First Day of School

School has begun. Meg and Andy started this week; Maisie starts next week. Our morning routine was flawless, and I even had time to bike with the kids to school. I am always sad to see the kids head back.

Summer Lovin'

Today we hiked Stuart Falls. Afterward we went to John's pool for a family BBQ and swim.

Rick and John were together, so you know what that means -- craziness! They always come up with games that confuse even the most random thinkers; at one point everyone jumped from the big pool to the baby pool.



Twin cousins.

Shade seekers.

Happy nappers (well, Dad napped).

Before their bath tonight, I took a picture of my boys with their long blond hair and tan muscles....I wish I could have shown you their tan lines.

Organic Produce

One tomato. Two cucumbers. Three months of gardening.

Chalk it up to another failure. I'm over it.

Shark Week

Discovery Channel last week debuted an entire week devoted to shows about sharks. Due to the week full of visitors, I, too, spent the week with my SHARK.

Ensign Peak

My Dad came up with the best FHE for last night -- we hiked Ensign Peak followed by a lesson of its importance. I can only imagine the barren desert that existed in 1847 when the pioneers first came, but now this is a breathtaking view of the valley.



The evening ended in the park playing in the grass until 9:30. Endless summer fun.

Andy's Baptism

Yesterday Andy was baptized -- he made essential covenants with Heavenly Father. We are thankful to the family and friends who participated in his special day. I am especially thankful for the worthiness of Austin to perform the sacred ordinances.







Andy's program


Brownie Bar afterward

Been There, Done That

We went to Seven Peaks today. The Bells came from Idaho and between us we have 11 children 10 and under. We had tons of fun -- no one drowned, and only one person was lost for 30 minutes. Complete with a picnic lunch and lots of tube rides, the day was perfect.

Pioneer Day

This year we decided to commemorate the holiday with a 5 mile (round trip) hike. I am the first one to admit that it was a but too much for our group. During tiny moments I felt akin to the early saints of these latter-days. For example, I found our small party climbing in the hot sun. I usually pack the baby on my back, and Austin works with our 4-year old Nick. Which means during intervals he carries him on his back. Both of these children were happy during the hike, but they were exhausted from being carried. We also took off our shoes and socks and waded through a frigid glacial stream. Near the top my 5-year old happy hiker did not exist. She was hungry, hot and her tiny legs were spent. I found myself encouraging her by asking her questions about her upcoming kindergarten year. I simply helped her to think about something other than her misery. Once at the top, she rested, ate a satisfying lunch, and ran almost all the way back to the car on our way home.






We only spent 5 hours in the extreme wilderness, and we were well supplied with water food and adequate clothing. As Mark the trekker knows, this was hardly a trek west. The 3,000 pioneers that journeyed in 10 handcart companies between 1856 and 1860, and a total of 70,00 saints who came in the 23 years, “came by the thousands, often at great sacrifice, to live gospel teachings and to build the kingdom of God” (Peterson, Ensign, Aug. 1997).