Hiking in August!

A million thanks to AJ for letting me go down to Southern Utah to get my hikes in. It was awesome to go with two different groups to do two hikes, and I learned a ton from each of them.

On Pine Creek I went with 2 older guys, both of whom were on Ski Patrol, and the other had extensive experience climbing. I'm going to have to take some outdoor sports first aid classes in order to be able to be a first rate guide, as well as some additional mountaineering classes.

On the Subway, I learned that 4 guys who are in shape and have no fear can rip through a canyon in record time. We only used 1 small rope for all our decents, and jumped right in on all the swims. The water was actually really warm and was enjoyable to swim around in due to the fact that it was all spring water. (This is opposed to the water in Pine Creek which was brown, stinky, and had unidentifiable things floating in it.) It was awesomely fun.

Both hikes were done on beautiful days, with no clouds in the sky in the morning and partly cloudy in the afternoon. The clouds were especially appreciated during the hike out of each, and I actually got away from both hikes without a sunburn! (Almost unheard of from a white pasty boy like myself.)

While it was a whirlwind tour of the two canyons, things went great, with the biggest injury being a tweaked ankle from Sally on the hike out of Pine Creek. My goals for next year is to learn a bunch of outdoor first aid, get a good rope bag, and finally get some more canyons under my belt.

-Justin

p.s. I'm not sure, but the photos may be cut off on the right - I'll look into it once I'm not so tired.

Summer Fun - Camping

Here are pictures from our camping trip. We went to the ward campout and had a great time. The kids slept great, Mom not so great. I kept listening to the wind and thunder and then the rain. Oh and checking to make sure the kids stayed warm. There was a rope swing and dirt and rock piles which is where Sam and Hannah spent most of their time. We discovered the secret to Sam enjoying it and not wanting to come home early on Saturday morning: friends to play with on the dirt and rock pile. So our next camping trip we will need to take someone else with us.

Here are the River Dancers. These skirts were my favorite, the top was probably what taught me the most.

Read the post below for the rest of the story. :)

Dance Costumes

This is my project that I spent most of July working on. Sam is excited that I am done with my sewing project so we can do other things (like go swimming, play outside whenever, sew his costume he wants, etc) and Hannah wants to know when I am making something for her.

This first one are the Monsters, I made the pants and hats and helped attach the hair that Kellie made.

Then the Farm dancers (horses, pigs and sheep). I made the skirts and hats (aren't those hats the cutest!!).

The Robots, this one I only did pants, Kellie did the armbands and waistbands and headbands. Good thing to, they make the costume!

Cloud Dancers, white skirts which ended up looking much cuter than I though they would.

There is one more but apparantly Picasa only wants to let me do four photos at a time (I did them small to see if I could get that fifth one on there). These were fun to make and while they were time consuming I did enjoy it. I also learned quite a bit. I now feel a little more confident about altering a pattern to make it what I want it to be. Like a fuller skirt, size adjustments (not excessive), adding sleeves to a pattern that didn't have them. Before I could sew a pattern, follow the directions, but not make much in the way of variations. Doing this big of a project was a perfect way to get to try that out. Maybe someday (many years from now) I might be almost as good as my mom (I'm not sure I can be as good as she is). She's done Cabbage Patch Dolls (which we all still have as far as I know, I have mine) and three wedding dresses, who knows how many high school dance dresses and little kid clothes. For now, my next things are the quilts to finish and start thinking about Halloween costumes, and reclaim my neglected yard-oh those poor flowers, they don't stand a chance with that morning glory.