Kylie and Steven had an extended Daddy daughter date.  We spent the night in the van at the Timpanogos trailhead.  Around 4:30 am we rolled out of bed and started hiking in the dark.  Kylie was nervous at first that we would run into a moose (we had seen one the night before driving up the canyon) and be gored to death.  She jumped at every shadow.  As we progressively climbed the mountain I told her that the Moose prefer the meadows to the steep hill sides and she started to be more at ease.  The frigid air didn't bother us as our hearts pounded and we steadily climbed into the sky.  At pre-dawn it was nearly pitch black with the stars piercing through the blackness overhead.  As we looked down the mountain, we could see the twinkling lights of Aspen Grove below.  We chatted how it looks just as we would imagine Rivendale in the Lord of the Rings.  As we came to the upper hanging valley we stumbled on a mountain goat with its new born kid.  Kylie was in heaven.  What could be more thrilling then to see a cute little mama goat with a baby?  Eventually we came to Emerald lake (about 2/3 of the way to the summit of the mountain.  As we took shelter in a little hut by the lake, Kylie was exhausted, not so much by the hike as the early start.  After brief discussion we decided to turn around.  On the way back down we passed over 50 people mostly in their 20's.  As we passed each one they would say, "if she can do it, I can do it".  Kylie being the smart girl she is, laughed after we passed one particular group.  She said to me, "Dad, they think I went all the way to the top!"  The smart cookie realized that those passing us were making a huge assumption.  After stopping at a waterfall and viewing some of the most beautiful scenery on earth we arrived safe, sound, and tired at 11:30 am, 7 hours later.  On the drive home, my sweet girl drifted off to sleep with the swaying of the van.  Luckily for Kylie we made it out of the canyon (and had Mom meet us with the gear) just in time for her to play her soccer game.    The picture above is Kylie pointing to the upper valley we hiked up to and slightly beyond. 

The family took a brief get-away to Goblin Valley and Little Wild Horse Canyon.  While there we slept in an area surrounded by Hudoo's (strange shaped hills that look like goblins).  Soon after pulling up Ian found lizards everywhere and had to have one.  The hunt drove Ian crazy as we came so close to catching a pet.  Eventually we found Crusoe and set up a home for him in Ian and Kylie's room.  As you can see the lizard has done little to improve his happiness.

Olivia loved the dirt and sand in Southern Utah.  She was in toddler heaven.