A new jungle gym

During July, Kirk's father built a new jungle gym for the children. Here is the progress, in photos.

And it is mostly done. We will add a sunshade or canopy on top when I figure out the pattern and make one.

Family camping trip to California

This past week, we took a six-day camping trip to California. We drove from Provo, across Nevada, to Lee Vining, California, and then into Yosemite. We spent two days in Yosemite and then drove south to Sequoia-Kings Canyon, where we spent two more days. From there we drove south around the Sierra Nevadas and ended up on the other side, where we went to Death Valley, and then back to Provo. All those tiny forest mountain roads left our brakes are warped; we got them checked in Las Vegas and will get them repaired this next week. Here are some photos from our trip with a bit of commentary for the few people who might read this.

 Kirk standing at Mono Lake, California, with the tuffa formations.

 The family at the lake.

The alkaline flies at Mono Lake. These are the one thing the boys really wanted to see since they saw them in the Planet Earth/Life movies.

 The playground at our first campsite in Lee Vining, California.

Our campsite with grass. The tent works wonderfully.

Nevada roads where Lucy managed to get sick over and over and over.

 Our first hike in Yosemite in Tuolumne Meadows. It was early in the season, so the flowers weren't all blooming at this altitude. I was happy with their backpacks. We spent some time to have them all put together little first aid kits and stuff. They can all carry their own water and snacks.

 A coyote running through the meadow.

 Soda Springs, where carbonated water bubbles out of the ground.

 Sitting at the saddle of Lembert Dome in Tuolumne Meadows.

 A view of Lembert Dome from quite close to the top.

 Yes, Yosemite Falls really does look like a postcard.

 Kirk at Mirror Lake in Yosemite Valley.

 Henry with the bear trap. The trap was empty.

 The children looking into Yosemite Valley.

Lucy on Lembert Dome.

 Our campground right outside Yosemite park at Diamond O campground. The bears were not at this campground because of the fire two years ago.

A bear box. They have them at all the campgrounds and picnic areas. The bears will smash car windows to get into the cars if you leave food there.

 The family around a giant sequoia tree. We are now at Sequoia-Kings Canyon national park.

 The hike up to Moro Rock. Everyone, except Eliza, climbed up this rock.

 The fearless family (minus Eliza) on Moro Rock with the 1,000 foot cliffs around it.

 In the Giant Forest. The tiny specks are us.

 At the entrance to Crystal Cave, a marble cave in Sequoia NP.

 Next to another beautiful sequoia tree.

 Henry, fascinated by a green sequoia pinecone. He loves everything green.

Our campground at Lodgepole in Sequoia, with the friendly deer.

 About 20 feet behind the kids is a brown bear, asleep.

The brown bear up close.

 Where we camped in Death Valley.

 The temperature when we got to Death Valley at 7-8pm in the evening.

Our campsite in Death Valley. The ground was very, very hot, so it was uncomfortable to try and sleep. We heard coyotes during the night near the camp. I also saw a kangaroo rat.

May notes

We've been busy these past few weeks. Here are a few photos of what we've been doing.
London
Kirk went to London for a conference the end of April and first of May. He organized the conference and it turned out well, even though it was a lot of work.

 One of the signs on the underground (Shaun the Sheep and Timmy).

 The Sunken Gardens in Kensington Gardens, where they would walk from the hotel to the BYU Center where the conference was.

 Kirk taking a photo of himself.

Kirk at the Museum of Art, enjoying a few hours without conference meetings.
Lucy's Birthday
Lucy celebrated her 7th birthday on May 6. She was so happy. She also had a friend birthday party a few days earlier.

 Lucy with her Princess Doll cake.

Lucy at her friend party with lots and lots of pink and purple. She told all the girls they had to wear princess costumes.
Camping in Southern Utah
A few days after Kirk came back from Europe, we went on a family campout to southern Utah.

 The children played on the rocks and in the sand.

 We got them to stand still long enough to take a photo in the hoodoos at Devil's Garden, Grand Staircase of the Escalante National Monument.

 At the Singing Canyon, a nice slot canyon near the Burr Trail road.

 Hiking in the slot canyon.

 Views of the area near Escalante.

 The kids playing at one of the stops.

 Our new tent, which worked out great in the rain and wind. It was large enough and didn't blow over or let in any rain.

 Looking over the reservoir on a hike to see petrified wood.

 Another view of the slot canyon.

 You can't really see this well, but the road is running along the top of a "backbone," with cliffs dropping off both sides and no guardrail.

 Stopping by Bryce Canyon to see the view for a few minutes.

One of the largest pieces of petrified wood that we saw on our hike.