Utah - Part of our Summer 2016 Top Ten

Wow, our recent Utah trip was one for the books!  

We'd travelled down to attend a family reunion down near Spanish Fork, but had to make a two day stop in Pleasant Grove first, for a bit of extra fun!

Highlights for us of those first couple of days included:

* the 12 hour drive.   (Okay, we didn't necessarily LOVE this, but it wasn't as awful as I'd imagined)

* Watching cousins reunite

* Visiting the newly rebuilt Downtown Provo Temple

* Enjoying a morning walk with Luci

* Visiting with a very interesting friend of Luci's who had some advice for me that I hope to never forget

* Eating the coolest Mexican tacos EVER

* Watching "The Music Man" up at Sundance resort.  (The outdoor stage/atmosphere was dreamy!)

On Sunday we moved on to join the rest of the family at a beautiful (rented) vacation home outside of Spanish Fork.   It was HUUUUUGE!  

Our reunion organizers this year (Dave, Aaron and their spouses) rolled out the red carpet for us (literally) and did all that they could to make sure that we would have a fun week with everyone.  Some highlights of these six days together were:

* Our Monday evening carnival was hilarious (Abbys favorite activity was the archery, for sure!)

* Pool Noodle Star Wars battles

* John and Sam enjoyed some morning fishing trips out to the pond at the edge of the property

* Cupcake Wars

* Seven Peaks Day!

* Rock Climbing

* Hang time

* A hike up to Fifth Water Hot springs

* Family Auction Night

* Family Home Evening together where Grandpa taught the lesson

* Yummy Yummy YUMMY FOOD!

and 

LOTS OF LAUGHS!!!!

A personal highlight, for me, was getting to join the other Moms on a trip into town where we talked, had deserts, and shared some of our "favorite things" with each other.  It's always such a fun thing for me to get to catch up with them and get to know them better.    

It was an absolutely spectacular week and after spending the last year planning/anticipating it - I can hardly believe that it went by as fast as it did.   

The next two years will undoubtedly fly by, which means that it won't be long before we get to do it all over again!!!! 

Second Trip to the farm

We had so much fun on our maiden trip to my brother's farm last Sunday, we decided to to it again this week! (I could get used to Sunday picnics here;)

It was even more enjoyable this time to have Jewel and her family there as well.  

We enjoyed yummy mozza chicken and birthday cake (for Jeremy) and then played games and visited on the front lawn.   Jewel shared some stories of a couple of our ancestors, which seemed fitting, seeing as it happened to be Pioneer Day.   

I can't think of a more perfect way to spend pioneer day, then at this place, with these people.  

Homemade Worms

This little project of John's and Sam's deserves a post.   Their summer has been filled with mornings, afternoons and evenings fishing.  So far, they've managed to get a bite here or there, or catch a small fish - but no real success yet.  Bummer!  

After talking with a town member this past week, John learned that St.Mary's reservoir is filled with Whitefish - and they go for a very small worm like hook.  John researched this a little and it didn't take long before him and Sam were hard at work making their new hooks.   It looked like intricate work, for sure. 

It'll be interesting to see if the lures work.  Fingers crossed!

Waterslides and Waterfalls- Part of our Summer 2016 Top Ten

Back around Christmas time, a friend of mine from our old ward (actually a few friends), gifted my family with a day at Big Sky Water slides in Montana.   We've been here with the kids a couple of times before and so they all knew what to expect.    ...A good time, of course!!

It was a perfect summer day.  The kind that you wish would never end.   

Pools, picnics and volleyball in the sand.   Sweeeeeet!!!!

We spent most of our time climbing the hill and trying every slide available.   Nate surprised us the most and bravely tackled all the ones that we did.  He's hooked!

By 4:30, the kids were hungry and all tuckered out and ready to go home.  I was perfectly happy with this, knowing what kind of drive we'd have in store.  Going to the Sun road in Glacier Montana is a "must do" for us every summer.   I can't tell you how thrilled I was that we left Columbia Falls early enough to stop along this road and explore a bit.   This steep road cut into a mountain offers views of so many cascading waterfalls along the way.   My favorite of all though are the falls at Lunch Creek.

