26 Miles

Day 13 Summary – Malad to Salt Lake City, UT

// June 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Life

Had an nice final morning in Malad with my grandmother. Got everything loaded back into Deb’s car around midday and headed out for Salt Lake City. It was bittersweet as we’ll miss my grandmother and recognize it may be a while before we can visit again. But we had a wonderful time with her for 3 days.

Once in Salt Lake City, we had a relaxing evening and went to dinner with my Uncle and his wife while the kids played with their cousins.

Tomorrow we’ll head out early for Williams, AZ and the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel for our visit to the Grand Canyon South Rim on Friday.

Day 12 Summary – Malad

// June 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Life

Finished setting up the computer I’m giving my grandmother. Got some work-work done today too.

In the evening we all got to ride a horse owned by one of my grandmother’s neighbors. The kids took turns being led around the pen, then they took the lead off and the kids rode the horse around on their own, turning him and giving him kicks to make him go. They both rode around the large pen on their own leading the horse for about 5-10 minutes and had an awesome time. Debbie and I took our turns too. Then the kids rode with me and I tried to get the horse running a bit but all we managed was a trot as he was pretty old and tired by that point.

But it was a ton of fun and a new experience for the kids. After his solo ride, Ethan got nipped in the fingers when trying to give the horse a carrot which freaked him out a bit but he got back on the horse with Dad after that. Will post some movies of it all once we have a little time and get settled.

We’re so proud of them both.

Tomorrow will head back to Salt Lake City for the night before heading on to the Grand Canyon and starting the long trek home.

Day 11 Summary – Malad

// June 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // Life

Took it easy today just visiting with my grandmother. Took the kids to a park across the street where they had an actual metal merry-go-round. Ethan loved it!

Took the grand tour of Malad. It’s a neat little city where everybody knows and looks out for each other.

Wrapped up the day playing UNO and studying for my class last week.

Day 10 Summary – Salt Lake City to Malad, ID

// June 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Life

Day 10 was Father’s Day. We spent the morning in Salt Lake City with my uncle and cousins, several father’s in all, for a good breakfast and some backyard soccer. Then we headed to Malad, ID to visit my grandmother. She has two dogs, a GINORMOUS Irish Wolfhound named “Ben” and a Basset/Border Collie mix named “Buddy”. Both are good dogs with gentle dispositions, Ben just thinks he’s a lap dog which is hard when you’re as big as a small horse.

We had a good evening visiting outside in the cool air and plan to have a relaxing few days here before heading south again.

Happy Father’s Day to all the father’s out there!

Day 9 Summary – Salt Lake City

// June 19th, 2010 // No Comments » // Life

Got up early today to go see our 9-year-old niece compete in a soccer tournament. She’s the #1 scorer on the team and has scored 27 goals in 8 games this season. The game went to overtime and eventually to a penalty kickoff and they ended up losing in the penalty kickoff so they didn’t continue in the tournament. They were undefeated in the regular season so it was a tough loss but they played very well.

After lunch we took the kids swimming at our cousins apartment complex and they had a good time.

Debbie and I got to go to dinner alone and take our time at the bookstore while the kids stayed and played with their cousins, which was fun.

Tomorrow we’ll have a Father’s Day breakfast and then head to Idaho for a few days to spend time with my grandmother.