St. George

Corby has been studying for a designation for the last 3 or so months. What that means is every spare minute he has been studying and particularly hitting it hard these last 2 weeks. It is hard being a single mom, how do so many do it! 
Anyway, because he had an appointment in St. George, we decided to turn the business trip into a family get away (remind me if I decide to do this again to refer to this memory). It was a fun trip, we had record breaking temps in St. George as well as snow. So being down there felt like home, "Home Sweet Home".  Corby continued to study and run his appointments while I entertained the girls in the hotel. The first night we arrived, we raced to get our bathing suits on to take advantage of the incredible pool but when we showed up we found a sign stating the pool was closed due to circumstances beyond their control....... someone "ralphed" in the pool! So we all huddled in the hot tub with the rest of the hotel residents.

The girls gave Corby an IBC(Idaho Butt Cut) hairdo. We then revealed that their father actually wore his hair in this attractive fashion many years while growing up. Stylish for sure!

Love these girls of mine, especially when they like each other and are getting along!

Corby woke super early on Saturday morning for his studying and appointment. He got some great shots of the amazing sunrise!

The hotel we stayed at was all decorated. It had lights strung everywhere. My favorite was the lit up palm trees. There was a stuffed Santa we would pass to and from the swimming pool and Ada would recite HO HO HO, Merry Christmas then bust out in "You better watch out, you better not cry, Santa Clause is coming to town". She is a cutie that little spunky spirit of ours.

While Corby was busy making the money for our clan, we hit the recently cleaned pool that was now open for service. And boy oh boy did we enjoy it. 
Sierra opted out of swimming this morning as she had a book to read and write a report for school. Darn school always gets in the way of fun!

I just had to capture this little gem of Ada Rae. She is so funny. You know how you flip your hair after a shower and then wrap a towel around your head while you finish getting ready, well that is what I do, so of course like mommy like Ada right.

She flips her hair just like a pro and tries and tries to get the towel to stay in place like mommy but this is as good as it gets with her little head and huge adult size towel. Love it anyway.
After our dad returned, we headed out to see what kinds of exciting things we could do to entertain ourselves. Leticia and Bria received a voucher for ear piercings in their stockings and Teesh decided she was brave enough to cash it in.....so off to the mall we went.

See the big red sign free ear piercing, oh boy were we all over that but we soon learned we had to purchase the ear rings that were $55 to get the free piercings but with the money tree still in bloom at home we decided we better do it while the willing participant was on board.

There you have it! One down one to go. I wasn't able to get Bria's piercings on camera as the grumpy store manager said I was not allowed to take photos in the store. I just obeyed but thought I can't take pictures of my children in your store. Some people's kids, sheesh!

Bria right before the process began. She was so happy but during the process she cried and was so super scared. She tried so hard to not cry. I told her cry if you want little one it is OK, mommy is right here. I was nervous that she wouldn't let them do the second and she would be a one pierced girl, but my fears diminished as she braved it and in no time at all she was done.

Not quite as happy but she has ear rings now. This was taken in the mall as to be obedient to the store rules, silly store rules.

Our next stop was St. George Temple. I love that Malia has a goal to do baptisms every week and motivated her sisters to go with her. Sierra took a little encouraging but in the end went. This is such a gorgeous temple inside and out!

We headed home after having so much fun. The car ride isn't our favorite part due to little Ada Rae, what is it with her and her car seat relationship. She doesn't have the attention for a movie so we hear the lovely song of "I want out of my car seat" song all 5 hours! Makes me want to sing with her, maybe next time I will. I drove so that Corby could do.......you guessed it, STUDY.
Oh and when we returned he took his test on Monday and passed. Hip Hip Hurray!

One more memory to throw in here. We are a family of 7 so sometimes we get two rooms but this trip we squeezed into one room. We take turns who sleeps on the floor with air mattresses but Ada was given special treatment and was provided the clubhouse.....

Hard to see it, but she is sleeping under the bathroom vanity. It was so cute and she fit perfectly. This is her waking up with such a happy disposition.

 On this trip, Ada began referring to herself in the 3rd person (Karl Malone style)and changed her name to Baby Bobbie. She would say, "Baby Bobbie wants a drink momma", or she would say "look Baby Bobbie is walking" then walk clumsily around. We all got a kick out of her behavior and wonder where does this girl come up with the stuff she does. She is precious.

Bria and Ada striking the pose of all poses on the bed. What a great trip for the most part and making memories to close the year of 2012!