A Great Week

Well we are home after a GREAT week at Park City. It really was probably the best week I've personally ever had up there, and that's saying something since we've gone up there every summer for two plus decades now. Corey asked me what made this year better, and I think for me it came down to three things that were different this year: 1) I was not pregnant nor did I have a nursing infant,  which led me to 2) having much more free time and not feeling exhausted from being on duty 24/7, and it was probably especially great because that freedom allowed me to 3) go biking every day! I really did go every day (even 3 times on Wednesday! and one time on Friday). I almost didn't make it our for my morning ride on Thursday because it was raining at 6am, so I didn't go out and I could kinda feel myself turning into my usual trapped and victim self, but when it was clear enough at 10, Nancy and I went. She actually couldn't go until 10:30, so I left at 10:00 and rode out to Quinn's Trailhead, then explored a little, then Nancy came out and we rode around. So yea - get outside and go biking and feel the wind and stop and admire the flowers! It is great therapy. 

That picture is from some flowers at Round Top near Matt's Flat, where Nancy and I went on Friday morning. 

We took Rambler down that day instead of Rusty Shovel. Biking make this week really fun for me. It was only Nancy and I in the mornings, but Corey, our kids, and a few cousins got out a few times too, so it was great. And sure, there was still a lot of mindless tv watching and the kids still trashed their bedrooms... 

And little Peter still needed a nap...

But it was ok, cause if Peter needed to nap, I read or blogged. Hyrum put Peter down for a nap twice which was really nice. 

And as to the mess, well I just avoided their messy rooms so that didn't bother me much either! The little girls way overpacked and brought so many toys, it was kinda funny. Although, on the plus side there, I didn't help any of them pack at all, so hey, atleast they did that on their own. I just packed for Peter. The girls even helped Owen and Daniel. 

I never mentioned a few things different this year. It seems like each year when we go up, there is something that the resort has added upon or improved. This year the kids all mostly noticed things that had been taken away - almost all the furniture in the 2nd floor lobby was gone. The pool tables were gone! There was no Blues Band Night (covid precaution) The Gym was newly remodeled this year (I think it was being renovated last year or 2019, not sure, I don't think I made it to the gym the past 3 years up there) I just went there on Monday this year for a good upper body workout. The kids were waaay disappointed in The Mine this year. The video games were gone, the lounge couch (pic 4) and movies were gone, the theater was closed, the big building blocks were gone, and I was sad about this one for Peter's sake.... the trail table was gone!! Owen didn't miss it though. His mind was focused on playing Minecraft with cousin Isaac in his room. We are glad that the train table was there for us when Owen really loved and needed it. Biking was new last year, but the exuberance I showed by going on a morning and evening bike ride everyday will make this year one to remember for me. I hope I can do all that again next year! I really did go every day twice, except for last night, when I wasn't able to escape because we were taking the group family photo. 

I am one that firmly believes that family documentation is a priority, so I was happy to stay back from my evening biking.

(Plus it meant I could save up my energy for a longer ride the next morning!) Corey got a fun video of the kids playing "keep the ball in the air" at the pool and it sounded like the kids were having a magical time. I'll try to get Corey to upload it to Youtube so I can share it.

Nancy and I did get up nice and early today for a ride. We went up Armstrong to HAM, I was glad to share it with someone. I sneaked out past the sleeping boys - so cute. 

Owen started on the left, looks like he and Peter switched during the night, and it also looks like Owen is able to sleep through having a two year old's feet kicking his head, which is a skill Corey and I do not have. It was a good workout and ride and smelled SO lovely. Thursday night the mountain aroma was a little better from the freshly fallen rain, but it was still wonderful.  

We had a brunch with the family and I had plans to try and be home between 2-3, but instead Corey wanted to take kids on the Mid Mountain trail, so we did that instead of go home. I was able to guilt trip Hyrum into going on the ride - shown in this text.

...and I loved Hyrum's reply, ha! It made me laugh.

