Horses & Burrows & Camels...Oh, My!

Jodi called and wanted to know if I could watch SRS for her. "Sure, I'll call Jess and see if MCM can come over and play too." She could. So we decided to go on a walk to see the horses & camel. We had a great time! Later that day, I said to mom that I didn't feel like I got anything accomplished. She reminded me that I accomplished the most important thing that day. How true! (Now I know how Jessica feels every day!)

M wanted her picture taken by this sign. So I took it.

I had the hardest time getting them to "pose" in the sunflowers...

We brought celery for the camel, but we couldn't get close enough to him. We decided to feed the horses the celery. They don't like celery.

Enough said.

Max, the camel.

The burrow and the cows.

Flowers for Grandma and Grandpa.

Labor Day

For more than a year, Hannah & I have been waiting for today...we WERE going to hike Mount Timpanogos...to the very top. I have had this super great, most exciting experience and I wanted Hannah to have this too. But I knew I needed to wait til she was a little older. Well, this was the year. A few days ago, my mom called. Here is how the conversation played out.

Mom-What are you doing Monday?

Moi-Oh, you know, hiking Timp.

Mom-(Pause)Have you looked at the forecast lately?

Moi-No, why?

Mom-Well, there shows a few raindrops.

Moi-Well, we are actually going to start early Monday, like 1 or 2 am.

Mom-Well, there are 2 raindrops on Sunday.

I have to apologize to my co-workers...I don't think I have grumbled about anything so much at work. (They may say different.) I made a few phone calls to people...some who have hiked it more, some who fly life-flight-I know a little extreme, but I was serious about this. But I not completely a fool. I was going to be really bummed. We had just postponed another jaunt right before school. And Hannah came home from her camping trip with her dad early. This was the last summer shebang! I figured if it was overcast, great! We could leave later and still not be hiking in the dead of heat. I was pretty much refusing to rethink this hike. Anyway, they were calling for snow above 10,325. The summit is 11,749. I knew then that this was not going to happen this year.

Two things I have thought about today. 1)We are lucky to live here, for many reasons, but today because the opportunity to hike Timp next year is just "weather permitting" away. 2)My disappointment (because of weather) certainly doesn't compare to the inconveniences and anxiety of so many because of Hurricane Gustav. There's just nothin' you can do about it! Hannah has been very concerned and interested in what was going on with those states. We are glad that it wasn't any worse. But scary none the less.

And even though we didn't get to hike today, we had a wonderful Labor Day! Barbecue with some family-including grandparents we don't see as often, a few games of Ticket to Ride with Aunt Jennie, and a viewing of The Princess Bride. And I don't know if it was the movie that was so funny, or if it was just watching Hannah (pretty much) act out the whole thing!

Here are some pictures...a few are of my trip to the summit exactly 2 years ago & a few are of the snow covered peaks this morning. Beautiful! We really are lucky to live under them!

The back side of Timp and a good view of Timpanogos glacier-taken from the meadow.

Emerald Lake-taken from the summit.

A view of the journey up to the summit-taken from the saddle. If you look close, you can see "the hut".

View of the valley...and me.

My hiking buddy, until she decide to have another baby....twice, Jenn. And the little white hut. And me.

View of the mountain range on the other side of the canyon-taken from Alpine this morning.

View of Timp from American Fork this afternoon. The summit is almost right in the middle of the picture.

First Fifth Grade Field Trip

You can never get enough of Timp Cave! School has been in just one week and already a field trip! I had the opportunity to visit Timpanogos Cave National Monument one last time this year with Hannah & the 5th grade. We had a great time, as usual. Those kids are funny. I wish I could explain it better...but I can't. They are just funny! They are at this "I'm pretty smart" stage, but they know they don't know it all yet. And because of that, most all of them can talk a lot about everything, but they are still so willing to listen to what you (or each other) have to say or teach them. It's pretty fun to just listen to them interact with each other. They were pretty well-behaved too! I was impressed at how well they get along with each other too, close friends or not. Hannah even made a new friend. And not a lot of complaining on the way up. And I have to say, every time I go through the caves, I learn something different! I love it! Like I said, you can never get enough of the caves!

After, we walked down the canyon a bit to "Swinging Bridge" picnic area for lunch. While we waited for the bus, one of Hannah's friends, AB, pointed out something on a tree. As we got closer, we thought it had flown away. See if you can see it? Very cool!

The Twins, Hannah, & her new friend

Ms. Washburn & her class if front of a fault line. They were very cute when I took this picture. We took one with Ms. Washburns' camera and they smiled. When I pulled out my camera, they asked, "Can we do silly faces?" ABSOLUTELY!

Inside the "Big Room". LOL. I have forgotten AGAIN what the name of this room is inside Middle Cave. If someone remembers, please comment!

The Heart, of course.

At "Swinging Bridge"-They were "racing" leaves and things down the river!

Here is the cool little "thing" we found...can you see it?

I looked it up when we got home. It is called a Question Mark Butterfly. And it does a very good job of camouflaging itself. It gets it's name because of the little white mark on it's wing. It is supposed to look like a question mark, but I am having a hard time seeing it...maybe a sickle. But that doesn't sound as nice.

Here it is a little farther back & with it wings opened. This is what AB saw first.

We ALL thought this was cool.

Hannah & her friends. (Maybe I will write a book & call it that.)