Escalante

Last week, Mark went on a trip with his brothers up to Escalante, UT to do hiking and other manly stuff. He left on Saturday and got back on Tuesday. I might have been slightly resentful that he left me for that long, seeing that as soon as he got back, he'd have surgery and I'd spend another five days holding down the fort...(last week was nuts)...but I digress. I'm glad he got to go and have a good time. Really!

This trip had been in the works for months, planned by his brother James, who lives in Arizona. James is always spoiling Mark for some reason and GAVE him a super nice DSLR camera.(And also a ginorm telescope for us to hang onto for him...the camera can work in conjunction with it.) Mark doesn't normally take pictures, but I guess he was just waiting for the right camera. So I just went through and edited a bunch of his pics for him. Get ready for a bunch of red rock scenery...

 This area is called Devil's Garden

 All the places they went are part of the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument. I've been there a couple of times, it is a really beautiful area and there's lots of Fremont Indian stuff. Mark's brother David has a Ph.D. in Archaeology and has spent many summers on digs there.

 This is called Dance Hall Rock. Apparently, pioneers used to come and have dances here because it makes a natural amphitheater. That's my sister-in-law Laura at the bottom of the pic.

 There were desert marbles (a.k.a. Moqui marbles) all over the place

 Every night, they'd compare pictures and have contests for the best dead tree, cow pie, rock and cat pictures. (I guess there were a lot of cats milling around at the cabin they stayed at.) Mark won for the dead tree pic above.

 This is a one of several huge, circular natural wells (sort of like a cenote, but in sandstone) that they came across. Mark says this one was 30 feet down to the water, and the hole was 15 feet across.

 Mark has six brothers--these are the three who were on the trip: Paul, Mike and James.

Dry Fork slot canyon:

 Peek-a-Boo Gulch:

Spooky Gulch slot canyon:

 James

 Mark

 There must be some crazy weather out here to make all the dead trees look like this. In fact, the first day they got there it snowed and rained and howled with freezing wind. They had to cancel the 15 mile hike they'd planned and just go out for a short jaunt. (I don't think anyone but James was very disappointed--that guy is hard core.)

Zebra Canyon:

 James and Mark were the first ones to brave this water (snow melt). It came up to their knees and was freeeezing.

 This was one of the desert marbles that is gradually working its way out to the surface. Iron deposits in the sandstone rust and turn the rock red. Then it precipitates out and forms into little balls with iron stone outer shells and sandy interiors.

 A couple of broken desert marbles

And meanwhile, back in Cedar:

 --Madelyn enjoys a good Greek myth just like I used to at that age. The weirder, the better.

 I tried to be a Good Mom and took the kids to the park and the library, then Madelyn had a playdate and I ran to a few stores....then we had a busy church day the next day....then a normal chaotic Monday....and then I spent Tuesday morning driving around Cedar City looking for a place for my sister to live. I also cleaned the house about 14 different times, it seems like. (Darn kids!!) Mark came home that morning and we were both super exhausted.

Coming up in my catch up posts: Mark's surgery, jewelry and sewing projects, and 34 week pregnancy ramblings!

Baby QQ at 26 weeks

 Last Tuesday, I was asked to come in for an ultrasound so a girl being trained as an ultrasound tech could practice. (She apparently asked for "petite" pregnant ladies and so Dr. Sanders said that I should be flattered.) I had to be propped up with pillows all over so I wouldn't pass out--that was lovely. Mostly, she was practicing viewing abdominal stuff, which is just a bunch of blobs. But every once in a while, Dr. Sanders would elbow her out of the way so we could try and get some "cute pictures". Little QQ had her arms up around her head the whole time, but he managed to get some 3D shots of her face. She looks like Madelyn!!

We could even see her practice her sucking motions with her mouth. It was crazy. She should have all five senses working now. She has consistently measured two days ahead, putting her due date at May 17, but they haven't officially changed it or anything. She is also currently breech, so I'm hoping she decides to flip back over at some point....

