Summer 16 List

I really should have change the tag to Summer 16 because it wasn’t all around Utah. This was seriously the best idea I had this year. I loved how we had all these places we wanted to go so it kept us from just staying home and working in the yard or doing nothing. We got out and did something. Okay so here is our list (two things we didn’t get to but they are on the top of our list for next year).
Bear Lake
Yellowstone
Jackson
Cecret Lake
Zoo
This Is the Place
Eat a frozen treat at Pace’s Dairy Ann
PCMR/El Chubasco
Legacy Parkway
Castle Park
Ogden Dinosaur Park
Eat China Platter in the park (my new favorite place to eat Chinese food)
Snowbird
Silver Lake
Ensign Peak
Salt Lake County Fair

The two places we didn’t get to that we’ll do next year are Red Butte Gardens and bike the Park City Rail Trails. Although our list changed a little bit from when I first wrote it for the most part we did everything I wanted to do.

I picked up Brandon Grigg, Utah Curiosities, at the library last month that if you wanted to come up with your own list, this book would totally help. This book is great and Tad even read the whole thing. It doesn’t have your typical places in Utah that you’ve all been to but odd places you’ve probably never heard of. I’ll probably check this book out again to come up with my list for next year. I know Gilgal Gardens is on our list (it just sounds too weird not to check out).

I loved this idea and loving the mini book I’ve been making so much I’ve jumped on the December Daily album that Ali Edward’s has done for the last few years. I always watch and think it’s a great idea but this year will be the year I participate. Even though I’ve got a trial and vacation planned during that time I’m still going to do this.

I’d love to hear places out and about that I should check out for next year’s summer activities.

Gotta go I've got a pirate party to attend to.

Snowbird - Octoberfest Edition

This was the last of our Utah 16 Summer activities. So we didn’t make it there till September but I’m counting it. We made our annual trip to Snowbird. We usually go with Teisha’s family but she was too busy her last trip to Utah so we went with my parents.

Oktoberfest was going on up at Snowbird so there were a lot of people up there but surprisingly they were only in the tents/eating area.

Yes, that would be my parents on the zip rider. Logan was so sad he couldn’t do that but it just gave him more time on the alpine slide.

We went to the top and while up there they had alpine horn players. I like this photo even though it’s out of focus. It kind of makes it more like they are straight off the Swiss Alps rather than college kids in lederhosen (one of the guys reminded me of my neighbor Chase, I’d totally see him doing this).

We’ll totally be back to the bird next year. I’ll post a list of all our Summer 16 activities tomorrow.

Camping and PCMR

I started this post a couple weeks ago, then went out of town. While I was out of town it changed from Summer to Fall. It seems like overnight because where I was it was definetly still hot.

This little guy absolutely loves camping. If we tell him about a camping trip he'll ask about it each day until we go. I'd been super busy with work but I told Tad that no matter what Logan and him were going to our Ward Campout. Luckily I was able to go too.





Here is Logan painting his picture frame.





Our campout was just past the Park City exit and it was gorgeous. If I could I'd buy a winter house up here so I could drive 10 minutes to go skiing. One can dream.

After camping we checked off 2 more items from our Summer 16 list. We rode the chairlift at PCMR, alpine slide, merry go round and the airplanes. Logan was sad to leave.

We also went to El Chubasco up in Park City. I love the salsa bar at this restaurant. Also I covet their motel chairs out front. They have them in bright colors and I just want to take them home.

Camp Out and Weekend

This weekend we had our ward camp out. It was at Crystal Hot Springs (I'm not going to link it because the pools are gross and so is the campground). All that aside we had a fun time. Friday night we had an authentic Hawaiian meal and all of it was AMAZING. Then the next day we had pancakes and cleaned up. Tad brought up his boondoggle up to share the love with all the little kids. They loved it but then all had to leave so I guess they all had something to do on the ride home.

Here's Logan just chillin while we're trying to feed him breakfast. He loves pancakes so after I felt like I'd fed him enough I gave him his own to chew on.
Here he is in the pool with Dad. If the water looks gross trust me it's even grosser in person. So far neither one of them is sick and they have lost any appendages so I think we lucked out.
Now for the part of the trip that I've been wanting to do forever. I finally had an excuse to go see the Spiral Jetty. We went with Brek & Mike's family and Sheri and the Anti-Blogger's family.

On the way to the Spiral Jetty there is The Golden Spike Monument. It was actually a lot cooler than I thought. I think mostly because they have exact replicas of the trains that were there when it all took place.

After we looked at the trains it was time to leave. I was so glad the Noice's continued on with us because even at the Golden Spike it is extremely remote. I was very surprised by all the cars coming back from the Jetty because I thought we'd be the only ones crazy enough to go out there.

Okay, so I have to say the sculpture was amazing but what was even cooler was the salt surrounding it. It was the weirdest thing to walk on. I almost felt like I was walking on ice over a lake just waiting for it to break through. It also sparkles just like snow (maybe even more sparkly). It's super hot to stand out there in the sun because of the reflection and it stinks. It still was so cool and I really wish the Noice's had walked down so I could have done some family pictures because it was cool. I also kept waiting for Jack Sparrow's ship to come up with the crabs pulling it.

So not the best picture ever but as I was loading them on the computer I just laughed so hard. I didn't know Logan was peaking his head around Tad's. That kid just makes me laugh. This little guy turned 10 months on Saturday.
Here's our family shot in front of the Jetty.
Hiking back to our car because the last little section of the road got a little scary.
I'm so glad I finally got to see this but don't think I'll ever be back since it is so remote and there is NOTHING anywhere near it.

Silver Lake

Saturday we went up to Silver Lake. It's pretty much up Big Cottonwood Canyon right before Brighton. It was gorgeous up there. I also love it because it has a boardwalk almost all the way around so it really doesn't feel like a hike and it's super short. I told Tad we need to go camping at the Spruces and then go on the longer hike to Twin Lakes. Also I wouldn't mind coming up on some Sunday for a picnic since it was so pretty.

Here are some various photos of Tad and Logan walking around the lake.
Here is a view of the lake with people fishing on the other side.
Lovely group photo. Notice the lake on the right of the photo. Oops, it looks like our photographer chose to shoot the tree rather than the pretty lake on our left.Then we went to the drive in and saw Hancock. It was a good show but would have been a better rental. All the wildflowers were in full bloom up there so tomorrow I'll post those photos.