Subway and Camping with the Schroeder Family

Cydnee, Shaley, Todd and Val - the beginning of the big hike

I have always wanted to do "The Subway" at Zion National Park. So Eric planned a trip with his side of the family to help accomplish this goal. Thanks to lots of fun aunties (Tamie, Robin and Marcy) for basically hosting a day camp for my kids while Eric and I ventured out for the day.

We spent time just trying to find the trail in the beginning.

The hunky husband

Finally finding the right canyon.

Coming down into the canyon.

Eric and I in full wet suit attire.
A couple of years ago, Eric and I did Orderville Canyon in Zion and though I had an incredible time, I vowed I would never do a wet canyon again. The Subway had a couple of swims in it however so we decided to pack in wet suits. What a difference! I didn't get near as cold as I did in Orderville Canyon.

First Swim

Famous spot for pictures in the Subway

The pools look "out of this world"

Eric and Cydnee in the Subway

The next day we hiked the bottom of the Narrows with our kids and the rest of the family.

Thanks to family for taking pictures for us. Our camera is broken and we didn't have one for this trip.

San Diego Weekend

Labor Day weekend, we took a free trip courtesy Eric's company down to San Diego. The weather was perfect, of course, and we enjoyed escaping the heat in Las Vegas.

One of our favorite parts and the biggest surprise of the weekend was the Mormon Battalion Vistor Center. It was revamped earlier this year by the church. It was so fun and entertaining, educational and interactive, and the whole family reveled in the spirit that was there.

Will dressed with some of the supplies that a soldier went out with.

Daddy and the kids panning for gold.

Taylor found a couple of pieces!

Will playing a fiddle duet with the sister missionary. We have this on video as well. Taylor and Will both really enjoyed this!

Taylor rocking on the front porch of the visitor center.

Just down the street from the Visitor Center was the historic Whaley House. I had always heard about the Whaley House and how it is considered the "most haunted house" in America so of course I had to go and see for myself. The kids thought it was fun trying to see if they could find any ghosts in the house. Nada one.

The Cosmoplitan Hotel in Old Town San Diego

After spending time in Old Town, we went to the Padres Game at Petco Field. I was so disappointed we forgot our camera in the car because the stadium is really cool. Eric had been to a major league baseball game before but this was a first for me and the kids. It was a lot of fun and the kids came away with some free souviners.

After the game, we went to Coronado Beach. I have to laugh at myself (now!) because though I did bring the kids' swimsuits to the beach, I didn't bother putting them on because I didn't think they would end up doing more than dipping their feet into the water. I couldn't have been more wrong and instead of traveling to a restaurant in dry clothes so that we could go eat, they traveled back in their dry swimsuits to the hotel. I'll know better next time!

This shot is great because it shows the wave that put Will and Reagan down in the water.

It freaked out Reagan a little at first but that only lasted a couple of minutes.
The next day we went to church and then went for a walk in Balboa Park. I hadn't really ever explored this place before. I was delighted with our casual stroll through this park with its variety in building architecture and the wonderful weather. Our timing was awesome when we got to see the largest outside organ played in the afternoon organ concert.
It was a very sunny day and these are all the people waiting for the free concert to begin. The umbrellas weren't free however.
The organ pipes and stage.
One day I'd like to go back when we have time to explore the museums.
We ended up catching a free trolley ride over the cool freeway bridge and back to the car. What kid doesn't like a trolley?

After the park, we took a drive up to the San Diego Temple. It had scaffolding over one side of it making it hard to get any good pictures.

The next day we went to the famous San Diego Zoo. I thought is was a beautiful place to walk and explore. My kids however loved the double decker bus and the Skyride. We all liked the animals.

Will, as well as the rest of us, loved being able to see the Panda Bears as very few zoos in the US have Pandas. A wonderful and rare opportunity. (If you can close in on this shot, you will see one of the Panda bears.)

This is one of the few shots that Lyndsee is in. Kind of funny how that works out sometimes. I love my Lyndsee baby!

Reagan Cutey with her upside-down glasses

This man and these kids (pretend that Lyndsee made it into this picture) are the sweet joy and result of 9 years of marriage. That's right--Eric and I spent our 9th year anniversary at the Zoo on Labor Day and it couldn't have been better. OK--maybe I could have done without the camera breaking, the drive back to Las Vegas that evening, the whining kids claiming hunger, thirst, or life not fair. Life has been very fair to me and though its not always perfect, I really love being part of this big wonderful family!

