Lately I've been hearing a lot about the mental health benefits of spending time in "green space" or natural spaces. Studies show that spending time in green space has many health benefits. Duh! Right? It's one of those obvious-because-I-have-experienced-it things, but it's nice to have measurable studies to back me up.
With Summer in full swing and constantly being reminded how wonderful it for us to get outside, I've tried to get my kids to the trees often.
On Monday we headed for a hike up Thomas Creek. Hiking is one of the few activities that EVERYONE in our family enjoys!
I even got a workout in by adding in box jumps, squats, lunges, & leg lifts!
It's the word that comes to mind when I reflect on my recent Summer vacation.
It started out with a trip to Rock Springs, WY. There is nothing nostalgic about Rock Springs, but I got to meet my sister's fourth baby girl for the first time. Looking at her provoked similar feelings because she looks much like Jamie's Baby Number 1, and Baby Number 2, and even Baby Number 3. Jamie and Wyett had a perfectly beautiful baby girl the first time. Why not replicate it three more times?
Meet Maelie
Anyway, my kids and I drove through the desert in a car with no name… Whoops. I digress. Back on track. My kids and I drove to Wyoming on Monday, July 13th. (It was a day later than planned because that no-named car had a check engine indicator come on the night before I was to leave.) My dad, mom, and niece, Abby met us at the Busenbark's.
We had a fun week playing together, and I even got to experience some of that famous, or infamous, Rock Springs wind.
Cayben, Sydnee, Abby, Solee, Kinley, & Embrie
Cory came to town for work and we went on a run through Rock Springs!
Embrie
Jamie, Me, & Momma
Maelie & Solee
Embrie
Solee
Cayben
On Friday we drove to Kaysville, Utah for a Cherry Hill Park family reunion. Here's where the real nostalgia starts. It has been a yearly tradition to camp and swim at Cherry Hill my entire life…except we haven't been for the last 5 years.
Shay flew into SLC Friday night!!!
We camped Friday through Monday at Cherry Hill. We loved swimming and watching evening concerts in the grass.
Abby & Quincey
Solee, Kennedy, Cayben, & Bryce
My dad getting his Twist and Shout on!
My mom sewed all the little kids cherry shorts and Tiffany made cute shirts to go with them!
My mom made cherry dresses too!
Graysen, Solee, Quincey, & Sydnee
Sydnee & Maelie
My craziest nephew, Owen and me.
Solee even had another birthday party at Cherry Hill!
Embrie & Kennedy
Landen & Cayben. These two were the best of buds this trip!
Avery & Embrie showing off their shell collections.
Cayben & Carter
On Thursday we drove through beautiful Logan Canyon to hit up the Logan Olive Garden for lunch. We stopped for a trail run and hike before stuffing our faces.
The trail was so overgrown that the kids didn't make it far.
Taleya said, "Take a picture of us." Solee had to work her balancing skills to get that leg pop just right!
After eating we headed to Pocatello, Idaho for a couple days. We wanted to see Grandma Roesler and my sister, Heather and her girls were coming to town.
Solee hamming it up at Grandma's
On Friday we headed up Scout Mountain to camp, but first we stopped for a little shopping spree.
This is how Cayben feels about shopping.
Shay bought a gun and I got a new sleeping pad and some trail runners!
I had to try out the shoes on the muddy, yet lovely East Fork Mink Creek trail.
Then I found this hunk in the woods!
Family came up that night to roast hot dogs and sit by the fire.
I woke up Saturday to this cute face!
Shay and I had a quick workout sess in the woods.
Then we made the long trek back to reality.
Solee was not stoked about leaving her cousins either.
