Hiking with the Family

My sweet Mother is turning 60 this year and

we asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday.

She has mentioned this before and we knew

it was something she really wanted to do.

She loves to Hike and as a kid would go hiking

with her family up Big Cotton Wood Canyon. 

So for her birthday all the family that could make 

it went Hiking to Doughnut Falls.

Sierra had a soccer game in the morning and before

that Paige and her had soccer pictures but after

lunch we met up with the family at the house

in Cotton Wood where my mom spent her first

5 years of life.  I can't believe she remembers

it so well.  It is a beautiful area.  She is the oldest

of 10 and they only stayed in this house with the first

3 kids in her family.   My mom loved walking us around and

telling us about what the house looked like in side, what her

yard looked like which now is a parking lot for the Bar next

door!  She showed the grandkids where she would play as

a kid and how close the river was to her house that she

would walk to.   My mom loved being able to show us all

her good memories.  

After that we headed up the mountain to start are hike.

The trail up was a mile and a half.  The first part 

was on paved roads so that was not bad.  

Then we came to a fork in the road which a nice

couple had warned us to stay right because it was

less muddy. However we did not listen because 

the fork in the road had a trail head sign on it.  

That ended up being extremely muddy and 

not the best detour.  We tried to get off the trail

and back on the dirt road by crossing the river.

That was adventures.  All our shoes were muddy

and after crossing the river my shoes were soaked.

So I guess that made it less of a worry.  We were wet

and muddy and could do nothing about it but

carry on and make the most of it for my mom.

Even Owen took off running after Emery and 

Mikel towards this bridge and slipped in mud

flat on his back. 

I do like to hike just not get my only work out shoes

muddy.  I guess we all needed work boots like

Brandon.  

Owen was such a trooper.  He walked the entire

way up taking turns holding hands with

different people.  

We finally made it to Doughnut Falls

where all the kids needed an adult to help

them over the water and up the moutain

of rocks.  The kids were all doing okay 

until we got to the top and it was much

colder and they got a bit wet.  

So by the time we got down we had

tears.  Thank goodness Grandma

brought extra jackets for the kids to 

wear over their jackets. 

We were heading back down the mountain and

off the trail a bit was this moose just eating and

minding it's business.  We probably got 

to close for our own good but it was neat to see

one up so close and not in a car where we usually

see them. 

After the hike everyone came over to 

our place for dinner.  We asked my mom

what sounded good for dinner and she

picked Spaghetti and Meatballs.

Very simple meal which we all thought

she just picked so we did not have to 

cook so long.  She always puts others

first.  We tried to get her to tell us 

something she really wanted but she insisted

on Spaghetti.  It was nice to be out of

our muddy wet clothes and in our comfy

clothes to hang out the rest of the night.

My mom and John drove back to Idaho

that night because my mom had to teach

Sunday.  

I wish we did not need 60th birthdays

for an excuse to get everyone out

together to Hike or do some fun thing

together.  But at least we did and had

a great time. 

My siblings and I have the greatest mom 

in the world.  And I think we all 

believe it completely.  She is one of the most

loving and selfless people I know. 

WE LOVE YOU MOM!!!

Happy 60th Birthday!