Dear Rachel (#18)

Dear Rachel,

It's been months since my last blog letter so I am long overdue for an update. We are well into the routine of school now. Travis drives Abby every day and so far they haven't been tardy, although they are sleeping in later and later as the semester progresses.

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Travis continually sabotages my Trick or Treat sign. I am resigned to leave it just like this.

Speaking of Travis, he passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review last week. Of course, we celebrated with food.

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Travis was asked to Sadie's in a "sweet" and "punny" way.

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I found a fun use for the Scrabble tiles you gave me.

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Travis has been doing a lot of lifting to prep for basketball season. He thought for sure he could beat your dad in arm wrestling now, but alas, the 51-year-old won.

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Saturday night we had a Berkeley Reunion. It's amazing how many of us have ended up in Utah. Do you recognize everyone?

I'm so excited to fly to Atlanta and see you in less than two weeks!

Love you and David lots,

Mom

Homecoming

Timpview's Homecoming Dance was in mid September this year, and Travis was ready. The theme was "Homecoming Royale" thus the James Bond pose.

Fortune cookies were involved in the asking this time.

He went with a terrific girl, had a fun group, and had a great time.

Cecret Lake

Cecret Lake is a place I've wanted to visit for a very long time. Finally, on Labor Day we made it a reality. My mom accompanied us up Little Cottonwood Canyon, past Alta and Snowbird ski resorts, until we reached the trail head.

The hike is not long and is easy enough for children. In fact, on the day we went, there were lots of families with young ones.

(My mom hiking the trail)

Kellie, Travis, and Abby had to RUN the trail, of course. Parts of it were slow-going so my mom insisted that Brian and I not wait for her. She would travel at her own pace.

Fall beauty was everywhere.

At the top, we found the kids on the other side of the lake skipping rocks and exploring the shore.

(Travis, Abby, Kellie)

(Brian and I with photo-bombing Abby)

The best surprise of the day was when I spied a mama moose and her calf meandering down the slope and over the path we had just crossed.

The mother was indifferent to us and all the other visitors. She and her baby calmly munched on the shrubbery around her. We were really surprised at how close we could get.

As the pair made their way to the lake, we eased on past to take pictures from a different angle.

It was a pretty amazing experience--one that definitely put a smile on our faces.

(Travis)

Family Faces

We saw lots of family faces this summer--so glad they came to Utah for a visit!

Cousins Seth and Arik

Ready to hike the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

Kirk and Beverly

Quinn

Cousins Quinn and Kara

Gathered for Brian's 51st Birthday

Siblings Arik and Marlee

The Jones Family

Sisters Charlene and Julie (me!)

After the Temple to Temple 5K Run

I walked the 5K with my mom.

For some reason I didn't get any pictures of Isabelle and we missed Renee's family altogether this summer. Luckily, we have Thanksgiving to set it right.

Sequoia National Park

This summer we spent the 4th of July in Sequoia National Park--home of the world's largest tree.

"In volume of total wood the giant sequoia is Earth's largest living tree. In all the world, sequoias grow naturally only on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, usually between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation." (National Park Service Pamphlet)

We began our exploration at the Giant Forest Museum where we took a shuttle bus to the General Sherman Tree which is estimated to be 2,200 years old!

Do you see the tiny people at the bottom of the photo?

We then followed the Congress Trail wandering through the Great Forest for about 2 miles.

There was plenty to discover along the way.

"Sequoias don't die of old age and are resistant to fire and insect damage. Most die by falling over [due to their shallow root system]." (NPS) 

It is the sequoias' thick bark that insulates them from most fire.

Many of the trees bear fire scars, but fire is vital to sequoia regeneration.

It was a beautiful and peaceful place.