Vest Family Reunion at "The Canyons" Park City, Utah

We started out our annual Vest Family Reunion with a trip to the Provo Temple. There's always a great spirit in the temple and being there with my family was a special treat. I haven't been to the temple with my parents for about a year and it was nice to be able to sit next to Mom during the session. Joseph had made plans to ride the Alpine Loop with Brent, so we missed him, but here's a report of his ride

On Friday morning, Brent Wall and I rode the Alpine Loop that starts in Orem, UT, and works its way through Pleasant Grove, Cedar Hills, American Fork Canyon, Sundance Canyon, and out Provo Canyon (about a 45 mile loop). I LOVE this loop! This is one ride in Utah that makes me feel like I am riding through the Swiss Alps. The views going up the American Fork Canyon side are amazing with cold mountain creeks, aspens, and pine trees with fresh mountain scents. Riding from the base of AF canyon to the top (before a wicked descent down the Sundance side pushing 50 mph) typically takes just over an hour climbing and the emotions I feel are euphoric. I love the mountains!

This was Brent's first ride of the loop and I cheered him on with statements like, "Pride lasts forever," and "You want this mountain top like you've wanted nothing before," and "You are willing to suffer for this beyond all suffering brother!"

I was pleasantly surprised to find resting at the top of the climb several of my former BYU professors including my former Mountain Biking Professor Mark Widmer Ph.D. (I aced the class ... twice, yes, I worked hard at BYU) There is nothing like a climb to 8,000 feet, and suffering physically on a hard climb is my favorite work out of all!

After we returned from the temple and Joseph returned from his ride, we headed to Park City for our 'Vest Family Reunion" with Mom, Dad and all my siblings and their families. Technically, we had been "re-uniting" for a couple of days already, but it was nice to enjoy the rest of the weekend with a little relaxation up in the mountains.

We all enjoyed many different activities including, tennis, running, lawn games, shopping, hiking, swimming, biking.....and of course eating! We attempted the gondola a couple of times, but every time we tried, lightning mysteriously appeared.

Swimming was my favorite part of the trip. There were other people at the pool each time we arrived, but it seemed that shortly after,we had the pool to ourselves. I guess we were a wild bunch. I think the "water shooter," that Abby won from reciting the family motto correctly, was shot a few too many times at innocent bystanders.

Grandma had fun swimming with the grandkids. A Grandma who will get her hair wet is a Grandma worth keeping.....and as Emily said over and over, "I'm sorry, but it's impossible to take Abby seriously with those goggles on." She swam from place to place shooting everyone with her soaker until we had to take it away. I don't think the ladies, drenched with oil, lying on their lounge chairs appreciated the unexpected shower. Chad, Kaden, Aaron and Amy
Delaney and Emily and the poor unfortunate soul who happened to have her floatie in the wrong place at the wrong time!
Aaron and Joseph took a little break from the water to get warmed up by the sun.
Grandpa didn't plan to get in the water, but after a few minutes he couldn't resist, so he jumped in fully clothed. Yup, "whities" and all! Grandpa, Spencer and Brynn

Aaron loves the water, he swims around kicking his legs behind him saying, "ki-ki-ki-ki-ki!"

I adore my two (almost three!) boys....it's so much fun to have a "little Joe" with me all day everyday. We really enjoy being together!

On Saturday night, after a couple unsuccesful attempts riding the gondola, a few of us decided to go on a hike, which ended up a drive because of a beautiful summer rainstorm. We drove through Deer Valley Ski Resort to the top of Guardsman Pass, where Joseph had climbed on his road bike earlier that morning.

As we drove up the mountain....with very steep gradient inclines, my mom kept calling on the cell phone asking, "Did he ride up this part?" To which we answered in the affirmative. When we got to the top, we saw the most gorgeous panoramic views. From one side you could look far below to Park City, another side Heber Valley, the back side of Timpanogas, Midway, and then to Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was breathtaking!

My mom and I were both choked up because of the effort it must have taken Joseph to ride up to this beautiful point. I love that he loves to push himself to do hard things....for the pure satisfaction of accomplishing something that is hard....and he does it often. It increases my faith and trust in him as I see him do hard things. I know he has the kind of tenacity to not only do hard things, but to find joy in them all along the way. I believe he can do anything he sets his mind to. He is a great strength to have by my side.

Sometimes I joke that he is non-human because of the kind of attitude he has during life's unpleasantries....he is a great example to me.

Before the storm hit, we took a few photos at the top of the pass.

Chad and Jenn
Grandma and Grandpa (Mom and Dad)
Our family, minus Aaron who was asleep in the car. Abby had just woken up and couldn't bear to look at the camera.
Auntie Em!

