Bair Gutsman Race, August 7, 2010

The three boys converged at our home to run the annual Bair Gutsman Race. It is a 13 mile run up the mountain above our home, and along the peak to an ending place near the top of Farmington Canyon. Last year was the first time they all came together for this race.

Before the race:

Bryce adjusts his shoes.

Eddie straps on his entry number

Derek fastens on his Camelback.

The three boys and Bryce's friend, Brad, line up at the starting line. It is 6:00 a.m.

Brad, in the lead, comes to the top and doesn't look winded.

Derek is coming up Death Row, the last hurdle before arriving at the top.

Eddie follows close behind.

The boys display their trophy--a "Conquer Thyself" T-shirt. Now we must wait another 12 months to do it again.

July 4th and 24th

July 4th weekend found us in Mt. Pleasant camping in our 5th wheel where we joined Bryce, Kate, and Kimball at Kate's parents house for the festivities. We started the weekend with a Friday 4-wheeling ride into the nearby mountains.

Saturday morning was the annual "small town" breakfast and parade.

We sit and wait for the parade to begin.

As is usual for small towns, a lot of candy is always thrown to the children. Bryce and Kate help Kimball collect some.

Grandma, too, gets into the act to make sure Kimball gets his fair share.

JULY 24th commemorates the coming of the Pioneers to Utah. We went to a parade in Bountiful on the 23rd, and then Bryce put on a spectacular fireworks show after dark.

It was a push to get his contraption put together in time. Ed helped him.

The fireworks tree was completed and moved into the street.

Bryce lights the first firecracker.

An impressive smoke screen goes off first.

The show is impressive and lasts several minutes, much to everyone's delight.

EARLY SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 24th, the family meets at the bottom of Ensign Peak for a hike to the monument at the top. This hike is a tradition of the Norman family. Ed and I join them this year.

Because of Kate's condition, she waits at the bottom. Kimball will climb up (or be carried) by his daddy.

Heber C. Kimball and Brigham first climbed this mountain a day after the saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. They received a vision where they saw what the valley would eventually look like during our day.

We reach the monument, after a fairly steep 45 minute hike.

Three generations of Kimballs stand at the summit.

The whole clan gather for a photo. A yellow banner was raised, reminiscent of the yellow bandana it is said Heber C. Kimball raised so very many years ago.

We sing the hymn, "High on a Mountain Top," with gusto.

We stand in front of our magnificent Salt Lake Valley that sprang from desert and sage brush since 1847, and has blossomed, as a rose!

June highlights

After Memorial Day, we left Texas and brought Brayden home with us to visit for four weeks. Kimy and Karston joined him for the last week.

We stopped at Carlsbad Caverns on the way home.

We did a lot of fun things while he was here. Kate and I took him and Kimball to a Children's fair at Cherry Hill.

The four of us also went to the Children's Museum in Ogden.

We went to Heritage Pioneer Park in SLC.

Home of Heber C. Kimball, ancestor, at the park.

Derek spent time with Brayden and took him on a 4-wheel trip to the mountains.

Bear Lake was the highlight of the kid's visit.

On the drive back to Kaysville, we stopped and went 4-wheeling.

The kids can fly unaccompanied now that Kimy is 17 years old, almost 18. Can you believe it?

There were many other things that we did, like miniature golfing and the water slide at Cherry Hill, bowling, etc. We didn't take pictures of everything. But the month of June is etched in our memories!