A Birthday Adventure in Mt. Charleston

Would you believe quaky trees exist in a desert?  Turns out 45 min. from our house there are actual mountains.  With actual pine and quaky trees.  It was my birthday wish to go for a hike in the mountains, and we were pleasantly surprised at our discovery of Mt. Charleston.  It felt pretty much just like hiking in Utah.

We invited another couple to come with us, and it turned out to be a great hike.

Let's hit the road :-)  It was 98 degrees in Henderson when we took off.  In Mt. Charleston it dropped to 65 degrees - jacket weather. 

Two happy hikers

Get a load of those colors!

Drum roll please . . . SNOW capped mountains!! In the desert!

We had a fantastic view of this mountain the whole hike.

Climb every mountain . . . 

Hmm.  I wonder if there is a trail to the top of that peak . . .

What did we find at the top?  A waterfall . . .

and SNOW!

That's my boy James :-)  Mr. Outdoors.  He was eating it up.

A pair of mountain goats

James takes a snooze on the way back down.

Time for a birthday picnic!

The kiddos were ready to eat!

A birthday cake of sorts . . .  Bean Dip!

We stuck it out for as long as we could, but at 49 degrees, it wasn't exactly shorts weather.  We were FREEZING!!

We had to resume the festivities at our house due to our frozen digits.  One of my friends dropped this cake off to me earlier that day, so Chad didn't even have to make one!

Chad making some wise crack about me being 30.  Grrr.

I opened a box of Red Ruby slippers for my Dorthy costume.

James, serious about wheels . . . and cake!  Notice which hand he is using???  Yep.  He is a lefty like Chad.  Poor kid!

My Baby Music & Movement Class

Here are some props I made for a baby music class I am teaching for James and some of the other kids & moms in our ward.  I thought these wands turned out great.  They would be fun decorations for a butterfly birthday party, or maybe for little dancers.  The babies use them to wave around with the music.

I play my guitar and sing a bit, and we also play some fun baby tunes.  I've been having fun putting this little class together :-)

James Twerping Around

Addicted to Orange Julius.  James is on his 3rd glass.  Yum!

Um, yes.  I think I will take another please . . .

Chad trying to sneak in a sip or two :-)

We didn't have a lot of luck getting him to go to sleep that night, but he sure did enjoy his OJ!

Fooling around with his cousin Darcie during General Conference.

Dr. Suess's "Foot Book" is his very favorite book . . . even if it is upside down!

At Grandma Loomis's house for conference.

Kenna & James

Umm.  You kids should be listening . . .  Fat chance!!

The adults weren't doing much better.

Now for a little mischief.  

James thinks the fridge is a jungle gym!

What'll it be mom?  I'll have it out in a flash.

No really mom, I can do this!

Now let me see . . .

Where did I last see that yogurt . . .

Aha!  Top shelf, near the back.  Got it!

Done with the fridge, on the prowl for some more entertainment.

Dad probably won't be needing these old flashcards now will he?  He's DONE with Ntl. Boards! 

I had the stroller in the house to do a few repairs on a hole in the seat.  James thought it was his lucky day!  He is serious about wheels :-)

Yep.  Everything seems to be running smoothly mom.

Let me just give it one more spin.

Now for the back wheels.

Can we go for a test ride now??

After a long day, James and Chad were both ready to hit the sack.