Katherine Pass up Little Cottonwood Canyon

 I hadn't set any bike plans up (I usually try to do some sort of outdoor activity on Wednesday) and I was at home ironing shirts after I had dropped the girls off at school.  I had a thought come to me, "call mom and see if she wants to go do a small hike."  I called mom and she had just dropped Murphy off for his bath and she was like, "yes" I have until noon, I'll be right there.  We drove up Little Cottonwood and my mom had decided she really wanted to do Katherines.  It said 1.5 miles and I was like, we got this!  We did the hike!   I knew we were not going to get home to take Elsa to the library.   My mom really wanted to complete the hike.  Cruz had called and was heading home because he was feeling sick. I asked him to put on a mask and go pick Elsa up and take her to the library.  I am so glad that worked out.  We ended up not finishing the hike till about 1 and we got back to my house at 1:30 p.m.  My mom was getting very tired at the end but she was so proud of herself.  She held my arm the whole way down and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. She is just not as sturdy on her feet as she used to be. But at 82 that's a pretty tough hike.  I am so proud of her!!! It was so beautiful to on the drive and hike. The colors are just amazing right now!

My mom was so happy to see the Lake Katherine!

Sick Boy

 Cruz came home from school yesterday and this is how I found him, fast asleep!

Saturday

 Shawn and I enjoyed a beautiful fall bike ride up the quarry trail on Saturday morning.  In the afternoon we had the chance to go support Lexi and her basketball win their game.  The night ended with Cruz joining us at Lonestar for dinner. It was such a nice day!

Meanwhile, Alegra went with Grammy Thursday night till Monday night to babysit Rebecca and David's kids.  Rebecca left Thursday late and got home Sunday at about 3.  Alegra said it was super hard.  But glad she did something that was challenging for her and she was a huge help to grammy!  Alegra and grammy got them to school on Friday. To all 3 soccer games on Saturday.  And church on Sunday.  On Monday Rebecca took them around the city for a bit before they had to go to the airport to come home!

Homecoming 2023 - Cruz Junior Year

 A bunch of Cruz's lacrosse friends asked dates and went as a group for Homecoming this year.  Cruz asked a girl named Annabelle Kim.  It was so fun going to Hale Center to take pictures.  They went to Airborne for their day date.  Then they met at Hale Center, Fratelli's for dinner, the dance, Nickelcade for after, and then Riley Dunn's house.  Seemed like a fun group!

Lexi was with us!  Alegra was just finishing up a game so she missed out on pictures!

Happenings during the weekend on the home front

 

Pictures loaded backwards, last night Alegra had a game and we were able to play b-ball before the game.  It was such a pretty night and I love our mountains as our back drop!

Sunday night Shawn had prepared a wonderful dinner for all of us when we got home from the airport.  

Saturday night Cruz went country dancing with his friends and some girls!

Saturday afternoon Alegra played with the blue team because they needed players and she hasn't played a game in a while since her broken shoulder.  She ended up playing Esme's team.  

The reunion trip

 So fun to go to Northbrook and Chicago for my 30 year high school reunion.  My mom and I flew out on Friday morning.  When we got into town we went straight to Little Louis in downtown Northbrook to get a Chicago dog.  Then we drove to visit Stella, who is at a nursing home in Glenview. It was so fun to chat with her.  She is a spit fire still and her memory is still great.  We drove around Northbrook a bit before checking into the Sheraton Hotel, that is located next to the area that I remember as the garbage dump, that has been turned into a nice golf course.  That night we met my good friend Jenny Schwartz (really the only girl I keep in touch with from high school) and her mom at Max and Benny's a Jewish deli that  I love their sweet and sour cabbage soup.  After dinner I dropped my mom off and then a small group of girls at the Landmark, a bar in downtown Northbrook.  It was fun to be able to chat with some of the girls in a smaller environment.  

Saturday morning my mom and I got up and drove to Midtown, the gym Jenny works at.  It is a super posh gym and mom sat at the cafe and ate while I took Jenny's spin class.  After the gym my mom and I drove downtown and saw dad's old building, then drove down Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore drive. We stopped at Lou Malnatis on Rush Street to eat lunch and do a little shopping.  

Afterwards we drove to Northbrook and drove around our old homes.  We stopped at the Millers and Dave Miller was outside working, so we stopped and talked to him.  We went to get an ice cream at Baskin Robbins and just had fun remembering our time as a family in Northbrook.  

Dave bought his parents home that he grew up in and was around the corner from my families home on Maple.  The boys were really good friends with the Miller boys

2390 Greenview - this was a drive by shot and the trees are so big and beautiful now it is hard to see the house.  

We forgot to take a picture outside of Little Louie's yesterday so snagged one on Saturday, plus it was a super beautiful day on Saturday, Friday was kinda gray and rainy.  

I got ready for my reunion and met some girlfriends in the lobby of my hotel.  We drove over to Happ Inn at 7. I ended up chatting with my classmates till 11.  It was so fun to catch up!

Sunday morning we were lucky that North Shore 2nd ward met at 9:00 a.m. so we were able to go to church in our old building.  It was fun to see some of the old ward members that are there. The Ruiz family, the Joaquin's (Herrera's), and the Hiltons.  

My mom and I were back home in SLC for Sunday dinner that Shawn worked hard on. I was so happy we were safe and had such a fun time. I feel blessed I was able to go back with my mom and see so many friends!