Last Day in Utah

This is a hard post for me to write—I’m actually crying as I type this. I’m currently nine months behind on my blog, and as I write about this day, I realize I had no idea at the time how special it would end up being. It just felt like another typical Utah summer day. I couldn’t have known what was coming, or how much would change.

This day turned out to be the last time we were with Olivia in person. Everything feels different now. Our trips to Utah will never be the same—so much of our summer revolved around her. There’s always going to be a hole where she should be. Even our traditions, like our annual mini golf outing, won’t ever feel the same again. She’ll always be missing, but never forgotten.

And that’s why I’m forever grateful that our last day in Utah was such a special one, with everyone together one final time.

Growing up—especially as teenagers—we used to throw the most amazing backyard parties. There were so many memorable ones: the celebration we did for Utah’s bicentennial with pioneer-themed activities, the carnival, the luau, and the Olympic-themed parties whenever the Summer Games came around. Since the Paris 2024 Olympics had just begun, it only made sense to send the cousins off with a “Cousin Olympic Camp.”

We had an opening ceremony, complete with a country parade and the lighting of the torch. The games included badminton, balance beams, table tennis, leg pulling, spikeball, arm wrestling, and a bean bag toss. I’m sure there were more, but those are the ones I remember. It was such a fun night, full of laughter and energy. And even though, with that many kids, there were probably some tears or squabbles, I don’t remember any of that.

What I do remember is joy. Togetherness. A moment I’ll always treasure.

That day and night will forever hold a special place in my heart.

 

Pioneer Trek

Carson was invited to go on a pioneer trek with Daniel and Kelsie a unique and memorable experience that had him stepping back in time to give him a glimpse into the lives of early LDS pioneers. I was honestly shocked that Carson agreed to go. For a couple of days, he walked the trail, pushed a handcart, and got a small taste of what early pioneers endured on their journey west.

The trek is designed to help youth connect with that history and appreciate the sacrifices of those who came before. Carson came home tired, dusty, and full of stories—grateful for showers and soft beds, but also impacted by what he learned along the way.

Thank you Daniel and Kelsie for including him in something so meaningful. It was a chance to unplug, reflect, and build both resilience and perspective.  It's almost a right of passage for teenagers growing up in Utah to do, and with Carson being an out of towner and not used to the culture, I'm proud of him for embracing the adventure.

 

24th of July

We had such a great time celebrating Pioneer Day with family up in Ogden! It’s always special to be in Utah for this holiday, where the legacy of the pioneers is so deeply woven into the community.

We always enjoy going to the parade full of  horses, floats, horses, and marching bands.  This year Amelia and Kelsie were in the parade for Amelia's dance company so it was fun waving to them as they went by. There’s just something about small-town parades that brings out a strong sense of community. So fun.

The golden spike from Promontory Point

Kelsie and Amelia cheering to the crowd!

Afterwards we had pizza at Daniel and Kelsie's before they took off along with Carson on a pioneer trek!  Then it was fireworks at grandmas!

Happy 24th of July!

 

Utah fun!

Here’s to some more Utah fun!

Meeting up with my high school besties!

While I was away having fun with my girls night, Tanner got to be Grandmas date to the Ogden Rodeo! They had a great time.

Tanner spent the night at Grandmas so the next morning we meet up on the trail for the handoff.

I could never get tired of this view!

More girlfriend time! I have the best of friends!

Another day another hike. Hiking up Adams Canyon with Carson

Up next Kayaking Adams Reservoir. This was the first time I’ve ever been to this reservoir! Crazy right? It’s right up the street from where I grew up, but there was no way to access it then. My only memory of it is climbing over a fence by the golf course at night with Heather and her brother to search for some golf balls in the water. It wasn’t until a few years ago (I say a few, but it was probably more like 10 😆) that they opened up an access road to it to make a recreational spot. It was a fun little float with Logan and Aaron.

Spied on Tim who had been locked away studying for the Bar exam in the Kaysville library.

And of course the boys had to go to a Lagoon! They love this place!

While they were there we got a girls Clark date!

 Love summer!

Dinosaur National Park

After all these years of driving to the cabin, we finally took a detour we’ve talked about forever—a trip out to Dinosaur National Monument in Vernal. I hadn’t been there since I was a kid, and even though it’s just an extra hour out of the way, we somehow never made the time. This year, we finally did it—and it was so worth it.

The highlight was the quarry exhibit hall, where you can see a massive wall still packed with real dinosaur bones just as they were discovered. It’s wild to see that many fossils in one place and realize they’ve been there for millions of years. After exploring the museum, we hit one of the nearby trails to check out the petroglyphs, and that hike ended up being just as memorable. The ancient rock carvings are incredible—such a cool glimpse into the history of the people who lived here long before us.

It was a fun detour and a great reminder that sometimes taking the long way home leads to the best stops.

The famous quarry wall!

History lesson:

In 1909, paleontologist Earl Douglass was exploring the area for dinosaur fossils when he made a major discovery—a nearly complete Apatosaurus vertebra. This led to the uncovering of thousands of dinosaur bones in what turned out to be an ancient riverbed deposit from the late Jurassic period.

 Rather than removing all the fossils to send to museums, Douglass and other scientists recognized the importance of preserving part of the site in place. In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson declared the area a National Monument to protect this extraordinary discovery.

In the 1950s, the Quarry Exhibit Hall was built directly over part of the fossil-rich hillside. This allowed visitors to see the fossils exactly where they were found, embedded in the rock. The wall contains over 1,500 dinosaur bones, visible and untouched, making it one of the only places where the public can view such a dense and well-preserved fossil bed.

Look how happy he is by me asking him to take a picture touching the dinosaur bone ☠️ 

Logan was a more willing participant!

The quarry:

After the museum we went to look at the petroglyphs! It was a little hike and you got to see so many around this one little area! They were so cool and it’s crazy to think that these drawings are thousands of years old and still this well preserved!

I also wasn't expecting to see so many! So impressive.

(Tanner)

(Logan)

I spy with my little eye…a lizard 🦎 

Also these lizards were massive! Because it’s up high it’s hard to really tell but the largest one there is six feet long!

So glad we made this little pit stop on the way home! Memories made.