White Pine Lake Backpacking

I've been wanting to take Avery backpacking since she was born, and we finally did it! 

 

White Pine Lake is only 3 miles long, but it's pretty steep.  I was shocked when it took us nearly 3 hours to hike!  Once at the top we set up camp and explored, played, made soup, and chased Avery around while she played wet-noodle baby.  (That's where she intentionally almost falls but we catch her at the last second and she laughs and laughs but Todd and I hate it.) 

I love this camp site!!

 

   

 

 

 

   

Nay even came!

   

 

I tried to get the babe to bed at a reasonable hour but she had other plans.  Who wants to sleep when there are rocks to climb, rivers to cross, and snow fields to play on??  I can't say I blame her.

 

 

 

We were treated to a phenomenal sunset-- our own personal "fireworks" from mother nature on the 4th of July.  We slept pretty well as far as camping goes.

  

 

   

Morning with my pot of coffee. Literally. 

All About Avery

Avery is growing up fast! We are great friends and we have lots of fun together (when she's not acting like a 2 year old.)  She can say 100+ words and tries to copy everything I say to her.  She is semi- toilet trained.  She still loves to climb things, all things!  She loves having other kids around and gets bored when we're alone at home.  She loves "shows" like Signing Time and Hoopla Kidz.  She loves swimming, and we go to Classic every week.  She loves the big water-slides too!  She takes one long nap in the afternoons, hooray for me :)  She is getting picky with foods but loves "dewees" (cherries) and "beeyees" (berries) and best of all ice cream.  She can't quite run or jump but puts valiant effort into both activities.  Jumping on the tramp involves one leg pumping up and down, it's pretty cute.

Here are some recent photos:

 

 

 

 

Figuring out (or not) her new car seat: 

 

   

Nayvery

  

   

Riding this turtle was a bit anti-climactic ;)

   

First time on a real Nay!

 

   

   

Watching a show with awesome back posture:

 

Summer 2014

So far this Summer has been so much fun, and so very busy.  Here are some highlights in one big photo dump:

The Hammond Vacation was at Aspen Grove, but I was out of town and missed it. Todd took a few photos of Avery and a lot of photos of rocks.  :)

 

  

 My sister-in-law Libby and 4 of her 5 kids stayed with us for a week (Tim and Chloe stayed home from this trip) and we had a blast together! I pretty much just tried to keep up with her for the week and it was so much fun! We'd go to exercise classes during the day and run together at night.  I'm still sore from her visit. :)

 

 

We've spent lots of time with cousins on both sides of the family.

 

   

   

 Henry and Avery are less than a month apart in age.  It took the whole week but they finally learned how to play together.

  

We set up a giant water bubble and air bubble at Grandma's for the kids to play with. 

 

   

 Adult sized teeter-totter I built my Dad for Father's Day:

   

 

Todd and I replaced the deck stairs on our old house we rent out. What a ton of work! 

 

This is way overdue, but my sister Beth had a book launching party in SLC at King's English Bookstore. She's amazing! 

 

My sister Sue got married! 

 

Todd ran the Speed Goat 50K with 11,000 feet elevation gain. It was the hardest race he's ever run, and it took 9 hours. I hope he'll do a post about it on this blog. 

 Here's Mark at the finish line:  

 

See the tired runners?

 

I ran a 10K with Brooke and Casey at East Canyon: 

 

Todd and I tried paddle boarding and loved it! No photos, sorry. 

We went boating with the Nelsons and some other friends. It was a blast!

 

 

Mountain Biking

I've been biking up a storm this year and have loved it (mostly)!

I even did my first endo (where you're moving really fast, then your front tire stops cuz you've hit a rock or something, and you are therefore flung over the handle bars.)  That part I didn't love, lol.  It's kinda made me hesitant on the down hill sections, but I'm working my confidence back up.

A few photos:

 

 

This was after my "endo" crash.  No broken bones!

   

 I was instructed to "look hardcore" ha ha

   

   

Any girls out there looking for a riding partner?  Hit me up! :) 

What if REAL PEOPLE looked like Disney Characters? [Kristen Bell Anna] [Idina Menzel Elsa] [Who played in Frozen]

Am I the only one who thinks that Disney characters are strange looking?  I spent several minutes staring at and contemplating a profile shot of Anna, Disney's Frozen superstar.  I just thought she looked strange.  And I wondered what message was being sent to young girls and boys everywhere.

What is beauty?  Is it humongous eyes, eensy teensy noses, and delicate little mouths?  (Not to mention ten inch waist circumferences.)  The saving grace for this movie, of course, was the message that true love is shared between siblings.