Let's Go Hiking!

Red Potato Trail
I dropped Cannon off at his afternoon ballet workshop and I went home and told the kids to put on their shoes and socks and get in the car-- We're going adventuring!
We drove over to Draper, up near the temple and found a trail. 

Bethany and Elinor both had work obligations, so it was just the younger kids.

Faith was a super trooper!  She was very helpful with a tired little Peter.  Pete did pretty well, but the trail was mostly downhill for the first half and uphill for the second half.  We liked this trail.

Greta likes getting toted around on our hikes.  We could probably use a better baby carrier-- this one was a budget level when we bought it 18 years ago when Clark was a baby.  But it still works!

Peter is very audible in both his delights and miseries in our adventures.  Either way, I'm sure it's good for him.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail-- Hidden Valley Park to Bear Canyon Bridge

Thursday evening we hiked the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from Sandy towards Draper.  We really enjoyed this hike.  Not too steep, not too rocky, but quite lovely. 

Peter did pretty well, but it was a long hike for a three year old.  He enjoyed lots of piggy back rides throughout the hike-- just so he could "get his energy back".

Peter found this rock-- which he insisted he bring home to his rock collection.  I didn't even know he had a rock collection.  I don't think he actually does have a rock collection.  

Abe was a very patient hiking daddy.

Faith's friend Emma came along on the hike.

I like wearing out the boys in the great outdoors.  They go right to sleep at night:)

The bridge over this "Bear Canyon" was very cool, but it FREAKED ME OUT! It did not feel steady at all and it bounced and swayed.  I help Cannon's hand as we crossed it and I was squeezing it so tightly he was begging me to let go.  No way, Jose!  I couldn't wait to get off the bridge.  I do not like bridges.

You might notice that George's one hand, fingerless glove is back.  It's a fashion statement.

Cool rock tunnel.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail-- Coyote Hollow Trailhead to East Bench Trail Head

After being such a trooper and helping with Peter earlier in the week, Faith said she would really like to go on a hike just with me.  So we did!  We went this afternoon for a couple of hours.  

It was windy and not the most enjoyable trail we've hiked, but I adored the company.  Frankly, I was terrified most of the way that we were going to be attacked by a mountain lion.

I recently found a pair of hiking boots for Faith at DI.  They looked to be in very good condition and only $5.00!  Whoo-hoo!  What a deal!

Except that about 15 minutes into the hike almost the entire soles came off the boots!  WHAT THE HECK?  I told Faith it was okay and we'd just head back.  She said she was enjoying the hike and didn't want to turn back.  So we improvised and put hair elastics around the top and bottom of the boots and she made do.  She's pretty resourceful that way!

In Which Elinor Flies, Kittens Rule, Bethany Guards, Hitler Wins, Peter and Greta Work It, and Clark Smiles

Elinor played Billy Joel's "Root Beer Rag" at a recent piano recital and as you can see from this picture, she meant business!  She worked hard on this piece and I loved to hear her practicing.
Here is a video of her playing it at home.

Her teacher, Shari, is turning pages for her.  She can usually manage page turns herself, but this piece was so fast, there wasn't time.

Did I mention we have kittens.
Yeah.
They do keep the kids entertained, so it's not all bad.  Another month or so and they'll be off to new homes of their own.  There will be sadness at our house when that happens.

Peter is particularly tender and attached to the kitties.

He really wanted his picture taken with the kitties.

It does my heart good to see him being so sweet with them.

Abe and I both used to think we were "dog people".  As it turns out, we like cats better.  Which isn't saying that much.  We don't like cats that much either, but as far as family pets go, we do better with cats.

When I took Elinor to an early morning swim practice, I snapped a picture of Bethany who was already lifeguarding.  She is really enjoying life guarding and tries to get as many shifts as she can.  She is in no danger of getting a sunburn.  The girl does not burn.  She browns!  She is getting so, so tan!  I'd like her to get a few more shifts at the indoor pool.

A fun game night with the Endemano family recently.  The more we play a game called "Secret Hitler", the more we like it.

Jacob was popular with the littlest people.

Cub Scouts won't be around too much longer as a church sponsored den, but we just got a neighbor called to be the Cub Master and the boys adore him.  He had the boys doing push ups and they couldn't get enough!

They played a fun game of maze tag.  That looks pretty fun.

