Grotto Trail Adventure

We decided to take a family drive up the Nebo Loop to check out the damage done by the wildfire that happened there last summer. I was really hoping we would get a chance to go up and see the Payson Grotto. We were super disappointed when we came up the canyon and saw the road had been closed.

We were not discouraged and lots of other hikers had the same idea. We soon found out why they still had the road closed. There were trees that had blocked the road and in many places erosion looked like it could easily bring down more.

These boulders  made a great resting spot on the way up and down.

Honestly, I wasn't sure that the boys would make it all the way to the trail head. They got exhausted pretty quickly. Even though we were walking on asphalt, it was a steep incline. It took us an hour to make it to the trail head. Literally, I was trying to distract Luke enough so that he would keep putting one foot in front of the other. We talked about what the Elk would be doing if they were living on the mountain and we tried to find him a walking stick made out of birch. We also saw many, many butterflies and contemplated the ways they would stay warm during this time of the year. We are convinced they find little hollow areas away from the water where they can sleep.

Papa finally hiked up to the trail-head and then came back to tell us we were just one more bend in the road away. Luke was especially excited to see the snow. We were all so happy. It ended up being a 3.5 mile hike up and back. WAY longer then we ever intended to go.

The parking area for the Grotto

It was so sad to see how much damage the fire did to the trail. This is a trail that we know so well and most of it is unrecognizable. We had to climb over and under trees that had even fallen on the alternate trail that had been created. 

It will be interesting to see how much of it will grow back before Autumn comes. I'm hoping the forest service can get up there soon and take care of some of the trees that have fallen over the path. Hopefully, they will also be able to get the bridges back in working order. There was one particular part that was quite frightening for Mom & Luke (literally one misstep from falling in the rapids), but we were super careful, said a prayer for the trip down, and made it with everyone feeling very brave for making it. I did manage to get a little video of the area where you would enter the Grotto part. Brandon and Peter also scrambled up to get a view of the river falling into the grotto. It was amazing to see the video he got. 

Once we got past the scary part Luke and Peter were as happy as clams hiking down. They both know this area so well that I let them take the lead and most of the time I can't even see them. On the way back to the car Luke and Papa zoomed down the road. Peter was exhausted and then needed to go potty and then wanted to rest after every bend in the road. It was okay though. We weren't in a hurry and it gave me time to get a few more pictures. 

For perspectives sake, this is what the area looked like in September of 2017. Sadly, the boys and I didn't make it up there early enough in 2018 to see if before the fire.

Scouts - Aware and Care

1. Used a blindfold to simulate visual impairment. I had to go into my room, get dressed in pajamas, and put myself to bed. I was able to successfully to it, but I bumped into a lot of walls, Luke, and toys on the floor. I was also not able to tell the color of my pajamas.

2. I did a project that simulated dexterity impairment. I used spoons to do it. I taped them to two of my fingers. Then I tried to do my normal things with the spoons on. My conclusion was that it was a hard experiment because it was harder to do things, but my brain was smart and worked it out.

3. We played the potato game. It helped us to realize that people can look different on the outside, but on the inside we are all the same. I also realized that scars never show up on the inside like they do on the outside of the potato. 

4b. I got to talk to my Grandma about her disability. 

Her disability is that she has to stay in a wheelchair for like a year. It is really, really hard for her. She doesn't have her wheelchair in the house because her foot is a weapon because she has to keep it lifted up. She uses a walker to get around the house. 

She also has grabby arm that she can use to pick up things. 

She also has a really hard time bending down. She also needs help with eating her food because she can't carry milk, bowl, and a spoon by herself. She also has a very hard time taking a shower. So she has a bench to help her. 

4d. I was able to go on a field-trip to BYU. My Mom's Uncle works with people who need help at the University because they are deaf. This is what I learned. 

Luke glasses part #2

So the glasses frames that Luke wanted were back ordered. Sadly, they weren't even given a date on when those frames might be available. So, back to the eye doctor we went to pick out different ones. Hopefully this time they will come in and be perfect for him.

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, his glasses finally came in. He looks so adorable in them. It's taken him a bit longer to get used to them, but it is going well. He is obsessed with reading the Magic treehouse books right now. I am trying to keep up with his library requests for them. I try and check 4 or 5 of these short chapter books out for him every few days. 

Also, today Luke took a the DIBELS state reading test. It's a test that all 2nd grade kids take. I decided it would be good for my kids to experience tests this year and it was his first time ever taking one. He did it online so I was able to eavesdrop on the other side of the office door while he was doing it. His teacher told him that he was a "reading genius". I was inwardly so grateful. I have been quite discourage with school this past semester and her words were a reminder that I am a worthwhile teacher. I think Luke is reading near a 4th grade level because he and Peter are both reading the same "school reading book" right now. His love for stories makes me so happy. At night I am reading them the Sassafras twins book about Botony and Brandon is reading us Book #1 of the Rangers Apprentice. I hope family book reading time will always be a treasured memory for both my boys. 

Game night fun

Last night we had a game night. Luke was so bored. To keep himself entertained he took pictures with filters. Peter and I were laughing so hard when we found them on my phone this morning.