Whipple Valley Hike

Brad has been asking me for years to go on this hike with him. The REAL one is 30 miles and we are doing it the end of Aug. The one we went on last week was half and a tester to see how I would do. He has gone on and on about how great it is, and beautiful and he did not exagerate one bit!! It was the prettiest place I have ever been too that I can think of. It was not as hard as I thought it was, and I did better than I thought I would . We hiked from Whipple trail start 6 miles up to Whipple Valley, then 1 more mile over to North Valley where we camped and another mile walking around checking it out, then back down. A total of about 15 miles in 28 hours!! My pack was 26 lbs. The same weight that I have lost. It was really emotional for me to do this hike carrying the pack. This is what I was working for. I wanted to be able to hike with my husband and be healthy.
It was so nice to be with Brad alone. Usually we are with other people, or our children. We were able to talk, laugh and play together with no interruptions. I love him so much and am so grateful to be his wife!
Anyways, I took so many pictures and here are my favorites:

Me about half way up, beautiful view, we have this same pic with Brad in it from his first time.

That is Pine Valley at the bottom

Brad hiking, it had rained off and on all day so we covered up our packs.

Me on the trail going home, it wasn't cold, but the mosquitoes were INSANE!!!

Our camp at North Valley. So peaceful and hidden!

I could not get over how pretty the trail was. It reminded me of a movie!

This is Whipple Valley. This is the view you get when you first walk out of the trees.

Brad filling up our water. This was the best water I have ever drank!

The trail through the valley Gorgeous

Brad enjoying our Cup O Noodles Lunch

Me with my pack, So proud!! I did it!

4th Of July

This year we decided to go to Lake Powell for the 4th of July. Our family hasn't ever gone there and Brad hadn't been back since he was a teenager. We traded my nephew Topher for Andy which made it a lot easier and relaing for me! We had so much fun skiing, wakeboarding, exploring and hanging out. We stayed "in the rich part of town" it was this little area full of House Boats, we were like the trailor trash in the rich neighborhood! It was so cool though cause they had the huge fireworks like the city puts on, so we got to enjoy them on the 4th.

Anyway, I couldn't pick a one or two photos so here are a bunch: Our Boat (which we realized we haven't named)

The first time any of us has seen a Semi going down the lake

MaKayla wakeboarding, she is getting so good!

Steph (me) wakeboarding, it had been 3 years since I last did anything, this was the first summer I was in shape, not pregnant, and not just had a baby!

All the kids hung out relaxing at our beach

Our camp. It was awesome, we stayed in our tent


My favorite Pictures of the kids:

Emily driving, she LOVED it! She asked and asked to drive, it was fun!

Izzy was so happy driving around, I loved the sun around her in this.

MaKayla, our beautiful teenager, look out boys her dad's got a BIG gun! She is so grown up!

Holly, in her cute life jacket. She loved to swim and try to catch the spraying water

This was our diving rock right by our camp, we all enjoyed swimming to it and jumping off of it

Emily was a big helper holding the flag this year

Topher made a stencil and wore it on his chest, it gave him this cool Superman look!

My girls, My Sweet Sweet Sweet Girls!

Emily Shaving

Emily decided to try shaving! OUCH! She usually plays with my new razors that have the covers on them while I am sitting there, but she found Brad's that did not. Needless to say she cut her top lip pretty bad, after bleeding for a while it stopped, but this picture cracked us up too much to not post! BTW: I don't know how to rotate it so it is sideways!

Izzy's First Shiner

This June Izzy was out playing catch with her best friend Chase, and she missed. She got her first real Black EYE! She was so cute about it. And it has healed nicely!

Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day at my Step-Dad's house this year. We got him a ride with Brad in a helicopter for 1/2 hr. But the real present was for all our spouses!!! Someone happened to come across some sweet clothes that were just too funny to pass up. We decided to show all the fabulous clothes off in a fashion show for our hubbies!!

Don't we look AMAZING???

