HAGS #6....Quail Lake

More specifically, Hooligan's Island at Quail Lake. We actually rented this for yw/ym and our families were invited, which we were super excited about. So, Hooligan's Island has a slide, trampolines, a rope swing, a bubble thing, and high platforms at each level to jump off of. My older 3 kids headed right over with some of the youth and had a great time. The Babe and I stayed on the shore with the littles. Puppy and Wilbur both loved the water but it got a little windy so they resorted to throwing rocks in the lake. A favorite pass-time. Addie finally came and convinced me to go play with her. Quite frankly, I was terrified of that thing. First of all I had to swim out to it, with a life jacket, but still. And And secondly everything was high and I'm not a fan of heights. I figured I needed to be brave for my girls so I started wit hthe slide. It seemed most likely not to make me die. I got to be on something before it dumped me into the water! It wasn't so bad, and kinda fun, so I moved on to the trampoline. Which was TERRIFYING!!! I couldn't even jump on it. I just walked ever so carefully to the edge and with a lot of encouragement from Addie, the young women, and one of the other leaders, I jumped. More like I stepped off the edge. Again, not too bad. Kinda fun. The other kids and leaders were jumping on that thing and doing flips off of it! It was crazy! 

At the very top there was a little ledge that you could just jump off of. Like a diving platform. Grace was up there. The other young women were trying to convince her to jump. She would walk to the edge and then she would freeze. I told her she was crazy for even thinking about it. The other girls would jump, encourage her to jump, come back up and jump again. This wen on for a good 15 minutes or more. Grace wanted too, but she was just too nervous about it. So she jumped off of the trampoline to gain some courage. While she was climbing back up, I decided maybe if I jumped she would feel more brave about it. So I walked out on the platform and I was PETRIFIED!!! It was one thing to watch someone else out there, but to be standing there myself was absolutely terrifying! As I'm standing there, Grace makes it back to the top and she says, "If you do it, I WILL do it!" And then I really was petrified! I wasn't going to commit , I just wanted to see! I stood there for a good 5 minutes or more (it felt like forever!) trying to work up some courage, but I couldn't muster any. Finally the guy in charge says, "LAST JUMP!" Time to go. I looked Grace right in the eye and said, "are we doing this? or do you want to jump off the trampoline instead?" Hoping like crazy she would say trampoline. She looked me in the eye right back and said, "we're doing this!" So I turned around, tried not to think about it, and stepped off the edge....Grace was right behind me! 

We conquered some fears today!!!

HAGS #5...Zion National Park

Grandpa Allred wanted to spend his special day in Zion National Park. Which worked out nicely for me, birthday celebration, time with my bestie and her chickies and HAGS #5! 

Rie and I have been talking about doing a HAGS adventure together and this day that dream came true!! We used to spend every day together in some form or another. I don't know about her, but it's been a hard adjustment for me. It gets easier with time, but there are some days that I just long for companionship. Every time we get a chance to be together, we relish the opportunity. This was especially fun to go on an aventure together. 

My silly little chick-a-dees they couldn't help but get their feet wet! But that's what my list is all about getting out and living it. You can't do that if you don't get your feet wet when you're given a perfectly good opportunity! 

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Puppy has always loved throwing rocks into water. When I was pregnant with Will, Ty and I would go to Quail Lake just to throw rocks in the water. He loves it! There were a bazillion squirrels on this hike and Puppy took it upon himself to name every one. I think we named 50 of them Squeak and 105 of them Fred. 

Prt is my rock climber. My most adventurous. He loves climbing all the rocks and getting a little out of my comfort zone! 

Bugga is most likely to complain about going on a hike, but then enjoys it when we get there. She's a fun loving little soul and she makes these adventures super fun. She's also super helpful with Baby Willis and Puppy. 

Addie Lou is also super helpful with the littles. She is growing up so fast. I hope that she will remember all these adventures we get to take together. I just love being around her. She is fun and funny. 

