HIKING MOUNT NEBO

My hiking buddy, A, and I set a goal to hike Mt. Nebo again. We did it about 7 years ago and were in really great shape then. It was a REALLY HARD HIKE. This year, I was NOT in great shape and probably weigh 20 pounds (or more, ahem) than I did then.

At the start. Bright, shiny, happy faces.

We knew before we even got there that we wouldn't make it all the way to the top, but we wanted do to do what we could. We waited a little too long into the fall and it had snowed up there. Needless to say it was VERY MUDDY!

A snapchat on the way up, showing our altitude.

It was a beautiful day, and despite the mud, we had a great time and loved the hike! Plus, it was great to reach our goal.

Our goal: The Saddle- 10,680 ft.

IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE FALL

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. The weather starts to cool and its so nice to be outside. We also have lots of family birthdays and it's a fun excuse to get together.

C Man climbing in Maple Canyon.

Princess P and I at a family birthday party.

C Man with baby W at the birthday party.

MOAB SPRING BREAK

We finally got around to taking our kids on a Spring Break trip. We went to Moab with Big C's brother and family. The kids had so much fun with cousins and we had a great time hiking, biking and camping. I love Moab and especially Arches National Park. If the wind and rain had cooperated a little better it would have been perfect, but we very nearly got blown away and the rain limited our activities at times. I do have to say it was a fun trip though. 

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WINTER SPORTS

Winter in Utah lasts a L O N G time. You've got to have something to do to get out of the house! I don't know what I would do if I didn't get out regularly, probably develop depression. Being outside in the winter helps SO much!

C Man, SIL J, Elder D getting ready to shred 'Walkers' in Fairview Canyon.

My cute niece is learning to snowboard and do great! What a cutie!

SNOW BOY/ ART BOY

I have a snow-obsessed son in my house. Well, all of them are pretty excited for winter to start, but Elder D is especially excited. He's missed snow and particularly snowboarding for the last two years on his mission in England. He said it never snowed while he was there. It just rained and rained and rained (I think he was there for some record flooding). Anyway, it started to snow this afternoon and he was out there in it between classes. He just couldn't resist! He built a huge snowman and the snow was so heavy and wet that it collapsed, but he was still thrilled! Now it just needs to start piling up in the mountains so he can really put it to good use! haha!

My 21 year old son! Happy as a kid!

He's also an art major at Snow College and I am so impressed with what he is doing. I love that I have children that are artists! Even if they don't end up doing that for their occupations, I just know how much art enriches your life and I am so happy that my children see that too.

A boy and his drawing. (Yes, he does wear flannel everyday).

MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE #5

The Championship Race was in St. George this year and it was fun! All the Gordon family that went down, stayed in the same hotel and we really had a good time! It was SO HOT for October (+80˙), which is great if you want to go swimming, but for mountain bike racing, it is too hot!

The cousins in the hot tub at the hotel.

Supportive parents/spectators/sponsors.

Our Division didn't race until late in the afternoon the next day, so we played around to pass the time.

C Man had a great race! He started at the back of the pack and took 11th out of 50 riders!

Racing hard!

Two of the Freshman riders and one of their coaches.

I'm not sure if C Man wants to do it again next year, but if he does, I'm on board. It was really fun!

YSA PARTY

For Family Night, last night, we went to the YSA Combined Stake Activity at Yuba. The weather was crappy, so it wasn't near as fun as it could have been. They had boats to take people water skiing, but it was just too chilly for any of us chickens to want to do it except for Big C (of course).

Princess P with her coat over her swimming suit.

Eating as a family.

The kids walked over to an island in the lake and climbed the hill.

A WET INDEPENDANCE DAY

We decided to head over to Joes' Valley Res for the 4th of July this year. It is a beautiful lake on the other side of the mountain from us. We brought our water toys and as much family as wanted to come with us.

Grandpa and Grandma lunching under the tree.

It's been hot and sweaty all summer, but when we decide to go play in the water we get rainy, wet, cold weather! Bummer!

C Man with the storm in the background.

