Memorial Day

" We who are left how shall we look again

Happily on the sun or feel the rain

Without remembering how they who went

Ungrudgingly and spent

Their lives for us loved, too, the sun and rain?"

~Wilfred Wilson Gibson

J, E & M hiking up the Bridal Veil Falls Trail

 Ray was feeling much better after his procedure and so, against my Mother's warnings, we headed up the canyon for a drive.  Megan had only been through Provo Canyon once, years ago on a trip, so we wanted to show her a little more of the scenery we so love.

Bridal Veil Falls

 The day was gloriously beautiful - perfect weather for a short walk.

Joshua, Ethan & Megan

Joshua is a happy camper ~ he just snuggles right in and doesn't fuss or complain.

 Ray , being a good sport & me - in my babushka Aackk!  Bad hair day!

I love Megan in her purple hat!

 
 There was lots of fresh snow from the recent storm of yesterday . . . and there was still plenty on the Alpine Loop as well.

The east side of Mt Timpanogos

We stopped for a picnic at Tibble Creek Reservoir ~ 

The reservoir was a buzz with people out enjoying the day, just like we were. We realized that we are so used to our peaceful picnics in Payson Canyon, we didn't expect the roar of four-wheelers, motorbikes, and lots and lots of people.  But we did enjoy people watching.  It was this part of the day when Ray said, "I think your mother was right," so we headed for home. he was exhausted and we wished we would have turned around at Sundance.

Over the hill or on top of the mountain?

 “The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.” ~ Madeleine L'Engle

This was a big birthday for me, I have not really thought much about other milestone birthdays . . . they came and went and I still felt ~ young!  But for some reason 60 has seemed a huge thing because it seems, well, old!

 Tiffany flew in from Phoenix to surprise me a few days before my birthday ~ what a wonderful surprise it was!

 Charlie and I almost share a birthday ~ if he would have waited a few more minutes, we would have!  He so wanted to go camping last year, but the weather was cold and wet and we didn't have a vehicle to pull the trailer . . .  so we got the Toyota Tundra, the weather was great and we were set to go this year!

 Ashton, Hunter, Charlie and James kept exploring the paths around camp and kept our wood pile filled up with their treasures.

 This just makes me smile ~ Joshua ~ too cute!

 Ethan and Joshua

 At the beach at Payson Lakes ~ Hunter, Charlie, Conner, Cory, Hunter, Ray, Joshua and Sandy

 Now, this is the life !~ Ethan

 Ashton goes wading while Nathanial and Arianne cheer him on

 Joshua and Megan basking? in the sun

 Arianne and Nathanial

 James and Ethan ~ canoeing.  James wasn't too sure he liked that boat ride

 Ray and Cory out fishing with Ashton and Hunter

 Nathanial and the squirrel ~ it was the cutest stare down.

 Fisherman returning

 Ray, Ashton and Hunter showing their catch.  I so wish we would have had a camera in the boat.  Those little boys were pulling in fish as fast as Papa Ray could get them off the hook and baited.  Delightful!

 Hiking around the lake

 Mama and her ducklings

Ashton, Joshua, Megan, Ethan, McCaleb, Cory, Hunter, Brittany and Sandy ~ Payson Lakes.

Abraham Lincoln: “And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

Splash Pad

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.  There are seven million." ~ Walt Streightiff

James and Nathanial

The third week of May, we went down to St George and had a great time.  We met D & D at the local park in Hurricane for a picnic and  they have a Splash Pad for the kids.  Arianne and the little boys joined us as well and it was a lovely day in the park.  It was just on the edge of cool, but the kids would run in the water and play, then come out just long enough to soak up a little warmth from the sun and away they would go again.

The kids always like to play with Uncle Damien ~ Ally  and James  getting some low  fives

I wish I had a photo of this - but the memory is so delightful in my mind of Ally  and James running across the grass hand in hand ~ to the water park ~

James

Charlie

Kourtni

James and Ally

Picnic in the shade~ 

Jacob

Charlie ~ I loved this photo that Ray took - - - with all the separated water droplets

Sydni

Nathanial loved the water -

Mason and Nathanial 

The view across the street 

Sand Hollow Reservoir 

 I like this entry of a home near Sand Hollow