Dallin walking

Dallin learning to walk.  

 Dallin would hold onto the stool and push it all over the kitchen.

 He had lots of fun until he hit the wall!

Mongolia

After China we went to Mongolia, the real purpose of our trip. Steve was to meet with government officials, which he and 4 others from USU did. The spouses and some children (teens and above) hung out and had a wonderful experience. The capital city Ulaanbaatar is big and crowded. It was fun to see it and spend some time there. We met with some Parliament officials, walked around, saw a show with traditional Mongolian dance and music and were well fed.
We spent 7 nights in the country, sleeping in Gers (You may know them as Yurts, thats what the Russians call them), driving on bumpy dirt, 4-wheel drive roads, being fed by the herdsmen and their families, seeing beautiful countryside, with herds of cows, horses, sheep and goats. We ate mutton, beef, goat, horse, dried cheese and yogurt, yummy bread and berries. Everyone was sweet and kind to us. We rode a camel, held an eagle on our arm, Steve rode a horse and we rescued a goat from a volleyball net (very strange to have the net out in the middle of nowhere). We got to know the country a little and had a great time.

China

Our trip to China and Mongolia as exciting and fun and full of surprises. In China we visited the Forbidden City, very crowded, the Summer Palace, full of people but more room to walk around, a market place and the best!! the Great Wall of China. Wow it was awesome. We drove about 1 1/2 hours out of Beijing to a section of the wall Mitianyu, which has been restored. We took a chair lift up a steep mountain side to the wall. It is built along the ridge of a mountain range. We spent about 3 hours walking/hiking on the wall. It goes up and down the ridge, amazing, how did they build this thing? (with slaves I am sure) We worked hard and were very sore the next few days, but it was worth it.

We found a marketplace behind the alleyway we were staying in, it was about 2 football fields big, and had everything, from food to clothes, to hardware to services, so fun to see. We enjoyed our time in China and I would love to go back to spend more time there.

Marching Band and Fun with Grandkids

Kathryn playing a duet in the marching band show. She is on the left. The show this year was fabulous!! We are both a little sad it is over. The band placed 5th at the BOA Regional Championships last weekend in St. George. Everyone was thrilled about the experience

Fun video of Emma, grandma and grandpa playing with JJ, Kelsie and Max!! We got our exercise that night.


Kelsie was a clown and JJ an army guy for Halloween. The Clown costume was made by Grandma Mahoney and has been worn by many over the years!!

City of Rocks

Kathryn climbing a crack, she has become a very good climber and led some climbs

Emma on a crack, Brent had led it and is top belaying. Notice the crack below which Emma climbs in the next picture

Emma climbing and cleaning this crack. Brent had led it and it was fun to watch them both. Amazing!!

Steve on Swiss Cheese

Kathryn on a climb

Emma Leading a climb

Kathryn on Scream Cheese

Emma Leading another climb

We went to City of Rocks for UEA. Bruce, Sarah and Tyler went with Jean, Steve, Kathryn and Emma. Brent Lundstom came up on Friday so we had great lead climbers!! All climbed (except Jean because she did not want to injure her injured finger!!

I will post more pictures soon!

The Banana Bus, Laura and Aaron, Steven









I had a wonderful time in Ohio visiting Chris and Natalie and kids. Chris went to a conference in San Francisco for part of the time that I was there so I was a help to Natalie while he was gone. The kids are great and busy. Natalie is feeling well and also very busy and tired!! We went to a farm that had fun things to do.













Aaron in the straw barn






Laura and Steven jumping on big pumpkin!!












Laura and Steven rolling in a big tube