2025 August Long's Peak Hike, Emily's Engagement, Activities

Married 55 years.  

Mike, Jason, James, Ivy, Mark, Ruby, Grant, and Milly play games on Friday night at Mike's home on August 29, 2025.  Mike and Desi hosted their five guest Friday and Saturday nights.  

Seven made the hike--Mordecai, Jason, Keith, James, and Grant.  Not in this picture were Mike and Mark.  

Long's Peak Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

August 30, 2025

They started at 3:00 AM so this picture was lightened considerably to see the participants in the sunrise.  

Mordecai, Grant, James, Mark, Keith, with Mike in front and Jason taking the picture.  

James and Mark.  They were so high that the pressure in their snack caused them to swell.  

This picture was taken on the way back through the forested section.  It was pitch black when they started up and didn't even realize it was a stream.  They were wearing head lamps.  They started at 4:15 AM.  In this picture are Keith, Jason, Mordecai, Grant and James.  

They climbed to the 13,000-foot level but then it was too dangerous to continue   Keith, Mike, James and Mark are at the Key Hole.  

The views were spectacular.  

After attending church in Mike's ward and having more of Desi's excellent food, Jason flew home to Texas, and Keith, Mark, Grant, and James drove back to Utah.  

Emily and Donivan became engaged.  

Amelia, John, Lillian, and Kristilyn drove to Rexburg to visit Neal, Katrina, Daniel, and Anna on Saturday and Sunday while the men were hiking.

Kira got her drivers' license.  

Melody severely sprained her ankle .  Penny, her dog is giving her comfort.  

Spencer and Sarah had their fifth birthday.  

 

 

2025 August--Mike and Desi's Family Trip to Nauvoo

Emily, Desi, Mordecai, Mike in back

Milly, Ivy, and Ruby in front at  Winter Quarters Temple.  

 

Mike's update:

Ruby made the High School gymnastics team.  She is pretty excited about that.  ivy has switched over to a new gym, hoping to get better coaching.  All the kids are in school now,  Desi is running around taking her Dad to several doctors appointments.  His plan is to stay with us through Thanksgiving and then go to Wanda’s for December/Christmas then stay at home in Tennessee through the winter then return to Colorado in the spring.  

Julie and Jason's Family's Utah Vacation + July Activitiies

 Julie, Jason and their children Ethan, Lydia, Spencer, and Sarah were visited us June 28-July1, then July 8-15, 2025.  In between those dates they attended Jason's family reunion in Southern Utah near Zion National Park and spent time with Jason's parents in Nevada.  

    Their visit was reason for family to gather to play and enjoy time together.  The following pictures are a sampling of the  time we had together,

Children with Grandma and Grandpa in the back yard.  

Grandpa Catch Me!

West Jordan Park 

Trip to the library

Candyland

John and Ethan spent as much time as possible together including  sleepovers.  John:  "Is this what it is like to be a twin?"

Julie, Jason, Ethan, John, Mark, and Kristilyn hiked to Lakes Mary, Martha, and Catherine.  

Sarah in the foam pit at Imaginaria at Thanksgiving Point.  

Sarah, Amelia, Lydia, and Spencer playing Candyland

James, John, Grant and Ethan playing Skipbo.  

Kristilyn, Lillian, Sarah, Lydia, Julie and Grandma (taking the picture) playing Skipbo

Thanksgiving Point 

Julie, Lydia, Ethan, John, Kristilyn, with Spencer and Sarah in front.  

Kathryn, Julie, Kristilyn, and Grandpa John

James, Grant, Lillian and Amelia, Sarah, Spencer, and Lydia played games including hide and seek at Grandma's while the rest of their families were hiking.  The older sets of twins had been to FSY at BYU and shared their experiences.  

Sunday barbecue with Mark, Kristilyn, Grandma, Grandpa, Julie, and Jason

The whole group

Visiting at Keith's house

Kira, Jason, Ethan, Julie, Keith, Kim, with Spencer, Sarah, and Lydia in front.  

Kim's picture of the nearly finished Lindon Temple.  

Talisa in Texas on her mission on the 4th of July.  

Talisa's uncle, Scott Gailey, aunt Julie, and cousin Ben were able to take Talisa to the Dallas Temple because they live in the same stake.  

John and I attended the Float Preview.  

Keith and Kim came to visit Pioneer Day evening then Mark and Kristilyn and their children came to light fireworks.  Now there are a lot more aerial and it is loud and exciting most of July.  .