Bonus Time with the Petersons!

July 8-14, 2005

After a few days on our own following Glacier National Park, we found ourselves back with Brandon and Anne’s family at their home in Salt Lake City, UT.  They always have fun days planned for us during our time with them!  It’s hard to know where to even begin!  I guess I’ll start with a few of the kids’ activities.  

Josh is absolutely hooked on cross-country running.  It’s great to see him have such passion for this extra-curricular activity! The team meets from 8:30-10:30 each morning and it is definitely something Josh will not miss.  Along with this appetite for running is his hunger for food.  This 15-year-old can really eat!  When dropping him off one morning, he mentioned Chick-fil-A would be a nice post-workout snack, so it was fun to make that happen for this growing teenager!

Eva was gone Monday-Friday during the week we were there for violin camp.  Playing the violin and singing are two of her favorite activities.  We were treated to a small concert the camp organizers put together at the end of the week.  It was fun to see her performing as a member of an orchestra!  

Last, but certainly not least, Zoe celebrated her 4th birthday the week we were there!  Anne baked her favorite cake for her (white confetti) and Eva saw to the decorating of it!  It was wonderful to be able to gather together with the entire family on Zoe’s actual birthday.  Anne’s parents were there, so the group was complete!  It was fun watching Father Martin help Zoe practice holding up four fingers now that she is officially four-years-old!  Father Martin retires the end of July.  I know he will remain busy as a priest, but hopefully he will have more time for some of his own hobbies.

Eva and I have established quite the tradition of getting our nails done whenever we are in town, so this visit was no exception.  This tradition began when she was just a little one, with at home “Nana-cures”.  As she has gotten a little older, we’ve begun opting for getting professional manicures or pedicures.  We’ve had quite the hunt for the perfect salon to try.  It seems like there is always something we are slightly dissatisfied with … until this time.  Heart’s Nail Spa in downtown Salt Lake City had it all!  Quality product, no push for upgrades, not rushed or hurried, professional, offered cold, bottled water, all at a very reasonable price!  I just reminded myself, I need to write a review for this place!

The local amusement park in Salt Lake City is called Lagoon.  It has quite the history, having originally opened on the shores of The Great Salt Lake in 1886!  In 1899, it relocated to its current location.  We had purchased season passes during our last visit, so it was irresistible to spend a couple of afternoons there!

Riding on the carousel was actually a highlight!  Sounds a little silly, but this carousel features 45 hand-carved horses and other animals.  The carousel was built in 1893 and installed at Lagoon in 1906.  Needless to say, it’s a treasured ride of the park, and continues to be a sought-after attraction from Lagoon’s guests!

In 1921, the park added the “Roller Coaster” to its list of thrill rides.  This wooden roller coaster continues to operate to this day, delighting all of its thrill-seeking guests!

Apparently, during the 50’s and 60’s, the venue became a concert hot spot as well.  Believe it or not, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix are listed among the artists who performed for the crowds there.

Today, the park continues to maintain its oldie-but-goodie rides in addition to adding new rides for visitors to give a whirl.  I tried out their new Steamworx ride, and while I can honestly say I’m glad I did, it did prove to me that there are just some rides that are a little too thrilling for me!

For most amusement parks, it’s the roller coasters that get most of the attention.  While Lagoon certainly has its share of really great roller coasters, it’s not necessarily the roller coasters that Eva is attracted to.  This gal seeks out the scary rides, so it was a no-brainer to ride through Dracula’s Castle and Terroride with her!

Zoe loves each and every ride she meets the size requirements for.  It was a thrill to ride the rollercoaster Bombora with her, as well as the Tipsy Tea Cups, and the Flying Tigers.  I put my best brave on and went on the Dinosaur Drop with her, but I won’t make that mistake again!  This girl has no fears!  I was absolutely freaking out while she was gleefully trying to reach out for the leaves in the high branches of trees around us.  The photo tells it all!  

My favorite ride was Rattlesnake Rapids.  It was the typical raft ride down the rapids, ending in a waterfall drenching each of us as its final splash.  It was a hot day and getting soaked was refreshing!

Speaking of refreshing, there is a neighborhood swimming pool just a couple of houses down from Brandon and Anne’s home.  They have a membership which afforded us several trips there.  What an incredible way to cool off in the middle of the day or at the end of any day!  

Our big hike for the week was Cecret Lake Trail.  We drove up scenic Little Cottonwood Canyon to Alta Ski area where we found the trailhead.  This five-mile, out-and-back trail has an elevation gain of 1165 feet.  It did accomplish the goal of giving me a proper workout, but the real thrill for the day was the crazy number of wildflowers in full bloom!  It was a party for our eyes!  The name is a little intriguing, so Dick had to look it up.  Originally, this popular ski resort was a mining area.  It’s believed Cecret is spelled with a “C” as a spelling error made by one of the miners.  You gotta love a little trivia! 

Rainbow of flowers along Cecret Lake Trail!

As crazy as it sounds, after writing about all of the amazing things we did during this trip, it is the evening hikes around the neighborhood that I took with Brandon I treasure the most. We’d head out after dinner cleanup was done and the heat of the day was gone.  It was a good excuse to get Domer out for a little exercise, but best of all, it was a rare opportunity for time alone with Brandon.  For the first of these evening strolls, we headed to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, opting for the portion of trail we refer to as the “Up-and-Over” Trail.  Knowing there are coyotes in the area, and being the time of day it was, we discussed whether it was safe to do this trail or not.  We decided it was and forged ahead.  It was about halfway through this favorite trail that, suddenly, Brandon grabbed me and pulled me backwards.  I had noticed a rattle-like noise, but thought it was an insect.  Fortunately for me, Brandon recognized it as a rattlesnake. It was only a couple yards (if that) ahead of us!  We watched it slither into the foliage, but still opted to turn around and go back the way we had come.  For the rest of the week, we stuck to the safety of the sidewalks in the blocks surrounding their home!

Domer was all too happy to help with post dinner clean-up!

My HERO!

Our final evening was spent playing a game of Spontuneous.  To win this board game, you need to think of a word from any song.  The other players then try to think of a song that contains this word.  Sounds a little confusing, but it’s so much fun!  Brandon had the clear lead and looked like the shoo-in to win, but drew an unlucky card that send him back to the beginning and Josh gleefully jumped into the lead and eventually won.  Just a note:  Brandon had also drawn a card making the use of cell phones illegal.  Dick claims his innocence by way of not using the phone to help him but to look something else up.  I managed to capture the crime on film, so the verdict is out.  Am I also guilty?  I think so!

Up next:  The Road back to Iowa!