Sunday, August 30, 2009

It was a beautiful summer Saturday, one of the last few remaining in the year so we fully took advantage of it! Grabbed some snacks and lunch and then headed off to Kanarra Falls. If you have never done this hike it is a fairly easy one. The hardest part is the beginning! You used to be able to drive to the trail head but for whatever reason they have blocked off the roan and you have to walk up the steep road now. If you can make it up the road the rest is a piece of cake!!

Once you are off the road it doesn't take too long before you are following the creek. (Now if you are from Utah you should be pronouncing that crick) Water shoes make this hike so much more enjoyable. You are not always in the water but a portion of the hike is so a nice multi functioning shoe works well. Just don't wear something that you care is going to get ruined because it probably will. Notice all the cutoffs and swimsuits? We are about to have some fun! Fun= Dirty!

Emily Wins for being the first one down the first little "waterfall" we came to. The creek has lots of large flat rocks that create these "falls". So if you were picturing waterfalls like Niagara Falls you were way off base! You can see how deep the pool is where Sean is standing. it is never deeper than that. And then only in a couple of places was it like that. Of course we have never been when spring run off was in full swing so....

Anyway we climbed over logs and walked through the water and had a lot of laughs. We found lizards and butterflies and even passed a family who had caught two 7in fish in the creek! You can see little white Audrina there she was the second person to get wet. Ian was the third but it was only because he tripped and he was not happy about it. funny how when they want to get wet they laugh and when it just happens they cry even if it is just seconds apart. And after a couple of hours we reached the entrance to the slot canyon. Once you get inside the canyon the walls get to be pretty close and then you reach the point that I hate. This particular fall is in the actual canyon so there is no way around it and the only way past it is up a fallen log that some pioneer who has come before has nailed boards to. A makeshift ladder if you will. A very scary prospect. It wasn't so bad this time because the log itself was dry. however a couple of boards were missing and I have vowed that the next time we come we bring new boards, screws and a drill.
Once up the ladder you hike a little further and come to more flat rocks that create Kanarra Falls. Well we assume. this is as far as we have ventured because at this point the hike has taken about 3 hours and we are tired! Here he have lunch and play in the water and take lots of pictures. The slot canyon continues up further and on day we may try it without the little ones. Just to see where it goes.

And even though the summer is waning and almost over, yes the water is still cold. Because when snow melts on the mountains and runs down into creeks... it's cold!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Back to School

What a magical week!
This was the week that saved everyones lives.
The kids were bored out of their minds and I was going a little out of mine too! But then the day came and we were all saved!!!!
Doesn't he look so excited to start High School?
Okay maybe it was a bit too early in the morning to expect excitement.
Brooke was a little more excited though. She has been dreaming of this day for many many moons!! She loves school! That's right, little Anna Banana looks way to grown up. 5th grade here she comes!

Emily was entering a new level so she gets a whole new learning environment! She was too happy to be tired!
Notice how I pick my battles with this guy. Long hair is fine but his room better be clean! We did get him to trim a couple of inches off so he could actually see his mentor and friends!!
So glad we are all back on a schedule again. I thought I wouldn't survive the summer another week. Luckily the kids are just as happy about it as I am. Social little butterflies that they are! It is all about friends and fun with a pinch of learning thrown in just for good measure!!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Tuesday was a very exciting nervous day. There was a fire by the freeway over pass.
Which is not too far away from our house.
The kids were perfectly safe and Andrew got some pictures from our balcony.
Our fire department rocks though and had it out before any structures or people were harmed!!
Thanks guys!!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Welcome to an afternoon without mom!
First up we have a swimsuit fashion show where the latest fashions are worn by the cutest girls.
Notice the rich lines and just picture the runway music!

After a long fashion show remember... Girls just want to have fun and relax. What says relaxing more than doing each others hair?!
Braids and curls are the latest fashions...all the girls are wearing them!


Sunday, August 2, 2009

Martin's Cove Pioneer Trek

Well, after a 4 day adventure, Andrew is home safe and sound. He was gone with our stake to Wyoming's to have a genuine pioneer experience. Well, as genuine as it gets.
We filled a bucket with everything he would need for the 4 days and EVEN kept it under the allowed weight of 17lbs. Okay so it was a little bit of a struggle because what teenager wants to leave his comfortable home and go walk 27 miles with a handcart???
But after much persuasion Andrew was dressed in pioneer clothing and removed of all electronic devices and contacts (which may have been the hardest part for him!)
The hardest part for me was knowing he was driving on a bus for 11 hours (one way) far from home. But I knew that he had great leaders watching over him and that he would have a super experience. Of course, he IS a teenage boy, so, I may not ever actually hear about the experience without prying it out of him! Question, by grueling question.
So if you happen to talk to Andrew, ASK him some questions and maybe we can all compare notes. For example, in Testimony meeting today the people who went on the Trek talked about the women's climb. I can only piece together what that is, but if I try really hard I may get the memories of the experience out of him.
He didn't even fill out the journal they gave him. How is he ever going to remember stuff if he doesn't write it down??? I never remember anything until Cyndie reminds me of it. Seriously, I totally blanked Emily's perpetual bruise on her forehead until she reminded me.
If his memory is anything like mine he will regret not having recorded everything when he had the chance. Someday, when his kids are about to go on a trek, he'll be like "ya I did that.... " THE END because he won't remember anything else, except that he did it once.
P.S. The pictures are not actual pics from his trek.
I don't have those yet, but as soon as I have them you can be SURE I will post them.