The only thing Rylee has wanted for about 2 years is a backpack. Every time we would go to REI she would try on packs and ask when it was her turn to get something she wanted off the "list". For her birthday we were able to get her a sweet kid's backpack and she and Jeff went backpacking overnight in May. It had rained most of the day and she was still excited to go. Jeff had purchased a new tent that day and both of them were itching to get into the mountains. They came home happy and wanting to go again. It was a successful trip and a very good dad/daughter bonding time.



My niece made this nice tiara for Sophie. It is actually the flowers off of a chive plant. It has nice aromas.

I just love this picture of Paige.

Zion National Park

We took a trip to Zion National Park in June.
We hiked Angel's landing because one of the canyons we were going to do was snowed in, yep snowed in, in June. The following day we did a slot canyon with a couple rappels and some swimming. That weekend the weather was unusually cool and the high was about 85 degrees. The swimming holes were freezing cold and we did a little bit of shivering to stay warm. As soon as we got to the car the clouds let loose and started raining. We were glad to be out of the canyon and in a warm car.



This is my sister Ashley and her friend Kat from Germany, after finishing the canyon doing some shivering. She is a physicist and we couldn't help but sing a song from Big Bang theory. Good thing she watches it and likes it. I think we made her weekend by singing to her.



Going through the slot canyon.