July Birthdays and Mountain Goats

We had two trips up to Emerald Lake on Timp this month - We were amazed to still be able to drag ourselves up the trial. The beauty of the mountains, the abundant wildflowers and the photogenic mountain goats made it worth the effort. There were no major problems with hikers, but it was good to be there just in case.

July was a fun month for birthdays. David's birthday was July 1st - He had a long day at the hospital but received a lot of calls and Facebook messages. It was Jackson's 3rd birthday and G.K.'s very first birthday. Juli and Heidi made it a special day for their boys - but the dad's were a major part of the fun. Patrick demonstrated how to get the whirlpool effect in their "Hillbilly Hot Tub" and Jason lead the fun at the water balloon event.

Summer Hikes

We have been enjoying our summer hikes (most of the time)
The first picture is of Bell's Canyon Reservoir - just a quick 20 minute evening hike. The next picture is Hidden Lakes just below Emerald Lake on Mt. Timpanogos. It is quite a long hike but the wild flowers were amazing this year.

We woke up Sunday morning to find a family of mountain goats in our campground. Their little ones are really cute! We watched some of the goats like minerals from the rock on the high mountain ledges

We helped with the TERT team (tert.org) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There were a lot of people sliding down on the snow field. The snow conditions were good and no one was injured.


One group brought up 3 air mattresses to slide down on. They gave the mattresses to our team members when they finished. Here are some of our team members using the air mattress to ride on a small snow field back down to our camp.

Family Reunion

We had a very quickly planned family reunion this month. We were so excited to have Mom and John make it to Utah for Mom's birthday and Mother's Day. David was already here studying for his boards. Tom and Yadira were able to fly out with only a couple days notice. Celeste, Larry and Olivia drove up from St. George. It all worked out to be a wonderful get-together. Here are photos of the 9 Longstroth grandchildren and the whole group.

Heidi took Mom over South Mountain to the Peppermint Place candy shop. Randal, Bruce, Mom and I went to a restaurant called One World Everybody Eats. You pay what you feel like paying and they have free food for the people who can't buy a meal. It's one of Randal's favorite spots.
Mom and I finished reading Angels and Demons this week-end. Dave, Mom and I went to see the movie.

Mom's Birthday and Mother's Day

We had great time conspiring to kidnap Mom and bring her to Utah for her birthday and Mother's Day! John was the key player (probably get's that from living in the Keys).
He surprised her by walking up to her house and telling her "It's too cold here, let's go to Utah." It was nice in Utah except for when they rode the tram to the top of the mountain at Snowbird. John was wearing shirt and shorts - it was 23 degrees and windy.

We were able to to the Kennecott copper mine - the largest open pit mine in the world.

We surprised Mom for her birthday by taking her to see the Lipizzaner Stallions. She wanted to see them when we went to Austria, but we weren't there at the right time. It was a great show and fun to share with family. Larry, Celeste, Alisha, Olivia, Tom, Yadira, Heidi, John, Dave, Bruce and I all went.
We had a picnic at a park in Layton for Saturday night - and took LOTS of pictures. It was a rare opportunity to get everyone together. Tom is here this month studying for his boards. Tom and Yadira flew out for the week-end - and we had the Tolmans, our Wyoming families, and John. We have more photos for the next blog.

March Adventures

I was able to get a quick get-away to Ohio in the middle of March to go to an autism workshop near Cleveland. Mom drove up with me (using Cindy's Tom Tom for guidance). The site of the training was 17 miles from Kirtland, Ohio - the location of the first LDS temple. Here is Mom
with our cute tour guide from the Community of
Christ church.
The temple is in the background. It was a sweet experience to see the building that so much of our Sunday School course of study this year deals with

We also went to the LDS historical church sites there. We had the greatest missionary couple there to guide us - Brother and Sister Scott. They spend more than 2 hours with just Mom and me and had great stories and insights to share. Here we are in the Whitney Store.

They had a bronze sculpture exhibit that Mom sent an email to everyone about. Sister Johnson who sculpted these had never had a formal sculpting class. She has a natural talent not only for the medium, but for the emotions they evoke in those who see them. Mom sent the website for the artist, but these are not in the slideshow. There is Jesus with a hen that is gathering it's chick "under her wings"

There is a statue of the story of the woman who was taken in adultery

You can't really see much from the last one - but in real life, it's amazing. It's about choices that lead a person closer to God or further away.

These will all come to Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah in May.

MarKaye was in a Broadway Review at Utah State University this week end. She was several numbers in the ensemble - She can really dance and sing. Here she is with her best friend, Katie Francis.

January and February 2009

It's feeling like time to say "Good-bye" to winter. We experienced a lot of the cold, white season this year. January was a big month for the annual elk hunt by Duchesne, Utah. We didn't bag the big game, but at least we get stranded in the middle of no-where in a snow storm. There were some moments when we wondered. We were stuck a couple time, but Bruce was able to get us out with the handyman jack and chains on the tires.














All the grandkids got suckers with lips for Valentines Day. We took pictures of the Hassan kids to complement the pictures of the Graham and Conder kids.

This is a picture of me wearing the hat David knitted for me for Christmas. It's really beautiful, warm and very well constructed.












Juli brought some toys and and a beautiful wooden high chair over for G.K. He is just the perfect age for them. Great Fun!

December 2008 -
What a way to say "Good-by" to 2008! It was a tremendously fun December! David was able to fly out to be with us on the 20th. We took advantage of one of the many snowstorms to snowshoe in Little Cottonwood Canyon. We got a late start, but were able to get some good snow traveling in.
We had Christmas Eve at Wendi and Dennis' home. It was beautifully decorated, a real Victorian Christmas House - and the food was wonderful, turkey,ham and absolutely all the trimmings.
We had a traditional Christmas morning finnan haddie brunch with the Lowder extended family at Patrick and Heidi's house. Everything they serve is a traditional Christmas morning food - and we have been there often enough that it's a part of our celebration also.





We had King's Day earlier than usual. We all packed up to go to Crystal Hot Springs on December 30th. We celebrated King's Day and Jodi, Dane's and Cathy's birthdays! A lot of celebrating. The kids really look forward to the White Elephant gifts - and they are very good sports about getting things like the ever-popular "couch potato."


















We closed out the old year by visiting Larry and Celeste in St. George. Dave and I attended First Night. It was ALL the high school students in Washington County and Dave and me. The fireworks were amazing.
On New Year's Day, we headed for Bryce Canyon and did some fabulous sight seeing and hiking. If you ever the chance to hike Navajo Loop in the winter, don't pass it by. It takes your breathe away!

Best wishes for great 2009 to everyone!