Hole in the Rock

For the past few years my family has been talking about going to the Hole in the Rock for Easter. Each year we've abandoned the idea for a few reasons. 1st it's located in a remote location in South Eastern Utah. 2nd there is usually a newborn infant in my family and who wants to take a newborn on a trip that requires 7-8 hours of driving on a rough road. 3rd we haven't been able to all be together for Easter in a few years.
So this year when Allyson announced she and Matt were coming for Easter and since nobody has a newborn, I told everyone we should go to the Hole in the Rock.

Why go there? Well often on a Sunday afternoon my dad would thumb through history books about our ancestors including one about how his great grandpa Wiff Pace and his brother James Pace who helped the early Mormon settlers move from Cedar City and New Harmony to Bluff Utah. After I married Bart, I learned from his Family History Buff Aunt Harriet that Bart's paternal ancestors were in the same company. Since I was fatiguely familiar with this story and the strong family ties, I was pretty excited to read the book Undaunted by Gerald Lund. After reading it I knew I wanted to go and see all these landmarks described in the book.

Our Easter started out bright and early with my mom's annual Easter Egg hunt for the grand kids. It felt like winter but the kids managed to still find the Eggs despite cold hands and cash them in with Grandma Becky. Then we all loaded up our caravan and set out for the Hole in the Rock stopping at first Dance Hall Rock (this was where the Saints camped out for a few months waiting for the Hole in the Rock to be blasted into a road). Then we stopped ate lunch at Hole in the Rock Arch. Finally we made it to the Hole in the Rock. It was an awesome sight. I couldn't help but think what kind of people would get to this break in the cliff and say "we can go down this". It's funny to think they are the same people who named the landmarks things like Devil's Garden and Hell's Backbone. (Matt pointed out how opposite it is in Hawaii where all the landmarks have heaven names) interesting huh?
After we played around at the top while the most adventurous ventured down to the bottom where it meets Lake Powell, we loaded up and made the trek back. A trek it felt like when with an hour to go Jane decided she had enough with the traveling and yelled at the top of her lungs to get out for the remainder of the trip. I'm pretty sure Matt, Ally and my mom won't be signing up to travel with us anytime soon. After Bart mentioned how miserably long the trip was I reminded him that at least we didn't have to do it in a wagon.

So much to do with the Cat & the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2

What happened when I planned my 5 year old's birthday party hoping that the weather would cooperate and it can be done in the back yard. Well it started snowing so I moved on to plan "B" and ended up with 17 kids running around in my basement. All I can say it good thing our downstairs renters moved out a week before which left a very empty basement.
Despite a change in plans the party turned out perfect. Emily and I have been planning this party for months. The inspiration came from my sister Allyson who threw a "Dr Seuss" baby shower for her sister in law. I fell in love with the invitations and committed Allyson to do some for Emily's birthday. After she hooked me up with this life sized poster of "The Cat in the hat" the ideas started to flow.


Here's the invitation Ally so nicely prepared.
The front

The back

I originally had this great idea to tape cat prints in my driveway leading to the back but due to increment weather I used them instead for decorations. For food we served Goldfish in a fishbowl, corn dogs, veggies, and my sister Brooke's Rainbow Jello that I set in clear plastic cups. Here's my basement after we set it up.




When the guests arrived they signed their name on a name tag. Then they colored hats using markers, dot paint and stickers
As the guests were finishing eating and making their hats a surprise visitor arrived. The Cat in the Hat joined the party. Bart being the best dad in the world agreed to Emily's plee to play the cat for her party. This was completely Emily's idea. A few months ago while we were shopping online at "Oriental Trading" buying party favors and things, Emily noticed a Cat in the Hat costume. She turned to me and said someone should be the cat at my party. I replied really who? Emily replied "Hmm. It would have to be someone really tall (pause) Hey I know Daddy could do it." Later when I informed Bart about this idea he asked me why I didn't immediately derail that idea to which I replied I never derail Emily's ideas. The kids just died when they saw the Cat arrive. Bart did a fantastic job!! The best part when after the games and the cat's job was done. Jane started getting fussy so the cat told everyone he needed to go and picked up Jane and headed up the stairs. One of Emily's friends was very concerned and came up to me and said "Hey you better stop him he's taking your daughter"
When the Cat arrived he sat down and read the "Cat in the Hat" book by Dr. Seuss
Then we played pin the tail on the cat.

Next we played a game where the kids each took a turn being either Thing 1 or Thing 2. Basically they had to race to pick up a mess using the thingamajig (stroller).


Thanks to my creative and smart sister in law Mary for rescuing me and making these hats using a feather boa and then gluing it on a hat. Don't you think they turned out perfect!!
We tied up the party with Emily opening her presents, singing the Happy Birthday song while Emily blew out the candles on this cake I made and then of course eating the cake.



In the middle of the party something hit Emily and she didn't feel so great. She barely made it through opening her presents and blowing out the candles and then she curled up with her new mini pillow pet on the ground until it was over. Poor girl! Later that night she told me "Although my tummy hurt I was just so happy to be part of the party.
As the guests left we gave out a bag of party favors which included a swirly lollipop, Dr. Seuss pencil, bookmark, fish notepad, and cat in the hat stickers.


PS. I need to send a special thank you out to Google for supplying me with most of the ideas for the party. Life is so much easier with google around!

PPS: If anyone has a need to throw a cat in the hat party come my way. I have a whole box full of decorations, games, and some left over party favors.