Summer 2025 Trippin'
UPCA Bryce Summit & Girl's Camp, Moab June 9-13
Ward Pioneer Trek, Wyoming, June 23-26
Youth Bryce Summit June 30-July 2
So Cal July 2-July 6
Bear Lake Taylor Family Reunion July 10-13
Pac Northwest Family Road Trip July 18-27
Callie in Kauai & Oahu July 27- August 12
As you've noticed, I'm jumping around a bit with my trips. In actuality, pioneer trek was nestled between the Bryce Canyon trips. At the conclusion of the Youth Bryce Summit, instead of driving back in the big white van with all the youth and advisers, Matt picked Callie and me, and we continued on to southern Utah. I was anxious to use our state park pass at Coral Pink Sand Dunes. (Ever since our stay in Qatar, I have wanted to sand-board again!)
I hadn't realized we would get to drive through Zion's Park, which was a treat. However, the reason I had not realized it is because it was not supposed to be on the way; we ended up in St. George without going to Coral Sands at all. This is how we do things, guyths—miscommunication when we assume we are on the same page. Deep breaths, we'll make the best of it...
...If we had gone to Coral Sands, we would not have sought out exploring Snow Canyon for the first time, which we absolutely loved. You hear horror stories of crowds at state/national parks, but we had the place to ourselves. It felt like we had left Earth.
White Rocks Amphitheater
As we drove further, we came across another hike, entirely different than the first, where we explored the Lava Tubes before hiking up the rock to the 360° lookout.
Overlook Trail
As we continued to drive through the park after our second stop, we came across SAND DUNES!
We took turns rolling down the dunes. Oh myyyyyyyyyy goodness gracious. Why did I do that????
As the sun set, a rowdy pack of teens came along. In hindsight, I wish I had asked the girl if she was okay staying with them or if we could give her a ride somewhere. She seemed uncomfortable with how the jerk-store guys were acting. They were hollering and cursing at the night hikers, whom we could see up on the mountain, who cursed right back. I couldn't believe how crystal clear the conversations from both parties were, even though one was a mile high on a sheer edge.
July 3rd, St. George Temple. I was able to make appointments at the St. George Temple for Callie and Matt in the baptistry and myself in the initiatory. Matt recently did a session when he came down for Paul's funeral. I fell in love with the newly renovated temple when I went in the fall of '23. St. George is Utah's oldest temple. Since there is also now the Red Cliff's Temple in St. George, Callie was disappointed we weren't going to the "new" one. However, after her time in St. George and touring the Visitor's Center, she said, "This is my new favorite Temple." Mine too!
We had a long day ahead of us, road-trippin' to Cali with Callie July 3, 2025. Ava would fly in and meet us the following day.
July 4th, 2025
Carona Del Mar
We decided to beach it during the day. We were
not the only ones with this plan. But I always say that a crowd on a holiday gives a good vibe.
I'm over there trying to get as much shade coverage as possible. When I looked at Ava, I heard the line from Home Alone run through my mind, "I don't care if I age like an old suitcase, I'm gettin' toasted!"
Aunt Celia's Fourth of July Extravaganza, Pico Rivera
Back in April, Cousin Willie texted Matt pictures of the firework haul they were already starting to accumulate from Las Vegas. I love the photos Celia sent me of her preparations for the party. She always has it looking so festive.
Will had the shotgun competition set up out back. I took it seriously, but man, shooting is hard!
It was great entertainment for Matt.
Show us how it is done, Papa.
This year, they pulled the trailer into the driveway, so we were even closer to the action.
Should we have been alarmed when face shields and hats were passed around before the fireworks started? We were glad we had them when flying shrapnel DID hit Callie in the face. Shield-free Celia just chuckled through it all.
The next morning, as we watched the news, reports of L.A. firework explosions came in from various gatherings, including a warehouse fire. I said, "We were at a party exactly like that, gah!!!!!" And all this, after the Pacific Palisades fires last January. Are we
craaazy? Yes, yes, we are. Willie surprised us with the news that by the end of the year, he will be a father,
which can sometimes curb the need to blow things up! We'll see!
Las Vegas!
When I was in Bryce Canyon, I spent an evening researching tickets for Kelly Clarkson's residency at Caesar's Palace and decided the timing was too perfect to miss out on. I bit the bullet and purchased tickets. We were all so excited to go! The morning of, before we checked out, I got an update on my phone that the show was CANCELLED! We were so bummed, but what to do? We checked out and headed to Vegas!
We still wanted to do something! Instead, I purchased tickets to Shin Lim's Grand Illusions at the Venetian. We needed to eat dinner before the show, so I suggested a favorite, The Grand Lux. We enjoyed dinner, and Matt picked up the tab. Upon closer examination of the receipt, he realized the total was lower than it should've been. We were given the wrong tab. Thankfully, it hadn't been switched the other way around! Our luck continued when we realized the theater was adjacent to the restaurant. Shin starts the show with a card trick. We each had cards in our hands and followed along with shuffling them as per Shin's instructions. At one point, you rip the stack of cards in half. Callie's fingers were too weak, so she tore the cards one at a time, and they got shuffled the wrong way, so her trick didn't work, but the rest of us were amaaaaaaazed.
We saw the Bellagio gardens and other Strip highlights before calling it a night!
We sent a Cake Boss rainbow cake pic to Mal, since she bought a piece for Gav when we were last in Vegas all together.
Kelly would go on to cancel many of her shows that summer so she could be with her children while her ex struggled with his health. He ended up passing away, so it all checked out. Our condolences.
I looked up a nearby ward the next morning and saw that the Samoan branch was our best option. We arrived and got settled in our pew. For only a few minutes into the meeting, they seemed to be well underway. Turns out the opening song was actually the closing song. The time had not been updated online, which no one complained about:/
Matt and I collectively decided to give the Coral Sands another go on the way home. Again, we underestimated the distance AND the heat. When the ranger asked us what our intent was, I enthusiastically told him, "sand-boarding!" He told us we were welcome to do so, but we should first drive out to the sand. Matt was optimistic, but I knew deep down he was humoring me so I could check something off my bucket list.
Today was not the day, bud.
The scenic drive home through eastern Utah that Matt and I had enjoyed on the way home from Bryce now seemed long and somewhat dreadful. Whatddaya do.
We had just a few days to recoup at home before I was off with Callie Coo for our next adventure!
Bear Lake!
Business in the front, party in the back. Ash found a great Airbnb that was brand-spankin' new. We were cutting tags off things and removing plastic. Seems we were the first guests! I enjoyed this view as I did yoga on the deck in the morning...in full-sun:/