After lots of prodding (and promising them it'd be awesome) the kids consented to a small stroll down to Baring Falls.  It looks entirely different now that a fire has burned much of the forest, but somehow, still so beautiful!!!

It was almost 10:00 pm by the time we got home, sun soaked, and ready for bed.   The kids were asleep in seconds (a sign of a busy day of play) and I couldn't help but wonder what part of the day they each enjoyed most - the water slides or the waterfalls?

Amidst stormy skies...

We've had some lovely stormy evenings lately.  
One night, while traveling home from Claresholm, we got to watch the most spectacular dry lightning storm ever!   A constant rolling flashing, rumbling dance in the sky.  Other nights, we've simply stood in our kitchen doorway and watched the clouds morph and change above us.   

It's been fun to pay attention to the skies a little bit more.  

(Though we are admittedly praying for a hail free summer;)

Back on the farm - Part of our Summer 2016 Top Ten

Growing up, there was perhaps not a more special place to me, or my siblings, than that of my Grandpa and Grandmas house.  

After my Mom died, us kids spent days upon days here.  Anytime my Dad had to work nights and sometimes just if we felt like it.   There was something amazing about their place.  

I loved accompanying Grandma when she would take lunch out to Grandpa in the field.  

I loved playing on the rope swing that hung in the old barn.

Loved how the house smelled.

Loved watching storms from the front deck. 

Just flat out loved everything about it.  

Well, not too long ago, my brother texted me and suggested that he might purchase the farm (it had been for sale for a while) from my Uncle George.  I can honestly say, I did not really entirely believe he actually would, but I am so glad he did!

This past Sunday he invited us down (after I kind of awkwardly suggested that he invite us) to the farm for a afternoon BBQ.   It was so fun to drive the old road leading to their place and explain to my kids all the memories I had associated with this place.  As we turned onto the driveway, it took my breath away to see my kids' cousins running towards our van.  

Just like old times!!!!

(This photo is one that my brother took and sent to me.)

  Jewel's clan was in Utah attending Uncle Jim and Aunt Karin's homecoming, so unfortunately they couldn't join us, but Crystal and Jeremy's family came - which just added to the fun!

The BBQ was delicious but it was really not the food that we had come to enjoy.  I could not stop watching our kids play.   It's like they had instinctively picked up right where we (my cousins and us) had left off.   

Chad's kids introduced mine to "machinery row."   (New name, but same old familiar equipment.)  Not your typical playground, but we sure had fun here as kids!

This wide metal gate seemed to be the gathering place of choice for these kids.   They'd all run off to do their own things, but inevitably, before too long, they'd all end up right back here.  Just chillin' like a bunch of redneck wannabes.

Tyson and Sam spent a lot of time walking around.   I love Tyson's arm around Sam and I picture him sharing all sorts of useful tips about farm life and country livin'.   For the record, and for reasons I will not publicly share here, this is the day that Tyson officially became the COOLEST and LUCKIEST cousin ever.  At least that is what Sam would say.  

I also couldn't stop noticing Abby and Ella as they wandered around the farm, chatting animatedly.

This old farmhouse has a lot of reno work that will need to be done before my brother's family is able to move into it, but I found myself sending a little prayer up to heaven that it would happen while Ella still lived at home.  I can't think of a luckier place for Ella to get to live then here!

Naturally, I made Chad take a couple of family pictures for me.  (This was, admittedly, one of my main reasons for wanting to come to the farm in the first place!)  

(This family picture, along with the one now posted as this blog header are two that Chad took for me.  THANKS SO MUCH to him!)

After the kids had gotten a good dose of running, exploring, driving, eating and visiting - we drove a few minutes north to check out the old dried up lake, before going our separate ways.  It is a beautiful little park with a not-so-dried-up lake now, and I could not get over how familiar everything about this day still felt.   It was nice to be with my siblings and to watch our kids enjoy the things we once did.   It was nice to be surrounded by so many reminders of my youth.   It was especially nice to reminisce and reflect on how good our life growing up had been.   It wasn't an easy childhood necessarily - but it was an oh so very good one.

