Pssst: Cecret Lake!

Seems it is always a giant undertaking to get out the door with these two babes in tow, which is why I've felt particularly cooped up this summer. By the time we are ready to finally go, someone is tired or hungry or poopy again. This hike was much needed and I never regret being up in the mountains once I'm there. Saturday morning we rushed quick as a cricket to get packed and up to the trail head before it was too hot and crowded. Turned out to be a gorgeous morning in the Albion Basin. On the way down the mountain both kids fell asleep in their carriers and Brad and I looked at each other with the biggest of big grins. I'll never forget it. We live in such a beautiful place! What a treat to get some mountain fresh air with the whole family.

This girl. This face. My heart!

Round. Tortoise shell. < $10. I never stray you guys.

'Sploring with mom

SIMBA!

Waving "hi" from her perch on dad's back

Aaaaaaand ZONK.

The end.

Here's to a rainy Mother's Day

BD here. We just got home from a relaxing weekend away where there were no alarm clocks. I made sure of that. It was just what we needed. Although, there was that incident with the toilet...

While every day holds something that reminds me of my mom, Mother's Day is a great time to actively remember her on my terms because I don't do it enough in the hustle-bustle of everyday life. Gina and I reminisced about both of our mothers at various times throughout the weekend. Driving down the canyon today I remembered with shock that she's been gone nearly 8 years next month. For Mother's Day 8 Years ago my siblings and I went to Color-Me-Mine and each designed a plate for her, then presented them while she was in the hospital. They are still hanging in my dad's kitchen.

Mom and Grandma in the kitchen - ca. 2001

When I actively remember her, there are some things that I particularly cherish:

• She had as much influence on me marrying Gina as I did. Seriously.
• She slept in a hotel one night because we had a fugitive snake loose in the house. (OK, it was probably my brother or me that left the cage door slightly ajar) 
• She once traded a house.
• She and my grandma had a wonderfully close relationship; that must be why I love talking with my grandma.
• She trucked me around the Intermountain West to appease my crazy mountain biking addiction throughout my adolescence.
• In fact she eagerly supported every whim, interest, or talent that I ever had.
• She teased me because Gina had a bike before she had "the ring."
• The wing.
• Taking walks in the woods on family camping trips.
• She never forgot anything, especially the important stuff... right down to the hour of the day it happened. 
• She made everything special with her "touch."
• She had a heart that didn't fit in her body. 
• After she was gone we found out hundreds of small acts of kindness that she had done for people that no one in the family knew anything about. 
• She had to wait nearly 10 years before having her first child (me!) which is now something I know a little about and will forever honor the pain and desire she felt to be a parent. 
• I love her for not giving up.

The MOST Important Women in my life (Leaving for Brazil - ca. 2001)

Lastly, I vividly remember that she loved Sunday Brunch. Gina and I were luckily able to carry on the legacy of the family Sunday Brunch today and I'm sure we'll continue it far into the years to come with our own family. While I skipped the State Crit championships at Pioneer Park, it was much better to get away and spend some quality time with the Mrs. and without the bike.

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." - Abraham Lincoln

Thanks for letting me indulge here.

Gilgal Gardens

Gilgal Gardens is an historic sculpture garden created by Thomas B. Child starting in 1945. The Garden showcases 12 original sculptural arrangements and many stones engraved with scripture mixed with philosophical texts.

Of the most notable sculptures is The Sphinx. And yes, that is Joseph Smith's face carved into this huge quartzite stone. Obviously, this was my favorite piece. It's really bizarre and I think everyone should see the Joseph Smith Sphinx at least once in your lifetime.

The garden, which is free (and also why we were there), has plenty of beautiful flowers around.

The whole gist of the garden is one man's physical expression of the truths he has found in his life long spiritual quest. I absolutely love that weird and eclectic stuff like this exists in SL, which is part of the reason I love living here. Below is part of The Monument to the Priesthood.

Other's that we liked...

I Heart Mount'n

Bald Mountain

Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Elevation: 11,943 feet at summitI absolutely love being in the mount'ns (or moun-tains, for those of you who don't know how to say it properly). On Saturday we took advantage of a beautiful summer day for some great outdoors. From the top of Bald Mountain you can see for a million miles, or so it seemed to me.

This picture is perfectly staged to look like I am giving a thumbs up at the awesome view, when really I just needed to stop because my lungs were about to burst right out of my heaving chest. It wouldn't have been such an awesome view then.

"I thought the Rocky Mountains would be a little more rockier than this. That John Denver's full of..."

What you can't see is me freaking out that he's so close to the edge. He's not only close to the edge, part of him is off the edge, which makes part of me very... shall we say, uncomfortable. Deep breaths Gina, deep deep breaths.