Brynn and Delaney


Abby finally woke up, all it took was finding her "blankie."

We enjoyed the view until it started to rain, we then drove down the mountain in the rain and when we arrived back at the condos at we enjoyed a beautiful double rainbow.

The morning we left, when we gathered for family prayer, Mom grabbed Joseph by the arm and with tears said, "I just have to tell you...." He interrupted...a little embarrassed, and jokingly "...that you're amazed I'm such a great cycler?" She laughed and with tears said, "Yes, I am just so impressed with your hard work...."

He does work hard in all areas of life and we appreciate it so much!

It was a great weekend with great company.....we just wish we could enjoy their presence more often!

The 24th...Pioneer Day...Fiesta Days...

The 24th of July in Utah is a big deal! In Spanish Fork, Utah it is a REALLY big deal. I love going back this time of year and taking part in the small town festivities. Over the course of the celebration, which lasts a few days, we usually try to make it to the city's theater production, ( a fun musical), spend some time at the city's waterpark, run the city's "Speedy Spaniard" 10k, watch the parade and entertainment at the park, attend the rodeo and see the hometown fireworks. Growing up, dad usually took part in the tennis/golf tournaments, and sometimes as kids, if we begged hard enough, we might even get to go to the carnival. I am not a carnival person, so I completely understand why that was a rare occasion. On the 24th we always have an afternoon picnic with Mom's side of the family. Growing up, it was usually at Grandma and Grandpa's house just 1 block up from main street, but through the years it's also been held at Richard's, Lake Shore Park, my parent's home, and this year it was held at the Spanish Fork Reservoir.
This year, some members of my family woke up early and ran the Speedy Spaniard, I opted to stay in bed and Joseph chose to arise early and ride to Payson Canyon's Blackhawk campground.
After his ride he came home and took the girls to the parade while I stayed with Aaron who was WIPED OUT from the wedding the day before. We figure he missed atleast 6 hours of his normal sleep between naps and bedtime, so he slept until 11:00 a.m. It was 10:00 to his system, since we run on Pacific Time, but still, the boy really slept in.

Abby, McKenzie and Brynn enjoying a hometown parade.
Great Grandpa Vest in the hat on the far left, mom and Scott.
Aunt Sara and Uncle Wade

Cousins Boston and McKenzie and Aunt Annette
Joseph and Brynn
Grandma,Boston, Abby
After the parade Joseph went to the park to check out Brent's chiropractic booth.
He LOVED visiting with Brent and Lindy and thought little Lydia was a doll.

Joseph then let the girls do a little shopping! They picked out these sunglasses and wore them the whole weekend. Hello Hollywood! I wanted to throw the glasses away by the end of the week. They went everywhere with us and both girls were frantic if they couldn't find them when it was time to get out of the car.

After the parade we went to the reservoir to have a picnic with Mom's side of the family. We all swam and canoed across the water. It was fun, even though it did smell a little fishy.

We stopped for a few hours at Joseph's mom's house to do some slippin' slide with a few of the cousins.

And then....it was time to RODEO! Seriously, I think every person in the world should go to a rodeo once a year. It's quite the cultural event. I am by no means a cowgirl, but I LOVE sitting underneath the open sky on a cool summer evening and watching a rodeo.
The kids were amazed by the hang gliders who came flying in as the rodeo started....and seeing the flag of our country flapping in the wind, while being carried around swiftly by a girl on a horse always makes me teary-eyed....and of course, I love hearing the cowboy prayer that starts the rodeo.
Another one of my favorite parts of the evening is seeing what people are wearing. At a Spanish Fork Rodeo, you get quite the variety. I would love to buy sweet western outfits for my entire family, complete with boots and hat and wear them once a year to the rodeo...but I'm too practical to spend that kind of money for one night. It's always fun to see what the Reid boys are wearing. I love that they dress for the event every year.

When we asked everyone what their favorite part was, they said...."the clown...the Wild Child...the girls riding around the barrells...the bulls...the horses...." I think it's fair to say they loved it all. Aaron sat on Joseph's lap the whole night mezmerized by the animals. He would look at his dad and shout, pointing, with huge eyes, "Cow!...Horse!....Sheeeeeep!" It was lots of fun!

By the end of the night this little cowboy was tuckered out! We watched the fireworks and headed home to get some much needed rest for the remainder of our week. The following day was the beginning of my immediate family's "Vest Family Reunion" at the Canyons in Park City.

I love a good ol' hometown celebration, especially when you get to be with such great people!