Wall Lake and Holbrook Canyon

We originally planned to go backpacking this weekend.  Since July has 4+ messy diapers a day we decided against that idea.  So instead we left friday morning to day hike in the Uintahs.  We went to Wall Lake and wished we could have hiked further.  We love the Uintahs, we love the way it smells, the way it looks and the way it feels (a lot cooler than the valley).  Anna loved it too.  She hikes 2 miles without complaining, which is a breakthrough.

 She wanted to fishin in this puddle in the parking lot.  We didn't let her carry her fishing pole very long, major distraction.

 Sweet baby julia.  She didn't fuss a bit on the hike.

 Julia only wanted in the water a little bit.  She thought it was too cold at Wall lake.

 Anna and her daddy fishing.  They had one on annas line but it got away.

 Anna couldn't get enough of the water.  She peed her pants and we let her roam around naked till they dried.

 What a cute little hiker!

 The girls.

 Since anna hiked so good we gave her a sucker at the end.  Julia ate hers on the way up to the hike.  But she really wanted annas.  Luckily anna is a doll and is very good at sharing.

 We stopped at rich's uncle's house and chatted with him and cousin Cooper (in Peoa).  A thunderstorm rolled in.  I love the smell of summer rain on a dirt road.  They had some horses behind their house and julia was scared of them and their cat.  Goofy girl.

 We slept over at aunt amy's house in Morgan that night (anna and rich in a tent, julia and i inside).  Then rich, kelby and I went for a 30 mile bike ride in the morning.  After our ride we drove up to bountiful to hike Holbrook Canyon with Grandma Heiner!  So fun to take my mom up there!  I used to trail run this as a teenager.  I have a lot of good peaceful memories up this canyon.

 Jane fell asleep on Kelby's back.

 Julia would not fall asleep on Richard's back (despite going to bed at 10:30).

 We stopped at a water hole and the kids roamed in the water and walked on logs.  They didn't want to leave.  Neither did I actually!

 Amy and Amber.  Very patriotic.

 Rich made a rock slide for the kids.  He's always so fun.

 Lots of shallow water to climb around in!

 Gavin after going down the rock slide.  He didn't want his picture taken.

 Richard and I!

 A family picture!  So nice to have someone to take a group picture for us!

 Kelby and Amy's crew.  It took bribery with food to get this picture!

 On the way up I told the story of Mulan.  On the way back Richard told the story of beauty and the beast.  Disney assists us in our hiking adventures.  Evan wanted to be the first one back (and he was).  Gavin and Anna stuck by richard so they could hear the story.  Amber stuck by her mom and dad so she could look for  GOLD (pyrite).

 Since Julia was asleep I decided to walk home.  It was a perfect day for a hike, so everyone else decided to walk home with me!  HOlbrook canyon is right across from the bountiful temple, so we got in a good temple photo op while we were at it.

 Look at those dirty bums!

 The view of the salt lake valley on the way home from the hike.

 After pizza dinner at grandmas and a movie we headed home.  Anna did NOT want to go home (or go to bed).  Honestly, neither did I.  Cleaning up after a camping/hiking/backpacking trip is the pits!

 But we had the house in "ship" shape by 9 and went to bed by 9:30.  The girls slept till 7:30, so that was nice!

We are loving renting.  It allows us so much time to play!  If I could go back in time and live in Oregon again I would so rent an apartment so we could have more time to play.  But as the girls get older we will probably have to find a more permanent place to live.

4th of July

  We went to Millcreek Park's Celebration.  We saw a lot of our ward there and a nice man in our ward gave us a whole bunch of tickets.

 Anna played a barrel game and went fishing.  The other lines were too long for a two almost 3 year old, or maybe just her parents.  No Disney land anytime soon for us.

 Classic fishing game.  At least we caught more than worms.

 Close though, Julia caught a caterpillar.

 Anna's favorite part was the band.  This girl loves music.  She wanted to go and inspect all the instruments.

 julia is cute.  playing with her daddy.

 just look at her!

 julias hair is so cute in the back!

 she was apprehensive, but went down this slide.

 then she was TERRIFIED!  AHH!  but she wanted to go again.  too bad it cost 2 bucks.

 She really wanted to see the parade.  We were late because we had a rough night.  This is all the parade we saw, the floats parked in a field.

 Her favorite was the princess castle.

 Here is Anna's princess wave.  Did I mention it was really HOT.

 We had to walk like 1/4 mile to our car.  It took anna a looong time to walk 1/4 mile.  She makes a lot of pit stops.

 When we got home from that richard and julia took a nap.  Anna pestered me to go hike while I attempted to take a nap.  So when Richard woke up he took her (Julia and I are both sick we had originially planned to go backpacking, but diarrhea and backpacking do not mix well).

I love this picture.  This face reminds me of her aunt joy.

 While they were hiking we spent time with my Grandparents.  My heart breaks when I think of them sitting alone in their house watching TV on a holiday.  We like to sit on their porch and watch the world go by.  For some reason my grandpa always sits inside on his walker.  It's odd.  maybe its because his legs are very swollen and the heat makes it worse.   Anyways, my grandma fell the other day and went to the hospital, but since she's been back her memory is better, so today's visit was much more enjoyable.

 When they got down with their hike we took the grandparents to my mom's for dinner.  Here we are doing a water balloon slingshot.

 My parents have one of those cars kids can drive.  I am scared for the day anna turns 16.  She does not understand the concept of steering.

 While anna was driving julia ate all her ice cream, all her jello and a couple cookies.  Oh julia.  No wonder you feel so sick.

 HAPPY 4TH OF JULY.  Living in America is beautiful.

Time to go shopping.

Looks like I need to go to the store today huh?!  You know it's time when you have top ramen for dinner.