I am the apple master

After no less than 20 hours in the kitchen, 14 quarts of apple pie filling, 30 pints of applesauce and 12 cups apple butter, I feel that I can now refer to myself as the apple master.  Add onto that the traditional conference cinnamon rolls, homemade bread for the apple butter and a double batch of pesto and it’s been a busy 2 days.  Maybe it’s the survivalist instinct in me, but something about fall makes me want to cook.  Luckily we are a family who knows how to eat :). 

In Honor of Fall

I made squash soup last weekend. 

I pulled up my tomato plants. 

We went apple picking today. I made these pumpkin cookies. 

We busted out our jackets. 

We pulled out the footie pajamas for the kids and put the down comforter on our bed. 

I wish we could have fall without winter, but I guess you take the bad with the good and life will go on.  Bring on the fuzzy yoga pants, fleece jackets and soups!    

The rest

The rest of our Utah trip was just spent hanging out and enjoying our time with the family. 

We went to Paul and January’s amazing wedding.  I don’t have more pictures to post, but seriously it was amazing.  Samantha has been obsessed with weddings ever since.  She went to one today as a matter of fact.  It was in our guest bedroom.  They make a super cute couple: We swam a lot: Samantha is absolutely fearless in the water, and she is so dang cute in her swim cap.  Any visit with Amber would be incomplete without haircuts.  Ben got his first.  He’s what Amber refers to as a “runner”.  He just kept tipping further and further to the side to escape the scissors.    We made a stop up in Rexburg to visit Mike’s mom’s grave and see his grandparents.    Grandpa took us to his lab and showed us how the machines work.  We got to wear goggles to be safe.   It was  a great time! 

And still more.

Last one, I promise.  We took the kids up to Stewart Falls earlier in our trip.  They did so well hiking out there that I am inspired to find some  trails out here to take them on.  Carter especially really seems to love the outdoors.  It’s like he’s in his element there.  We rode the ski lift up to the top of the mountain and then hiked down – which was easier for the kids, but murder on my still-sore calves and blisters from Timp.  All in all, it was a fabulous day – except for the part when I had to scramble down a black diamond run to retrieve Ben’s dropped toy.

You can’t tell, but Mike is terrified of heights and was a bit frazzled after Samantha missed the jump onto the lift and was almost taken out by it.  Ben had it easy in his carrier and I think he knew it.  See what I’m talking about?  Isn’t it breathtaking?  Man, I miss these mountains.  These are home to me.  And it kind of looks like Mike is taking a dump, but really he’s just trying to keep Ben on his back :).  Best buddies (for now). 

More hiking…

When the kids heard that I was going to hike Timp they decided that they wanted to do it too.  Having never climbed more than our slightly inclined street before, I thought I would start them out easy.  I explained that we could hike up to the Y on the mountain and they were on board.  It almost didn’t happen – for some reason it kept getting pushed back.  Finally, on our last full day in Utah, Carter, Samantha and I went hiking with Grandpa while Mike stayed back and packed and let Ben nap. 

As with any other activity, these Chaplins are only in it for the food.  After about the 3rd switchback I had to start bribing them: “I have gummy bears for whoever can make it to the next sign…”  Worked like a charm.  I have to say that they were troopers and did better than I expected.  When we made it to the top Carter just kept saying “I’m so glad we made it!’ I was glad we made it too!  It was a perfect day, and it was so fun to share some of my favorite childhood experiences with my kids.  I hope they remember these times as they grow up.     Sammy could totally not care less that she has crazy sweaty hat head.  And a big thank you to Grandpa for taking the day off to join us!  We love you!

Happy First!

Ben celebrated his birthday while we were in Utah.  I know everyone says it, but I can’t believe how fast this year has gone by.  He’s going to be off to college before I know it.  Sigh. 

We went all out and got him his very own cupcake.  Don’t worry, there was cake for the rest of us too.     First he wanted the lit candle… Then he wasn’t so sure about the cake… Then he showed it who was boss. And basked in the attention and sugar rush that followed.  There was plenty of help opening gifts.This one was my favorite. And this one was Ben’s favorite – his first iPod.  Which he dropped off the ski lift the next day.  But that’s another story. Here are some things about Ben:

• He has little interest in learning to walk.  Crawling is working out just fine for him, thank you very much.  He can stand for short periods of time.
• He loves to eat.  When he’s done, he will nonchalantly drop his food onto the floor or stuff it into the corners of his high chair.  If you catch him, he will pretend he was going to eat it. 
• Sometimes if he’s hungry he will go back to the aforementioned food in the high chair.
• He will fake laugh along with anyone.  Carter got mad the other day that he was laughing at him because Samantha was.  He also imitates coughs.
• He has been an early teether.  He has 8 teeth already and his top molars are just breaking through.  It’s been a rough couple of weeks. 
• He can say hi, sit, stay, Mom, uh-oh and no (although it’s nanananana).  He will also nod yes and shake his head no. 
• He weighs 23 lbs 6 oz 9 (50-75%) and is 30.5 inches long (75%)
• He hates the car seat.  I finally turned it around the other day and it was the first time he didn’t scream and cry when I buckled him in.  The screaming did start shortly afterwards.
• In general, he has been a happy, laid back baby.  We’re all hoping that happy baby comes back after these teeth are in!

We love you kiddo!

Mount Timpanogos

For those of you who don’t know where Mt. Timpanogos is, it’s in Utah County, it’s the second highest mountain in the Uintah Range, the 47th most prominent mountain in the contiguous United States.  15 miles up and back.  My dad has hiked it over 25 times.  He has taken each of my siblings to the top at least once.  I hiked it with him when I was 8 or 9.  I remember it being one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I tried again in high school with friends and made it to the lake.  From there you can see the summit, and it was just too daunting.  I have been determined to hike it again for a long time.  I convinced my sister that she should do it with me.  My dad is always a willing hiker, and my mom and other sister were willing to watch my kids all day, so off we went!  We actually did better than we expected and made it to the top in 5 hours, without any major stops.  It was absolutely amazing at the top.  on top of the sense of accomplishment from making it to the top, it feels like you are on top of the world.  I took so many pictures, but really, they don’t do it justice.  Utah County from the top:Deer Creek?  I look Asian because of the wind.  It was brutal at the top! I am so glad that Amber was able to do it with me.  “I’m the king of the world!”  Nerdy, I know. Coming back down.  Were we really just up there?  It was so beautiful and peaceful up there! We had some friends hiking along with us:We saw 3-4 mama goats with their babies.  So cute! And we made it!  I still kind of can’t believe we made it.  I would do it again in a heartbeat though.  Anyone up for next year?