Trip of a Lifetime

Eric and the twins had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. to
join up with family for "Uncle's Camp." What a great adventure.
Before C&T left we were talking about the family that would be there,
"Uncle Bryan, Issac, Aunt Jeana. . . " One of the boys interrupted,
"Wait, we have an Aunt Jeana??" Obviously it had been too long since
we had spent time with some of our family. Needless to say, after 10
days I don't think they'll be forgetting anyone of those family
members anytime soon.

The trip came at the perfect time for C&T. The past two years they
have studied the civil war and then the two world wars in their Social
Studies classes. Uncle Bryan is the worlds most entertaining tour
guide. In addition to the historical sites they also LOVED the white
water rafting adventure and the rope swing.

Ironically the trip impacted Eric the most. He came home determined
to make the East Coast our new home. He went as far as comparing D.C.
to Disneyland which is HUGE for Eric [he LOVES Disneyland]. He said
there was just a magical feeling and excitement in the city, a sense
of history of self and country, a love for sacrifice and heroes, and
simply so much to do and see. But to be honest, I think he was just
grateful to NOT BE COLD for 10 days straight. He loved the sunshine,
the humidity, and the heat. I wish he could have packed some of that
in his suitcase, but right now he has on his sweats, a hoodie, wool
socks, his electric blanket is turned up to high, and the sad thing is
he's probably still cold.

So grateful for AMAZING family who entertained and loved and fed and
had fun with my family. Thank you. Thank you.

Neighborhood Buddies

My little ones are fortunate to have great neighborhood buddies. This
little superheros [and butterfly] have a blast racing down the circle
on their plasma cars, jumping on the trampoline, and saving the day
together.

[Friends: Jordan Alcorn, Kohen Galloway, Jackson Alcorn]

beautiful butterfly

more mudge and his butterfly. i just love how happy it makes him. of
course, we have several angry butterfly faces as well, because that's
our mudgie's way of being silly.

But-a-fwy

Our neighbors bought a face painting kit. EVERYTIME she pulls it out
Mudgie requests a "But-a-fwy"

h2o oasis

A day at preschool time @ the indoor water park.

Symphony Lake

We didn't make it to the lake. . . we didn't even make it 1/2 a mile.
. . but we got out of the house and had a little fun as a family. the
kids probably enjoyed the dirt pile in the parking lot more than the
hike itself. we also found some trees that were climbable. . .
something pretty rare here in the land of aspen and birch trees.

hiking

My parents love to hike.  I can remember being dragged all over the state to hike this and to hike that with promises that the saddle, summit, waterfall, etc. were "just over the next ridge."  I remember, in an attempt to pass time, singing Dona Nobes Pacem for hours with my sisters.  I remember climbing to the top of timp several times:  once with only Capri Suns to drink, once with a date that didn't say more than three words the entire time, and once when I lost my breakfast about a mile in.  Stewart Falls was always a favorite right along side Angel's Landing and the Narrows.  

As a kid I wondered what magic my parents found in walking.  It wasn't until I was a young adult that I discovered a beauty in the outdoors that was contagious and invigorating.  I now crave to be outside, to be climbing, to be breathing in the fresh air and scanning in the beauty of God's creations.  

I recently found this amazing quote in our Alaskan hiking book:

You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down . . . so why bother in the first place?  Just this: what is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.  One climbs, one sees.  One decends, one sees no longer, but one has seen.  There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up.  When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.

--Rene Daumel, Mount Analogue

Fwd: blacktail hike

Fwd: blacktail hike

Fwd: blacktail hike

Sam is blessed with all sorts of great friends.  By far his favorite three people right now are Asher Speaks, Gavin Speaks, and Dallin Holt.  They race down the street together on plasma cars, build legos, draw comics together, and play pokemon.  He is so blessed to have such good, kind, thoughtful, creative, and fun boys to hang out with.  

Dallin's dad is a huge hiker and is often brave enough to invite a few friends along on their adventures.  Last week he took the boys on a 8 mile roundtrip hike to Black Tail (a fairly trecherous trail).  

Fwd: DC

Steph,

I had a great time with your boys today at the WWII memorial!

Thanks for sending the boys.

Bryan