Feeling a little SPRY

Once again my Rock and I ventured to the lands southward last weekend to enjoy one last summer hurrah in the canyons of Zion. Friends Kim & Aaron were kind enough to provide transportation, food, good company, laughs, new gear and plenty of understanding and patience when it was discovered nearly 25 minutes after leaving the house that we forgot our wetsuits. And more patience and understanding late that night at the campground when the Rock and I decided to buy a new rope the next day…;)


Anyway, here are pictures of Pine Creek that we did last Friday and Spry Canyon on Saturday. We were blessed with the beautiful & inspiring presence of Cindy and Scout with us in Spry (We were sorry Joe was sick!). The last time I hiked through Pine Creek, it was completely dry. Not so this time. It was wet from the get-go with several floating disconnects. I was so glad for a wetsuit! Quite a fun challenge!


This is looking up at the last rappell in Pine Creek. 100 ft FREE! Love it!

Aaaron & Kim got new gloves...;)

Looking out from the alcove at the bottom of the last rappell in Pine Creek. Boulder hopping down the streambed brought us to a couple of plunges in the "pool" and then to the Pizza & Noodle in Springdale.



The next day we met Cindy and Scout in Springdale at 8 am and were hiking into Spry by just after 9 am.










The first rappell in Spry. 170 ft.




Scout, Kim & Cindy


This is one of my favorite rappells in any canyon. It is short, but really fun. You have to sit on the edge of the cliff where the Rock's feet are, clip into the rope that is anchored on the sandstone wall across the gap, and swing out & down at the same time so you don't hit your head or hands. A definite Whoohoo! issued from Scout and myself on this one!






A vertical panoramic shot that Scout took.

This is the last rappell out of Spry. About 95 ft free! You now get to do this one instead of slide down the sandhill to the west, which the Park service now frowns upon.
Total thumbs-up! After scrambling down the rest of the boulder field, we headed upstream and took a few plunges in the "Spry" pool:) Cindy & Scout definitely showed their experience and skill in this canyon, while Aaron & Kim added to theirs.
And to my Rock...thanks again for taking me magical places and bringing me home again safe and sound. Love you.

Just Stuff

Michex was asked by the Director/drama teacher to be the STAGE MANAGER of Weber High's fall musical! Yea! What does that mean? I'm not really sure other than she is at every practice, has her own script/notebook thingy and once the curtain goes up opening night, the show is handed over to her! "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" will run sometime in November.

Mayflower is excited about being asked to be on the 6th grade student council, almost having her backhand-spring down and going horseback riding with Dreampacker:)

Shematite loves "harvest time"! And therefore Autumn!

I am looking forward to a couple of days in Zion with my Rock.

Weekend

Loved having Scout, Karli and the Coombs family here for a visit! Played "Go to Jail" in the old orchards, played dodgeball and played a mind-boggling game of "Signs"! Rob cooked all kinds of yumminess on the grill and then the kiddos roasted marshmallows in the fire pit. And yes! We did watch the BYU game! I then conducted Relief Society on Sunday, enjoyed my wonderful, weekly nap that my family makes sure I get and then made a little trip up to Lil'Dell Ranch to visit the Wild Bunch. Learned more about my new camera:) Monday morning...cleaned out my kitchen pantry (such as it is) in hopes of making room for a smidgeon of the harvest and case lot sales that have begun, bid the weary travelers goodbye to make their way back to Dixie and gave myself a mental and emotional pat on the back. Well done. Great weekend. Now back to work:)

Beautiful Day

Well, ...back to school.

Scout was busily rearranging her schedule down at Dixie so she could fit in the "Raging Red" class she added at the last minute. Apparently a show/traveling choir of some kind that she tried out for. She's very happy about it!

Michex - senior. Enough said.

Mayflower - 6th grade. Likes her teacher. Zero cute boys in her class, so she says....but, pretty darn cute herself, I must say:)

I got home from work Monday, and found that Mayflower didn't have any homework yet and Michex was making chocolate chip cookies. Mmmmm. Had a tomato sandwhich for dinner, some cookie dough, and then went for a little hike up the base of Ben Lomond. The sun was setting, the sage smelled glorious and my heart, lungs and legs did what I told them to do. Beautiful day.

Change of Plans

Last weekend, the weather kind of helped us change our plans from a backpacking trip in the Uintahs to a surprise visit to Scout at Jacob Lake. Here are some favorite photos!

Inside the Lodge where Scout works.

This is the fire tower that Scout climbs to get cell phone coverage to call home.

Kaibab Forest

Yes, Michex is pointing to a marshy pond in the background, also known as Jacob Lake.

Jacob Lake Historic Ranger Station.

Mayflower enjoying the view from Bright Angel Point at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Scout is actually on Bright Angel Point.

Then we drove out to Cape Royal to catch the sunset! We spent over 30 minutes trying to get the same person on boths sides of a panorama shot. It was so much fun! Come over some time and I will show you the bloopers:) I looove this shot!

Scout took this shot. Love it!

There was a forest fire burning out on Cape Royal so the air was really hazy, but we had so much fun! Scout showed us her dorm, introduced us to a lot of her friends, made us hot chocolate and milk shakes and didn't turn us in to the hotel management for cooking our meals on our balcony with our backpacking stove:) We stopped in Panguitch on our way home and had an impromptu BBQ with the Bremners, Coombs and Smiths. All in all, a great birthday get-away for me!

New Vines from Strong Roots ~ 2009

Well...we did it! Thanks to everyone for being so willing to help and accept assignments. I loved watching everyone play, craft, tube, rappel, hike, sing and eat together! I was constantly torn between taking photos of the fun and having fun myself. I think I did lots of both! Thanks again, everyone, for your love and support. As for the tune you hear playing on my play list, it is the song that I remember Grandpa Lee singing whenever we were outside together. I'll never forget his big booming bass voice singing the chorus of " Boom-de-ya-da's"! So, Grandpa(and Grandma!), this is for you.

I will always remember...

Kira giving up on changing Izaac's clothes. I am not sure who was happier after that - Kira or Izaac...

Michaela and Summer getting dumped down the waterfall in the river. Expert tube and child handling followed, because Michaela kept ahold of both of them! Whoohoo!

Marshmallow War - Hey! Who's eating all the ammo!?!

KICKBALL!

Greg & Sheri's yummy pulled pork sandwhiches from the Texas Pride BBQ. And peach cobbler!

Boom crash! The lightening flashed! Oh, that's another story...

Guitar serenades by Ty and Bethany...sigh:)

Cooling off in the river...with River!

Zach getting dumped down the dang waterfall and coming up missing a flip-flop but still smiling!

Yummy Breakfast cooked by Grandpa and Grandma:)

Samantha, Joziah, Chelsea and Emily doing their first RAPPEL! You guys Rock!

Hanging out with and getting to know better...John & Kristine and their families!

Please comment your favorite things, too! And if you saw/heard something funny/cute/memorable that I missed, please feel free to share it. As for me...pictures really are worth a thousand words ~ so...

Here are some tubing pictures:)

And some hiking pictures:) The Skull Crack trail around the south end of Causey is 2.3 miles one way. Beautiful views of the reservoir! Would be great in the fall with lots of leaf color, too!

Southfork cave rappelling! Yea!

Just having fun!

And finally... the Faces of Family!

Love you all!

Happy Birthday Michex! July 20th

Even sweeter @ 17!