Sunday, August 19, 2018

Salt Lake and Provo

After our week at Aspen Grove, we decided to make the most of Utah, We went down to BYU and showed the kids around then went to Temple Square. Couple things that you need to realize, 1. I only had an iPhone, 2. There are 5 kids running off in every direction. 3. Bridget and I did not meet here or attend here at the same time. This means that we did not take as many pictures as we could have and we have different memories. I loved the chance to show the kids around and see how much it had changed.

Here is the crew with the Y over our head, there was a lot of haze from the California wild fires

We walked through the Wilkinsen Center, then the library then went down to the Science building and then tried showing them the view south where we used to live, but so much has changed, and the kids just loved the fountain and the book store.

I dont think anyone loves their kids as much as bridget does.

Sammy the squeezer

Sammy looks Stoned



We went to Salt Lake city Afterwards and parked in the Joseph Smith building. There was a nice missionary there that took our picture.


What a cute Family

We took them through temple square and to the visitors center.



We went on a really neat tour of the conference center, it is the largest theater/amphitheater in world. and can fit a 747 inside it, and I did not take pictures because i was chasing sammy around.

Here we are on the roof of the center. It makes me happy that Eli and Dora are best friends and That Emmy and Tessa are best friends.

Sammy thought this Missionary was "pappa" and wanted him to hold him and walk him around.

This fountain sits right on top of the pulpit



Saturday, August 18, 2018

Mt Timpanogos

So Eli and I are going to Hike to Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail next year. I told Eli I wanted to hike to Timpanogus to see how hard it was and see how ready we needed to be. INca Trail is 26 miles over 4 days with elevation between 9-14K. Mount Timp is a 16 mile round trip 5k ascend to 12000 feet. We got up at 630, made lunches and ate breakfast and had a total of 3 liters water between the two of us. Here we are fresh and happy and before our feet hurt and before we ran out of water.


Along the hike i saw a shadow behind trees and i thought it was a barn/cabin/tent, I said "eli look someone built a cabin up here!" he said dad its moving. Then i Saw this MOOSE, And its MOther.

We hiked to a Waterfall at about 2 miles in. Eli pulled out his cell phone and took pictures of it all.



We hiked another mile or two and found another Waterfall. I figured on the way back if I was desperate we could drink here, I was conserving water for ELI.





This was a view of the lodge, we were only at 8,000 feet and had 4,000 to go so we still felt good.

This picture is taken at 10,000. We had used almost all of our water, we were on verge of melting down but this guy told us there was a lake ahead and a resting place and then it was only one more hour to the top, this is the first view of the peak.

Here we are on emerald Lake, it is glacier fed but there are mountain goats. We were almost out of water, someone had a filter so we filled up two more liters and drank and ate and felt recharged. We were told it was only one more hour but had to go almost 2000 feet up.

and it was a rough 2000 feet


we hiked along this ridge, then accross a shale slide, then nearly strait up.

Finally we got closer

Then we reached the crest, we could see OREM and PRovo and lake Utah, there was a lot of smoke from the forest fires in California.

We climbed up this, this picture cannot show how high and scary this was. but it was really fun.

We went strait up this. THis is probably my favorite picture.

We hiked accross this

ON the way down we ran into mountain goats.



On the way down a college kid from UC Berkley passed us, he was really nice. Eli and I had used 5 liters of water and had only half liter for the 8 mile return trip down. He had a filter and filled us up with another 2 liters, we drank some and our spirits were high, we started to go down the hill, We felt better and better and stronger and stronger as we came down. Eli said he felt like he had the blinking star from mario cart giving him energy. We made great time going down and our spirits were high. Then we ran out of water again, we gave a liter to some people that looked like they were really struggling. Then Eli hit the wall. he was so exhausted that he could not keep going. I told him he could be frustrated, and angry, but that didnt get us closer to water or food. He sucked it up and we made it to the cafeteria right at closing. I think eli drank two liters of root beer. We were sore the next day but it was really fun.

I think Eli will be able to Make Machu Picchu. And I actually had a really fun time with him. I did buy a water filter. And More water bottles. I dont think i have been that worried about water before. I knew i could be thirsty, but seeing eli having a rough time was hard for me


Aspen Grove

Our family vacation this year was to ASPEN GROVE. Sammy was my buddy, he would wake up in the mornings and we would go for walks and see the sun rise before anyone else even woke up.



We went to outdoor church, here is Dora watching SAMMY as he climbs on rock.

Monday I got up and hiked to One of the waterfalls, I dont remember which one it was but it was a 3 mile hike... pretty weak sauce. but fun.







Here is my little mountain climber

Here is my little mountain WHINER. HAHAHAHAHAAH

Eli Loved the climbing wall.

Sammy wanted a chance

Mom was working on her book so me and the kids came down to Craft Town and painted pottery.

Then we got ICE CREAM. we did alot more but i did not get that many pictures. We had events where we threw knives, tamahawks, played pioneer games, it was a great time.




Boise Fun

We got to Boise and spent a couple days with the MOSSES, I miss them. We played with their toys, got caught up, then went to Tucanos for lunch, really fun to see my good friends again. Eli got to go to the water park with the Poulsons.




We then went to Uncle Haven's house, they have a great pool, eli and lawrence swam like fish, eli actually did flips off of the rock here, kinda cool. There were a lot of kids and we had a really fun time playing at the house

Family dinners are the best.

They were kind enough to get a table out for little ones to play at, see Tessa was the only one aware of picture

Haven then took Eli Dora and the big kids to the off road park, we raced four wheelers, a motor cycle and a Razor, it was really fun, I now really want a motorcycle.
That is dora.

Eli Driving

this is eli. Afterwards we went out for ice cream, then swam again





We then took an off road adventure, we went up to SILVER CITY IDAHO, it is an abandoned ghost town with a functioning Saloon. Half drove ATV, half rode in the car.



Sammy loves the razor, he thought he was a big kid!

My BOYS!







Here is Bridget at the bar getting a Sasparilla

I think Bridget had a great time on the four wheelers

Isn't my wife awesome

This Masonic Lodge is for sale







Group PHOTO

Bridget the race car driver

The next day we went shooting. Eli is actually a pretty good shot




We love IDAHO when it was time to leave, Eli asked if we could move there.