Bikes, Bikes, Bikes

This has definitely been the summer of bikes.  Thanks to Mark, the last six months have been full of riding bikes, fixing bikes, buying bikes, selling bikes, switching all manner of bike parts from old to new or from one bike to another, talking about bikes, reading about bikes, finding places to ride the bikes, uncountable amounts of packages delivered at our door full of bike parts, helping friends, family and neighbors with their bikes, and pretty much setting up a bike shop in our garage.  It has been really quite fun and I never knew I could be so interested in bikes.  Thanks for the education and the fabulous bikes and rides Mark!

Mark took the pedals and training wheels off of Brian's bike so Brian could keep up with Timmy on the Strider.  It has been perfect.  These two have been striding around on their balance bikes all summer and loving it.  Next Spring we'll let Brian try his bike with pedals and just nix the training wheels all together.  Those training wheels are completely over rated.  Both kids are balance pros now.

 They have also enjoyed riding around in the bike trailer, but this has recently become a thing of the past, because Mark just upgraded us to. . .

. . .this bad boy!  Today we took a good two hour ride (with stopping for dinner in the middle) and the kids still wanted more.  They LOVE it and Brian was a little machine, pedaling so hard and especially helping me up the hills when I was the one pulling.

After buying and selling and buying a bike for himself, and fixing up and selling and buying a bike for me, we have ended up with a Specialized Epic Disc for Mark and a Specialized Rockhopper Expert for me (pictured pulling the kids above a few pictures.)  Mark and I count ourselves lucky because we have the same leg length and we can easily switch bikes when needed with no adjustments necessary.  

Mark and our supermen-biker-brothers-in-law, Brian and Dave, have been mountain biking all summer long including many late night rides up Millcreek Canyon.

I only went on two mountain rides without the kids, but it was enough to make me want more.  Hopefully we see many more bike rides in the future.

First Snow

The first snow of the season is always so magical.  Early this morning Brian went to let Meg outside and he came running back to the bedroom with the cutest most excited face and said, "Mommy, guess what is outside? SNOW!"  Then he dragged Timmy down the hall and before I knew it both boys were outside in their pajamas without shoes on to experience the first snow of the season.  I have always loved the first time it snows in the Fall and I love it even more watching my boys experience it.

Brian had school so they just walked around in it in our yard and in the school yard before school and then Timmy got to play in the yard this morning.  After we picked up Brian they needed lunch and a nap and I promised they could play in the snow when they woke up.  Sadly it had melted by the time naps were over.  They were so disappointed, but they are looking forward to more snow in the next few months.  It was a beautiful morning.

Goblin Valley Camping Trip

We spontaneously decided to do a one night camping trip to Goblin Valley this last weekend, because Mark didn't have all his Sunday responsibilities due to General Conference.  I am so glad we made this quick decision.  I've been watching Conference online since we returned and we listened to what we could in the car, so overall it has been an awesome few days.  Conference and camping together just can't be beat.

Camping

We camped just outside of Goblin Valley State Park in a rough but beautiful BLM land camp site.  It was perfect for us because it was free, full of sand for the kids, rocks and cliffs to explore, beautiful scenery, Meg did not need a leash and we were not camping next to any other campers.  

 We have some pretty good little rock climbers on our hands, including Meg.  She would run straight up the sandstone no problem and then run and slide down full speed.

 When I asked Brian what his favorite part about camping was, he said, "The fire."  It was a very nice fire Mark made for us and the perfect weather for it.

 Watching the boys wrestle in the tent trailer is hilarious.

The little boys thought the Daddy sandwich was the best.

Goblins

We spent Sunday morning exploring Goblin Valley.  Brian especially thought it was so cool, he was really good at climbing to the highest points possible.  My favorite was our good game or hide-and-seek.

We were all a little tuckered out in the end, but the family fun and the memories we created

 made it so worth it!

Silver Lake

I took the boys up to Silver Lake this morning just to get up into the mountains.  It was the perfect morning for it.  Not only was the drive up the canyon stunning with the neon red leaves, but we were lucky enough to view two moose hanging out in the lake while we were there.  It was a real treat for me.  Brian pretended we were on an animal viewing and leaf collecting safari and Timmy just kept repeating whatever Brian was saying about how much he loves nature.