Family Pictures

My sister Mandy took some pictures of our family at the Ranch. I love them. Thanks so much Mandy!  I look at these pictures and my heart swells, because these boys are my life and my love.  

"With the Lord, families are essential. He created the earth that we could gain physical bodies and form families. He established His Church to exalt families. He provides temples so that families can be together forever."                                               -Russell M. Nelson

Willow Heights Hike

Last week I took the boys on another nice hike.  Mandy was so nice to accompany us and she was such a help for Brian.  Much of the trail was actually very steep.  He did fine going up, but he needed to hold her hand coming down.  Thanks for coming Mandy!

Mystery Canyon

Earlier this week, Mark took one day off work to make a really quick trip to Zions National Park to do some canyoneering.  He went with our neighbor, Wade, who was his counselor in the Young Men's Presidency.  They hiked/rappelled Mystery Canyon.  In the last few years Mark has been able to experience most of the canyons in Zions.  I am looking forward to experiencing some of them with him someday.  He really enjoyed this technically challenging canyon.  When he arrived home late that night, he called it epic.  One author described the canyon this way:  "it has everything – a rough-tough smackdown approach; a verdant, wooded canyon with spectacular soaring walls; multiple rappels through intimate, sculpted narrows; some walking in the hot sun; a monstrous rockfall that creates a seasonal lake; a big rappel into a pool; wading pools in a jungle paradise; and finally a slippery slab rappel to the whirring camcorders of numerous tourists. Not too long, not too short - Mystery is a great outing."

Mark pointing to part of the canyon from the top.

This is Wade about to descend into the throngs of tourists at the bottom of the Narrows.  Mark said there were people snapping pictures of them as they rappelled down, and then some even asked to get pictures with them.

Mark coming down the last rappel.

Shakespeare Festival

Our big vacation this summer is now sadly over, but it couldn't have been more fun!  My Mom took us and Mandy, and Alli and her kids to Cedar City for the Shakespeare Festival. The whole trip was just perfect.  Here's the schedule:
Monday
12:30 p.m. - checked into hotel
1:30 p.m. - dropped the kids off at the "play place" (the awesome daycare they have)
2:00 p.m. - the adults went and saw the comedy Scapin
4:30 p.m. - picked up some very happy kids and went to dinner
5:30 p.m. - played our hearts out in the hotel pool
6:30 p.m. - put the kids to bed
7:00 p.m. - my wonderful Mom watched/listened to the kids sleep while I, Mark, Mandy, and Allison went to see Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor in the outdoor theater.

Tuesday
Morning - ate hotel breakfast, toured the Shakespeare Festival facilities with the kids, and enjoyed a morning of fun in the pool
Afternoon - kids went to the play place again while the adults thoroughly enjoyed Les Miserables
Evening - ate dinner, played in the pool and put the kids to bed.
Night - Mom watched the kids again while we went to see Mary Stuart

Wednesday
We packed up and came home so Mark could get to work.

The only thing that would have made it better would have been more time there.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM!

4th of July in Oakley