Pioneer Day 2014

We decided to celebrate Pioneer Day with a hike this year. We wanted to do something hard to help us appreciate the Pioneers, so we chose a summit. At the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, right at Guardsman Pass, we found Peak 10,420. I don't know who gave the peak such a crummy name, but the hike is beautiful. Seth rode in the backpack, but Mark and Dax walked the entire way. It's about a half mile straight up, and the view is gorgeous. You can see into both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, and from Park City all the way around to the east. The boys really liked this hike. We could see 7 lakes from the top and that made their day.

Dax loved the beautiful wildflowers.

This hike even wore Mark out, which I thought was impossible.

But he was the first one to the top!

It was a beautiful view from the top!

One of the 7 lakes we saw. 

Seth even hiked on his own for a little bit.

We absolutely loved this hike because of the views.

It was really windy on top.

These boys are the best hikers!

Later, we went to an Orem Owls game with Grandpa Ockey. The game was really fun, even though the Owls lost. We were especially happy because they had live owls to look at as you walked in the gate. That made us birders happy! Afterward they had fireworks, which were set off from the field. They were so close that a few of the boys decided maybe they didn't like fireworks as much as they had on the 4th!

We were so glad that Grandpa Ockey could come to the game with us.

Seth LOVES popcorn. Mark won't touch it! 

Randy looks just like his dad!

They set the fireworks off right in Right Center Field.

A Burrowing Owl.

Family Pic

Seth fell asleep in the 9th inning and slept right through the fireworks.

Neighborhood Campout

We had an amazing time at a neighborhood campout this weekend. There were 45 good friends in tents and trailers. It was so much fun that we vowed to do it again next year! Here are a few, okay a TON, of pictures: (You can also read about this trip here and here.)

Everyone gathering for dinner!

Graham chillin'!

Some boys are serious camping chefs.

Maya loves her Oreos!

Mexican S'mores!

Some people may have had too much fun....

Cheese (-y)!

Maggie decorated everyone with glow sticks!

Thanks Russ for bringing the telescope.

The sidewalk chalk was great for the little ones--good idea Ellis family.

The Kings taught us how to color on cattails.

The kids loved making patterns on the cattails.

It was a sweet project!

The kids worked on these for over an hour.

It was great to get together with friends. 

This is the group picture taken at the Grotto Falls trailhead.

We missed the Kings and the Ellises on this hike.

Everyone liked crossing the bridges at Grotto Falls.

All the kids had fun in the water.

It was like Grand-Central Station.

The water is just the right depth.

I love that Nixon was so easy going. Time to eat right now? Okay!

Swim Lessons 2014

This year ALL three boys had swim lessons. Mark & Dax did really well and are getting very close to being independent swimmers. Seth was in a parent and me class. He did one week with mom and one week with dad. Seth did well, too. He wasn't a huge fan of putting his face in the water, but he liked playing games and jumping into the pool. Here are some fun pictures from swimming this year!

1st day of swim class!

Mark working on his back float. 

Dax loves to jump in!

Mark started to learn the backstroke this year.

Here's Mark swimming back to the wall.

Dax also worked on the backstroke. 

Seth is so serious!

But he loves jumping in to dad!

On the last day of swim lessons, the kids can go down the slide.
Seth liked going with Dad.

Mark went by himself!

Dax went on this slide for awhile.

Dax wanted to go down the big slide with dad, too.