Jaunty July

While Annika and I were in Long Island in July, Jason and the kids had lots of fun playing in Salt Lake.  Here they are hiking up to Sunset Peak. 

Adam joined the fun as well.  You can see so far from up high!

I love how you can glimpse Lakes Mary, Martha and Catherine and all at once.  The cute critters are an extra bonus.

Happy hikers.

Annika and I made it back to Salt Lake Sunday night, just in time for her to go to horse camp with Girl Scouts on Monday morning.  I felt a little nervous dropping her off at Camp Trefoil, but the staff were amazing!  As I passed along her medications, the camp nurse let me know that she used to work on a telemetry (heart monitoring) unit.  She knew all the right questions to ask Annika, and even offered her a ride in a golf cart to get to the stables every day so that she wouldn't have to climb the big hill.

To relieve my own maternal anxiety about parting ways, I headed to the mountains and hiked out to Stewart Falls.

I also joined my friends in this beautiful verdant labyrinth, created right in Angela's front yard.

Even better was hiking Lone Peak with Talia.  This peak is intense--probably the most physically exhausting summit I've done along the Wasatch front.  Knowing how far the distance (17 miles per Strava), we started well-before dawn.

Plus, it made me so happy to spend time with my gal, even if we were both missing Brooklyn.  Eli didn't come because he was doing this awesome writing camp through the University of Utah.

Still so far to the summit.  The distance listed on AllTrails was off by miles.

The white granite cliffs were spectacular.

Nearly there!

Consider this peak bagged.  6000 feet elevation gain--a vertical grand canyon.  The achievement cost me a toenail--literally.

Still so glad we did it.  Thanks for hiking with me, Talia!

Before we knew it, a week had passed and it was time to pick up Annika from camp.  She had a GREAT time.  ❤

Annie and her new camp friends.

That evening we headed up to Hyde Park so that we could celebrate Hyde Park Days with Grandma Susie and Grandpa Charles.  Jason, Talia, and Eli all rocked the 5K race.  (As for me, I was still whining about my sore toes after hiking Lone Peak.)

Eli looks so happy when he runs!  Evidence suggests that this gent is now the fastest Wheeler.

Jason melted my heart by flashing me an I-Love-You sign.

Talia's looking strong!  Congrats all.

We celebrated with delicious fruit and waffles at Grandma Susie's house.  Nom nom.

Before long it was time to go watch the parade.  This float threw water instead of candy!

The marching band was great!  I wish our kids had access to a stronger band program in Salt Lake.

The sign says it all.

Back at the town square, Annika had a great time playing in the foam pit.

This train reminded me of the time Annika disappeared at Wheeler Farm and we finally found her hitching a ride.

As for myself, I got into mischief by entering the pie eating competition.  I may not have won, but it was tasty trying.  (Actually not really.  But it was still fun to lose.)

Next adventure: donkey limbo.  I told Eli that I would do it if her did too.  

Jason and Susie taking a moment to catch up together.

Annika got her face painted like a werewolf, thanks to Karen Suisse.  (Karen said that request was a first.)  Then she and Eli enjoyed a few rides.

Back home to sort candy and pick raspberries.

Rounding off the day's fun with a great firework display.  Thanks Hyde Park!  We love celebrating your birthday.

Back in Salt Lake, our Primary celebrated Pioneer Day by eating jam and fresh bread in the cemetery while Ken Cannon told stories about the many pioneers buried here.

Other fun Salt Lake City moments: the awarding of the 2034 Olympic bid.  We got up at 0400 to watch the announcement live from Paris.

Salt Lake City's been working mighty hard around our home too, redoing Virginia Street and enlarging our park strips.  I had to admire the tenacity of the cadets picking their way through the construction during their annual run.

Other random photos: Talia's shrine to Taylor, plus the Taylor-themed calendar she designed.

She also ordered some fabric and began sewing her Swiftie dress.

More summer fun--dining on rolled taco ice cream in City Creek.  Who can say no to Fruity Pebble sprinkles?

Wrapping up the post with...you guessed it...more hiking.  But hey, this was hiking with a purpose.  Annika needed to catch more bugs to feed her pet praying mantis, albino.

Talia gets the sillies.

Mission accomplished.  Albino liked her dinner.