Little Mill Camping Trip and Hike to Timp Cave

I am including a lot of pictures for family that we missed, so bear with me.

Last weekend, Jason and Kari, Emily and Dave were able to come camping with us. We went to Little Mill Campground in American Fork Canyon. It was a lot of fun-wet-but fun.

It was a very pretty setting for our campground

The cliff on one side

And cliff on the other side of the canyon

We needed a quick and easy dinner since we didn't get to the site til around 6:30p-roasted hot dogs, pasta salad, and chips.


This fire was difficult to get going. The ashes in the fire pit were all wet from all the rain from the previous weeks (I thought we lived in a desert??) All the boys (or "men" I should say) tried to start a fire. They were able to get one going for a few minutes, but then it would burn out. Emily was the only who was able to make a fire and keep it going! Thanks Emily you rock!


Then right as we were cleaning up dinner it started to rain and thunder and lighting. So we all headed into the tent. It was exciting and a little nerve racking, hoping that we would stay dry. While we were in the tent a gust of wind blew the rain fly and pulled out the front stakes. Luckily, Jon and his brothers were able to find all the stakes and put them back.


After about 15 mins, it stopped raining, so we went out to have dessert. Surprisingly, our fire stayed lit-thanks goodness. We had s'mores and roasted starbursts. Then put Max to bed-it went pretty smoothly.

Then we decided to get more wood from the Ranger since it wasn't burning very effectively with all the rain and wetness. The coals cooled down a lot faster than normal. We were hoping to stay up late and hang out by the fire, but the weather had other plans. It started to rain again. It was after 10p so we decided we would just stay in the tent.


Kari trying to fall asleep without the ambient noise.


It was nice to have a new coloring book to keep Zac occupied, while we all talked.


Max was great. He slept all night. We didn't use the portacrib this time and things were easier. It was easier to keep him in his blankets through out the night.


Yep, this is my Jonny.


This is what the rain fly looked like the next morning.



This is the trench Jon dug the night before it was full of water at night. Rain started to get between the tarp and the tent. Luckily we caught it in time. I don't think any of us got wet in the tent. It is an amazing tent!!

This was a puddle left over from the night's "moisture"

Jon making us banana pancakes

Enjoying breakfast and a warm sun. There was a log that had been laying on the ashes all night and kept one strip of it dry so it was easier to make a fire this morning.



The river was right by our tent spot


Then we headed to hike to Timpanogos Cave. It was pretty busy, so after buying tickets, we had to wait 45 mins before we could start the hike.

There were some birds of prey we got to go see.


The weather was great on the way up. Zac was not so great...he complained the whole time and we had to almost pull him up the trail. At one point Emily carried him, thanks Em.

View of the narrow canyon


The Heart of Timpanogos Cave


Cool picture by Jon

This was outside at the end of the cave tour. During the tour a huge rain and lightening storm came through the canyon. We had to hang out under this awning for 15 mins to wait for the rain to let up so they would let us hike down.


Rain is pouring off the side of the mountain. That "gray" area at the bottom right of the picture is supposed to be the mountain on other side of the canyon. It is a pretty narrow canyon, so it was surprising that there was so much rain we couldn't see the other side.


This is the first rock slide of 2. The second rock slide was a lot bigger. The Ranger is holding a shovel in it to keep the rocks from sliding while we walk across the upper part of it.


This is just past the second rock slide. There isn't supposed to be a waterfall here. . . can you see the water going down the trail behind me?


When we got to the bottom of the trail there was an ambulance and a fire and rescue team. Apparently someone was hit by a rock, but wasn't hurt badly.

Then we took our tired bodies over to the Purple Turtle and had lunch about 4p.

Wow! What an adventure?!

Attic Storage Project

So we have begun some projects around the house. There always seems to be something we can do around here. Last week we worked on making a storage space in the attic. There is an attic access way in the laundry room, but there is a ton of insulation up there, and it is hard to get into. So we decided to cut an attic access in the garage.

I went and got the plywood one night. (We have REALLY enjoyed having the Pilot and have really broken her in with camping a couple times, a road trip, and now hauling lumber. We love it!)


Then the next night Jon cut a hole in the ceiling


And we put the plywood up there and then put the boxes up there.


A fairly easy and quick task. Thanks Dad for your help!

Now on to making the previous storage place (in the laundry room) in to a sewing and craft area for me! I painted the laundry room last week too (standby for pics). The room was a sage green (pretty color, but a bit dark for this room), and there were gold stars stenciled around the ceiling...

The Boys

Just some fun pics as of late:

The boys just after their bath. They are getting so big. It is fun to see them play together.



Zac fell asleep like this when we were on our way home after some errands. He won't nap generally, but still seems to need 1 or 2 a week. The last few times he has fallen asleep in the car he is just out. Its hard to wake him up-and funny!

Vintage Trendy Earrings!

Check out these sweet earrings. They are having a giveaway at their website Bitsy Bling. They also have a buy 3 get one FREE promotion going on right now. They have a few other styles too. They also do cute baby stuff. Go check it out or at least enter the giveaway-I am!

My First 5k and More

On Saturday morning at 7:30a I ran my first 5k. I have always wanted to run the Rex Lee Run that BYU sponsors. And this year my friend Shelly invited me to run with her. I didn't get registered in time and I didn't want to pay the late registration, and I was a bit nervous about running it. . . so I passed on that one.

