Matt hikes up Mt. Hood

Last weekend, Matt and two of his friends, Jeremy and Rich went on a 3 day, 2 night hike up Mt. Hood. It was no easy task but they had a fantastic time together and saw many beautiful scenes. Matt loved the water that they would drink from the mountain streams and the company he had. I kept praying that they would return to us safely and that I wouldn't be a widow. Thankfully they arrived late in the day on Saturday and all of his limbs were in tack. Here are some of the pictures that they took.

Look at the gorgeous view. Yes, I am talking about MATT!

Matt, Rich and Jeremy getting ready to drive up the mountain to the drop off point.

Matt is eating a meal that we have had in our food storage for 4 years. He said that it was good. I am pleased that we have 4 more of these dinners in case of an emergency.

Yes, Matt and Rich are walking in the snow.
The weather varied all throughout the 3 days of hiking.

They saw beautiful flowers at different locations and the colors of these flowers were brilliant and varied.

Yeah!! I am on top of the world.
Not really but I am sure that they felt that way after arriving here.

Rich and Jeremy hiking through the snow.

Another gorgeous picture.

Matt said that this little rock house was on the top of the mountain. Isn't that incredible? Who made it and when did they have the time to carry all of the rocks up to the mountain?

Resting at the rock house.

Jeremy, Rich and Matt.

As they would hike, they would see other hikers and so they would stop and visit with them. This picture was taken by a fellow hiker.

Mt. Hood

They said that this rock wall was HUGE!!

A water fall.

Family VACATION

For the last couple weeks, we have been on a family vacation visiting family and friends. We went to Stanley, and Clayton Idaho. We went to Clinton, Lehi and Warren, Utah and then we came home to beautiful weather. We had a great time with all of you. Thanks for all of the memories!

We started our trip off with my 35th birthday.

Opening my presents.

Golfing with Matt.

Matt stretching out for a nice swing.

Our first date was golfing in Eugene. We like to keep the tradition going.

We carpooled with Rich and Julie up to Stanley, Idaho. We ate at a rustic pizza place.
Matt and Rich left with 3 of the kids to find a place for us to stay for the night. This town was very rustic and had beautiful scenery. They found a great deal that included a one room cabin, and a tee pee. Matt, Rich, Carter, Hayden and Bailey slept in the tee pee. The boys thought that they had died and gone to heaven.

Carter and Hayden in front of the tee pee.

Sitting next to the Salmon River watching the sun go down.

Our view from the front porch.

It was so beautiful that we took a family picture.

The tee pee dwellers.

The place that Julie, Madalyn, Paige, Isabella and I stayed in.

Madalyn, Bailey and Isabella.

We then drove 30 minutes to a town called Clayton, Idaho. We had the Toomer family reunion at a place called the May Family Ranch. About 100 family members came. We had a blast. We ate, played games, swam, rafted down the Salmon River, played on the water slide, hiked, played basketball and much more.....

Our fearless Bailey on the water slide.

A mean game of basketball with Amber, Jill, Ashlee, Jeff and Aaron.

A big group hiked up a hill behind that Ranch.

This is Jill and Carter.

Aunt Ann, Rich and Isabella.

Matt with our kids at the top. Absolutely beautiful.

The group that hiked up the hill.

Tug a war with the adult women and men. I won't tell you who won.

Rafting down the Salmon River.

The two boats posing for a picture.

The Newell Family.

The crazy Newell family.

The craziest Newell family.

Susan and I at the family dance.

The dance machines.

Michelle, Camille, Rachel, Carly, Chelsea, Karalee, and Taylor.

The wall flowers!

After the reunion, we went to my good friends, Gina. We had a great time and one of the days, the kids all went with Matt to Hill air force base in Clearfield Utah.

Carter, Bailey and Hayden at the museum.

The new Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple during the open house. We wanted to have the kids see the newest Temple built. Very pretty!

The girls sitting on the temple grounds.

In Lehi, Utah we stayed with my brother Dave, and took the kids to an amazing swimming pool. They had so much fun.

Madalyn with her cousin Brynlee.

Bailey posing for a cute picture.

Paige and I at the pool.

Matt did another sprint triathlon while we were in Utah. It was in a town called Coalville. When we arrived at the race, his tire popped. Then we were shuttled in and he forgot his ID. I went back on another bus and grabbed his license so that he could compete. It was an eventful morning. He did a good job.

My sister-in-law Christine came and supported Matt and I. She was a trooper.

Matt wasn't too happy with the swim. He felt frustrated in the end. You can tell by the way he is walking. Keep going hon!! You've got it.

Finishing another Sprint Triathlon. Way to GO!!

Fueling the body.

Nice job!!!

His first sprint triathlon in Utah.

Madalyn and Brynlee made all of us cake for dessert. It was very good.

Dave and Christine's dining room. The kids had a good time together.

We then made our last stop in Warren, Utah at our friends Danny and Colleen's. The kids putting together a pyrimaid for us.

The big sleep over at the Cragun's.

Colleen, Danny, Matt and I. Thanks you guys!!