Memorial Day 2021

Memorial Day 2021 was both a bit different this year.  We didn't camp, having postponed this Andrus tradition by a couple of weeks.  We did, however, spend lots of time with family.  As you can see from Talia's smile, we still had LOTS of fun.

The Wheeler family gathered in Salt Lake on Saturday evening for a hot dog roast up Millcreek canyon.

I think it's a rule that all uncles must like fire.

They also love Smores.  Check out the concentration as Justin perfects his masterpiece.

As for grandpas, they love naps most.

On Sunday, we took a walk into the cemetery to visit the graves of Great-grandma and Grandpa Heaps.  The wind had blown over many of the flowers, so Annika tried to straighten as many as she could along the way.  I'm not sure why the bike helmet was necessary for the project.

Laughter is great for the soul.

Later that evening, Grandma Susie made bubespitzle, a recipe that she remembers Grandma Heaps making.  Yum! These ones were sweet and made from flour, but looking online it seems they were commonly savory as well, made from a potato base.  The tasty treats were a favorite from Grandma Hansen's childhood.

On Monday morning we enjoyed a great pancake breakfast in our backyard, inviting a couple of friends Melanie and Zizheng.  Afterward we went on a family hike up Farmington Creek Canyon.  This time of year, the canyon looks as green as Costa Rica!

The end of the hike features a waterfall that you can descend down to, thanks to the kind people who left ropes.  It took Annika a while, but she made it.

Brooklyn and Eli check out the falls.

Two generations of amazing men.  I know this post is about Memorial Day, but I'm feeling particularly grateful for these fathers as we celebrated Father's Day just a couple days ago.  There aren't words for how their love and hard work shape our families.  I'm grateful Eli has such amazing role models.

Onto our coy women.

After our hike, we were ready for some delicious ice cream from the Cannery Creamery in Ogden.  Then it was on to the Cold Spring Trout farm to catch dinner.  Literally.  Good thing Annie brought worms.

So much success!  Grandpa Charles's fish was the biggest.

Our resident expert after fishing with Papa Kay, Annika got put on fishing probation and told that she couldn't catch and more because the tally was getting far too expensive.  I think she caught six!

Meanwhile poor Brooklyn was on her laptop frantically trying to finish up class assignments.  I guess that's what happens when you put off an entire semester of APUSH (AP US History) until the very end.

The fruits of our labor.  Dinner was indeed delicious.

Grandma Susie, Grandpa Charles, Brianna, Justin, and Ruby Scooby, thank you so much for the memorable Memorial Day weekend.

 Family is such fun!

Random Catch-Up Part II: Parks and Trails

I don't know about the rest of you, but I cherish outdoor public spaces.  Trails, parks, cemeteries, gardens--I am immensely grateful for these beautiful places that are shared by all.

Shortly after we got back from our backpacking trip in Zion, Annika and I went for a short hike up nearby Ensign Peak.  She wanted to carry the backpack so that she could train for our next trip as an entire family.  Granted, she passed it back after twenty minutes, but it's still a start.

The flowers were in bloom.  This one had already been picked, so we used it to adorn her hair. 

Sunset over the valley.

A different sunset, as seen from above the lime kiln.

A morning view of the valley as seen from above Memory Grove.  I was excited to discover that they've developed some new hiking/mountain biking trails.

 Just beware of traveling the route as a ballerina.  Someone may steal your pointe shoes.

While out for a run in nearby City Creek Canyon, I was surprised to discover a helicopter flying telephone poles right over my head!

Venturing out on trails headed the other direction from our home, you can see the U of U Hospital's major expansion.

Also in the neighborhood, Talia and I decided to do some exploring in the Salt Lake City Cemetery after learning about an entire alphabet's worth of letterboxes sequestered there.  Here we are hunting for the letter "F" stamp after following such clues as a "Family of Figures" and "Find a Ford, Fore, and Funny Face."  Things you thought you'd never see on a headstone!

The camouflaged letterboxing pouch was buried at least two feet deep beneath leaves, but we finally found it.

On the west side of Salt Lake, we finally checked out the 9 Line Bike Park.  The kids had a blast on the pump track!  We also discovered there's a great bike connection to the Jordan River Trail and International Peace Gardens.

North of Salt Lake, I ventured on a spring waterfall hike up Farmington Creek trail after dropping the kids off at school.  The abandoned cars were nearly as interesting as the falls.

I also explored nearby Davis Creek Trail.  While quite steep, it takes you to three similarly stunning falls.

The forest may seem verdant and the creek full, but Utah's actually in the middle of a severe drought right now.  To me, even the Great Salt Lake appears to be low on water.

A couple of weeks before school let out, we discovered this delightful Creekside Park just five minutes away from Woods Cross Elementary.  I just wish I'd discovered it sooner.  Here are Annika and Ruby enjoying some cousin playtime.

South of Salt Lake, we headed back to Gardner Village for some more cousin fun.  This time we were joined by Ruby's other cousins, Andrew and Rose.

It's not every day you get to feed the lambs a bottle!

Gardner Village also had a fun fairy scavenger hunt going on.

And there you have it! So much springtime joy right at the parks and trails close to home.