Lucy Avenue

These pictures are more than a month old but I just barely downloaded. Aren't they great?! This street is super close to the Bees' field and since we've been there plenty this year and we are cheap so we end up walking a lot so we don't have to pay for parking, we discovered Lucy Ave! 14 month photos coming soon!

Yellowstone, Part 2

Wednesday of our trip was a challenge. After sleeping in a bit and eating a yummy pancake breakfast, we got ready to spending the day checking out the geysers. While getting ready, I accidentally let the cooler lid close on Lucy's hand. Talk about feeling like the worst parent ever. We eventually made it over to Old Faithful and watched it go off. It was pretty neat - I've never seen it in person. After watching the main attraction, we spent the next couple of hours hiking/walking along the boardwalk and trails in the area, seeing a bunch of geysers and hot spring pools. One of them was going off while we were there. It was right next to the boardwalk and it was really cool to see up close and personal what they are like. We even got wet and smelly from the water. The pools were neat too - especially the Morning Glory Pool. It was cool to learn why the water is the different colors - because of the temperature of the water and the microorganisms to live in the different temperatures. We also learned that some of them are changing colors because people throw stuff in them and clog up the plumbing. Sad, huh? Well, enough with the geology lesson! We also stopped to see a couple other pools along the road, ate a yummy lunch, and bought our obligatory ornament (we collect an ornament from each trip we take). When we got back we had a bison in our campground. That evening Lucy came down with a fever. She got up to 101.6 and wouldn't drink much and we felt so helpless being so far from civilization and being first time parents (not feeling like we know what we are doing). We tried to make her as comfy as possible and had a relaxing evening. The next morning we packed up and headed home. We decided to take the route home through the Tetons. What a beautiful drive! We stopped in Jackson for a picnic lunch and in Logan for an amazing dinner at Cafe Sabor (check out the chicken burrito if you are ever in town). Lucy was feeling better and better, though not very happy about being in her car seat. After 12 1/2 hours, two traffic delays, an accidental detour, and our stops, we were very glad to get home!

Yellowstone, Part 1

This week we had the opportunity (and challenge!) of spending some time camping in Yellowstone. I've never really been there so I was super excited but nervous about taking Lucy on her first camping trip. Well, overall the trip was great, but there were definitely some bumps along the way. We left Monday early morning and headed north. We stopped in Idaho Falls and spent some time stretching the legs at the temple. From there we headed to Rexburg, Spencer's old college stomping ground. We checked out the new temple and toured campus. We had a picnic lunch and tried to tire out Lucy so she'd sleep a bit more in the car. Then we headed the rest of the way into Yellowstone. By the time we got there we were very ready to get out of the car. We set up camp (an adventure in and of itself when you've got a one-year-old walking, and falling, around), made dinner, and watched a ranger talk on the early explorers in the area. By the end of the day we had learned that we had to divide and conquer in order to make camping with Lucy work. Within an hour or two of arriving she had skinned both a knee and a hand. We learned one of us had to focus on her while the other did the camping part. She also learned to ask for help up and down the asphalt so she wouldn't fall anymore. Tuesday we went for a hike to an overlook of Yellowstone Lake. Lucy slept the whole way up in her backpack. The view was amazing and the hike was beautiful. It was nice to get in some good exercise. That afternoon, my dad got married. He and Patti had their wedding on the porch of Yellowstone Lodge, on the banks of Yellowstone Lake. It was a beautiful day and the view was nice. It was a fun afternoon and evening, complete with the ceremony, toasts, cake, and bike ride. We finished the night with a wienie and marshmallow roast. We also met the resident bison in our campground, who was hanging out in the meadow nearby. The next afternoon I actually walked right by him on my way to the bathroom without realizing it. Once I did, I was a bit shaken.
The nights were super cold up there. We were not prepared. Next time we will bring coats and beanies. To help with the cold, we got Lucy this cute little moose beanie. Doesn't she look adorable?! :)

New Gear and the Great Outdoors :)

For Christmas last year my brother gave us a super cool backpack that we can use hiking with Lucy.  Tuesday we finally gave it a test run.  The three of us and Spencer's sister, Kristen, went up Little Cottonwood Canyon.  

We were headed for Cecret Lake at the top of the canyon.  None of us had been there before though and we ended up at a dead end closed road before we could get to the trail head.  

We decided to just hike the road up for awhile and see where it would lead us.  It led us up for 2.5 miles!  Turns out the trail was closed for snow anyway, so no biggie.  It was super pretty and we stopped to enjoy the view at the top.  

Lucy got an especially high view from her daddy!!

For our birthdays, my brother, dad, and Patti went in together and got us this bike trailer (a.k.a. Lucy's chariot).  It's been a lot of fun.  This picture is from Spencer's birthday - we went down the Jordan River Parkway.  We've taken it around the neighborhood a bunch too.  It also converts into a jogging stroller which has been nice - Lucy and I go jogging about 3 or 4 days a week now.

Looks like our hike wore a couple of us out! (Whoops! Picture in the wrong spot and Blogger's not letting me move it, oh well!)