Along the path...

A day at the zoo. Beautiful weather. Fabulous company. Cooperative animals. Congrats on retiring, Mom! What a fun way to spend Labor Day! (Missed you much, Adam, Renee, AJ and EL.)

Come join the fun!!! Saturday, June 19 , is the first annual (if everything goes well and is fun) unofficial friends and family sprint . Meet at 8:00 am at the Lehi Legacy Center to Run/Walk (3 miles), Bike/Trike (8 miles), and Swim (500 meters) our way through a mini-triathlon. Please be aware that there will be no support staff at the transition points. RSVP if you would like to participate so we are able to plan prizes... And so we know who to contact in case there is a change in the time or venue. Bike Path Run Path

So my sister-in-law is talking about adding a little spice to the family with a sprint . This is not a family calling plan. And before you go jumping to any conclusions that it's a simple, quick foot race let me tell you, it isn't. It means a swim, bike, run; also known as a triathalon. For a sprint it means a half mile swim, 13 mile bike ride and 3.5 mile run. Translation: sprint = crazy I'm mulling the idea, not quite sold on it. Willing to entertain and possibly try. To me it doesn't really sound fun. I'm not a runner; never have been. Dance? Volleyball? I'm all over that. Swimming sure. I'm a bit rusty, but it comes back, right? Like riding a bike? Part of that mulling includes research and interviews. Thank goodness for Google, the Internet and friends that have completed triathalons. Recently I dusted off my username and password, visited sparkpeople.com, joined a couple of Triathalon groups and asked a few forum questions. It seems a sprint is even ...

Happy birthday, Bekah! I'm so glad we are friends as well as family. Hope you have a great day full of all the happy and best things and that this year brings many wonderful and beautiful surprises. Love ya! (I know you and Nate celebrated your birthday along with your anniversary, but you really shouldn't let him off the hook that easily.... )

Last night I babysat two nieces while their parents went to a meeting. Adam, Renee and the girls had gone swimming before I came and EL hadn't wanted to get fully dressed again. Clothing and clothing changes are definitely a thorn in her side. At least she is wearing pants in the pictures. (She'll LOVE these shots when she's older and her prom date is coming to pick her up...) The evening began with a make over for all three of us by stylist AJ. Next I painted the girls' toe and fingernails. AJ thought it was pretty cool when I let her paint my fingernails. (Who's the favorite aunt now, Erika?) Bath time came next followed by jammies, giggles and bedtime stories--but I only have pictures from the make over. Aren't we beautiful? AJ and EL, it was so fun hanging out with you. Love yer guts!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Summer at the ranch. The old family home and bunk house with the Cockscomb in the background left. Sigh.

On Thursday morning, my dad called to tell me that my uncle had passed away. He had been struggling with leukemia and his funeral is today. Eighty still seems too young. Wenzle is my dad's oldest brother, a kind man with an easy smile. He and Aunt Millie returned to Utah a few years ago from Connecticut and have been living near the ranch. Such a good man. We'll miss you! (There were a few typos in the online obituary that I corrected in the version below.) Wenzle D. Morrill 1929 ~ 2009 Wenzle D. Morrill , age 80, passed away November 5th, 2009 at the Dixie Regional Medical Center. He was born April 4, 1929 to Dellos and Pearl Covington Morrill in Salina, UT. Wenzle spent his early years in Grover, Wayne County. He moved to Pleasant Grove in 1940 and attended Pleasant Grove High School. He enlisted with the US Army and was stationed in Govener's Island, N.Y. He resided in Staten Island for four years. Wenzle married Mildred on January 20, 1949 in Winsted, Connecticut. The...

Here are some images from the Dellos Morrill Family reunion at the Ranch. Note IC's requested photo op with Cambridge and the dirty, dirty feet. Sign of a good time.

My sister posted some awesome pics on her blog of old family photos and fun times for my Grandma's birthday. Wow! Everyone looks so young. You can see them here .