We played in the water despite the rain and wind.

Big C got his wind surfer out and made it back and forth across the lake. He didn't mind the wind.

Here we are, taking shelter from the rain.

Princess P and Sister S bundling up in Big C's coats from the truck.

We made it home in time to go see the parade in Manti that evening.  

Family and friends on the fourth!

C Man, Little Miss C and Princess P watch the parade and collect candy. 

Family! 

Princess P and I made a yummy patriotic cake the next day! It was wonderful!

WORK & 3V3 SOCCER

C Man's obsession continues. The latest is his team taking 2nd out of 9 teams at the 3 v 3 tournament yesterday. He  was kind of sad they didn't win, but I am so impressed with him and his friends. They even played in the cold rain. 

The Team! C Man in the middle.

 Also in the news, Big C has Elder D right back at work. He hasn't been this dirty for two years. He says he has forgotten some things, but overall, he's glad to be back to work.

Form oil makes everything a mess!

A TRIP TO ZION

Elder Gordon got released at 8 am on Friday and we took off for Zion National Park at 10. It was his requested destination for a quick family trip before Awesome A leaves for the summer for a job in the  Mid West. It poured on the way there, but cleared up for a bit while we did some hikes.

Back together again and in an amazingly gorgeous place.

I always forget how beautiful (and crowded) Zion is. I LOVE that place! Every thing I look at I want to paint! We had a good time being together again. What a great family I have been given!

Trying to put the rock back... haha! Elder D is the 'counter weight'.

 We hiked up to Angel's Landing, but Big C, Princess P and I only went to Scout Lookout. I am just too afraid of heights now. I did it in college and that was good enough. The older four had a good time though. (For those of you thinking I am a wimp... well, that's true, but there is a sign up there that warns you in this way: 'Since 2004, 6 people have died falling from the cliffs on this route...' I had a hard enough time sitting there waiting for my children to come back alive. It is a scary hike- enough said).

Sister S's photo of the boys on top of Angel's Landing. A breath-taking view! Note: That is a sheer 1,400 ft cliff behind them.

We didn't end up camping up on Gooseberry Mesa because of the horribly muddy, slick roads up there. (That was quite a story!) We ended up pitching tents well after dark down by St. George, just over the border in Arizona, out of the rain! 

Standing around the fire the next morning. 

The kids found a mountain bike trail on their phones the next day, that had rock climbing right by it. It was perfect! Everyone was happy!

My three biking sons heading out to do the Bear Claw Poppy Trail.

Sister S climbing with Big C belaying. 

 Princess P and I were content to draw and hike. After lunch the boys rode the trail one more time and then we drove home. One the way home we stopped in Kolob Canyon (it's part of Zion National Park). Why have we never been there before?? It was gorgeous, especially with the clouds on the mountain tops. I highly recommend it.

Princess P and I with Hanging Valley in the background.

SPRING KAYAKING

One of the members in Big C's YSA ward is a kayaker and Big C couldn't be more thrilled! He is always looking for a buddy to kayak with.

That smile says it all!

 I drove them down to the Sevier so they could run it a few times yesterday. I think it was a little tame for both of them, but they had a great time. I drove the shuttle and painted while they boated. It isn't warm enough for me to get in that water yet!

The river was at a great level.

SOCCER IN FERRON

C-man loves his soccer. He's so passionate about it. He practices everyday, even if it's just by himself in the backyard. If he wasn't so into it, I probably wouldn't drive him all over Central Utah to play. I do have to confess, I love watching him play! Soccer is one of the few team sports I enjoy.

It was stormy during their tournament games, that's why C-man has his arms in his shirt. He thinks he's pretty funny.

We had to drive to Ferron (over an hour and a half away) two Saturdays in a row. It was long and the weather was cold, windy, and rainy. That didn't stop the boys from playing well though.

C-Man (#14) bundled up in his warm clothes.

He started to warm up after he was playing a while, so he progressively sheds clothes. 

Look at that hair! 

Here's his team and coach. They were a great bunch of kids.