On Thursday, July 23rd, our trip to Cancun began bright and early with a 7:30 AM flight. After a 4:00 AM wake-up call, we headed out by 4:30 AM. A huge thank you to Rob for joining us to drive our car home and house-sit with Piper while we were away. Rose and Sophia met us at the airport to kick off the adventure together.
We are ready to go!
Boarding our first flight from SLC to Denver.
Then from Denver down to Cancun!
We made it to Mexico! We then found our luggage and our shuttle to our resort.
It was funny; the sign said McGraph instead of McGrath ;)
The boys fell asleep on the way over to the resort.
We waited in a short line before discovering a faster check-in option at the Circle One area. Thanks to Rose's hairdresser, who generously shared his BlueBay Resort timeshare membership, we secured a lower rate than online prices and unlocked VIP perks like express check-in.
Getting checked in, getting a drink while we wait, then on a golf cart to find our rooms.
We found an Iguana.
After we settled into our rooms, then went to the Mexican Restaurant for dinner.
Our large room was a welcome relief, featuring two full bathrooms and plenty of space for everyone. Steve and I shared the comfortable king-size bed, while Carter and Hudson took the couch bed, and the hotel later brought in a convenient rollaway bed for Nyles.
Our room came with a major perk: a private pool connected right to our balcony. This was a lifesaver since the main resort pools closed at 7 PM. After dinner, the kids jumped right back into the water just outside our door. But our nighttime swim came with a surprise guest. Someone had left unfinished drinks by the edge, and a pair of bold raccoons waddled over to investigate. I tried to shoo them away, but these local bandits held their ground and refused to leave. We kept a safe distance and definitely did not mess with them!
We arrived after a long travel day and checked in around 5:30 p.m., but getting the extra bed we requested turned into a six-hour ordeal. After multiple phone calls and trips to the front desk, the roll-away finally arrived at midnight. Nyles almost ended up crashing on a pool chair we dragged inside just to get some rest.
The couch bed for Carter and Hudson, and finally a rollaway bed for Nyles.
A little while later, our phone rang with a strange warning from the front desk to lock our doors. Steve checked, and they were already locked. The call likely stemmed from earlier when I briefly left our door ajar upon arrival, prompting a staff member to ask us to close it.
After a long and exhausting travel day, we were deeply grateful to finally fall asleep, despite the late hour and an unexpected interruption. We planned to sleep in the next morning. We then set our sights on exploring the resort grounds and booking an excursion for Saturday.
Here are a few highlights from the few days in July before we flew out to Cancun.
Pauline took the boys to her house on Monday, July 20th to have a sleepover. They went to a foam party that afternoon.
More fun!
The boys bundled more firewood. They cut down more trees in the Uintas earlier. Steve built another rack to dry the extra firewood. Rob let them store the wood along the side of his house.
We had another busy week. Here are some highlights.
On Monday, July 13th, Nyles started a 4-day-long mountain biking class. He's been interested in learning, so he wanted to take a class. He borrowed his cousin Noah's mtn bike for the class (Noah is on a mission). When we picked up the bike to borrow it from Melanie and Brandon, Brandon took Nyles on a 20-minute ride to help him learn how to use the bike. After the 2nd day of class, the instructor asked Steve if Nyles could be moved up to the Intermediate mtn bike class. Apparently, what Brandon taught him in the 20 minutes, was basically what they were going to teach him over the 4 days. Nyles then did the Intermediate class right Tuesday-Thursday. He said he enjoyed it a lot more. He learned a lot and is looking into maybe doing it if not this year then next year.
The boys playing w/ toys from the cabin.
Nyles at the mtn bike class. It's HOT outside!!!
The boys getting more firewood ready to sell. We went and watched the new live action Moana in theaters Tuesday night ($5 Tuesdays) w/ Dave, Joann, Diane, and Rob.
It was awesome!! I highly recommend it!
Steve and I went to the temple Wednesday evening and did initiatories.
Nyles and his friend Lincoln went and rode bikes to the Suspension Bridge.
Steve took the boys to Lagoon on Thursday. Conor met them there.
They picked up Nyles' friend Lincoln and took him as well. Hudson is now tall enough to ride more rides, including the white rollercoaster.
We went to Draper Days for a little bit while Nyles and Lincoln were riding bikes to the suspension bridge. Carter and Hudson going down some slides.
