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Bells canyon

The goal was to go to upper bells reservoir it was kind of spur of the moment thing so we didn't check the mileage before we left.  We did not make it but we went 3 miles up and gained 2000 ft elevation with Anna hiking 3/4 of the way and Julia made it a 0.5 mile.  They both did great here are some pictures.  I guess the lake is about 4.5 miles and 4000 ft elevation gain.  It is another hike we started but didn't finish. 

Anna posing at the first of the hike

The obligatory picture next to wilderness sign.  Anna was really interested about the word wilderness. She asked me multiple times about what are in the wilderness.

Ballet on the boulder

Another attraction on the hike is a waterfall.  We missed the spur to it. We found this little falls.

The spot we turned around.

Lunch

 

this is the place park (pioneer museum in anna's words)

We went today because it's free day (thanks for the tip Virginia).

we went with our new neighbors down the street.  Hooray for a friend for Anna!

 We had spencer today, so we put him in a bonnet and brought him along.

 The theme of the day: trains.

 my phone is so delayed its almost impossible to get a pic where they are both looking.

 waiting for the pony ride

 anna, way to go cowgirl.  Julia would NOT do it.

 panning for gold (this is after we played in a splash pad, had ice cream, rode 2 trains, played in a boat and saw some indian stuff)

 just before we left we saw a "pritti" as Julia would call her.  Julia curtsied in her "tutu" for the "pritt"  Man this girl!  then we got to do a ring around the rosie dance with them.  it was awesome!

life is going by so fast that I can't keep up

where has the week gone?  how is it already Thursday?

Julia got a black eye.  Her cousin amber hit her with a baseball bat on accident.  It's camouflaged with blueberry pancakes here.

Monday:  Paul was here and we were going to go to the red butte gardens.  He decided he needed to go home.  So the girls played while I cleaned house and wrote a menu for the week and worked.

Tuesday:  Amy was going to come over so I worked hard all morning.  Then she cancelled.  We went to library in the afternoon and I don't remember what else.

Wednesday:  Rich left at 5 am to go to the dessert for work.  He stayed overnight.  We went to grandmas, the post office, the grocery store, to get gas, to my work to pick up some things and then red butte gardens with Jenn oblad, my friend from high school.  Jenn took pics because my phone died.  Jenn's little girl Hailey and Julia share a birthday.  Paul came and had dinner with us too.  He picked up joyce at midnight from the airport.  by the way we got a swing from the neighbors this weekend.

Thursday:  Spencer came at 7 this morning.  Richards parents left around 9.  We planted like 20 basil plants.  Our neighbors came over.  Anna was happy to have friend.  Our other neighbors grandkids came over.  we ate lunch.  Julia napped.  spencer napped.  Chloe and Remi came over.  I cleaned up and did some laundry.  Richard just came home.  anna is cruis'n through the park below.

 

Tomorrow:  We go to this is the place park.  It is free day.  We are going with our neighbors.  Hopefully I can take some pictures!  And hopefully I make it to the grocery store at some point tomorrow!  we are now down to one roll of toilet paper!

 

place to go

http://www.utahvalleyfamilyadventures.blogspot.com/2013/07/fairy-forest.html

I want this out of my inbox, but want to go here.

thursday. the day before grandpa's funeral

I watched 6 kids.  none of them died, but it was a wild time and I didn't get ANY work done.

 trac (real name sterling heiner) - 10 mo.  and spencer smith - 6 months

 chloe, anna, remi, Julia

 they are dancing in the front room

oh and there is trac!  He fell in the swimming pool, hence the nakedness - and the gratefulness that nobody died.

Grandpa Glenn's Funeral 6/6/2014

Grandpa Glenn Taylor's funeral was on Friday. 

Before the viewing Thursday night, Bryan and Elizabeth (3) came to play.  They brought uncle Taylor along before he headed to the mountains for the summer.  I fed them all lentil sloppy joes and tabbouleh.  the joes were a bit crunchy, but we still ate them!

