5th Water

Yesterday, since Tyler had work off for Memorial Day, we went on a hike! We went on the 5th Water hike, in Spanish Fork Canyon and up Diamond Creek.  If you have never been into Spanish Fork Canyon, you are missing out. It is beautiful. It was also so green, green mountains, green pastures, rolling hills below, dramatic mountains above. The hike we went on was in a smaller little canyon to the north of Spanish Fork Canyon. My dad suggested the hike, as it was one of his favorites in college. It was a bit of a drive for us to get there, but worth it. It is 2.5 miles up to the waterfall and hot springs. So in total, 5 miles. Elanor walked the whole way herself and even ran 1.5 miles coming back. She was so proud of herself, as were we. 

It is a beautiful and fairly easy hike. The hot springs are these beautiful little pools right next to the waterfall and creek. The creek water is cold and the hot pools were very warm and we had fun hopping between the two. There were quite a few people there, as it was Memorial Day, but I think it is a good thing if trails are getting used, right?

These are some of the hot pots. There are several, and these ones were slightly cooler than the ones closer to the large waterfall. 

Also, kids are way more capable than people often give them credit for. Elanor hiked five miles, all on her own and she is three. It is not because she is a super child, but because we have given her opportunities to hike, go on walks, etc. and we have made her walk from a young age. Last year, she would do about half the hike and the other half in the pack, as she would get tired. However, she is too big to be in a pack now, and she is a capable. We have gone on longer and longer walks in preparation for hikes like these. Elanor loves hiking and was so proud of herself. She was tired, but felt accomplished.

It was a great day and a beautiful hike!

The Weekly Photo

Rainy Days.

The Weekly Photo

I was out of town again, which is why this is late! I went back to Oregon to see The Sound of Music, which my mom directed, I choreographed and my brother, Erik, was in. It was a pretty amazing show to say the least. Elanor loved it and is now obsessed with Gretl.

Elanor with the little girl who played Gretl.

Me with some very good friends who I used to do plays with!

The Weekly Photo

Mary, from The Secret Garden, explains what Spring is to someone who has never experienced it saying, "It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine, and things pushing up and working under the earth."

That little quote is so perfect. I love Spring. 

Happy Mother's Day!

There is something so special about moms. They love their children so much and it is hard to comprehend that love until you are actually a mother. When I became a mom, it made me more fully appreciate my own mother. She loves her children and now grandchild so much. She helps us to be better, she created a safe, and happy home and is so much the mom and person I want to be. Thank you for all the zillions of tiny and huge things you have done for me Mother Dearest.

To Tyler's mom, Kim, thank you for loving and raising such a sweet boy! You love us all so much and we love you. You are such a wonderful grandmother as well!

 I am so extremely grateful for this little girl who made me a mom. 

Being a mom is so many things in one. It is the best and sometimes the worst. It is the most fun and it is sometimes the least fun. There are ups and downs, but mostly there are ups. Elanor often says, "I have the best family in the whole world." I melt every time because she says it so sincerely. Family bliss is real and we have it in our home everyday, even amid the tantrums.

Happy Mother's Day!

The Weekly Photo(s)

I am so sorry I missed last week. It was a busy week. I decided pretty last minute that I wanted to make a friend a baby quilt. This friend of mine was coming to visit Wednesday-Sunday, so I only had two days to do it! Plus, Tyler has been home since he is done with clinicals and I kind of wanted to see the guy. So, with the combination of being busy finishing projects, having friends visit and then getting a pet rabbit on Saturday made for a blog-free week.  

 For last week's Weekly Photo, I wanted something from Easter, but also you have all already seen all those pictures. So, you have to see this one again (I need to keep track, since I put all these Weekly Photos in a photo book at the end of the year), sorry.

For this week's Weekly Photo it is a bunny picture.

Meet Flopsy.

Elanor picked her name. Elanor loves the Peter Rabbit books and wanted our rabbit to be named after one of his sisters. It is really hard to get a picture of Flopsy, as she jumps around the whole time she is out of her hutch.

Tyler converted Elanor's old changing table into an awesome hutch.

I told her to smile and this is what she did.

 We think this little bunny is pretty darn cute. Have you seen anything cuter?