Then foam fun and face painting.
Nyles was in the Draper Days Parade on Saturday w/ the Alta Marching Band again. We went and watched. Ironically, we ran into my coworker (Hailey Meihls) who just moved into a new house in Draper, so we sat by them at the parade. The kids got more candy.
After the parade, we came home for a little while, then went over to Diane's house. All of the family was invited to come over and go through the decorations and take what you want. We then hurried home for my 20-year mission reunion.
After Steve had his 20-year mission reunion last year, I started reaching out to other missionaries to organize our 20-year reunion. We found a date when sister (Rachel Harris Jensen) was coming in from Washington State to visit and went with it. There are only a few sisters that I served with in Slovenia, so I wanted to make sure they could be there. I reserved the pavilion in Draper (Wheadon Park) which also had a playground next to it. That way kids could play while we adults visited. Unfortunately, my mission president, President Weight, called me a few days before and said he likely wasn't going to make it. He had hurt his back and wasn't able to be out of bed.
Steve went and picked up the pizza at Costco, which we put in the order earlier in the week. He also picked up water bottles and ice, which we put in a cooler. It was hot, so all but 3 of the waters were drunk. I had a SignUpGenius for everyone to bring a side or dessert to go w/ the pizza as well. I also brought the paper products and a marker to put your name on your water bottle. At 6:30pm, we called President Weight on a Google Meet and took turns talking to him. A few others just joined the Google Meet as they lived out of town. Overall, we had a good visit, and it was great to see everyone who did come. We'll have to do another one soon.
A sister who served in Croatia (not sure her name), Reggie Cavalier, Rachel Harris Jensen, me, Tammy Crosby Barney, Sara Crook Baker, Jared Spendlove, Jonathan Wrigley, Penny Lunt and her husband (served in Croatia), Brandon Worthington, and Maurine and Robert Miles.
Then a picture w/ the spouses and kids.
After the reunion, we went to see the fireworks and drone show for Draper Days.
Rob met us there. We went down by the Library to watch.
Grandma VaLere Hegerhorst's 96th birthday was on Friday, July 17th. I tried to call Aunt Jan (Dan's wife), but didn't get an answer. I didn't have time on Saturday, so I wanted to try again on Sunday. I kept thinking about Grandma all day. During sacrament meeting, I realized that it was July 19th, which was the day, exactly 20 years ago, that Grandpa Bill Hegerhorst passed away (VaLere's husband). I was on my mission when he passed away (hence the 20-year reunion we just had), so it was fresh on my mind. I was only in Slovenia a couple months when he passed.
On our way over to Diane's house for dinner (around 5:30pm), I called Uncle Dan to see if I could get a hold of Grandma again. Dan answered the phone and I asked him how he was doing. He said something like not that great, and then proceeded to tell me that Grandma VaLere had just passed away 10 minutes prior. He let me know that they had seen my text and missed call earlier and let Grandma know I had called to wish her a Happy Birthday. He said she hadn't been able to talk or respond for the last couple of days, though, so even if I had gotten through, it was really just a one-sided conversation. I was sad I missed talking to her one more time, but I knew that she was in a better place now, and she was at peace instead of suffering. I then called my parents, who were on their way home from Brady Dunn's mission farewell, and told them the news. I reminded them that it was 20 years to the day that Grandpa Hegerhorst passed away- crazy! I'm grateful for the knowledge we have of eternal families and that my Grandma and Grandpa are now reunited again!
We had dinner at Diane's place. Steve smoked a beef roast. Dave came over as well. We then took other Christmas decorations that Grandma LuDean had, for my mom to give to her brothers and sisters. We loaded up the car and were just about done cleaning up outside when Diane tripped on the sidewalk and fell. She was trying to catch herself but ended up falling on her wrist and hitting her head. We helped her over to the stairs and assessed her situation. Dave could tell right away that she broke her wrist, so after cleaning up some scrapes where she was bleeding, Dave and Steve took her to the ER.
