Camp Out and Hike

A summer backyard camp out.

The top picture is Faith, Cannon, and George in June 2014.  The bottom is Peter and Greta in June 2020.  Miraculously, our tent has survived and isn't much worse for the wear.

We watched Back to the Future on the big screen outside.  I had the brilliant idea to bring a mattress outside to lay down to watch the movie.  It was heavenly for the 15 minutes I stayed awake for. Greta snuggled up next to me and we promptly feel asleep:)

Everybody had a good night's sleep.

And it's a good thing, because they next day we attempted quite an ambitious family hike up Butterfield Canyon.

Neither Abe nor I were familiar with this hike or the drive up the very winding, narrow road.  It was nerve-racking for me and our big van was ill-suited to the journey.  But we made it unscathed.

It doesn't appear so in the picture, but after the first quarter mile, it was very steep.  We didn't end up reaching the peak,-- I ran out of steam--which was our goal, but we deemed the hike a success anyway.  It was a really beautiful hike.

  Everyone copied Peter's gang sign:)

We found a log to rest on.  We named it the Log of Tribulation.

Guess what?  Today is our 23rd wedding anniversary-- June 24th.  It's been a very good 23 years.  There have been unbelievably happy times and incredibly sad/hard times.  And we've learned a lot and we're still learning.   And we have a beautiful family whose lives will also be a mixture of happy and sad.  And they'll keep on learning and growing.  And I am so grateful to have Abe for a partner and companion.  We have been very blessed.

The Brothers Fox.

The Foxy Ladies.

Elinor was Greta's companion and she was so helpful with her all the way back down the steep trail.

A boy and his dad.

A girl and her dad.  Father's Day was this past Sunday.  These kids definitely got the best of the best with Abe for their dad.  We are all blessed by his love and service to our family.
Here's a couple more fun anniversary pictures--

Abe put this collage together.  I guess the years haven't been too rough on us:)