This was quite the fun adventure. What a beautiful gift to spend time with just our older 3 children. I loved every minute of it. Moments we laughed so hard it brought tears to our eyes. Kyle wanted to go on an adventure. He is always looking for something fun to do. We looked into a few high adventure camps to send him to. And he replied, "I want to do it with you guys." So we looked into something we could do together. Our Spring breaks lined up perfectly with Ethen's and Ethen was exicited to join us. I am so grateful we were all able to go. Like Nathen said before, we are ever grateful for Mylinda and Sabrina for watching our younger 3 children. It was such a gift to spend time with Ethen, Kyle and Rachel. A memory that will be remembered for a life time. On day two of our adventure we went on two different hikes. The first was a slot canyon that was just north of Highway 93 near Boulder City. It was called Spooky Canyon. It was short one mile hike. And it was quite fascinating to see rock that was carved out of water shed. At some points in the hike it was only a shoulder spread apart. The canyon walls in some areas were up to 50-60 feet high. It was quite the best kept secret of the area. Not very populated but oh so beautiful.

I have to admit I so love having a mixutre of boys and girls in our family. When we are sitting around the table trying to have an conversation about a Come Follow Me Lesson, or sharing a serious thought there are times I wish I could just put duct tape over their faces. Adult conversations sometime just go right over thier heads. But oh how I love the dynamic boys bring to any event. I love their sense of advneture. The way they tease each other and they bring so much fun and spunk to any event. Spending time with Ethen, reminds me that they too mature and one day understand the deeper things in life. I also am greatful for the gentle nature of having girls in our home. Rachel gets spiritual conversaitons and when asked to teach a lesson spends hours preparing. It was so fun to have the older 3 together.

Kyle is doing so well in school. He is taking English 101, Pre-Calculus and American History all as college courses. He is also taking Spanish 2, and Physics and has a 4.0 GPA. He is doing great. Ethen is working at Home Depot and is proud to say after he pays all his bills and expenses, he makes an extra $300 dollars a month to put into savings. He says, "I make $300 dollars a month." I love that is how he thinks about it. He started out college with $2,000 in the bank and wants to end his first year of college also with $2,000 in the bank. He is close to that goal. He was offered a scholarship next year to pay for his schooling in full if he continues maintaining his current GPA. So they are serious when it comes down to it! Rachel also has a 4.0 GPA and is doing extremely well. She just finished Basketball sesaon. Her team took 2nd in her division and Rachel was named MVP.

After the short Spooky Canyon hike we ventured over to the Hoover Dam. There was a short 3 mile hike near the visitors center that spotlighted 5 man made tunnels that were made in 1931 to help expedite the making of Hoover Dam. The tunnels were made to ship materials that were needed to make the dam. 5 railroad tunnels were made. They were about 300 feet in length and 25 feet in diameter. Here is a little history: The Hoover Dam was and continues to be a modern marvel of the world, and happened to finish construction ahead of schedule. This railroad was in full swing from the beginning of the Hoover Dam’s construction in 1931, running 24 hours a day. This continued until the completion of the Hoover Dam in 1935, and abandoned shortly thereafter, once it was no longer serving a direct purpose. The U.S. Government Railroad Construction section used this section of track every once in a while until 1961, but eventually scrapped the rail and completely dismantled the line by 1962.

It was so fascinating. Quite incredible that this project was ran by the governement in order set up power for the citizens of the USA. It was ran maticualisly and created a magnficient miracle. Now almsot a century later, with modern equinment and machinary it would take even longer to ceate the exact same replica due to red tape, permiting and the EPA. I was in awe that the governemnet is now trying to shut down such a mangificent power producer.

	Two of the five tunnels timber supports had been burned partially by arson. However, they were rebult and you would not know. The scenery was just beautiful and brought great shade as well.

As you know, at the beginning of each hike there is a map that is offered and explains the length of each trail. At the beginning of this trail it said to reach the end of all five tunnels it would be 3.1 miles and the trail continued to the dam at 3.5 miles. Once we got to the end of the of the 3.1 miles Nathen wanted to continue to the dam. We all agreed. Due to Covid the signs were not correct. We all ventured on for what we though would be 0.4 miles but ended up being well over a mile. We were not prepared a long hike. It was hot. And on line we had read that the hike was only 2 miles.

We finally made it to the dam and we were very dissapointed that it brought us to a parking lot that overlooked the dam. We could have easily driven to the dam and got a better view. However, we made the most of it and had a good time. Ethen made a statement that I thought was spot on..."Dad, only you could tell us a hike was only 2 miles and stretch it into 10 miles and get us all to do it." I don't know how Nathen does it, but he can get all of our children to do just about anything, cook breakfast, cook dinner, do dishes, fix a car, go on hikes, and by the end of the task they are all laughing and enjoying thier time doing it. I love to see him do it. And I love to hear Nathen's giggle. Nathen is a great leader. He leads by example.

Thursday night we took the kids to Las Vegas and watched the lgihts and fountains at the Belagio. Nate and I went over 22 years ago when I met one of Nathen's missionary compnaions. His companion was just enganaged and Nate and I had just gotten engaged as well. We thought it would be fun to show them around. Boy, things have changed quite a bit! Ethen said it best. "Vegas would be a fun place to drive through. But being on the strip was a little too close" It was a nice dose of what the world around us could be like and to see those that are lost without direction. On our way home we drove by the Las Vegas temple. A stark difference. We had a wonderful time. A memory that will not soon be forgotten.

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