Hills Reunion and Pine Valley

This is likely to be a long post--just warning everyone, but I want to have it in my records so here it goes.






We started our vacation with a bike ride Sat. morning down Big Rock Candy Canyon. My sister-in-law was so kind to let me borrow her bike while Zach rode our brother-in-law's. It was a fun ride with great people and beautiful scenery. Lincoln was in HEAVEN riding in the bike trailer with his cousin Emery behind Zach. Zach and I decided that the way to tell if he REALLY likes something is to watch his face to see how serious he is. The more serious the expression, the more he likes something. While riding I asked him if he was having fun and I got a very short and perfunctory "yes."

That night I attended my first Demolition Derby. Zach thinks I hated it, and I suppose I didn't give him much reason to think I was all that enthused about it (perhaps Lincoln gets his lack of emotional display from me). However, it was interesting, and loud. The most exciting part about it was the pick-up truck heat where several trucks tipped over several times. All in all, it was an exciting, and loud, show. While I may not necessarily go again, it's not out of the question, but I kind-of think Zach would have more fun with a group of loud, beat-up car-fans instead of me.
*Zach may decide to amend this post to add his own commentary on the show and post a few more pics(he took a lot).

Sunday we attended Jodi and Chris' ward then went up on the Mountain. It is so gorgeous up there! I didn't get nearly enough pictures (yet again). We enjoyed good food and good company. I think I relaxed more on this trip than I did in the years previous. I'm sure I'll say that every year. I must be getting a better handle on the whole camping-with-babies bit.

I ended my week with a trip to Pine Valley with just me and the kids. I was a little worried that being by myself with the kids on a vacation would be more work than vacation, but my fears were completely unfounded. We had such a wonderful time. Lincoln had a great time with great-grandma Shamo, buddy, the outdoors and the cabin toys. We took it very easy and just enjoyed the cooler summer up there. We went on walks, slept very well, ate very well, and enjoyed Great-grandma all to ourselves. We had time to make a steerable-go-cart out of a PVC pipe toy-kit and on one of our walks I saw (and took a picture of) a house that reminded me very much of a house in one of my favorite picture books (Too Many Pumpkins). This will definitely have to be a repeat vacation for me every year.

*I have to add a disclaimer about the last picture. It's so awful because the owner was inside so I was trying to take the picture discreetly, but it's such a cute old house with a gorgeous garden on the side