Easter 2014

Some holidays just aren't as fun without kids. Easter seems to be one of them. Without the little ones running around looking for Easter eggs and things, it just seems to be boring. But with most holidays it seems better with the company of close family. We made do without the little ones this time.



















Even with Mom coming home sick from her business trip to Seattle, she still made up a nice little Easter basket/jar full of Easter goodies. Grandma requested a Lily this year so we got a nice one at the grocery store. It livened up the dinner table.

After going to church and enjoying the beautiful choir musical numbers and lessons on the the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We all came home and enjoyed an nice Easter dinner.

Grandma was asked to make the deviled eggs again. I think she got more on her hands than in the eggs.

Dad made Mac 'n Cheese, while I cooked the rolls

Here is Mom making a glaze for the ham.

And the fruits of our labors

With our bellies full and good company had. I think it was a nice quiet successful Easter. But we can't forget the reason for the holiday and this video really tells it all. Hope everyone had a great Easter.

Hiking Red Rock Canyon

Yesterday I got to hang out with some of my cousins. John and his wife Jen and their adorable little boy Iz. They live over in the Los Angeles area and were in town to visit some friends from Canada. But they crashed Friday night at my parents, so we were able to spend Saturday morning with them.

Little Iz loved Big Bear. He snuggled with him and read him books. It was pretty cute. After breakfast Dad suggested we go and have a hike up at Red Rock Canyon, located just outside of town.

We all hopped into Dad's car and drove up to the park. We stopped at the visitor center and showed little Iz the turtles. They had just come out of hibernation so they were moving around quite a bit.

Three little turtles all in a row

Iz could almost touch this one.

The visitor center also had cool exhibits on desert wildlife and even some big statues for the kiddos to climb on.

 

Then we got back into the car and drove around the canyon until we found a trail we wanted to hike.

The Red Rocks that give the park it's name. So pretty.

Here are John and Iz enjoying the high point overlook of the canyon

View from the overlook

We decided to try the Icebox canyon trail. It started out pretty flat with a nice incline but as we got further in the path got rockier and steeper.

Dad on the stone steps near the beginning of the trail

Into the wilderness we went

Looking back at the Trail head

This was as far as we could go, The trail ahead was a steep drop

Little Iz enjoyed the ride.

It was a beautiful day. We got out early enough that it was only about 75*F blue sky and a cool breeze every now and again. The spring desert flowers where also popping up here and there. And we came across some lizards. All and all it was a great hike. Some day we will make it all the way into the Ice Box Canyon. The only down side to the trip was that one of the windows on my Dad's car broke. But other than that we had a fun visit from John and Jen. I hope they can make it back soon.