Hikes!

Just FYI, Eric is really busy at work.  He took this picture of his boss' inboxes overflowing with jobs.  They keep adding more inboxes lol.

a couple of weeks ago we wanted to go hiking, but then I bought some trees and we got distracted with planting them, so we didn't have time to go very far.  We ended up on the dripping rock trail in Spanish Fork, it was too easy but we made it more fun by going in the water. :)

Since it was short we didn't bring the backpack and Maris wanted to walk the whole way!  We didn't let her (it would have taken hours!) but she walked a lot and it was cute.

Then a couple of weeks later we finally got to do the hike we wanted to try: Stewart Falls.  It's up Provo Canyon past Sundance by the Timp trailhead.  It's 4 miles roundtrip and not flat, so we knew it would be a challenge for the kids but we thought they could do it.

Here's Owen "showing us where to go" on a map of Utah.

The trail was beautiful!

It was a little long but we made it to the waterfall!

Eric and Whitney climbed up to a higher portion:

While the rest of us stayed down below and played in the water.

Then we decided to be adventurous and go under the waterfall! Here's Eric and Whitney emerging on the left soaking wet!

And then Katelyn and I did it!

The hike back was a little harder; we had to stop more often to keep our spirits up!

It was fun there were a lot of patches of trail where we sang "you take the high road and I'll take the low road"!

of course Maris fell asleep:

But we made it safely back.  I was proud of the kids: Owen walked at least halfway, and Katelyn said she has learned on hikes that "sometimes it's easier to just not complain and keep going." Wise words! 

Also I've taken a few fun pictures on runs while training for my half marathon. These prickly but pretty flowers are everywhere!

Saw lots of Deer up in Woodland Hills on my 12 mile hill run!

view of the mountain

and the valley!

I do love my early morning summer runs.