Vest Family Reunion~Hiking Ensign Peak

By the end of the reunion, people started trickling back to regular life, but mom still had a hike planned to Ensign Peak. We were tired and hot, but we decided to go anyway. I am so glad we did. I have always wanted to hike to Ensign Peak. The view was beautiful, and it felt good to do something that seemed hard at the moment (not a hard hike, only hard because it was sooooo hot and we were sooooo tired and we had complaining kids). Doing the hike was also great for our complaining kids. Brynn stayed at the bottom with Chad and a sleeping Kaden, because she had a puncture sore on the bottom of her foot from earlier on the trip, but Grandma, Grandpa, Me (Amy), Joseph, Abby, Aaron, and Isaac enjoyed the hike despite the hot afternoon- in- July weather. It was great to help the little ones (namely Abby) learn they could accomplish something hard even though they were so tired and so hot. It also helped that she was carried by me or Grandpa most of the way. :)

I often think of all of my wonderful childhood memories, much of what I remember did not happen without alot of effort on my parents part. I am sure we complained, and I am sure it wasn't always fun for them as adults to do what they did, but they did it anyway and we have great memories because of their sacrifice. That's what's great about being a parent and an adult. You have a reason and an excuse to be positive about something when conditions aren't just rght. It's hard to have a bad attitude about something when you're trying to get someone else to have a postive attitude about it. It kind of helps you to realizethat things really aren't as bad as you think and you can get through it. But, did I mention it was HOT! Well it was, and I was wearing black and well, it was just plain HOT. But the breeze on the peak felt nice and it was great to accomplish something we've always wanted to do.

Can't you just hear Brigham Young saying, "Here is a proper place to raise an ensign to the nations."

I love my dad. He is such a good guy. He will submit to anything. Almost to a fault. :) My kids adore him and I am so grateful they have such a wonderful relationship with him. They absolutely love him.

Joseph was a trooper and carried 2 little boys down the mountain. He is such a great dad.

Mom wore mules/slides on the hike. For someone who planned the hike, we had to laugh at her choice of attire. She planned a wonderful family reunion and we are very grateful. It had just the right touch of meaningful moments and plain old fun. Thanks Mom and Dad/Grandma and Grandpa!