Living His Dream

Today Christian finally gets to live his dream. As you can see by the graphic, his dream involves the New York Yankees. He left this morning with his dad to watch two Yankee games and soak up the surroundings of Yankee Stadium before it is torn down at the end of the season. They were both very excited and the only thing that would make the trip better is if his grandpa Gus was well enough to go too. If you were Italian and a first generation American in the 1930's you HAD to be a Yankees fan. Christian's grandpa was, and he passed his love down to his son, and on to Christian. He took a carry on bag, Yankee hat, shorts, t-shirts, and an appetite ready to scarf down some hot dogs. I'm just hoping that two tall (possibly lost) white dudes don't get hastled in the Bronx. Oh well, all part of living the dream.

Cali's Birthday Wrap Up

This year we hosted a bunch of crazy kids at our house for a birthday bash. We made pizza and did a picture treasure hunt. It was very fun. In fact, during the treasure hunt Carter yelled, "this is my best birthday ever!" Thanks to Regina and Dorey for helping me organize the pile of kids. I could not have done it without the extra hands.


We also had to have a few family parties too. One in Castle Dale with my parents and family. Then a post birthday party with the Pollastro's at our house.

How will I ever teach this girl that she doesn't actually have three birthdays? Oh well.

Lamb Day

Lamb Day, our favorite family holiday, was held this year on July 18th. We went to Fountain Green to participate in the festivities. As kids (sister's, brother, and cousins) would go to the parade, then back to Grandma Cook's house for ice cream, some slip 'n slide, then off to the park to jump in the sawdust and dunk tank (but NEVER ride on the Sheeper Creeper my grandpa was sure that someone would fall of and get ran over), and a lamb sandwich.

In fact, my parents met at Lamb Day. My dad had a childhood friend who had moved to Fountain Green. He invited my dad to come over for the Lamb Day celebration. They went to the dance, but couldn't find any hot babes to dance with. They took a break and decided to get a candy bar. And there she was (as beautiful as a jersey calf) the Lamb Day queen, my future mother. The rest is history. They were 15, they wrote letters to each other, they did a little long distance dating, my dad dumped her right before prom (still a little bit of a touchy subject), she wrote to him on his mission, when he came home they got married.

A lot has changed over the years. My grandparents have both passed away, me and my cousins are all grown up and have families and lives of our own. Lamb Day has changed a lot too. It used to be a very small family and town celebration, now it's packed with people and includes large softball tournaments which bring in people from all around the state. It was a bitter-sweet time, here are some pictures of our adventures.

Lots of hugs from Grandpa Neal.

Watching the parade. My mom's brother Dwight (sitting), my cousins Joseph and Tina, my aunt Patti and cousin Nikki, my mom/Lamb Day royalty, and Cali.

We scoffed and laughed when my dad said he brought a garbage bag to catch candy. Who's laughing now?

Carter got his livestock fix for the next year. He loved the "real" lambs.

My two cousins, Paul and Talita, both won major awards for their show lambs. Paul won reserve champ (his lamb went for $595.00), and Talita won master show(wo)man (her lamb went for $490.00). Carter just wanted the lamb trophy!

A crazy balloon filled bounce house at the park.

We rode the Sheeper Creeper....sorry grandpa

Aunt Cammie

Check it out everyone! I'm officially and aunt. My first nephew ever, Parker August Esplin was born on July 24. He is so lucky to have such a cool birthday, and just a few days after Cali's! More info about this handsome little meowzer here.

Roxy and Kelsey

Christian popped Cali's loose tooth out on Thursday July 17th. It had been loose for a while, and just needed daddy to reach in there and pull it out. She thought he was magic because she didn't feel a thing. She loved her tooth so much that she named it Roxy. The tooth fairy was kind enough to leave Roxy for Cali, and now she is tucked safely in a piece of tissue on her dresser. We just found out that Kelsey, Roxy' sister tooth is loose too. I can see where this is going, we are going to have a whole mouth full of people.

Wheeler Peak

Last week Christian, my dad, my brother Brandt, and I climbed Wheeler Peak. My dad spent his summers in the Great Basin National Park and wanted to climb the peak in celebration of his 50th birthday. My Grandma Peacock and Mari came too, and took good care of us by feeding us and supplying much of the camping gear. Bomber (the three legged dog) also came, but didn't seem all that impressed with the great out doors, he is 77 after all.



The next several posts are dedicated to the adventure that eventually ended with me standing on top of a 13,000 foot peak. It was the best time. Being with family, pushing your body to new limits, and finally arriving at the peak.

