Go cougars!

We went on campus today-it was the first day of school which means it was really busy. People were already sleeping on couches though. : ). We hit the bookstore to get ready for this weekend's game-can't wait!
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Utah

Mike and I are in Utah! I have wanted to hike Timp for a long time, so we planned a vacation to come up here, hike the mountain, and visit family. It only took us 10.5 hours to get here, with stops! We bought Ethan a little DVD player which he seemed to appreciate. He did a great job with the long trip. He struggled to fall asleep in his car seat, but, miracle of miracles, he immediately started sleeping through the night and taking good naps on schedule when we got here!

Here are a few pictures of Ethan in the car:

We planned the timing of this trip around our nephew David's return from his LDS mission. Yesterday he spoke in church and then his parents hosted an open house for everyone to come see him. We are loving getting to catch up with David and the rest of the family! I wish I would have remembered to take pictures yesterday!

We still have another week here in Happy Valley and have lots of things to do and people to see. I am determined to be better about taking pictures at our other events!

Spitting Ice

Just a funny video from a week or so ago.

Oh, and for the record, Ethan has two teeth, is taking a few steps at a time, holds the phone up to his ear, and attempts to comb his hair when we give him the comb.

Timp

Ready to go! From left to right: Joseph, Jacob, David, Matthew (4 of our nephews), Paul (Mike's brother), me, Mike, and behind the camera, Mike C (brother-in-law).
There are two waterfalls less than a mile and a half into the hike. Unfortunately, Mike was struggling with altitude sickness. He was struggling to breathe, his heart was racing, and he felt sick. I took the heavy backpack full of food, and he started to feel a little better.

Part way up the trail turns to the right, but there is also a trail to the left. The one to the left looked much more like at trail, so we all went that way. After hiking a ways up a rock slide we noticed there was no longer a trail. Mike C his boys (Joseph and Jacob), and Matthew and David decided to try to make it work continuing on. Mike, Paul, and I turned back. We got back on the trail, but kept stopping to try and let Mike feel better and then to wait for Mike C and boys when they decided to head back our direction. Matthew and David continued where the trail had stopped and ended up finding a shorter way. We were relieved to meet up with them because Mike and Paul and been worried that they would start free climbing the rock wall if they couldn't find a path.

So, we were all back together again, and a few in the group started discussing how we might not make it to the top. Now, my goal to climb Timp was what initiated this whole Utah trip, so I wasn't about to not go to the top, and I expressed that. :) Mike C also said he didn't want to come this far up and not go all the way to the top. My Mike asked David if he would climb to the top with me in case he (Mike) wasn't able to make it. David agreed, and I was ready to pick up the pace (it seemed like all the rests made it harder for me to keep going).

When we got to Emerald Lake (by the glacier and about 2 hours from the top), Mike decided he was going to stay there. Paul stayed back with him, and the rest of us continued.

This is from partway up--notice the snow?

We took this picture when we stopped at Emerald Lake. On the left side you can see the glacier and the top of the mountain. To get to the top you hike to the right of this peak, and then climb up the side of it. Many people then hike down the left side and slide down the glacier to make the descent faster. We hiked the last stretch with a guy who was carrying skis up on his back--he didn't even stop to look at the view--he was only interested in skiing down.

Shortly after Emerald lake we ran into some mountain goats. They were really close at first, but quickly got their babies away from us.

The last stretch of the hike is the most challenging. We hiked along a lot of loose rocks from rock slides, big stretches of snow, and a very steep hill (apparently about 80 degrees) that was covered in loose dirt and gravel. This got us to the "saddle" (the flat part between two peaks). At this point David and I were together, but everyone else was back behind us. Everyone coming down the mountain kept saying we were close, but the observation shack at the top still looked tiny. The last 30-45 min of the hike is climbing the rocky side of the mountain. I started to get discouraged. As David put it, "I know I have enough energy to get to the top, but I don't know if I'll be able to make it back down." I kept thinking that the further I went the further I had to go back.

But, we made it! Here are some pictures from the top:

See Emerald Lake and the glacier?

David at the top. I am so glad David was willing to go all the way up and even go at my pace! I would not have wanted to go by myself!

Quite the view--when I look up at Timp now I can't believe I was all the way up there!

From the top we could see Mike C, his boys, and Matthew on the saddle. We assumed they weren't going to make it up (the boys are only 6 and 11), so we started down.

The climb off the peak wasn't as bad as I though it would be. Sitting on top, I was afraid my legs would be too shaky to hike down the cliff without falling, but I was fine. During this descent we ran into Mike C and his boys who had decided to go all the way up. Matthew left their group and came back down with me and David. The hardest part of the trip down, for me, was the really steep hill. I went at a painfully slow pace, but David was nice enough to wait at the bottom for me and then continue to wait as I slowly made my way across the rock slide and snow fields. Matthew headed back to the lake to let Mike and Paul know he was okay because they had been expecting him back awhile before.