Writer Mary Jo Putney once said, "What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever."  

Oh how this place rests deep in my heart.  

Thanks Chad and Heather for a beautiful evening and walk down memory lane.

Fishing good ol' Lake Josephine

We have not spent a single day in Waterton yet since summer began!  

Our summer must be awesomely jam packed with other fun things, if we can't even squeeze in a family trip to Waterton.    I'm sure we will make it there eventually;)  

We have made a couple of trips to Glacier national Park, though and we are discovering that, in many ways, it is equal to our favorite Canadian National Park.   

 A few of the things we love about Glacier National Park:

*An annual pass is a fraction of the cost that we spent to get into Waterton.

* A fishing license is not required if you have a pass (That sold John, right there!)

* GNP is HUGE!!  

* Lots of kid friendly hikes

* Wildflowers grow like CRAZY in this park!

and last but not least ...

* GNP is home to - the "elephant Tree."

This is our kids' favorite tree stump.  It can be found while walking around Swift Current Lake. We have been stopping here to take pictures for several years now.  (And every year it looks more and more like an actual elephant to me.)

This past weekend we decided to take the beautiful walk up to one of our favorite Glacier fishing spots.  Josephine Lake.    It's a very easy stroll up to the lake (probably half an hour at best) but this time, as we approached the lake - John suggested we keep going further around the lake.  Actually, he insisted we keep going.  And I insisted right back that we not.  Oh, I knew exactly what he was doing.   He was going to dangle a carrot in front of us, the promise of a better fishing whole "just up ahead a little ways," and then we'd end up walking around the entire stinkin' lake.   

(John would tell you that the best fishing is always at the head of a lake.) 

 He's tricksy, this guy, but I wasn't going to have it.   We all followed him, but I assure you, I complained the entire way.   So, here we were.   I'm was frustrated with being dragged all over "heck's half acre" in search of THE perfect fishing whole and John is frustrated that he couldn't get to where he was certain that all of the fish were.  I thought I'd take the democratic route and ask the kids to decide what we should do.   Keep wandering and hiking? Or go back to where we always fish?  

They all gave a very diplomatic "it doesn't matter to us what we do."  

Wimps;)

So- we walked on (which on any other day would have actually been delightful exploration, but on this day, I was hellbent on proving a point) until finally John relented we decided to go back to the start of the lake and fish from there.  

Wasn't that an interesting story?

Here is another one:
Fishing with four kids is always an adventure. 

Within the first three minutes - Sam fell in the lake.   Then, Abby lost half her rod in an overzealous cast.   Jess and Sam continued to argue debate whether she had got her hook caught on a rock or if she'd actually gotten a bite and Nate took his own sweet time finding the perfect rock to fish from. 

Finally he found it and all was well!

We fished for a good fifteen minutes or so, until the wind picked up and we all felt too cold to continue.   (I'm pretty sure John was ready to throw his rod, or maybe even himself, right into the lake;)   He definitely seemed a bit defeated as we walked back down to the van.

Luckily, lunch seemed to bolster us all a wee bit (hot dogs and pringles chips seems to have that affect on my kids;) and by the time we were finished eating, we were ready to give this whole fishing thing another go.   

Well, technically, John and two of our kids were ready to give it another go.  The rest of us opted to stay in the van and enjoy an afternoon nap.  (Wandering aimlessly around an unfamiliar lake also seems to have that affect on me my kids.)

To make this long story just a little bit shorter - John and his team ended up catching a handle of little fish like this one.   Me and my team woke up from our nap happy and refreshed.   

We all agreed that it had been a very good day after all.  

By the time we left Glacier that evening, we were still as in love with it as ever.

(Sorry Waterton;)

Beazer Fun - Part of our Summer 2016 Top Ten

My Aunt Karen and Uncle George own a special little piece of land in Beazer.  

Every so often they invite us out and we get to enjoy the fruit of their labors - playing in the Lee Creek, visiting in the authentic Tipi, and enjoying their fabulous company. 

