Labor Day: Hiking the Y

On Labor Day we decided to Hike up Y mountain. The boys love finding the "Y" anytime that we're out and about. We borrowed a pack to carry Brayden in took off. It was 49 degrees and the boys were pretty cold but we made it!

At the bottom before we started Taylor looked up and told me he thought there were bugs on the Y. I told him I think it's people, not bugs. he fought with me a little but then let it go. First thing he said when we got to the top was" Mom, you're right, they're not bugs, they're just people!"

Flashback: Sept 2, 2006 Our first family hike up Y mountain

BYU Football Pep Rally

BYU had a pep rally on the Thursday before their first game. It didn't start until 9:00- about an hour after the boys bedtime but we figured we should take them since we didn't buy football tickets this year. The band played, the cheerleaders cheered and the cougarettes danced. Cosmo came out for some high fives and it ended in a 5 minute firework show. The football players talked a little but the boys didn't understand why they weren't dressed in uniform and why they weren't going to play a game right then. Overall, we were pumped for some football so I guess they did their job!

Timpanogos Cave, aug.14.10

It was free National Park Day on August 14th so we decided to take advantage of it and go see Timp Caves up American Fork Canyon. It was a gorgeous day! We went to get tickets to the cave but the next time available wasn't until 1:30 so we drove around in the canyon and went to a Cascade Springs. The boys were happy to get out and run around a little. it wore them out too so on our way back to the trail head of the caves they both got a little nap.

It was a 1 1/2 mile hike up a paved trail to the mouth of the cave. Taylor made it the whole way!!! I'd love to say "Mountain Man Taylor" didn't complain, but it wasn't too bad. As long as I told stories along the way he was fine. As soon as the story was over though he would realize his legs hurt.

We were not so prepared for a 45 degree inside temperature of the cave! It felt good at first but then we started to get pretty chilled.

The stalagmites and the stalactites were really cool and the boys liked looking at them. Here is the "heart" or aorta of the cave.

View from the top:

Taylor took a picture of Matt and I. not too bad...

Papa, paparazzi!

So it's pretty obvious that I don't have any talent quickly getting shots of celebrities... here are my lame attempts!

Bethany from Real Housewives of New York outside the ABC studio

Kelly leaving the set and Kelly after I shouted her name- yea- SUCKY!

Justin Timberlake- can't you see the top of his head above the white sailor hat??? Then he's a little blurry!

I missed taking pictures of the Gossip Girl set- I saw it while I was on the bus. I saw three other sets set up around New York but couldn't figure out what it was for. I think I'll just stick to raising children- I'm not great but I sure enjoy it!

rewind: New York aug.10.10

I had tried to get Regis and Kelly tickets online before we went but they weren't offering them at the time so I decided to just show up and stand in the standby line.

I didn't make the first taping- they were full but I made it in to their second show taping. We taped the Labor Day show. I saw them interview Jason Bateman- I think that one already aired and then Bethany from Real Housewives of New York and Laura Linney who has a new show called the Big C.

I was not so impressed with these celebrities. Regis was a down right grouch. He looks and seems like he'd be such a sweet guy. During commercial breaks Kelly would come out into the crowd and take pictures or talk and Regis would just sit in his chair. He's occasionally answer a question or two. Kelly seemed really fake too. I've heard people say she's even thinner in person and that is true- but man are her arms to DIE FOR!

Look for me on the Labor Day show! I was sitting in the back left corner when the camera looks at the crowd.

After the taping I had 1 hour and 15 minutes to make it to the MET before I needed to start heading toward the airport! I RAN through the MET. It was phenomenal and I made it through almost all of it in 55 minutes. I could have spent days in there though! Of course, my camera is dead so I took a few pictures on my phone, I just don't know how to get them off...

We had a great time and it was so nice to be able to spend some time with Matt before crazy school life began again!

rewind: New York aug 9.10

We had to get back to New York because Matt had to work Monday and Tuesday. We also hurried home so we could catch dinner at the McKinnon's. She was my Laurel advisor in church growing up and Mere (her daughter) and I were the best of friends. It was great to catch up with them.

On Monday I woke up early and went for a run in Central Park. As big as the park is I figured if I was going to see any of it that would be the way to do it.

On my way there I stopped by the LDS Temple. It was so gorgeous!

The was by far my favorite part of the run- the arboretum.

After Central Park I took the subway down to the ferry port to ride over and see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island. I should note that my camera is almost dead at this point. I turn it on and take a picture before the screen even lights up and then turn it off- sorry for the bad quality of pictures! AND I just ran- so I look nasty too!

A replica inside the little museum inside the base of the Statue of Liberty.

View of the city and Ellis Island from the Statue of Liberty.

Ellis Island was really cool to see and read about everything the immigrants had to go through there. Unfortunately my camera is long gone by then!

After these tours I went to the top of the Empire State Building, and again- my camera is dead by what an awesome view from up there!

I walked by the bull and a group of 30 Chinese people trying to climb on him at once. I saw Wall Street and then headed to the Museum of Modern Art. Definitely not for me... they had an umbrella stroller and a ironing board on display together as art. ???huh??? Also I walked into a naked picture gallery at the beginning so that kind of soured my mood for the rest of it.

I hurried back to the hotel to shower and meet Matt for dinner in Little Italy. We had some really good food and met a friend of mine from high school and now she's a friend of Matt's because they go to school together. All three of us tried to catch another show on Broadway but everything was either too expensive for crappy seats or they were completely sold out. We walked around Times Square again and went up to FAO Schwartz, but it was already closed.

Matt and I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and then went back to Little Italy for some gelato- AMAZING! I probably should mention that it was my birthday, not a bad way to turn 25 huh?! We hurried back to the hotel to sleep so we could finish strong on our last day in NYC.