I haven't been to Zion in a really long time. The past couple times I've been in Springdale it has been so busy that I just think it's not even worth going. But I was wrong. It's crowded. There are a lot more people than there used to be. And it just seems to be getting busier every day. But it is so very beautiful. There are no words. 

We usually save our Zion trips for the winter time so that it's not so busy. But anymore even the winter is busy.  So, I don't remember the last time I was in Zion in the summer time. I'm really glad we went. The trail was pretty busy so I found myself hurrying up the trail. Watching my feet so I wouldn't trip or watching the people in front of me so I wouldn't run into them. I finally had to make myself slow down so that I could enjoy the exquisite beauty around me. It's breath taking. 

So glad that mom and dad brought us along for the day. We need to do it more often! 

My little buddy. 

These two have been joined at the hip since the day Addie was born! They have a special and cute relationship. It's fun to watch them. 

Baby Will taking care of Grandpa on the ride up! 

My advice when you visit Zion...Look UP!!! 

The Big 60

My amazing 2nd Dad turned 60 big ones this year! I couldn't ask for a better father-in-law. He has always accepted me and treated me as one of his own. Dad is one of the kindest, most humble, most generous souls that I know! He's AMAZING and if you don't know him, you're missing out! To know him is to love him! 

To celebrate his 1,893,456,000 seconds on this planet, Marie put together a fabulous party at the cabin. So many people who love Dad, came and celebrated with us. These three kept joking that they were surprised Dad lived to be 60. He was a bit of a wild child who loved fast cars. I guess the trouble they stirred up as kids made everyone a bit surprised the 3 of them are all still around. :-) 

One of my most memorable moments with Dad is when I was a kid. (I know. I knew my father-in-law when I was a kid! How lucky am I!) But I was playing at his house with my bestie, Marie, and we decided it would be fun and exciting to climb through the laundry shoot. So, we climbed through this little 1 foot by 1 foot square whole in the floor that ended up in a cabinet. We opened the cabinet of course, so we could get out. The cabinet was right above the washer and when we climbed through, one of us (who shall not be named to protect the innocent) kicked over the laundry soap. It spilled. On the carpet. We quickly grabbed a towel and began scrubbing it, but the more we scrubbed the more bubbles it created. We finally decided it was best to stop scrubbing it so the bubbles would stop. So we covered it strategically with a towel and headed to the swimming pool! It was only an hour or so later when we hear this big booming voice from the observing area of the swimming pool. "MAARRRIEEE, GET HOME, NOOOOWWW!" I quietly whispered, "bye Marie" as she timidly climbed out of the pool and took the heat for both of us! I didn't know then that the laundry soap had bleach in it and completely bleached a nice big spot in the middle of their carpet. Oops.

Luckily He still loves us!

These Allreds....they have such a great time together. I'm so grateful I get to be one of them! 

Prt found his long lost bosom buddy! They were inseperrable from the moment that they met! 

Uncle Tank and his "little" guy. I thinks he's almost a year younger than Willis, but he's bigger! 

After the big party we got to stick around for the rest of the weekend and enjoy the cabin! We love it. It is such a beautiful place to be. We can just kick back and relax. 

Addie

Little Willis was not very happy about this bath. He was just too tired. But he was filthy and had to have a bath before bed. He loves being at the cabin because he loves being outside without much restriction.

Bugga

KJ

Bugga on the giggle board. The kids love this swing. 

Kate

Bella

Livi and Benson

The Babe and Puppy

The Babe's family....minus The Babe....plus Benson. I don't know where he was when I took this one. But the one with everyone is on Mom's camera. So, oh well. It's documented somewhere.

I can't express my gratitude for being part of such an amazing family! I couldn't have asked for better. My Father and Mother-in-law are so much more than that to me. They are my family. They are my 2nd Mom and Dad. I have truly been blessed that they have accepted me and loved me as their own. I am so grateful that my children get to call them Grandma and Grandpa. Thanks Mom and Dad! Love you lots!