Family Night Up the Canyon

I couldn’t go to bed tonight without posting about our evening activity. On Sunday, Sterling asked me to keep Wednesday night open for him. He wouldn’t tell me what was up, but I cleared my calendar for tonight.

Yesterday, the secret slipped out—he’d planned a family home evening up in the canyon with the Browns, the Hoops, Grandma Pat, and his famous goulash (a fancy name for whatever we have in the fridge mixed up in a Dutch Oven!).  I looked forward to it all day, working hard to get everything done so I could enjoy the time up the canyon and not be worrying about things still needing to be done.

I was not disappointed! All I can say is it’s an absolute sin that we don’t go up the canyon more often—it’s a 15-minute drive to escape from the world! It was beautiful tonight, perfect weather, ideal company, and Sterling’s goulash (hamburger, bacon, ground beef, carrots, potatoes, squash, onions, and green chilies) was the yummiest ever! He fixed the entire meal, but the girls decided that next time they would help out with dessert and a salad.

While dinner cooked, the little boys hiked (if you can call it that—their little legs didn’t go too far or too fast) and we sat around and chatted.

After dinner, we had an uplifting spiritual discussion, and then for an activity we watched a group of rappellers work their way down a nearby mountain. The boys were fascinated—they’d never seen anyone do that before.

I came home rejuvenated and determined to head back up the canyon again very soon. Don’t worry—I won’t bore you with the details every time we go, but I’m certainly thankful we live so close to such natural beauty. 

Comments

[Ngaire Anderson]

Hi Shelli,
Wow, what a blissful evening you've all had-great job Sterling! I just love reading all your family adventure stories and always appreciate you sharing these lovely times with us!
Love Ngaire

[Terry Molineux]

Shelli isn't the best times those that are just made within hours of doing it! I find it so much more fun LOL!

It's also great that you have so many family members close by that you can all get together at the same time.

Your grandchildren are the sweetest ever. Please do not think you bore us with your stories or pictures....We love them DO NOT STOP!!!

See you at convention in a few weeks!

[Cindy Major]

It looks like you all had a great time and the pictures turned out fabulously!

Cindy

[Pauline]

Hi Shelli, What great photos! Next time you go up the canyon, I expect to see pictures of YOU rapelling!

[Joan Hajek]

Soooooooooooo.....Jealous! You certainly have a gem in Sterling! Can I borrow him to have him give my husband lessons? PLEASE!!!!!!

[Faye Hauge]

Hi Shelli,

I just love reading about your family and all the nice things that you do.

It is so much fun when things are planned at the last minute.

Keep those stories coming.

See you in a few weeks at convention

Faye

[shh]

Sounds like a wonderful FHE! Thanks for sharing with us. Keep those stories and details of your "large life" coming! :)

[jenn]

sterling is a man who lives by the saying "carpe diem"! what a fantastic trait, and what special memories that attitude toward life is giving you and your family. tell him i said "way to go!"

[Kim McAlister]

Dear Shelli,
Your pictures and stories touch my heart,too. Your FHE was wonderful and inspirational! Your love of God, family, and His creation not only express themselves in all that you do, I believe they also find expression in your company and its products.
Thank you for sharing! Please do not worry about boring us-you inspire us and challenge us to seek out all that is excellent in life!
Kim

[caz]

You are so right, we are surrounded by so much natural beauty, Ours is not as spectacular as a canyon but on Monday I took the Beaver Scouts out to the woods near us, a place I had never been and it was such fun! there were HUGE craters for us to explore, a field of golden grass to hide in the kids had a blast. Mummy was a bit scared at times, hiking down! I took Harvey my 6 yr old beaver and Caiden who is my 3 year old "beeber" LOL as he put it! Not quiet a Beaver but one in training.

Caz

[Rebecca Middleton]

I just love your blog! Seeing the pictures and reading about all the fun and love your family is so full of makes my heart smile. You are one amazing bunch, that's for sure!

[Tina Rosenkrans]

Love those photos.... I'm sitting at Phoenix airport heading home after 11 days with all my family- I can't help but feel that you are all so fortunate not only for the beauty that surrounds you but the ability to enjoy your incredible family so often because of the proximity to one another. You are a warm, wonderful and loving family- I know you appreciate ALL your blessings!! You surely deserve them all!

[Sharon Bridwell]

Looks like a great evening! I love spending time in the Utah canyons. Such a beautiful setting and I know you already know this, but Sterling is a keeper!