Three days, three hikes, two national parks and one national monument

We took advantage of the opportunity provided by Labor Day weekend to get out of the heat of Las Vegas and visit some amazing places in Southern Utah. Our first stop was meeting Grandma & Grandpa Brough in St. George for lunch. Nora loves them so much, and calls them both "Buff" (that's how she says Brough).

Then we continued to Cedar Breaks National Monument and took a 2-mile hike around the rim. It was windy and 64 degrees, compared to 104 in Las Vegas that day.

Nora absolutely loves riding in the backpack. She talks non-stop to her daddy as they go.  

We stayed two nights in a ski lodge in Brian Head, which is not far from Cedar Breaks, and about a 90-minute drive from Bryce Canyon. The lodge was great, and had an indoor swimming pool that Nora is still talking about.

We spent most of Sunday at Bryce Canyon National Park. It's characterized by red rock and hoodoos, tall skinny spires of rock. We hiked about 5 miles around the rim of the canyon.

Giving Daddy a hug.

At Sunset Point

Nora looks pretty tired, but Mike is the one who should be tired after carrying around this 26-pound toddler all day. (I had the comparatively easy job of carrying our water, lunch, sunscreen, and camera.)

On Monday we left Brian Head and drove to Kolob Canyon, a branch of Zion National Park that's between Cedar City and St. George. We hiked a couple of miles and it was just a gorgeous day.

There are several more national parks in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California that are all fairly close by. We're planning our next long weekend already. Will it be the Grand Canyon? Yosemite? Or Death Valley? So many options.

Family Fun Times

We try to go do something new and fun each weekend, and Nora is a very willing adventurer. Last weekend we went hiking at Red Rock Canyon. Nora was so delighted to be in the backpack on Mike's back, she kept exclaiming, "Yay!" and "Happy!" Also on the hike, we saw a snake, and Nora could not stop talking about it. She was quite fascinated.

This weekend, Family Fun Time took us to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. Nora is walking more confidently every day, and she did a lot of walking around in the dinosaur and egg exhibit. My favorite part was where she got to put on a dinosaur costume.

 We have so much fun with Nora!

Seven months

Prepare for lots of pictures in this post. Nora is getting funnier and cuter every day, and tomorrow she will be seven months old.

Nora has two bottom teeth that you can see when she gives you this cheesy grin.

She's pretty much delighted with life most of the time.

Nora sits up on her own really well now! Singing songs is still one of her favorite things.

We just love her wrinkled up nose and chubby cheeks. (Not to mention those thighs.)

OK, on to some other photos from the past month.

Hiking at Vedauwoo

Admiring rock formations with Dad

Falling asleep on the trail

Exploring the piano with Mom

How soon should we start lessons?

Sitting up like a big girl!

Cheesy grin in the high chair! Nora really likes sitting up at the table with us. She just started sitting in this chair and it has made OUR meal times much easier.

Nora is growing lots of hair on top. Not so much around the sides and back.

We finally discovered a food she likes -- carrots!

Yum!

Nora loves to splash in the bathtub, so we went to the pool to see if she'd enjoy that. Not too much. She didn't cry, but almost the whole time we were in the water, she hummed in a nervous way.

All ready for school in skinny jeans and a shirt that says, "Auntie Says I'm Super Cute." Thanks, Aunt Sarah!

Family Vacation: Teton National Park

We spent a couple of days in Teton National Park last week at the UW Research Station. It was gorgeous and relaxing and fun. Here are some highlights:

Lodge at the research station

Taking a nap in our cabin

The view from the dock at the research station

Our lovely host, my colleague Mary Ann.

Mike and I hiked to Grand View Point while Mary Ann played with Nora.

Here we are at the top!

We had a great time!