Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike

 Well I filled out the backcountry request to hike and camp in the Grand Canyon, and after the second try we got a date in November. Four months is a long time to prepare. I had 8 people who initially wanted to go and then a few couldn't, but we found some alternates by the time the hike came in November. I packed my bag with 26 pounds of gear, food and water, hoping to have brought the right things!

 A couple friends decided they wanted to be our drivers so we could have a ride back out after we finished. They hiked a couple miles down with us and then we saw them again two days later.

 For November, the weather was amazing! I didn't even use all of my warm clothes. At Phantom Ranch it reached 80 degrees! The first day we hiked 6.8 miles down to Cottonwood Campground. It was a lot of downhill. I have never been to the north rim of the Grand Canyon that I remember, and it was beautiful! We passed many trail runners that were running rim to rim to rim, 48 miles. As they passed, I was so happy we were backpacking!

 We were very happy to find out that the water was open everywhere along the way. We were warned that it may be turned off because of the weather and winter approaching. That really lightened our load.

The second day we hiked 7.2 miles and added the Rainbow Falls trail (1 mile) so we could see this amazing waterfall! We totally recommend it!

 We camped at Bright Angel Campground the second night, which is right next to Phantom Ranch. We ventured out and saw the bridge going up the Kaibab Trail and some historical sites before we settled for the night.

 The last day was a lot of uphill. We went 9.2 miles up the Bright Angel trail and passed through Indian Gardens (which was beautiful!) and up to 3 mile, 1.5 mile and then to the top. It was a slow and steady climb for me. We weren't willing to rest long since our bodies tightened up so we would pause and keep moving! We all reached the top! We couldn't have asked for a better trip. Aside from a few blisters, we didn't have any accidents or gear problems.

Amazingly enough, I would love to do this hike again. I'd love to bring my kids, now that I've scoped it out, so they can be part of the majesty of the Grand Canyon!

Mammoth Cave and Cascade Falls

I went with KayDee on her 5th grade field trip to Mammoth Caves and Cascade Falls. I had gone with my other two kids but the buses broke down on both their trips and we never made it to the falls. We had so much fun crawling through the cave and wandering around the beautiful mountain. The hike to the falls was beautiful and I really want to go back! The falls were really awesome since they came right out of the rock cliff. The weather was beautiful and of course KayDee's company was the best!

Family Backpacking Trip to Ashdown Gorge

 I was so excited about this trip. I had gone on a ladies backpacking trip a few weeks before down this trail and wanted to take my family. We planned carefully to make sure we could go the 12 miles and carry our sleeping bags too! My friend Janet and her daughter went with us. At first the kids complained about how to wear the backpack and buckling it up around the chest and waist, but they learned quickly that it truly was the best way. We ended up hiking the last half hour of the first day in the dark to our campsite, which Janet wasn't happy about, but it ended up being amazing! The weather was perfect and there was a full moon that made it so beautiful. Setting up camp was fine with moon light and we sure appreciated our fire.
The first day we did 4 miles and then we did 8 mostly in the slot canyon and stream. The kids didn't hardly notice their packs as they splashed through the river bed. We loved it and want to go up from the bottom for a day hike to play in the stream and waterfalls next summer.

 Side trail to the waterfalls

 Flannigans Arch

Timpanogos Caves

 This was my Christmas present a couple years ago. We all picked places to go or things to do for Christmas and we finally got to mine! It worked out perfectly. The weather was great, the ranger gave a great tour and the kids did awesome! It was funny, or aggravating, to hear our kids tell each other how to hike safe and taking turns rolling their eyes or saying "I know!" to each other. Kevin calmed me down and reminded me that we were raising leaders. Apparently, we are being successful.

School Started!

Elementary's 1st Day of School Party!

4th Grade

6th Grade

8th Grade

Temple Times

  We were able to go to the Cedar City Temple dedication on Aug 8th and after we went to the temple site to see for ourselves. We are so excited to have a temple being built closer to us!

We went to the Provo temple where my parents work in the Baptistry. As many cousins as could come, came and did several ordinances. It was pretty special to be at the temple with this group!

Summer Stuff

Derrick and KayDee love to catch lizards and they found the smallest lizard they had caught so far. It is pretty tiny!
The kids collected caterpillars and kept them in containers. Samantha kept hers alive the longest and we left for the weekend and she found it in a cocoon. After a while she had a buckeye butterfly!

KayDee and I made a dancing dress for Activity Days this summer. It was made out of toilet paper but she was able to walk and could possibly even dance in it!

The kids sang songs for the 24th of July for our community program. Samantha read a pioneer story too.