Hooray for a healthy 4th of July!

Last year Damon, Jaydin and Dominic spent the 4th up at the property with Nana and Papa. Darin and I were also camping... at Primary Childrens Hospital. Here are some pics from exactly a year ago.

Last year Colton was SO sick.... still in "critical condition" and we weren't sure how things we going to turn out. He had spent 4 days on a vent and would spend another 2 on it... and 2 more days in the hospital before we were able to take him home. This 10 day hospital stay was the scariest time of my life. We missed our boys but couldn't stand to leave our "Cole-Bug". We are so grateful for the beautiful boy he is now. He is strong and healthy and ADORED by all.
Colton LOVES playing in the back yard with his brothers. We keep saying we need to get him a swing, but he holds on to the swing SO WELL and loves to have his brothers push him!

Colton's first birthday. I really need to edit the red eye... but... not today!

We love our boys and are so grateful that Colton is here with us this year! We've also decided that since he missed the property last year, we are going to head up there and have a family campout tonight! This will be the first year I have been fit enough to really take some amazing hikes and see amazing things. Can't wait!!! Watch for pics!

A Hiking We Will Go!

I woke up early this morning after a restless night! (Too much caffeine too late in the day!) Darin looked up at me briefly and I let him know I was going for a run. He half grunted and rolled back over. While running I was thinking about what we should do for the day. My dad and I had gone on a hike a couple days ago with Damon and my nephew Alex... so when I got home I announced to Darin that we would be going on the same hike as a family! Darin seemed pretty excited about it. I wasn't sure how Dominic would do, but I knew the other boys would do well. It ended up being a beautiful drive threw the A.F. canyon and a 3.6 mile hike with 4 boys in tow. Damon and Jaydin were total troopers and had no trouble making the trek. Colton also did a fantastic job of staying in the hiking backpack and saying "hi" to people as we passed by them on our quest to the waterfall. Dominic hiked in the whole way to the waterfall but umm... was not quite as easy to get OUT. Darin ended up carrying him on his shoulders for a good 2/3 of the way back. (It was "HOT" and uphill most of the way back!) It was a lot of fun and we can't wait to do some more hikes very soon. Darin has still yet to hike up to the "Y" so soon... very soon... he will know the pain... that is the Y! ;o)

Damon & Jaydin playing in the stream at the bottom of the falls.

Just after eating some PB&J

Standing in front of the falls. The waterfall is so powerful that you are literally standing in a perma-wet zone. LOVE the feel of the mist against my face!!

I wish I knew what this waterfall was called? I'm going to guess it's called Stewart's Cascade... that's what the sign says. ;o)