Silver Lake

We headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon on sunny, warm Labor Day for a picnic and some gallivanting through the forest. We arrived just in time to have the heavens open and dump rain on us while the temperature plummeted and we scratched our heads as to why none of us thought to bring jackets. (Usually, I am like the jacket Nazi, but three months of summer has made me be a little bit soft.) But since good things always come to those who wait (and those who have the biggest line of credit on their Visa), we ate our picnic in the car (the crumbs everywhere were killing me) and about the time we finished, the storm had passed and we were treated to the beautiful smells and sights of the mountains after a rainstorm.

(the crumb-makers)

(more crumb-makers)

Silver Lake

Super-cutie, whose cuteness diminished incrementally as we walked around the lake and he decided, when we were quite on the opposite side of the lake, that he was going to CRAWL back to the car and no amount of coaxing could get him to stand up.

(He was still walking at this point, and evidently climbing)

Sometimes I wonder if we lived in the forest with its endless rocks, logs, sticks and lakes to be explored---would the children eventually tire of this natural playground?

Note to self--- If you're not going to strategically place one of your children in front of you in the picture to hide your belly,  then please remember to at least SUCK IN  your muffin-top before posing for said picture.

It's always fun when Dad gets the camera....(when Mom lets him)

 And just at this moment.....my nefarious mind began plotting......I had oreos in the car (the bribe), I had beautiful scenery aplenty (the background), I had my camera (the evil equipment), and I had my subjects (victims): It was time for a (coerced) family portrait:

not good--fake smiles and no smiles

better...

BEST!

P.S. Lest you think our gallivanting-through-the-rain-soaked-forest and our crumb-filled-picnic-in-the-car was a waste, we did learn some sage advice that day, left by some unseen stranger kind enough to carve his mantra into the side of the boat dock:

Sam---this one's for you!