And I'm back...

Things are good with us down here.

I was having technical difficulties with transferring pictures to the blog, thus, the delay in updating.

We did venture out and visit another Utah site (Alana, believe it or not but, it was in October).

We travelled 3 hours southeast to Vernal and visited a dinosaur quarry (yes, a quarry, like in the Flintstones).

I've never been to Drumheller but I think Vernal is to Utah what Drumheller is to Alberta.

I found the quarry to be quite interesting as it has a building built around part of a rock area where dinosaur bones are embedded. There are literally layers of bones.

The bones are layered heavily because there was a flood (Not "THE" flood) and it washed all the bones down the river. Alot of bones are scattered but there are many where the dinosaur was alive and buried so quickly that all the bones are in place.

(there may be a test later...)

The next picture is of Chay's favorite bones at the quarry.

Blade busy working on his workbook to earn his Junior Ranger badge.

There was one area of the quarry where people were allowed to actually touch the bones. An amazing experience to see and feel dinosaur bones as they are found.

We took a couple of small hikes that showed more bones in their "natural habitat".

A quick sprint up the hill back to the quarry.

The official ceremony for Blade to receive his Junior Ranger badge.

And we HAD to stop at the famous pink Vernal dinosaur painted by contestants on The Amazing Race a few years ago.

I don't know how but our freezer is left open a crack at times...and so this lovely build up of ice grows. Blade loves to defrost the freezer and had been asking to do it for a while. I finally said we could do it. It's like a game to him...he LOVES it!

I should have taken an after picture but I was so excited to organize everything back into the freezer that I forgot.

Dave celebrated his birthday.

(I took the easy way out this year and let Sam's Club make Dave a carrot cake)

Halloween has come and gone, but we did all the traditional things to celebrate the Holiday.

Blade carved his pumpkin.

(this is a bonus shot that Chay took of Blade twirling around. He does it with such energy that the G-force is enough to distort his face!)

We went to Hogle Zoo early the Saturday morning before Halloween and Blade collected his treats. Since we have a Booster Season Pass we were able to go in an hour before the general public and I am so glad that we did...when we were done and ready to leave, the lines were insanely long. We didn't have to wait in any of them. I had to convince Blade that the plan was to collect the treats first and THEN take the time to appreciate the animals.

Chay loved how soft the wolves looked AND wanted one.

Blade taking one of his traditional zoo pictures but, looking alot different.

At the Verizon booth, Chay stopped at the different stations and earned himself a free T-shirt. He also got a watch for "liking" them on facebook.

The story behind this picture is one that Chay will remember and never let me forget it.

We were watching the gorilla and I had Chay and Blade turn around for a picture. All of a sudden there was this noise and the gorilla literally ran across the room next to the glass....and this picture captures the boys reaction to that sound. And because I HAD to take a picture, the boys missed the action.

Another "must" shot when at the zoo.

Chay made sugar cookies and royal icing with me as his assistant. He did a great job.

Chay was getting creative and decorating with his eyes closed.

Chay had different ideas for a costume but decided at the last minute to be a "nerd". The scary thing is that he had everything he needed in his closet....

creepy...Dave trying on Blade's mask, and Chay creeping in the background.

(masks are creepy. I don't like it when you can't see the person's face. Even painted faces like with clowns creep me out.)

Blade as Anakin from Star Wars.

It was nice to have Nicole stop by for a group shot!

We put up the same decorations from last Halloween. I had to move a couple because Nicole indicated that there was too much going on in the entry way (alot of sound/motion activated things).

And another Chay exclusive shot.

It's still amazing where and how Blade falls asleep.

Well, that's us in a nutshell...