While Mike C and boys were headed to the peak, the rest of us met at the lake and headed down. We all wanted to be done hiking, and Mike was feeling much better, so we decided to hurry down. I was definitely the slowest downhill hiker, but we went as fast as I could go. The last mile and a half or so is pretty unobstructed and/or paved, so we jogged most of that.

Part of the path down:

14.5 miles and almost 9 hours later, we had made it. I accomplished both of my goals for the day: (1) make it all the way to the top and (2) go the whole time without having to go to the bathroom so that I didn't have to use the forest. :)


Mike C and his boys did make it to the top and had to travel much of the way down in the dark. Fortunately, they had a flashlight. I am totally impressed that they made it!

Thanks everyone who went--it was a fun day and I feel very accomplished! :)

In case you aren't sick of reading yet, here are some highlights about "Timp" that do a pretty good job of summing up this hike:

Mount Timpanogos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Mount Timpanogos is the second highest mountain in Utah's Wasatch Range (second to Mount Nebo). Timpanogos rises to an elevation of 11,749 feet (3,582 m) above sea level in the Uinta National Forest (now part of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest). With 5,269 feet of topographic prominence, Timpanogos is the 47th-most prominent mountain in the contiguous United States.[1]
The mountain towers over Utah Valley, including the cities of Lehi, Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, American Fork, Lindon and others. The exposed portion of the mountain is made up entirely of limestone and dolomite from the Pennsylvanian period, and is about 300 million years old. Heavy winter snowfall is characteristic of this portion of the Wasatch Range, and avalanche activity is common in winter and spring.

The word Timpanogos comes from the Timpanogots Ute tribe who lived in the surrounding valleys from A.D. 1400. The name translates as rock (tumpi-), and water mouth or canyon (panogos).[2]"

Although it is a 14-mile round-trip hike, with almost a mile of elevation gain, Timp's summit is one of the most-visited in the Rocky Mountains. There are two main trails to the top: the first starts at Aspen Grove with a trailhead elevation of 6,910 feet (2,106 meters), and the second starts at the Timpooneke campground in American Fork Canyon at 7,370 feet (2,185 meters).

Aspen Grove- The Aspen Grove trail starts on the south-east side of the mountain. For about the first mile and a half, the trail is paved, going by various waterfalls, sometimes with water running on the trail itself, making the trail underwater. The trail eventually becomes rocky, and starts up many switchbacks, or zig-zags, to gain elevation. These switchbacks eventually reach the top of a ridge, and the trail becomes more flat, therefore meaning that it's nearly on top of the mountain. It leads past a large basin, and eventually, the shack on the summit comes into view, but still on top of a high ridge, about 700 feet up. The trail eventually leads to a large hill. Emerald Lake is at the top of this hill. Right by the lake is the larger shelter. Past this building, the trail goes near the edge of a ridge, on rock and snow fields, and eventually reaches a very large and difficult hill. This hill goes on a slanted grade, staying flatter, not slanted. However, the slope continues on th eother side of the trail, therefore making the hill on the edge of a cliff. It slowly gets more steep for about a half-mile, and eventually it is almost an 80 degree angle for the last few feet. After this, the trail meats with the Timpanookee trail and reaches the "saddle." This is a ridge near the top of the mountain, visible from the front, therefore making this a very popular spot. From there, the trail leads up the very narrow ridge. It leads around the edge of a ridge on the front, and steeply and curvy for about one-fifth of a mile, reaches the summit. Near the top, the trail becomes only about two yards wide, with cliffs on both ends, making it dangerous.

Walking!

Ethan took his first steps today! After lots of practice while holding on to cousins Ricky and Riley's hands, Ethan took a few steps several times to get between me and Mike. It was fun to share the excitement with Ricky, Riley, Uncle Paul, and Grandma Abegg. We were all hanging out in Grandma's kitchen at the time.
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Sneak peak

Here's a little sneak peak of my adventure hiking 14.5 miles round trip. I took this picture of myself at the 12,000 foot peak of Mt Timpanogos. I'm very proud and more sore than I've ever been! : )
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Homemade blueberry cheese danish

Really yummy! And easy to make!


Click here for the recipe.

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Peek a boo!

Ethan's tooth finally made an appearance today! It is his first one-bottom middle.

Heaven

A few times a week Ethan is in heaven. While I exercise at the church he gets to play with all the nursery toys in a gym full of people and music. He loves playing with the trucks, trains, planes, and xylophone. I couldn't even get him to hold still long enough to get a clear picture of him playing with this green truck he was attached to today. It makes a clicking sound as he pushes it-so exciting! I think I need to get him more vehicles to play with at home!

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Pack n' play

Are you in Utah Valley and do you have a pack n' play I can borrow the 28th-7th?
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I want to see you!

Mike, Ethan, and I will be in Utah August 28th-Sept7 and we want to see you if you live there! We are hiking Mt. Timpanogos on the 29th and it would be fun to have friends/family come! Otherwise, let me know when would be good for you!
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Have I mentioned

That Ethan:

still doesn't have teeth? Love it! Pretty sure one is on the way though.

