Spring Break Moab 2012

Spring break in Moab Utah has been a tradition in our family for years.  Sometimes it involves all the brothers and sisters with their children other years just a few. This year, Gavin brought down his two children and my father came along. We left Orem at 6:20 AM (we were on schedule for 6 but a light left on in the Van derailed that), arriving in Moab around 9:30.

The first thing the children wanted to do was hike Cable arch (or funnel as some know it). It is a short hike, with a very steep section, that leads to a neat arch including an opportunity to climb a steep pitch with a cable hand line to the top of the arch.

This is what the climb to the top of the arch looks like from the bottom. I was very surprised when the entire family, including the youngest and mom wanted to go to the top.

For safety purposes I roped the two youngest to me and we ascended and descended together.

Climbing to the top, as seen from above. This is our 8 year old daughter climbing. After reaching the top we explored the area a little then returned to the car.

By the time we got back to camp Gavin and Grandpa had arrived so we decided to climb in the back of the truck and drive up Kane Creek road past Hurrah pass to the Moab wind caves. The caves are located in a cool rock formation that stands separately from the surrounding area. We spent hours exploring the caves, climbing over rocks and trying to link caves together.

After exploring in the caves, we climbed to the top of the formation which provided great views of the surrounding area. It is always a little unnerving being close to cliff edges with children who fear nothing, but they love it.

Friday we woke up and decided to explore a new area in arches which is upstream of courthouse wash. We searched for a place called the tunnel, which is a natural tunnel that goes 53 feet through the mountain, but could not find it, so we found ring arch instead.

The kids of course wanted to get as close as they could so we created a hand line enabling them to get closer to the arch. I love this picture of our 8 year old climbing and our 7 year old waiting his turn. After hiking about 9 miles exploring and finding these new places, we spent the rest of the afternoon swimming in 50 degree weather (kids idea). We all swam, minus mom who sat in the hot tub.

That night, around 8:30 the kids decided they wanted to hike delicate arch. So off we went, in windy, semi-cold weather we reached the top in 45 minutes. They were a little nervous at first, especially after passing the "creepy" cabin, but relaxed as we hiked on. All of them hiked the entire way. 

It was pitch black with no moon or stars. We were the only ones on the trail and just stayed long enough to see the arch (via flashlight) snap a few pictures and head back down. We made it down in 30 minutes, not bad for kids that young, in the dark and wind. They loved it and those who went said it was thier favorite part of the trip.

Saturday morning we headed into the Onion Creek area, which is near fisher towers, to do some exploring. The canyon was beautiful and provided hours of fun for the children to explore, climb, jump and just mess around, and for the adults because it is a gorgeous area. We stopped  briefly for a quick  family photo, no pre-fab photos for us.

It is as steep as it looks, we have good insurance...

Waiting thier turn to climb an obstacle.

We ended our weekend of hiking with a traditional trip to corona arch, one of our favorites. It is pretty, short at 3 miles round trip, and the kids love it.

Saturday night we hit up the Moab Diner and spent the evening perusing the shops where the kids spent some of their well earned and saved money.

It was a fantastic trip and on the way home the kids were talking about what they loved the most, and what they want to do next year.

You may be thinking, what no biking???

Well that is correct...my brother and I are going next Saturday, to Moab, on a biking trip. That's right two weeks in a row...I could get used to that.

It's funny, while in Moab  we ran into a family from Australia - yes, that was Australia -  who were there for their second trip because they loved it so much and a few weeks before that my brother and I ran into a husband and wife from back east who visited once and decided to retire there.  It is an amazing little town that was essentially created by Uranium mining and has now become the adventure capital of the world.

We will never tire of it...

Ol' Jack's Treasure

St. Patrick's day is usually a fairly calm Holiday for us. Sure there is a visit from a mysterious leprechaun set on wreaking havoc, but other than that, some green waffles and other green items, non-eventful.

So in the morning I decided to go for a ride... I figured it would be the last day for a while that the trails would be dry with the storm coming. It was fantastic.

