House O' Sullivans

Rainy morn--mom an' Hal Saturday morning we were supposed to hike part of the Mormon Trail up near Big Mountain as part of our preparation for pioneer trek.  When we met that morning at 8:30 am, it was steadily raining and the forecast was for temperatures in the 40's up in the mountains.  We (the whole family) came dressed for success but were informed that we wouldn't be going to the mountains due to concerns about lightening.  So plan B--we were going to drive to Liberty Park and then hike to the temple, have lunch, and then hike back.  They said it would be 5-ish miles but it ultimately measured out at 7 miles.  Sophie and Hallee hiked pretty much the whole way unassisted (minus an occasional lift my the Young Men, Helen, or myself).  Those girls are tough!  North bound and down on 6th East with purpose in our steps.  Me, Hallee, and Zeke riding shot gun.  Notice our above-the-neck period clothing-- Hallee in her yellow bonnet...

Sullivan school took to the road today, travelling back in time some 500 years.  We met up with some of our favorite home-schooling families in Slaterville for the annual Renaissance Faire festivities.   Hallee, sitting on the sidelines at the jousting arena It was a bit windy and Sophie was feeling her allergies. Our friends, the Caspersons, brought period fare for the lot of us--apples, grapes, loaves of bread , and brie.  Yum!! It was a feast indeed. The Head Jousting Knight even came to our lunch party.   Some footage of the jousting competitions:

While the kids ate dinner together on the back porch yesterday, somehow Hallee convinced Zeke that he should put his head through the vertical support bars of the porch railing.  Once he was stuck, Sophie and Hallee ran in to report the news.   This is how we found him: Zeke.  Trapped.  Despondent. Measuring the width of the space between the bars, it seemed utterly impossible that he got his head through them.  Casey got out the Vaseline, but that didn't work.  Little buddy was soon crying.  We said a prayer that we could get him out, then Casey brought out his manly tools--two come-alongs--and cinched the pairs of metal bars together on either side of Zeke's head, providing just enough room to free him.  He was stuck for probably 15 minutes during the heroic struggle to free him.  Hopefully the little people learned a lesson.  I did.  Today I found out that Zeke didn't put his head through the bars (after debriefing...

Every year for the last three years, Casey and I have talked about bringing the kids up skiing.  This year it finally materialized.  We borrowed some wee skis from our friends, the Lamberts, and took them all up to Alta two weekends back.  It was sunny and in the 60's--perfect weather for the little people.  We lathered then in sunscreen and hit the slopes.  I was so surprised at how quickly they got up on their skis and headed down the hill.  They are their father's children.  After four hours, however, they were exhausted. Hallee, Zeke, and Sophie showing some swagger at Alta The kids were fascinated by the ripe tows and wanted to ride them over and over Zeke, looking nackered after an afternoon on the slopes  Here's some fresh footage of Hallee and Sophie getting after it: