Our Millcreek Hike

This little hike was one of our favorites of the summer! We started out on a little dirt path that wound its way down to the mountains, back and forth through a little river, where we ended up at a beautiful little secret cove with a pool to swim in and a little waterfall. It was so beautiful and such a perfectly nice day for a very cold dip in the water.
On the way there, we saw more petroglyphs at this rock...

Here is the river we waded through. There was a point where the water came in from two different sources. The first half was very warm, the second half, umm...not so much;)

Isn't it beautiful? Carew is the one in the picture trying to take it all in...

And of course a hike with our family just wouldn't be a hike without Kambriella hitching a ride with daddy along the way...:)

Here is Caden, Ella, and Kambriella all playing in the little pool once we reached the end of the hike.

I just had to make my way over to the waterfall where I could let Kambriella reach her hands in and feel the water...the actual feat of getting her over there was pretty tricky, we did it though! - Very slowly with her on my shoulders- through the freezing cold water!!!

Kevin and Clint led the way for anyone who wanted to go climb up on top and jump off the edge down into the water. Kevin, Clint, Kierra, Carew, and I were the only ones who were feeling crazy enough at the moment...I was proud of them for being brave enough (even though once again I have been found guilty of screaming like a little girl the whole way down ;)

It doesn't seem that high right now, but when you are standing up top and not quite sure of what's below you, it looks VERY intimidating!!! The higher edge off to the right was where Kevin showed everyone how it was really done ;)...

This was such a fun afternoon with Clint's family once again. Laura said she was proud of us for doing all of these "crazy "things with them! I told her, "Ya, you better be careful which crazy things you ask us to do because we just might do them!"

After we hiked back we stopped and got milkshakes and went back to the condo for a picnic lunch and more swimming. THIS was a FABULOUS summer day!!! Thanks Kevin and Laura!!!

THIS is Weird!!!

I knew that this day was coming. It's officially been "back to school" time for the entire month of August, but as much as I have known that I needed to face it I haven't quite wanted to admit that one more summer is gone and that all of my kids are one year older, which in return makes me one year older too! How can time speed by so quickly? Try as I might I just can't figure out how to make it stand still! So, I just keep on trying to "enjoy the journey" and "count the moments that take my breath away." I love keeping this blog for that particular reason too! I can hold on to these memories and moments that "tug on my heartstrings" forever!

I took Kierra and Carew to the middle school the week before school started so that they could get into their lockers and so that Carew could learn how to find his way around the school. It was SO WEIRD walking around with them! Just to think, "I have TWO kids in middle school now!" I waited until there was no one around and then snapped a shot of them getting into their lockers. (I think they were a little embarrassed to let me, but I promised them they would thank me one day!) Just thinking of them both walking the crowded halls and hoping that I have taught them enough and that they are confident enough to do good and stand up for what is right made my heart race. They are good kids with fun personalities, a good head on their shoulders, and faith to carry them far! Thanks for letting me "push pause" on another moment that was just tugging on my heartstrings! I love you both and good luck on another exciting year and the next chapter in our book of life! Love you Love you!!!

The Canyonlands

I just LOVE this picture and HAD to start this post with it! After all, this is pretty much the reason that we were able to go on this fun trip with all of Clint's family in the first place! Chad visiting from Japan was a great reason to go and have some fun together and THAT we did!
Clint, Laura, Chad... we love you guys!!!













Here we are at Newspaper Rock seeing some of the neat petroglyphs.

Here we are at the cave of "200 hands." There was such an amazing feeling there. It was so neat to see the history that had been recorded by people from so long ago.

Hello up there Carew!!!

Just resting in the shade during a VERY hot hike to the cave!

Doesn't Kambriella make a cute "Aunt Jemima?" ;)

More "good Papa" shoulder rides for the tired little feet!

And of course, Caden and Kambriella at the best part of the hike - getting to the end and sharing a yummy treat!!! Mmmm!!! Thanks Caden!!!

Jeeping in Moab!!!

Time with the family is always fun, but I must say that this particular adventure that we were lucky enough to get to go on with Clint's family was a BLAST!!! Clint's brother Chad and his wife Mayumi are visiting Utah from Japan this month and Clint's sister Laura and her husband Kevin wanted to plan a trip that would really show them a "good time!" Well, thanks so much guys for including us in your plans! We really had no idea just how much fun we were in for!
We stayed down in Moab at Laura and Kevin's condo where we enjoyed jeeping, hiking, swimming, relaxing...and lots of yummy food! Clint and I both agreed that this was one of the funnest things that we have ever done, and lucky for us we have our crazy brother-in-law Kevin to thank for that! Between driving up and down boulders and cliffs, trying to get lost in the desert, and jumping off of cliffs, you better not ask us to do too many more crazy things...because we just might do them!!!;) Honestly though, thanks so much for the adventure and the great company! You guys are the best!!! We love you!!! I don't know quite how to describe all of the pictures, so I will just let them do the talking for me! Booyah!!!

The Zip Line!