Since Hyrum consented to come, there wasn't room for me, but then Wayne was nice enough to load my bike in his van so yay, I get to go too! We took those two cars and Wayne and Nancy dropped us off. 

And then we were off!

Wes took off and we didn't see him at all during the ride. Abi tried to keep up with him and we saw her once when she waited for us for 10 minutes, but after that we didn't see her. She also didn't have a phone, so I was nervous that she had gotten lost or something. I was glad when Nancy texted that she was at the hotel. Corey and I stayed with the little kids, and it took them 2.5 hours to make it down the trail. I knew we'd be slow with the little kids along for the ride, but they did great. There was a bit of uphill and the sun was out, so Natalie got a red face. Sophi kinda fell off the trail but luckily a big log caught her and held her. Rhyan got out her first aid kit and cleaned up her scratch.

Going through the pretty aspen trees - it was one of the favorite spots for the kids, mostly cause of the shade.

There was some lightening and thunder which made the kids nervous. I was nervous too but had to pretend I wasn't. 

Natalie looked so cute pedaling.

Riding in the sunshine again. 

We got off and walked a few times. 

Natalie's take away once we were done: "Skiing would have been so much better..."

After that we went to the room and packed up the car. I headed home with Lily, Sophi, Natalie, Daniel and Peter 4. Owen stayed to swim and uncle Mark wanted to talk with Corey and Wes about their upcoming trip to Guatemala, so they stayed up for a bit longer. Now it's good to be home and school will be starting before we know it. Wes is leaving for Guatemala tomorrow, and Corey just decided a day ago to go down with them, so he is going to leave on Friday, after our guests from Guatemala leave on Thursday. Joseph's MTC teacher Junior asked Corey a few weeks ago if he could come for a few days. We said sure. And a friend too, I don't know his name, but they are coming and will be here tomorrow I think. Should be fun.

Main Street

Today it was more of the same, but we also did some new stuff that we've never done before! Of course there was crafts in Grandma's room at 10 - Making necklaces again!

Daniel was singing as he threaded beads, it was cute. 

Peter played with beads too, just to not be left out, but mostly he was interested in his collection of cars.

Peter has kinda not let his cousins love on him much, until... they broke out the bubbles today! 

If you've got bubbles in your hand, then this little boy will jump off of his mother's lap in a dash and will run to you and be your best friend!

So cousin Alix is glad that she learned this trick! Now she and Peter are tight (as long as she's got bubbles near by!)

We went to the city park for a picnic lunch and bike ride.

There were a lot of kids at the park. It looked like there were several day camps that were having activities and picnics like us. 

Pushing on the swing.

Abi pushing Sophi and Natalie on the tire swing.

It started to rain and we took cover under a pavilion. I had planned to do the picnic at Shoe Tree Park, but now seems like a good time to eat while we wait for the rain to stop.

It was a good downpour for like 5 minutes, then a drizzle, and so Corey and I went to get the bikes off of the rack. I called for the kids to come get their bikes, and when I looked over, I was surprised to find Lily and Abi being surrounded by a swarm of children. Lily was doing a magic trick, it was cute.

The kids all wanted a turn and they were jumping and cheering "ME! ME!!!"

Lily and Abi might have a children's summer camp day care career in their future. We didn't mean to end their fun, but we had a bike ride to go on! I had gone exploring on my bike alone this morning (Nancy wasn't feeling well and also had a job interview) so I went around the City and along the little trail and took it all the way out to Quinn's Trailhead, then back to the hotel. It is a nice little paved trail and I thought we should take the kids on it. So we did. Daniel on the left, Owen on the right, Sophi, Natalie, and Rhyan up ahead.

We stopped at Shoe Tree Park.

The kids played by the stream for a bit.

Corey went ahead up to Main Street to find a place to lock up bikes, and then came back for us, and we followed him to find the moose that was wearing pants. 

Pretty crazy! It had boots and a hat on too. Park City Main Street is a fun place.

