Monday, July 26, 2010

Biking and Pioneer Day

Christian is back from Mt. Rainier and even better... he shaved his beard! So much joy to be had! Since his return from the icy grasp of Rainier we've been doing a lot of biking and celebrating.


We've biked the Wasatch Crest trail twice and just Yesterday biked what Christian calls the Timpanookie loop. Our friends Steve and Julie (yay another Julie!) are avid bikers and It's been fun to hit the trails with them. Our first biking adventure along the Wasatch Crest Trail starts up by Brighton near Guardsman pass and ends back down in Park City. The first big climb is appropriately named puke hill because many bikers who make it to the top at almost 10,000 feet have to puke from overexertion. Luckily that did not hold true for any of us.



This trail is one of my favorites mainly because it's mostly downhill, but also because the scenery is really pretty. It's like riding through the Ewok forest and the Sound of Music meadows all at the same time.



I crashed once when a muddy rut sucked me in and spit me out sideways. I got a bit muddy and a little scrapped up but it was all in good fun.



At the end of it all we stopped by Squatters for some amazing burgers. In total we biked just under 27 miles with an elevation gain of about 2500ft.




Our second adventure was much shorter but was still infinitely better than a Kathy Smith's Body Basics workout. It was a 10 mile loop with a total of 1900ft of elevation gain. It starts at the Timpanookie trail head for hiking Mt. Timpanogos. We biked through some amazing wildflower fields with spectacular views of Timp in the background.



We also came across an oddity along the trail that seemed evident of some local Pioneer Day drunkenness. At first it was just a downed tree blocking the trail but then we noticed some beer cans strewn along the trail and if you followed the beer can trail it led you to a car that had careened off the road and smashed into the trees. Seriously people... don't drink and drive... especially on a poorly lit mountain road with 180 degree switchback turns.



Christian and Steve investigating the crash.



Utah celebrates Pioneer Day on the 24th of July and we interpreted that to mean have a party with lots of Pie! Steph came over to help bake pies while Christian BBQ'd some burgers for us. Bret even stopped by with his creepy chester-stache for a slice along with some of our friends.


Steph crumbled the butter into the pie dough and I rolled it out for the lattice top. I ask you what's more Pioneer-ish than fresh homemade apple pie?


The finished products. The strawberry pie was Christian's favorite. but I thought both were equally Yummy!


Steph looks so pretty. Seriously she wouldn't hold still and smile for a single picture. This was the best I could get. Perhaps having this posted on the Internet for all to see will prompt a more picturesque smile in the future?



Happy Pioneer Day!
Sorry to those of you outside of Utah who still had to work.







Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Eagle Lake



We just returned from a weekend at Eagle Lake in California. Going there every year has become a 4th of July family tradition. This is only the second time that Christian and I have been able to make it out so we took full advantage of all the festivities. One of our favorite things to do was ride on the three person tube and see who we could get to fall off. We got some serious air on that thing but only Christian managed to get thrown off.



Yes that's me about to fly out of the tube but I hung on for dear life and managed to stay inside.


Relaxing in the sun.


We made smores with gigantic marshmallows...


giggled around the campfire...




rode Kayaks...


Even Lucas went for a ride sporting his watermelon soaked cheeks.


This little man became a master of the orange flag.


We all loved Mark's boating techniques.


The Bro Boat was awesome!


And most importantly Mom got to bond with her grand babies.


At the end of it all we returned home to the best feeling shower of our lives. Yay for soap and warm running water to make me appreciate the little things. We were lucky to have my parents stop by on their way home for a visit. We hosted a dinner in their honor and it was delicious!



Botanical Gardens




While perusing Christian's computer for Eagle Lake pictures I stumbled upon a few older pictures that never got posted. These are from our trip to St. Louis for Sarah's wedding. Christian and I got to visit his favorite place the St. Louis Art Museum. I love this place! It's always fun to visit and this time we got a chance to see the African ceremonial cloths exhibit. We found a metal tree outside that looked like the crystal entity from Star Trek.


We looked at some favorite paintings and pondered the significance.


And after much searching I found my favorite Degas ballerina.


We went with the whole family to the St. Louis Botanical Gardens which was a real treat. I know others have posted pictures but hopefully this will be a fond reminder of the good times had by all.




In case you forgot it was a beautiful sunny day.




I love this sequence of pictures! Especially the big smile on Lucas' face.


I even found a picture of Jobin! We miss you baby bro!


Bret and I found a way to be politically incorrect while entering the Japanese Gardens.


We even found a way to make this doorway more exciting with human obstacles.



We finished the day off by feeding the fishes.



Also I found this picture of Lucifur during the crazy move to Pleasant Grove. I'm pretty sure this was taken just after he decided to stuff my camera deep into the crevaces of our couch where it wouldn't be found for months.



Peekahoo

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