I think that the zip line at the Heber Valley Camp was one of the most exciting parts of our family reunion. Yes, it was adventurous and thrilling, but I think even more so for me because 1) I am afraid of heights! and 2)because my children are so brave!!!! When I had to look at how high we would be up in the air, my tummy immediately got queasy...Dallin and Gavin on the other hand, were completely pumped to be going!!! Dallin volunteered to be the first one to go, and he did it with absolutely NO hesitation! Gavin followed suit and blazed up the pole and across the log without even stopping for a second! I was AMAZED at how brave they were! It was very cool to me how the missionaries that were there helping us related everything to life and how overcoming obstacles can really help us grow. For being in such small bodies, these two little boys stood tall in my eyes!!!

Kambriella was not big enough to try so we just put a helmet on her and let her walk around and feel "big" for a while ;) It was unfortunate though how after we had all gone, she really thought she was going to be going and headed straight for the pole. She bawled and shed some real crocodile tears as we peeled her away from the ladder. Sorry Kambriella! Maybe when you're a little bigger!

I was as stiff as a board on my way up and I was sure that I was going to throw up...

I just stood on the edge and finally convinced myself to just walk off the edge...and then as Clint would say, I "screamed like a little girl" the whole way down!!!

Clint waved down to me with a giant smile on his face and seemed completely comfortable being that high up in the air...or at least he didn't want me to know otherwise ;)

So, I have learned that if you want to overcome your fears, you just need to face them with a little prayer and faith...and then follow the example of those that you love and look up to!!! ( Even if they only stand 4 feet tall! ;)

Back at the Cabins...

As the evening began to wind down at our family reunion, we found ourselves in the midst of a warm campfire, toasty marshmallows, and squeals of laughter from the"night games." Everyone seemed to be having a great time except when poor little Gavin accidentally burned Kierra with his "hot from the fire" marshmallow;(
He felt so sad about it that he went and hid around the corner of the cabin and sunk down to the ground huddled up hugging his knees. I was busy trying to "tag" Danny and when I went speeding past the cabin and saw Gavin looking so sad, I just had to stop and see what was wrong. I held him close and hugged him tight and reassured him that accidents happen and that Kierra knew he didn't mean to do it...I told him that even when accidents happen, that it's good to apologize and that it helps everyone to feel better.
Well, just as we were getting up to go find Kierra, Gavin spotted this little critter moving past us. (And being the "courageous-not afraid of anything-mom will save the day" kind of mom that I want my kids to think that I am;) I just had to try and catch it so that I could make Gavin feel better and hopefully find his big smile again! So, even though inside I was horrified of what could happen to me if this "critter" were to bite me or was mean or rabid or whatever else it could possibly be, I acted tough and brave and got right behind it and grabbed it around the belly and quickly ran to Gavin and the others and shouted out, "I have a present for you!!!"
I am happy to say that Gavin's smile was found once again, (although he still felt bad) and I was able to maintain the "best mom in the whole galaxy" title! (At least that is what Gavin thinks;)
So luckily our little cousin Drake had brought his bug catcher with him and we were able to put our "pet" in it and enjoy him a little longer. But, after only keeping him for about a half hour or so, we decided that he would be much happier out in the wild where he could roam free (and find something better to eat than what happened to be scared out of him in the little bug catcher, if you know what I mean...) The only thing we never did find out was, "what was it anyway?" A mole, a mouse, a rat, a squirrely ancestor of some kind? I don't really know, but it sure was fun to have him around for a little while! And yes, I was glad that I was able to save the day!;)














(I just couldn't resist putting some of these pictures in here of all of the sleeping beauties! I got up early before everyone else and went on a peaceful morning hike. When I got back and went to check on everyone, THIS is what I found! What do you think? Who would you guess got the best beauty rest? :) Love you guys!!!

Fun and Games!

The fun and games at the family reunion definitely showed us a good time! Whether you were 2 or 72! Kambriella is showing us "the ropes!" You go girl!!!

I love her little chubby cheeks and arms and hands... and how she looks like she's holding on for dear life with her "grit teeth" smile!!!

Part of the fun at our family reunion was made up of games, obstacle courses, and high adventure courses. It was neat to see how working together with our family in these kinds of situations helped us to see just how well we can work together and communicate with one another too;) Here we are waiting for the fun to begin!!

Kambriella had a thing for sticking her tongue out whenever we would tell her to smile!!! (So of course Clint had to encourage her;)

During this game, we had to work as a team and try to walk up the hill and back on these long boards that would obviously only move when everyone took a step at the exact same time!

Kambriella's little legs were just too short to join the group, but that did NOT stop her from trying it anyway!!!

And though it's NOT surprising, it was this team made up of all girls and one retired marine that had the best team work!!

During this game, each individual had to swing on a rope across a "shark infested water" to an "island" where everyone had to stay close and squish together until everyone was rescued. Wo!!! Don't fall off!!!

This was a giant swing that was super high and fun, but safe enough for the little ones!
(The same one that Kambriella was riding on!)

Here is Gavin on his way up! Once you get to the top, you have to let go of one of the ropes and then you fall into the swinging motion!Woo Hoo Buddy!!!

Here is a picture of Dallin just on his way down!!!

And of course all of the hiking in between had to consist of a ride on the shoulders of Grandpa! What a good Papa!!

The cutest part about these little rides from Papa is that Kambriella is so comfy that she just feels free to hold onto whatever part of your face that she wants too!!! Cheeks, ears, nostrils, eyeballs... Be prepared Papa!!! They're all game!!!

This was such a fun time with everyone and I don't want to forget a minute of it!!! THESE are what memories are made of!!! Love you guys!!!