They did scans and confirmed her wrist was broken, so they ended up putting her under to straighten out her wrist. They then released her and told her to follow up w/ her other Drs this week. Dave took her home w/ him to stay the night and see how she was doing the next day. I took the boys home to get ready for bed, and Steve came home later, around 1:30am. It was a sad day overall, but mostly I felt bad for Diane. In my mind, it replayed in slow motion, and I wanted to stop her from falling or catch her fall, but I couldn't. Steve and Dave gave her a blessing at the hospital though, which I feel really helped. She did hurt her back as well, but it sounds like they should all heal in time, which we are very grateful for.
Here are some highlights from the first full week of July.
On Monday, July 6th we took the boys up Camp Tracy in the afternoon. I worked in the morning, then we met at our house and left. We only had 4 kids since that's all we have in Activity Days and almost in our whole Primary. I drove and our neighbor Sydney Evans came w/ me, since she had 2 of her own boys going, and she's the Activity Leader. Steve took Nyles and Hudson to cut some trees down in the Uintas to get firewood while we were gone.
A deer, up where Steve was cutting wood.
Clay Evans, Ethan Gatherum, Carter, and Beau Evans. A moose in Camp Tracy.
BB guns.
Playing w/ rollers, then rock walls.
Dinner time!
Then playing gaga ball. Carter won one round.
Then they played a dinosaur tag game w/ tails.
Then row boats.
They had a lot of fun in the boats. Since there were only 4 in our group, they had us join another group of 18 kids the whole day. Thankfully, we got along.
Bow and arrow time. Then final skits.
Tuesday night we went and watched Toy Story 5 since it's $5 Tuesdays.
It was a cute movie. Dave, Joann, and Rob met us there also.
The boys are selling firewood pretty quickly this summer, even with fire restrictions in place. Steve and the boys went up to the Uintas on Wednesday afternoon. Rob and Zach also drove up. They had a moose going through the campgrounds. They found a "free" campsite just off the road.
Hudson laying on a rock, then at Moosehorn Lake.
The boys cute and wrapped up more firewood before they left. Someone asked for a few more than they had bundled, so I wrapped them during my lunch break, and then they came and picked them up from our porch. Cute Piper in our room, while I worked.
Phill and Conor came up Thursday. I was going to meet Phill that morning to give him the boys' jackets (since they accidently forgot to pack them), but he was running behind schedule. So I ended up leaving them at Diane's house on her porch. Phill then came and picked them up there, and took them up to Steve and the boys and camped w/ them the next 2 nights.
Rob, Phill, and Zack up at camp. Hudson getting dinner, along w/ Nyles and Rob.
Hudson, Conor, and Carter by the campfire.
Hudson caught a fish all by himself at Moosehorn Lake.
More fun camping.
Then over to Mirror Lake. Nyles, Carter, Conor, and Hudson. Steve and the boys.
They took a walk around Mirror Lake.
A cowboy watching for the moose in the campground.
Playing a game, making s'mores, and enjoying the fire at night.
Dave and Joann picked me up Saturday morning, and we drove up and met them at Trial Lake. Zack, Phill, and Conor went home, though. It was over 100 degrees down in the valley, so we were looking forward to cooler temperatures up in the mountains. It was still 70 degrees up there, though, and felt hot. A lot of people must of had the same idea, as it was pretty busy everywhere in the mountains.
Nyles fishing at Trial Lake. Hudson in the hammock.
Carter, Steve, Hudson, and Dave.
Steve and I went out for a paddle. Hudson and Carter playing w/ trucks in the water.
Hudson tried to paddle on his own, then Steve went out w/ him.
We made some turkey burgers for lunch.
I cooked them up the night before, so we just needed to warm them up.
Steve and Nyles went out fishing. Hudson made a friend to play with at the lake. Cute Carter.
Pretty flowers at the campsite. Steve said he thought of me when he saw them. :)
Hudson wanted a picture w/ the flowers. I made fajitas for dinner. I cooked them the night before, so we reheated them. I also cooked up tortillas, along w/ cilantro lime rice. Nyles w/ my sunglasses on. All of us eating dinner under the canopy of our little camper trailer.
We went home after dinner. We unpacked and got ready for Sunday. It was great to get up in the mountains, even for the day.
We had Ward Conference at our ward on Sunday, so that was nice. It was our last Ward Conference to attend at Stake Leaders. Now we just have Primary Programs, which will start in September. Hudson was asked to give a talk in Primary. I had a quick ministering meeting after church and Steve had a meeting as well. Then in the evening we had Sundaes on Sunday at a neighbor's yard.
