Caramel Apples

I made caramel apples the other day.

Don't they look fabulous?

Don't be fooled. I actually overcooked the caramel and these turned out more like sugar daddy coated apples. We couldn't actually eat them without loosing teeth. I'll need to try again soon.

Snow in Fountain Hills

A little while back we took the kids to an event that took place on the Avenue of the Fountains here in Fountain Hills. There were a TON of festive things going on. It ranged from "real" snow for the kids to play in, to Santa Claus, to a live nativity, to firetrucks. It was a blast! the kids had a great time, and so did Cameron and I.

I think this was the first snowball River has thrown in his life.

Maddy spent a TON of time with the animals from the live nativity.


The firemen's flashlights were probably River's favorite part of the evening!

Yoga Search

Sit back... here's my yoga drama. It's long... so go get a drink first and then get comfortable.

So, I do yoga. I've done yoga off and on for years. I like yoga. Yoga helps me chill.

Cameron has been so great lately with encouraging me to find a yoga studio that I love. He's been willing to watch kids, pay money, make dinner, etc etc. It's been great. I was going to a studio in North Scottsdale with my mother in law for a little while. It was Bikram Yoga (if you don't know what that is, Google it!). I absolutely LOVED it. I would go into withdrawls if I missed more than a day or so (we would go Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). It was a 90 minute class. By the end of the 90 minutes I was usually exhausted -- in a VERY good way. I did a 30 day for $30 trial and tried to go as many times as I could for that price. I had every intention of paying the price of the regular classes (though they did offer your first package at 25% off) once my trial was up. I couldn't imagine having to stop going now that I'd found out how in love I was.

Well, we went to Utah for Thanksgiving and I was forced to take a yoga break. I hated it (not Utah, just the fact that I had to take a break). I felt awful, and counted the days until I could go back. When we got back we were juggling finances (my children broke one of our enormous double paned windows and we need to pay about $350 to fix it) and a few other things, so I didn't get to run right back to the studio in North Scottsdale -- which is about a 15 minute drive from my house in Fountain Hills. Last Saturday we went to an event on the Avenue of the Fountains here and I saw a flier for a fitness studio there that offers a few different classes -- including heated yoga. Now, heated yoga is NOT Bikram yoga. Bikram yoga is very specific. BUT this class was about a minute from my house, PLUS it costs less than HALF of what the other studio charges. I figured I would at least give it a shot. Well, I was able to get a friend to go with me.
We showed up at the first class a few days ago. The class was not exactly what I expected. It was faster than what I was use to. It was more upbeat than I was used to. It wasn't hot... at all. I actually strained a few muscles because I wasn't use to the style or flow. I came home in tears. I wanted to love it, I REALLY did. But I think I was shocked and a bit disappointed in the differences. It wasn't as challenging by far. I actually felt like I needed to go and do another work out right then to make it worth my while. BUT I wasn't giving up yet. The studio was offering the first week free. So, I was going to go the rest of the week (the classes are T/Th at 7:15pm and Sat at 10am -- PERFECT for my schedule). So... today I went. I like it. I don't quite LOVE it -- yet. But I enjoyed it. I still feel like I could run a mile after I'm done with the class, but perhaps as I get use to the flow I will be able to challenge myself personally during the class and it will be more of a workout.

So... I guess I'm a yoga snob. LOL!! I'm not perfect at it -- but I guess I know what I like. I guess I need to learn how to turn a class I like into a class I LOVE. It'll definitely be worth the time and money I'll save when I'm successfully in love with my cheaper and closer class.

Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center

On our drive back from Salt Lake city to Fountain Hills we stopped with the kids at the Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center. It's just before Lee's Ferry on Highway 89A. I have never stopped there before, so we figured it was a great chance to let the kids get their wiggles out.

The original bridge was built in 1929, but they built a second bridge in 1995 that would accomodate the amount of traffic and the size of the more modern vehicles. Unfortunately I didn't get any shots of the actual bridge -- you'll have to google it.

It's a gorgeous area -- I love this place!

I've come to appreciate Arizona scenery more and more.

How to carry an Alverson baby

We spent one evening out walking around the Salt Lake temple to see the Christmas lights.

My kids don't really "do" strollers. They like to push them, but not ride in them.

So an Alverson baby gets put into a carrier on my body (or my husband's). Britta started out on my back, and by the end of the night was on my front. They stay put a lot better this way -- though the wiggles sometimes get the best of us all.

Spinning

There's a park near my grandma's house in Rose Park UT that we all went to the evening after Thanksgiving.

Everyone took a turn on the spinning wheel.

Some people enjoyed it more than others.

River spent most of the time on his belly, holding on for dear life.

I have to admit I only sat on it when it WASN'T spinning. I'm definitely not a spinner.

Jack-o-lantern Britta

This face cracks me up! She looks like a carved pumpkin! Mischievous to the core.

Confusion

I just HAD to post this picture. My kids are Arizonans at heart.
They thought that snow shovel did great things by way of leaf gathering -- though River does look a bit confused...
I think they've each seen snow once or twice tops... NEVER have they shoveled the stuff.
We'll have to come back in a few months! ;)

Fall is Falling

What is more picturesque than falling leaves?

.....And more fun than staging your own falling leaves?

-- and watching your relatives help more leaves fall by hanging from trees is definitely a Kodak Moment.

Fall Foliage

Thanksgiving day at my Grandmother's house in Salt Lake city. No snow, but plenty of leaves! Maddy went at it all herself, and had a ball! She is quite the raker.

Praying Mantis

This is the first time I've seen a Praying Mantis in Arizona. It figures that I would find it in Fountain Hills -- the land of a million insects. Maddy found it on a tree in our front yard. She was fascinated. I was too -- though a tad creeped out. Gotta love nature.

Turkey Hats!

We kept up the fun we started with Halloween, and did a ton of Thanksgiving crafts, too! These Turkey hats turned out great! The kids still wear them here and there. I only got to photograph River's before the camera batteries died. I took a few with my cell phone camera -- but those aren't high enough quality to do these glorious hats justice.

Something cute

Well, to start out my string up update posts, I thought I would give you all something cute to coo at. Baby Britta in her fleece. Don't you just want to snuggle her?

Pirate Hats

During the day yesterday I helped the kids make pirate hats in honor of Halloween dress up time.
This is their "Mean Pirates" pose.

River is too cute to be a mean pirate.

Arrrrrrgggggh Matey!

Halloween dress up!

This picture was actually taken last weekend at the annual party at Jenny and Dawson's house in Queen Creek. We did a Rainforest theme that night. I was the tree. Cam was a lumber jack. Britta was an exotic caterpillar. River was a tiger. Maddy was a fairy (though I forgot to wash the costume, so for Halloween night she was Belle instead). I made Britta's costume without a pattern. This isn't a great picture of it, but it was cute. I had fun -- though it did turn out a bit smaller than I would have liked.

For Halloween night we went trick or treating down the Avenue of the Fountains. The businesses all passed out candy. It was a lot of fun.

After the Avenue of the Fountains we headed over to a local park where there was a giant carnival for the kids.

They had a ton of fun with all the little games there were to play. Overall, a very fun night!