The GRAND Day 2

We started early on Thursday morning to head toward the summit. None of us got good sleep (I know, hard to believe since we were sleeping in a boulder field) but Colby didn't want to wake me before 5:30 as he promised.

We started out in the dark and with all the winter clothes imaginable. I got sweaty really fast, and most of the day was an exercise in putting on and taking off layers.
Majestic! The picture below is the reason I went. The beauty and peace up there is hard to describe. AMAZING!!!

One of my favorite parts was the Princess Bride rope on our way to the saddle.
If I look exhausted - that is because I am. This was almost at the top.

There were beautiful streams and wildflowers (which I took pictures of hoping to capture them in watercolor or acrylic later).






When we almost got to the top (minus 300 yards), we started to have weather.  I thought Colby was joking when he said that the weather wasn't going to cooperate.  It look practically clear.  Amazing how fast the clouds move in when you are up that high.  Almost was good enough...at least that day.

I am not resting in the picture to the left. I was squatting down to rest my quad muscles and the pack was so heavy that I fell over backward...almost at the bottom and I could do no more.

Amazing experience...the only thing to make it better...Dave with me next time!

Climbing the GRAND! (Day 1)

Well really this was Day 2...but since Day 1 didn't include any climbing - just travelling. I am not counting that!

We left on Tuesday night at about 6pm. I worked that day - so we couldn't leave too early. Colby joked about doing a pack check, but that really wouldn't have been such a bad idea...

That is where we are going...pretty rough and treacherous looking! Beautiful weather though.

Becca and I were into the photo opps as much as we were getting up there..

So Colby asked us what kind of winter clothes we had and I said..."Winter clothes, what you talking about it is the middle of August"...needless to say, he insisted on getting some more layers. Jordan didn't even have a layer to go under his hiking pants...well I probably would have been OK w/o the extra polar fleece - but who knew. Colby had done it before and "He had never been that cold in his ENTIRE life".

Now I know you may think this was a modeling shoot...make no mistake, we didn't look this beautiful after the 1st day....(well maybe Becca did :)

But don't drive as the Roman's drive

Ostia antiqua...(below). Better than Pompeii and much more shady. Old port town for Rome...truly amazing! We love this place as there were so few tourists. Dave couldn't find a bathroom though...Apparently these public toilets (left) were used by men and women and children...all at the same time. Quite the social even apparently.

Our favorite little Gelato place. The owner, Gian, offered to make us spaghetti since we were eating sandwiches and pastries for dinner...not very Italian.
We didn't drive a smart car while there...but what would have been truly fun and crazy would have been to motorcycle or scooter like they do! Weaving in and out of cars at 60mph...and really there aren't speed limits there, or the taxi drivers don't heed them. Maybe they are more of suggestions rather than rules.

Do as the Romans do...

Vatican Museum (below) - Raphael's painting...Can see all the people in the room at the bottom you will understand why I will never go back there. The artwork was truly amazing,however they really packed people in...and we went in the morning a couple weeks before "tourist season" begins. The sculpture to the right Pieta by Michaelangelo is truly amazing! I learned a ton about how crazy Michaelangelo really was...never showered...wore his boots until they fell off, then had another pair made for him and sewn on.

When in Rome...

I am sure it will take me months to get all our Mediterranean pictures posted, but I need to start somewhere... This picture of the Trevi Fountain just blows my mind. It is so beautiful!!! Thankfully we didn't get a picture of the crazy guy that had just gotten arrested by the police for trying to climb in. When in Rome...

This building is on the opposite side of the roman Forum. Blow is the Colosseum. I loved learning more about this structure. One of the most facinating things was that they would flood the structure and have ship races in here (the picture doesnt' really show its magnitutde. Another cool fact was that the area now serves as a microclimate. They have plants from all the corners of the Roman Empire that were brought there (in the stomachs of the animals) and are still growing there today.
The family on the steps of the Spanish Steps. We had just finished lunch and saw the sign...no eating afterwards. Dave has a pretty crazy face he is making :)

Above Dave and I are in front of the Arch of Constantine - that was just between the Colosseum and the Forum. We had a really cool guide that took us through much of the Forum history.

Snowmobile fun

We hadn't taken the boys snowmobiling and really wanted them to have that experience. The boys had a teacher prep day at school on a Friday Dave was off...so we leaped at the opportunity.

We rented a couple snowmobiles, borrowed some helmets from the McLeod's and headed up to Daniels Summit. It had been great weather up until the day before we were scheduled to go, and the day before it DUMPED snow. All the better for us!

We didn't see much blue sky, but we it was a beautiful powder filled day. Ethan and Kaleb enjoyed driving the machines the most.

Why Ethan learned to Ski

So Val is the one in the background holding the poles for the boys. Luckily she didn't have to hold my poles as well - Ethan had forgot to get both of them for me. Only a problem on the flat parts:)
Well I think we know where Ethan gets his chubby cheeks from - and it is not Dave!

And how come Ethan looks happier standing next to Kade then next to me? Am I not cool anymore?

Fun on the lift ride up...Sundance was beautiful that day. With fresh powder it is as good as anywhere in Utah. We just try not to go when they don't have fresh powder.

I think the real reason he learned to ski was to spend time with his mom. I may be wrong about that, but I like living in my pretend world sometimes. I am grateful he does like to spend time skiing with me. We have a great time being with Kade and Val, and enjoying a sport together. Love ya Eth!