Hutchison Adventure (caution...a bit lengthy)

So it was off on our annual backpacking trip last week. We went to the four corners area and backpacked through Grand Gulch Canynon. It's an awesome caynon. It's famous for all of its Indian ruins. They are the Anasazi and Pueblo Indian ruins and they are cool! This was one of the harder hikes that we have done. We went for 5 days and each morning we loaded up our packs and hiked to a new camp site. Overall it was about at 22 mile hike. I live for this stuff so I'm totally into the outdoors and like always...if I do something I'm hard core.

This year Braxton (my nephew) came with us. It was his first backpacking trip ever and boy did he start it out with a bang. He did really good though, especially dealing with us Hutchisons. For those of you who don't know we are teasers and it's relentless. So Braxton got a good deal of hazing from us...we like to say "if you don't have tough skins, you'll never survive around us" Also, there's Tracy and I being hard core!

Here's a few of the pictures of us exploring the ruins. If you want to see more detail just click on the picture. It was so much fun. Most of the dwellings were up on cliff faces in an overhang so we would drop our packs and hike/climb to them.

If you can see in this picture the ruin is at the bottom of that cliff...You can see little windows and stuff. Just to give you an idea of how high up they were.

There was a lot of pantings and carvings on the walls. I love the little rams or antelope or whatever they are....They had handprints everywhere and some of there were tiny tiny. Were were hiking along the river floor and when the moon came up over the cliffs its was awesome. That picture doesn't do it justice but you get the idea.

This first picture was named "Intertwinding Souls" (named by Tracy) then there is tracy climbing up this old old tree....next, is a picture of my dad climbing up a "ladder" made in that crack to get to the second level of the ruin.

Above is a picture of a ruin called "split level" It is one of the more intact ruins. Very cool! Then there is a picture of me and braxton in front of a turkey pen...also cool. My uncle Randy and his son Jake came on this adventure with us and I'm so glad they did. Jake is a crack up. Each hike he has a token saying and this year it was "You know what I do when (fill in the blank with any situation)..I suck it up!" we laughed for hours over this and had a completion to see who could come up with the best "suck it up" phrase...I believe I won because one night Tracy and I were giggling in our tent and Jake said "you're so noisy...I'm trying to sleep" and of course I immediately said "You know what I do when it's noisy and I'm trying to go to sleep....I suck it!" Everyone laughed and laughed...it was hillarious! Thanks for coming Jake! The last picture is of our hike out...it was straight rock climbing. We were bouldering over all sorts of stuff. We kind of lost the trail and after about an hour of rock climbing we found it again and it was smooth sailing.

After we survived our hike we stoped in Moab and when to the Posion Spider to take a quick shower before we made the long drive home. They give you a token and you have exactly 2 1/2 minutes to shower. There was quite the line and some honery bikers behind us....Tracy and I went in together to optimize our time (don't get any ideas). I showered and then got dressed while Tracy showered. We even got cheers coming out of the door we were so quick!

After our shower we went to a place called Zak's. It's a pizza joint that is the local hangout for all the bikers (when I say bikers I mean moutain bikers). My uncle was a little mad that they turned a perfectly good kanou into the salad bar...I personally thought it was awesome. We filled our bellies and then headed home.

I had an awesome time. I love backpacking. The pack isn't even heavy (only 40 lbs or so). I could totally be a park ranger! Well, after the trip we christened my car to commemorate the adventure.

Let's Rewind

So a while back Marcia, Tracy, Brennen and I went to St. George for the weekend. Our plan was to go support our WONDERFUL friend Megan doing the triathalon but that never worked out. We did, however, have a fun weekend and I haven't had time to post the pictures until now...so go back with me if you will...

Here's Brennen watching Finding Nemo. He watched it the whole way down. He did a really good job in the car. We only had to stop once and that was for the pregnant lady!

Here's a flattering picture of Trac in the back seat. That girl can sleep anywhere and in any position. She's so precious when she's sleeping! ha ha

The first night we were there we went to one of my favorite spots....The Olive Garden. I could eat salad and breadsticks all day long. We had a bit of a wait so we just chilled out on the lawn.

Here's Tracy and Anna being "sexy cool" as well enjoyed the warm weather.

I told Brennen to smile for the camera and this is what he did. What a crack up! He definately has the Hutchison cheese! If you notice Erica in the background she's texting on her phone. I don't think she got off the phone the entire time we were there, but I love her anyway! Oh the high school. I never want to go back!

The next day we went to Sand Hollow for a swim. Good ol' Sand Hollow. I had a many good times there. There isn't too much to do there but Brennen sure had a blast going down the big water slide inside. Each of us would take turns taking him down and as soon as he hit the bottom he wanted to go again.

After the swimming we went out back and played on the playground for a while. Even though it was April the slides got a little to hot to go down. This is me and Brennen trying to scoot our way down the slide....wet bums and hot slide don't make for a smooth ride!

Saturday night we went to yet again one of my favorite places to eat...the Pizza Factory. They have such good breadsticks. I love them. I always love going to St. George because we get to do whatever I want to do (i'm kinda a big deal down there). At home we always have to find a place that serves steaks due to Les's weird eating habits and so I always love it when he's not around so I can go to places I like to eat (not that I don't like him around...it's just nice to eat something other than meat and potatoes....love ya babe!)

