More Hiking

 This year the weather waited until February to give us snow. I love the snow especially when I have time to be outdoors. The Saturday I was back from California Amber and I hiked up Rock Canyon. It was awesome. It felt good to get in a long workout. Utah got lots of snow while I was gone in California.  I love the view of the valley from the lookout. I probably have 100 pictures from this spot from the past few years.

Moki was in heaven. She loves the snow.

Sunday Moki and I ventured up Slate Canyon. It was a beautiful morning.

Tuesday after work Anthony and I went up Rock Canyon. He actually texted me:)

We hiked up to the look out.

Wednesday Anthony and I headed up Battle Creek Falls. We went up the trail for a mile. No picture to prove it but it was a good little workout. I am always grateful for the chance to get outside for workouts.

California Birthday Trip

 Thus year has been hard for so many reasons but school has felt exhausting. I think it is the online that is causing the most stress. Really because people aren't doing their stuff. So annoying! But after coaching cross country and basketball I was ready for a little break. I left for California on my birthday. That was a Friday and I stayed for a week. Nancy, Anthony and Caleb came as well. It was a good trip.

We started by driving to Susanville to stay at Aaron and Jacklyn's house. It is nice to have a little bit shorter trip. My mom came up on Saturday and we had a nice weekend there. We played lots of games and got outside a little bit for exercise.

The rental car was packed so full.

Moki was happy to have company in the backseat. It was nice that Caleb just drove. I read an entire book on the way there and a different one on the way home.

Susanville is so pretty

Aaron and I on a walk. Jacklyn is pregnant, YAY! The downside is she has been super sick so it has limited her ablity to exercise.

Sunday after church we headed to Lodi to hang with Ben and Katie. They just got moved into their new house. It was so fun to see it. It is an awesome house and it has alot of room for family gatherings.

Monday was a holiday so we spent the day with Ben and Katie and family. We play lots of games, ate, visited and we went to the church to play on their property. I didn't get many pictures. . . . BOO!

Aaron and Jacklyn headed home Monday afternoon. My mom, Nancy, Anthony, Caleb and I took Ben and Katie's kids and headed to Oroville. The kids got to come play with us. 

Tuesday the weather was amazing and so we spent the day doing yard work. Like all day. We worked hard. The kids actually did a great job as well. We made a huge fire and burnt lots of yard waste. We trimmed bushes, raked leaves, and mowed lawns.

The weather was perfect for yard work.

I love the Northern California sky. So open and so pretty.

Tuesday night while I was putting the kids down I got a text from Angelee. She let me know Tom Robertson had passed away. He had been in the hospital and was really sick, but it was so SHOCKING. He had been doing better and was supposed to be transferred to a care facility the next day. At this point it was unexpected. I was so so so sad for his family. Death is so hard. I feel like it put a damper on the rest of the trip. I barely slept Tuesday night. Losing a parent is so hard.

Wednesday we played lots of games, went to the park, and then played more games. Not much is open in California and so we were at my moms a lot, which is fine. We took the kids to Riverbend park and spent a couple of hours there playing and the playground and walking by the river.

I love getting to spend time with these kids. I wish I could see them more.

Thursday I went to Chico and hung out with Angelee. We visited while she ran her kids around. It is always so fun to catch up with her. 

That evening Mikila came over and hung out. We had dinner and played a couple of games. It was good to see her as well. I am thankful for friends and how easy it is to catch up and carry on.

Friday we drove home. The weather was awesome and we got home safely and in a timely manner. Overall it was a pretty chill trip. It was good to see so much family.

February . . . . the first half

 The first part of the year always feels so uneventful. COVID has made that even worse. Most days I work and then am just at home for the evening. Not very exciting. I try to get Moki out for hikes and walks at least on Saturday and Sunday. If she is lucky we get some hikes during the week as well. 

One Sunday morning we enjoyed the beautiful Slate Canyon. It was after fresh snow so it was extra great!

Sunday dinner at Dan's are the highlight of the week most of the time. I love getting together with everyone!

Andrew and Emerson learned to play Cover Your Assets. It has been the best. They love the game and are so fun to play with. Emerson LOVES it! He is also very good at adding up his score.

The kids all spent the night one weekend. Emerson requested a sleepover. It was so fun. We played lots and lots of game. Went to the park. Ate yummy food. And went sledding.

I did a french braid in Audreys hair while she watched TV. It was a little tricky because her hair is so fine, but it looked so cute.

Sledding was a hit for everyone. The disk sled wasn't great in the snow. It was a really wet snow. It was good to get out and play for a little while.

Andrew lasted the longest and had the most fun.

How cute is Audrey in this snow suit? The girls loves pink. She rocked it.

Another Sunday up Slate Canyon. I love flocked trees.

The basketball season wrapped up. It was a great year. I really enjoyed the girls on my team. They are fun kids and great athletes. It is always so exhausting but worth it. Caleb came and took pictures of my team. he did a great job. I am excited to pass on some of the pictures to the girls at the banquet!

I have been trying to make small memory quilts for my siblings for their birthdays. They are made out of my dads old button up shirts. It has been a lot of work but fun. I am hoping to give them "their" quilt on their birthday. That make it seem doable to spread it throughout the year. Nancy has been a life savor. She has helped so much and I am so grateful! This is the one I did for Aaron without the binding finished.

Moki and I enjoyed a beautiful evening on the shoreline trail after work. We got to watch an amazing sunset.

Anthony and I hiked 7 miles round trip to visit the hot springs up the Spanish Fork Canyon. Usually it is a four mile hike but the road closes for the winter so it's quite a bit longer. It was a great workout and a fun evening.

My team came in and surprised me with some birthday treats. It was so nice and fun! I am grateful to all who reached out on my birthday. It meant so much. 

Our team picture from this year. I wanted to have it in here somewhere:)

The beginning of February was great.