A Beautiful Day in the Canyon

May 2, 2026 

Saturday was our canyon day, and the weather was amazingly perfect.

Erin & Kaide

Derek and Brinley had gone up a couple of weeks ahead of time and scouted out a beautiful spot, South Fork Park, up Provo Canyon. Derek went up early that morning to stake save our spot and get a fire going before the rest of us arrived.

Grandpa purchased delicious Great Harvest sandwiches, and we brought chips, drinks, and stuff for s’mores, of course.

Derek, Aubrey, Tanner, Grandpa & Park

Bri w/ Cal

Some of our Vore cousins were able to join us too. Joseph and Kate came with their baby, Wells, who was just adorable, and Lauron and her boyfriend, Ryan, were able to come too. It was so nice to spend some time with those guys. The Vore cousins were my kids closest friends growing up.

Joseph, Kate, Wells & Aub

La & Ryan

Mostly, it was just such a beautiful, relaxing day.

We visited around the campfire, explored the trail up the mountain, played in the spring, and the young adults played Frisbee and Spikeball. The weather could not have been better—sunny and 60 degrees. Back home in Odessa, we’d been living on and off in the 100s since March. The Worst. So sitting outside in the sunshine with temperatures in the 60s, and laying on the soft, fresh grass, felt especially wonderful.

Derek & Cal w/ Tanner & Bri in the background

It took a bit, but then Kaide embraced the stream! (We literally don't have anything like this for hundreds of miles.)

 There wasn’t really an agenda. We just enjoyed being outside together. 

Bryn, Bri & Calvin

Park, Grandpa & Joseph 

Me with Wells (Blogger is being difficult w/ photo spacing below...)

Spike Ball fun, Bryn, Derek, Erin & Tan

Derek, Aub, Tan & Erin

My baby boys (Poor Park just didn't feel well-sinus infection.)

Erin, Aub, Park, Derek & Bryn

Kaide and I spent a lot of time together in the river.

Park & Kaide are good buds.

We eventually headed back and spent the afternoon with everyone separating and hitting some Utah stops they were interested in. (BYU, hobby shops, Swig, Great Harvest, thrift shopping, Deseret Book etc.) We ended the day with dinner out, hanging out, and games.

He's ALL about BYU

We went to a few different places in the area for dinner and then met back up w/ those eating here-can't remember the custard shop name. Tanner switched tables so Grandp & I would be part of a group.

It was such a good day and made our Utah trip really feel more like a family vacation.