Our little Covid Christmas Village...

We were so sad to not have family and friends 

join us this year for the Christmas Village because of Covid. 

Emily and Chris were even gone 

so it was mom and the guys. 

We decided instead of a theme this year

we just needed to include at least these 4 things:

1. a landmark

2. a water feature

3. a mode of transportation

4. a dwelling

The ideas and fun started flowing 

after Zac came up with the idea 

of recycling styrofoam slabs by carving them 

into our own Mt. Everest! 

(1. landmark)

Paul made prayer flags

Hunter made a glacier fed river

(2. water feature)

I made a swing in the forest

a campfire

and yurt pictured below. 

(4. dwelling)

Did you know we all slept in a yurt one night 

with 1000 of our closest box elder bug friends? 

True story, haha.

Hunter's ski lift was so clever! 

I love the little skiers and snowboarders. 

He also made an abominable snow monster 

that was munching on a skier - awk!

Zac made our basecamp for Everest - love it!

Down in the valley, Zac made a lodge for all the climbers. 

The streetlights Paul made hearken back to some Liz made years ago. 

There was a little Charlie Brown aluminum tree farm. 

Zac's climbers were trying to avoid a crevasse

Wait! 

What about the mode of transportation?!

See the little brown jelly bean looking blobs on the right below?

Those are yaks! 

Our modes of trans =D

Merry Christmas everyone - we send our love 

and sing praises of our Jesus, the greatest gift!

Maple "Grave" Hot Springs Tradition (Covid Restrictions)

Our annual Maple Grove Hot Springs get away was beautiful as always! 

The management was cautious of Covid and limited 

the number of visitors through advance reservations. 

Tiny pears were everywhere. 

Loved looking at this view of Oneida Reservoir 

while soaking in one of the pools. 

We stayed in that wonderful water until the sun set and stars lit up the night. 

<3

Slot Canyons and camping on BLM Land

We headed for orange rock and slot canyons 

with Scott and April at the end of September. 

They've have lots of experience camping on BLM 

(Bureau of Land Management) lands so they showed us the ropes. 

The first slot canyons were in 

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. 

Cottonwood Wash Narrows was a new one to us. 

Willis Creek Slot Canyon was next. 

We'd hiked it with the twigs many years ago.

(Cute kids <3)

It was just as beautiful this time as we remembered!

Grosvenor's Arch was just off the dirt road near where we camped. 

Little Wildhorse Slot Canyon was our next destination

and along the drive we got to watch Scott fly his drone. 

It's an amazing little piece of technology 

that flies back to you when it gets 

just about out of range 

or just about out of battery - very cool!

Near Little Wildhorse, we camped right next to the bluffs below

and it was one of my favorite memories of the trip. 

The stars and stillness at night filled my soul.

We've visited Litttle Wildhorse Slot Canyon many times but can't get enough. 

Can't say enough how grateful we are for this beautiful world 

and for dear ones to enjoy it with!!

Spring Break - Parks A Plenty

Spring break this year was in Southeast Utah 

visiting beautiful and unique parks a plenty!

We hiked, biked or explored each day 

and played games or talked around the campfire at night. 

It was 10 days of heaven with 10 awesome people and a terrific dog.

Goblin Valley State Park

Natural Bridges National Monument

House on Fire Ruins

Goosenecks State Park

Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum

Hovenweep National Monument

Needles District Canyonlands National Park

Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument

Dead Horse State Park

Island in the Sky District Canyonlands National Park

What a wonderful world!