Hiking to Stewart Falls

Yesterday we took the opportunity to spend the afternoon with our little family and some really great friends and hike to Stewart Falls up at Sundance. The hike sure made me aware of how out of shape I am. It was 3 miles round trip. It sure didn't seem like much, but when you're hiking up hill in the heat of the day it was a little harder for me than the kids. We had a blast though and once we got to Stewart Falls it was beautiful. The water was ice cold and the falls are gorgeous.

2009 Connelly Family Reunion

Last night was the Connelly family reunion. We love going and spending time with our family and this year we felt that is was very important to attend. Great Grandpa Connelly is the oldest living Connelly. His health is declining so fast that we had to take the opportunity to get some family pictures taken with great grandma and grandpa. I wish I would have had this on video camera. Grandpa sat and talked to McKenzie, asked her how school was going and told her how much he loved her. Sooooo sweet.

Of course I had to take the opportunity to take great pictures of my kids. Being the amature photographer I like to think I am, I am always looking for great backgrounds to take pictures. I think the pictures of the kids turned out pretty great.

Silly Wyatt

We've decided that Wyatt is quite the ham. He has the funniest personality and he is always showing us how funny he is. Today I was doing a little bit of housework and I left Wyatt downstairs playing with some toys for a few minutes. When I came back I thought he had fallen asleep while playing on the floor. I thought it was so cute so I decided to snap a quick picture. As soon as I did he lifted his head off the floor and flashed me the cutest smile. Hehe. After I took a couple of pictures he layed his head back on the floor and closed his eyes-pretending he was asleep. What a kid!!!!

Hiking to the Grotto

All the girls standing on the bridge in front of the waterfall.

The girls standing in the water next to the waterfall.

Kenzie and Rylie playing in the waterfall.

Kenzie, Kaylie, Rylie and Zachary sitting on the rock eating their dinner.

Rylie standing in the water in front of the falls.

This is the beautiful falls where we stopped.

Kaylie standing in the little cave.

Kenz standing in the little cave.

About half way up we found some wild raspberry bushes. So we decided to stop and pick a few. They were soooo sweet.

Wyatt chillin' on dad's back. He loved being able to see around him and enjoyed being in the mountains.


Last night we took the opportunity to hike to the Grotto with some really good friends. It was a cool night and actually a really easy hike for the kids. They had so much fun. We packed a picnic dinner-which each child packed in their own backpacks. They thought that was cool. The entire hike is only about half a mile and it ends at a a beautiful waterfall. At the waterfall is where we sat and ate our dinner. The kids played in the water for a little while and at dusk we hiked back down. It was fun and something that we want to do again.

End of Summer Car Show

Last weekend we went to the Utah County Fair and Car Show. It was a fun night that we got to spend with grandma and grandpa. We haven't been to a car show this Summer and since they was in our neck of the woods we decided we'd go and enjoy the music. Dad took this picture of the kids. You can't tell, but Wyatt is actually dancing. He loves music and this was a kodak moment we just couldn't pass up.

The First Day of School-2009

McKenzie on her first day of 5th grade. Where did the years go??

Rylie on her first day of 2nd grade.

Kaylie on the first day of 2nd Grade.

All the girls and Wyatt-they wasn't too excited to be leaving him for the whole day. What great sisters.

Kaylie and Rylie in their new class room.

Kaylie and Rylie with their new teacher-Mrs. Sanders.

McKenzie with her new teacher-Miss Wells.


Today is the first day of school for the girls for the 2009 school year. The girls have been sooo excited for days for school to start. They actually layed their clothes out 3 days ago. hehe!! McKenzie is in the 5th grade this year. Her teacher is Miss Wells. I've heard that in 5th grade the homework really increases and there will be projects galore. UGH!! Kaylie and Rylie are in the 2nd grade. Their teacher is Mrs. Sanders-she is also our bishops wife, and is just an amazing person. I'm pretty sure she is just as an amazing teacher. We are excited for a new school year, new learning and challenges. We are anticipating a great year

Four Generations

Dad and his little 'huntin buddy.'

Dads little pal.

Four generations...Grandpa Connelly, John, Rich and Wyatt.





Yesterday we decided to go to our property and spend some much needed time with Rich's grandparents. They are getting up in age and grandpa's health has declined so much this Summer that we thought we'd better take the opportunity to spend the day with them. We love to go to our property and spend time in the mountains. We went for 4-wheeler rides, fed the fish and of course ate. So here are a few pictures of the four generations. Grandpa Connelly, John, Rich and Wyatt.

I'm Afraid We're Not in Kansas Anymore Toto!!

This is where the gate used to be.

The section of fence between us and our neighbors that is laying in their yard.

Oh our poor trampoline.


Holy Cow!!! With the winds we experienced at our house late yesterday afternoon I would have thought we lived in Kansas. At around 5 pm yesterday we experienced these huge winds that lasted for hours. At 5:15 I thought I'd better go move our trampoline closer to our house so it wouldn't blow away. I walked outside and the trampoline was gone and two sections of the fence was laying on the neighbors grass. So I ran through the house and out the front door and there was our trampoline almost in the road. I went and grabbed the tramp and sent McKenzie over to the neighbors to ask for help. Luckily a super nice passerby and a gentlemen from my ward happened to be driving by at the same time to stop to help. With the tramp stopped from going into the road I went back into the backyard to open the gate so we could bring it back. At the same time another huge wind came up and the gate went down too. UGH!! Luckily we are all safe. The fence needs to be repaired and the trampoline is in about 5 pieces. Thanks to my awesome neighbors and their help. I don't know what I would have done without them.