Baker Nevada

After driving about two hours west of Delta, Utah we came to the tiny strange town of Baker, Nevada. My dad spent a lot of time here while his dad was a guide at Lehman Caves. This is the closest town (if you can call it a town) to the caves. This is the church that my dad attended during the summers. The doors were propped open with rocks, so we went inside and took a look around.





I guess some things don't change much in 40 years. This is the same clock in the gym that was there when my dad was a little boy.




It was wonderful to hear his stories of their adventures. While he lived here this gym served as a chapel, a gym, a movie theater.

Lehman Caves

After several hours of driving we arrived at Great Basin National Park. Lehman Caves and Wheeler Peak are two of the main attractions within the park. My Grandpa Peacock used to work as a cave guide at Lehman caves. My dad spent 9 summers at Lehman Caves, and thinks he probably went through the caves 20 times each summer.






The back door to the cave.






The cave is one of the most decorated caves in all the world. The formations are amazing, and there are still undiscovered caves underneath.

Warm Up Hike

On Tuesday July 15th, 2008 we arrived at our camp site. After setting up camp and eating a some dinner we went on a 3.8 mile warm up hike. We followed the Alpine Lakes Loop trail and tried to get acclimated to the elevation. The campground is located at 10,000 feet, so we needed some time to breathe in the thin air.




Stella Lake. Very shallow and very clear.




Flowers growing at a spring.




It was raining when we first got there, but after it stopped there was a huge double rainbow in the sky.




After we got back from our hike Brandt and Christian goofed off the rest of the night. They put on the quite the entertaining show for everyone. We're lucky no one got hurt.

The Beginning

On Wednesday July 16th, 2008 at 6:00 a.m. dad and Christian started their climb. It was still a little dark when they left, but it was nice and cool.

My grandma Peacock woke up early to drive them to the trail head. Then bomber woke up, so she had to give him a few cuddles. She looks thrilled, doesn't she?

Brandt and I followed an hour later at 7:00 a.m. My dad wanted an hour head start so that he could take the first two miles at a slower pace and save his energy for the hard climb at the end. We caught up to them just after the 3rd mile mark.

About two miles into the hike looking at the peak in the distance.

The view looking back into Utah.

This is the first really scary view of the peak.

Teresa Lake and the end of the tree line. It's really cool when you get up above the trees. You can see birds flying down below you.

The Steep Accent

The entire climb is only 4.85 miles. However, it's not the length of the climb that's hard it's the steepness. Within the last mile you climb from 12,000 feet to 13,000 feet. The last 1,000 feet are almost straight up, which can make a mile seem like a marathon.

Brandt and I were still feeling pretty good at the 3 mile mark. Just before we caught up to dad and Christian.

This was the terrain. Nearly two miles of hiking on this stuff. It was a little hard on the ankles.

This is the view from one of the hardest parts of the climb. At this point the top of the mountain is out of sight, there is another rise (even steeper) after you get to the top of this one.

Christian and I at Greg Mayer's Point. This point in the hike was named after a scout who refused to go an farther and sat down on that little patch of grass. We stopped here for a little rest and snack break.

The camel back was very necessary.

Still resting at Mayer's point. Getting geared up for a very tough climb.

My first view of the top. That little cross is the summit.

My dad was amazing. After mile 3 his legs started to cramp. He drank some water, took some potassium pills and made it his best Wheeler Peak climb ever. This time up the mountain was his 12th time, and was in celebration of his 50th birthday. He is my hero, and inspiration!

Views at 13,000 Feet

Being on top is the best feeling. Your legs get a break from the climb, and the view is amazing. Someone once said that, "if the view is good, it's worth the climb." Truer words were never spoken. It was worth every mile.





The wind blows like crazy up there, so there are several little rock shelters that you can sit or stand in to get out of the wind. In this one there is a little mail box, in the mail box is a register of all the people who have made it to the top this year.





The official Wheeler Peak Summit Register.





Our names are on page 13.






The view looking toward the end of the mountain. It's pretty narrow walking out to the edge.





Speaking of edge, Christian had no problem walking right to the edge of a 2,000 foot drop off. As you can see, he even got his foot in the picture. During which time I screamed at him and tried to get as far from the edge as possible, I'm terrified of heights.





Dad (also terrified of heights) stood back and synced his GPS.





This picture was taken at the edge of Wheeler Peak, looking over to Jeff Davis Peak.







The air was pretty thin and we started getting a little light headed and silly.

An official US Geological survey marker from 1944.