The past week and a half has found us sleeping in four different states (Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Texas). The activities have been as varied as doing sealings in the temple, horse drawn buggy rides, backpacking in the wind rivers, being in a wedding, and eating souffle at an artistic Dallas restaurant. It was a full ten days, full of delights. But I have to admit I couldn’t have been more thrilled to lie down in my bed last night (after arriving home at 1:00am). There are so many thoughts and impressions that passed through my mind during this trip, many of which will fill my personal journal; however, here are a few captioned pictures for those who want to relive the memories, as well as for those who weren’t lucky enough to come along!
Reunion:
This is my adorable little niece Caprielle and my sister Adalee. Adee was so nice to suit up the horses and give all the kids rides, as well as to teach me how to canter!
Backpacking Trip:
I love this photo. I think Tom took it. I love how small all of us backpackers look in comparison with the expanses of nature.
Mmm! I love the mountains. We were hiking in the Wind Rivers in Wyoming. (Just south of Yellowstone.)
While we were told we might have to ford streams, this was the only one we had to cross. (My Grandpa and uncle Ron on the other hand, forded streams up to their waiste- but that’s a long story!)
I love these two purple gals. Ryanna, my niece is on the left; Dantzel, my youngest sister, is on the right. Dantzi was my trail buddy. She talked the entire six miles down to the trailhead. The subjects- you name it!
While we were told we might have to ford streams, this was the only one we had to cross. (My Grandpa and uncle Ron on the other hand, forded streams up to their waiste- but that’s a long story!)
I love these two purple gals. Ryanna, my niece is on the left; Dantzel, my youngest sister, is on the right. Dantzi was my trail buddy. She talked the entire six miles down to the trailhead. The subjects- you name it!
Derek is my oldest brother. He took time off work to bring his oldest daughter Ryanna (picture above) into the mountains. It was a difficult thing for both of them, but I’m so glad they came. I love this picture of them fishing. Notice the huge grin on Derek’s face, and the look of fright on Ryanna’s!
One of my favorite memories from the trip was a little hike up the mountain lead by Dantzel. She decided she wanted to find the source of one of the streams that was coming down the mountain to feed our lake, Dads lake. So off she went. Ryanna started following her, so I thought I better tag along as well. Dantzi practically bounced up the hill, talking all the way. Ryanna, hid under many layers of clothes, (the switch in temperatures was quite drastic for this Phoenix girl) was quiet and seemingly expressionless. Then, about halfway up, from this tiny little girl came this huge exclamation, “This is AWeSOME!” This is them at the top of the mountain where we found a huge rock garden.
Pictured above are my Dad, Mom, sister Dantzel, sister Adalee, and niece Brecklyn. Breck and Ad and I had a great time sleeping in the same tent together. The last night we actually got in trouble for staying up too late talking and giggling!
I was so glad Trevor and Lauren were able to come. We had a great time walking around the lake with them and climbing up a gorgeous waterfall. They are one of those married couples that everytime you are around, your testimony of marriage strengthens. Trevor is a fabulous photographer, and hopefully he will post some of his pictures and I can post his link. I had a great time photographing the waterfall next to him, gathering advice and watching him in action!
Tom and I had a great time in the mountains. I was so glad to finally include him in our family’s tradition of backpacking. One of my favorite memories with Tom was helping him build a raft and then paddling it to the three islands in the middle of the lake.
This was our first launching site.
I wish I had a better picture of Devin. We had a blast fishing. At one point in the day I found a killer fishing spot I pulled in two fish within 5 minutes, and hooked a third a few minutes later but it got off. Devin hadn’t caught anything yet, but he was so encouraging and excited for me. I had waded out onto a rock a ways from the shore, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to get the first fish back to shore. (I didn’t want to waste the time wading back, because the fish were jumping like crazy.) So Devin, standing on shore, said “through it to me!” I didn’t think I go throw the slippery fish the distance, but after a lot of encouragement from Dev, I chucked the thing. The first one landed in the water right in front of him, but the second one made it to him and he caught it easily! Devin later caught three fish, two from the place picture above and a third on another side of the lake. I hope I’ll never forget when we were fishing next to each other, joking and laughing. After a long while without seeing a fish, or feeling a bite he hollared, “I got a bite. . . a misquito bite.”
The wild flowers were more varied and exquisite than I have ever seen. These colombine were Tom’s favorite.
One of my favorite memories from the trip was a little hike up the mountain lead by Dantzel. She decided she wanted to find the source of one of the streams that was coming down the mountain to feed our lake, Dads lake. So off she went. Ryanna started following her, so I thought I better tag along as well. Dantzi practically bounced up the hill, talking all the way. Ryanna, hid under many layers of clothes, (the switch in temperatures was quite drastic for this Phoenix girl) was quiet and seemingly expressionless. Then, about halfway up, from this tiny little girl came this huge exclamation, “This is AWeSOME!” This is them at the top of the mountain where we found a huge rock garden.
