Summer Is Winding Down

As the summer is winding down, it's time to reflect back and figure out what I loved about this summer.  The boys and I have made this our summer of hiking.  We have gone on a different hike every week.  Originally, we were going to try and do Mount Olympus by the end of the summer, but we quickly realized that Owen is just not quite ready for that.  Maybe next year....

We started off with the Lake Bonneville trail.  This hike was dampened a little because Beck fell very early in the hike and hurt his shin, but the payoff was worth it as we round the corner to see the beautiful overlook of a hidden valley.

We found the Ghost Falls up Corner Canyon.

We went up to Lake Blanche which is up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

At 2.8 miles each way and an elevation gain of 2,752 feet, this was by far the hardest hike of the summer but the boys were rock stars.  We passed some high school kids who were struggling and they were completely shamed by little 6-year-old Owen who pushed on and had a great attitude about it.

We went up Millcreek Canyon to Dog Lake next.  This hike was actually longer at 3.1 miles both ways, but with an elevation gain of only 900 feet, it felt like a piece of cake. 

After Lake Blanche, every hike will feel like a piece of cake.

We stopped at Shivers with Jen and the girls for milkshakes and burgers afterwards.

Finally, we did Bell Canyon.  

Again, a piece of cake.  But, this one was fun because we hiked all the way around the lake - even through the mud and guck.

About to cross the stream.

The ducks so badly wanted some bread crumbs....we had none.

We went to Lagoon again.  This time at night so that the boys could see how beautiful Lagoon is with all of the lights on.  We also met a new friend, Mr. Peacock.

One of Owen's assignments this summer was to find a famous painting and copy it.  He found a Picasso drawing of a weiner dog and immediately thought of Jeff and Nick, drew it perfectly, and presented it to them as a gift.  He was so proud that they displayed it on their kitchen counter with all of their other weird artwork.

We have been doing lots of science this summer.  We compared pH levels by torturing some poor helpless gummy bears.  We compared vinegar, vinegar/baking soda, sugar water, lemon juice, and salt water.  Vinegar dissolved the bear the fastest. 

This was our lesson on the magical properties of polymers. 

We crushed this can simply with hot and cold water.

It has been an amazing summer and as I look forward to the new school year, it is with anticipation and trepidation as I will be trying to navigate a full-time job, two kids, two dogs, a house, a yard, two chickens, and a roommate all by myself.

I've totally got this!