Summer Hikes

July hike to Stewart Falls near Sundance. Next year Mt. Sinai.

Sego Lilly on hike down from Stewart Falls.
July 17th 2008 on top of Mt. Timpanogos with the Teachers, Priests and leaders

Ski Dubai and other Arabian adventures

Here are a few photos (out of 1,800) of my travels in Arabia.

First up is Ski Dubai. It is an indoor ski resort. For $50 I got two hours of skiing, boots, poles, pants and jacket (no gloves or hats--I thought I was tough but it was pretty cold) . A woman from the Philippines help me get my clothing, an Egyptian man helped with equipment and lift attendants were from India and Bulgaria. I rode up on the lift with someone from Ireland, England and Alabama.
The rental skis and the groomed corduroy snow. The possy would have enjoyed the ski conditions. It was 40 degrees centigrade (104 F) outside with high humidity
The view from the top.
Mid mountain. The skiing was actually better than expected. I even got some air on this dog leg curve and bump.
From the bottom.
Local Emiratee parents watching their kids in the tubing and tobogganing part of the resort.
The upper part of the "mountain"
A Lebanese restaurant at the base of the resort. My colleague and I treated a former Jordanian student (Sulaf) of mine who now lives in Dubai to a wonderful late lunch.
The huge and lavish Mall of the Emirates that includes Ski Dubai
Burg Dubai. A seven star hotel on a man-made island. We had a seven course afternoon tea in the large atrium of the hotel. This time Sulaf treated (ouch to her pocketbook, but there was no way to turn down Arab hospitality).
Main street Dubai. All of the buildings are less than 10 years old and it goes on and on along the Gulf coast.
The almost completed royal mosque of Abu Dhabi. The Emir wants it to rival the Taj Hahal.
Inside the mosque.
Camels and dunes on the edge of the empty quarter in southern United Arab Emirates
the dunes of Arabia
Southern Oman near Salalah. One of several possible sites for the land bountiful.
Kor Rori--another possible site of Bountiful. I am standing on the edge of the archaeological remains of a tel (hill) of one of the main cites of the famed frankincense trade. The inlet would have been a great place to build a boat and the cliff in the distance would have been a possible place for throwing righteous brothers into the sea.
A frankincense tree with two amber droplets of frankincense oozing out (which I harvested)
The Thursday camel market in Sinaw Oman
The Sultan Qaboos mosque in Muscat Oman
Four wheeling up an over the Rock Mountains of Oman
Petra Jordan.

Memorial Day 2008 at Twin Pine Ranch

Who knew curry could be so good? Well, I guess the answer is we all knew it. The traditional H. Roland and Harriett D. Emmett feast continues with an ever growing prosteriety (in fact, the number increased by one at about 6:05pm today with the arrival of Lily Emmett - more on that later). Some members of the 4th and 5th generations were seen eating corn dogs rather than curry, but that's OK. Salads, fruit, veggies, chocolate pie, strawberry cake, various cookies and lemon bars provided all with more than the minimum number of required calories for an Ironman in training. With rain in the forecast for much of Monday, trips to the Brigham City and Logan Cemetaries took place on Sunday afternoon leaving Monday open to a day of travel, family fun and plenty of food.

Sorry Paige..... I know I promised you full editorial rights, but I think that we needed to see the always cute Laura, Paige and Adrienne enjoying the day.

"Where's my mommy?" Well, she's on her way to the hospital!!! Tuesday you'll be able to go visit your mom and your new baby sister Lily. Way to go Beth!!

Chad and the Hickman cousins, Allison, Ann and Heather

How does Alex do it? I seem to keep running into this shed.

siblings

Before traveling (I just spent 10 days in Israel getting oriented for next year's stay) I usually take a photo of the kids so that I can have it on my digital camera to look at. I took this photo on May 5th before leaving for the airport. I liked the way in which Will spontaneously decided to reach out to his older siblings and pull them in.

Announcing the Jaredita Educational Assistance Program

winter fun

Will asleep in his crib in his favorite going to sleep position. His beloved blanky by his side. Last week Sarah moved to her lovely bedroom in the basement and Will moved in to a big boy bed in Joel's room.

Sarah and Joel with our traditional New Year's Eve rainbow platter.

Joel playing Lego Star Wars on his Game Boy. Will loves to watch.

Joel on our front yard toboggan run. The banners are in celebration of Marie's birthday.

Joel and Sarah skiing at Beaver Mountain last week.

And they shall call His name........Jesus!

Christmas 2007 at Twin Pine Ranch was once again a time of great food, good fellowship and spiritually uplifting. The annual Christmas play with its revolving cast helped remind us that the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Savior. This year the great grandkids were all walking so a doll was used to represent Jesus in the crib in the manger. Next year, Beth and Paige (and ?) promise to bring a new great-grandchild so that we will once again have a live baby Jesus. Till then.....