100 Miler

Last year our city hosted a 100 miler challenge.  We had from spring to fall to complete 100 miles worth of exercise.  We did this in the form of walking, biking, running, yoga, horseback riding . . .  They had a conversion chart so that you could look at an aerobic exercise and see how many minutes of it counted for a mile.  We ended up doing it as a family competition.  I think Aaron won, barely.  In the fall we turned our charts in to the city and each received a free t-shirt.  Since it was fall we haven't really worn the t-shirts till the snow cleared.  A few of us have found that the shirts fit a little snug-- holiday/winter pounds are probably to blame.  This year the city is again hosting a 100 miler challenge.  We have decided to take the challenge but tweak it a bit.  We are hoping to log 100 miles of hiking.  We are off to a good start with 17 miles logged in our week!  I don't think we'll keep that pace but we have had so much fun on the three hikes we've done.  Here are a few pictures from the two biggest.

 Frary Peak on Antelope Island

Big Rock (Elephant Rock) near Bountiful

Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon

 Here are a few pictures from our spring break zipity tour of sights in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Utah (plus a drive through part of Colorado).

Hoover Dam was massive and educational.

 While in the Las Vegas area we also explored the Red Rock Canyon area.

 

 April was a great time to enjoy this area.  

The weather wasn't too hot and the dessert was in bloom.

Snowmobiling in Yellowstone

Here we are in West Yellowstone Montana, all ready to go on the Old Faithful snowmobile tour.

Aaron and Talmage all ready to go.  We were just waiting for our guide, Turtle, to do the safety orientation so we could head into the park.

 

This is Anya near the end of the 65 mile tour.  She was still happy and loving it.  She also liked the bison herd behind her.

Aaron and Talmage looking down at Firehole Falls.

The kids with elk behind them.  The elk didn't even seem to mind the frigid water.

Anya and I walking back from seeing Old Faithful and taking a potty stop at the heated bathrooms.  The yurts behind us had tables and chairs set up for eating lunch in.  They also had a toasty warm stove in them to keep us comfortably warm while we ate.

Aaron's proof to me that our hair really is the same color.  We were getting our mops situated to put our hats and then helmets on.  It was a bit of a process.

 The boys pulled over with the group to check out the bison.

 The kids were enjoying the space and down time as we waited for Old Faithful to erupt.

They didn't have long to wait, but Aaron still had enough time for an elk jerky snack, thanks Grandma and Grandpa Dazey.

The eruption was huge.  This is what the kids do when I'm tying to take a picture of them and it's too bright outside. 

 

Talmage took this of us as Old Faithful was simmering down.

On the tour we also visited the paint pots, saw other wildlife, and drove faster than the speed limit and summer tourism usually allows. We were nice and warm on the super comfortable snowmobiles and felt like we nearly had the park to ourselves.  It was a fun experience we will be talking about for a long time.

Anya's Baptism

Anya was baptized on Saturday.  It was a great day.  

 Here are some pictures.

 

Anya with HoneyGram and Papa

Grandpa Hymas and Grandma Tina

Twin suits!

Halloween Costumes

 

Talmage as OB1

 

Anya as Hermione.  

The darkened eyebrows made all the difference-- she also looks more like me when I was little.

And Talmage getting in the shot.  But it does look like they are battling.  Who do you think would win?