Trip to California

We (Steve, my sister April, and I) took a trip to California over Memorial weekend to visit my Grandma. It was a quick trip but we got to see lots of family and even had a little fun. We did some hiking in the Muir Woods National Monument among the beautiful red wood trees.




We found this huge banana slug which brought back great memories of when we all had to kiss one during my 5th grade camp out. Yuck!




This is what Steve would look like with facial hair...just testing out his hippie side since we were in California. The beach was freezing...so much for enjoying a little sun and sand. We stayed just long enough to eat out lunch, stick our toes in the watter, watch someone try to ride thier bike in the surf and jet out of there.
It was a great trip, we ate too much of Grandma's good cooking, did not eat enough dewberries, and can't wait to go back.

Weekend fun!

We played a game of ladder ball and a game of get the ladder balls off the power line. One set of balls got caught accidentally, the other got caught when it was thrown to try to get the first one unstuck. After some tricky acrobatics and team work, we were able to get them all down.

We checked in with our "god chicks" to see how they were doing and they have grown so much. Jason (who owns the chicks with Merissa) likes to carry them around on a big piece of cable. Beats transporting them one at a time across the yard.

And finally an amazing Kabob Birthday Bash for our dear friend Megan. Her husband, Bobby, rigged this great kabob cooker and we rosted meats and veggies into the night.

Toad-ally Awesome!

On Monday, Steve and I visited the U of U's museum.

It is free the first Monday of every month and right now they are hosting a frog exhibit. Good times!

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings." -John Muir

Steve and I went to St. George last weekend to celebrate my sister's college graduation and Steve's cousins wedding.

While we were there we made a quick trip to Zion's National park with Steve's sister, Kelly, and hiked Angel's Landing. A 5 mile round trip hike with a 1488 foot elevation gain to the top. This means there are a whole lot of switch-backs including one set of 21 sharp switch-backs affectionately called "Walter's Wiggles."

Once near the top there is a skinny ridge that you climb with a 1200 foot drop on one side and 800 foot drop on the other.

You can see the ridge in this photo and can even see a few people making their way to the top. The view from the summit is incredible and well worth every step.

The locals at the top are friendly as well.






It is amazing how rejuvenating spending some time in nature is. There is a magic that I love to soak up and revel in every time I go to the mountains. John Muir said,

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul."

Like John Muir I too find healing and strength among the stones, trees, plants and animals. I am thankful for the beautiful earth and the opportunity to explore its majesty and simplicity.