Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Trip to UT

Taj, Ari and I drove up to UT this weekend to visit more cousins.  This is my sister Karen and her family.
My other sister Barbara (sometimes pronounced "Brawbraw") lives just 15 minutes from the aforementioned sister.
Taj's cousins Jacob and Adam are big time soccer fanatics.  This is Jacob after his game with Grandma Gina.
After Jacob's soccer game we all drove over to another field for cousin Adam's game.
Ari pondered the meaning of life and her role in the universe.
Anybody want some seefood?
Cousin Becca looking happy.
Saturday afternoon my bro-in-law Tim took me on a 14 mile mountain bike ride.
The trail begins at the top of the Alpine Loop and winds down to Pleasant Grove (mouth of Grove Creek Canyon).
Tim's Garmin said we climbed about 2,000 ft and descended about 5,000 ft.
This was the first time I have ridden a full-suspension bike on a trail.  I always thought full-suspension was kind of gimicky but after riding one I am a fan.
Most of the descent is through fields of wild grasses and flowers.
The trail is so overgrown through the fields that you can't even see the ground and whether or not a bump or rock is coming.
There were tons of these apple-sized mutant dandelions.
When I told Taj we saw a waterfall on our mountain bike ride he asked "Did you ride bikes to Paradise Falls?" (from the movie Up)
This is Grove Creek Canyon where the ride ends.
The trail in places is covered in loose shale and is barely wide enough to walk next to your bike on.
This picture doesn't do justice to the 800 ft (approx) cliff to Tim's left.  Kinda gnarly.
As we got to the bottom we left the shadow of the canyon walls and the sun came out.  Really sweet ride, thanks Tim.
After the bike ride, we all went to the Lindon Aquatic Center.  This place is awesome and so is the kid on the slide with Taj :)
They were raffling off prizes at the Lindon Aquatic Center because it was a free night for patients of a particular dentist.  They gave away a wakeboard, snowboard, iPod touches and shuffles.  My sister Brawbraw was the first raffle winner and won this toy set.
After church Sunday we hung out at my sister Karen's house.  
This is cousin Emily (same age as Ari).
Cousin Sarah showing off for the camera.
Cousin Rachel's juicy fruit lips.
Cousin Adam demonstrating his flippin' skills.
Taj wanting to be like Adam when he grows up.
Whats a visit with your nephews if you don't try to wrestle a little.
Is it me or does cousin Jade look like she is up to something?

Grandma Gina and cousins come to visit


Grandma Gina came out to visit us for 2 weeks.  Sunglasses like these are fairly common in FL since its the sunshine state.
Taj was stoked to show Grandma Gina his bike riding skills.
Taj's latest trick.
Taj's cousins came for a couple days to play and then take Grandma up to UT.  We all went to the Discovery Children Museum.
Aunt Barbara showing off her bubbles skills.  She told me the secret to her bubble mastery is the look of concentration on her face.
Taj practicing his concentration face (Aunt Barbara coached him).
Coming from UT it was easy to fall for the allure of getting rich in Vegas.
One of the favorite activities at the Children's Museum is the dress up stage.
Grandma Gina brought a few drops of rain from FL for Taj and Ari.
We all went out to Nelson, NV to see the ghost town.
You have to get a picture with the rotting dog carcass when you visit.
Rusty old exercise bike.
Lots of interesting old junk to see.
Someone told us they had seen a couple rattle snakes recently.  The triple digit temperatures with the possibility of meeting a rattler was kind of a downer.
Luckily these magic school buses saved the day.
Who doesn't love an old bus?
Probably not a tour bus given the size of the windows.
In the middle of our visit a plane crashed.  
We cruised down to the CO river.
Ari was napping during most of our adventures with Grandma Gina and the cousins so here is a cute picture of her so she doesn't get completely forgotten.
We couldn't drive all the way to Nelson, NV without stopping by the Boulder City train museum.
"Choo-choo Greg" gave us a special private tour of the inside of a mail car.  Thanks Choo-choo Greg!
While Grandma Gina and the cousins shopped at the mall Taj and Ari and I rode some escalators.  Taj thought he was so tricky coming down the escalator as Ari and I went up the escalator so we couldn't catch him.
Finally we showed the cousins the Strip.
Bellagio Atrium.
Crystals Mall at City Center.
Waterfall at City Center.
These sculptures are really fun to take pictures of.
Awesome faces.
Nice chin.
I like the giraffe neck and long nose.
We had a great time with the cousins!