On Saturday we hiked Donut Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon--starting at the Spruces campground. My compliments to Adam and Renee's camera for capturing the colors so well--and to the lady who offered to snap us all together. It was a beautiful hike that I would recommend to anyone. Be aware though that there are streams and waterfalls; they tend to draw the kids. We saw deer and chipmunks and snakes and wildflowers and other hikers and castles (big rocks that RD stood on). Here we are at the end of the trail. My particularly saucy do is compliments to the niece I'd had on my shoulders part of the way. Thanks, EL!

Thanks, Adam, for taking this picture and sharing it with me.

Friday night, we colored eggs at grandma and grandpa's with RD, IC, and AL. AJ had had to stay home with a fever. Then we had a "sleep" over where we didn't really sleep much and geared up for Saturday's events. This Saturday, our traditional Easter egg hunt was held in my parents' backyard. All seven of the little one hunted for eggs. I'm not certain how excited AM, EL, and ZM were about the finding part. Especially since they couldn't eat the candy inside the plastic eggs and wouldn't be able to spend the money amount written on the outside of the other eggs. Here AJ, IC, AL, and RD show off their spoils. They had a blast finding eggs, eating candy and helping grandpa pay out the money amounts written on their eggs. Our picnic was held indoors due to the cool, rainy weather. Before scampering inside, the adults blew soap bubbles for the kids to chase and pop. Thanks, Bekah, for sharing a picture .

Last Saturday, before the sudden cold snap, we took a family to the Hogle Zoo. The weather was perfect--not too hot, not too cold. The animals were out and about. The zoo wasn't too crowded, and we got to see them feed a penguin fish. RD loved the lizard his dad told him was a dinosaur. IC said she liked the zebras the best. In this picture, AL was a little nervous at first when the giraffe started to lower and tried to pull herself up the pole until she realized that the animal would rise up and sink down. Then, she was fine. She had a ball going around in circles and waving at everyone as we passed. The rest of my nieces and nephews who were old enough to care about riding on a carousel had ridden the turn before. What a fun day! Becca thanks for sharing this picture!

While retagging a few posts, I thought I ought to include a missing entry. In October, I debated about posting Uncle Ken's passing. Now I wish I would have. Chronology. Memory. He is an important link in our family chain. Uncle Ken (on my dad's side of the family) passed away in October. I clarify, because my mom has a brother Ken who is married to a Karen and my dad has a sister Karon who is married to a Ken. Not the same Kare/ons and not the same Kens. He had been sick before he passed away. That release was likely a blessing for him, but leaves a hole in the lives of those left behind. I still remember hearing about how his great-granddaughter missed her grandpa and how she was so sad he wouldn't be able to watch the Price is Right with her anymore. Ken Beckstrom was also an uncle to Jared Beckstrom who passed away unexpectedly in January from pneumonia. Ken and LeGrande Beckstrom married my aunts: Karon and Colleen, respectively. More information is available online .

Early yesterday morning, Rod Davenport passed away unexpectedly in his sleep. Here he is with his daughter at her wedding. Uncle Rod is married to my dad's youngest sister. We went to Southern Utah for his graveside service and burial. Aunt Venetta is holding up well and so strong. There were about 100 or so of us that were able to attend. His obituary can be found here .

On Saturday, a cousin passed away. His death was fairly sudden and unexpected. Life is so short sometimes. Yesterday was Jared Beckstrom 's funeral. He would have been 33 this April. I remember him quiet and kind from family reunions. I am glad to know that this life is only temporary and that separations are not permanent. We mourn his void. Jared will be missed . Parents should not have to bury children. Brent and Debbie, you are in my thoughts and prayers. (As they are with Jeff, Jamie, Justin, Jana, and your families.) May your hearts be comforted with your memories of Jared and your knowledge of the Gospel. May this separation seem like a blink of the eye.

Here is her obituary.