Hiking the "Y"

I lived in Provo from 9/84-12/90 part of the time as a single student at BYU and part as a married student/wife/mother. I have been all over the area, skiing, hiking, picnicing but I never hiked to Y mountain while I lived in Provo. Suzanne suggested we do that while we were there and I was ready!!! Better late than never, right. It would be she and I and six of our children. Including Jared, who we carried. Everyone had a backpack and water and we headed out. The kids were troopers, the little ones never complaining. I can't say the same for my girls. Lexi told us she is a "city girl" not used to this hiking thing. The bigger problem is she lives in the flatlands and mountains are a rare phenomenon. The highest altitude in Houston is the overpasses.


Y mountain from the bottom

The beginning of the area. This is at the entrance to the parking lot.

A map of the trail awaiting us. We hike to the top of the "Y", a longer hike than to the bottom. We were going for the whole experience.

Ready to hit the trail

Suzanne and her kids ready to get started.

We made it!!! We relaxed for a bit and had a snack before heading back down.

I had to have a picture to prove I had done it also.

A view of BYU campus and Provo from the top. Spectacular. That's Utah lake in the background. I miss the mountains and all the beauty of them. I love our home and friends in Houston but there will always be a special place in my heart for Provo. Lots of great memories here.

The Orton's home

I'm going to start with a disclaimer, I didn't not tell the Orton's I was taking these pictures to begin with. I told them afterwards and that I was going to show friends in Houston. I know there are friends that read our blog and so figured this was the easiest way to do so. I am so grateful for the Orton's hospitality and letting us stay with them for a few days. They had just moved into their house the week before and were waiting on new furniture for several bedrooms and the game room. I realized I did not get any pictures of their 3 car garage which was awesome.
So on with the tour.

After walking in the front door there is the music room on the left and this hall to the right. It leads to the laundry room, and three bedrooms. Upstairs is the master, Emily and Jared's rooms. The stairs go down to the basement.


This is immediately off the entry. Love the moulding detail. Suzanne is very excited to have the grand piano.

Just past the music room/dining room is the kitchen/great room. Very open floor plan and lots of light.

This is standing at the top of the stairs where you can see the openess of the area.

In the corner was the fireplace and TV. The french doors lead out to a huge wood deck. They also have a huge back yard.

In the basement the gameroom runs the whole length of the house. The previous owner had put in the surround sound and screen so the boys were loving that. It made for a great indoor soccer area. At the end where I was standing taking the picture is where the bedrooms downstairs are. There is also tons of storage.

Downstairs bathroom.

Josh and Tanner's room

Andrew's room

The Orton family

Thanks Ortons for such a great time and hospitality.

Utah

After spending a few days in Idaho we headed south to Utah. The girls and I stayed with our good friends the Ortons that moved from Houston to Utah. Their oldest son was away at scout camp but we enjoyed a great visit with the rest of the family. They have always been great friends and we enjoyed visiting and doing some fun things in the dry, desert air. This is a great change from the heat and humidity summer is in Houston.

The girls and I in front of the Oquirrah Mountain temple. It is really beautiful. It is the same design as Rexburg, but has a sandstone look to it. The Ortons live right in between the Jordan River temple and Oquirrah Mt. They also can see the Draper temple from their bedroom. Great views no matter where you look.


We went into Salt Lake one day and went around temple square. We also toured the beehive house, which was Brigham Young's house as the governor of the territory of Utah and president of the church. This is the kids by the fountains in front of the church office building.

We had a picnic dinner up the Little Cottonwood canyon. It was so beautiful. We were right next to the stream and the kids were easily distracted to throw rocks and climb by the banks. The girls didn't believe it was cold until they had to test for themselves and were surprised that the water is cold in July. Welcome to the mountains.

The kids hanging out on the fence.

The girls and I with the stream behind us.

Idaho

On our way to and from Montana we stopped in Idaho to see my sister who is in the process of moving to Utah from Texas. She and her kids are staying with her inlaws while she is househunting. Not a fun process and taking longer than wanted but thank goodness for family. The cousins all had a fun time playing in the fields and the dirt pile.


On the way up the girls all got to go to the oldest girl cousins's apt at BYU-Idaho and have a sleepover. Denae was a great sport to have them all and I'm sure it's a experience they won't forget. Thanks roommates for being tolerate to the intrusion

The Rexburg Idaho temple

On the way back from Mt. we stayed a couple of days in Idaho so my dad could hit the fishing holes. We took the kids up to a park in Rexburg where there was a splash pad, carousel and even shaved ice. Fun afternoon but very windy. Notice the kids shivering in the picture.

