Goodbye Utah - Hello Brazil

 Here are a few of the last pictures we have of Colton in Utah.  I love this family shot and here is the one that Brett took right before he went through security - headed to the MTC in Brazil

I was lucky enough to stumble across these photos of Colton on the mission Facebook page!  We have been able to chat with him a few times and he seems to be doing well! He looks like a real missionary-

Colton's Temple Visit

 During the weekend that Colton hiked the Subway, with so many family members together, he went through the St. George Temple for the first time. He is so lucky to have so many family members supporting him!

Zion's The Subway

Brett and Colton trained for months to be able to keep up with the Dan Myers family on their annual Subway hike.  It is a pretty grueling trail hike and goes from sun up to sundown.  They had a great time with Both Eric and Katie's family. 
Here's a shot of the group just getting started

 A ways down the trail

 Down in the Subway

 Headed along their journey

 Although they both had a great time and learned alot about hiking and canyoneering, I don't think either of them feel the need to hike the Subway again any time soon!

Summer Fun

Summer 2019 - This was the last summer that Colton would be with us before leaving on his mission for 2 years. We tried to do lots of fun things and make lots of memories together!

We took advantage of the Frontrunner train and went up to Ogden to see Phantogram - a family favorite.  We all had a fun, but I think that the loud music and strobe lights did not sit well with Alex. Although he really enjoys music - he doesn't love the concert experience as much as the rest of us do!  It was a fun time!

Every year we try to participate in at least one 5K.  This year McKaleigh, Colton, Brett and I did the Bubble Run.  Alex was out due to a soccer game, but we had alot of fun running through all of the bubbles.  However, it's not super fun to run in wet soggy shoes, so I think we'll take the Color Run over the Bubble Run!

 Going up to Soldier Hollow and Park City for the SheepDog competition every year has kind of become a fun tradition.  We spent time together this weekend eating fun food, golfing, and having fun as a family.

Summer Hiking

We have all started our Summer of with some hikes!  It is one thing that most of us love (and Alex tolerates)!  We may not have all been able to go together, but we've all made it up into the mountains once our twice!

Brett and Colton have been trying to get out once a week because they are preparing to hike The Subway (in Zion) in a few weeks.  They have been trying to get in 5+ miles every week of different terrain, so they are ready to go!

We life in such a beautiful state!

 Alex and McKaleigh and I have tried to get out and we found a short and sweet hike to a fantastic waterfall!

 And saw this big guy on the way!

 We know how lucky we are to live close enough to the mountains to enjoy so many fantastic wonders!

Colton's Graduation Trip - Cruise Life

Colton chose a Mexican cruise for his graduation trip!  We traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta and had a really great time! 

Here we are with the boat in the background and Colton laying on his bed.  Our room was just right!

 We had a really great room attendant, and he made the most amazing towel animals!  Here is Colton with one of them!  He made it a habit of posing with the towel animals each day!

 When we were at sea, Colton could be found at the ping pong tables on deck.  He even met some other kids and played ping pong with them!

 Cabo was a day for exploring!

 We went horse back riding and explored tiny villages, waterfalls and saw huge lizards!

 We spent way too much money trying out luck at BINGO, and coin pushers on the ship!

 In Mazatlan we golfed 18 holes at a beautiful golf course - boy was it hot! We encountered jack rabbits and turtles on the course - I don't think you'll find those hanging on the courses back in Utah!

 There were so many more memories that we made, and the important thing is that we made them together!  We had a great time one on one and hope it gave Colton a love for travelling, doing new things and exploring new places!

Cousins 12 Year Old Trip

Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Walt have a tradition of inviting grandchildren to spend a week with them (no parents allowed) when they turn 12 years old.  Alex was lucky enough to share this time with 2 of his other cousins (Benji and Elliot) who also turned 12 this year.  They spent a week filled with late nights, silliness, golf ball hunting, hiking and going to the temple.  Here are a few pictures of their fun filled week.

What a difference a day makes!  Look how excited these boys are at the beginning of the hike...and then...

 Here's what they looked like at the top!  They look a little worse than when they began!  Grandma and grandpa really wore them out!

 A few shots along the trail...

 In the evening hours (after the golf course closed), the boys would hit golf balls and hang out on the green.

 When it got really dark, they played laser tag and even hid in the sand traps for extra cover!

 You can't go wrong with a fire and s'mores in the evening!

 There was a portion of the day spent hunting for frogs in the water traps on the course, and it looks like the boys found success!

 And an evening watching a play at Tuachan!

 So grateful that grandma and grandpa began this tradition!  I'm sure these boys ran them ragged and caused all sorts of mischief!  (They were cutting their leg hair with grandma's scissors at one point and i'm sure they did all kinds of other crazy things!).

Graduation 2019 - Colton Did IT!

 Another one bites the dust!  Colton has officially graduated from Murray High School.  He will no longer grace the doors as a student, but will continue his education after returning from his mission at Utah State University!  We are so proud of the accomplishments, accolades, and friendships that he has made.  This is a big day and although we did not get any pictures (it was busy) there were lots of family and friends that he celebrated with.  Here are a few of the shots we did get after the ceremony!

 Grandma Deb, Grandpa Rod, Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Walt were there to celebrate his accomplishments!

 What a great looking graduate!

Mom and dad - So proud of Colton and all of his hard work and effort!  the future is bright!