We almost bought ice cream for the kids, to make a memory, but it was $5 for 1/2 cup... Corey was still about to, but then he got a phone call and we made our exit.

It's ok, we have ice cream back at the hotel. (I'm not giving it to you until tomorrow, but we do have some). Ready to bike back to the park. Peter is the cutest.

Back at the hotel - the kids enjoying one of their favorite past times at Park City: television.

We had dinner (chicken, tortellini and veggies) and then roasted some smores.

Smores were the treat from yesterday, but kids had scattered so we saved it for today - that means double dessert day!

They went swimming some more. 

The big kids have all been super helpful with Peter and the little boys this week, which is probably a big part of why I've enjoyed more freedom up here than I've ever had before (hence all the bike rides). Speaking of bike rides... Corey wants to take more kids on the Mid Mountain Trail. I thought they should have to pass off a skills test of being able to do uphill, which Mid Mountain has, and some downhill turns, which Mid Mountain has a lot of. So we took Sophi and Natalie out tonight for a trial run at Round Valley. They did great biking up and up and up. I haven't explored all the trails out here, so I just took them on the one that Nancy and I have done. I thought they could do it, and I would have made them, but I think we just started too late again and I was worried it would be too dark to finish it.

We'll start earlier next time. It proved to be more up than Natalie could handle, so even though we were almost there, we were just starting Porcuclimb, but Natalie couldn't take it anymore and so we turned around and went back to the trail head. Sophi would have kept going, but I was worried of losing light if we took Rusty Shovel, which is the one that I know. I'm sure I'll learn tomorrow that there was a faster way down, but oh well. We're all still learning. They did great though and it was fun for Corey and I to bike with them. Corey also gained some insight as to what he wants to do for his career. He is not very interested in safe, wide and boring trails. He prefers fun, fast, narrow, bumpy... you know, with stuff to make it interesting. So we'll see where that leads him in his career!

Bike, Craft, & Kayak

It was a beautiful morning. Nancy and I went on a ride again. We left shortly after 7 am - biking across Silver Spur, then up Armstrong and Dawn's Trail, took connector up to Spiro and then down to Silver Spur and back to the hotel. 

I'm a bit in awe at how incredibly huge the world is. Like I could get lost out here in these mountains. There is so much space, so many canyons and hills and crevasses. And at the same time, I'm amazed at all the small beautiful details too - 

I haven't been listening to podcasts or anything, just enjoying the ride and conversation and watching out for bikers that are faster than us! Back at the room, the kids painted some wood craft toys, most kids made cars and donated them to Peter, since he assumed ownership of all car toys anyway.

It rained on and off today. The pool closed a few times. I got Papa Murphy's pizza for dinner with salad and soda, and had dinner ready at 4:45 so that Corey and kids (Wes, Abi, and Lily) could have some before they left for a kayaking activity with the youth from our neighborhood. They left here at 5 and met up with them at 5:45 at Deer Creek State Park for a float down the Provo River.

The kids weren't thrilled about leaving Park City, but I think they had fun and were glad that they went. Corey drove them down, and he was inspired too by this simple and fun activity, so we'll see if he buys any water toys to add to our growing collection of recreational stuff in the garage.

While they were gone, I left at 7:20 and rode up Armstrong again. I went by myself and went up to HAM trail, so I went further than this morning, and once I started up to the higher trail, I was a little nervous that it was longer than I was ready for and that I'd lose daylight, but I hurried the best I could and made it back at 9 - so it was dark, but I was ok. It smelled so nice - maybe from the rain or I don't know, but there was pine aroma and cool breezes everywhere and I was in love and tried to soak it in, and hurry as fast as I could. I hope to go back up with Corey or Wes before we leave. I got back and was washing off my bike the same time that Corey and the kids were arriving back from kayaking. Wes thought I was leaving "You going for your midnight bike ride now?" Haha! Yeah, my midnight bike ride, yeah! I have done morning and evening rides everyday this week though! Not too shabby!