Granddaddy Basin

I finally had a chance to take some kids out backpacking.  Last year was a dud and the year before wasn't a successful trip so it was about time to get back out there.  Angie doesn't seem to grasp the appeal since she compares it to being homeless with all your belongings strapped to your back.  I really wanted to try Granddaddy Basin since it wasn't too hard of a hike to get into and it would be ideal for someone going for the first time.  Zac would obviously go and Carter said that he wanted to as well.  Gavin would have to wait until next year since his legs are shorter and I'm running out of backpacking equipment.  Abbi forgot that she once told me that she never wanted to go backpacking again so she was left at home as well.  Blake, he was left home because he needed his naps.
I soon discovered, however, that my backpacking equipment was getting old and there was a shortage of backpacks and sleeping bags.  It got expensive in a hurry but I'm sure it will pay off throughout the next several years with our excursions and the boys' scouting activities.

I had a great plan of leaving at 8:30 in the morning to hit REI as they opened to rent a sleeping bag for Carter.  We left at 9:45 instead, went to the wrong REI store (they moved all of their rentals to the Salt Lake store), and had to stop for lunch on the way to the trailhead.  We finally got at the trailhead at 2:00.  Fortunately we weren't the only ones with a late start as there was a group of boy scouts (with alpacas) and a party of two girls that we parked next to.  Carter was excited about the trip but he had no idea what was in store for him.  Zac was excited because there was somebody younger than him on the trip and he could be some type of mentor.

We started on the trail and took breaks every 20 minutes (the first 2.5 miles were uphill).  At the top we caught a glimpse of the basin and continued down.  Carter tripped once and although he got scraped up he quickly wiped away the tears and kept on going.  Toward the end of the hike Zac discovered that water weighed 8 pounds per gallon.  He was excited to use his new water reservoir that is used in backpacks and filled it all the way up.  His shoulders were on fire by the time we reached camp.  I originally planned to stay near Lodgepole Lake but chose Granddaddy instead.  We stumbled onto an awesome campsite and there was nobody within sight or earshot.  We quickly set up camp, cooked dinner, and got 10 minutes of fishing in.  I caught a small cutthroat trout and we all caught hundreds of mosquitoes.  I brought out the water filter and after 5 strokes it broke!  I was so upset but realized I shouldn't expect more out of something that was nearly 20 years old.  Angie ended up saving the day because she gave me a filter straw thing for my birthday.  When I originally saw it I thought "when am I going to use this?  I've got a water filter!"  I was glad we had it.  We also ended up having to boil water to drink.

Hitting the trail

On the boardwalk

Plenty of soggy meadows and cheesy smiles

Despite sore shoulders Zac reached the far side of the lake where we camped.

Boiling water

Carter admiring the tent

The next morning I wandered from camp while the boys were asleep and found a beautiful vista off of a ledge.  During breakfast the boys came over and we sat and talked about the lakes and forest we could see and how beautiful an earth God created for us.  The boys agreed to go on a day hike and we set off for Fern Lake.  The lake was off the trail so we ventured off and the boys discovered it was alot easier to hike on a trail than bushwhack.  Carter and Zac did a great job scrambling up the steep slopes and maneuvering over, around, and under the numerous fallen trees.  We finally descended onto a small lake/huge pond and according to the GPS we were short of the lake.  We decided to trust the GPS and kept on bushwhacking.  We finally descended onto Fern Lake and it was a welcome sight.  We scrambled over to the other side because Zac wanted to try his hand at fly fishing.  We ate a quick lunch and afterward it started to lightly rain.  We saw dark clouds on the horizon and quickly made some unsuccessful casts so that it was worth bringing the fishing poles.  We headed back to camp a different route using the GPS.  The boys were getting tired not long after leaving, mostly due to all of the fallen trees.  When we finally hooked back up with the trail they were glad.  Not long after being on the trail I looked at the GPS and it had died.  I was very grateful that it lasted long enough to keep us from getting lost.  It still hasn't worked since.

After getting back to camp we were all exhausted and we ended up taking a nap.  When we were awoken by thunder we quickly crammed everything in the tent and endured a hail/rain storm.  We were grateful that it passed quickly and we ate dinner and ended the night playing card games in the tent.

The next morning we admired the sunrise on our favorite perch.  Zac and Carter could only talk about what time we would arrive home if we left at 9:00, 10:00, or 11:00.  I think they were ready to get back to normal life.  We packed up camp and hiked out.  Carter did a great job for his first hike and only started to fall apart during the last 1/2 mile.  We were fortunate to leave before a rainstorm came.  The oddest thing of the trip happened as we sat in the truck eating our lunch before we left.  I heard voices approaching the truck and it was the girls that we parked next to that were returning from their hike.  They ended up doing a twenty mile loop and it was strange how we left at the same time, went on different routes, and ended up returning at the same time.  On the way home we got our traditional post-backpacking milkshakes and soon got home to rest our sore, mosquito bitten bodies. Looking forward to the next trip.

