The second summer holiday

Out west, we celebrate the pioneers who trekked west in search of new land on July 24th.  It is called Pioneer Day.  Those who have no connection to the original mormon pioneers tend to celebrate "pie and beer" day, but welcome a second holiday in the middle of the summer. 

Our days were devoted to the kids, who were allowed to invite their friends to hang out with us each day.

SATURDAY
It is yoga day in our household, and both girls brought friends to their yoga class.  Steve cooked up some delicious BBQ for us afterwards.  In general, it was kind of a lazy day.  We all slept in, did a little yard work, and just took it easy.


SUNDAY
Maeve and Vera joined us all day.  After creating an obstacle course and tiring themselves out, they had a brainstorm to create purses out of scrap fabric. They really wanted zippers on their bags, and they convinced me to take them to the store to buy some zippers.  As I was measuring zippers, this ensued!  FYI - I do not know how to sew zippers.  And, yes, I did laugh pretty hard when I turned around and saw this.  Fun and funny girls.

MONDAY

I took a gaggle of girls up to Snowbird to use the summer "activity passes" we get with our ski season passes.  I will never tire of the views in little cottonwood canyon.  I feel lucky to call this place home. At one point, I said, "Girls, this is your home!" as I was struck with how incredibly beautiful it is in the mountains. They looked at me a little strangely and I do not think shared the same sentimental feeling as I did.  Oh well. At least I know they had FUN riding the mountain coaster and ziplines and all the other activities in the mountain.

 

 The Alpine Slide.

I was with Lizzie who was doing a different activity 

when I happened to look up and see 

Carolyn and friends coming down the slide. 

 The Vertical Drop.

Can you see this?  It is Carolyn jumping off the tower.  

A bungee catches you and lowers you down.

(I skip this activity, and so did the other three girls!)

The climbing wall. 
I find that as they are getting bigger and heavier, it is harder for them to get to the top!
Time for them to build some upper-body strength

  Bungee Trampoline.

We all did a couple of rounds on the bungee trampoline. 

Lizzie has not yet figured out how to flip.

(She says she does not want to! And god forbid, she take any tips from anyone! Ha!)

Tram Ride.
Carolyn's friend, Zoe, moved here from California this year and had never been to Snowbird.
She told her parents when she got home, "It was the best day EVER."
It was so fun to see her take in the views from the top. 

There are ropes courses, a zip line, a mountain coaster, tubing, a spider climb, and a legitimate obstacle course (like 'beastmaster' - a favorite show in our house).  My camera was secured away in a backpack for all those activities.  The girls said the best activity was the obstacle course.  It was HARD. I am surprised I did not hurt myself doing that one.

TUESDAY

It was art day at Red Butte Gardens.  This was Lizzie's choice.  She got to invite a friend this day.  We brought a picnic, along with our sketch pads, watercolors, and colored pencils.  

At one point when I redirected a group of boys (probably the same age as Lizzie and her friend Addie) who were throwing large rocks just to see if they could hurt one, I was thankful for having girls!  

These girls spent nearly 5 hours (and it would have been longer if I did not put an end to our day), hiking through the gardens, stopping to draw and paint, and just enjoying their time together.