Must Be Fall

If we are in Yellowstone it must be fall! We love to go to Yellowstone in the fall when the leaves are changing, the elk are bugling and the weather is usually perfect. We usually have a big crowd that comes with us, but this year we only had about 15. That seems like a lot, but compared to the regulars it was a small turn out. We still had the best time and loved being able to go.

Aiden, Russell, and Uncle Reed took a hike down Uncle Tom's Trail to the lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It was 300 steps down and then the hard part 300 steps back up! Aiden wanted to race up the stairs so they did. Last night (2 days after racing up) Russell was complaining that his legs were sore, I said probably from all of those stairs!

Russell and Aiden by the falls.

Russell and I took all of the cousins down to the brink of the falls. It was a fun little walk down and little hard coming up but it was worth it.

Here was the end of the trail. The top of the waterfall. It was so cool, the river just looked so peaceful above it and then whoosh over the cliff.

Russell and I getting our picture taken by Natalie. Nat and Hallie had their cameras out taking pictures of everything. It was cute. The weather on Friday was a little cool but on Saturday it was so warm and lovely.

Here are Jack, Aiden and Jace. The boy cousins on the Jaussi side. The rest are girls!

We found a beautiful picnic place in the Lamar Valley on Saturday. And here is my mom and her girls. It was great to be with my sisters over the weekend. Megan surprised us all with a last minute decision to fly in from Denver to join us. I was so happy. My brothers didn't come this time, you know hunting season...

Here is my mom pointing to the tree across the street from our hotel. Looks harmless enough....

Until you get underneath and see the bear snoozing away after eating a bunch of apples! It was crazy to see that bear right in town. We usually see bear in the park (we saw two this time), but this is the first time in 8 0r 9 years going to the same hotel that we have seen a bear by it. You might want to double click on it to get a better view.

A trip to Yellowstone would not be complete until we have ice cream at the Old Faithful Inn! It was a great time and we can hardly wait until next year!

Baggin' Peaks: #1 Squaw Peak

About a week ago I told Russell that I wanted to climb the Grand Teton and if he wanted to join me that would be great. I had already looked it up on line to find out what we needed to do and I was ready. I needed a goal and The Grand Teton was it. Russell said great, let's do it. Then the next day he came home from work and said that maybe we should start out small and do some other peaks before we conquer The Grand. He said you know you have to use ropes and know how to do mountaineering stuff to climb that mountain (I did because I looked it up!) and since we have young kids to think about coming home to maybe we should just do hiking peaks for awhile. He's always being practical that way. :)

But I agreed, because Russell is always practical when I am crazy. He wasn't messing around with my goal and said on Saturday we are going to the top of Squaw Peak. We had hiked it about 10 years ago and I remembered it was a great hike so I was on board. The thing about Peak Bagging is young kids aren't the best companions when you have a goal to actually make it to the top. So Sherry agreed to babysit and we got on the trail at 3pm.

Can I just say OH MY GOSH! It was so hard! I am out of shape for sure, and that hike was four miles straight up. Not a gradual incline, or switchbacks, no straight up. Russ said aren't we glad we didn't start with the Grand Teton! He is very wise. But it was so much fun just to be hiking with Russell! I think that was what my goal was ultimately about. Spending time with him, having a hobby together and finishing something hard. I know that is what we are doing with our family, but this was a short term glimpse of how having fun together and working together towards a goal it can be accomplished. It was awesome.


The summit of the Peak was about 7,000 Feet so we roughly went up 3,000. This was the marker where the trail took off from the main one.

The colors were spectacular. We couldn't have picked a better day.

Staying hydrated. Before we left we told Eliza where we were going and she said, "You are going to die." and I was like, "Eliza! That is not very nice to say." and she said, "Not die in a grave but die cause it is going to be hard!" And boy was she right!

More beautiful colors.

I just need a minute!

I wanted to take a nice picture of Russell but this all I had in me! Oh, Russell got stung by two bees while we were hiking. We somehow disturbed a nest by the side of the trail and they attacked him. He was a man and took it well, but I know it had to hurt.

The peak! We bagged it!!! We didn't see anyone else on the trail the whole way up and when we got to the top there were two people that were kind enough to take our picture. It was an awesome view. We could see our house and all of Utah Valley. It was perfect.

So now that we have our first peak bagged, what's next? I am not sure yet we don't have the next one scheduled. I am just glad that we got to do this and I know with Russell on my side there will be more peaks to come!

Labor Day!

We had such a fun weekend! It started out Friday night by going to Seven Peaks for the evening. And then my sister Tricia invited us on a picnic at Silver Lake on Saturday. It was such a beautiful day and it was so pretty up there.

Tricia and me. I love my big sister. We were just talking the other day about how she took such good care of me. I was a nervous person so before jr high she took me to the school, showed me how to open my locker and where all of my classses were so I knew where I was going. She also did the for me at High School, Ricks and BYU! I love her!

Abbie and Eliza love each other, too!

Tricia and I with all of our kids!! What? How did we get so many? They love to hang out together, just wish we could do it more!

Here is our group enjoying the awesome lake. It made me excited for fall there were just a few trees changing colors and the temp was perfect.

When we got home from the lake Russell cleaned out the garage (I read), and then we had a pizza party and watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Aiden and I have read all of the books and I must have the sense of humor of a 7th grade boy because I really thought they were funny. And the movie was good too.

Then on Monday we went to Trafalga in Lehi (formerly Liberty Land). It was kind of crowded for the holiday, but we had a great time. This ride wasn't as exciting as I was portraying...I was acting!

Aiden and Jack on the Pirate Boat ride.

The kids on the airplane. It was a great weekend to spend as a family. Now back to school and work!

Children's Museum

A few weeks ago we had an activity day at the Children's Discovery Museum at the Gateway in Salt Lake. I think the kids really enjoyed it and I was glad that my sister in law Becky found buy one get one free tickets, because it was kind of pricey!
Eliza and Paige in the dress ups.

Paige didn't play the whole time we were there...she worked in the store! She checked customers out, made sandwiches, stocked shelves. She loved it.

Even Jack was in the working spirit. Here he is working the cash register.

Kyler and Aiden found a rock wall, so they were happy.

And Eliza delivered the mail. She loved to get in all of the outfits she could find. After the museum we got a little wet at the splash pad and called it a great day!

School Starts

Aiden started school last Wednesday and Eliza started today! Another year, another grade. It sure is fun seeing them grow and learn!

We had our back to school feast. And this year we added a family theme...Kindness Begins With Me. We need a little more kindness and a little less teasing at our house. We had Parmesan chicken, garlic cheese bread, salad and kool aid. I said it was a feast!

There Aiden goes... third grade! What a boy. He is loving it so far and his teacher seems really great. So hopefully we will have a great year.

Okay Miss Sparkle. She had to wear her long sleeve shirt because it was so pretty with her long jeans and twinkle toes. I told her she would be hot, but all girls know you have to sacrifice for fashion!!

She loves her Twinkle Toe shoes! She knew she was going to be the cutest girl in the school with them on.

Here she is at her table in her class. She is in afternoon kindergarten, and let me tell you Jack and I had a terrific nap today! :)