After so much traveling and packing and unpacking, it was such a relief to spend two weeks at my Aunt Sally's summer house in Midway, UT (thank you, Aunt Sally!). I grew up spending many summer days in Midway at my Ward grandparents' summer home and so it feels like home. There is nothing on earth quite like the freshness of Midway air and the quiet peacefulness of the town. It is one of my most favorite places on earth and the home of so many treasured memories! The girls loved it, too, and it was a chance for us to try to get caught up a little on sleep and rest.
Not only is there nothing like Midway air, there is nothing like the fresh smell of Midway after a mountain rain storm. Luckily, it rained several times while we were there. The girls took the opportunity of an afternoon storm to don their swimsuits and run around in the rain.
Nearly every year since I was 8 until Mark and I moved away from Utah, I have hiked Mount Timpanogas with my family. It is my dad's favorite mountain and so once a year, usually Labor Day weekend, we would wake up bright and early, drive down to Utah Valley, and begin our hike. It was a full day affair. We would stop at each of the major waterfalls, have lunch amid the wildflowers on the banks of glacier-fed Emerald Lake, and push on to the windy summit overlooking all of Utah Valley. Then we would cruise down the mountain with my dad singing silly German songs he learned on his mission and stop for fresh fruit shakes at a fruit stand in Orem on our way home. Sweet, sweet memories. So, Miffy and I decided that we would tackle the trail to the first waterfall with the kids. It was a definite highlight of the trip and so good to be back in the mountains!
My little hikers
Miffy and Abby on the rocks by the waterfall
The cooling mist was so refreshing! We sat on the rocks and ate snacks and just enjoyed the total peace and beauty!
Miffy had the idea to visit the Great Salt Lake before we were to pick Mark up from the airport (since they are in the same neighborhood). It had been years and years since I had been there and we all thought it would be fun. We parked by old Saltair and trekked across the salt flats to the water. The stench and lake flies were awful, but the alway-intrepid Miffy led the girls into the lake where they had a ball wading and floating. Katie kindly took Will back to the car and out of the heat. I stayed on the shore and tried to take pictures with my woefully inadequate point-and-shoot camera. We followed it up with some salt water taffy from the gift shop which almost made us forget the stench and the flies.
We spent our second-to-last day in Park City where we had so much fun eating pizza on main street and taking a ride on the alpine slide.
We then blitzed down to Millcreek canyon to make it to Aunt Sara's sister's wedding. It was worth pulling over to the side of the road to change into our best clothes so that we could see Matt and spend time with him, Sara, Cannon, Katie, and Miffy.
Will and Aunt Katie
We enjoyed breakfast the next morning with Matt, Sara, Cannon, Katie, and Miffy. We had to cram in as much family time as possible since we only see each other pretty much once a year!
The girls with Uncle Matt
Mark and I then dashed off to my Jerusalem reunion (hard to believe it was 16 years ago that we were there!)where we had a lovely, lovely time catching up with good friends and wonderful people! It was so wonderful to reconnect and hear about how and what everyone is doing. Jerusalem was such a life-changing experience for me. It was great to relive some of the memories.
As we were packing up to pull out that evening, our sweet, dear friends, Mike and Jen Thomas (who had just arrived in Salt Lake with their four boys that morning) drove out to see us. It meant so much to have them come! It has been three years since we have seen each other and it was so wonderful to get caught up!! There is nothing like good friends who love and accept you for who you are -- foibles, quirks, and all. I just wish I could have seen more of said friends on this trip! Next time, though, when there is no new baby in the mix.
After visiting Grammie, we had lunch at the Lion House Pantry (where I used to occasionally go with my dad for my birthday lunches) and took a tour through Brigham Young's Beehive house. We then tooled around Temple Square enjoying the peace and the gorgeous gardens.
Jane offering me a "sunny" flower.
We went up to the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building which looks down on the temple and Jane pointed to the Angel Moroni and said, "Look at that trophy!" I guess we need to talk a little bit more about Angel Moroni.
Jane took this picture in the Tabernacle and the girls thought it was neat that they could clearly hear a pin drop on the stand even though we were way in the back.
My favorite place on Temple Square 
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