Snapshots of 2014

Here's some places and people we've seen in 2014.  Most notable so far has been the visits with all the kids while they've been able to come and go during these busy times in their lives.  With school, work and kids we've treasured our time we've had to be together.  Most recently was an extended visit from Kevin, Jeni, Emery and baby.  They were able to go on a wonderful hike on Desolation Trail, up Big Cottonwood and down into Millcreek.  Simply stunning views.

 A nice vantage half-way up Big looking south towards Lake Blanche

 We hike down around the right side of this cliff.  Facing east

 The girls enjoyed face-painting at our work zoo party.  It's sure nice of them to do this.

 Did you notice the 'do not climb' sign.  Yeah right.

 Just as they were about to leave, Faye discovered the wet globe.  I can't tell if she's 'having a ball' or getting into mischief.

 Emory took a liking to the baby giraffe.

Eve sure enjoyed uncle Kevin's play.

 This is one of my Faye favs.

 She's pretty shy for the first few minutes until warming up.

 I miss this guy!  This is probably the only time he's looked somewhat mad.

 Ready for the pool.

 Good times at the pool in Williams the two water babe(s/ies).

 It's tough to capture the expanse here.  One wrong step and it's Sayonara

 The inverted hike down to the spring was a piece of cake.  But after the air warmed up, and hiking uphill, we (I) were a little exhausted

 After G.C. we made a stop in St. George.  Here's a cutie ready for a dip

 Just the right depth.

 A blustery day made the lighting just perfect with the red rock of Snow Canyon

Hanging out with everyone.  So nice, yet getting rarer and rarer.

2013 Wrap Up

Here's a Wrap up of 2013.  Great times were had with family and friends, starting with our cruise to the Bahamas with the McCandless' and Olsen's

 Clayton and Vanessa treated us to a scenic bicycle meander along the Lauderdale waterways and to their beach.

 Vanessa took this professional pic as we were leaving Miami

 Mom made it over Catherine Pass and atop Sunset Peak

 Movie theater changing of the guard

 Utah beats Stanford.  Ohhh what could have been...

 I don't think it will fit

 Turning the Big Five Oh

 Hogle zoo with Afton

 Afton's new Prescott digs

 A pretty nice place

 Moab's Fischer Towers

 Christmas Time and Faye's baby blessing is when we heard the wonderful news

 A rare pose with some beautiful friends

 5 generations

 Emery looks so grown up.

 Faye's first Christmas

 Takin' the Front Runner to iFly indoor skydiving to reach terminal velocity.

Tubbin with the little gal

Prescott, Jerome and Sedona with the kids

Thursday, 9/19/13

At the last minute we decided to drive to Prescott  to be with Neal for his last Friday off before his rotations of outlying cities had started.  After a very long drive via highway 20 and Jacob Lake we finally arrived at the kids home about 8:30pm their time.  We were greeted by the moppy-haired, adorable Afton who immediately gave grandma a great big hug, and pointed at me saying “poppa”.  Then after a brief warm-up period I too received some hugs from the little princess.  That evening we visited with Neal and ate some snacks while we waited for Erin to return from her recital.

Friday, 9/20/13

We were treated to a comfy night sleep on a blow up Beauty Rest, then gobbled up some of Neal’s tasty, orange-flavored cinnamon rolls then headed out to Watson Lake to try our hands at kayaking.  Unfortunately the rental station was closed so we decided instead to go to Lynx Lake and walk around a bit.  While there, Afton especially liked the café where the taxidermy mounts of javelina, deer and fish ‘sceered’ her.  Our stroll around the pristine lake was cut short when Afton scraped her lip on one of her tumbles.  That afternoon, while Erin and Neal were at their first ultrasound appointment, I decided to try and find a shortcut over to Watson Lake, which, on the iPad, appeared to only be a couple miles due north of their home.  My quest was unsuccessful but fun nonetheless.  After we all got back together we drove into town and ate at Mexican food at Hugo’s on North Montezuma Street.  Afterwards we again sought out another beautiful Prescott lake called Goldwater.  On the trail to the other side of the lake Afton thoroughly enjoyed climbing on the granite outcroppings, even though her balancing skills put her body in constant peril.  She was none too pleased when her parents tried to pry her off when it was time to go.  That evening we watched some more episodes of Seinfeld which the kids had rented.

 I thought this picture turned out pretty good

 Mom in Jerome

 A movie star I snapped a quick picture of.

 The haunted Jerome Grand Hotel

Can you see any ghosts?

 West Fork Oak Creek trail

 Sedona

 I could be mistaken, but this looks a lot like that movie star we saw before

Saturday, 9/21/13

We decided to drive to Sedona on highway 89A via the old mining town of Jerome.  This could have only been slightly better if somehow we could have rode motorcycles from Prescott to Jerome.   But what a blast.  We grabbed a Blimpie sandwich in the town of Cottonwood while taking turns holding Afton while she slept then headed on to Sedona.  It was quite crowded but we enjoyed Exposures International art gallery then hiked the West Fork Oak Creek trail taking lots of nice pics.  At the end of the day we did a little shopping blitz before heading home for some Papa Johns pizza.

Sunday, 9/22/13

We woke up early and decided to drive through Monument Valley and Moab.  It was a nice drive until the hailstorm between Blanding and Monticello.  It was quite fierce.  After stopping in Moab at Pasta Jays we finally arrived home.

This trip made quite an impression on Karrol and I.  First we noticed how incredibly cute Afton is and how wonderful and loving her parents are.  But we also noticed how mature and caring Neal has become.  Or maybe he’s always been that way and we’re just noticing.  Either way we were truly humbled and impressed by Neal’s act of concern and caring for everyone.  Neal’s love for Afton and Erin is heart-warmingly obvious.  He was very concerned when Afton, while napping, might not get her share of ice cream.  Neal truly showed he cared for me by texting and calling directions and tips on my drive, always making sure I was ok.  For the few days we were there, being a part of that families’ routine was a lot of fun.  Everything from watching Afton gaze at her horse video, calming her while she got her hair styled in the morning, to watching Neal and Erin embrace during movie time made we one proud poppa.  I’m going to miss them, but I’m so glad they’re not too far away for regular visits.