Sunrise

Crossing the inlet to Lodgepole Lake

On the way to Fern Lake

Crossing the dead fall.

Fern Lake

Glad to be back on the trail

We all had our turn at the straw filter.

Resting in the hammock

Look! They're not fighting :)

Card games in the tent

Looking at Granddaddy Lake from the top of Hades Pass

Finally heading home

February

Gavin is our artist and is always drawing.  He drew a picture of Molly to put by her bed.  

Abbi had to read a biography and then dress up as that person for a book report.  She didn't want to do the same people as all the other girls were doing so we looked online and brainstormed for a bit.  I finally told her she should do Anne Frank.  When I was in junior high I loved Anne Frank.  It was a bit of an obsession actually.  I did a history fair project about her and read everything there was to read about her.  I remember at night almost being haunted by her, as funny as that sounds.  My mom and I made a replica of her hiding place for my project (and I remember spending a very late night doing it- thanks Mom).  So I was thrilled when Abbi was excited to read about Anne Frank and be her.  She read a condensed biography but took the real one to school for the book report.  We'll have to watch the movie sometime.  

On President's Day we ventured to Provo and went to the Bean Museum.  It's changed so much it hardly seems like the same building.  The kids had fun together.  

Even my brother Chad had fun.  

The kids fought about who would push Blake in his stroller.  It must be so fun.  

It's always fun to see the Liger.  All us fellow Ligers (go Valley Junior!) had to get a picture in front of him.  

Blake turned 11 months old.  

Gavin has loved preschool and his teacher does the cutest projects with them.  

He loves preschool and Miss Janet.  

Blake is constantly getting his picture taken.  I just can't help it. A freshly bathed baby is the cutest.  

Blake is still obsessed with books (he reminds me of Carter).  He will sit in his room and open and turn pages one after another.  

Molly started looking pretty shaggy and we started thinking she needs a haircut.  This is a new concept for us with an inside non shedding dog.  It's worth it to not have hair all over the place.  

Blake has discovered Molly's food.  If it's out when he's around it gets dumped and thrown.  And yes... even eaten.  I've had to remove many pieces of dog food out his mouth and he's not happy I'm taking them.  Maybe I should try a piece to see what is so appealing but I just can't bring myself to.  

For Valentines Day we did my favorite thing- valentines boxes!  I really have no love in my heart for this activity and over the years have mostly let my kids at it by themselves. I did help a bit though and Tom did too (with Abbi's at least).  Abbi had such a cute idea (she had seen on pinterest) but I should have put more time into it and more glue because it fell apart on the way to school.  Oops.  It was cute for the picture at least.  

All four of my boys have worn this heartbreaker shirt on Valentines Day.  I looked and I can only find a picture of Carter but I know they all have worn it.  At this age all my boys are real heartbreakers (especially for their mom).  I love these pictures.  

Let it be known that on February 19th, Blake, Molly and I went on a walk while all the kids were in school.  It was 60 degrees that day.  I heard on the news in Utah we were warmer than Florida that day.  It was the perfect weather for a nice walk.  We had awesome February weather this year.  

My youngest brother had a baby the end of January and baby Taysom spent almost the whole month of February in the NICU.  He was diagnosed with Hirschsprung's disease & had to have surgery on his large intestine.  Tom and I went and saw him at the hospital one night and I got to hold him and love on him.  Luckily the surgery was a success and he was able to leave the hospital not long after our visit. One day Blake and Taysom will be running around together causing havoc.  

Blake wore a cute bowtie to church and a picture was necessary.  

Let me tell you a story about a couch.  When we finished our basement it needed a couch. Tom was dreaming of putting a nice sectional down there in that basement he worked so hard on.  But there was no way I was going to buy a nice new couch for the basement when our living room couches were falling apart.  We bought them as newlyweds (the cheapest set on the floor) and over 14 years later they were falling apart.  So I suggested we move the falling apart couches to the basement (for the kids to make fall apart more) and get new couches for our living room.  So I searched for a new couch and bought it for the living room.  So we went to move the old falling apart couches to the basement....and....they wouldn't fit. Well, the love seat did but the couch was too long.  We tried 2 separate times, all different ways but we couldn't get it down into the new family room.  Tom was determined.  It didn't help.  We got rid of the couch for free.  This story will be continued eventually....

Gavin, Blake and I went to his preschool field trip to the zoo.  The zoo has really changed and improved these past few years.  

We even rode the carousel (ssshh...don't tell the other kids).  

Carter lost one of his two front teeth.  Losing teeth is a big deal for Carter since he's barely lost any for his age.  He really wanted to lose it at school so he would get a cool tooth box.  

Gavin makes a cute leprechaun don't you think?

Tom's parents got their mission call the end of February.  We skyped with them to open it.  They are going to Arizona! We'll be parentless and grandparentless for 6 months!