It was good to see the family gather for the viewing.  I'm going to be grim and critical for a moment, Grandpa did not look good at all.  I was happy he could leave his body behind!  Anna was very concerned, she didn't think it looked like grandpa either.  She was CONVINCED it was not him.  It was odd.  But she's still a little young, so I'm not too concerned.  My aunt holly who has been taking care of him the past few years said that when they were getting him dressed she put his socks on.  Grandpa had bad circulation and every time I went over there I put his TED hose on.  It was a big job that took 5 minutes!  Holly said his feet were skinny and normal.  She said she was happy he could be in a place where his feet were not swollen any more.  Me too. 

Friday morning Bryan and Elizabeth stopped by again to play and get ready for the funeral.  I was glad they came because Richard had to work and I was having a hard time getting out the door.  this is Julia and uncle bryan playing with snaps.

At the funeral, Bryan said the family prayer and blessed that we would be comforted.  Grandma has some dementia and was sobbing very loudly.  It was hard to see her that way.  We all said our last goodbye's, starting with Uncle eric, then we went into the chapel of their wardhouse for the funeral.  Anna wanted to be with my aunt Annette the entire time.  She sat on her lap during most of the funeral.  I spoke first.  All the grandkids sent good memories of grandpa, so it was easy for me to put together a tribute.
anna and jane

amber and Julia

 

At the cemetery my Dad dedicated the grave and the retired vets did a service for us and put a flag on the casket, then folded and gave it to grandma.  

 Grandpa's gravesite is in the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Gardens on about 3300 S in Holladay.  His site is in the Mt Olympus park.  Which is fitting because he lived below and loved mt. Olympus.

 

 there was bird poop between them.  (chloe, Elizabeth and anna)

 Julia and uncle andy.

 anna and Elizabeth covering their ears during the salute.

 flag.  anna standing by grandma Elaine and aunt Annette.

 cousin colton and grandma Elaine.

 my family and grandma, she wouldn't look at the camera.

 mom, dad and grandma.

 aunt Annette, uncle eric, anna, grandma, mom.  in the background is holly and my cousin Isaac.

I had to go back because Julia left a toy at the grave site.  I was the last one there.  It was really sad to think about grandpa, being there, all alone, while we go on with our lives.  I think as long as we live them well he will be happy with us.  But my heart is still a little sad.

Then we headed back to the chapel for the luncheon.  Anna and Elizabeth were playing on the stage and pushed a giant vase of apple branches on the floor.  what a mess.  anna was very tired, so we didn't stay long and headed home.

Unfortunately she didn't fall asleep on the way home.  But bryan and Elizabeth came over to play, so it was alright.  They had a great time in the sandbox, it would be fun for them to play more often.  Elizabeth got a little dirty.......

When Julia woke up from her nap we headed to amy's inlaws property in morgan to have a family campout, which was a really fun time....the kids played on the swings and tramp and we played baseball and badmitton -

then Julia was following Richard to the tent to get her jammies on.  She got distracted and went by a baseball game.  Amber accidentally hit her in the face with a bat.  I thought she broke something.  But I got ice on it quick and gave her some Tylenol and she stopped crying after a bit and went to bed, so I figured she must be okay.  It's just going to be a big swollen black eye for a few weeks. 

Anna didn't sleep.  she woke up having to pee pee and woke up the whole camp saying: I DON'T HAVE TO GO POTTY!  After I took her potty she went back to sleep.  That girl.  In the morning we had bacon, eggs, pancakes and sausage.  Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention that Kelby's mom bought all the food for us as a tribute to grandpa.  how kind!

After cleaning up camp, we went to amy's and hung out until moma nd dad came back (they didn't sleep over).  Then we all went hiking up snowbasin.  Rich and Kelby went for a bike ride.  We found some snow to glissade on.  We went back to amy's then went home to work on our garden.  Richard's parents came. 

at the trail head.

 Evan (6), anna (3), Jane (3), Elizabeth (3), Remi (4), Amber (7), Chloe (6)

We have been busy!  And it's just going to keep going until winter!