McKay Family Reunion

Our family attended the McKay Family Reunion in Huntsville, Utah this year.  We normally don't go because it is a 12-hour drive each way and makes for an exhausting weekend.  We did enjoy spending time with extended family.  We especially enjoyed the cooler weather.  It was so nice and green!  Now James wants to move to Utah - I think he forgets how long and harsh the winters can be.

We left Wednesday night after work to g Western - very niceet a head start on the long drive.  We stopped in Kanab, Ut for the night at the Red Hills Best and very clean and the continental breakfast was much more than bagels and juice.  My boss knows the owner so we got a great deal on two rooms for the night.  We left Thursday morning headed for Huntsville.  Brigham and all three grandchildren did great on the long drive.  Thank goodness for DVD players.  We stopped in Provo for lunch, then in Bountiful to do some grocery shopping and cricket shopping.  Yes, I said cricket shopping.  James was in charge of the cricket races and we had to scope out where we could get our hands on about 250 crickets.  I know - crazy!

We attended the Bountiful Temple Thursday night and left Jeffrey to babysit Brigham, Jacob, Lilly and Wyatt - we were a little worried but he did okay and the kids survived.

Friday morning James, Matthew, Jeffrey and Brigham joined cousins, aunts and uncles for a 2+ hour horseback ride up the canyon of Middle Fork.  They had a great time!
                                                     
                                         

We also enjoyed a little bit of cowboy poetry from our cousin and wrangler Chad McKay at our rest stop.
 

 




Meanwhile, Meaghan, Shannon, the kids and I  drove into SLC and visited Temple Square and did some shopping - my idea of fun!

Friday night the reunion officially began with a dinner prepared and served by Aunt Donna and Uncle Barrie and their families.  There was an introduction to the theme for the year with a little skit and family clan "chant" clinic.

Then to finish the evening we had a surprise birthday cake and a special highlight for James' mom to celebrate her birthday.  Several people got up to express appreciation and tell stories about her.

                                                            

Saturday morning we started off with a breakfast prepared and served by Uncle Monroe, Aunt Mary and their families followed by games.  Each of the eight families competed against one another in relay races.  We had piggy back rides, spoon races, cricket races, stick-horse races, and the last games were played in the pool with big splash/dives for the finale.

Lunch was prepared and served after the games by Uncle Quinn, Aunt Liz, Aunt Willie and their families.  We ended the reunion and took some family pictures of the Downs clan.  The reunion was a big success - everyone had a great time.  Brigham had so much fun he wants to go back next year.

July 2011

Our family tradition for the 4th of July weekend is to go to the Taylor rodeo.  In years past we have stayed with my parents at their cabin in Concho.  The last couple of years we have camped at Woods Canyon Lake.  The rodeo in Taylor is so much fun and they have a great fireworks display.  This is an event we look forward to every year.  This year all of our kids and grandkids were able to go with us.  We camped at Woods Canyon Lake, fished, took the canoe out on the lake, went on a little ranger lead hike, took naps, enjoyed afternoon rains, and of course went to the rodeo and enjoyed the fireworks.  It was a great weekend.  The only down side was due to the fire restrictions - no campfires (which wasn't so bad) and the hiking trails were closed (so no hike this month).  We hope and pray that it rains enough to soak the ground and diminish the risk of fires to the area.  Sorry, no pictures for this post - I forgot to bring the camera.  Both Rachael and Shannon took lots of pictures and will most likely post to their blogs.  Check them out at http://jeffandrachael.blogspot.com/ and  http://www.thedownsfamily07.blogspot.com/.  

Happy Fourth of July!

June 2011

We weren't able to go on our planned camp out Memorial Day Weekend, so we planned an impromptu camping trip in June.  James, Brigham and I went to Dogtown Lake which is a few miles outside of Williams.  Our adventure started with a blowout on our way out of town Friday night on the 101.  We had to stop on the side of the road under an overpass and there was no emergency lane so traffic was backed up behind us.  I'm sure people were not happy since it was when everyone was on their way home from work.  Luckily the tire that had to be changed was on the side away from the traffic.  Then to add to the excitement, James forgot to put the emergency brake on and the truck rolled off the jack.  Luckily James didn't get hurt.  After we set the emergency brake James changed the tire in record time and we made it to the campground without further incident.

