June 15 - June 28 (Lots of Pictures)

During the second two weeks of summer, I've been busy :) On the 16th, my hiking buddies and I decided to hike the trail up to Silver Lake (In American Fork Canyon, past Tibble Fork and just before the Granite Flat Campground).

If this is the kind of treatment I get on a hike... I can only imagine what kids at the school do to me when I'm not looking...

Our little band of intrepid hikers

Unfortunately we didn't make it to the lake... a thunderstorm ensued and we turned around to try it another day.

On the 17th, I went with my friend Stacey and her boys to the Living Aquarium. It was pretty cool. Here are some jellyfish.

This octopus decided to sprawl himself across the glass.

Hungry? This is the biggest lobster I've EVER seen!!!

This pool had about 5 sting rays swimming in it. You could touch them if you wanted to. It took me quite a few minutes before I'd actually put my hand in to touch one. While we were there, one little boy fell into the pool! I felt bad, but it sure was funny!!!

Logan and Random, riding the canoe

I love this picture. Everything was painted on the walls, but for whatever reason, when I took a picture of it, it came out looking a little on the 3-D side.

After the Aqarium, we had a run-in with some Storm Troopers at Boondocks, but we quickly got the situation sorted out and we were able to play our little hearts out!

On the 18th, I went to Lagoon with Stacey and the boys. It was a lot of fun!

Stacey and Logan were on Blast Off.

I did Re-Entry with Stacey and Logan, and got this picture when we were dropped. I love Stacey's face and if you look hard enough, Logan's eyes were the size of his head!

After we went on Rattlesnake Rapids twice (there was NO line at all) and got completely drenched, we took a ride on the ferris wheel. Here's Logan and Random

Stacey and myself.

Here's a picture of the Tidal Wave, when we were on the Sky ride across the park.

On the 19th I went to visit my sister, bro-in-law, nieces and nephew. We had fun playing games and talking and being silly. I came home Sunday morning.

On the 23rd Becky and I attempted to hike to Silver Lake again.

Her husband came with us, and the kids opted to stay at Grandma's house.

This guy we met on the trail. Becky would have walked right into him had I not said anything to her. I saw his ears flapping and said, "Becky! That's not a horse!" - we had passed people on horseback earlier. She looked up, saw him, and backed away. We watched him go down the hill and to the stream. Lucky for us, no mamma moose was around to feel threatened by us being there - to protect her son.

We made it to the lake. There were many HUGE boulders submerged in the water. Such a pretty sight!!

Lots of snow still up there. I stood in the water and within a minute my toes felt like they had needles sticking in them. That water was FREEZING!!!

Here's me, Becky, and Chris. Chillin' on the rocks, looking out at the lake.

Yesterday, the 27th, Stacey picked me up and we went to Thanksgiving Point Gardens (she'd never been there).

When we were walking out to the car, this moth was on the wall and it intrigued me. I think it looks cool - but I'm wierd like that anyway.

Here's a profile view of the moth. I don't know why I think it's so cool... but I do.

There were so many bright colored flowers at the Garden! This flower was sporting a grasshopper this year.

This flower was trying to not be part of the 'in crowd', by showing off a lovely brown stripe tattoo :)

I LOVE the Koi pond area. The fish were so big and bright colored!

Stacey had mentioned something about a frog needing to be in the pond, and as we were walking away, we found him! He was just floating on the water, chillin. We named him Froderick.

The rose garden was fabulous! I was impressed with this picture, so I put it up to show it off ;)

When we stopped at the bathrooms, I saw this nest and by standing on a bench, got a picture of the three little birds inside. I was able to watch them for a good few minutes and saw the mommy bird fly in to feed them a couple times. So fun!

After we walked around the Gardens, we went over to the Children's Discovery Garden and walked around that. It was cute. This bear is in the 'bear cave' and actually startled both Stacey and myself. It was funny!

Luckily, he stopped long enough to get pictures with us both.

