July and August 2021

Mt. Olympus is not the tallest peak in the Wasatch (falling short of that claim by nearly 3,000 ft), but it may have some of the best views:

Summit:

Here's Max almost to the top of Bald Mountain in the Uintas. We camped by the base at Moosehorn Lake and went up the short trail to watch the stunning sunset (I brought the "real" camera, but had neglected to put a memory card in it before leaving...):

View from the top:

Leaving our campsite the next day. We would recommend the spot!

(COMMENTARY NOW AILIE'S:) At the Fourth of July parade in Grantsville:

Lindsie, Eric, Beckham, Andrew, Lanetta, Ruth, and Spencer all joined us at the parade:

Beckham had a cute Fourth of July suit on—most of the time. It was too hot for a little guy!

Our cousins Ruth and Spencer were with us for the parade:

The majority of Callum's candy was voluntarily given to him by Ailie and Claire. He was quite adorably grateful, saying, "Dank you Ai'yee" and "Danks Larr."

Beckham on Eric's shoulders:

Everyone except for Amanda (who took the picture) got a photo together at the end:

There was a water fight with our cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Callum's pants had a difficult time staying on. In the end, they were just taken off entirely. We all got soaked.

Jojo and Claire running up the hill to sabotage Uncle Andrew:

Ruth was on the cousins' side with most of the other younger cousins. Some of them tried to switch sides, though.

The younger cousins had a personal pool to protect them from the older cousins' squirt guns. Becks in the water:

Grandpa joined the fight, too. He got just as wet as everyone else.

Jojo and her unstoppable water bottles became the mortal enemy after Andrew retired. She was vicious, and so soaked she was basically immune to the other's splashes.

Callum, after retiring, joined Becks in the younger kids' pool.

Ailie (and others) attempted use of a large packing box filled of water to conquer Jojo:

After the water fight, we changed and then had dinner:

To end the day, we moved on to ice sledding. Claire was one of the first to try it:

Everyone got a turn:

Everyone from small through tall gave it a try. Ice sledding got lots of new fans.

Even Grandma was persuaded to give it a try.

While some continued ice sledding, others moved onto vehicle-driving. When Callum saw this picture of Jed in the car, he said, "That's my car! Jed tooked my car!"

Max on a tractor:

One of the hardest parts, besides waiting, was carrying the heavy sled up the hill.

"Callum's" tractor with a young rider onboard:

Rose was happy to help get "Cal's" tractor up the hill.

(BACK TO MARK:) Here's a couple of pictures from an afternoon/evening hike that Eric and I took in Big Cottonwood (the Patsy Marley Loop). We started at Silver Lake:

And made our way past some other lakes (our first summit is the one on the right—Patsy Marley—followed by the one in the center—Mt. Wolverine):

Great views the whole time:

Wildflowers!

Our last summit in the loop of three peaks, Mt. Tuscarora:

Sunset makes for some awesome views:

A different hike in the Stansbury mountains to break in some new shoes for King's Peak. Pre-dawn view across Tooele Valley:

Deseret Peak lit by the sun in the distance:

Dad took the three girls to Lagoon and we had a blast. Watch Eleanor's face shift from nervousness to delight—Turn of the Century never fails to amuse:

Hiking to the summit of a very smokey Kings Peak with Ryan. We didn't know it at the time, but Kings is the very faint mountain on the right edge of this picture:

Things cleared up a bit as the day went on:

Kings up ahead as we make our way across "the shortcut":

Almost to the summit:

The interesting colors of the rocks:

We made it and were feeling pretty good despite the beginnings of some altitude headaches:

Neapolitan rock striping:

The day got much more beautiful on the way down:

(SWITCHING BACK TO AILIE FOR REUNION COMMENTARY:) A highlight of our annual family reunion was swimming with cousins at the Reserve's pool:

The older cousins played together and had their fair share of fun.

Jojo thought (as usual) of several fun games to play.

Most of us were drenched in the water, playing at the splash pad, the deep pool, the little pool, and the hot tub, but some people had it made on the "shore" in a towel.

A lot of the smaller kids had life vests and then ventured away from their parents. Ruth in her life jacket:

The seven oldest cousins played a game where there was a certain way to jump into the pool, such as biggest splash, fall in like a cat or duck, go the furthest, etc. There was a judge who decided the winner, or best at the kind of jump. Then the winner would become the new judge. Lily jumping, with Peter in line:

On a regular basis, Ailie felt the need to push smug winners into the pool. Mostly Cot, but sometimes Peter.

The pool had a very fun water slide that everyone went down multiple times. Elly, life-vested up, laughing down the slide:

Callum went down the slide, too, in a slightly less-laugh-y fashion. But admittedly adorable!

Beckham, Kaja, and Grandma having fun in the water:

A perfect image of Peter sliding into the water with a splash:

Cot slipping down as soon as Pater gets out, in a even more amusing ballerina style:

At the cabin, they had several types of different fun games, including ice hockey, one of the favorites. Claire versus Cot, with spectators gathered around:

There was an awesome deck on the ground floor where you could find a spider swing, couches, pillow chairs.

Eric, Lindsie, Lanetta, and Dad squaring off at Dominion (Dad is taking the pic):

Two other favorites were foosball, and, for Grandpa and Nate especially, pool.

We went to the beach at Bear Lake several times, each time adoring the water/sand and having a blast.

Beckham got nice and sandy, but the fun was worth the price.

On a sand "island", Peter and Cot made several curiosities, including a "pool".

Callum, instead of enjoying the water, stuck with his toys/trucks.

Cousins from four to twelve kept an annual tradition—burying Uncle Eric in the sand from neck to toe (being forbidden, sadly, to bury his head).

Each day a different family brought lunch for our group of 29.

Elly stayed near the sand for the majority of the time, playing with Mom or building a sand castle.

Grandma and Grandpa's kayak, as always, was a big-time favorite. Katie and Nate taking their dog, Lyssa, out on the waves:

However, Lyssa decided she didn't crave a boat ride at the time.

Second beach day:

We had a great time at Bearadise! Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!

For her birthday, Eleanor got a "big box of all the treats", as requested, which she kindly shared with all of her family.

Her cake, initially covered in unicorns:

The three oldest before the Stansbury Days Kids' triathlon:

Claire, starting her first day of fourth grade:

Ailie, starting her first day of fifth grade, with a new shirt and back pack:

Max, holding the board with his info on it:

(AND BACK TO MARK:) Eric and I went on an afternoon/evening hike up to the summit of Kessler Peak in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Here's our destination up ahead:

Most of the trail was steep, but through these beautiful evergreen forests:

Almost there (summit on the right):

At the summit of Kessler Peak:

Eleanor's first day of school, holding a board that tells her grade, teacher, favorite color and food, and her future employment wishes.

We love you all and hope you're all doing great!