Pictured above are my Dad, Mom, sister Dantzel, sister Adalee, and niece Brecklyn. Breck and Ad and I had a great time sleeping in the same tent together. The last night we actually got in trouble for staying up too late talking and giggling!
I was so glad Trevor and Lauren were able to come. We had a great time walking around the lake with them and climbing up a gorgeous waterfall. They are one of those married couples that everytime you are around, your testimony of marriage strengthens. Trevor is a fabulous photographer, and hopefully he will post some of his pictures and I can post his link. I had a great time photographing the waterfall next to him, gathering advice and watching him in action!
Tom and I had a great time in the mountains. I was so glad to finally include him in our family’s tradition of backpacking. One of my favorite memories with Tom was helping him build a raft and then paddling it to the three islands in the middle of the lake.
This was our first launching site.
I wish I had a better picture of Devin. We had a blast fishing. At one point in the day I found a killer fishing spot I pulled in two fish within 5 minutes, and hooked a third a few minutes later but it got off. Devin hadn’t caught anything yet, but he was so encouraging and excited for me. I had waded out onto a rock a ways from the shore, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to get the first fish back to shore. (I didn’t want to waste the time wading back, because the fish were jumping like crazy.) So Devin, standing on shore, said “through it to me!” I didn’t think I go throw the slippery fish the distance, but after a lot of encouragement from Dev, I chucked the thing. The first one landed in the water right in front of him, but the second one made it to him and he caught it easily! Devin later caught three fish, two from the place picture above and a third on another side of the lake. I hope I’ll never forget when we were fishing next to each other, joking and laughing. After a long while without seeing a fish, or feeling a bite he hollared, “I got a bite. . . a misquito bite.”
The wild flowers were more varied and exquisite than I have ever seen. These colombine were Tom’s favorite.
Megan and Joe’s Wedding:
After about a week of backpacking we headed off to Oklahoma to attend and be in the wedding of my dear friend Megan Crews. I was one of her bridesmaids and Tom helped with the music. (Leave it to him to find a techy job!) It was a beautiful wedding. I love attending weddings because they always remind me of my own marriage covenants.
Megan is front the town of Lane, Ok. It is perhaps the smallest town I have ever been to. However, the community there is strong. And in the tiny Lane Baptist church, the love and support was overwhelming. I was proud of Megan for grasping her roots and being proud of them. As an opera singer, and lover of all things fine, Megan could have easily chosen to marry far from her tiny home town and made the wedding grand and elaborate. But instead it was simple, humble. In some ways the real substance of marraige was more apparent because there weren’t all the gaudy decorations, flamboyant outfits, and fatty foods to get in the way. I admire Megan, and Tom and I are so excited for the year ahead with her and Joe.
My Cleveland girls: Claire and Megan.
The bride and her maids.
Tom and I.
Megan is front the town of Lane, Ok. It is perhaps the smallest town I have ever been to. However, the community there is strong. And in the tiny Lane Baptist church, the love and support was overwhelming. I was proud of Megan for grasping her roots and being proud of them. As an opera singer, and lover of all things fine, Megan could have easily chosen to marry far from her tiny home town and made the wedding grand and elaborate. But instead it was simple, humble. In some ways the real substance of marraige was more apparent because there weren’t all the gaudy decorations, flamboyant outfits, and fatty foods to get in the way. I admire Megan, and Tom and I are so excited for the year ahead with her and Joe.
My Cleveland girls: Claire and Megan.
The bride and her maids.
Tom and I.
6 responses to “Wooh! We're back. What a trip!”
Wow I wish I was on the backpacking trip with you. The pictures you took are just stunning. I love the West so much. I can’t wait till the view from my window is the mountains again. Glad you had such a great time.
Sooo incredible. Your photography skills are improving. I would love the photo of the columbine for my wall. Thanks for getting your photos up we have all been anxious to see them.
Looks like you have been quite the adventurer traveling the Wild West! How fun to ride horses and be enjoying the beautiful outdoors. 😉
Spectacular pictures! The hike around the lake with you guys and taking pictures of the waterfall were definitely some of the highlights for me. We love you guys.
I loved your photos from the trip. They are so beautiful and the color is so vibrant. Please send me lots from the hike/reunion. I didn’t remember to take hardly any and the few I took were erased because we had to wipe our hard drive and start over and I forgot to save that folder of photos. It was wonderful to see you though I felt our visit was not nearly long enough. Thanks for watching out for Ryanna. I heard all about the hike and it looks like it was fun. Mosquito filled, but fun
Haha good times. Nice pictures!