Overall, the last two weeks have been very fun and exciting! I also got to visit with some friends I haven't seen in a while, and go to lunch/dinner with a couple of them. The next two weeks should prove to be just as exciting and fun. More hiking, family parties, and hopefully a trip or two in the mix. Stay happy and we'll be in touch! ;)

Foot Update

I don't have pictures to add to this post... hahaha. But my foot is doing very well. It is healing nicely and hopefully I'll be able to run around and jump soon. Sometimes my toes will feel swollen still, but otherwise I am grateful that I am healing so fast and so well.
Thank you to all those who helped me in any way, shape, or form over the last three weeks!

Lesson #5

Today I taught about Leading in the Lord's Way. It was a good lesson. I had woken up this morning not feeling very well, but by afternoon I was a little better. I got to church and started feeling weird again, but I stayed and taught.
We had a good discussion about leaders and different ways that leaders have influenced our lives. I only had half an hour to teach, so I was glad for that. I still felt very scatterbrained and unorganized, even though I'd read the lesson many times and knew what it was about. I was nervous, and my hands kept shaking. I had to hold on to the podium to keep them occupied so that I could think of what was going on. Someone commented to me later, that I don't seem nervous at all when I'm teaching. I replied that I don't know why that is, I get nervous every time I have to teach (and added that when I play the piano or organ in public I STILL get nervous doing that too... and I've been playing for 22 years!)
After church, I asked my roommate how she really thought it was. She said that it was really good, and the flow of it was perfect. I commented that maybe as long as I feel scatterbrained about my lessons, that means they went well; if I didn't feel scatterbrained, then maybe it didn't go so well.

Two Weeks of Fun

Hopefully I can get this post done - my computer likes to kick me off the internet ;( and there's another storm with lightning and thunder... type fast, type fast.

Allison and I took a trip up to Silver Lake Reservoir and had a fun time walking around. We ate lunch and played games while we were up there. I love being in the mountains, I love being with good friends, and I especially LOVE being in the mountains with good friends! ;)


We had fun jumping on this bridge. I couldn't jump very well because of my foot, but it was still fun.

My first hike of the season was with Becky and her kids. We hiked up the Lame Horse Trail which goes from Aspen Grove to the summit of the Alpine Loop (if you were driving the loop from American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon). Very pretty hike.

The kids found this columbine flower. It stood out by itself... bright white against lush greens.

This flower was also very pretty. We don't know what kind of flower it is... but it was gorgeous.

I discovered while we were driving home, that if the windshield wipers were going a hundred miles an hour (because of lots of rain), that taking a picture through the windshield makes it appear that you are going through warp speed. Kinda cool!

Yesterday, we had a family reunion with my mom's side of the family. Here is almost all of the 35 and under "children" starting up a game of kickball. I don't know which team won... we got rained out :)
Since we (the kids) are not old enough to be with the adults, and we're too old to be with the young kids, we make our own fun. Here's me, my sister in law, Jess, and my sister, Mindy. It was challenging to get the three of us up there... my brothers had to lift each of us up so we could make it.
Rob and Jake, doing either their karate moves, or acting like a raptor... either way, funny stuff ;)

My Uncle Dee has always impressed us with his tricks. He has been doing these things since I was a little kid. Amazing! I still can't do it...

My brothers and cousin, Peter, thought they'd become monkeys for a few minutes. If I had been able to, I would have been up there with them.

Here's half of the group that came to the reunion. I can't seem to find my picture of the other half... hmmm

Here's my niece, Chloe. She's just over 7 months old and growing like crazy. So adorable!

My nephew, Jarren, will be 2 next month. He is also getting bigger. He was being super shy... but I got this cute picture of him while he was on the playground, looking at me thru the hole in the tunnel he was in.

I also was able to go with my family to the open house of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was fantastic! So beautiful.

If I'm not out doing these things, I am either out to lunch or dinner with someone, hanging out with friends, or home reading a book. I truly look forward to and relish my summer months away from work! I'll try to be a little better about posting... but if all I can manage is a two week 'catch up' throughout the summer, then so be it! Haha.

Happy Birthday Kati!!

Yesterday was my sister's birthday. 19 is old... LOL. This is the only picture I had available on my computer right now sis... sorry if you don't like it ;)
Kati, I want you to know how much I admire you and how proud I am of you! You are a brilliant person and I am glad you are my sister. It's hard not having you around all the time, but I do enjoy the time we get to spend together. You are amazing! Love you, sister!!