HAHA...anyways, it made for a very fun evening, everyone was cracking up laughing!

And I did drive 2000 miles!

Me, Andy, Diane, Zach, and Suzie

Coming from a large family, there is no way we are able to make it to every important event that happens. However, me and my sisters have made a pack that we will do what we can to go to as many events as possible. We usually can't take our whole families with us, but we take who we can (who there is room for) and make our way around the country!!

In the past we have driven to CA for a Mission Farewell, and even Oregon for my brothers wedding, talk about a road trip!! It always takes a lot of work and we almost always cancel, but when we are able to make it, it is ALWAYS worth it. We love our family very much and wish we could be there more for all of them!

This end of school year was a busy time for us. We had f2 nephews and 1 niece graduating from High School, and 1 nephew leaving on a mission. 2 of the graduations were on the same day in different states, so we werent able to make both.

We started out driving up to Tooele, UT for my nephew Derek's graduation. (Jenna my niece was on the same day in CA) Then we drove home that night. Then we turned around 2 days later and drove to Bozeman, MT for my nephew Zack's graduation. We staye 2 nights and drove all the way home again. Then 4 days later we drove back to Highland, UT for my nephew Sam's Mission farewell. OVER 2000 miles total!

Needless to say, we had a lot of time to talk and solve all the worlds problems while traveling. We had so much fun, some highlights were: The Beach Balls at Dereks grad, the sweet garage sale we hit the morning headed to MT, the baby moose and wild mother and baby coyote, getting lost about 5 times, and taking wrong turns (I have a hard time following the GPS Lady), and of course stopping 13 times on the way home from MT (all women and no men, what do you expect?) I am so lucky to have such wonderful sisters and mom too!

Camping and Fishing Season

We decided to kick off the summer with a overnight camping/fishing trip. We tried out a new resevoir by our house Sand Cove. It's a 20 min drive and we camped right on the lake. Everyone caught lots of fish. Brad's parents came and stayed with us in our camper. We had so much fun and feel so lucky to have such neat places so close to home!

Brad's parents fishing

Brad fishing

Izzy trying to catch her first fish!

Emily prepared to fall in the lake!

Our sweet setup!

Let's Play Ball!

Izzy loves Baseball! This was her last year playing in the boys/girls Coach Pitched league. Next year it is machine pitched softball.

She loved playing and her favorite positions were Pitcher and Catcher.

MaKayla turns 15!

In April, MaKayla turned 15! She has grown into a beautiful young woman! She is kind, loving, and thoughtful. She loves soccer, money, shopping, friends, and doing all kinds of activities. She will be a Sophmore this year and she got her drivers permit. She is an excellent driver! She loves going to Stake Dances and meeting BOYS! (Brad doesn't love that too much)..

We are so proud of her and so grateful to be her parents!!

MaKayla and her sweet Birthday cake Izzy decorated!

Her new Soccer Ball

Every year since they were born , the girls get a birthday doll from their grandma Hawker,

I can't believe she only has 2 more!!

Her new purse from Izzy

MONEY MONEY MONEY! Everyone gave her $$ to go shopping with

she was in HEAVEN!!

Easter 2010

This year for Easter we went camping with Brad's family in Zion Park. It was different from our usual Easter weekend traditions, and it was so FUN! We had an easter egg hunt in the field, and the Easter Bunny came to our camper and hid the baskets and eggs!

Even Holly got a basket this year!

Andy's First Easter

Emily was so excited

Izzy was so happy!

MaKayla was really thrilled, she just wasn't quite awake yet!

Spring Mexico Trip

We got the chance to go to Meico for a quick trip to the Cabana. We went with our friend Jaylin and her 4 kids. We all had so much fun relaing and playing!

The kids playing by the water, MaKayla riding the 4 wheeler

Andy's first trip to Mexico, and he loved it as much as all the others!

Izzy posing, she is getting so big!

Everyone, we all sit around playing games and hanging out!

Emily in her little "tub"