This beautiful flower was in our campsite.  It would bloom every morning.  

Our campsite - lots of shade.  

The hike we selected was Inner Basin Trail located just outside of Flagstaff.  Little did we know when we picked this hike that it was smack dab in the middle of where the Schultz Fire took place last summer.  When we turned off the main road to the hike we discovered that the road had been closed due to the fire.  In order to get to the trail head we would have to hike 3 miles on a gravel road.   We figured we could handle that in less than an hour.  Ha, ha!  We didn't take into account that it would be a 3-mile uphill climb!  Here are a few pics of the fire damage and our uphill climb to the trail head.

We finally made it to the trail head.  It took us 1 1/2 hours to reach this point.  We sat down and rested in the shade and ate our granola bars.  We were excited to have made it and were looking forward to the hike.  There is fire damage on the south side of the first portion of the trail which is heartbreaking to see.  Once past the fire damage the trail is beautiful - the forest is filled with aspen trees.  We saw a blue jay and a young elk running through the woods.  There was even some snow left on the ground. 

This is a natural spring and where we wish we had stopped.  

The next 1/3 mile was an uphill climb that nearly did us in!

This little hut is the end of the Inner Basin Trail.  

At this point I was not looking forward to the hike back to the car. 

We made it back to the trail head!  Just 3 miles left to go and its all downhill.  

How bad could it be?  

The last 3 miles was the worst!  It took us 6 1/2 hours to hike 10 miles - the first 5 miles was uphill.  We didn't anticipate how difficult this hike would be and thought it would only take us 3 hours.  Silly us!  We had plenty of water but only a few granola bars for snacks.  We did not prepare well for this hike at all.  We were all exhausted by the time we reached the truck and definitely cranky!  Had we only hiked the 4-mile trail this would have been an enjoyable hike.  The extra 6-miles we hiked to and from the trail itself was crazy.  Apparently we weren't thinking clearly or we probably would have picked another hike.  However, we are not sorry for the experience - we survived the hike and we got to enjoy the beauty which Heavenly Father created for us. 

May 2011

No hike this month.  We've been busy with celebrating birthdays, scout camp outs and work.  We purchased a canoe in April and took it out on its maiden voyage at Willow Springs Lake.  We had so much fun with the canoe that we didn't get any hiking in!  I hope to go on a hike in June.

April 2011

I participated in Pat's Run for the first time last year with Meaghan and my good friend Nancy Bodrero and her son, Cameron.  

I had so much fun I decided to do it again this year and I brought my two hiking buddies along with me, and 

Meaghan, Matthew, Shannon, Jacob and Lilly also went with us. 

We rode the light rail to the ASU stadium and then walked over to where the race was taking place.  The run started at 7:00 a.m. with the fastest runners starting first.  We were with the walkers and strollers so we were the last group to start the race.  There were a lot more people this year. 

The race ended in the Sun Devil Stadium.  Brigham and I ran the 4.2 miles in 58:20 which beat my time from last year of 1:05:55.  I was worried that Brigham would get lost in the crowd of people but he did really well and stuck right by me.  We started out jogging but after 2 miles and no water we walked the rest of the way.  I brought water for us to drink but unfortunately James had my backpack and he and Meaghan were a ways behind us.  I suggested to Brigham that we stop and wait for them to catch up but he was anxious to cross the finish line.

Inside the stadium several of the ASU football players were on hand for pictures and autographs.  Brigham was too shy to go meet with them by himself so Shannon took him over and they got some pictures with the players and autographs.  Brigham had so much fun!  

Meaghan is just like me - she gets all red in the face any time she exercises.  

Lilly enjoyed her ride on the light rail with grandma! 

Pat's Run is a fun family activity and the money goes for a good cause.  I'm thankful for the men and women who serve in the armed forces and for those who have sacrificed their lives for our country.  My dad and brother served in the Air Force and my nephew is currently serving in the Air Force.  Thank you guys!  You're awesome.