Grandma and the grandkids cooling off with shaved ice

riding the carousel

Aunt Amy took the girls out on the 4 wheeler around the fields. they loved it. I was even brave and took a turn.

Montana

The beginning of July the girls and I headed West. We flew to SLC where we joined up with my parents and two nieces Tori and Mackenzie to go to a family reunion in Montana. We stopped in Idaho Falls to see one of my sisters on the way coming and going so the cousins all got to spend some time together. The family reunion was held in Virginia City, MT. It is a small town SW of Bozeman. It was a mining town in the mid 1800's. Now it is a tourist stop with many fun shops and activities. On our way we stopped in W. Yellowstone. We didn't go all the way around the park but to Old Faithful and back. We only saw one buffalo the whole time. Very unusual.

Grandma and the girls at the community center in W. Yellowstone. this was a decorated buffalo statue the girls thought was cool. It was beautiful and sunny. Dry heat-something we love coming from hot and humid. We had a picnic lunch here at the center.

Old Faithful from a distance-the best way to watch it. We just missed the eruption and so just got to see the aftermath.

The girls and I

The girls at the entrance sign for Virginia city. This was a booming town as gold was mined in the mid 1800's. My father's family had a gold processing mill up the mountain in Alder gulch. It is now on the state historical registry. Our reunion was held mainly in the community gym where we renewed friendships, learned more about our family history and had yummy meals. We have many family members that live in Mt. so they have work parties periodically and go to the mill to do preservation work. The Bureau of Land Management has put a fence around the remains of the mill to protect it from roaming cattle. It's amazing to think that our ancestors hauled equipment up the mountain with teams of oxen to operate this mill. What a great legacy to have. Now it's up to us to keep it going.

The girls and I in front of one of the remaining walls at the mill. As we wandered around we could see where the vault for storing the gold had been. there are still some wood from where Chilean rollers were for processing the gold. There is still areas where you can see where the equipment used to be. It's exciting to have that heritage and see what was done there.

This is three generations. My grandmother who is 95, my father, myself and my girls. Shortly after the reunion my grandmother had a stroke. she is still alive and doing okay, but she has always been so proud of her posterity. She knows when all the grand and great grand kids birthdays are. There are 19 grandkids and 35+- greats.

Our branch of the family tree represented. It's more like a twig with just us, but we had a wonderful time.

All the Christenot cousins that were at the reunion. These are mostly 3rd cousins.

EFY-Especially for Youth

This year Taylor had the opportunity to attend EFY-Especially for Youth, a conference put on by the church for youth 14-18 to strengthen their testimony of the gospel, socialize with other youth with the same values and learn ways to stand for what is right in today's world. It is done with classes, games, dances and other activities. The conferences are held all over the United States and the closest one to us in in San Antonio at Trinity college. Taylor went with two other boys from our area and they had a great time.

this was waiting outside for registration to open. Just chillin' out.


Each participant is given their name badge and housing info. The theme for the year is the same no matter where they attend. Courage to Stand Strong is needed to face the challenges of today's teenager.

Taylor with all his "stuff"

Taylor, Greg and Chris with their conference t-shirts.

Taylor at his dorm room. The counselor had left notes for each person to welcome to the conference.

3rd of July

It's been a very eventful summer so I am trying to go back and put in many of the activities we had this summer. Of course, since it's been so long since I did a blog entry I have the pictures in backwards, but please bear with me, I'll get back into the swing of things.

Since the 4th of July was on Sunday we did our big celebration on Sat. the 3rd. Our neighbors, the Boyers had a pool party, lots of great company and food as well as the swimming to cool off. Then Taylor got to his favorite part, the fireworks. He and fellow pyromaniac Mike went to LA for their fireworks fix and got the goods for a awesome show. We had over 80 people lining the sidewalk by our house and I think I can safely say it was a awesome show!!!! Blowing up fireworks is always a great way to celebrate our country's birthday!!!

Taylor and Mike enjoying the show



The two pyromaniacs before the show began. They are armed and ready!!!

The spectators

Taylor thrilled with the fun he was anticipating

Ken, helping lay out the fireworks so make the show move along. No long delays and boring stuff here.

Earlier in the afternoon at the pool party. Lexi with a squirt gun.

Paige and friends enjoying the BBQ.

Great friends sharing time together

Loving the yummy food everyone brought.