Great Basin Backpacking High Adventure 2018

 After lots of work planning, high adventure finally came! I was nervous since I don't work with the YW very often and didn't know many of them, but I was amazed at how well they all did and what a great experience we all had! It was challenging and pushed the girls to their limits, but I think they came away stronger and more confident in their abilities!

 The peak on the left is the one we summited the second day- Pyramid Peak

 I woke up early the first morning at Baker Lake, so I went exploring behind our camp site and ended up on top of the summit, overlooking Pyramid Peak and Wheeler Peak. It was beautiful and well worth the climb!

Hiking out from Baker Lake

 Top of the ridgeline

 Hiking the extra mile up Pyramid Peak

 Heading down into Johnson Lake

 COLD mountain water, but so refreshing!

 It poured on us briefly at camp at Johnson Lake

My tent buddy, Martha.

 Caves! A lot of the girls didn't get out on time, so the majority missed the cave tour, which was a major bummer. But it was a neat experience for those that did!

We did 6 miles in to Baker Lake (a mostly uphill climb), camped there, then went 2.5 miles up and over the ridgeline and Pyramid Peak to Johnson Lake, camped and swam there. Then 5.8 miles out to the trailhead. For some reason all of my pictures aren't available to select so some that I really want on this aren't, but I'll try to get that fixed so the full experience can be shared!

The girls rose to the occasion! It was amazing to see them be so positive and work through the hard moments. They all supported each other and worked together. They also were responsible for setting up their own camps, cooking their own food, and they really did amazing!July 26-28, 2018

Subway- top down with Sheri and Gordon

Ok, the Subway was a life changer.... and I'm not kidding. Especially writing this month's later, I can tell you, it's a life changer. Canyoneering set my soul on fire and I've felt an intense want to learn how to do this and be able to take other women on adventures like this. 

Sheri's my gym twin, we train, teach and even had a baby weeks apart. Her dad is pretty much my hero. He canyoneers, climbs, mountain bikes, surfs, travels the world doing cool things. He takes Sheri's kids on all types of fun outings. I just think he's the best! I'm so grateful for Gordon showing me "the ropes" and teaching me. It's hard as a woman to learn how to climb/canyoneer with the logistics of it all, but he's gone out of his way to help me. I'm SO grateful! 

Not long after this experience, and an intense desire to learn this, I got called in by the stake president. The counselor didn't know me at all, asked me how many kids, what I did, where I was from- literally didn't know me at all. He then went on to explain that they felt strongly like I was needed in the Young Women's as a camp director, specifically over a new program for the girls- HIGH ADVENTURE.  WHAT?! Have you been listening to my brain for the past few months or what?! Very real experience on the power of the Spirit. I felt a passion for this brewing before I was called to this, and I'm grateful for the experiences to put me on this path. It's been a struggle getting the culture changed and women to challenge themselves to step outside their comfort, but I hope the YW will have an amazing experience and in my small way I am helping develop stronger, more confident, capable women who know they can do hard things.

April 2018

What a fun month!!

 Back on the bike/run path training for StG Ironman with Shaneen. It was 96 degrees and I thought we were going to die!! So glad to have such an awesome training buddy like her!

 I took the boys out on a new trail close by, Pushing Tin. I never mountain bike, so it was a different adventure for sure! The boys did awesome! I love being able to do quick things like this close by!

This shirt speaks to me. I love being away from people in the great outdoors!!

Spring in bloom in the desert!

Dog sitting CeCe is the best. Miles constantly follows that cute doggy around! His love for dogs is intense.

 Swimming!! Miles is SO stinking cute in these little jammers!!

 When we got back from Boston (separate post) we gave Miles a Boston Celtics puppy and got exactly the reaction we hoped for. "He's sooo cuuuutteeeee."

 Jaylen did an amazing job in choir again this year. A highlight is performing with all the different schools at Tuacahn.

Aaron and Miles came over to the "Grip" with us on our usual Monday night to check out the facility since we will be building one in our back yard! Miles was in heaven trying things out!

How I love my pool swims. They feel so good and just help loosen everything up. I can't explain it, but it feels so cool to be a fish for a bit!

Libby got baptized! But I didn't get a picture with her, I got one with Ellie!

Took my nieces over to my client Tiffany's AMAZING pool! We always have such a blast there!

 I started a running group out in the fields where we live and man are they fun. A bunch of studly, amazing moms and women who like to be active! We did a run out to Toquerville Falls. It was a hard one but very worth the views!!

I finally got the salmon ladder!!!

 I took the boys to SHAC pool and man did we have fun. The best part was seeing ALL the kids (it was BUSY) but watching the three of them completely content playing with each other, giggling like crazy. Definitely a mom pay day.