Fall Break: Lagoon!

COVID makes going anywhere a bummer. Utah has tried to keep things open and safe. We were able to drive up to Lagoon and have some fun! Masks were required.

Unless we were sneaky or eating.

This bear!

I barely saw the older kids. They took off and found friends in the park. We spotted them on the SkyRide. 

One day we'll look back and be glad we don't have to wear masks anymore.

Because it's almost Halloween, there were lots of spooky decorations around Lagoon. This is supposed to look like our heads are in the jars but I don't know if you can tell.

We bumped into the Howards and everyone else in Southern Utah. 

Maxine and Ellen made a day of it.

Maxine and I toured Utah State University the next day. We got some famous Aggie ice cream.

Merril took the other kids to an airplane museum.

They also tried to hike into Timpanogos caves. After hiking a mile up a super steep trail, they saw that the caves were closed. Because of 'rona. Lame. 

That was the end of our Fall Break!

Tall Man

The kids saw a goofy YouTube video where a guy on another guy's shoulders goes into a car dealership and wants to buy a car and secretly films it. The car dealership owner doesn't trust the strange, tall man and it's silly. The kids were recreating it here.

 

Why Are We Sleeping Outside?

Oh, my Marky shark. He's so cute and wanted to sleep outside in October. He couldn't entice anybody into the adventure so he just slept outside by himself. He said he slept fine!

Shouldn't a parent say no when kids want to do crazy things? Oh well, what do I care? He's being independent and that's the goal around here. Raise independent kids who grow up to be good, independent adults.

Hiking for Petroglyphs

Another hike! These are so easy to stop at on the way home from dropping off Mark and Mikayla at school. I really wanted to see the petroglyphs.

Beautiful views! I can see my house. This is looking across to Grandpa's pond park.

I hiked over the lesser dam. Cool.

I hiked way up the ridge but didn't find any petroglyphs. I went about 5 miles total. I had left my water back at the car because I didn't think I'd be gone that long. I told Merril where I was and had cell service the whole time. 

 Update: I researched and talked to people and think I know where to find the petroglyphs. I went way too far. :) I'll get 'em next time.

Kolob Canyons Hike

The exit for Kolob Canyons has been closed for a year, I feel like. They have finally opened it back up and Merril wanted to hike up in there. It was a lovely place for a Fall hike! We found a hike that followed a little stream.

Maxine wanted to get a picture of a red, Fall leaf and was climbing into this scrubby Oak tree. I thought she was funny and took a picture of her struggling. She didn't appreciate my humor. :)

Then the girls pulled this goofy pose by the scrub Oak.

The boys were hopping around by the river as we walked the trail. I thought someone would get totally wet but no one did. It was just a nice hike.

 

Muffin Mondays

Mondays can be hard for Mark and he needs a little boost to get out of bed and get ready for school. He likes staying home without a schedule. So, I introduced Muffin Mondays! Something delightful to jump start the week. It only works out because no one is riding the bus this year and allows for extra time in the morning. I take the littles and Liam and Jesslynn to school, and Maxine takes the middle school kids on her way to the high school. We aren't riding the bus because the kids have to wear masks on the bus, in addition to school. I don't want them to wear masks any more than they have to. So, the extra time in the morning creates a window for muffins. Maxine has commented that they help her get out of bed, knowing warm muffins are waiting in the kitchen.

In full disclosure, I didn't make these muffins. I haven't taken a single picture of Muffin Mondays. But I've made several different types of muffins and even had to scale up my recipes because Jack eats so much these days. If I ever stop Muffin Mondays, I think the kids might mutiny. 

 

Lee's Ferry Boat Ride

The Howards took us on their pontoon boat up from Lee's Ferry towards Glen Canyon Dam. This picture was taken right before their boat, which was taking on a little water, started to sink in the eddy. Merril's phone switched to video and you can hear people freaking out as the boat sinks a little. Everything got wet but we kept floating so all was well.

We brought some kayaks and people took turns riding in the boat or playing on the kayaks.

Pretty river! I feel like it's way prettier than Black Canyon but there aren't any hot springs.

Tricky Julie.

We stopped at some petroglyphs.

Merril and Dave scuba dived. Merril said it was cold!

It was a nice day on the river!
 

Merril's Jeep Adventures!

Merril went wheelin' with the guys and had a little misadventure. His Jeep landed on its side. No worries. They weren't able to drive it home because the spring popped out of its mount. So Merril went back the next day to rescue it. 

I feel like it looks worse that it was. None of the glass broke out of the windows and it just has some scratches on the edges. 

 

My Favorite Peeps!

I know y'all hate family pictures but look how cute you are! I'm sorry, I'll never stop wanting to take them!

 

Southern Utah Floating Lantern Festival

We raced home from Jack's mountain bike race in Cedar City to get to a floating lantern festival at Sand Hollow Reservoir. We barely made it but it was fine.

My main squeeze!

We met the Howards there and they had spent the afternoon at the lake. Some of the Howard's kids were in swimsuits and Jack, Mark, and Mikayla ended up getting completely wet. It was a nice way to end the day.   

Cedar City Mountain Bike Race

Three Peaks in Cedar City, UT was the setting for Jack's mountain bike race. It's the first race we've been to as a family. The first race only allowed 1 spectator per racer. The second race was in Price, UT and the rest of us didn't go up with him. 

The boys have to line up with masks on but they can take them off for the race.

Merril was able to help with the race and was a "sweep." A sweep is just an adult rider that makes sure the kids are coming along okay.

We were waiting in this tree most of the time. We had to wear masks in order to spectate.

Jack finished in 16th place in his division, right behind Collin Phipps.

 

Buckskin Gulch Day 2

Day 2 of Buckskin started peacefully. We had a nice little breakfast and started out. The day before, Shelly was in the back with her sister and a couple slower hikers. They took off an hour early to get a head start.

We only had 7 miles to do this day. That felt like a cake walk. We left camp a little before 9 a.m. We left the gulch and took a left up Paria canyon. There was water but no clay so it was easy.

Nicole and me, I still have sleepy face.

I had slept so I could appreciate the canyon again! Wow!

The canyon started to open up and we hiked up a wash for the rest of it. Shelly and the early bird hikers finished about 45 minutes before the rest of the group. I was first out of the rest of the hikers. I made it! I was sore but I didn't even die! Ha ha!

We ate in Kanab. I had a lovely salad. 

I also had a delicious chocolate milk!

Chocolate milk is my new favorite thing! I can't believe how it helps me recover! I have so much less stiffness after a hard adventure. I thought it was an old wives' tale but it's fantastic stuff! I was a little sore the next few days but not too bad for hiking over 21 miles!

This hike was amazing but I don't know if I'd do it again. That first day was hard. I'm sure we had less sticky mud than previous years because of the lack of rain but it was a lot for me. I can't imagine hiking in it all day. I'm glad I went, I'm glad I did it and didn't injure myself on all those ankle-twisting river rocks but I checked it off my list. If Merril wants to go, he might need to find someone else to go with.