Fall Break Adventure #4: Corn Maze

After doing apples (APPLES!!!) we went to the corn maze in a beautiful evening of sibling bonding. Plus me who is not a sibling but is an in-law and Maren who neither a sibling nor an in-law.

I learned that in Salt Lake City you have to drive for half an hour to get to a corn maze, unlike Logan where you drive for five minutes or Kaysville where you drive for ten minutes to get to a corn maze. The big city is a crazy place.

Elise and Hannah. They led the way. Although Andrew told them which way to turn.

Me and Andrew in amongst the corn.

Maren and Wes---watch it Wes, that hand is ON her waist.

And after we got out of the maze and found all ten numbers, we had to get our pictures and Frankenstein's monster and his bride.

Elise and Hannah

Wesley and Maren

Andrew and me

What a fun time. We did not go to the haunted part cuz that would have been traumatic. And I would have peed my pants. Plus, we couldn't have had sibling bonding in the corn if we were running away from terror incarnate.

Fall Break Adventure #3: APPLES!!

You may remember that each Autumn, we press apples (APPLES!!!) and make delicious apple (APPLES!!!) cider with Andrew's family. And it is so delicious.

Cutting out the bad parts. 

Andrew got apple (APPLES!!!) poop on him from grinding the apples (APPLES!!!) up.

Elise, Hannah, Maren (Wes's woman), and Wesley cutting the bad parts out of the apples (APPLES!!!)

Andrew got apple (APPLES!!!) pooped on and Glenn got apple (APPLES!!!) peed on.

Andrew dripping apple (APPLES!!!) poop on Wes's neck.
Yes, an apple (APPLES!!!) poop fight did ensue.

Elise is sure to get a husband with that face.

Maren and Wes holding hands BYU-style. Since they aren't supposed to touch below the waist, they hold hands above their waists---proving yet again how awkward BYU is.

We love doing apples (APPLES!!!). And we are always shouting "APPLES!!!" in this ridiculous slurpy, singing voice, so by typing it in I have made you feel like you were there doing apples (APPLES!!!) with us.

Fall Break Adventure #2: Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell's Canyon

After Goblin Valley, we drove down the road to a trail for Little Wild Horse Canyon, which loops up with Bell's Canyon. The hike was about 8.5 miles and we did not stop once. We are strong.

Also, it was pretty much a photo shoot of me cuz Andrew had the camera. I'm so proud that he is starting to take pictures of people.

I loved the seam of red rock in this cliff.

I'm a woman and I fit in a slot canyon!
My brother Matt told me slot canyons weren't shaped for women. Granted, this is a fat slot canyon.

I'm climbing the walls!

Holding up a rock with my pinky.

The only water we saw the whole time.

The moon as we enter Bell's Canyon.

A monster rock.

Going down into Bell's Canyon.

Sandstone that looks like wood.

We've hiked 8.5 miles without stopping...

A happier version of me.

Me on a cliff.

And the "really really really real Mater." I quote Andrew. Mater lives in Gunnison.

Great hike. Really great. My calf muscles and heel tendons burned. There were a lot of families there doing the first half of Little Wild Horse. I would not categorize this as a "family-friendly" hike. We were stuck in a tiny slot canyon with a family group of 50 people and they were SO SLOW cuz they had to lift toddlers and older out-of-shape people over six foot rocks. This hike requires you to climb over these rocks. Be warned, but if you are up to it, it is great.

Fall Break Adventure #1: Valley of the Goblins

For our Fall Break and Andrew's birthday celebration, we headed down to the San Rafael Swell in Utah and played at the Valley of the Goblins, commonly known as Goblin Valley.

Here is the view from the view point and parking lot. The weather was AMAZING.

Kinda looks like Mt. Crumpet, does it not?
*Reference to How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Meditation

Me with the mushrooms.

We had a lot of fun here, but only spent a few hours. I would recommend going with more than two people, especially going with kids. Also, we found out later that there are actually three valleys, but you have to hike to the other ones (the road doesn't go there), so I guess we found what we will be doing next time we go there!

All You Need...

Sometimes, all you need are

Racquetballs.

These are something everyone with a small child should invest in.

We have entertained many children with them.

Kaylee intrigued by an empty tube and three blue rubber balls.

Kaylee putting the balls in.

It teaches kids motor skills.

And makes them really happy.

They'll do anything to get that ball in. 

And then put the lid on...for the fifteenth time.

"GIVE ME THE TUBE!"

Isn't she cute? We have such a cute fake niece.

Ma Po Tofu

1 lb. ground pork

ginger

garlic

2-4 tbl. light soy sauce (the stuff you usually get in a western store)

2 tbl. spicy bean sauce (Lee Kum Kee makes a really good one, but you might have to get this at a Chinese market)

2 tbl. sugar

cornstarch and water

1 lb. Tofu

Brown the pork.  Add ginger, garlic and fry.  Add soysauce, bean sauce, sugar.  Add cornstarch dissolved in water to dilute the sauces to taste.  Add cubed tofu.  Stir gently.  Serve over rice.

White Pine Lake

Since we love to go hiking, we made time to actually hike! Yay! We are both very busy with school, and between that and driving to Salt Lake almost every single weekend, we really have to schedule in some therapuetic hikes.

This time we went to White Pine Lake. If you go to Tony Grove in Logan Canyon, it is one of the trails going out of there. There are several hikes in Logan Canyon, and this is the last of the "popular" ones that everyone does that I needed to do. (The hikes that everyone does are: the River Walk, Crimson Trail, Wind Caves, Jardine Juniper, White Pine Lake, and Naomi Peak--and now I've done them all!)

Me and a cow. The cow is the black thing by the trees.

Morning in the Cache National Forest and Naomi Wilderness. We hate hiking with lots of people, so we left our apartment at 6 so we could be DONE hiking by the time everyone else showed up.

One of the mountains around White Pine Lake. This one, I think, is Gog.  

The lake was so beautiful! It was really clear, mostly smooth, and just beautiful. Andrew was sad we didn't bring any fishing gear.

Andrew looking dashing in his new waterproof jacket.

Me being myself in my new waterproof jacket in front of Gog.

Sometimes you just can't hold it.
JK--there was cow pies and cow footprints all over.

SO BEAUTIFUL! This is probably the most beautiful place I have been in Logan Canyon--it is even more beautiful than Tony Grove.

A grouse. We ran into a flock of them when we bushwhacked around the lake.

Mt. Magog reflected in the water. It was so clear! It was an amazing morning.

Andrew and me at the lake. We got hot and took off our new waterproof jackets.

It was a really great hike. For us, it wasn't too difficult. If you do go, be warned that you will have to climb up out of the valley on your way back. It is a steady uphill for about a mile, but the rest of the hike is very flat.

Also--I love hiking with Andrew! I am really glad that we both love to hike and that we enjoy spending time together in this way.