The weekend was great to get away and enjoy some nice weather. I love St. George and I miss it terribly. I have an awesome family who loves me down there. Kenny and Kristin were my serigant parents during my teenage years and I gave them a run for their money. I love you guys. You're the best. And I have my girls.....I got my boys up here and my girls down there. I'm a lucky gal!

Mother's Day

I had a great mother's day this year. I celebrated being a "half-mother" (don't get any wrong ideas...I'm not prego) but I did get a massage out of the deal (thanks awesome boss!) Well, my mom is great and I love her to death. She's the coolest! I don't have a picture of her to post of when she was young like the rest of you but just know Judy was a heartbreaker...ask her yourself she'll tell you so. Well, thanks for all you do mom!

The boys and I made a gift for Julie for Mother's day and it turned out great. For Julie's birthday a while back I decided to get some pictures of the boys to decorate her office. For Mother's day we added some more to the mix. Marcia gave me this idea and I laughed so hard I had to do it for Julie so thanks Marica!

If you can't tell on their chest is a heart with the word MOM across it. I drew them on with a marker and it turned out great. Happy Mother's Day to all you moms!!

He Can See!!

So I know I have a ton of catching up to do and I have lots of pictures I want to post it's just a matter of finding some time. School started again and I just got back from my backpacking trip so my time is very limited, but I just had to post these pictures. Bronson can finally see! Here are some pictures of him in his very cute new shades...

He is so excited he can see. He gets very excited to go outside and look at everything. Before everything was just a blur but now he can actually see who I am when I'm across the room instead of just recognizing my voice. I think he is stinker cute and I just love him in glasses. Watch out ladies!!!

A Day With B

Lately Bronson hasn't been taking his usual three naps a day and its exhausting! Here's what we did today to pass the time. Bronson LOVES to lean on the couch and look outside. He could do it all day if his little legs didn't get tired.


He thinks it's hillarious when I got outside and play peek-a-boo. He likes to make this face when he sees me (not to worry...there is supervision inside incase of a tumble)

Here's a picture of him compared to the couch...he could easily not be seen because he's so small. It just cracks me up!

For lunch today I decided to make some mac and cheese and see how Bronson liked it. It was very messy. He refused to let me feed him. He wanted to feed himself but those darn noodles were just to slippery. So he would scream at the noodle until he managed to shovel some in his mouth.

At first he wasn't too sure about the mac and cheese. I think he had a better time squishing in between his fingers than eating it.

He then thought it would be fun to shove all the noodles off his plate and try and hit me. When a noodle did he would just start laughing. He thought it was a great game. Here Bronson is trying to figure out how to get the noodles on the edge of his plate off....(notice the drool)

The after math wasn't quite worth all the trouble. We had noodles everywhere! Wet noodles aren't so easily wiped up. They tend to smear....needless to say, we won't be having mac and cheese anytime soon.

Bronson just got the hang of this sitting up business. He loves to sit up and play with his toys. His new thing is to take stuff in and out of something. Here he is playing with his fish bowl.

Bronson loves the game of peek-a-boo. He thinks it's the funniest thing ever. I honestly played peek-a-boo with him for an hour and it was non-stop laughter.

sorry this was kind of long...

My New Business Venture

For Bronson's 1st birthday Julie wanted to send out little card to everyone who came to visit in the hospital to tell them thanks and to let them know how Bronson is doing. Well, Julie is a busy woman so I designed the cards myself to save her the headache. I still need to add the message that Julie wants but I think they turned out pretty dang cute (if I do say so myself). I'm thinking of starting a business....

Ya I know you all are probably totally jealous that I made this (yes...the whole thing from scratch). If you are interested, I might be willing to make some for you ladies with little chillin'. Ya know I can make invitations, announcements, christmas cards...you name it. I'm pretty crafty when it come to the computer but no so much when it come to crafts you make with your hands....

Let me know what you think. I like to be praised (who doesn't?)

Three's a Crowd

So my wonderful friend Whitney tagged me and I thought i'd give it a whirl. I still can't get my camera to download so this will have to do until then.

List 3 joys, fears, goals, current obsessions/ collections & random facts about ME!

3 Joys:
1. Taking care of my nephews
2. My little Dixie dog
3. My husband...i guess jk

3 Fears:
1. Never being done with school
2. Always being strapped for cash
3. Not being in control of everything...seriously

3 Goals:
1. Get back into shape
2. Get into Pharmacy School
3. Get out of debt

3 Current obsessions/collections:
1. Buying all the gear so I can ride my road bike (you all know how I feel about having the best of everything before I start a new hobbie)
2. Finishing the Charmed series (it used to be on TV and now I'm watching all the DVDs in order to get the whole picture)
3. My nehpew Bronson....obviously! have you seen my blog?

3 Random surprising facts:
1. I'm banking on winning the lottery so all my cares go away (p.s. I don't play the lottery so I'm not sure how this is going to happen)
2. My car gets 28 miles per gallon....pretty good eh?
3. I ate an entire Cafe Rio salad on Saturday night...yeah...the entire thing. It was soo good I couldn't stop myself. Then for the next two days I feel like such an oinker I've been on a diet! okay not really...I can't do diets I love food way too much

I tag: Whoever doesn't have anything else to blog about....go for it!