I took this picture with my tripod, and forgot to put my helmet back on...the trails were dry.

When I got home I invited the children to help me clean out my car, and much to our surprise they found a rolled up, rather ragged looking, piece of paper jammed in a bush. It appears the wind must have blown it there.

It was hard to make out as it was rather faded and dirty, but the children did see a faint scrawling which read,  "Ol' Jack's treasure, don't be touchin".

They screamed for excitement and joy (I'm sure all the neighbors were now aware of the find) and ran in the house proclaiming, "We found a leprechaun's treasure map". Clothes were quickly changed, break feast hastily eaten and off we went. You see, they wanted to find the treasure before Jack did. We followed the clues, which were not simple I might add, to Provo canyon. Eventually ending at the squaw peak road closure gate, so with map in hand we headed up the road.

Following the clues we were led off the road into the scrub oak.

After a little searching we found the resting place of Ol'Jacks goods. It turned out to be 42 chocolate gold coins and 42 1 dollar "Gold' Coins.

The older Children played along while the younger children relished in the fact that they had indeed found a leprechaun's treasure.

They were some excited children.

They spent the rest of the day practicing fighting skills and building traps  in case the leprechauns attacked, wanting to regain their lost treasure. Fortunately no such event occurred.

Although they said they found another treasure map that had blown in...

Happy St. Patrick's day!!!



Christmas tree sledding.

Fun with family and Cousins!!

Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas Eve is probably my Kids Favorite part of the Christmas season. We have a candle light dinner complete with Christmas Crackers. (A tradition that we have continued from my Nana Gillings)

The Crackers or Poppers as we call them are filled with small trinkets, toys, candy and a crown which is to be worn during dinner. The name cracker or popper comes from the fact that inside is a noisemaker that pops when pulled apart.

After the carnage, complete with Crowns.

The popper is tied to a small present which is placed underneath each individual's chair. When they have finished their meal they can open the present. This year we all got bey blades.

After dinner we had a bey blade competition. Four rounds, four winners then the winners played each other. Mom won!! What did she get?

A small Real Salt Lake Semi-truck..definitely worth it.

The tree.

After dinner and the competition everyone gets new pajamas and they open gifts from one another. With the gift, each person explains why that person is important to them and why they love them.

Following this we read the Luke 2 and discuss the Savior's life.

This year we blocked off the hall and they had three rooms to hang out in Christmas eve night.



The Gingerbread house tradition

Every Year we purchase those cheap, pre-made ginger bread house kits, you know the ones. We dive the kids into three groups then let then loose, without parental guidance or help.

As you can see they are focused and determined to get the buildings decorated.

Some are more content just eating the candies. An added bonus; any candy they don't use for decorating they can eat. Thus some of the decorations are sparse.

The finished product; a train. That gingerbread with a green mass of frosting on the train car is santa with green blood, courtesy of little man.

The older boys did a Christmas village.

The final product on the fridge to be displayed then promptly eaten on New Years Eve. The large house the girls made, fell down in a "hurricane". We never fixed it.

We love doing this and the mess is well worth it.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert

Unbeknownst (perhaps not a word, but fun to use) to us, every year Kelly, my sister-in-law-now-residing-in-North Carolina, puts all of the family's names in for the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. It just so happened that this year, our names were selected...Thanks Kelly. We invited Amanda and Dallin to go with us, thus keeping it in the family.

This is the set, is was magnificently done, with candles on the trees. The first number was incredible, complete with dancers (which we saw again later) and great music, definitely a get-your-attention type of song. David Archuleta was the guest this year and to be honest I was a little hesitant as I do not normally enjoy his music. However, to my great surprise, I thought he was a wonderful addition and brought a great spirit into the room. Not too mention the screaming young women.

After the concert traffic was horrific so we quickly toured temple square. It was very busy, but worth it. One of the highlights of the night was the fact that Dallin (Amanda's Date) brought little gift bags to give to the homeless instead of money. Some appreciated them, others not so much, but it was enjoyable watching them be passed out.

We make temple square look good, or at least Hot mama does.

A and D, just being casual.

