4th of July Fun: Hiking & the Jonas Brothers

We started our 4th of July celebration with an invigorating hike part way up Mt. Timpanogos. The morning was made more enjoyable with the singing of another hiker on the trail. His rich, deep baritone rendition of the national anthem and other patriotic songs echoed off from the rock walls of American Fork canyon. Jaime and Nate had driven over from San Francisco and it was wonderful to have them join us.




With abundant spring rain it is a good year for agriculture. The cherry trees were brimming with cherries. We are sure Grandpa Mark is pleased someone is benefiting from his efforts.

Guess who is excited to see the Jonas Brothers performing in America's Freedom Festival?



Pictures were taken from front lawn just before walking down to stadium. Jenn and her friend Sage were already going wild.

The Stealth Walker

Kyler likes to walk when his parents aren't looking. Several times they have found him across the room and suspect he has walked there. During a weekend get-together to clean-up Great-Grampa and Grandma Jacobson's home in Swan Valley, Kyler was sitting on a blanket in the middle of the lawn. He pushed himself to his feet and walked barefoot 20 steps or so across the grass.















Wouldn't you know it, plenty of extended family saw his feat, but not his parents or grandparents. They have yet to see him walk.

Charlie & The Golden Ticket

Jen plays Charlie in her elementary school production of "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory"














Charlie finds the golden ticket.

Happy 31 Years

This week we are celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary. Jenn made up a little display out of clay and paper stock.

So thoughtful and such art talent.

Aunt Jeni, Easter Bunny

It was fun to have Jason & Mary and their three boys, Tyson, Ryder, and Kyler join us over the Easter weekend. Last year, Jenn was still in Primary and was in on the Easter Egg Hunt. This year, as a new Beehive, she helped the Young Women hide the eggs for Primary children. Then she came home and hid the eggs again for her nephews.

Tyson & Ryder had lots of fun and Kyler mainly played the drums and enjoyed his increasing mobility moving around.















Tyson also helped Grandma Cindy make chocolate Easter Eggs. Yum!

"Konnichi Wa" from Kyoto

Akihabara, Tsukiji, and Yunnesun

Spring break travel this year took us to Kyoto, Japan. On our way we stopped in Tokyo at Akihabara, a place where all of the newest electronics and cameras are on display, and at Tsukiji, the world's largest wholesale seafood market.












We also stopped at Yunnesun, a hot springs resort sitting on a volcano near Mt. Fuji, to enjoy some time in their hot pools. They offer around 30 different types of pools to soak in. We enjoyed the hot water mixed withhoney the most. Others include strawberry, green tea, sake, Turkish, Finnish and Roman baths, dragon waterfall, and a foot bath where little fish will nibble at your feet.