Trip to Canada - Part 1

We headed out, finally, on June 28 in the early evening.  We switched vehicles about three days before our scheduled departure so we had to get the new suburban outfitted with a dvd player and a radio, you know, essential traveling equipment (our pioneer ancestors would be so proud), we had to register it and get it inspected on top of getting us all packed and ready for a three week long trip.  (now I have the Gilligan's Island theme running thru my head...)

 Needless to say, there were some minor bugs remaining in the new ride for our first leg of the journey up to Katie's house in Spanish Fork, Utah.  But they were minor and the new car operated beautifully.  We were grateful.  We arrived very early in the morning (about 3:30) at Kate's and our excellent host and hostess had everything ready for us.  Unfortunately, at that time of day I am terrible at following directions so I jumped in the first bed I saw, the bottom bunk of the twin sized bunk beds Kate and Kent set up (it was Kent's bunk bed when he was a kid and they are lovely), and Ryan climbed in after me so we spent that first "night" cuddled in a twin size bed.  It was heaven to finally be able to sleep in the arms of my beloved.  However, when our hosts woke up and went in search of their guests they found the lovely double bed they arranged for Ryan and I empty and wondered if we were even there at all, then they opened the other door and found all seven of us piled in the one room littered all over the place.  They laughed at Ryan and I curled like kittens in the tiny bed and we quickly moved to the more spacious bed next door.  They were just lucky to not find us asleep on their driveway...

 Later that day Katie and Ryan (while I slept) took the beasties to this lovely squirty park nearby.  They had a great time and were happy to play in the sunshine of Utah without boiling as we do at home.  It really did take me a couple of days in Utah to feel like it was safe to go outside.  Arizona summertime has conditioned me to fear non air conditioned spaces.  I am easing back into the sun, I may never fully recover but, baby steps...

 Katie took all of these lovely photos you see in today's post.  She has caught her mother's disease of knowing how to handle a camera.  I'm glad I am surrounded by that kind of person.  I like the one above of Jeffy being hit in the back by a spray.  His feet are totally off the ground!  The kids had such a good time in Utah.  Earlier there was a picture of Peter and Afton hand in hand.  Those two love each other.  Peter was excited to, "Go to Utah and stay in Afton's room and sleep next to Afton!"  They managed to do that a couple of nights.  I think Pete has gotten over the bitter disappointment he suffered at Chris and Heather's wedding last December when Afton refused to dance with him.  Alas, forbidden love.

 We stayed there for almost a week.  Ryan commuted to work at the branch office they have there in West Salt Lake, it was an hour drive away but better than taking days off.  It worked quite nicely. 

 The day after we arrived we went up to Salt Lake to tour the lovely places up there and meet Ryan when he was finished with work.  We toured the Conference Center and it was so beautiful and huge!!  The kids were impressed, none of us had been there before and it was exciting to be in the place we watched on TV every Conference weekend.  We loved the art and going up on the roof, that was nifty.  Ryan caught up to our tour group up on the roof as we were finishing the tour, we were excited to see him.

 Then we walked over to Temple Square, Jeff was all prepared and excited to get to do baptisms in the Salt Lake Temple but it was closed so that they could renovate the A/C system.  Sad.  Oh well, he had more opportunities as you will eventually see...

 We ate lunch then the men (Ryan, Kent, and Justin) went to go play sand volleyball with some guys from Justin and Kent's work (they came home filthy).  While Kate and I took the kids to the North Visitor's Center.  The kids were troopers after a long day of sight seeing.  My favorite parts were walking up the circular ramp towards the room with the Christus (above) and Afton running past saying, "Jesus is up there!"  I may have gotten a bit misty both then and now writing about it. 

 And here, Peter and I were sitting on a bench looking at the statue and talking about Jesus.  It was a lovely moment.  I may have shed some tears then too.

 The next day was Sunday and we attended Kate and Kent's ward.  Kate taught Gospel Doc and did a great job, she has also inherited teaching talents besides photographic skills.  The class participated really well and Kate made some lovely points. 

 After church we took the kids on a little hike to this pretty waterfall.  It was so nice to be out in the woods where it was cool and take a little walk.  Jeffy climbed up to the top and posed dramatically.

On the way back down he did an impressive trip and scramble to catch himself, this photo was taken just after he managed to not plummet to his doom.  I was kinda terrified.  It was steeper than it looks. 

Well, that is all for now.  Stay tuned for the end of our Utah trip and the beginning of our Canada adventure.  Currently we are in Okotoks (just south of Calgary) at Ryan's grandparent's house, we returned from a three day southern Alberta tour last night and today we plan to head to Edmonton for a few days to see more family and have too much fun.  But I'm getting ahead of myself...