This week I am 27 weeks, and 3 months away from my due date, so HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER! Finally!!! I had to go get my Rhogam shot today and it was awful like it always is. I got my glucose and anemia screenings (yucky orange drink followed by blood draw) last week and passed with flying colors. So it feels like we've gotten a lot of dreaded stuff out of the way.

At my 30 week appointment they'll do another ultrasound and hopefully I'll have more pictures to show then!

Renaissance Faire

Every July, Cedar City hosts the Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire, and it is our favorite event of the year. Most people who live here are....very....vanilla. But the "freaks and geeks" turn out for this and we LOVE it!

There's still plenty of normal people, too... but the best is when people dress up and really get into it. Belly dancers, pirates, medieval folk, Renaissance folk, and if you have a random corset or raccoon tail (really), throw it on. If Mark ever finishes making his chain mail shirt, he'll totally wear it to this.

 I should mention that there is a group that regularly melees (play fights) at the park like this, and yes, sometimes they are kitted out in costume, or kilts...

We went with Mark on Wednesday night. I knew there was no way he was walking away without that sword.

 

Mark bought Strider's (Aragorn's) Ranger sword back in 2005 at the Washington Co. Fair. It is currently mounted on his office wall.

You might also remember our set of LOTR letter opener swords? Uh huh. Well, Hadhafang (Arwen's sword) has been lost, but we still have the others.

 Now we have Aragorn's King sword, a.k.a. The Sword of Elendil, a.k.a. "Anduril! Flame of the West! Reforged from the shards of Narsil" as Elrond says to Aragorn in The Return of the King, and then the camera pans up, up, up, up, holy freak that is a huge sword, and I just remember all my hair standing on end when I saw it for the first time. In fact, it still gives me the chills.
(See clip here.)

*pause for breath*

 That beautiful, manly man. Luke is going to be Aragorn for Halloween, if I can get him to wear the costume.

Convenient sword/stroller conveyance

 

 This sword is about 42 inches long and the one from the movie is 52 7/8 inches. And it doesn't have the engravings on the blade, but whatever, it's awesome.

 This is a game where you try to throw beanbags to "behead" the wives of Henry the 8th. LOL!! (Too soon?....)

 The kids played some games and got some prizes

 Madelyn bought a belly dancing hip scarf

And then we came back on Friday with my sister Meg!

 I ♥ Indian jewelry! Makes me miss New Mexico.

A real belly dancer

Poor Luke had a rough afternoon--we had gone to the credit union right before this, and had walked two steps into the lobby before he PUKED all over the floor! (and my foot) And then we had to rush him to the bathroom because diarrhea hit big time. It was not fun. I imagine the whole thing was caught on their security footage. The employees were helpful and understanding, but I was totally embarrassed!

He didn't throw up again, but struggled with the runs the next day and still has a rash all over his torso. Mark said it's been going around, ugh.

 

 

 Megan and I stumbled upon this booth (Baron's Beauties Pirate Toys and Accessories) that had Geek Pride embroidered patches!!! Oh my. Doctor Who, Sherlock, Harry Potter, our three favorite things!!! It was hard to decide what to buy.

In the end, Meg finally decided on a Weeping Angel patch and a Sherlock one that has one of his quotes, "I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath", and I got one that says "Geronimo!" (11th Doctor catchphrase). :D

We also bought belly dancing hip scarves. It was seriously hard choosing a color. It took about 15 minutes. We might just have to buy new ones every year so as to have several colors.

 In the meantime, it started pouring rain.

Madelyn still insisted on going on the zip line, and paid her own $5 to do it. It lasted about 5 seconds.

Then there was a gypsy parade! In the rain! I'm telling you, it was the best day ever. 

Well, except for the vomit.

Time to go home.

We had a Nerdy Tote Bag day planned, which we just managed to squeeze in between making some tacos for a late dinner.

 

 YES!

Meg is moving away to college in a few weeks, so I'm determined to cram in as much togetherness as we can till she leaves. She's already penciled in the Renaissance Faire for next summer.