Merry Christmas to All...

...and to all a good night! (Thanks for a fun Christmas, Crazies!)

Everyone's Favorite Baby

Just 'cause I know y'all missed her over the holiday.

And so wane the days of summer...

Guess Who Moved Next Door...

"Klopeck... Is that Slavic?"

Perfect Cape Weather

Camping at the beach in San Diego is a relaxing experience. But wind has seemed to follow the Sloan campers around in our adventures this year, and the beach was really no exception. But Shawn embraced it in truly classic Shawn style.


Then Mike decided to join.


Then Kate joined, and they became a super-hero-beach-trio.


And here is Addie, chillin' in the tent. Tell me you don't want to just EAT her!

Aunt Mel bought her some Vans stuff from the surf shop, so she's now officially a boarder chick.

Zion Shenanigans

A week or two ago, a bunch of us Sloans and Knights went to Zion National Park for some camping and hiking. It was really pretty weather, in spite of a little wind and heat. Jesse, Mar, Addie and Mikie got there earlier than Kate, me Steve and Shawn - thanks to Jesse for setting my tent up so I didn't have to try and put it up at 2 in the morning! :)

Kate thanks you too - she shared my tent with me.

Mike, Steve and Shawn shared with Jesse, Mar and Addie.

We hopped a shuttle the next morning for a day of hiking around Zion.

When we got to our first shuttle stop, Addie needed to eat, so everyone else decided to make use of that time by spotting a little...

Then it was off to the the Emerald Pool's Lower Pool.

Since that was SUCH a strenuous mile (not really), we stopped to eat a little lunch and spot some more.

Then it was back on shuttle to go up to the Temple of Sinewava...

...and do a short hike in the Narrows (just Jesse, Steve and me).

Steve, Mike, Mar and Jesse did the entire hike in the Narrows last year (what was it, 16 or 17 miles?), and after just a mile or so in the Narrows, I can categorically say that they were lunatics to do the whole thing in one day. :)

Shawn likes to climb rocks... hehehe!

We got back on the shuttle a while later and headed back to camp to decide what to do for dinner. Since Addie slept most of the day during our hikes, she was bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked when we returned to camp.

We ended up at Zion Pizza and Noodle for dinner, since that's where Mike, Jesse, Mar and Steve ate some well-deserved carbohydrates and drank some If-They-Don't-Have-This-In-Heaven-I'm-Not-Going-Dr. Pepper after last year's hike. It really WAS good pizza - and Mike got Dr. Pepper again this year to see if it was just the hike that made the Dr. Pepper that good, or if it really WAS that good. Turns out it's just really good Dr. Pepper.

Mar messed with Addie a little, trying to see what she'd do if Mar put a spoon up to her mouth. She liked it - sort-of.

Then we headed back to camp for a campfire and some S'mores - and some Bumbleberry Pie that Jesse bought. Good times around the camp fire. I'm pretty sure Addie was the topic of most conversations, and Jesse wondered out loud what we used to talk about around the campfire before she came. :)

The next morning we got up and broke camp and headed for home - after we stopped at the Cracker Barrel for breakfast/lunch. THAT was yummy. I was the last one out the door, and this is what I saw when I walked outside.

Everyone liked the rocking chairs. I thought they were curiously comfortable.

Addie's antics had everyone cracking up - she was REALLY enjoying Steve's finger!

It was a really fun trip! Next adventure up - camping at the beach in San Diego in October!

Happy Anniversary, Mar and Jesse!

Congratulations on five years of a marriage full of love, adventure, a new baby - and putting up with the Sloan crazies.

We love you guys!