There was a multitude of people there, this was the line to get in. We (I) was a little concerned about getting in after the previous night ( many with tickets didn't get in), but we experienced no problems whatsoever and in fact, there were a few empty seats when it began.

It was a great experience and would gladly do it again if given the opportunity.

It's Christmas at the Gillings...

It was a foggy, humid night and the smell of Christmas was in the air; Chocolate, cookies, seven layer dip, and leftovers from the night before. The children were insane as they anticipated the gift opening extravaganza.

Before the event. Pops is in the chair, fully situated to sort and give out the presents.

Hannah was in the way.

The Spread. My favorite was the three layer jello and the meat and cheese tray

We missed the sister's and Brother in law's, found throughout the world, and their various children who bring so much extra life to the party.

This post in principally for them.

Merry Christmas!

When a Good thing goes . . .Good!

I love to read. If boredom begins to set in, I will read anything that is placed, or happens to be in front of me. This idea came from such an experience as I sat perusing Hot Mama's copy of "Rachael Ray Everyday."

Yes . . . I know.

In the most recent edition was a section for Holiday traditions. One of them was something called, or that I called, service jars.

Here is what we did. One Monday night we gathered all the children and came up with 24 ideas of how they could serve others during the month of December. Simple things, like; opening doors, smiling at others, or hanging out with those who have less friends. Then the ideas were typed  and nine copies printed. Later that night each child cut their ideas into 24 individual slips of paper. These slips were then placed into small individual jars (that we purchased at a dollar store) for each family member.

Every morning as we begin the day we each individual chooses one slip of paper from their Jar. The paper is read, then placed in a small gift box and becomes our Gift to Christ that day. Through out the day we look for any and all opportunities to serve others. The results have been fantastic.

Each day the children share how they tried to serve others. One day, little man pulled out "Smile at others". From then on he had a constant smile on his face, when I dropped him off for school I said "have a good day", he looked back with his biggest smile and said, "Have a much better day"! Squishy, among other things,  changed every diaper yesterday, without being asked, (no small task for a 7 year old) because her's that day was "Help others as much as you can" Tiny invited a less popular kid to hang out. His Highness encouraged those who were down one day. . .

I could go on and on.

It has changed our children from just wanting, to wanting to give. Even the youngest ones are focused more on what their sheet says than on what they are asking for or perhaps receiving this year. The Christmas season is more about Service and love.

All this from a "wasted" moment looking at a cooking magazine, 1 dollar jars, and seven pieces of paper. 

Life can be so simple and wonderful!

Merry Christmas

So Much To Be Thankful For...

This is an amazing song. It helps me remember what this season is all about.

And as a Follow up;

May we all make this a season of Thanks and Giving.

2010 Christmas tree tromp or trudge

How do you get a Christmas tree?

Some search lots for those trees which have been grown for the purpose of lighting the Holiday season.

Others, find a live tree still growing amongst acres of other trees all again growing solely to be a Christmas tree.

Others still may open a box to find a partially decorated tree that holds tradition from previous years.

Not Us. . .those ideas are all well and good. . .but for us, the finding of the tree must include; adventure, climbing, cold and snow. This year brought all three, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

There was more snow than usual as we started out, three to four feet to be exact. Luckily we all had snow shoes so we began the adventure.

Even the Dog loved it.

The Beginnings of snow angels.

At this point some are more enthused than others. They were too anxious to get sledding.

Dawn saw one on the other side of the valley. Down we went then back up, and up. . .

Looking down where we were, from almost the top...Almost

Dragging out the tree. See the top, where the gap is in the trees, doesn't look too far does it? That's what we thought, we found the tree about 500 feet past the very top. By then only Hot Mama, His Highness, Queen and I were left. The others had retreated to the van for donuts, cold (but should have been hot) chocolate and sledding.

The finished product, without decorations.

Is it the perfect tree? No.

But it is perfect for our family, and the memories we created finding this 2010 tree will never, I mean never be forgotten.

I just hope they will all go again,

And I am sure they will, on the ride home they were already talking about next year.