Climb on

After climbing we hit a taco place and went to the dollar late show: Star Trek.

AF

Wednesday we went up AF canyon and climbed an area called Hard Rock.

Epic Views

Before the hike up Mount Timpanogos I stop in to Brooke's BBQ.

Without any sleep 10 of us met at 11:30pm and started hiking at midnight. We hiked up 7.5 miles on the Timpanooke Trail with an elevation gain of 4,480 feet up to Mount Timpanogos Peak 11,749. It is the second highest peak in the Wasatch Range. Hiking with head lamps was really cool seeing all of the lights around us along the trail. It was busier than I expected. It took me about 5.5 hours to hike to the top. We hiked at an easy pace because we didn't want to get to the top too early.

We arrived at the peak 45-60 min. before sunrise. We tried to cuddle up and nap but we were on the hard rock and on the ledge of a cliff. I couldn't sleep.

The sunrise was EPIC!

The hike down was the hardest part of the hike because I was tired and my feet were sore. The views sure made the return worth it and amazing.

Anita and I served in the RS a year ago. She is one of my favorite people in the world. She always made me smile and laugh. I love her too pieces. She married Brian McDonald. He loves her and they are the cutest couple. So happy for her!!!

Nephew time

These are the only photos I took this past weekend when Amy, Krehl, and my niece and nephews pasted through Riverton on their way home from Idaho. I am amazed how fast Garrett and the others are growing up. I sure love them!

Bear Lake Campout & Reunion

My Stake had a campout at Bear Lake August 15-16, 2009. It started out a ward campout and then everyone got "word". My whole stake was invited. It rained all night on Friday and Saturday morning. We spent some quality time in the tents playing cards and talking. Friday night was a blast with a light up frisbee, smores, and two bonfires.

My mom's side of the family was having their family reunion up at Bear Lake the same weekend as my ward's campout. All of my friend's left early Saturday because of the rain so I stayed with my family and a great Saturday. The sun came out and it was a beautiful day. My mom and I went on a 10 miles bike ride, walked around Scott's condo area, and played with the family and kids while my dad played two games of golf.

Scott rented a condo up on the hill and it was spectacular. I loved the view off of the balconies. There were three. We had a debate about "why" the water was so blue. The answer is:
"Bear Lake is often called the Caribbean of the Rockies for its intense turquoise-blue water. As visitors catch their first glimpse of the lake, they marvel at its color and wonder what makes the lake so blue. The unique color is due to the reflection of the limestone deposits suspended in the lake."

Wish we could've got everyone in this shot. I love the view in this one.

Families are Forever!


The sparse family shots goes to show we are always off playing in the outdoors & no where to be found! Love ya family!

Challenge Buttress

A group of us went climbing Saturday afternoon up Big Cottonwood Canyon. We climbed three routes 5.7, 5.9, and 5.10. I have not lead a 5.10 and not sure I am ready this year. I barely made it to the top with a lot of help from my belayer. It was a tough climb.

Thanks Garrett for pulling me up the roof.

Watching someone climb is like watching a campfire burn. Look at all of us...we were in the zone.

Ben took this shot - fantastical!

Melissa I sure love ya girl! It has been way too long. We need to climb together again soon!!!

Alicia off to Mexico

First Week of School

I can't believe I have started my sixth year of teaching this week. I am teaching 22 4th graders and my classroom is located in a portable. The good thing about being in a portable is I do not have to rotate every nine weeks and pack up my classroom into a closet. The bad thing is I will be out of the social scene in the school and it smells moldy. All is well! I can't complain. I feel lucky to have only 22 students and I am teaching the Accelerated Learning Program for Students (ALPS) class. My class will be learning 5th grade math and language arts (according to their reading levels).

Good luck to all of the students out there and their teachers! May we have a fantastical 2009-2010 learning school year!

Week of July 24th

While Amy and the kiddos were in town. We went to the Oquirrh Temple Open House in South Jordan, UT. We will not have this opportunity again for a while. Amy and I went to the Jordan River Temple Open House back in 1981. I was three and Amy was six. I remember the escalators and the bright rooms.


I can only imagine Garrett felt the spirit in the temple. He was all giggles and smiles today!

I am truly blessed to know that families can be together forever thanks to the sealing, covenants, and blessings of the temple. Salt Lake County alone will have four temples after the dedication of the Oquirrh Temple. Time to serve others!!!

Jordan Ridge Elementary 4th graders (our students) sang the open song at the Days of '47 Rodeo. Alison and I taught the song to the students and got them organized thanks to Steve James. What an opportunity! I would love to put pics of the students on here so you could see all of their cute faces but I do not have permission...sorry. Because we helped with the students we got some free tickets. We had a ball in the nose bleed area watching the rodeo. The best part was watching the bulls attack the clowns. We saw two clowns really "get it" - ouch! They we slammed by the bulls and one clown was thrown into the fence. I looked so painful.

My family and Amy and her kids were up at Snowbird all week. I had my teacher prep days and because I moved into a portable I had a lot of work this week. I only went up to Snowbird on Friday. We got the "All Day Activity Pass" from Costco. Unlimited rides on the alpine slide, tram, trampoline, rock climbing wall, bouncing castle, zip line, and mechanical bull. We had a blast with the kids doing all of these activities. At the end of the day my friends came up to get away from the city heat. We swam and hiked Catherine Pass. We would've hiked down to the lake cut it started raining and by the time we got to the car it started pouring. We finished just in time. I love my friends. They are always up for a hike, bike ride, climbing adventure, etc. even in the dark!

Tour finale tomorrow

Stage 20: Montélimar > Mont Ventoux

Check out that last climb! Mental & physical pain - pedal through it!

The Top 10 In Stage 20

Rabobank has finally won a stage of the 2009 Tour de France and what a one to win! Juan Manuel Garate has claimed his first victory at the Tour. The top 10 in the 20th stage is:
1. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP) RAB - 167km in 4h39'21" (35.869km/h)
2. Tony Martin (GER) THR - at 3"
3. Andy Schleck (LUX) SAX - 38"
4. Alberto Contador (ESP) AST - at 38"
5. Lance Armstrong (USA) AST - at 41"
6. Frank Schleck (LUX) SAX - at 43"
7. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) LIQ - at 46"
8. Franco Pellizotti (ITA) LIQ - at 56"
9. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) LIQ - at 58"
10. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) GRM - at 1'03"

The Top Four Overall (as of Stage 20)

The top four on general classification after the penultimate stage of the 2009 Tour de France is:
1. Alberto Contador
2. Andy Schleck at 4'11"
3. Lance Armstrong at 5'24"
4. Bradley Wiggins at 6'01"

Even after four years of retirement Lance came back to place 3rd (as of today) in the Tour de France. I hope tomorrow goes as planned and he will be on the podium!

Nothing to protect the riders...they are open for punishment from the elements.

6

On vacation at Lake Powell and still waking up at six a.m. for this...totally worth it!

Wake Time

My family and friends recently went to Lake Powell. Amy (my sis) and Krehl have a house boat. They were on the lake for a week but we only went down for Wed-Sat. It was hot, beautiful, and full on boat time! We got up at six and didn't stop boating and playing until sundown.



(Mom surfing)

(Krehl body surfing)
Jeff figured this out after crashing on the surf board and didn't let go;o) It looks cooler than it really is.


(Krynn has sweet skills!)