One day last week, Jewel called me and told me that Aunt Karen was out of town, but that she had given Jewel permission to go out to Beazer and spend an evening.   

How could Jewel turn down a fun offer like that?  

Well, of course she couldn't - and thank goodness she invited us along!

I love the Diamond Dipper (as this place is aptly called).  It is full of beautiful birds, wildflowers and authentic handcrafted creations like this.   

On this particular evening, we brought out supper and stayed until the sun went down.  

It was a fun opportunity to dust off the ol' Can Cooker.

Nate spent the entire evening on the zipline.  He got a little bit more brave with every go.

When the kids weren't down playing in the Creek or fishing, Sam could be found using a Styrofoam cup for target practise.    It's so fun to see the kids expand into wide open spaces.  Their imaginations seem to wake up and suddenly there are so many more things they are able to do.  

 Boredom disappears when in the great outdoors!

Mostly though, it was fun to just sit around the fire and visit.
Kendall made some DELICIOUS popcorn over the fire which probably helped keep us sitting there well after dark.  

Heck, I'd STILL be there, if I could;)  

I was glad to get to spend some time out there and even happier to spend it with such awesome family!

Yup!  Another "Summer 2016 Top Ten Highlight" - right here:)

Virginia Falls - Part of our Summer 2016 Top Ten

The past few weeks have been amazing.   

Exhausting and Amazing!

We seem to be enjoying a repetitive cycle that consists of camping, hiking, fishing, swimming..repeat.

Our summer Calendar is all sorts of jam packed, busy, full - but for the first year ever - it is full doing stuff we have actually chosen to do.  It feels equal parts selfish and wonderful!   

Last week we took the advice of my sister's family and we hiked in to Virginia Falls in Glacier National Park.   The hike starts along the "Going to the Sun road" and involves walking through forest that was ravaged by a massive wildfire last year.   It was fascinating!  Every tree was bare of branches and leaves, giving an entirely different feel to the hike.   

It must have been a fairly lush and densely covered hike just over a year ago.  Now the sun reaches every part of the forest floor and the Mountainscape at the edge of the forest could be seen offering a new perspective.   

I just LOVED the abundance of "Fireweed" growing in the forest.  

Fireweed got its name because of its ability to quickly thrive after a land has been burnt. 

  It's such a promising and beautiful flower!

The kids - pausing to reflect on the scene around them:

Jessica - pausing to ...um....moving on...

Half way through the hike we came to the first set of falls - St.Mary Falls.  It reminded me a lot of Cameron Falls in Waterton.  I liked it here very much, but it was always so full of people - I could hardly find a place to snap a photo!  I may have to revisit this place in the fall;)

Finally we reached the end of the hike - the magestic Virginia Falls!

I was actually surprised at how remarkable this waterfall was.
Straight up, tall and huge and the spray from the water reached us from quite a ways away.

This picture shows John and the kids getting a little more wet up close and personal.

It was a perfect day! 

The kids all got along.  They hiked willingly.  The sun shone down on us.

Definitely one of our Top Ten Summer Experiences!!!!

"Post Quest and Pre Young Mens Camp" Camp!

I got home from my four day Moroni's Quest experience  on a Monday and John was scheduled to leave for his four day Deacon's camp on Wednesday.    That meant we had one day in between to spend together as a family.  And what would you suppose the kids wanted to do?...

 Camp, of course!  

(Just our luck;)

Not going to lie, I tried to talk them out of it and delay, but John was more than happy to set the tent up in the backyard and spend the night out there with them.   Seeing as I had missed them all so badly while I was away, I wasn't about to miss out on spending as much time as possible with them now, even if I did long for a comfy bed;) 

They were elated!

Having been inspired by a cable reality cooking TV show, they decided to have their very own cookoff - "S'mores edition."    Jessica was the judge and she did not take her job lightly.  

In the end, Abby's S'more one for creativity and design.   (She really nailed it with the graham cracker crumble on top;)

Look at that proud smile!

(And look at those braces!!  Only two more months of dental payments to make.  Booyah;)