Summer hike #2: Beaver Pond Trail

After our successful first hike, we knew we couldn't wait too long for the next one. It had been six years since we did the 5.2-mile Beaver Pond Trail in Yellowstone, so we headed north on Thursday, July 11.

Seth was working, so we filled the van with my four girls, my parents and me.

 Grandma Scott, Bekah, ana, Andrea, Winnie and Miri at the trailhead by Liberty Cap in Mammoth.

Clearing a rock out of my hiking boot. 

Winnie taking the road less traveled. 

 Sweet sisters holding hands when the trail is wide enough.

Lunch break photo. 

 Coming back through the sagebrush.

Enjoying well earned ice cream.

Summer hike #1: Lake Marie

We had wanted to get both sets of our parents to hike this 9-mile trail in Island Park for years. Finally the stars aligned and we got everyone together on Saturday, July 6. We wanted to hike this one early in the hiking season so the lake (completely fed by runoff) would still be there. We needn't have worried; many parts of the trail were still under snow.

We left Miri and Winnie home for this one, but we brought our four-legged companion with us.

 Coming to a patch of snow.

 Frozen water in the trail.

 Peach saw/heard/smelled some kind of critter by this tree. It was driving her crazy.

 Stopping for a snack and a view.

 Susan and Dennis.

 Peach, Andrea, Ana, Seth, Bekah.

 Seth falling in the snow.

 Ana "skiing" (?) down a patch.

 Grandma Scott and Bekah.

 Some fossils Ana found.

Dennis, Susan, Annette, Andrea.

 Ana and the lake.

The place where we usually sit to each lunch was completely under water/snow. 

The fossils/crystals/cool rocks Ana found. 

 Bekah and Peach stopping for lunch by the lake.

 Our dog is so patient while the girls torment her.

Putting our feet in the glacial creek to see who will withdraw first. Seth did. Followed by Dennis. (I think they were humoring me.) 

 Ana sliding down on her backside after losing her footing. Poor girl landed on the little stream at the bottom of the hill.

On our way out.

Trek

The Idaho Falls East Stake held a pioneer trek this year, and they invited all youth ages 12-18 on it. I was quite jealous that my older two girls got to go, along with my parents who were in the history committee (hence all these great pictures). They left Thursday, June 27 and came back on Saturday, June 29.

From what I heard (and saw), the girls worked hard and had a great time. And I'm trying to figure out how to get on the list for the next trek four years from now. 

Ana working with her group to get a marble to the bucket.

 Ana with her friends.

 Rebekah playing the recorder; her friend Sam playing the melodica.

 Ana during the women's pull.

 Bekah during the women's pull. The men weren't allowed to touch the carts, but they could push on the girls' backs, hold their hands and pull them up the hill, etc.

Ana and her friend during the square dancing. 

A sisters' grand finish. 

Ana and Grandma Scott. 

 Bekah at the dancing.

 Ana hauling bedding.

Bekah pushing her family's cart.

Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is smoothly ascending my list of favorite holidays. When else can you do all this fun stuff?!

 Ana bedecked in red, white and blue for the Idaho Falls parade.

 Bekah waving to her sisters while marching with the Bonneville High School band. 

Playing the trombone. 

Miriam and Winnie watching the parade. 

 Our troop (Aunt Jessica, Grandma Scott, Grandpa Scott, Ana, Miri and Winnie) talking to Aunt McKall and Uncle T during the parade. They rode their bikes (Uncle T is on the tall bike).

 Me blowing up Grandma Scott's bubbles for the kids to play with. We had a barbecue at Grandma Scott's house followed by bubbles and cornhole.

Ana with one of her bubbles.

 Grandma Susan, Kelsey, Hudson, Ana and Miri at the park in Menan during our picnic dinner.

 Winnie with her treat of choice: cotton candy.

 Seth and his treat of choice: diet Mountain Dew.

 Miriam teaching Winnie how to pass a volleyball.

 Ana using a GPS to take her sisters and cousins on a treasure hunt. Seth had hidden a few coins around and marked them on the GPS for the kids to find.

Oakley, Winnie and Kelsey rejoicing in fireworks.