for August.

Sister and Brother...those Ray genes run deep.

We took a leisurely morning walk around the development where Bub collected tons of these bug skins. 

And then we had to tear ourselves away...back to reality.

Reality bites.

Thanks again for your generosity Lisa and Craig!!

Zion Weekend Vacation - Kids Camp

We made a mad dash to visit Craig and Lisa the weekend before school started.  It made starting school more chaotic than usual {we had to let some traditions slide}, but it was completely worth it. We couldn't pass up the offer of spending a weekend with some of our favorite people.  Bonus...we absolutely lucked out with this trip...when is Southern Utah ever in the 70's in August??

We put the kids in all-day kids camp the first full day we were there.  This was the main event of the summer for out kiddos so I was anxious about it all working out. Miriam has gone twice before, I think this was a first for both Byron and Soren.  

They rode ponies, and jumped on the bungee trampoline in the morning.  Darin, Alicia, Lisa and I ran over after lunch {notice the juice smiles} to watch them do the zip line and climbing wall.

When Darin and I picked them up at 5:00 we swam for an hour or so.  Luckily it had warmed up to the 80's, but we spent plenty of time in the hot tub.

Craig always treats us to an amazing home cooked meal.

{ringing the dinner bell}

This night it was chicken and steak fajitas with this salad...

Yes that is watermelon with olives, feta and onions....it was amazing! 

Thats Craig for ya, he is crazy....crazy like a fox.

Round-Up Reunion

Bi-annual Young Round-Up Reunion

Huntington, Utah

Little Buck-a-roo Parade

{Soren is sportin' Grandpa Rasmussen's cowboy outfit}

Linner

{The late afternoon meal that is so big it takes place of both lunch and dinner}

Bull-Riding Competitions

{Erik is the two time no contest winner of the men}

Balloon Stomp Rodeo

Space Cowboy Rocket Launchin' 

Tough Cowkids posin' for the camera.

The other cousins had left by the time we thought to get everyone together for a photo.

In two years...first thing we are going to do is take family photos.

You have been warned.

This event would not happen without the efforts of my Aunt Gwen and Uncle Damon! 

They are the best for creating family memories.

Clothing and gear provided by Grandma Rasmussen with efforts from Aunt Julia...the two that take any event and bring it up a few notches.

Weekending...

We went to my parents cabin for the weekend.

It might be cool to put 2 pennies, 1 nickel, a washer, and broken key on the track if a train was coming....I am not admitting anything...it just might be cool....

We all slept in which is always kind of miraculous for me since both Miriam and I are morning people.  I am always delighted in myself if I sleep past 7:00 am. I am super delighted in Miriam when she is quiet and let's me sleep past 7:00 am.

Then we got the canoe on the lake with our sights on the island.

We had a breakfast of bagels, Nutella, and blueberries. 

We watched a hawk dive in the water to grab a fish, Amazing!

We were on the look out for jumping fish and pelicans while we paddled.

Then we rushed to get ready for the Family Round-up Reunion.