Then a couple months later Rachel said she was running the Art City Days 5k and the registration was only $8. So I thought sure. And she was going to do it with me. So a week after I registered and about a week and a half before the race. I thought, "man I really need to run to try it out before the actual race". I do not run! When I do cardio at the gym I do the stair stepper. I have never understood the "runner's high". I really felt like I was not a runner. But I also wanted to take advantage of being somewhat in shape and do this race.

This is the starting line. Twenty-six hundred people registered to run the race.

It was a pretty good experience. I was pretty stressed at first because I heard talk about a hill, and with all the people at the starting line it was hard to keep a pace and focus on the running. But I was able to keep at a good pace where I generally was breathing effectively. The music also really helped. And I want to thank all those who lent me their ipod devices so I could run with music. I left mine in St. George :(

This is just before the finish line. It was great to see Jon and the boys waiting for me!


I included this picture because it has the time on it . . .which you may not be able to see. It says 34:41, but since we were kind of far from the startline and had to wait for everyone to get going before we got there, I will subtract a min :) So I figured I ran the 5k in 33 mins and 46 seconds. I didn't think I would get there faster than 40 mins. So I am pretty satisfied with my time :)


Thank you Rachel for encouraging me to do this and helping me figure out how to run effectively.

Thank you Jon for your support! I love you!



Then me and the boys napped while Jon went on a bike ride with his brother. Then we got ready and went to the Wild Outdoors Festival at Thanksgiving Point. They had the Timbersports Games and Splashdog Games. They were fun to watch. And the boys had a good time too.

I forgot we had the camera so the pictures aren't great.


We went with our friends, Amy and Ricky.


Another one of Zac's silly faces, this was posed :)

I don't know the name of the events but this was "a pole climb". The poles are 60 ft high.


The men climb the pole with cramp on type shoes and a belt that goes around the pole. Then they sort of repel down, catching themselves with their shoes every 10-20 feet. It was so cool to watch. They also had a "Boom Run" where they run along a line of different sized logs floating in water. That was really cool too. The events we saw used axes and chain saws.


Zac was afraid to touch this huge turtle. It was 60-70 years old.


Zac ready for church this morning.

Found the camera . . .

...again. Well, Jon found it when he was cleaning the Civic. It was in the glove compartment (in that little black hole). Maybe I am loosing my mind-but I DO NOT remember putting it there! :(
Thanks Jon!



And as promised. Here's a picture of Jon's new clothes that I got him for his birthday (back in March). One sexy business man! ;)

Max-18 months

What do you call Kraft Macaroni and Cheese made with butter, heavy whipping cream, hot dogs, and cream cheese?
Disgusting? Well, we call it a calorie boost.

How about mashed potatoes made with butter, sour cream, heavy whipping cream and avocados? A calorie boost

We also add heavy whipping cream to his milk at night.

A couple months ago Max qualified for a program to help kids catch up to their age group. He isn't too far behind, but enough to qualify. He qualified for his expressive communication and his motor skills. We have seen a speech pathologist, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist who helps with nutrition.

After meeting with all of them it seems to be a common consensus that Max has normal-low muscle tone. Meaning it takes more energy to get his muscles to "fire" (do what he wants them to do).

So it takes more energy for him to learn to walk, talk, and eat slippery foods such as diced fruits. We help him do "exercises" to strengthen his muscles so he won't be bowlegged and to "wake-up" his muscles. Before he eats we use a vibrating tooth brush to touch the muscles around his mouth to wake up them up so they can get more familiar with eating motions which also aid in speaking.

He is doing pretty good with his walking, and gets more proficient every week. He is also starting to make new sounds: eeeeee, fff, ppp. I still have a hard time getting him to say mmm, it comes out as ddd sound :P. He calls me "ah-ee" (mommy without the m's). He is really smart and is understanding a lot more lately. He can go get a lot of things that we ask for like a diaper, his Mickey, a ball or his shoes. If I tell him to close the door he understands that too. And he knows how to clean up. Last night I was singing the Barney "Clean up" song and he was trying to sing it with me "ee-uh, ee-uh", it was so fun to see that. We are also working on signs still. It is a lot easier to communicate things like eat, cheese, drink, me.

He loves to play and he climbs all over. I don't remember if I told this story before. But a few weeks ago Jon and I were getting the garden plot ready and we turned around to see Max sitting at the top of the slide. How did he get there? He rarely used the slide and only with assistance. Upon further observation we learned he climbed up the front of the slide using the cross bar of the swing set to help him. We were stunned! He is so brave. We also have a double facing swing and he loves to climb up there all by himself and wait for someone to come and swing him. He will also stand up on the seat of the swing. He will be a handful!

The occupational therapist said that fat is essential to his brain development and since he was under the 3rd percentile at his 12 month Dr appt we are trying to boost his weight. And it seems like it is going pretty good.

Max also LOVES animals. He isn't really afraid of them either. This is our friend's dog Anna, and she is taller than Max. But Max doesn't have a problem going up to her face. Sometimes he is a little too comfortable.


Max pulled her ear (I didn't even realize it until I looked at the picture after I took it. Sorry Callie.)


We also have a neighbor who has a tiny little dog, the size of a kitten. And Max hugged it just like it was his little Mickey Mouse, with his arm around it and his head tilted to cuddle the dog. It was so cute. When we look at books with animals in them and I point to the book. He likes to growl for the sounds of any animal.

And here is a pic of Zac. When ever I pull out the camera he wants me to take a picture of him. He will always pose, most of the time he likes to make funny faces. Then he always wants to see how it came out. :)