Hike To Ensign Peak

For Pioneer Day here in Utah, my dad had a great idea to take a hike up to Ensign Peak. Ensign Peak is known as the peak that the Pioneers came over into the Salt Lake Valley after their long journey across the plains. The same peak where Brigham Young famously declared, "This Is The Place".
I was a bit taken aback since my dad is probably the last person on Earth that would ever suggest we go on a family hike. The outdoors aren't really his thing. But it isn't too hard of a hike, only about 20 or 30 minutes. And it was gorgeous.

Calvin dressed in his patriotic red, white, and blue. 

Dad trying to take a picture with Cal in front of the view...

Dad: What gives?!

I live here, folks. 

Check out that view! 

Not to mention those amazing clouds. 

4th of July Cabin Trip

The family all got invited to spend the 4th of July up at a very lovely cabin belonging to Andrea's 

In-laws, The Veenkers. We had a great time playing outside, making s'mores, learning card games, and of course, 4-wheeling.

Calvin's trip on the 4-wheeler. 

Those legs you see sticking out are my mothers. She was hanging on for dear life.

Showing all the dust that had blown onto my pants on the ride. 

Wearing black was probably not a good idea.

We had some free time so some of us decided to go on another 4-wheeling 

adventure. I decided I would rather stay at the cabin and converse or take a nap or something since 

that week was going to be a long one for me. During the trip, my brother Erik and little sister Ami started accelerating and Erik decided to let off the gas. But instead of the 4-wheeler just rolling slowly (as a car would if you let off the gas), its engine breaks stopped the 4-wheeler right on a rocky area, where they apparently slipped and the 4-wheeler flipped them right off. Luckily, both Erik and Ami were wearing helmets or else their injuries might have been much worse, to say the least. They both got scraped up and came away with some pretty nasty bruises, but thankfully that was the most of it. 

What remained of Erik's coat after falling on some rocks.

A bruised cheek

Erik's side bruise. 

Ami's scraped up forearm. This is after it healing, too. 

Trust me, it looks a lot better in this picture.

Nothing like a few 4-wheeling bruises to finish off the 4th of July weekend right!

The Baby Who Stares At Goats.

The family had planned a trip to the zoo that soon turned into an impromptu trip to Thanksgiving Point for something called Barnyard Boo. Before it starts to snow, we plan on taking Cal to the zoo to see the monkeys, because I think my mom really wanted to show him all of the cool animals at the zoo..
As you've probably guessed, Barnyard Boo was full of, well, barnyard type animals (goats, chickens, horses, etc.) The conversation went something like this:

Kids: Lets go to Thanksgiving Point! They have the Halloween stuff up and that's not going to be up all year long!

Mom: I wanted to let him go see the animals!

Kids: They have animals at Barnyard Boo!

Mom: ...... Well, they don't have monkeys... *pout*


Dear Mom,
We will make sure to go to the Zoo to see the monkeys before it snows..
Love, Ang.

How milk is manufactured...

A little intimidated by the giant animals..

Feeding the ducks and geese! He's so stoked..

He was quite fond of the goats. They kept licking his fingers.

We're locked up..

Talking to his Abuelo in Peru..

It all makes for one exhausted kiddo..