Dances occasionally? He sticks out that pointer finger and bobs his arm up and down.

Has kind of taken his first steps? He takes steps as he falls towards when we pass him back and forth.

Is very good at walking while only holding on to us with one hand? But he prefers using both so he can go really fast!

Can hold a whole cracker and take bites out of it? For some reason watching him do this cracks me up-he's getting so big.

Tries to feed us his food and bottles?

Loves to push buttons? He learns very quickly how to use new buttons and retains what he has learned.

Has managed to fill his ear with a big chunk of cookie? A healthy baby cookie-don't worry.

Will pat our backs while we hug him if we are patting his?

Has learned to shake his head? Most of the time it's random, but when he does it in response to me saying no it is nearly impossible to keep a straight face.
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10 months

Ethan turned 10 months on Friday!!! Here he is enjoying blueberries, goldfish, cheerios, and Ritz crackers. He is getting pretty good at feeding himself-he even saves some for later by throwing all his leftovers on the floor when he is done eating so that he can come back for a snack.
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Daddy Time

Last night Mike babysat Ethan while I went out to dinner and shopping with my mom, Grammy, and Aunt Julie. We had a great time and all got some new shoes! This morning I have been working at home. I went out to tell Mike something and found the two boys chilling together in the family room. Ethan seems to really be enjoying watching sports and snacking with Dad!

Indoor Sandbox

We have a potted tree in the kitchen, and Ethan loves it! Mike just brought Ethan in to the office where I am coupon planning to show me what he did. Ethan was giggling and waving this branch around. I wish you could hear the little squeak he is making right as he strikes this pose for the camera. Oh, and make sure you notice the dirt on his chin-yum yum!
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Picnic

Today we went to babytime at the library and then ate lunch at the park. We got a big storm last night, so the weather has cooled quite a bit. It may be humid, but today's 83 still beats tomorrow's forecast of 108, or the 113 of so many days lately.

Inadvertently, Ethan and Sam were both dressed in orange stripes this morning; this, combined with them being pretty much the same size now, led many to think they were twins.

The boys enjoyed seeing the ducks, but really the picnic part of the afternoon was for my convenience because the boys are both always hungry after babytime and I only have one high chair at home. They would have preferred to get out and play, but the double stroller was serving so nicely as a double high chair. By the time lunch was done, they were too tired to go to the playground- maybe next time!
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8-11-09

Today was our 4 year wedding anniversary! My mom and Gary came and watched Ethan so that Mike and I could go out. We went to a little Italian restaurant nearby that we have driven by a million times and always wanted to go to. The food was really good, and it was fun to get away with just the two of us. Here are a few pictures of us before we left




Oh, and by the way, swim lessons are over. :( We had a great time doing swim lessons this year, and I was amazed how much Ethan could learn so young! He can hold onto the side of the pool by himself, knows to wait for me to let him come in, has gotten very good at floating, and will hold his breath all by himself while bending down and putting his whole face under the water to pick up a toy! Thanks Ms. Erin!

Weekend Trip

Last weekend Ethan and I went with my mom and Gary to visit my grandparents in LA. My grandpa was recently diagnosed with small cell lung cancer and started chemo this week. So, we spent the weekend visiting and getting a bedroom set up downstairs for him and my grandma. It was an especially good weekend to visit because my Uncle Jay was also visiting with his family and I haven't seen them in over a decade!

We stayed in a hotel nearby--I enjoyed blasting the AC, and Ethan enjoyed exploring the room.

I have a lot of pictures on my phone from the weekend because I was constantly sending them to Mike who wasn't able to come.
Playing at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Sleeping! He didn't sleep much on the drive to LA, but he was a good sport both ways and barely cried at all.
Peekaboo!
Hanging out with Grandpa.

My cousins J'son and Christian did a great job entertaining Ethan.

Ethan like to touch Great-Grandpa's whiskers.
We never got a picture with everyone looking at the camera.
Me and Uncle Jay.

I can't wait to see everyone again and hope that next time it will be under better circumstances!

Ceiling Fans

As I've mentioned before, Ethan loves to point. One of the things he loves to point at is our ceiling fans (which are always going). I couldn't find my real camera, so sorry for the poor quality, but I wanted to make sure that this was recorded because I think it is darn cute.

Yum!

I was eating corn on the cob and Ethan grabbed an ear and started going to town. He is carrying it around chewing on it. He even stood up all by himself for several seconds as he concentrated on eating it.
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Bookworm

Ethan loves books! They hold his attention for a long time. He likes being read to as well as sitting by himself turning the pages, pointing at the pictures and babbling.
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Snoring

I gave him a snack while I gave Ethan a bottle, and after I put Ethan down for a nap I found Sam like this, snoring. I laughed out loud.
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This one I did stop

I do have my limits!
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I'm probably supposed to stop this from happening

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