Bright Spots

Experiences with people I love are what life is all about. Here are 4 bright spots in my life recently that have brought me joy. We hiked Timpanogos falls, I saw "Cinderella" with good friends, Andrew and I went on a double-date to "Singing in the Rain," and we splashed at "Cowabunga Bay." 

1) Timpanogas Falls-- Saturday, July 30, 2022

I'm thrilled to report that we crossed another hike off and it was a beauty! This hike is on the same trail that leads to Mt. Timpanogas. The waterfall is stunning. You can get a view at the bottom of the waterfall, but it's worth the extra steps to go to the top for the best view. The kind stranger who took this photo told us we would want to frame it. A couple things to remember about this hike-- parking was crowded. We went on a Saturday and the parking lot was full. Fortunately, we snagged a spot on the road right as someone was leaving. The hike is a long one to do with kids. Our children were troopers. We passed out Starbursts on our way down and they were a good distraction. Online it says this hike is 2.4 miles roundtrip. My phone said we went 3 miles. I felt like an "official" hiker. We had to write our names down and list how many people were in our party. (I think this is mainly to keep track of the people who hike Timp, but still.) We definitely worked up an appetite and stopped at J Dawgs after which we've been wanting to do for awhile. We bought J Dawg sauce and I've been putting that to use. Don't worry, I already have our next family hike planned! We're trying to spread our hikes out more though in hopes of more enjoyment and less complaining.

2) "Cinderella" at Sundance Resort--Friday, August 5, 2022

What a picturesque location to see a play. I invited my friends McCall and Valerie to join me for my first play at Sundance. We had wonderful seats that were centered and close to the stage which added to the experience. We decided to try out the brisket dinner before which was yummy. I don't know that I would pay $30 for the meal again, but eating in this gorgeous scenery was fun. The play itself was enjoyable. Rain was a worry and we did get a little bit of rain during the show, but not much. The weather was cool which was a nice respite from the sweltering temperatures we've had. At times I felt like some of the acting was over-the-top, but it settled more after intermission. There were some talented singers for sure! One twist I loved was that Cinderella became friends with her stepsister. It was a charming evening and the darkness definitely enhanced the show and added drama. We got lots of talking time in the car. I was out much later than usual and rolled in around midnight. I keep checking to see what show will be playing in Sundance next summer. Sign me up!

3) "Singing in the Rain" at Hale Center Theater-- Saturday, August 6, 2022

"Singing in the Rain" is the best show I've seen at Hale Center Theater to date. Andrew agrees. It was fantastic! The music has been on repeat in my head since the show. Our friends Nick and Becca invited us to join them and I'm so glad they did. They actually knew the guy who played Don Lockwood and we got to meet him after. The water scene was phenomenal. I can't believe how wet the stage got! Immediately following the play, Andrew turned to me and said we should see if this show is playing when Debbie is in town because she would love it. Who wouldn't? When we walked out of the play, it started to rain. It was perfect. We grabbed some food after and heard someone whistling the "Singing in the Rain" theme. The music is so catchy. Apparently I missed the memo to wear blue. Fun fact, Andrew and I watched "Singing in the Rain" on our first date. This double-date was an afternoon well-spent.

4) Cowabunga Bay-- Saturday, August 13, 2022

We've been wanting to take the kids to Cowabunga Bay and finally made it happen. The weather was questionable, but we decided to go for it. We went on a Saturday. It was a bit crowded and overcast, but we had a blast. Admission is spendy and getting a season pass might be worth it in the future. I wasn't sure how much our kids would be able to do since they are still kind of little. There are some pretty intense slides. James isn't 48 inches tall yet, but several of the slides only require a height of 40 inches. Izzy was able to ride at least 3 slides. The lazy river was like a hot tub and the kids loved riding in the tubes. One of the slides was a bit scary for James (it was completely enclosed and dark), but I was proud of him for being brave. Right when we were about to leave, there was lighting. The storm held off just for us. In the car on the way home, James exclaimed: "my toes look like they've been sucked on." We all laughed pretty hard. He was pruny. This waterpark was a family favorite by all. I don't think James asked for a snack once.

I want to remember these bright spots and memories!