Peter likes to comb his hair and put lots of product in.  We always tell him how wonderful he looks.

Miss Greta experimented with the mascara and gave herself a fetching uni-brow.  I think it's a good look for her.

And last, but DEFINITELY not least, Clark sent us this picture of himself last week.  Are you kidding me?!?!  This is our son?  We are so happy he is doing well and loving the missionary life!  His letters are wonderful.  If you'd like to catch up with what he's up to, I post his letters and pictures on this blog-- www.elderfoxgoestotexas.blogspot.com

Fox Family Night in the Park

Last Saturday evening we had a lovely evening in the park with most of the Utah Fox families.  Everyone brought their own dinner and camp chairs and WALAH!  Instant family reunion in the park!

Visiting with sister in laws is the best.  This was a rare moment when Greta was sitting with us, rather than wandering all over the park.  She was quick to escape my notice.

The men, women, and teens formed their own little visiting circles.

This huge, beautiful St. Bernard dog came through the park and all the kids came over to pet it.  Good thing he was friendly.

Pretty cute stuff!

We love our main city park.  It's got great playground equipment and lots of space and shade.

Cousins played lots of Frisbee.

Hallie and Peter

Bell Canyon Waterfall

Last Saturday Abe and I did something truly wonderful.  We went on a hike-- JUST THE TWO OF US!  No children to keep track of.  I enjoy going as a family, but this was a dream!

Parts of this hike were definitely the most challenging we've done so far.  Well, I suppose Abe has done much harder stuff on 50 miler hikes and such, but this was no easy walk for me!

The waterfall and the view from the waterfall was glorious.  No lie-- it brought me to tears.  As we neared the waterfall there were some very, very rocky parts that were pretty steep.  Several people passed us as they were headed down and they assured us we were getting closer and it was worth it!Indeed it was.  Abe and I enjoyed playing a game of "Find the Gospel Principle".  We talked about what we can learn about the gospel from what we observe hiking.  First off, the people who told us it was worth it were the people who had actually done it.  They had successfully walked the path and seen the rewarding view.  They knew first hand of what they spoke.  Someone down in the valley who had never done it and wasn't on the path had no way of knowing whether the journey was worth it or not.  We must be cautious in whose advice we follow.

There was a long section of the trail that was extremely rocky and steep.  Looking upwards at it, it appeared to be continuous rock and rock after rock with no flat, dirt spaces at all.  Basically, as far as you could see, it appeared you would just be climbing rocks.
But if you turned around and looked down the trail, from whence you had just come, it was clear that in between all the rocks, almost like flat steps, there were dirt patches were you could easily get a safe foothold and even rest for a moment.
Gospel principle lesson:  We are not always seeing things as they actually are.  God provides a doable, albeit challenging trail, when it may appear to us an impossibly difficult path.  There are footholds.  There are steps.  You need not ascend the mountain all at once.  Stay on the path and keep pressing forward.

The reservoir was quite picturesque.

I would certainly NOT be opposed to another morning date hike in the near future!

Red Pine Lake Trail

A couple weeks back, part of the Young family joined part of the Fox family for a breathtakingly beautiful hike up Little Cottonwood Canyon.  We headed toward Red Pine Lake.  Due to time constraints we didn't get all the way to the lake, but the trail and the views were spectacular!

I mean seriously!!!  I've lived in Utah a long time-- well over 20 years and I've done very little outdoorsy adventuring.  I would say, "Shame on me", but NO! I've been busy having babies and NOW is the time!  And I'm loving it!

We try to get a truly terrible selfie on each of our hiking adventures.  Job well done!

This hike was Dave's suggestion and we couldn't have picked a better one!  Next time we'll have to get all the way to the lake.

It was delightfully chilly when we started and then we got higher up, so it was never uncomfortably warm.

It's been my idea to start hiking a lot, but Abe has wholeheartedly and enthusiastically joined in the fun.  I think it's my way of coping with Clark's absence.  He really got into hiking about 8 months before he left on his mission.  He took me on one of his hikes with him and it was tough for me.  The seed was planted and I thought about it for many months before deciding this was how I wanted to spend the summer.

It's been nice to occasionally leave Peter and Greta at home with a sitter so we can go faster with these guys.  Bethany hasn't gotten in on most of the hikes just because she keeps a pretty busy schedule with work and play practices.  Hopefully as the summer goes on, we'll catch her a few times.