January Skies

Last Days of Summer

Summer is winding down and we've been trying to make the most of it the last couple of weeks.  We've been enjoying the mountains and family time at the same time.

Last week Scott, Kevin, Matt and I drove to Silver Lake Flat up American Fork Canyon with Grandma and Grandpa O. and hiked up to Silver Lake.  That's a hike we did quite often when I was growing up, but I haven't been up there since, so it brought back a lot of memories.  The boys fished and each caught a little brown trout, which we threw back.  The wildflowers, cliffs, and lake were beautiful and the boys were goofy.

 

The day after we hiked to Silver Lake we left for a few days in the Tetons.  We stayed in a condo in Teton Village at the base of the Jackson Hole Ski Resort, between the Tetons and Jackson Hole.  We had a good time swimming, biking, hiking at Jenny Lake, rafting down the Snake River, and chowing down on BBQ ribs at Bubba's.

After returning from the Tetons, Camille, Matt, Kevin and I hiked to the top of Mt. Timpanogos with Grandpa O. the very next day.  It was Matt's first time and he did an awesome job -all 18 miles of it.  There was a lot of snow to cross, even thought it's late in the summer and we had to be careful.  At the very last tiny spot of snow before reaching the saddle -about a mile before the top- Matt lost his footing and slipped down the snow and some of the dirt at the below the snow.  It was kind of traumatic for him and he scraped his stomach and his elbow up, but he calmed down and decided he wanted to keep going because he wanted to make it to the top and slide down the glacier.  We were a little nervous when we saw the glacier because it was huge and really steep at the top this year, and most of the people on the trail were turning around and going back the way they came up. We watched a few people go down and they did fine, so we were brave and took the plunge.  It was a great ride and took us way down the hill.  No walking over rocks this year.  Matt did great on the hike down, too, even though his ankle was quite sore.  Kevin and Camille were nice to wait for us slow pokes.  They finally ran the last two miles and Kevin said he timed himself at an 8 minute mile the last mile!  I can't do that when I'm fresh on a smooth surface and not carrying a backpack.  Again, the scenery was spectacular -especially the wildflowers.   We saw two moose and several mountain goats.  I only had my phone, so the pictures aren't great, but it was a gorgeous day. I was sore all over my body the next day, but it was worth it.

This outhouse has seen better days -but the view can't be beat!

The Golden Mantle squirrels wanted to share our lunches at the saddle.  This one is eating from an apple core.

We made it!

Looking back at the top from the trail to the glacier

Catching Up -July

Where is this summer going?  I feel like it's slipping through my fingers,  and I haven't blogged about much of it at all. And if I haven't blogged about it did it really happen?  Hmmm, yes, I think it did.  

     Mostly we have been enjoying having our kids home this summer -at least some of the time- (I mean they have been home some of the time, not that we only enjoy them some of the time :) -although that might have been a subconscious slip -Just Kidding!  I promise!) and we haven't have any really big adventures.  Lots of sports -camps, lessons, practices, tournaments; -some church activities -scout camps, EFY; work -Ivy Lane for Scott and nannying + Ivy Lane for Camille; marathon training for Camille; and a house quite often overrunning with teenagers have filled our summer.   

     Here are a few pictures of some of the other things we have been up to.

Cabin trip at the end of June -Lisa, Camille and Matt

Wildflowers at the edge of the melting snow.  Other highlights of our evening drives:  Many, many deer, including the tiniest fawn I've ever seen, a moose and a fox.

Riding 4-wheelers

 

This little squirrel found a home in this birdhouse on the deck railing.

 

The water in the creek was so high it was running through the playhouse.

Hiking Waterfall Canyon on July 4

Matt, Grandma and Grandpa made it to the waterfall!

Scott, Camille, and Kevin

Scott decided he needed a shower

 

July 4 fireworks at the church parking lot.  

Since arial fireworks are now legal we decided it was a little scary to light them off in front of our house right by the foothills.

Laying sod at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Our boys and some of Grandma and Grandpa's mission friends helped sod their backyard in exchange for a delicious BBQ steak dinner.  Everyone thought it was a fair exchange. :)

July 24 Fireworks

We saved the real firework show for July 25, apparently.  John and Matt glued all the fireworks to a board and connected them with a fuse so they would all go off in sequence.  We took them to the church parking lot again.

It begins...I didn't get good shots, but the aerials were pretty impressive. 

Pretty funny to see everyone recording the show on their phones.

It seems like wherever Scott goes a crowd follows. :)