Hatch Patch 2012

This month my sister-in-law invited us to her family's cabin, Hatch Patch, up Hobble Creek Canyon.  Ryan and I had been before, but we were excited to take Andrea.  The best part of Hatch Patch is the ponds, there are three ponds on the property perfect for swimming or kayaking.  We didn't do any swimming, but we had a lot of fun kayaking. 

Andrea's first kayak ride she told me, "this is the best trip ever".  So, sorry Matt and Sara, Cedar City has been demoted, apparently. 

Amy had to leave for a family sealing at the Bountiful temple, so that left Eric to entertain us all.  The kids pretty much entertain themselves, but Brigitta and Amy had made a fun nature game with egg cartons.  Each kid was supposed to find things in nature for each color, blue and purple proved to be pretty difficult.  Eric ended up murdering a dragonfly for Brigitta's blue hole.

The kids also enjoyed the sandbox and swings, and Ryan enjoyed taking photos of the river. 

Eric and Amy made a yummy dutch oven dinner and Ryan and I got to break in our dutch oven and made some cherry-peach cobbler, which I was real happy with for our first try.  Andrea was really sad to leave, but was passed out in the car pretty much before we got out of the canyon. 

Princess Festival

One day while driving down the highway I saw a billboard about a "Princess Festival" at Thanksgiving Point, I knew Andrea would love something like that. Even though I've never been into the Princess thing, not even as a little girl, and have never encouraged the princess mentality with Andrea, she's figured it out all by herself. 

The few days before the Princess Festival my work had been so overwhelming that I was a little worried about making my deadline and still letting Andrea have her day of fun.  I was so happy when I got an email the night before letting me know that we all had our deadlines extended because of the high work volume we'd been given.  I was so relieved and it made me feel even better that this new job was going to be as flexible and forgiving as I had hoped.

The morning of the festival Andrea kept threatening to throw up, while getting her dressed and then in the car on the way there.  When we stopped at a gas station to get her some crackers and juice we said a little prayer that Andrea would feel better and enjoy her day. 

When we arrived Andrea was welcomed by some "wuzzle dust" or something like that in her hair.  I told the prince who sprinkled it that Andrea's Daddy will not be happy with him!  Ryan has a solid rule about no glitter in the house, but oh well, what's done is done.  Next we purchased tickets for nail painting, craft, and a carriage ride.  I asked her if she wanted her face painted too, but I knew her answer would be no, and it was a big "NO!", I love it when I'm right.

(I also realized on the way there that I forgot my camera, luckily cell phone cameras are pretty good quality these days!)
First she got her nails done.

Then it was time for the princess parade and all the activites shut down.

We sat and watched for a little while, but once Andrea's popsicle was done she was ready for lunch, so we shared a hamburger. 

Then she splashed in the wadding pool until the parade was over.  During our lunch break she realized "Hey, Jesus did make me feel better".  And I was so proud when she said, "we better thank him for making me feel better" (Mommy Paycheck). So we said another prayer thanking Jesus for making Andrea feel better so she could have a fun day.

Once she was done cooling off we went to the craft station where she could either make a crown, or a wand.  She picked a pink crown and only wanted to decorate with pink stickers, I was surprised when she actually threw on some other colors now and then.  I realized while I watched her how far I have come as a mother, it would have bothered me before if all the jewels weren't in a symmetrical pattern, or straight, but this time I didn't even think about it.  I just let her do her thing and she sure was proud of that crown!

All over the festival there were the classic princesses there to sign autographs and take pictures with, but Rapunzel was the only one we really caught. 

Next we headed to the carriage ride, and it really was your classic carriage, it only fit about six people at a time, so we had to wait a couple of rounds.  I tried to get a good picture of us both in it, but this was the best I could do. 

 

By that time we were both spent and headed out, her last surprise of the day was a puzzle, granted it was a 500 piece one that we are still working on, but she was very excited that she got the Park City one.  On the way home it took all of about 5 minutes for her to fall asleep, being a princess is hard work!

It was an okay day for me, just too hot and too girly, but I knew she loved it and I'm guessing we'll probably have to go again next year.