Bryce Canyon

On our Thanksgiving trip to Alton, we were also able to swing by Bryce Canyon National Park. It's about thirty minutes or so from Will's grandparents. If you look closely, you can see a couple of us on top of the cliff.

I love red rock with snow. Fall and Spring are the best times to enjoy Southern Utah. There are no crowds and it's not too hot. 

After a little picnic, we went on Navajo Loop, a nice three-mile hike. 

Just admiring the beauty.

I don't know why man-made tunnels are so cool, but it's just fun to slip through a hole in a rock. 

Marietta showing off her muscles by felling a tree herself. 

The women

The men.
I never get tired of visiting the same National Parks over and over. Each time is a little different. Although we did the exact same hike, it was a nice change from the Fourth of July weekend. We saw few hikers and enjoyed the brisk, fall air. 

Grand Canyon

We went down with Will's family to Alton, Utah, for Thanksgiving. Will's grandparents, Art and Marjorie Andersen live in a giant house in a tiny town and love to have visitors. Grandpa Anderson is a spry young buck of eighty years old. He came with us to the Grand Canyon. 

I don't know why, but I expected to be able to see the Colorado River and I wanted more of a straight drop-off on the edge of a cliff. 

The last time I was at the Grand Canyon was when I was about four years old. I told my mom that I thought it was "one mile, or two miles, or three miles deep." I remember being more enthralled by the squirrels than the canyon. 

The whole gang with the vast expanse as our backdrop. I bet more than one person was glad for the guardrails. 

Cole is going to be a rock climber one day. 

I can honestly say it was worth the three hour drive to the canyon, but I would like to do a little more hiking next time. 

Cabin with the Lehmitz Clan

At the beginning of November we took a trip down with Will's family to the cabin. We stopped at Capitol Reef the first day. I like this picture of Marietta and Cole because it looks like they're happy about being wedged in between two rocks on the edge of a cliff. 

It was fun to show Julie, the Lehmitz's foreign exchange student from Denmark, the sights of Southern Utah. 

Our little helmet head. 

This is our happy camper after nursing at Hickman Bridge. 

Some fun climbing rocks on the hike to Hickman bridge.

The family at Devil's Garden off Hole-in-the-Rock Road. 

Hiking down to Upper Calf Creek Falls. I love the sky in this picture. 

The Upper Falls are less majestic than the Lower, but also less known so it's kind of nice to get a good workout in and not see any other hikers. Above the falls are several fun pools deep enough for swimming.

Cole and Sterling after the hike. 

Colster and Uncle Steve... yeah, he gets a lot of attention.

Mountain Biking Yellow Fork`

Will and I managed to get in one mountain bike ride this whole year! Hopefully we will have a better track record next year. Having a kid definitely makes it a little harder. We enjoyed the crisp, fall ride up Yellow Fork Canyon. Well, lets say, I enjoyed the ride up a little more than Will, but we both had fun on the way down. 

It's really hard to think of a witty caption for my own photo, so I'll leave it blank instead of risking publishing something really dumb. 

We took the road up and then went down on the horse trails to the side. The trail down was a fun single-track that wasn't too technical. 

Pumpkin Patch

Will's family leases their land for "The Crazy Corn Maze" during the month of October. They also run the "Pumpkin Patch" right by the maze. To earn a little bit of extra mullah, we worked there a bit. Cole came down to visit me one day while I was manning the patch.

He loved standing up in the wagon. 

Dirt and leaves, oh the curiosities of a midget. 

Our flower child.

Having fun in the back of the truck.

I just love the giant head and little legs.

Temple Quarry with Cousins

Near the end of October, we took a stroll up Little Cottonwood to view the leaves. The Temple Quarry Trail had been shut down for about a year for maintenance, so it was nice to enjoy it again. Here is my brother, Blake, showing off his muscles by carrying his two children, Bentley and Ana. 

Ana, Jasmin, Bentley, and Blake

I just love autumn. The leaves are so brilliant. Being up the canyon to enjoy them made me so happy!

As usual, Cole is passed out. The gentle movement in the carrier eventually puts him to sleep.

After the hike, Cole and Bentley decide to show their cousinly affection. Nothing says "I love you" like an open-mouthed kiss!

Ana and Cole sitting on a rock, not kissing.

Grandma Keri and Cole.

I think I look rather mischevious in this picture. I probably said something sarcastic and witty that sent Cole into a laughing fit. He has quite a sophisticated sense of humor.

This is my favorite. . . picture and son.