The First Day of...

On Monday we walked Taylor and Will to their first day of school. Taylor started 2nd grade with Mrs. Orsinelli and Will started Kindergarten with Mrs. Dove. They both were very excited for this day.

Hi ho, hi ho, its off to school we goI took several pictures of Will as we made our way into the school through the mayheim but Will is not a poser and I couldn't get a smile out of him. His baby sister who he's looking at in this picture did get one out of him however.
Will wasted no time getting to work.

No tears were shed at all. Does that make me a bad parent? Maybe because he's my second or maybe because he showed absolutley no sadness. He already seems far more independant than Taylor was at this age but once again I'm sure that has a lot to do with him being the second child.

Taylor in her classroom on the first day of second grade.

Reagan at her first day of dance class at Miss Brenda's school of dance. She loved it and was also very indenpendent.

Before I knew it, it was time to pick up Will from AM Kindergarten. This time I was able to get a smile from him. He said he had an "awesome" first day!

Fun on Our Trip and Our Trip within the Trip

I've been dreading writing this entry because we did so much and I had so many great pictures all of which I wouldn't be able to post. Now that I'm finally getting to it, it will probably be lacking some detail but just know that despite the sickness (most of us had colds of some sort) and all the driving we did, we had a great time spent with family and a wonderful escape from the hot temps of Las Vegas.We spent a couple of evenings with the Schroeder Clan. The kids love seeing their cousins and aunts and uncles on both sides of the family when we go to Utah.

Aunt Robin and Bailey

After attending the festivities associated with my cousin Jordan's wedding (sorry no pics), we went to Rock Springs, WY and from there we traveled to one of the entrances of the Wind River Mountains near Lander, WY to do some high country camping with my brother Tracey's family.

Emma and Holly traded places with Will on the drive up.

Reagan and Lyndsee chilling by the fire.

Some more relaxing by the fire.

A traditional camping breakfast being enjoyed by all. It was so nice because Emily and Tracey took care of getting and packing all the food so we didn't have to pack all of our camping gear for our "trip within our trip".

The next day we did some hiking near the Popo Agie River. The kids found a grasshopper giving another grasshopper a piggy-back ride. Tracey made sure the kids didn't ruin the grasshoppers fun by smashing them.

Rock models Emma, Holly and Taylor

More rock models Samuel, Reagan, Hannah and Holly again.

We hiked to the Popo Agie Waterfall which was impossible to capture all in one shot because it covered this mountain side splitting up in all different directions as it flowed down.

Emily and kids

Within the first hour of camping, Taylor got bit on the eyelid and it swelled up. This exact thing happened to her last year when we were camping in the Uintas in Utah. She must be extra tasty on the eyelids or maybe its the only place I don't put bug spray--you decide.

Dutch oven birthday cake--We celebrated Holly's birthday and Emily made her a cake in the dutch oven. It was yummy! The next day we celebrated Eric's birthday and I was a lame wife and didn't bother with any cake. We did however stop for a 50 cent ice cream cone at Little America on the way back to Salt Lake and I don't know if Eric could have been happier!

A pretty pond covered in lily pads on our drive through the mountains.

Eric hiding in the shadows to protect Lyndsee from the sun.

We stopped in a couple of ghost towns on our way back to Rock Springs including Atlantic City and South Pass City. South Pass City has been restored to its former days.

One of the other highlights of our trip was taking our kids to Lagoon for the first time. We got to hang with the Shiflett family which made it even more fun because it allowed Eric and I to enjoy a couple of grown-up rides.

Will and cousin Kyle

Reagan and Taylor

All the kids had their moments of bravery but Reagan won out when she insisted on going on this ladybug ride in Kiddieland that the other kids refused to try.

I wish we could see Lyndsee's face in this picture. The train was the only ride she was able to go on (because it was free and we didn't buy her an ALL DAY ride pass). She seemed to sense the excitement of her turn to go on a ride before the train even started to move! We must be amusement park junkies because we ended up being at Lagoon from 10am to 10pm and even then we were dragging the kids out of the park by their ears.

So much more I could say about our camping trip, Lagoon and other parts of our trip but alas, I'm lazy and need to get my kids ready for the first day of school next week.